As part of this year’s designjunction, multi-award winning British designer, Steuart Padwick showcased Talk To Me: a powerful and engaging two-piece interactive installation situated along King’s Boulevard in King’s Cross. These large-scale works, standing over five metres high, were in support of the mental health anti-stigma campaign, Time to Change.

Light and sound elements incorporated into the installation by international consultants Hoare Lea, created a default breathing sound coming from each figure. When someone approached one of the pieces from the front, they triggered a proximity sensor and the figure’s ‘burden’ cracked and emitted a glow of light. This cracked structure graphically lessened the weight and the piece spoke positive, uplifting words specially written by a diverse cross section of people including notable poets and writers. Through Talk To Me, Padwick hopes to illustrate the importance of reaching out a hand to someone who is bearing the weight of an issue – through communication these burdens can be lessened.

Armourcoat were pleased to sponsor the Talk To Me project to support this important campaign.

www.steuartpadwick.co.uk/talktome

Photography: Tim Cole