Talk about creating an entry.
A sculpture of a giant Birkin bag, headed for an exhibition space in Florida, blocked traffic Wednesday as the Hermès “homage” was paraded through the streets of West Palm Beach — complete with a police escort.
Titled “Big Birk,” the colossal, canary-yellow carrier — created by NYC artist GEO — is on display in the Sunshine State as part of Art Palm Beach, a contemporary art fair.
1000 pounds. The amount of the tribute is so large that operators reportedly had to follow the rules that apply when transporting large goods such as manufactured homes and heavy construction equipment.
“We tried to pay homage to the brand, which is so iconic and beautiful,” GEO, who has been in the entertainment and design industry for 25 years, told The Post.
The “Big Birk” certainly lives up to its name, requiring an entire team of people to create, assemble and handle it at every step of the process, which usually takes about two to three weeks.
“It’s a 19-foot bag,” GEO said. “So if one person had to do it, it would take months and months.”
He estimates production costs to be around $100,000, if not more, due to labor, shipping and, of course, materials such as Styrofoam, wood, metal and other textiles – not to mention “hours and hours of work” devoted to polishing. , polishing, painting and resin application.
The part is divided into three parts for transport, GEO noted.
Multiple trucks transported the artwork from New York for the show.
While the winter weather caused some damage to the piece along the way, GEO ensured it was able to be fixed before opening night. The fair ends on Saturday.
Some viewers have been so enamored by “Big Birk” – which is being presented by Denis Leon Gallery – that the artist has already seen interest from potential buyers.
“We received several offers from customers who want to buy it from the show already,” GEO said.
“Obviously we want to make money from our artwork and what we do, but at the end of the day it’s amazing marketing.”
While GEO has not been in contact with Hermès, he said he would be “honored” to work with the legendary fashion house one day – in any capacity.
The label manufactures Birkin bags in specialized ateliers in France, where a limited number of skilled artisans put together the memory bags.
Birkins — estimated to cost at least $9,000 if purchased directly from a boutique, according to past reports — are apparently one of the hardest luxury items to find, making them one of the hottest buys in category.
Coveted collectors’ items also go for tens of thousands of dollars, sometimes more, on the second-hand market, although compelling replicas sell for a fraction of the price.
Recently, the launch of a Birkin-like bag at Walmart had fashionistas frantic and clamoring to get their hands on the dollar-saving trick, available at the time for under $100 — a price said to be it has made some snobs furious.
The coveted accessory has been a source of inspiration for GEO for some time.
Last May, the artist showed off another Birkin sculpture — this one in fuchsia — in downtown NYC. The eye-catching installation appeared at the corner of Bowery and Broome St., becoming a viral spectacle.
#giant #Birkin #bag #weighs #pounds #stops #traffic #route #expo #police #escort #required #Tribute #Hermes
Image Source : nypost.com