The Exchange

The Exchange is a touring public artwork operating at the intersection of conversation, technology and heritage. Designed as both a visual landmark and a space of encounter, the work transforms everyday public settings into places for pause, dialogue and shared reflection.

Originally commissioned by Havering London to explore the deep, 775-year history of market life in Romford, The Exchange draws on traditions of trade, gathering and storytelling that are common to towns and cities across the UK. Using light, contemporary technologies and hosting practices, the artwork connects past and present, inviting people to reflect on how histories are carried, exchanged and re-made through everyday social life.

Adaptable to different contexts, The Exchange embeds itself within each new location, responding to local histories and voices. It proposes public space as a living archive — shaped not only by buildings and objects, but by conversation, encounter and collective memory.