Under The Killing Moon
Series of Surrealist lips, © 2015-2019 emiko oye
Recycled and repurposed LEGO®, sterling & Argentium silver, nylon coated steel cable
Convertible neckpieces
My inner New Wave/Post Punk Romantic, Hedwig & The Angry Inch Groupie, and Salvador Dalí / Luis Buñuel Surrealist merged to create the Under The Killing Moon series of convertible lips made from repurposed LEGO®. Surrounded by images from glam glitter W Magazine fashion stories and Dalí’s jeweled “Ruby Lips”, there came a urge to fill a wall with off-kilter lips, as if candidly capturing the range of Desire; from coy to seductive, melancholy to violent. Wanting to push my artistic “outer limits” led me to revisit Luis Buñuel’s first Surrealist film in collaboration with Dalí, “Un Chien Andalou” (1929), not only for it’s challenging visuals, but for its theme “to present the straight and pure ‘conduct’ of someone who continues to pursue love despite wretched humanitarian ideals, patriotism, and the other poor mechanisms of reality.”
Listening to my usual New Wave/Post Punk radio while in the studio, Echo & The Bunnymen’s “The Killing Moon” became the series’ torch song, instigating the compilation of a Lips Soundtrack, setting the tone and titles for the individual lip pieces.
Upon close inspection the lips appear Neo-Impressionistic and abstract, but when viewed from afar the image clarifies – much like love in its first stages where true perspective is gained only with distance from it. Wear the lips around your neck to be in the “throes of passion”, then put them on the wall to admire, reminisce and reflect.
Image with two models:
Photo © Marc Olivier Le Blanc 2016
Styling by Joui Turandot
Hair & Makeup by Shana Astrachan of Fox & Doll
Lip 7: Kiss
convertible neckpiece/brooch/pendant, © 2019 emiko oye
repurposed, chromed, and recycled LEGO®, 14ky gold ballpins, Argentium silver, sterling silver, coated steel wire, recycled tin back plate, steel pin. 14ky gold Figaro chain 22”.
Inspired by Prince
Full neckpiece: 14.25”L x 5”W x 1.5”D
Lips Brooch: 3.1875"L x 5”W x 1.5"D.
LEGO duo-chain Necklace: 21.125” x 0.625"W x 0.3125"- 0.625" D.
Teardrop pendant: 3.375”L x 2.4”W x 1.5”D”
Lip 6: Cautious Lip
convertible neckpiece/brooch, © 2015, 2018 emiko oye
Brooch Dimensions: 5” L x 3.125” W x 1.125” D
Necklace Dimensions: 22” L x 0.625" W x 0.3125"- 0.625" D
Private Collection
Lip5: Pillow Lips
convertible neckpiece/brooch, © 2015, 2018 emiko oye
Brooch Dimensions: 5” L x 4.125” W x 1.375” D.
Neck chain hangs 18” around neck x 0.625"W x 0.3125"- 0.625"D
Private Collection
Lip4: Big Mouth Strikes Again
convertible neckpiece/brooch, © 2015, 2018 emiko oye
Brooch Dimensions: 5.375” L x 3.75” W x 2” D.
Neck chain hangs 18.25” around neck x 0.625” W x 0.3125” - 0.625” D
Inspired by Salvadore Dalí’s jeweled “Ruby Lips”
Private Collection
Lip3: Our Lips Are Sealed
convertible neckpiece/brooch, © 2015, 2018 emiko oye
Brooch Dimensions: 4.75” L x 3.125” W x 1.625” D.
Necklace Dimensions: 23” L x 0.625" W x 0.3125"- 0.625" D
Private Collection
Lip2: Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me
neckpiece, © 2015, 2017 emiko oye
Lips measure: 4.75"L x 3.75"W x 1.2"D
Neck chain hangs 18.25" around neck x 0.625"W x 0.3125"- 0.625"D
Private Collection
Lip1: Lips Like Sugar
convertible neckpiece and wall sculpture, © 2015 emiko oye
5” L x 3” W x 1.5” D. Neck cord: 21.5” L x .188” D
Private Collection