COLLABORATIONS X IMITATIONS, 2022

solo exhibition at Arkivet , Stavanger, Norway

Photos: Erik Sæter Jørgensen

COLLABORATIONS X IMITATIONS, 2022

solo exhibition at Arkivet , Stavanger, Norway

In Collaborations x Imitations, Katharina Bjelland investigates the intersections of luxury branding, consumer culture, and everyday objects. The series of screen prints is derived from photographs of bags—some taken by the artist, others sourced online—many of which are designs by Balenciaga under the direction of Demna Gvasalia, who is known for his deconstructionist approach and for blurring the boundaries between high fashion and streetwear.

The works explore the tension between high-end and disposable objects, drawing attention to how ordinary items are reimagined as luxury goods. Notable examples include Balenciaga’s leather version of the iconic Ikea shopping bag, which elevates a functional, mass-produced object to a symbol of status, and the Ikea x Virgil Abloh collaboration (Markerad), featuring a bag in the classic Ikea shape rendered in brown with the word sculpture printed on it. Through these appropriations, Bjelland playfully interrogates the value systems and cultural codes embedded in branding, luxury, and everyday consumption.

Photos: Erik Sæter Jørgensen