Rapid Response Collecting At V&A

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 115 months ago
Rapid Response Collecting At V&A
‘Liberator’ 3D- Printed Gun
2013
Designed by Cody Wilson / Defence Distributed
Photo (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
‘Liberator’ 3D- Printed Gun 2013 Designed by Cody Wilson / Defence Distributed Photo (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Spikes
2014
Photo (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Spikes 2014 Photo (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
‘Flappy Bird’ mobile game
2013
Designed by .Gears Studios
Photo (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
‘Flappy Bird’ mobile game 2013 Designed by .Gears Studios Photo (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Soft toy wolf Lufsig
2013
Designed for and manufactured by Ikea
Photo (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Soft toy wolf Lufsig 2013 Designed for and manufactured by Ikea Photo (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Primark cargo trousers
2013
Manufactured by New Wave Bottoms for Primark
Photo (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Primark cargo trousers 2013 Manufactured by New Wave Bottoms for Primark Photo (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
False eyelashes endorsed by Katy Perry, ‘Cool Kitty’ style
2013
Manufactured for Eylure
Photo (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
False eyelashes endorsed by Katy Perry, ‘Cool Kitty’ style 2013 Manufactured for Eylure Photo (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London

One role of major national institutions like V&A is to use their exhibits as a historical record, but when is the right time to start collecting artefacts? How long should they wait before an item's historical significance has been proven?

This latest display at V&A suggests there's no time like the present and they've accumulated items that have recently made the news, including the controversial Liberator gun that was made using a 3D printer. Despite the controversy, there's no doubt this item signifies a potential game changer both for the distribution of arms and the ability for anyone to become a manufacturer.

Technological items such as a smart thermostat, allowing remote control of heating, and carbon fibre lift cables facilitating taller skyscrapers also could change our homes and cities.

The potential pitfall for this type of collecting is that 'faddish' items are less likely to stand the test of time. The mobile game Flappy Bird may have become an overnight sensation but will it be remembered by many in five years? And though we note that Katy Perry-endorsed false eyelashes may signify the breadth of her popularity, it may not be the best choice from across her vast array of merchandise.

Political items are also included, such as the much maligned anti-homeless studs and Primark trousers made in the unsafe factory that collapsed and killed 350 workers in Bangladesh. These items rightfully have greater potency, but it could be argued that they will only gain historical significance if they mark a change in attitudes towards homeless people and labour rights in foreign countries respectively.

These items are likely to divide opinion but we believe it's only right that the V&A should be documenting the changing world around us in what we assume to be a low cost exercise, for who knows which items will be deemed as representative of our times in 50 or 100 years.

Rapid Response Collecting is on at V&A until 15 January 2015. Admission is free. Also on at V&A are the stories of disobedient objects and a history of wedding dresses.

Last Updated 11 August 2014