I've moved on...
...to a different domain. Why, what were you thinking? The truth is, I just woke up one day and decided it's time for a change—a metamorphosis, if you will; or, in layman's terms, if Britney can shave her head, then maybe so can I? Nevertheless, it's been a rather handsome 10 years of talking to you, and thank you for putting up with all my moodswings and terrible dad jokes. Fear not! The hormonal imbalance and jokes are more terrible on CUBICLE, see you there.

James Freeman Gallery in N1; What I’m wearing: Jacket – ASOS, Dress – c/o AA, Sweater – c/o Maska, Shoes – Cutesyshoes, Bag – c/o JHYoo

I know I’m probably shaking up the blog’s niche bottle blog by posting about random fine art – if I start writing about gas exhaust pipe models then you’ll know when to pull that Niche Alarm. No, not Nietzsche – Niche, ‘fish’ with an Italian accent, and swap the f with an n. Some bloggers can learn a thing or two googling that word, not that I’m being a good example right now.

Anyway, enough with the snark. To borrow the common-used phrase from the web: You’ll poop bricks when you see it. I had the opportunity to pop by HyeMin’s exhibition the other day and really did go in my pants when I understood the illustrations. She’d pen-drawn IKEA products straight out of the catalogue along with their prices, and was then selling the artworks for that retail price. So if the price of the kitchen-set was £820 after the January Sale, then the illustration cost £820. The idea was to explore the relationship between original work vs. mass production, both in price and concept. Throughout the hour circling the basement of the James Freeman gallery, guests were picking up affordable items, (i.e. Lampstand for £12.99) and purchasing them straight off the artist. The amazing thing about this, other than the fact that she was making a lot of easy dough, was that this was essentially performance art – with her acting both as creator and salesperson.

Fun! Me not smart enough to explain how that has any relevance to fashion but I’m sure those smarter than me figured that one out already.

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40 Comments

  1. Mei-Lien

    Genius! I should start drawing Aston Martins and uber-expensive yachts and sell them according to their real price. Me joke. Anyway, the idea and the hidden message is great. :)

  2. O yah, we should draw MONEY and sell it.

  3. Wow! love it!!

    Love from Seoul,
    Nostalgic Senses

    http://nostalgicsenses.blogspot.com

  4. As a senior graduating with a BFA in Ceramics and Photography, I sincerely enjoy your documentation of fantastic exhibits that I would otherwise never see! :)

  5. I really like her drawings! I find the concept pretty interesting, too

  6. Jasmin

    the concept is great! sarcastic much?
    your boots are gorgeous!

    http://unefilleunreve.blogspot.com

  7. The drawing s are so cute, and I absolutely adore HyeMin’s eyes and cutesy smile.

  8. No need to apologise for inching outside of your niche a bit. I love checking out art. Except when it’s really bad or lazy. Then I have to force myself to do a swoop of the exhibition before leaving.

  9. The gallery looks nice!

    http://sweetraspberryjam.blogspot.com/

    XOXO

  10. Apart from the whole theory about the exhibition… I think it was pure experience. White walls, small works, one size, simple drawings… I like that!

  11. That really is such a cool concept! I think everyone should venture out of their niche on occasion. And this is certainly a worthwhile departure!

  12. I really, really like this concept! Does she have more work? Please link us to her website, if she has one.

  13. @a., Hey hey, found it! http://hparkart.com/

  14. what a fun idea with the artwork. hihi. and oh. that guy you mentioned-Nietzsche- oh how i loath his way of thinking..
    hope you’re having a good monday

  15. Such a great concept.
    I’m sending this to link my brother. He will LOVE this. He’s an interior designer for Ikea and he (like the rest of the employees from what i’ve seen) seem to have been into some scandanavian furniture loving cult on their first day!

  16. The best way for me to describe what I see is tiny but dense catalog. And who doesn’t like Ikea art?

  17. Haha I spot a few desks there that I used to sell. I must admit I think her illustrations are far more appealing that the original product – the Ikea catalogue always bores me just a little bit. Perhaps Ikea can contact her and ask her to do the catalogue from now on? Quite sure they’d both benefit from it. Anyway, I like how this is between conceptual and figurative art, and the line art is pretty neat.

  18. Coolest.Idea.Ever.

    That’s amazing!

    now I’m inspired to go find some little canvas bits and draw chairs~
    (it will probably happen too)

    -Robyn

  19. Love these pen drawings although the whole concept of what she is doing confuses me slightly. Will she be selling any left over ones at a reduced price do you think?

  20. I don’t think so, I think the whole point of it isn’t to sell, but to do some kind of a performance by showing that she’s both creator of an original artwork AND a salesperson of mass-produced items! It’s probably that oxymoron that she wanted to communicate…

  21. i dont understand how the picture and the object can be the same. but art transcends it all.
    like the idea, but the part about buying is a bit trikcy. and the artist should never be the seller

  22. That’s why it’s performance art as well I think! I do think she might get into trouble with IKEA if they knew she was making ‘profit’ from their name…

  23. Really interesting exhibition! I wonder what was leftover at the end of the day. And as an aside, I love your bag!

    :)

    Shoe

  24. Thank you! I’m guessing all the ridiculously priced ones will be left – I wasn’t even kidding about the £820 kitchen set, and there were more of those!

  25. […] PARK & CUBE » January Sale […]

  26. Such a brilliant concept! (And it sounds like very easy money… dang, some people have the best ideas!)

    http://flossyblossom.blogspot.com

  27. What a great concept. Simple, effective and quirky. Besides her artworks are very nicely done. I just love her style.

    Thanks for sharing. Wish I lived in London too :/

    Also this = mass production/consumerism = TopShop = Fashion. There.

  28. you’re smaarrrt x

  29. Right up my street. Funny and thought provoking concept…. Great illustrations (I wonder how much the one of a whole room cost!)… Definitely no quarms with your “nish”.

  30. such a clever idea

  31. genius *__*

  32. I love this! What a novel idea!

    I’ve got no problems with your “Nietzsche” idea! (That cracked me up!)

    Hollie – lipstick-and-balloons.blogspot.com

  33. Wonderful illustrations. Thanks for posting. Great blog.

  34. Thank you for visiting the exhibition and posting the project as well.:-) It’s wonderful!!!! thx!!

  35. Wow! very cute and creative =]

  36. i like that you have shown this. it’s a great exhibition.
    hope you are good!
    x fi
    http://www.sos-saveourshoes.com

  37. what a brilliant concept, the canvases are lovely. gotta love a bit of fine art. xx

  38. anijnas

    as an art student, this totally made sense to me!

  39. Amazing. I love the Ikea sketches.

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