Artist Lucy Sparrow has created an immersive and nostalgic installation in London’s Mayfair with The Bourdon Street Chippy, a traditional fish and chip shop crafted entirely from felt. Situated within the Lyndsey Ingram Gallery, the 46-square-metre space has been transformed into a strikingly authentic yet entirely fabric-based chippy. Everything from the fish and chips to the shop interior, including menus, signage, and seating, comprises 65,000 meticulously handcrafted felt pieces.

Sparrow, known for her tactile and imaginative reconstructions of everyday spaces—such as previous felt supermarkets and sex shops—chose the fish and chip shop as her latest subject due to its iconic status as a beloved British institution. She explained to Dezeen that her work focuses on shared experience and nostalgia, celebrating communal places familiar to many. “The chippy is such a strong example of that,” she noted.

The production process was extensive, spanning eight months to complete the staggering volume of individual felt components. Fifteen distinct chip shapes in five different colours were created to mimic the variety and authenticity of a real fish and chip shop. The “cooked” meals feature googly-eyed fish, chips, mushy peas, battered sausages, pies, and condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise, vinegar, and sea salt crystals—all hand-stitched by Sparrow.

The installation’s interior includes handmade banquette seating and a traditional counter crafted from fabric. Walls are adorned with blue-and-white felt tiles and decorated in the style of classic chip shops, featuring menus, shop signs, and a “wall of fame” showcasing over 50 hand-painted portraits of actors, artists, and celebrities. Among them is a portrait of Tracey Emin, who both inspires Sparrow and has previously visited her earlier exhibition at Bourdon Street.

Describing her creative approach, Sparrow said her installations represent “felt realities” or parallel universes where the familiar becomes alien yet authentic, aiming to transport visitors to a new yet recognizable place. Visitors to The Bourdon Street Chippy can also purchase the felted food items, allowing the tactile experience to be taken home.

Open from 1 August to 14 September 2025, the exhibition is free to the public and offers a unique blend of craftsmanship, humour, and cultural homage to one of Britain’s most beloved culinary traditions. The Bourdon Street Chippy continues Sparrow’s exploration of nostalgic communal spaces, inviting visitors to engage with an art form that reimagines everyday life through fabric and imagination.

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Source: Noah Wire Services