WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

DESCRIPTION

A boldly crafted wearable sculpture/bag made from black embossed alligator skin and black hand-boarded Madras vegetable tanned goatskin and is embellished with a detachable belted ‘biker jacket’ and three decorative tonal silicon phallic amulets with chains and bells suspended from the glans. These amulets are inspired by the Tintinnabulum of ancient Rome, adding an interesting historical touch to the design.

The bag is also adorned with spike studs, eyelets, rivets-all in hand-polished, mirror-finished 316L stainless steel, and a pair of ‘hands’ in the form of a Morningstar and a spring keyring - a signature emblem of the iCONS+ series. The bag is secured with a smooth Raccagni silver-tone zipper and comes with a pocket with an invisible magnetic closure at the front. The interior of the bag is fully lined in electric blue recycled cotton twill and has a small goatskin patch pocket. The artisan mark “E” and year of production mark “A” are stamped on the back of the right zipper stopper.

The bag is versatile and can be worn as a crossbody or shoulder bag with a single shoulder strap, or as a backpack with double shoulder straps. Alternatively, it can also be displayed as a beautiful art object, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship and unique design of the piece.

MORE DETAILS

H20 x W14 x D10 cm (8” x 5.5” x 4”)
Exterior: 100% Alligator embossed calfskin
Trims (Biker jacket): 100% Goatskin
Three silicon gel phallic amulets
Interior: One goatskin patch pocket
100% Recycled cotton twill lining
Front flap pocket with magnetic closure
Two adjustable shoulder straps
Removable condom charm
Removable biker jacket
Hand-polished mirror finished 316L stainless steel hardware
Required 55 hours for one artisan to make
Cross-body, shoulder bag and backpack
Can also be displayed as an art object
Individually handmade in China
Reference No. CX23U0104013

STORY

We Are The Champions is the most exclusive and, perhaps, the most controversial work of the entire +iCONS Series, largely because of the sensitive subject matters it deals with and how it was intentionally depicted - with three stylized, erected silicon phalluses protruding from the bag. Vulgarity was never the intent. The male genitalia has been an object d’art since the dawn of time. Not only is it seemingly universal, but this phallic fascination is nothing new - from the cave art at Lascaux to the cities and towns of the ancient Roman Empire, phallic drawing or carving depicting a disembodied phallus can be found everywhere. While in modern times, the use of phallic imagery, erected or not, always evokes associations with sex, in ancient Rome, the ubiquity of the phallus also meant its partial detachment from sexuality. Archaeological evidence suggests that the phallus was seen in ancient times as a religious or protection amulet to ward off malignant forces, also known as the Evil Eye or oculus malus in Latin, a personification of curse, bad luck, and the Roman embodiment of inauspicious circumstances brought about by a malevolent glare.

Various amulets were used to avert the influence of the Evil Eye. The most common of these appears to have been the phallus, called by the Romans fascinum in Latin, from the verb fascinate, “to cast a spell” (the origin of the English word “fascinate”). These amulets were worn on the body or placed in homes or gardens to protect against the fascinations of the envious and bring good fortune and prosperity. Phallic charms were often objects of personal adornment but also appeared as stone carvings on city walls, mosaics, and other artifacts. No introduction to the use of Roman phallic amulets would be complete without mentioning tintinnabulum.

Tintinnabulum, which heavily inspired this work, is a bizarre wind chime in Ancient Rome, often polyphallic and in the form of a zoomorphic phallus with a central figure, usually a winged phallus, a phallus tail, leonine legs, a phallus between the legs, and typically had chains and bells suspended from its wings and the top of the glans penis. Tintinnabulum were hung from doorways or elsewhere around houses, shops, bathhouses, city gates, and gardens where the wind would cause them to tinkle. The sounds of bells were believed to ward off evil, which combined with the apotropaic value of the poly phallic object itself, made tintinnabulum powerful charms.

Taking direct references from the archaeological artifacts excavated from the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, and named after the exultant anthem by Queen that played in the background in the 2012 Pfizer’s Viagra TV commercial, We Are The Champions is about adoration and celebration of the male genitalia as an objet d’art. The work incorporates a mixture of erotic elements and materials that are often associated with homosexual fantasies, such as the all-black Tom of Finland-inspired Perfecto, erected silicon phalluses, condom wrapping, metal chains, and glans rings.

We Are The Champions also intends to tackle serious subjects in a humorous, uplifting way. It may or may not be used as a protective amulet to ward off the Evil Eye, but it does deliver a clear and prophetic message to us all: Safe Sex Forever. Wear a Condom. Let’s work together to end HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases - one of the most deadly Evil Eyes of our times.

CONTACT US