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Chris Cawkwell 'Buy / Burn' (2021)


Artist: Chris Cawkwell

Title: 'Buy Burn'

Edition: 1/1 Original

Medium: Custom Nike trainers, magnetic shoe display, masonite

Size: (Buy) 170cm(h) x 30cm(w) x 10cm(d) / (Burn) 153cm(h) x 30cm(w) x 10cm(d)

Note: Sold together & Comes with Copy Of Authenticity

Signed / Dated: Bottom

Delivery: Will have shipping invoiced separately.

©Chris Cawkwell. All Rights Reserved.

Artwork Description: In 2018 Nike, the brand that had almost single-handedly created the brand incarnate with Michael Jordan and Air Jordans, signed Kaepernick to be the face of its new marketing campaign. And so, in an age of divisive politics Nike had suddenly found a way to embrace and commodify protest, their profits could sore and they would have a free marketing base like no other via twitter users and other social media commentators.

It would no longer be a choice of this brand or that brand, this sneaker or that sneaker, suddenly buying a brand of shoe would be a political act. As would be burning them. The
hashtags #burnNike and #boycottNike were soon trending on twitter as right-wing “activists” tweeted videos of themselves dousing their Nike sportswear in lighter fluid and setting them ablaze for all to see, decrying the brand. President Trump also saw fit to take to Twitter in order to express joy at Nike “getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts”. 5 days later Nike’s sales had surged by 31 percent.

The left had heeded Nike’s call – the political base who a decade earlier were using the
same #boycottNike hashtag to denounce Nike’s work and labour practices and its use of sweatshops had helped the brands profits to soar.

Contact us: sales@toxic-arts.com for any enquiries.

About the artist

Born in Leicester 1985, lives in London. Chris Cawkwell's work explores consumer culture within a capitalist framework; utilising contemporary technologies, performative and interactive elements to critique the social systems and processes which operate around us and highlight the rate at which products are consumed and commodified.

Cawkwell graduated with a masters in Fine Art from Wimbledon College of Art in 2012. He has exhibited nationally and internationally; in Mumbai, India, as part of the cross-collaborative venture Project India (Asia Arts Projects & the 1%-ers art collective, 2011) and in Tokyo, Japan, part of Tokyo Wonder Site's creator in residence program (2012).

He has completed residency programs at Space 118, Mumbai, (2011), Tokyo Wonder Site, Aoyama, (2012) and at the Bohunk Institute, Nottingham, in preparation for solo show Sensorama (2013). His work forms part of the permanent collection at Space 118.

– he is a founding member and director of artist-led space (and collective) ArtLacuna, based in Clapham Junction, South London.

Notable:

  • MA Fine Art Wimbledon, University Arts London
  • Director of Artlacuna
  • Lam Gallery, Los Angeles

Chris Cawkwell

Born in Leicester 1985, lives in London. Chris Cawkwell's work explores consumer culture within a capitalist framework; utilising contemporary technologies, performative and interactive elements to critique the social systems and processes which operate around us and highlight the rate at which products are consumed and commodified.

Cawkwell graduated with a masters in Fine Art from Wimbledon College of Art in 2012. He has exhibited nationally and internationally; in Mumbai, India, as part of the cross-collaborative venture Project India (Asia Arts Projects & the 1%-ers art collective, 2011) and in Tokyo, Japan, part of Tokyo Wonder Site's creator in residence program (2012).

He has completed residency programs at Space 118, Mumbai, (2011), Tokyo Wonder Site, Aoyama, (2012) and at the Bohunk Institute, Nottingham, in preparation for solo show Sensorama (2013). His work forms part of the permanent collection at Space 118.

– he is a founding member and director of artist-led space (and collective) ArtLacuna, based in Clapham Junction, South London.

Notable:

  • MA Fine Art Wimbledon, University Arts London
  • Director of Artlacuna
  • Lam Gallery, Los Angeles