
Bjarne Melgaard by Jim Henson
Out Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard’s project, The Casual Pleasure of Disappointment is currently at Red Bull Arts in New York. The large-scale installation’s opening was timed to coincide with New York Fashion Week and was been described as,
“a derelict department store populated by an army of genetically enhanced mannequins”
The multilevel psycho-pathological installation was put on in part by Melgaard’s gallerist, Gavin Brown’s Enterprise which functions as the jewelry department – hosting the American launch of the artist’s collaboration with jeweler Bjørg Nordli-Mathisen (BJØRG).
Produced in collaboration with creative director Babak Radboy, the exhibition features a presentation of the eponymous menswear/unisex clothing line, The Casual Pleasure of Disappointment, violently embraces the obsessive and self-destructive aspects of fashion and consumerism.

Bjarne Melgaard’s half a million dollar clothing give-away in progress
Adopting a commercial marketing stately the exhibit is accompanied by a suite of fashion editorials, look books, and brand identities, which will dress the windows of the installation. A music video made in collaboration with Jim Henson Company is on view in the show.
Available for sale at the gift shop are a limited edition magazine-cum-exhibition catalog containing dozens of self-contained booklets, posters, and ephemera featuring photos, drawings, texts and collaborations including Roe Ethridge, Jason Nocito, Miguel Adrover, Heji Shin and more.
The Casual Pleasure of Disappointment is at Red Bull Arts through April 9, 2017.
(Photos, Naho Kubota & Andre Herroero)