The Thrift Oracle
May 2026, LONDON
An immersive installation reclaiming optimism
For a limited run, Joy Bomb presented JOYFUL Abundance - an immersive installation that transformed thrifted relics into an exuberant, eclectic environment where joy was reclaimed as an essential strategy for survival.
In this installation, artist Broch reimagined ordinary consumer materials and vintage objects to create a physical world that celebrated curiosity. By gathering and reassembling ceramics, toys, and ornaments once chosen by strangers, Broch built a sculptural archive of "inherited optimism.”
“These objects reveal how we have historically attempted to engineer small pockets of pleasure within ordinary life,” says Broch. “In this framework, joy shifts from a fleeting feeling to a form of emotional infrastructure.”
A 15-minute sanctuary of humour, play, and unexpected joy
At the heart of the installation sat The Thrift Oracle. Part oracle, part immersive theatre, and part joyful refuge, this experience invited guests into a playful, one-to-one encounter led by the enigmatic JOY Bomb Panda.
Combining humour, theatricality, and curiosity, The Thrift Oracle offered a temporary interruption to the pace and pressures of modern life. Over the course of fifteen minutes, individual visitors were guided through a modern divination ritual filled with hidden messages, unexpected treasures, and moments of deep connection.
Acting as a mediator between the guest and the world of objects, the Panda distributed curated treasures to reinforce the power of play in the face of life's turbulence.
Guests entered the space alone and left carrying a mysterious gift - along with an experience many struggled to put into words.
“The Panda is pure magic; it’s like stepping into a dream where you’re finally allowed to just play”
“A surreal, heart-warming, rare moment of pure, unfiltered joy that stays with you long after you leave”