plastic water pistol sculpture douglas young at ART HK 12

‘quantity has a quality in itself’ by douglas young, 2012 all images courtesy the artist /goods of desire

douglas young, the founder of hong kong-based brand goods of desire (G.O.D.) has developed a plastic water pistol installation entitled ‘quantity has a quality in itself’. the designer, entrepreneur and trained architect has investigated through a sculptural medium the memory of hong kong as the center of plastic toy production in the world. young recalls, through the use of plastic water pistols, the time in which this area was the top production zone for this materials industry. a sweeping, black metal skeleton has been put in place from which hundreds of petroleum-based play things are suspended. five or more water guns are connected by a white piece of string, seeming to fall in a line from the black, curving rack. young states, ‘the colorful water pistol was one of its icons. its lurid colours and poor quality construction s a far cry from the world of art. but nothing succeeds like excess. by putting them in a new context, they are able to develop a different (and hopefully more positive) appeal. just like hong kong itself, the attraction is the result of its inherent contradictions.’

the installation was exhibited during hong kong international art fair 2012.

a wide view of the installation

a collection of colorful squirt guns seem to rain down from a curving metal support beam

a detailed perspective of the work

the installation is decorated with tables formed in the same style of the skeleton of the work outfitted with a watergun lamp

this counter space boasts three squirt gun lamps, the light held where the water would be stored

picturing the artwork from a ground to sky perspective

the artist pictured with his work