Ticket Machine for Timiebi
In October 2019 we were invited by United for Global Mental Health to design and produce an artwork as part of the Museum of Lost and Found Potential. The museum shares 16 interactive portraits of people from around the world. Through real and imagined artefacts, visitors are transported to lost and found chapters in the lives of the people.
The Ticket Machine is an interpretation of a part of Timiebi’s story. Timiebi is from Nigeria and came to study in London. Due to her mental health she never managed to finish her studies. After she returned to Nigeria, she hesitantly went to a health care centre to seek for help. She thought “only crazy people” would go there but when she arrived at the centre in the morning she realised that the people in the waiting room didn’t look crazy at all. She had to pull a ticket from a machine to wait in line. Her number in the queue was 140 even though it was early morning, which made her realise that she really is not the only one with a mental health problem - a stigma which is still widespread in Nigeria.
The Ticket Machine tells episodes of Timbiebi’s life story, written by herself. Each of the 6 printers tells a different part of her story which feeds into the next printer up until the last one, where the visitor can take a part of her story with them. Every time the visitor pushes the button to get a ticket the cycle starts again.
The Ticket Machine is made from powder coated aluminium, nylon connectors, six receipt printers and 3D printed casings. All cables are hidden inside the aluminium frame.
Installation commissioned by United for Global Mental Health, as part of the Museum of Lost and Found Potential, curated by Andy Franzkowiac
Concept - Nestor Pestana
Design, production and programming - Unit Lab