Liberty London's 'The Dark Side of Liberty' Merges Counterculture and Contemporary Art

Liberty London has launched an exhibition titled 'The Dark Side of Liberty,' featuring works by four artists and an architect. The show aims to revive the store's youth clothing line by tapping into London's counterculture and psychedelic music of the 1970s. Artists Jared Madere, Alex Morrison, Joris Van de Moortel, and Julie Verhoeven, along with architect Satyajit Das, were invited to explore the 'dark side' of the building. Verhoeven created a psychedelic multimedia installation, Morrison a trompe l'oeil window sculpture, Van de Moortel an audio installation, and Madere a large wooden comet. Das contributed a giant metallic pig referencing Pink Floyd's 'Animals' album cover. The exhibition redefines the retail space, bringing a nostalgic countercultural vibe to the heart of the City. Other European department stores have also embraced art: Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris hosts the Galerie des Galeries, which recently closed 'Art d'Afrique' featuring Nigerian photographer Lakin Ogunbanwo, and currently runs 'Le jour qui vient' curated by Marie-Ann Yemsi, including artists Igshaan Adams and Ruby Onyinyechi Amanze. In Kyoto, Takashimaya held 'Life & Art & Takashimaya' in 2014, blending company history with works by Takeuchi Seihō and Kawai Kanjirō. Milan's La Rinascente also integrates art into its store and window displays, as seen during Design Week with Paola Pivi.