Want to pledge allegiance to something? Advertise your great taste? Write your own slogans? Do it all in the humble form of the badge.The travelling badge machine was first available for use at chelsea College last December. Since then it has been to Brick Lane Arches, Arts weeks in Southfields and Scott Wilkie Primary School, where I encouraged kids to cut up magazines and collage dada style. Next I want to take it to a service station in middle-England (well where else do you get service stations?)

It was not until the end of the nineteenth century that badges began being made in any quantity in Britain. This was precipitated by the emergence of clubs and societies, the beginning of seaside holidays and tourism which created a need for souvenirs. The use of the badge as an expression of political allegiance grew between the war years: union amalgamations, growth of working class struggle, the 1926 general strike, all causes for protest and thus affiliation.

Since then, badges bearing logos/slogans have been popular with charities, campaigns, protest movements and especially popular youth cultures, which often centre around music. During the 60s no one in the protest movement was without a CND sign badge. Punk had a tremendous effect on the badge trade. Every one, it seemed, wanted a badge depicting their favourite.

The use of badges in popular culture can be seen in relation to concepts of borrowing from the dominant culture. The standardised shop-name badge of the work world is replaced by the fantastic icon badge from the spectacular field of leisure. Like pearlies, excessively adorned bodies display commitment, devotion, passion. These badges were mainly souvenirs from the music scene and the things which grew around it. Music was the unifying cultural force. Festivals, gigs and clubs were places where groups could congregate away from the adult world.

Today it is impossible to speak of the badge without referring to the logo and inevitably the brand. Brands are social heiroglyphs. Though the brand is more than simply a name or trademark, the logo is the point of entry to the brand. The logo exemplifies the symbol of belonging and affiliation with regard to consumer taste. It is almost impossible to buy an item which does not bear the stamp of affiliation, both literally and metaphorically.

Although the badge was used as brand souvenir throughout its history, this was not its foremost use. The badge could be seen as a potential anti-logo. It is easy to see the badge as a symbolic reflection of the logo; as something which is brandished on the lapel, it being a similar shape and size . This is not to suggest that all badge wearers intend to make an anti-logo statement, just to suggest that some of them wish to convey the message that they identify with something else. This may be at an entirely unconscious level.

Branding is reknowned for its use of myth and nostalgia to tap into consumer desires. Is the youthful rebellion of the 60’s and 70’s; hippy and punk movements, really just another brand? Nostalgia for a more politically pro-active era? Just another empty sign in our world of never ending signs?

In part I see the badge machine project as a response to subcultural co-option in its many forms.Also as a means of extracting belief and facilitating moments of subversion, from a variety of different kinds of people.

The badge is perhaps a humble form of public art, similar to a t-shirt. Humble is perhaps the operative word here. I hardly believe the donning of a badge is an affront to world politics. However, I do believe it holds symbolic power. In offering other people the use of my badge machine, it was an attempt to bring production of a statement back into our own hands.

Perhaps a badge is no more than a token gesture? Is a token gesture necessarily a bad thing? Ribbons of various colours worn on the lapel are the current choice for expressing affiliation with a cause. From the red aids ribbons to heritage green save the countryside ribbons, they can act as signs of solidarity. They can also act as signs of an underlying passivity in some cases. Put a pound in a box and wear a ribbon but do little more than that. The badge could easily be accused of this. Regardless, I still believe it can act as a powerful gesture of empathy and identification. In days gone by the recently bereaved wore black arm bands to signify their plight. Outward signs have a history of acting as important social signifiers.

You can make your very own badge, when the machine visits your school! Bring images of all your favourite things!......