It was only a little over 60 years ago that colour television sets began rolling out into the market, letting us see the world through screens as it (somewhat) was—colourful albeit grainy. From then on, for a majority of us, living in a world where we're able to enjoy the different depths and shades of colours has become the norm. We've even associated meanings and values to the vast spectrum of colours out there.
Red for fiery passion; blue for cool, or sadness; green for envy, or as Disney has subconsciously instilled in us, evil.
In contrast, black and white are often relegated as the non-energetic cousins. They're a combination that harkens back to the olden days of black-and-white television. A bit nostalgic, and perhaps, dull as compared to the vivid brights and bolds that the world has to offer. Because why opt for plain and boring when there's excitement in a million other colours?
That's where artist Joshua Vides and his trompe-l'œil works come in. Challenging the perception of what art is, Vides is known for his black-and-white renderings of everyday objects, turning them into life-sized outlined drawings that seem as though they were stripped from the pages of a colouring book. And when placed in the real world, they're anything but boring and dull.
Case in point: the Fendi California Sky capsule collection. Designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi and given the contemporary artistic touch by Vides, the collection is a visual reinterpretation of some of Fendi's icons and signature classics. The Fendi FF pattern is reworked into two versions by Vides—erratically filled in or left just as marked outlines as seen on the men's Baguette bag. Cleverly shaded details bring life to stark white leather backpacks and small leather goods, while white kicks are made even more striking with bold markings that replace style lines and further accentuating topstitched details.
This isn't the first time that Fendi and Vides have come together. The latter first worked on a collaboration with Fendi by taking over a space in London's Harrods last year, and turning it into a Fendi Caffe and Peekaboo bar—all done in his signature stylings. In addition to that, Vides also interpreted three Fendi bags and a set of skate decks for the pop-up.
There's no better way to cut through the noise of the everyday than with a surprising jolt of an out-of-placed element. We're so used to the normalisation of colours that the surefire way to standout is to break away from the mould, and the Fendi California Sky collection is that unexpectedly fun answer. Living a colourful life? So overrated.
The Fendi California Sky capsule collection is available in Fendi boutiques from Thursday, 25 June 2020. Scroll through the gallery above for a look at the prices of the men's pieces available.
