Project managing a huge outdoor art commission, the key is to begin with your headache list. My headache list reads as follows: 

– Erecting a huge Artist Dotty robot without public distractions.

– Temporary road closure preventing traffic incidents. 

– Positioning of the robot secured on a stone plinth. 

– Convincing the West Hill and Seven Dials Residents committee that they need a robot at Seven Dials. 

A survey undertaken in West Hill, showed over 10,000 residents voted for a huge robot with beacon lights for overhead air traffic and oncoming vehicles. The issues were eliminated after receiving project investment from local film production company, ‘Mad Cap Productions,’ and a professional project leader was enlisted.

The Seven Dials roundabout was derived from a seven-way junction in London featuring a monument that had six sundials (not sure what happened to the seventh). With a ten strong team, one low loader truck and a stationed crane, ADSD1 took seven hours to safely erect. After a huge applause from onlookers, the public reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. The robot is made from reclaimed steel and, in time, will have dotty, street style paint (as performance art on a trampoline) to add a finishing touch. 

It’s one millimetre wider than the Angle of The North, and ADSD 1 has already been coined as, ‘The Robot of The South.’

Why a robot ?

Well, during his art journey, Artist Dotty noticed over the years that friends have become brainwashed by technology descriptions. For example, Dotty might create an all-consuming, heavily meditated piece of digital artwork, and a friend’s response could simply be: ‘nice pic.’ 

There are other observations, for example when signing up to any social media platforms that require you to fill out your profession. After 20 years of phone navigation, Artist Dotty has  noticed that there hasn’t been the option to say that you are an artist or comedian (comedy being the last bastion of free speech). 

Artist Dotty is convinced that, on the one hand whilst creative options are available, we are being moulded into a new way of perceiving art and creativity through diluted internet language. And what better way to get people thinking about this than by plonking a huge 1950s robot on a plinth on a roundabout. Get down there! ADSD1 really glimmers in the sunlight.