It’s not The Jordan Mules, but Canadian artist Brian Jungen’s collection of masks made from pieces-parts of Air Jordans is quite impressive, as well. Artdaily.com (which is #1 on our favorites) informs us that Jungen’s work will be on display at New York’s New Museum of Contemporary Art from September 29th-December 31st of this year.
Jungen is best known for his Prototypes for New Understanding (1998-2005), a series of masks in which deconstructed Nike Air Jordan sneakers are reassembled to resemble Northwest Coast Aboriginal artifacts. Jungen’s gesture of cutting up one of the most sought-after consumer items of the late 20th century is a dramatic one. By reassembling the pieces of sneaker into Aboriginal masks, Jungen comments on how indigenous culture is commercialized and consumed. Jungen also demonstrates how these objects have more in common than just their trade value. The classic color combination of black, red and white as seen in the Air Jordans is prevalent in many Northwest Coast native motifs. Jungen’s Prototypes question cultural authenticity and authority while simultaneously comparing the handmade and the mass-produced.
The pervasive references to Michael Jordan in Jungen’s work make visible Jungen’s own obsession with the basketball superstar, and reminds the viewer how persuasive marketing techniques can contribute to the fetishization of goods for sale. In addition to the Air Jordans used in the Prototypes for New Understanding, he creates a permanent monument to Jordan by fabricating metal facsimiled Nike shoeboxes emblazoned with Jordan’s face in Michael (2003). He also uses deconstructed Air Jordan shoeboxes for Little Habitat I (2003) and Little Habitat II (2003), miniature geodesic domes created from the detritus of brand identification.
We’ll admit they lost us there at the end, but you can see more of Jungen’s shoe masks here.
Part of us is somewhat distraught upon finding this story. You see, for the past nine years, we’ve been working on our own artistic project using Air Jordans. At this point, we know we’ll only be seen as trying to cash in on a trend, which is not the case at all.
Our entry in this genre was conceived out of a similar love and passion for Michael Jordan and the Air Jordan line of sneakers. Here, for the first time, containing almost ten years of our deep, pure, unfiltered soul, is our own Vicious Smiles of the Precious Air.
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