Ikea is melding edgy with corporate with their new line of street art inspired pieces, all for the low price of $14.99. “People still think that street art is equal to vandalism,” said Swedish artists Christian Rebecchi and Pablo Togni, aka NEVERCREW, whose piece ”Message in a Bottle” is part of Ikeas new line. Ikea is certainly turning that assumption around. This spin on street art places this often illegal and anti establishment art form within a distinctly different environment: the corporate market place.
The pieces in Ikea’s new line are as diverse as the origins of the 12 commissioned artists, who hail from the Bronx, to Madrid, to Belgrade. Ikea brings street art from all over the world to your living room, and even gives you a preview of each piece within a classic Ikea setting.
It’s hard not to notice the irony: a movement that aimed to bring art to the public without the intermediary presence of big business has now been re-appropriated for just that purpose. What was once rebellious has now become a commodity, mass-produced and sold at a conglomerate known for their cheap yet durable furniture.
On the other hand, the Ikea Art Event does perversely accomplish some of the original goals of the street art movement. Although the monetary and corporate components are undeniable, Ikea does make art more accessible for the general public. Not only is the price reasonable (“you don’t need to be wealthy to buy something extravagant,” their website boasts), the art is also displayed in an environment that attracts a diverse array of customers. As Ikea is often known for the wide appeal of its many sprawling floors of furniture and oddly satisfying meatballs, Ikea does, in some way, accomplish goal of presenting art in a public space.
What do you think?
