The Secret Love Project (See Facebook page to view progress)
The Secret Love Project is an exercise in demonstrating the positive power of symbols (visual language) in human thought and behavior. The project makes up one component of City of Rainbows (#WDC518) which is an officially recognized project of the World Design Capital 2014. The Secret Love Project is a city-wide social engineering experiment that aims to raise positive collective consciousness through the pervasive application of a universally understood symbol.
We are all influenced by the things we see every day; our moods, actions and behaviours are affected by the visual world around us. Is it possible to positively influence the collective consciousness of an entire city through the ubiquitous placement of a commonly understood symbol? A symbol that signifies positive thought processes and is understood across cultural and linguistic barriers. The heart shape has become an unambiguous symbol of love, globally. If we notice this symbol everywhere we go in a city, will it influence our perception of the city itself and even change our mood slightly? And could this in turn influence our thought patterns and feelings and possibly influence our actions?
The project operates subliminally but at a conscious level it’s a giant collaboration with a feel-good factor for anyone and everyone who believes in the simple idea of sharing and spreading love. Sticking a heart to your car, or office window or post-box, or front door is simply saying “I like the idea of love in the world and I want to share it”! It amounts to a very small but beautiful act of being human.
Every heart forms part of the artwork, and the artwork itself is a collective feeling, an emotional reaction that this particular shape elicits.
