Corbin Shaw made a really big egg for a really good cause

Corbin Shaw is one of 100 names to decorate a 2ft egg for The Big Egg Hunt, a London-wide project organised by the Elephant Family charity to raise awareness and funds for conservation projects.

Corbin’s egg, however, is also raising money for foodbanks, a cause he focussed on last year when he worked with the North Paddington Foodbank on the ​“No Food in the House” campaign.

“It’s crucial to support the foodbank network because times are tough for many people right now,” the Sheffield-born, London-based artist says of the egg, which features a security tag to highlight the number of household goods similarly tagged in supermarkets.

Next to the egg (which, spoiler, is hidden inside the Barbican), visitors will be able to find a QR code to donate to the Independent Food Aid Network. We gave Corbin a ring to find out more.

Hello Corbin! Where does the inspiration for your egg come from?

Supermarkets have always had security measures, like tags, on expensive items. But in recent years, they’ve taken it a step further, wrapping products in metal cages with tags to stop shoplifting.

When I saw things like baby formula locked in these individual cages, it hit me how much we’re living in a capitalist dystopia. I started thinking about how far these security measures might go, like caging individual eggs. It didn’t feel that far-fetched to imagine a future where every product on the shelf was locked up in its own cage.

Why is this cause important to you?

Things were already difficult, and they’re only getting worse. With Keir Starmer making significant cuts to the benefits system, it will have devastating effects on the most vulnerable in this country. It feels incredibly heartless. So this seemed like a great opportunity to present something to a wider community. From the get-go I knew I wanted to focus on making something that would spark conversation, and to raise money for a cause closer to home alongside.

Hear, hear. How good are you at Easter egg hunts, Corbin?

I don’t agree with hunting.

OK, but how do you like your eggs?

Fried, no nonsense.

Have you ever rolled an egg down the hill at Easter?

I don’t think so. I’ve definitely rolled down one after Easter.

What’s the best egg pun you can muster right now?

The yolks on you if you don’t go see my egg at the Barbican!

Thanks, Corbin!

You can read more about The Big Egg Hunt here, would you believe.