These creative door handles/hardware, designed by Russian product designer Nikita Kovalev of Napalm Design, look and function like a real gun. The Bang Bang handle was inspired by the Makarov Pistol.* You have to “pull the trigger” to open/unlock the door.
*The 9mm Makarov Pistol (aka PM, GRAU index - 56-A-125, unofficial name - "Makarov", "Makar", "Macaroni," "Makarych") is a semi-automatic pistol, designed by the Soviet designer Nikolai Fyodorovich Makarov, in 1948. From 1951 until now, the Makarov Pistol was the personal weapon of the Soviet and post-Soviet armed forces and law enforcement.
If you're not familiar with the witty yet urbane works of artist Sebastian Errazuriz, you ought to be. His tongue in cheek objects and installations are compelling and provocative, not to mention unusual. One of his fun projects is his collection of New York Chairs or Gun Chairs.
A series of six different wooden chairs are hand-carved underneath their seats to hold a hidden gun. These simple exercises in craftsmanship and woodcarving reflect the artist’s passion to experiment with and improve his technique.
The chairs call to mind old New York gangster movies, where guns can be hidden anywhere as a last defense if attacked. Each chair comes with a corresponding gun and a roll of duct tape to fix the gun underneath.
The most celebrated names in Contemporary Art united for Peace One Day, to react against the horror of violence globally, with ‘AKA Peace’.
Creating brand new works for a blockbuster autumn exhibition, curated by Jake Chapman in collaboration with non-profit organization Peace One Day, these artists have each reinterpreted an AK-47 assault rifle – the most recognizable and devastating worldwide killing machine – as arresting artworks of intrigue and even beauty; recasting a weapon of devastation as a conduit to peace.
Below are images of all the pieces:
Jake and Dinos Chapman: Damien Hirst: detail: Antony Gormley: Sam Taylor Wood: detail: Gavin Turk: Solange Azagury-Partridge: detail: Rebecca Warren: Stuart Semple (aka NIMROD): Tim Noble and Sue Webster: detail: Douglas Gordon: Jeremy Deller: Marc Quinn: Ryan Gander: Jim Lambie: Langlands & Bell: Mat Collishaw:
Charming Baker: Jake Chapman: Tim Noble and Sue Webster: Solange Azagury-Partridge: Antony Micallef: see more here
The AKA Peace Trailer:
The exhibition, originally conceived by photographer Bran Symondson and now curated by artist Jake Chapman, coincided with Peace Day, Friday 21 September 2012 and will raise awareness of Peace Day and raise funds for Peace One Day’s Global Truce 2013 campaign.
Jeremy Gilley, founder of Peace One Day said, “AKA Peace is a really profound project; turning a weapon of destruction into a weapon of peace is awesome. The benefits of awareness and finance to help Global Truce 2013 is a great outcome. I’m grateful to Bran for having a wonderful idea and it’s an honour to have Jake Chapman curate the project.” Peace Day 2012 will be marked by the Peace One Day Concert, at Wembley Arena in London. Headlining the concert will be Elton John, alongside James Morrison and 2Cellos.
The ICA exhibition of AKA Peace runs from 26 until 30 September at the Institute of Contemporary Art before the pieces are auctioned at Phillips de Pury & Company on 4th October to raise funds and awareness for Peace One Day and Global Truce 2013.
Bran Symondson took the majority of the photos shown in this post. The Damien Hirst image is courtesy of Damien Hirst, The Jim Lambie image is courtesy of Ruth Clark via Phillips de Pury. Other images courtesy of Peace One Day.
