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Listening To Joy

A colourful, interactive installation celebrating the joy of play is now open at V&A Dundee

A young musician creating music on a circular xylophone

Listening to Joy is a new interactive playscape designed by Yinka Ilori for visitors of all ages. Supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery, the experience is free to enjoy at V&A Dundee.

Play And Create

This vibrant and colourful installation, created especially for V&A Dundee, employs pattern, music and colour to shape and inspire joy and fun for families of all ages.

The playscape of brightly coloured zippable mesh walls forms a maze that can be opened and closed, creating new ways to change the space. Visitors can also experiment with sound making, using two circular xylophones.

The music created will be recorded, mixed and transformed into a series of musical pieces, recording the fun, joy and laughter the maze provokes.

Power Of Design

Designer Yinka Ilori is a London-based multi-disciplinary artist who specialises in storytelling by fusing his British and Nigerian heritage to tell new stories in contemporary design. He began his practice in 2011 upcycling vintage furniture, inspired by the traditional Nigerian parables and West African fabrics that surrounded him as a child. 

Yinka said, "I am honoured and humbled to work with V&A Dundee to create my first design project in Scotland. Listening to Joy is a celebration of play, an essential experience to enjoying life as well as practising our problem-solving skills.

"Play should be collaborative, so I have created this installation for visitors of all ages to explore sounds, colours and patterns in a shared space."

Sophie McKinlay, Director of Programme at V&A Dundee, said, "Yinka Ilori's brilliant, bold installation, Listening to Joy, is a celebration of the power of play.

"Created especially for V&A Dundee, Yinka's first design project in Scotland is an immersive and fun new installation to spark the imagination."

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People's Postcode Lottery, said, "Listening to Joy will bring much fun and laughter to visitors at V&A Dundee, and it wouldn't have been possible without our players. I'm delighted that players support V&A Dundee in sharing the inspiring power of design with everyone."

Listening to Joy is open until 24 April 2022 on the ground floor of the Locke Hall in V&A Dundee and is free to visit.

Making A Difference

People's Postcode Lottery players are helping deserving causes like V&A Dundee make a difference every single day. Read more about the range of Charities which our players support.