BIRKIN
2023
HOME GALLERY IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE BIRKIN, A SOLO EXHIBITION BY ALEXANDER SI ON VIEW FROM AUGUST 10TH TO SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2023. THE ARTIST HANDMADE AN EXACT REPLICA OF A BIRKIN HANDBAG FROM THE FRENCH LUXURY BRAND HERMÈS, PAIRED WITH A VIDEO WORK ILLUSTRATING THE MAKING OF THE SCULPTURE/BAG. SI STARTED WITH PIECES OF CALF SKIN LEATHER AND PATTERNS DOWNLOADED FROM CHINESE ECOMMERCE SITE TAOBAO. WITH EVERY STITCH HAND-SEWN BY HAND, THE BAG TOOK 85 HOURS TO COMPLETE.
THE HOURS ARE DOCUMENTED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE ARTIST, YET HE CHOSE TO EDIT THE VIDEO DOWN TO A SNAPPY ONE-MINUTE, TIK-TOK-READY CLIP. THE VIDEO, TITLED BIRKIN (MAKING OF), FEATURES FAST-CUTS, ASMR SOUND OF LEATHER CUTTING, AND AN ORCHESTRAL BACKING TRACK AS THE “ARTISAN” ON SCREEN CUTS, SEWS, AND GLUES WITH SEEMINGLY MINIMUM EFFORTS. WITH THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE WINDOW GALLERY LOCATION TO CHI- NATOWN’S CANAL STREET, BIRKIN CONTEMPLATES ON THE GLAMORIZATION OF LABOR BEHIND ULTRA-LUXURY GOODS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE ARTIST, AS A CHINESE AMERICAN IMMIGRANT, TO REPLICATE THE BAG AND DISPLAY IT AT A STOREFRONT WINDOW.
