In What Seduces You (2003/2004), a counterfeit luxury item is photographed by a commissioned professional advertising photographer and is digitally retouched to perfection. The result is a seductive image, as if it came out of an ad from a fashion magazine. Next to the photo, framed on the wall is the item sales receipt showing the price paid and the place of purchase.

Mouse over the images to view technical information, click to enlarge.

 
 

Prada: R$ 90,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 33.8 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Prada: R$ 90,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 33.8 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Prada: R$ 90,00 (What Seduces You series) (detail) • 2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 33.8 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Gucci: R$ 105,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 31.5 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Gucci: R$ 105,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 31.5 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Gucci: R$ 105,00 (What Seduces You series) (detail) • 2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 31.5 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Cartier Tank: R$ 120,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 27.5 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Cartier Tank: R$ 120,00 (What Seduces You series) (detail) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 27.5 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Cartier Tank: R$ 120,00 (What Seduces You series) (detail) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 27.5 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Cartier Tank: R$ 120,00 and Gucci: R$ 105,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2003/2004

Mont Blanc: R$ 10,00 (What Seduces You series) (detail) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 43.3 x 23.6 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Mont Blanc: R$ 10,00 (What Seduces You series) (detail) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 43.3 x 23.6 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Oakley: R$ 15,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 42.8 x 26.7 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Oakley: R$ 15,00 (What Seduces You series) (detail) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 42.8 x 26.7 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Azzaro: R$ 15,00, Louis Vuitton: R$ 110,00 and Nike: R$ 35,00 (What Seduces You series) • MARP Ribeirão Preto Museum of Art collection

Azzaro: R$ 15,00 (What Seduces You series) (detail) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 38.1 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych) • MARP Ribeirão Preto Museum of Art collection

Azzaro: R$ 15,00 (What Seduces You series) (detail) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 38.1 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych) • MARP Ribeirão Preto Museum of Art collection

Louis Vuitton: R$ 110,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 38.1 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych) • MARP Ribeirão Preto Museum of Art collection

Louis Vuitton: R$ 110,00 (What Seduces You series) (detail) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 38.1 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych) • MARP Ribeirão Preto Museum of Art collection

Louis Vuitton: R$ 110,00 (What Seduces You series) (detail) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 47.2 x 38.1 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych) • MARP Ribeirão Preto Museum of Art collection

Nike: R$ 35,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 27.1 x 47.2 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych) • MARP Ribeirão Preto Museum of Art collection

Nike: R$ 35,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 27.1 x 47.2 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych) • MARP Ribeirão Preto Museum of Art collection

Nike: R$ 35,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 27.1 x 47.2 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych) • MARP Ribeirão Preto Museum of Art collection

Nike: R$ 35,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2003/2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 27.1 x 47.2 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych) • MARP Ribeirão Preto Museum of Art collection

 

The works of the series "What Seduces You?" show fake designer accessories photographs - watches, sunglasses, handbags, shoes - which were commissioned to an advertising photographer and retouched so that the images look even further alluring, similar to a magazine ad. Framed next to the photo, we see the sales receipt showing the amount paid for the fake product. With this operation, Felipe explicitly addresses our relationship with image and consumption, and the complicated issue between original and imitation in design.

Text for Art & Design group show at Santander Art Hall, São Paulo, 2013.

 

Tag Heuer: R$ 35,00 (What Seduces You series) (detail) • 2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 31.5 x 47.2 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)

Tag Heuer: R$ 35,00 (What Seduces You series) • 2004 • Photograph, digital print, sales receipt • 31.5 x 47.2 in, 11.8 x 11.8 in (diptych)