I don't often don the art snob's beret, but I think I'll try it on tonight.

According to PR Web, a fashion design team tampered with the purity of art in the name of commerce. Could it be otherwise?

CarteBlanche, a luxury products company, has claimed responsibility for the controversial prank at the 2006 Whitney Biennial, during which one of their featured products was sneaked into the art museum during press day and reviewed by a major critic as “the emblematic piece” of the exhibit.

The announcement was made Tuesday night at an undisclosed venue in the New York City neighborhood of Tribeca to a roomful of their past patrons and collectors, and a number of prominent figures from the worlds of art and fashion/luxury marketing.

The private event was meant to unveil the CarteBlanche line of luxury goods, including a replica of the Kate Moss floor mat, and featured footage of the Whitney stunt.

According to Jean-Philippe, “CarteBlanche inserted its work into this year’s Biennial in order to obviate the lack of distinction between luxury products and art. We understand, in the most humorous way, why the Whitney is located on Madison Avenue.”

Damn, that's bold talk and action to go with it.

Everyone run out and buy this man's work.

[Thanks to Nikki for the tip.]

April 17, 2006 by david burn | Permalink | 0 Comments