Artists Adrian Brooks and Tim Cook created the new installation featuring two companions, and one former companion (now an employee) at Emmaus Oxford, which will be displayed inside Dorchester Abbey from Wednesday 2 October until Friday 18 October.
The installation consists of four cardboard boxes, symbolising the temporary shelters many homeless people rely on. On the outside, an alternative map of Oxford is displayed, featuring organisations supporting homeless people, sites of buskers and Big Issue sellers in Oxford, as well as portraits and diaries of Companions from Emmaus Oxford.
Visitors to the Abbey are invited to enter the boxes and consider, for three minutes, those who live in boxes, tents or cars, or those who sofa-surf along with all their worldly goods. Guests are then invited to write their thoughts in the comments book and post an image on Facebook or on social media.
Artist Adrian Brooks, who jointly led on the creation of the installation, said: “I would say, my aim is summed up in one card I saw next to a homeless person in Oxford, ‘Before you walk away, put yourself in my position’.
“That is exactly what the installation is inviting people to do, put themselves in the position of a homeless person, (inside the cardboard box) however briefly, and then reflect. The portraits and stories are designed to share the experiences of those who are rewriting their own life stories with the help of Emmaus and others.”
Tim Cook, who designed the construction and assembly of the box installation, added “Walking round Oxford we were shocked by the number of homeless people we saw and wanted to draw attention to their stories. Since starting the project, we have met some amazing people who have got themselves out of homelessness as well as many who are helping them.”
All the materials used are reused or recycled – including boxes from a bicycle shop and wood from CELL (a previous art installation created by Adrian and Tim).
The installation was featured on BBC South early evening news on Wednesday October 2 and can also be seen here.