Laboratory 12

Taking over the world one shoe at a time. Creator of this interesting exhibition Benjamin John Hall took inspiration from current geopolitical issues and espionage, his starting point being the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko. The title of this exhibition, Laboratory 12 is one name for the KGB’s secret poison laboratory tasked with developing colourless, tasteless, odourless poisons. One such poison, Polonium – was identified as Litvinenko’s cause of death. Through a collection of highly engineered footwear, Hall explores the extent to which governments potentially could or already are securing their best interests in a current global political and economic environment that is marked by uncertainty. Each of the eight pairs of shoes on display in this exhibition highlights a specific notion or concept unearthed through his extensive research into documented tactics used by various security agencies worldwide. These range from subtle psychological warfare to concealed recording devices. Who knew footwear could be so dangerous?