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New Work: Making East London
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Guanyin II: The Caretaker, Lawrence Lek
A new commission for V&A East’s New Work, exploring the theme Making East London
In this game, set within a reconstruction of V&A East Storehouse’s conservation studio, players search for fragments of a model of ArcelorMittal Orbit, the public sculpture created for the Olympic Park.
Artist Lawrence Lek’s videogame blends everyday environments with futuristic scenarios, to reflect on contemporary working conditions. Playing as a ‘carebot’ called Guanyin – named after the Buddhist goddess of compassion – visitors can access staff-only areas of V&A East Storehouse. As players gather clues about their job, the boundaries between labour and play begin to blur.
Artist Lawrence Lek’s videogame blends everyday environments with futuristic scenarios, to reflect on contemporary working conditions. Playing as a ‘carebot’ called Guanyin – named after the Buddhist goddess of compassion – visitors can access staff-only areas of V&A East Storehouse. As players gather clues about their job, the boundaries between labour and play begin to blur.
Lek’s work raises questions about the role of virtual worlds in preserving physical monuments and objects.
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Header image: Lawrence Lek with 'Guanyin II The Caretaker’, V&A East New Work commission on display at V&A East Storehouse © David Parry for the V&A