Ugly Objects

The Ugly Objects project asks people to reflect on what influences their value judgments of beautiful and ugly. How do we arrive at thinking an object ugly? Perhaps, by looking back and deciphering the history of one’s aesthetic judgment about an ugly thing, we can gain understanding of larger value systems that permeate our lives. This kind of questioning is meaningful especially in a location undergoing change—the Red Light district, where artists are asked to take on the role of “beautifiers.”

Sixteen artists volunteered their time and talents to join the project. Through advertisement and personal interactions, people living or working in de Wallen were invited to give an ugly object to the artists for alterations. The artists had conversations with the owners of ugly things about what they find beautiful and ugly, and how much these decisions are affected by personal histories and beliefs. These conversations in 2008 acted as a jumpstart for the creative process, so that the altered objects can return to the original owners within one year. 



Natalya Pinchuk and Dana Sperry
2034 Park Ave., #9
Richmond, VA  23220
USA
+1 (812)-219-9450
+1 (804)-319-7377
SKYPE NAME: pinsper
we@uglyobjects.com