Dezeen Magazine

"I brought bird cages back to the Seven Dials area" - Dominic Wilcox

Designer Dominic Wilcox describes why he chose to hang a row of bird cages above a street in London in the next movie we filmed about the Seven Designers for Seven Dials aerial installations curated by Dezeen.

"I brought bird cages back to the Seven Dials area" - Dominic Wilcox

"I found a book called Dickens' Dictionary of London, written by Charles Dickens' son," says Wilcox. "In that book he describes the Seven Dials area as having many pet shops, with birds from all over the world."

"I brought bird cages back to the Seven Dials area" - Dominic Wilcox

Strung across the street in a line, the bird cages were left open to symbolise that the pet shops have now been replaced by clothes and shoe stores, though Wilcox claims he spotted a few birds using the cages.

"I brought bird cages back to the Seven Dials area" - Dominic Wilcox

Dezeen commissioned seven young designers to create seven installations to hang above the streets of Covent Garden during last year's London Design Festival, and Wilcox's The Birds of Seven Dials installation was located on Neal Street.

"I brought bird cages back to the Seven Dials area" - Dominic Wilcox

Watch Faye Toogood talk through her installation of 49 worker's coats in the first movie from this series here.

"I brought bird cages back to the Seven Dials area" - Dominic Wilcox

Wilcox presents more of his projects in a movie we filmed at Dezeen Live, a series of talks at 100% Design during London Design Festival.

"I brought bird cages back to the Seven Dials area" - Dominic Wilcox

Photography is by Mark Cocksedge.

"I brought bird cages back to the Seven Dials area" - Dominic Wilcox

The music featured in the movie is a song called Blue Sapphire by Remote Scenes. You can listen to the full track on Dezeen Music Project.

See all our stories about design by Dominic Wilcox »
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See all our coverage of London Design Festival 2012 »