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In the glamorous world of fashion, Chanel is undoubtedly the supreme luxury in a unique way. This time-honored brand has always adhered to strict product quality and raw material standards, and will not tolerate the slightest flaw.
Indeed, you heard it right. The main body of this handbag called "Rare Piggy Edition" is made of a pigskin printed with Chanel's classic double C logo, and what is even more eye-popping is that the price is as high as a staggering $510,000! Since its launch, this sky-high handbag has set off a heated discussion in the fashion industry and the majority of consumer groups, and has also attracted many doubts.
Some people wonder if it is really ethical to make live animal skins into luxury goods, and whether it undermines the image of excellence that Chanel has always advocated? Others praise the unique and innovative design of the bag, and despite its high price, the craftsmanship is enough to make people fall in love with it.
However, more people are concerned about the question: Do the tattoos on live pigs cause untold suffering to these innocent lives, and should we respect every living being, rather than just treating them as creative material? For a while, public opinion was boiling and criticism came one after another.
In the face of such a huge controversy, Chanel chose to remain silent at first. However, it was not long before they had to come forward to explain and clarify the process of making the bag.
The genius designer who "sublimated" live pigs into works of art was none other than the famous Belgian artist Wim Devoy. Born in 1965, he is imbued with a strong sense of artistry and is passionate about creating unique creations on the skin surface of various animals.
The indissoluble bond between Wim and the pig originated by chance. One day, his wife begged him to go to the pig slaughterhouse to buy a whole pigskin for a family gathering.
Wim jumped into the challenge. He first bought a large amount of pigskin from the slaughterhouse, experimented with the patterns at home, and then meticulously traced them on the surface of the skin using exquisite tattooing techniques.
When the finished piece debuted on the market, it quickly garnered widespread acclaim, with many collectors flocking to the market.
However, pigskin is different from a canvas after all, it will give off an unpleasant smell over time, become dry and hard, and even eventually rot. Faced with this thorny problem, Wim came up with an ingenious solution – tattoo painting directly on a live pig.
Although Mr. Wimm's innovative idea of "live pig tattoo painting" is original, his practice has sparked heated discussions and controversies in society. Against this backdrop, the Belgian animal protection association took Mr. Wim to court for violating animal protection regulations.
Despite Mr. Wim's eventual victory, the lawsuit made him aware of the potential risks of continuing to practice art in Belgium. As an artist who pursues freedom and tolerance, he aspires to be able to unleash his creativity without constraints in a more relaxed and accepting environment.
In 2004, after much deliberation and investigation, Mr. Wim made the fateful decision to move his studio to Beijing, the capital of China, and to establish an "Art Farm" on the outskirts of Beijing dedicated to raising pigs and creating tattoos on live pigs.
As to why he chose Beijing, Mr. Wim explained that it is a city with a vibrant and historic history, and its rich cultural heritage has led to a broader vision and an open attitude towards art.
Establishing your own "art farm" in this vibrant land not only allows you to avoid legal risks, but also takes care of the pigs yourself to ensure that the quality of your works reaches the highest level.
Soon after, the "Art Farm" sprung up and became Mr. Wim's dream creative paradise. He has hired a team of professional veterinarians who are fully responsible for the daily care of the pigs, ensuring that every pig is always in top condition.
Inside the "Art Farm", there is a scene of tranquility and harmony: the pigs are clean and tidy, the pigs are fat and healthy, and the veterinarians are carefully fed and the staff handle the pigs in an orderly manner...... Mr. Wim gazes at all of this with anticipation, which is the solid cornerstone of his work.
In order to ensure that the live pigs used for painting are always in the best condition, care must be taken care of in the best possible way. First of all, these pigs must avoid obesity, unpleasant odors, illness and excessive sweating.
Therefore, veterinarians strictly control the feed ratio of the pigs to ensure that they have a well-proportioned body and smooth skin. There is a fixed feeding time every day, and the recipes are carefully designed to balance the nutrition and taste delicious.
The right amount of vitamins and minerals is added to the feed to help maintain the shine and health of the coat.
Here, in addition to providing precise feed matching, the cleaning and care of the pigs is also taken to a very high level! Did you know that these adorable little ones enjoy bath time 3 times a day, and their bodies are carefully cleansed by professional veterinarians with the best coconut soap and gentle shower gel to ensure that their skin is always looking new.
In this process, the veterinarians are very careful, they are careful and meticulous, for fear that any small movement will touch the sensitive parts of these "distinguished guests" and cause injury.
After bathing, the staff will gently dry every inch of the pig's body with a soft towel and use natural apple cider vinegar to give them a full range of massages, which not only helps to tighten pores and make the skin more delicate, but also brings a comfortable experience to the pigs.
During the massage, they often have a warm smile on the corner of their mouth, as if they were their own children, showing meticulous care.
In Mr. Wim's elaborate "Art Farm", the life of the pigs can be described as extremely comfortable. On hot summer days, Mr. Wim would build a pool for the pigs to cool down, and on cold winter days, he would set up special warm lights for them to keep them warm.
The most special thing is that whenever the pigs feel a little hot, the staff will take out the vanilla-flavored ice cream and feed it into their mouths bit by bit. After eating the ice cream, the pigs are always refreshed and seem to be enjoying themselves.
Living in such a "VIP" level environment, the pigs seem to be particularly leisurely and complacent. They seem to have become accustomed to the care of others, and they are completely immersed in this "artistic" atmosphere.
This is exactly what Mr. Wim wants, and only the pigs who are in a good mood can give birth to the most outstanding works of art.
However, despite the fact that Mr. Wim provided such a privileged "VIP" living condition for the pigs, it was not easy to get a tattoo on them. This is because, as living creatures, live pigs have a keen sense of pain.
As soon as they feel the stinging of their skin, they will become restless, scurrying around, and even struggling to escape, which undoubtedly brings great distress to their work.
In order to successfully complete the creation, Mr. Wim had to work together with the assistance of many staff members to control the huge pigs in the first stage. The site was in chaos for a while, with frightened pigs wailing and workers dragging and pulling, exhausted and panting.
Even so, the final result is often omissions and flaws due to the fierce resistance of the pigs.
After being confronted with this extremely difficult problem, Wim made a crucial decision – he began experimenting with anesthetic drugs that could temporarily quiet the pigs. Under the miraculous effects of these drugs, the originally restless pig finally became calm and gentle, thus creating an excellent environment for him to carry out beautiful and vivid tattoo painting.
However, Wim soon realized that the duration of the anesthetic drug was very short-lived – only lasting 1 to 2 hours. If it is overused or the dosage is too large, it will not only cause serious damage to the quality of the pig skin, but may even lead to the life of the pig.
Therefore, in the process of creating each work, Wim must maintain a high degree of vigilance and carefully carry out every step of the operation. The birth of each work is like a long and arduous marathon, which usually takes 2 to 3 months to complete.
However, it is this seemingly inefficient production process that makes Wim's live pig tattoo paintings extremely high quality and unique, making them extremely rare treasures. Since their debut, they have attracted a lot of attention from the art world, and have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
It is worth mentioning that the world-renowned brands Louis Vuitton and Chanel have also thrown olive branches to Wim and established a close cooperative relationship with it. Among them, Chanel commissioned him to paint the brand's iconic logo on live pigs.
Despite the challenging process, Wim gave his all in, meticulously designing the pattern and meticulously completing the drawing.
Everything seems to be moving in a good direction, and the cooperation between Wim and Chanel is gradually getting better. However, just as he was about to deliver the finished pigskin with Chanel's iconic double C logo to the famous brand, a sudden intellectual property dispute quietly descended.
Chanel mercilessly took Wim to court for infringing on its intellectual property rights. Faced with this former partner, Wim was deeply helpless and disappointed. As an artist, he has always adhered to the original intention of pious creation, and has never had any thoughts of infringing on the rights and interests of others.
Faced with this dilemma, Wim showed extraordinary wisdom and proposed a win-win solution: he would sell the pigskin at an attractive price of $510,000 as long as Chanel was willing to withdraw the lawsuit.
This is undoubtedly a more cost-effective option than the lengthy and uncertain litigation process.
Eventually, for commercial reasons, Chanel accepted the offer. They used the pigskin to create a limited-edition handbag, which sparked a craze in the luxury world.
At this moment, public opinion from all over the world is like a surging river, which is like a surging river, about the value and deep meaning of this luxury handbag crafted from the fur of living creatures, and at the same time, it has also triggered deep reflection and introspection from all walks of life.
Some people have questioned whether the use of the fur of living organisms as a luxury item really reflects the empathy and empathy that human beings should have, but there are also those who hold a different view, believing that it is the dexterous hands of the artists that give this otherwise ordinary pigskin a high value and a unique soul.
Perhaps the most far-reaching impact of this heated debate is to make us think deeply about the complex relationship between man and nature, man and animal, and to speak out for respect for every life, and to understand and accept all life with compassion.
The true mission of art should be to elevate the spiritual realm of the masses, not to be distorted by excessive commercialization and deviate from its original purpose.