Christopher Bailey
The V&A is a magical space that takes you back to bygone days. It is a place where you can dream and witness the most beautiful craftsmanship from other cultures, societies or times. The bird that we created by hand was to celebrate the freedom of the imagination and how lucky we are to have such a wonderful museum in the centre of London.
Sara de Bondt
The words ‘V&A 150’ are constructed from a cut-up May 2007 exhibition guide floorplan. You can tell that it's from last month by the fact that it says ‘Surreal Things’ in the top right of the V. When I was walking around the building thinking of what to do for the album, I discovered a whole wing I had never seen before. This inspired me to have a closer look at the map.
My original idea was to steal the temporary sign that reads 'Japan is closed, please use the entrance at the other end'. It was a xeroxed piece of paper, which was the same size as the anniversary album (A3), stuck on a door in the museum. But I got cold feet; the guard was looking grumpy because I had already spent half a morning photographing all the 1's, 5's and 0's I could spot. Very inspirational place, that V&A!
Michael Craig Martin
I initially intended to make an image for the V&A that would combine line drawings of several objects in reference to different areas of the museum's collections, with similar outline drawings of the letters V, A, and &. Whilst working I realized that my drawing of a belt was remarkably similar to the '&'. I replaced the '&' with the belt, and the image was there.
About ten years ago the V&A seemed the saddest of the great London museums, as though overwhelmed by falling attendance (the result of admission charges), a loss of clarity and confidence about its core role, and an atmosphere of dowdiness and neglect. Its complete revival over recent years is a great achievement, and a tribute to the efforts of all those who made this happen.
Greyworld
It must be difficult being the V&A- this eccentric, ecclectic Chocolate Box, full of fabulousness. It must be protected at all costs. Do not dump rubbish!
