LAHORE – Propaganda hit Lahore a few days back. With products that blend humour with design aesthetics in particular, Propaganda Pakistan had one simple statement that this ‘art funk revolution’ is here to stay. The brain child of Thai designers and advertising experts in 1994, the idea was to incorporate design in items that would have joy, humour and love of life in general.
It bears the name Propaganda for quirky means to use various techniques to influence public opinion and gain support for political ends. On the other side, Propaganda seeks to use visual art to capture hearts and minds for art’s sake. Due to the fact that their product are considered works of art rather than consumer products, the exhibition was held at Gallery Grey Noise, and was lined with people from the media, art buffs and general consumers alike.
Coming to the products, one is amused by the design usage applied to the products at display. From the smiley staplers to the lovable products under the supreme reign of Mr P, from the glasses that are intact while they appear to be bullet ridden to the naughty towel hangers, each and every product is an eye candy. Whether one considers these items crude, intelligently designed, or cute, they for sure retain originality and uniqueness.
The Helping Hands are a range of products from drain stoppers, book marks, drink stirrers, and pens. Based on the simple design of a hand asking for help, while serving their purpose, these little highlighter coloured items seem as if they are really asking for help. The openers as well are highly fun, both visually and to use. The designer take a note from the creation of the shark, and based upon that create these fun little openers that have both the looks of a shark and purposefulness of an opener.
The salt and pepper shakers, coming from Propaganda, are one item sure to shake your brains as well. Whether it’s the chemical formula set that catches your fantasy, or the salt and pepper shakers that come disguised as a brain, both are definitely going to place an interesting item on your dinner table. Whereas the chemical shakers are based on chemistry formulas and text book illustrations of those, the much more hard hitting, Grey Brain shaker, uses the left and right halves of the brain to create simple yet interesting shakers.
The glass sets come in a range of cocky yet funny designs. Whether you like the one with the printed fly on the inside surface, or the one that seems as if it was just shattered by a built, or the one with a printed dog peeing, they are all eye catchy, not to forget wallet lighting too. The set of three glasses all slightly different in size, and fitting into each other are something of a must consume, especially when printed on them are a web, a spider and a butterfly.
Fitting into each other, the illusion is something you definitely would want on your shelves too. Mr. P is the embodiment of Propaganda Pakistan, simple, subtle, filled with humour and self-effaced situations that are bound to make one smile. Mr P’s face with six different expressions acts as magnet, to give your boring refrigerator a surge of colours and vitality.
Similarly, Mr P is found willing enough to act as your toothbrush holder, chopstick holder, stick with your mobile phone acting as a mobile strap, or dangling with you as your key ring. Mr P’s humor is very self-effacing yet at times crude, and he is not only limited to these products, Mr P is somewhat of a Mug Mascot too. Hanging on to your coffee mug, or peeing in it, from being tied at the belly tightly, proclaiming low fat to being hung by the tea bag’s string, he is sure to make your morning blues go away. For the class that prefers the smoke of coffee to a morning drag, Mr P has a variety of ash trays to offer.
Sporting, a devil tail and horns Mr P lays inside the ashtray, like wise he is seen in a variety of different situations, acting as a flag bearer to smokers. If one prefers something cautious, the ashtray collection with “I *heart* Cancer” typography, or another design that is a symbolic diagram of diseases and problems caused by smoking, might work for you.
The mug collection does not end Mr P though. There are a variety of minus Mr P designs too. One mug in particular has “U’ve Got A Message Inside” showing on the outside whereas the floor of it is “Miss You” printed. Similar technique is used with the one showcasing “Guess what” while the on the inside a very photo realistic fly is printed. “Wash me after use” and “Use Me” types on top of the mugs are also interesting.
Lastly the Tooth! Designed in shape of the tooth, you have the tooth brush holder, coming in white, gold and silver, this little guy has four cavities allowing four different brushes to be stacked. The Tooth is also seen as a whimsical floor lamp that can add a glow to any interior space.
Propaganda Pakistan although is filled with amazing products, who’s exclusiveness is increased by the fact that they are not mass produced, the price range is a little heavy on the pocket, especially if the brains behind it want to cater to the college going crowd. For purchase as a gift item Propaganda and Mr P are a must. With future exhibitions planned for Islamabad and Karachi, and outlets in the near future, let’s wait and watch what more Propaganda has to offer.
