Next time you ride a double-decker bus, keep your eyes focused on the view.
Artwork designed by members of the public is on display on the roofs of bus stops across London, including three bus stops in Islington.
Alfie Dennen, the digital artist behind the Bus Tops scheme, has transformed bus shelter roofs into LED screens that project creations submitted online.
Mr Dennen said he wanted to create a project to engage and involve the public.
“It’s an experiment in collaboration to prove that the community is capable of creating artwork that will appeal to their fellow commuters.”
“We wanted to create a sense of ownership and a public response,” he said.
The three Islington bus stops are part of 20 across London that have projected two artworks daily for the past month.
Mr Dennen said the website has received nearly 2,000 submissions so far and he’s hoping more people will start to design for location specific bus tops as the project builds local awareness.
Bus stops have also displayed the work of established artists, including former Turner prize nominee Mark Tichner, who projected his self-help book inspired creations.
“I really liked the idea of being part of a day-to-day experience rather than in a confined museum. Being a seamless part of city life really appealed to me,” said Mr Tichner.
Bus Tops creator Mr Dennen has worked in several prominent public art forums before, including the website We’re Not Afraid, which he created in response to the 7/7 bombings and received 3,500 images in days.
