Mario Boxes
This was an IGNUCULT intervention in response to several events. The first was this story. On 31st May, 2006, Five teenage girls in Ohio, USA, inspired by some public art they saw on the internet, left a series of brightly-coloured, cartoonish boxes and other ephemera resembling those from old Super Mario Bros games scattered around their home town of Ravenna. The local police responded by calling out their Hazmat and Bomb Disposal teams, and told the girls they could face serious charges. Reports claim that they were subsequently released without charge.
In the second event, just 26 days later, five 'suspected nail bombs' placed on street corners and in public parks brought West London to a halt. These bizarre objects included a wooden pot with nails driven into it, cardboard boxes containing soft toys, and a small altar bearing flowers and notes of rememberance. After examination, no explosives were found, and some hours later a woman walked into Hammersmith police station and claimed the objects as her art. She was arrested an bailed, but subsequently let off with a caution, an outcome which provoked fury from the usual suspects. She was named as Monica Saieva, and little else is known about her, apart from her involvement with an arts organisation called Planet Fresh.
Researching these events, the IGNUCULT came across the original instigator, Posterchild, and a site detailing the construction and spread of the mario boxes, which can be found here.
What else could we do?
Preparation
The note inside the box reads: "CONGRATULATIONS! You've got a mushroom power-up! Please let us know that you found it!" An email address follows, and a link to the Posterchild site. The other box contained a flower power-up.
Wrapping and painting the boxes
Strings attached, awaiting hanging
Box One
A beautiful day in Finsbury Park in North London, the first box was hung beneath an overhanging tree, so that it would only be noticed by those passing directly beneath it.
Returning a week later, this box had already disappeared.
Box Two
Coming soon...