The Counterfeit Crochet Project (Critique of a Political Economy), 2008

In her installation and Internet platform of the same name, The Counterfeit Crochet Project, Stephanie Syjuco invites anyone who is interested to crochet their own designer handbags after models by Gucci, Louis Vuitton, or Fendi, for example. Patterned on the pictures appearing in glossy magazines individual crocheted objects are created that look like mutations of the originals and thus represent a counter-design to expensive designer fashion. With its call to produce “counterfeits” of luxury goods with own handiwork, The Counterfeit Crochet Project is an ironic commentary on the globalized world’s obsession with brands, the outsourcing of production of consumer goods to low labor cost countries, and the practices of brand piracy and the black market. In Stephanie Syjuco’s installation the subversion of regular market mechanisms is not only demonstrated by the strategy of handmade copies. When she presents her installation at an exhibition the artist borrows the crocheted handbags made by her global collaborators to underline the fact that she is not the only creator and owner of the objects, which of course makes it impossible to sell the installation in its entirety and thus runs counter to the commercial logic of the art market. (HP)

In the supporting program to the ZKM exhibition Stephanie Syjuco offers workshops on themes such as the black market, strategies of piracy and work and, together with participants, will crochet copies of luxury goods.