‘Every coin has two sides’. This phrase used to haunt me when I was a child. Now, I have grown up into a thinking man, but the phrase still haunts me. As a child, I used to ignore this ordinary phrase, but now the things have changed and I’ve made a habit of putting everything under the scanner of that haunting phrase, just to quench my thirst for curiosity. Well, the moment I saw this notorious image of a fur-laden cup, saucer and spoon, I seized the opportunity to peek on the other side of this highly-revered specimen of surrealism.
This obnoxious work-of-art was conceived by Meret Oppenheim during a conversation with Pablo Picasso and photographer Dora Maar at a Paris cafe. When Picasso admired her fur-covered bracelet and remarked that one could cover just about anything with fur, Oppenheim replied, ‘Even this cup and saucer,’. Well, that was it. She took the challenge, and the world got this debatable piece of art titled Object. It consists of a cup, saucer and a spoon lined with the pelt of a Chinese gazelle.
The lovers of fine art may come out with different theories to love or hate this object, but I’m pretty happy with my own conclusion. The fur-laden object represents nothing but the inability of human mind to differentiate between good and bad taste. No matter how beautiful these fur-laden objects might appear, but the fact remains that fur looks beautiful on animals.
By the way, this could help the PETA folks. They can use this work-of-art as a weapon to deter people from using fur. Imagine a big hoarding displaying these fur-laden objects and a message that reads,
If you feel comfortable sipping tea from this cup, you can use fur!
Via: MoMA