MADE YOU LOOK
In November 2013, Jeff Koons broke the record for the highest-selling work by a living artist when his Balloon Dog (Orange) went for US$58.4 million at auction. Last year he did it again with Rabbit at $91.1 million. His sculptures have been notorious ‘tycoon trophies’ since the ‘90s, and his balloon dogs are studded throughout personal and public collections around the world.
But the last ‘Koons’ you saw probably wasn’t one.
If the shiny dog was squatting down to leave a little (balloon) parcel behind it, you were looking at POPek, baby of Polish-born London-based artist Sebastian Burdon—AKA, Whatshisname. Burdon’s creations aim to poke fun at everything from Koons to the gallery bubble to culture in general, to disconcert and delight the viewer. He calls it ‘joyful pop art’.
Burdon renders POPek in several poses, each released in limited editions of varying sizes, materials and colours. His growing family of Balloon Dogs, which he’s christened POPIKI, now includes PEEPek (complete with polyresin puddle) and HUMPek (two dogs, well, humping). And he’s not just after the art world: last year’s ‘Brexit Balloon Dogs’ got busy on a plinth asking ‘Who humps whom?’
Collectors can buy Burdon’s work as both prints and fibreglass sculptures, and for a lot less than US$58.4 million.
DOG-FRIENDLY: TAKE THE LEAD
We are thrilled to introduce Dog-Friendly, a collection of city guides for dog-loving people, created together with our long-time contributor, photographer Winnie Au, and fellow enthusiasts, indie publisher Hoxton Mini Press. Available for purchase here.
August 25, 2021
PACK OF DOGS
Have you ever imagined Amy Winehouse or Nick Cave as a Chihuahua, Neil Young as a Vizsla, or PJ Harvey as an Afghan hound? That’s exactly what San Francisco-based artist Michael Gillette has done through his unique illustration project, blending beloved, iconic music legends, both past and present, with their dog counterparts. Pack of Dogs, our first foray into book publishing, is a celebration of pup and pop culture for music and dog lovers alike.
August 25, 2020
THE DOG MAKER
Thanks to hungry wolves and ancient humans, there are over 350 dog breeds in the world today. Artist Hosung Jang offers more.
February 27, 2023
FAR-OFF REALMS
Suspended between vintage past and surrealist future, The Brigadoon Dispatch is a portal to new realms of creativity.
February 24, 2023
POWER COUPLE
Pioneering ‘species-fluid’ fashion, THEANIMALS™ brings human and hound even closer together.
January 28, 2023
THE LONG WAIT
In his third and final instalment of The Waiting Game, artist Txema Salvans photographs dogs tied to lives of waiting.
January 26, 2023
LITTLE WONDERS
Clean-lined, minimal and irresistibly cute, Odile Ferraille depicts dogs living their best, carefree lives.
January 23, 2023
HOME AND DRY
Bath time can be a dignified affair with MiaCara’s new Groom collection, designed to bring luxe to wet dogs.
November 28, 2022
UP CLOSE AND PARTICULARLY PERSONAL
Photographer Sophie Zimmermann celebrates the “small moments in between” of dog portraiture.
November 21, 2022
WHETHER THE WEATHER
From raincoats and puffers to sweaters and bathrobes, Cloud7 designs for every dog and all occasions. But that’s not to stay one style fits all.
October 31, 2022
MUTUAL ADMIRATION
London-based illustrator Ashley Percival creates colourful prints full of energy and charged with imagination.
October 11, 2022
LET LOOSE
For his series ‘Compositions and Attitudes’ photographer Hosung Jang captures dogs’ unadulterated curiosity.
September 30, 2022
