Designer Gas Masks by Diddo Velema

April 9th, 2008 by BallerHouse

In the rare occasion that you find yourself in the middle of a chemical attack, make sure that you’re styling with a high fashion gas mask from Diddo Velema. Outfitted with diamonds and fabrics from Louis Vuitton and Gucci, the gas masks are unsurprisingly intended for gallery display purposes, rather than practical use. But, we think they could be a big hit in the Middle East if ever commercially produced for protection purposes.

According to the artist, the masks carry a deeper meaning. Take it as you will:

We are in a state of perpetual war – with ourselves and with the eco-system that sustains us. Perpetual war breeds perpetual fear. In the present context, this fear stems from our extreme desire for authenticity and manifests itself in our collectively insatiable culture of consumption. Deep down, we are afraid we may never be satisfied. An expanding archive of branded myths and icons feeds this fear. Designer Gas Masks is an attempt to visualize this state of mind. Because it is only by first acknowledging and then challenging fear that we will all be able to breathe a little easier.

Velema’s designer gas masks premiered at the Luxury Show 2008 in Bucharest, Romania. For enough cash, you’ll likely be able to snag one from the artist. We’d recommend commissioning yours in Monogramouflage once it becomes available.

Diddo Velema [via Dvice]

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