We’ve all looked up at the sky before and seen a cloud taking on the form of another life; maybe even resembling something or someone vaguely human. Next week, Covent Garden will be adorned with some clouds that do the same thingonly this time they’re part of an art installation taking over the iconic Market Building, and the pieces will all be taking on the very human action of smiling.
A pair of LA-based artists are bringing their Little Cloud World large-scale pieces to Central London in an exhibit that’s the first of its kind since 2021. Thanks to Samuel Borkson & Arturo Sandoval III – FriendsWithYou, you’ll be treated to the sight of 40 inflatable clouds smiling away at you when you head into the Market Building in search of a trinket or bite to eat.
Little Cloud World
Promising to create a ‘portal into a happy place’, the Little Cloud World is comprised of 4ft tall clouds grinning away at visitors as they enter the buildingand hopes to spread kindness and joy around the centre of the city at the end of the summer. And, it has to be said, they’re a damn sight more likely to do just that than the grey days we’ve endured for much of the warmer season this year!
The FriendsWithYou art collaboration exists to be a symbol of peace and community that can be felt around the world, with the Little Cloud developed over the last 20 years having been seen all around, from New York City to Japan.
Covent Garden’s summer installations aren’t just about delivering a smile to everyone who passes through, either. They’re partnering with Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), the charity that works towards helping those struggling with suicidal thoughts and provide life-saving services to many and broaden the conversation to bring people together. Multiple donation stations will be set up across Covent Gardenwith businesses in the area also offering items with proceeds going towards the charity. After the Little Cloud World installations have put a smile on your face, you can play a part, however small, in helping CALM’s mission.
Speaking on their installation, the duo FriendsWithYou said: “Covent Garden is one of the most iconic areas of London. As you enter, we invite you to play and dream of a better more friendly world that we will create together. Our aim for this installation is to become a beacon of love and compassion, and we can’t wait to see how people interact and engage with it.”
The ‘Litte Cloud World’ installations will arrive in Covent Garden’s Market Hall on August 1, and will remain until October.
