Amsterdam exhibition turns pegs into pop art stories

An unconventional art exhibition dedicated to the humble clothes peg opens in Amsterdam on 7 November. Whose Washing Line Is It Anyway? Clothes pegs of the rich and famous was conceived by artist, author and creative Rick Chant, co-founder of Amsterdam-based agency WE ARE Pi.

The exhibition features 15 works inspired by the supposed laundry habits of celebrities including Morrissey, Brian Eno, Tom Cruise and Taylor Swift. Each piece tells a tongue-in-cheek story, blending pop culture with domestic design to celebrate the peg as an unsung icon of everyday engineering.

Everyday objects meet pop culture parody

Among the highlights are the pegs that American rapper and designer Kid Cudi “used” to hang his Balmain jeans, and those credited to R&B star Sisqo for drying his “thong, thong, thong, thong, thongs.” Through humour and satire, Chant reimagines the laundry line as a stage for fame and folly.

Rick Chant, co-founder, WE ARE Pi: “This is a dazzling collection of clothes pegs, each with a story too good to be true. When fame meets fabric softener, prepare for dirty laundry to be aired and a few reputations hung out to dry.”

“Much like the Coke bottle, an object so egalitarian it graces both gilded penthouses and student flats, the clothes peg is a great leveller. Whether you’re a pauper or a prince, peg you must. Fabric gets filthy and we are united in our laundering. Whether it’s wood or plastic, it’s a design classic. This is not just an exhibition. It’s a celebration of humanity, hung out on the line for all to see.”

A playful take on functional design

Whose Washing Line Is It Anyway? opens at 6 p.m. on 7 November in the Tea Room at WE ARE Pi, Oranje Nassaulaan 7, Amsterdam. All works are available for purchase.

With humour, nostalgia and a wink to celebrity culture, Chant’s exhibition invites visitors to see the beauty — and absurdity — in one of the most unassuming household items.

www.wearepi.com

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