The matchbox project
The Matchbox Project
I’m constantly inspired and impressed by the enthusiasm and energy of some of the younger employees in my team – to be honest I find it one of the highlights of my job.
Sonya – a young current affairs producer is also what I call a multimedia artist, who works on a number of little projects on the side, even though she works a full five-day week here at SBS.
My favourite is The Matchbox Project – a simple yet compelling idea that Sonya has been running for a couple of years now. I think she describes the project best at the beginning of each blog entry:
Each week, a decorated matchbox with a tiny present hidden inside is left by a girl (and sometimes willing friends) somewhere in her travels. It’s a random act of semi-artistic kindness aimed at disrupting someone’s day in a tiny but positive way. That’s if they dare to pick it up…
The project has landed her a slot at the Australian Centre for Photography – as part of a little exhibition entitled Acts of Disobedience. Sonya’s even thrown in a big jar containing another 100 decorated matchboxes for people to leave around the city themselves. The idea is you take a matchbox, hide it and SMS or email back with the location, which is then placed on the project’s interactive map.
You can also follow The Matchbox Project on Twitter to keep up to date with the boxes and where they may end up around the city.
There’s something really endearing about this that I love – a simple random act of kindness that may not even be discovered – and a project that has been faithfully maintained for about two years now. I’m looking forward to taking a couple of matchboxes and dropping them off in my neighbourhood around Balmain/Rozelle on the weekend!
Seems I’m not the only one who likes this. A quick google search uncovered this blog about the project, while that heavy-hitting cultural touchstone website, cool hunting featured the concept in March this year.
So if you’re in Sydney and wandering up Oxford Street in Paddington go check it out – and don’t forget to grab a matchbox on the way through and brighten up someone’s day…
