Decades-Long Collection of Discarded Shopping Lists Transformed into Art Exhibition

For over two decades, Kyleigh Orlebar has been collecting abandoned shopping lists in her local area. This practice began when she discovered a piece of paper outside a building society in Wimborne, Dorset. Upon opening it, she found a list prominently featuring “peas, custard, mince.” After placing it in her pocket, she subsequently realized that the list was inscribed on the reverse side of a typed, personal letter. Intrigued by this brief insight into an unknown individual’s life, she has continued to collect lists, which have now culminated in an exhibition. Ms. Orlebar, a papercut artist, has amassed a collection exceeding 200 lists, encountering them on sidewalks, in shopping baskets, and inside trolleys. She commented: “It’s fascinating to look at, we’ve even got a list of lists… You can find the most unexpected things on a list – ‘crisps, biscuits, lamp, black pants, socks’.” She added: “They make me laugh. It’s a snapshot into a little piece of life.” The display also showcases artistic creations by other artists, each responding to a specific selected list. According to Orlebar: “Jen Hobbs’ favourite list was a scrawled piece of cardboard with just ‘eight bananas’ written on it so she has created this Andy Warhol-esque piece.” She further explained: “Another artist has taken what’s on the list and created a person who she imagined created the list and all the items on it.” The lists are categorized by criteria such as supermarket aisles, spelling errors, and abbreviations. A trolley is provided for visitors to contribute their own lists, which will then join the collection. The exhibition, titled Lists: A Lost & Found, is on display at the Coda music and arts centre in Christchurch and will conclude on 24 December. For updates, BBC Dorset can be followed on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites and provides information regarding its external linking policy.