MY LAST CAR

Interview with Al Dix, Director of 509 Arts

In this podcast interview, the director of 509 Arts, Al Dix, explains the ethos behind his company's new gallery installation and theatre event My Last Car, showing at Warwick Arts Centre until Sat Oct 8th. He also tells his personal car story, and ponders on what the world would be like if cars were consigned to the history books.

Do you remember your first car? How about your last? My Last Car is an installation and performance, commissioned by Warwick Arts Centre, that explores our love affair with the motor car. Featuring video and a motor soundscape, the star of the show is a soft-top Rover 216 Cabriolet, broken down into its component parts.

'Even if we don't own a car, we have an emotional relationship with cars,' explains Dix, 'they're such a dominant feature in society today that we live life through cars one way or another. For some people they're very special objects which they love and cherish, and for other people, they're everyday utilitarian vehicles for getting to work or taking the kids to school or they're objects of great displeasure and distaste, especially if you cycle in a city. So everybody's got a car story - that's basically at the heart of My Last Car.'

Listen to the podcast below.

By Penelope Jenkins