New London ‘Artwork’ Is Actually A Filthy, Cement Covered Radio

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Gear Tape Staff




Passersby in London were left puzzled when they paused to appreciate what they thought was a new “artwork” on display outside the Tate Modern gallery, only to realize it was a worn-out radio.

The Makita DAB radio was placed in a glass container on a pedestal, right in the center of the Millennium Bridge, and instantly captured the attention of onlookers who stopped to scrutinize it. The object sparked conversation among those who came across it.

Christopher Kitchenside, a 37-year-old builder from Borehamwood, London, won a competition to find Britain’s filthiest radio.

The device, which belonged to him, is now on display and is covered in cement, sand, mud, and brick dust from several building sites.

In addition, a golf ball has been drilled into the place where the volume dial should be, and a car aerial has been added after the original one went missing.

Despite being only six years old, the radio’s discolouration caused one Londoner to speculate that it dated back to pre-World War II.

However, a sculptor who happened to be passing by gave it her approval, describing it as a modern masterpiece that deserved to be exhibited alongside her own work at the Tate.

Although art enthusiasts and commuters were convinced of its artistic value, security at the gallery rejected Fix Radio host Jack Edwards’ attempt to deliver the radio.

Christopher Kitchenside, a multi-trade builder, joked that he had owned his radio “longer than most people have been in a relationship” after it was put on display for everyone to see.

He said: “It’s covered in literally everything. I started doing loft conversions so it’s had a bit of sawdust on it and insulation, and we’ve gone from there. It’s had a few different aerials. It’s had screws for aerials.”



Over 40 skilled workers from different parts of the United Kingdom, such as builders, painters, scaffolders, and carpenters, participated in Fix Radio’s contest to discover the UK’s filthiest radio.

One of the runners-up was Tom Morse, a 30-year-old who uses his radio to clean his hands after painting.

The decorator from Bridgend initially believed that he had damaged his radio when he left it outside in the rain for three days. However, to his surprise, the radio miraculously began working again after a week had passed.

Ben Waldron, a 29-year-old painter from Peterborough, experienced a mishap when his Makita DAB radio accidentally fell out of his van.

However, he managed to fix the radio by replacing its aerial with a spring, and he continues to use the device despite its worn-out appearance. Waldron received the radio as a hand-me-down from his boss eight years ago.

Similarly, carpenter Josh Branscombe, aged 32 and from Newcastle, obtained his Dewalt radio by trading a sandwich and a drink.

During one instance, Branscombe did not feel like carrying the radio down from a roof, so he decided to throw it instead.

Surprisingly, only the screen suffered damage, but Branscombe managed to keep the radio working by using a cable as an alternative aerial.

Jack Edwards said: “We wanted to show the art which inspires this generation of builders – the humble radio, which keeps them going throughout the working day.”

[lost in melb.]

That's funny

[PorkChopSandwiches]

It will sell for millions