British Aisles explores the coalescing of commerce and national identity in the ‘international food’ aisles of US grocery stores, creating a space for a playful renegotiation of rules and borders. British-born, US-based artist Ben Coleman's mixed media installation cross-examines the products most often located in the British section (tea, chocolate, curry sauce, etc.) Each has a tale to tell about empire, commerce, nationalism and the performance of cultural identity. Arranged together on the shelves they are participants in an elaborate dance of meaning and signification, hidden in plain sight in the seemingly mundane environment of the store.

What secret purposes and hidden interests are served by the deliberate theater of the supermarket, and what role do we play as customers? Can we find new ways to play with our food?

Mixed media installation with sound score, featured at 'Controlled Burn' group exhibition at The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA), June-August 2019, Atlanta GA.

This project is supported in-part through an investment from Idea Capital, a community-based pool of funds created by and for the Atlanta arts community.

Photography by Gavin Bernard.