Why burning a $100,000 Birkin bag is art

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In a shocker of sorts, Hollywood provocateur Tyler Shields recently killed a red crocodile Hermes Birkin VS bag worth $100,000.

His girlfriend Francesca, Clint Eastwood’s daughter, destroyed the bag by chainsawing through it, setting it on fire as Shields’ camera focused on her. The duo had hacked through a Louboutin and set it on fire in the past.
Critics have commented that the photoshoot was insensitive to those in financial need, but in his defense Tyler said that he was very poor six years ago and he had to fight for it and added, “I think if people are upset because I spent money on a photoshoot, they should be upset about every photoshoot that takes place ever. What if I bought a $100,000 car and crashed it? I’m not taking anything away from anybody.”
Many feel it takes money to make art, but how true is that? Some feel that creativity and destruction are closely linked to an aspect, others give carte blanche to Tyler.
Freelance photographer Umesh Bajaj says that there is no “too much” when it comes to the expression of one’s thoughts. “If I just have enough money to live a normal life, I would blow the rest on creativity. Everyone has a choice in life. One has the right to turn one’s hard earned money into a pile of ashes,” he says.
Seconds Ish Sagar, communications manager, Aviraté, a high-street fashion label, “I believe art is also born out of destruction. From an artist’s point of view I would definitely subscribe to Shield’s thought process. Destruction of a $100,000 item is big money, nevertheless, if it is an artistic expression it has a whole different creative value for the artist.”
Designer Nitin Bal Chauhan explains that you could make installations out of scrap but an individual is free to be inspired from anything. He says, “Destruction has been a very popular theme among artists specially after the first and the second world wars. Expressionism is one such art movement, where artists started expressing their feeling of disgust and hatred towards the society. They felt the world did not deserve to see beautiful things anymore. Deconstruction in fashion and music is a common genre. Torn denims, raw edges, uneven stitches with different coloured yarns, patchwork, distressed fabrics, stone washes, unkempt hair, piercing, all have arisen as an expression for destruction.”
While it takes money to make anything in this world, some may find beauty in basics, whereas some may find beauty in extravagance.
Crude is far more exciting than the perfect, says designer Anand Bhushan. “Destruction will always find its way in art and fashion. It’s a vicious cycle. What is made perfect with creativity at one time must be destroyed and deconstructed to give way to new form of creativity. Just compare the ruins of the Mohenjo-daro and Harappa to the art of making skyscrapers! It’s pure evolution. Nothing is too much. Art, culture and evolution should never be measured!”