So what exactly does this piece, Memphis by Dasch Japan
and this piece from Memphis, a souvenir from Gracelands, have in common?
Not so much. Considering the post-modern Milan-originated movement [1981-1985] had nothing to do with the city of Memphis, or The King or blue suede shoes.
But Kitschness? Yes. After decades of modernist doctrine, the Memphis group liberated themselves from the confines of smart, but soulless ‘good taste’ in design. They experimented with uncoventional materials, historic forms, kitsch geometric motifs and gaudy colours.
Ettore Sottsass, the leader of Memphis design was ‘quoting from suburbia’. ‘Memphis is not new, Memphis is everywhere.’
Like the polarising Memphis movement, where you were either for it, or against it, Mrs Mia Wallace [Uma Thurman] in a deleted scene from Pulp Fiction, makes a similar definitive statement: you are either an Elvis person or a Beatles person.
.
Although I’m a massive John Lennon fan, I think it’s fair to say I’ve been influenced by the latter Memphis King from an early age. Uh-huh, that’s me. Rock on fat baby girl Elvis. Sadly I lost the shock of black hair…
But I do have some blue suede shoes [full size too], my second pair as someone souvenired the first ones on a film shoot. Rude.
You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes…
I hope I didn’t bore you too much with my life story.
Elvis Presley
.
So what kind of person are you? And what do you think of that tea set?
Thank you, thank you very much…
urban rustic 