Temporary Pleasure has transformed the Barbican car park into an immersive boy racer installation called "Joyride" as part of the venue's "Feel the Sound" exhibition.
The installation reimagines four salvaged cars as a spatial sound system, channelling Y2K boy racer culture where modified vehicles became impromptu dance venues. Founder John Leo Gillen draws from childhood memories of his family's Irish nightclub and early 2000s car culture.
"I grew up obsessed with boy racer culture during the early 2000s: the aesthetics, the cars, this idea of hypermasculinity, but also campness," Gillen explains. "You could arrive, park them up in a circle and this space would become a dance floor.".
The installation reimagines four salvaged cars as a spatial sound system, channelling Y2K boy racer culture where modified vehicles became impromptu dance venues. Founder John Leo Gillen draws from childhood memories of his family's Irish nightclub and early 2000s car culture.
"I grew up obsessed with boy racer culture during the early 2000s: the aesthetics, the cars, this idea of hypermasculinity, but also campness," Gillen explains. "You could arrive, park them up in a circle and this space would become a dance floor."
Joyride, as part of Feel the Sound, is currently showing at the Barbican until 31st August 2025.
Inspiration by Mark
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