"Anything Goes When It Comes to (S)hoes," Including Elephant Dung

Even if you're not careful, rest assured that everyone else will be watching your step if you made an entrance wearing these platform shoes made from elephant dung. 

United Kingdom artist Insa, a fine artist with a graffiti background who also designs shoes at Insa Heels was invited to create a tribute work for the Chris Ofili retrospective at the Tate Britain Gallery on exhibit now through May 16, 2010.

Insa's shoes, called "Anything Goes When It Comes to (S)hoes" were inspired by some of Chris Ofili's Caribbean-style paintings that had elephant dung mixed into the varnish (below.)

 

Wanting to get the piece just right, Insa tracked down Whipsnade Zoo, where Ofili obtained dung for his paintings and brought the donated dung back to his studio where he began working with it.

A few prototypes later, Insi was satisfied with the result that utilized some of Ofili's techniques of using varnish, beading, and paint with elephant dung, yet is still true to Insi's style. 

 
Here are the shoes on exhibit at the Tate Britain Museum:

 

Will elephant dung replace fine Italian shoe leather? Of course, not.

While Insa's art shoes are completely impractical, his sky-high Miami Sunset baby doll platform pumps (photo on left) are outrageously hot yet still wearable. I'd love a pair of those! The zoo and the museums can keep the elephant dung. I just want the shoes.

Comments

[ceceisha]

I agree with you I'll take the shoes without the dung! They are cute!