Cheeky gallery dedicated to nation’s messaging blunders opens across the UK

• More than two thirds of Brits admit to embarrassment after sending a cringe inducing message
• Some of the nation’s most awkward encounters have been transformed into art by Babak Ganjei, on display in The BEEP Show.
• The not-so-smooth exchanges celebrate the launch of the very smooth FUNKIN COCKTAILS IRN-BRU Vodka Martini

From naughty notes sent to the worst possible person, to autocorrects gone wrong, texting doesn’t always go as planned.

New research shows that Brits might be lacking some smoothness in messaging, with 40% admitting to sending something they instantly regret—and now, some of the most cringe-worthy examples are on display in a hilarious art exhibition created by witty, viral artist Babak Ganjei.

Whether it’s failed flirting, group chat mix-ups, or more risqué exchanges, 70% of us have wanted to crawl into a hole because of a cringeworthy text but this new exhibition shows that something beautiful can come from even the most awkward situations.

Together with Babak, known for his uniquely confessional style of observational word art based on the world around him, IRN-BRU and FUNKIN Cocktails are opening The BEEP Show, packed full of awkward digital encounters submitted by those who can laugh about it now across the UK.

Marking the release of FUNKIN IRN-BRU Vodka Martini, combining the indescribable taste of IRN-BRU with the velvety smooth texture of a Martini, the exhibition will spotlight many of the not so smooth exchanges we’re having every day.

Steamy DMs rank highly with almost a third of Brits confessing to having typed one, leading to over half of sharers wishing they hadn’t. But instead of hiding away until the fear goes, IRN-BRU and FUNKIN Cocktails are opening galleries in Shoreditch and Glasgow to pay tribute to some of the most embarrassing real-life scenarios passed between two phones – with the rudest words censored with the famous BEEP from the collab’s launch film.

Babak said: “I’m not the smoothest operator with my phone, it’s so easy to make mistake – and I’ve done it too – but we can have a good laugh about it afterwards and that’s why IRN-BRU and FUNKIN Cocktails are opening these exhibitions. The memories also make for good material for my work.”

Ashley Birch-Ruffell, Brand Director at FUNKIN quote: “FUNKIN COCKTAIL’S IRN-BRU Vodka Martini is smooth so you don’t have to be. Not everyone is a message maestro and our research shows the majority of us have experienced a heavy dose of cringe when chatting by text. Babak has turned these fails into fine art and we’re so pleased to be able to share it.”

Kenny Nicholson, Head of Brand at IRN-BRU said:“These galleries are a chance to embrace those BEEP moments with a smooth FUNKIN IRN-BRU cocktail in hand.  To celebrate the first ever official IRN-BRU alcoholic cocktail, we wanted to take a minute to appreciate some of the not so smooth moments which the nation are navigating every day.” 

The new serve, which can be enjoyed any time, anywhere, was recently unveiled with a cheeky  film which shows three friends getting ready to go out and chatting about all the places they’ve enjoyed a good ‘BEEP’, with an ending revealing they’re talking about all the places they’ve had a FUNKIN IRN-BRU Vodka Martini.

The BEEP Show is open to the public on 29th and 30th November at 2 Charlotte Road in London and Social Hub in Glasgow for visitors aged 18+.