A glamorous Louis Vuitton, Gucci or Fendi. A stunning thrift store find. Or perhaps your beat-up old school knapsack? Do you have a favorite bag?
The Times’s T Magazine interviewed the Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist about her collection of over 2,000 bags:
Rist believes that the bag was one of the first human tools. With a bag, she says, “you have what you need and are independent — and you’re always ready for a possible escape.” But Rist, 61, also considers a bag to be many things besides: a good friend, a portrait of its owner, a universe unto itself and a vessel — similar to the human body. At its heart, Rist says, her collection is “a phenomenological investigation into how many bags come together when a 60-something-year-old Central European woman doesn’t throw anything away.”
What’s your reaction to Ms. Rist’s collection of bags? How many bags do you own? Would you want to own 2,000?
What do you look for in a bag? Color? Style? Brand? Practicality? How important are bags to you? Do you agree with Ms. Rist that a good bag is like a good friend?
Tell us in the comments, then read the related T Magazine article to learn more about Ms. Rist’s fascination with bags.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
