“By law, all buildings should be white,” the godfather of modern architecture, Swiss architect Le Corbusier once decreed. Inspired by this statement, for the most recent collaboration with the Dutch denim label G-Star, the British concept artist Ryan Gander decorated their 'Arc Loose Tapered Jeans' with white paint drops. The Arc Pants, limited to only 30 pairs worldwide, come equipped with a key-ring in the shape of a small Japanese netsuke.
'Arata Chan' (translated: purifiying, helping friend) sports Le Corbusier-style glasses and wields a paintbrush. It's a symbol for the "New New Day", a national holiday for Japan invented by Ryan Gander, which is meant to encourage people to paint their houses white.
This is typical of the conceptual methodology of the artist, who lives in both Amsterdam and London, and who has exhibited at the Venice Biennale and in New York's Guggenheim Museum, amongst others.
From August 2011 these 30 limited edition men's trousers (sizes 33/32) will go on sale with little fanfare in selected G-Star stores worldwide.
"I like the idea that some people will think the trousers are damaged, will try and return them and won't notice that they are holding a limited edition in their hands," says Ryan Gander. "And if they want a pair, it won't be possible. It's a bit like with Willy Wonka's golden tickets.”
One of the limited Arc Pants will be auctioned off for a good cause on Facebook. Together with the magazine Wallpaper the project was created for their “Artist Intervention“ section and is featured in the current issue.
