In response to the notion that the world is too

serious and short on humor, Roma Manikhin gives us

a dose of satire with his saucy deck of playing cards

and provocative candlesticks created for the Normann

x Brask Art Collection.

A burlesque circus of 54 seductive acts adorns the

playing cards, inspired by burlesque shows, sailor

tattoos, erotic postcards and a late 18th century mood.

Although the cards provide us with an unpleasant

reminder of the stereotyped sexual portrayals of

women, one cannot help but smile when presented

with this bizarre and enticing world.

Drawing on the styles of 20th century Italian design,

Manikhin’s two candlesticks for the collection emerge

as three-dimensional representations of his artistic

universe. One depicts a female head, her plump lips

holding the candle in place, while the other is a full

nude figure, balancing a total of three candles across

both her hands and her head. The pieces are made

from hand-painted concrete and untreated resin

respectively; their voluptuous designs charged with

humor and sexual desire.

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