Allen Jones- Pop Art

Allen Jones was born in South Hampton in 1937. He studied painting and lithography and later went on to teaching lithography at the Croydon College of Art. In the mid-60s he moved to New York and his attention was drawn to the world of mass produced consumer goods. He began working on 3D erotic sculptures. In 1969 he produced the Table Sculpture and the Hat Stand which have become his most famous Human Furniture. The furniture used in the controversial film Clockwork Orange was inspired by his work. Since then he had been invited as guest lecturer in Universities all around the world.

Woman as an armchair by Allen Jones

The original chair was designed in 1969. It was designed as a set incorporating a hat stand and table. The sculptures were made using fibreglass and their clothing was made of leather. When they were first exhibited in 1970,they caused a storm of protest. This type of human furniture was known as forniphilia. When it was later exhibited at the Institute of Contemporary Art in London, stink bombs and smoke bombs were thrown at them. Years later when it was shown at the Tate, it was attacked with paint stripper. Allen Jones has always claimed that this art was never meant to be offensive, but was a protest against sexism.

The remake of Jones' chair by Bjarne Melgaard

Recently this year, Allen Jones' sculptures are still sparking controversy.  His original Woman as an Armchair design that was created in the 60s was back on the front page of the news. Ms. Dasha Zhukova, an owner of an Art gallery in Moscow posed for a photo to promote her gallery. She chose to copy Allen Jones' design, this time using a black mannequin. The day on which the photo appeared online happened to be Martin Luther King day. She has now sparked outrage with feminists and black rights groups around the world. She too claims that this artwork was never intended specifically against any gender or racial politics. She insists that the artwork was against prejudice.

pHinnWeb. no date. Allen Jones. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.phinnweb.org/livingroom/ILikeToWatch/allenjones/. [Accessed 26 January 14].

MailOnline. 2014. The man who turned half-naked women into chairs - and called it art: How Allen Jones' sculptures are still sparking controversy 45 years on. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2544334/The-man-turned-half-naked-women-chairs-called-art.html. [Accessed 26 January 14].