Bad Habits Polaroid Series: Drive for elusive status, fashion and culture, Patta and Gucci as status symbols by Beautiful Thrills

About "Bad Habits Polaroid Series: Drive for elusive status, fashion and culture, Patta and Gucci as status symbols"

by Beautiful Thrills

About the artwork

A playful nod to the bizarre world of fashion, status and desire. In this work, iconic streetwear, classic styles and cultural symbols collide in a collage that evokes nostalgia as much as it criticises. Here, the golden waving cat, a symbol of luck and prosperity, becomes a mascot of consumer culture. Recognisable brands, from Patta to Gucci, are presented not only as status symbols, but also as mirrors of a society that values exclusivity and possession.

The quote 'If everyone can have it, I don't want it...' emphasises the drive for uniqueness and the elusive status of authenticity. It touches on a recognisable mentality in fashion and culture, where value often lies not in the object itself, but in its scarcity. The work asks questions about desire and identity: do we really want something for what it is, or do we want it because not everyone can have it?

There is a playful reference to 90s streetwear culture, an era when fashion symbolised identity, subcultures and a certain rebellion. But there is also a thin layer of criticism of contemporary materialism and mass consumption that often overshadows authenticity. The skull that subtly appears in the background is a reminder of the transience of trends and the fleeting nature of status.

With carefully selected images from magazines and a digital collage technique, a work is created that plays with recognition and contrast. It is both airy and layered, both aesthetic and thought-provoking.