C’est La Crise: Necessity vs. Luxury And The Value Of Things

Within African culture, the Calabash - a bowl used for carrying and cooking – is an essential component of daily life. without one simple tasks would be rather difficult, but even for all of its utility, the object itself has very little market value. Knowing this, artist Sebastian Bouchard attempts to transform the commonplace into a commodity in his new piece, C’est la Crise (Crisis Time).

By adding the iconic Louis Vuitton logo to an ordinary object, Bouchard plays with opposing notions of necessity and luxury. The appearance of a brand in an unfamiliar context raises questions about how we place value on things. The ways in which the Calabash can be used haven’t changed, but now that it’s sold under a “designer label,” would you consider paying more for it?

[via designboom]