molly v. dierks evokes consumerism with neon shopping cart

US media artist and designer molly valentine dierks perceives shopping carts as a symbol of wealth, capitalism, and socially constructed identities. her practice investigates patterns of consumption and industrial production as frameworks for social identity and behavior. in response to that reflection, she developed neon shopping cart. the idea was born out of a 9 month apprenticeship with this neon lights — resulting in the completion of the artwork in 2014.

neon shopping cart as an installation

the project consists of a full-scale shopping cart built on neon, and functioning as an installation that can be placed in different contexts. using neon —a dying art form that recalls american prosperity and industry— elevated the form of the cart to a status of divine consumerism and cultural identity.

molly valentine dierks conducted her research for neon shopping cart by taking hundreds of photographs of shopping carts across the world; the use of that object in each context provided a snapshot into the surrounding city and local culture.

full view of the 1:1 neon shopping cart installation

a few examples of the shopping carts being used in different places, for various purposes:

richmond, VA — shoppers filling the carts with expensive organic items, directly across the street from people who used the cart to store their valuables. 

new york — the artist’s fujianese neighbors are pushing carts at dawn to collect recyclables

university of michigan — college students without cars pushing the carts home to their dorms

south africa — residents of different townships ‘carting’ scavenged items to their houses

detail of the neon shopping cart

the context in which the piece is placed evokes its use base on local cultures

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom