Personal Shopper: Cornucopia!

Personal Shopper: Cornucopia! was the culmination of a 3 year project by Katie Etheridge & Simon Persighetti exploring and celebrating the rich network of relationships between shoppers, traders and goods in Kirkgate Market.

In the sensory labyrinth of Leeds Kirkgate Market, Personal Shopper: Cornucopia! was the market in microcosm, a 21st Century Still Life of fruit, fish, textiles, jewellery, frying pans, friends and experiences. Offering a pick-and-mix selection of micro tours led by local shoppers, traders, market enthusiasts and mis-guides, Katie and Simon invited audiences to navigate the Market through a series of idiosyncratic Personal Shopper tours where poetic, playful and practical insights are intertwined with personal histories, individual passions, and lived experiences. 

This project has empowered and inspired those who had taken part. There are clear reflections on values and place within the market, including that all participants have a common thread: ‘we are all united by our love for food and local produce’ (Kathryn Garnett, Personal Shopper Participant). This project provided an opportunity to leave a legacy on the market stall holders and customers through positive interactions with the community.