I admit that I am not the biggest fan of art installations, but the Prada-piece in Marfa, Texas is one of the most interesting pieces of art I have ever seen. The small Texas town was adorned with a mock Prada store, made of local materials including abode bricks, along with plaster, glass, MDF and carpet. The artists behind the sculpture are Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset of Elmgreen and Dragset, and called their untraditional piece a pop architectural land art project. The building is filled with authentic Prada merchandise, and was handpicked by Miuccia Prada herself from the fall/winter 2005 collection. The items that are displayed in the windows and against the back wall are shoes (only for the right foot) and handbags, but the handbags have no bottoms (to prevent theft). Interestingly enough, the doors are actually not functional; the building is intended to never be entered. Not only is it not to be entered, it is to never be repaired; it will slowly dissolve into the natural landscape. I don't have any plans to travel to Texas, but Prada Mafra is definitely worth it.
All photos courtesy of Gray Malin Photography
