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Or, if your preferences fall on the prudish end of the spectrum, you may not want to…
… because these aren’t just your average rib-knits — they’re ribbed for your pleasure.
Dress Up Against AIDS:
Condom Couture by Adriana Bertini
December 1, 2006 to March 11, 2007 at the Fowler Museum at UCLA
Dress Up Against AIDS features fourteen magnificent garments designed and produced by Brazilian artist Adriana Bertini, made entirely of condoms rejected by industry quality tests. By appropriating an object of protection and using it to create works of vibrant and original style, color, and texture, Bertini seeks to raise awareness of and inspire the use of condoms, the critical vehicle for preventing AIDS. These colorful, sensual clothes, including ornate evening dresses, vivid skirts and tops, and elegant suits, demystify and destigmatize condoms and “refashion” them as objects associated with pleasure.
Comments (10)
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If she really wanted to create a stir, she should recreate a priest’s garments or a nun’s habit. That would garner a lot of attention.
…and it would be really funny.
posted by Milica on 1-9-2007 at 3:49 pm
The nice thing is if the dress doesn’t fit, all you need is lube.
posted by Sheldon Siegel on 1-9-2007 at 4:46 pm
Hrmm…doesn’t seem like really good promotion of safe-sex if the dress is made entirely out of industry quality rejects. If the wearer of this dress happens to “help out a friend” by slipping them an extra, it better come with a warning statement, I hope….
hehe…lube….
posted by nick on 1-9-2007 at 5:20 pm
That’s sure to cause a stir…or a rise, if you will. A good idea, for sure, very creative.
hehehe…lube…that’s a funny word…and I thought I was more mature…
posted by Baise on 1-9-2007 at 8:44 pm
nice dresses…
the fact that these r from condoms make them (and the wearer) “untouchable” in a way…
and Milica, that’s not funny. It’s pointless if u change uniforms of a religion when wat really is needed is some awesome way to prevent AIDS…
posted by marcus on 1-10-2007 at 3:52 am
Marcus,
It would get people talking about how the church does not approve of condom use. That is a big issue. Especially in Africa.
And I, personally, would find it quite humorous. Thank you.
posted by Milica on 1-10-2007 at 8:32 am
People talk plenty about the church’s stance on condoms, and they are not about to change. It all boils down to the belief that unnatural barriers in sex create unnatural barriers in the relationship, ultimately leading to the objectification of people. The church is not about to promote something that they believe is a sin and to request or attempt to force them to do so because it does not fall in your personal belief system is wrong.
posted by Michelle on 1-10-2007 at 8:48 am
I’m not saying anyone should wear them if they were to be made, which is unlikely anyways. I’m saying that, if made, they would create an area of discussion on the issue.
I think of these hypothetical garments as a thesis piece for the artist. And art, if it wants attention these days, needs controversy. Which is what even this idea is garnering.
I make no slurs against religion. I’m just keeping an open mind to what might get people aware of these issues.
posted by Milica on 1-10-2007 at 10:39 am
And that’s what you got Milicia, creative thinking raised the issue, and that’s what it is all about.
The Church is playing their role well in dealing with spirituality, and I agree with the objetification of people theory – now it is the role of other institutions to deal with the social aspect of the epidemic though education, so that the church can no longer be harmful in this matter.
what might seem at first as a contradiction will on the long run prove itself like a good approach.
Thats my gist,
posted by rodrigo on 1-10-2007 at 1:18 pm
What I want to know is, when you put them on do you slip them over your head and then roll them down your body? ;-)
posted by Runnin Bare on 1-11-2007 at 8:26 am