Vandals overcome by drive to make art interactive

Published on Thursday 24 June 2010 11:04

IT WAS an artwork intended to intrigue and amaze passers-by.

But the "Joyriding" installation outside Edinburgh's Roxy Art House has proven a little too popular – with thieves and vandals.

Artist Jake Rusby created his piece by using a crane to wedge the BMW 3-series down into the Roxburgh Place basement.

It survived for barely a week before a group of youths began their own form of deconstructionist art – smashing windows, tearing out its radio and letting loose with spray-painting.

They even tore out ignition wires in an apparent attempt to hotwire the vehicle, but the engine had previously been removed.

Artist Rusby, 25, from Marchmont, said: "To be honest I hadn't really planned for any of it, but I suppose it attracts that sort of attention. I might have been a bit naive not thinking that it would be a target.

"I was a bit annoyed when I saw it had been smashed and I thought it looked better in pristine condition, because that added to the mystery of a car sitting in this basement.

"It was installed very carefully to keep that mystery around it, but I accept these things happen. I have actually borrowed the car from a breaker's yard, so I had planned to take it back so they can sell the parts. It might be pretty futile to repair it, so I think we'll leave it for the moment and see what happens."

One local resident, who asked not to be named, said the damage was caused by a group in their early teens this week.

However, he added: "I think it's a very good feature to have in the area. It's the kind of art that people can engage with in any way they wish, and as I have seen they have been literally taking bits away with them.

"There are a lot of tourists and international students here and they are fascinated by this. How often to you get people fascinated with modern art?

"The police were here earlier this week, I think they were just passing rather than investigating, and they left smiling. So that's what it's done, put smiles on people's faces."

Benjamin Fallon, a curator of the Embassy Gallery, of which the installation is part, said: "I think we have been really pleased with the response to the installation.

"It was slightly upsetting when we first saw the damage, but we understand there is an impulse to get on it or do something to it. Our main concern is safety, and as long as it is safe, then the car will stay where it is for now.

"The site is a great space for installations like this, and last year we had an artist design a bus stop down there, which was very popular, so we are hoping to make it a regular feature, with two displays each year."