€40 + postage / in-store collection available

Bob Bicknell-Knight's recent show at Number 1 Main Road ‘Sunday School’ centred around Wally - a fictional character representing a loot box - from his video work ‘Pay To Play’. Loot boxes are consumable virtual treasure chests which can be redeemed, often with real money, to receive a randomised selection of virtual items. The exhibition focused on predatory monetisation practices within virtual experiences and the prevalence of gambling mechanics in mainstream video games, drawing connections between the gamification of everyday life, the incorporation of loot boxes in gaming, and the pervasive nature of Christianity in the English school system.

Images c/o Number 1 Main Road

Bob Bicknell-Knight is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and writer. His creative practice explores power structures present in the digital realm and emerging technologies, particularly the automation of work and the rise of hyper consumerism.

Growing up in England during the late 90s and early 2000s, he attended a Church of England school. Here, the daily assemblies involving Bible readings and hymns left a lasting impression on him. This influence is paralleled in his exploration of how loot boxes have become ingrained in mainstream video games, shaping the perceptions of children who have grown up with these mechanics as a normal part of their gaming experience.

© Bob Bicknell-Knight