UK artist Joseph Begley has taken on a comedic and artistic venture: to interactively illuminate a room…and fulfill our innate need to touch butts. This ass-sential light fixture works simply enough, using materials such as silicone and pressure sensors to brighten your libido and the room every time you touch a butt-shaped sculpture.
The functionality of this lamp is accentuated by the array of gestures that will stimulate the light. This fixture will only ‘turn on’ if you give it a little foreplay and TLC…but can’t we all relate to that? Depending on your style, you can “slap it” as the piece is so aptly named, but you can also pinch, squeeze, caress or cup this lovable and cheeky lamp. The lamp comes in a spectrum of shades including white, red, blue, cyan, magenta, green, yellow, and orange to inspire you.
Begley is a true humanitarian and really just wants to spread joy: “within my practice I strive to combine functionality with playfulness and humour.” I say mission accomplished. I already feel inspired to have a lamp booty-tapping rave party.
If you aren’t ready to take the plunge and permanently bring these buns home to your humble abode (or sex dungeon for mood lighting, we don’t judge!) you can stop by and say hello to them at London-based lingerie boutique Petit Bisous. Petit Bisous is a female-aimed lingerie shop, dedicated to accentuating every square inch of ladies in each size and shape.
Before moving on, it’s pretty crucial to address the rampant amounts of non-consensual butt-touching that goes on, especially in public places and public transit. This lamp is a way of drawing some attention to that, and potentially ruffling feathers for encouraging this form of touching. Although the piece is essentially gender-neutral, it remains implicitly female, as female butts are mostly on display and more sexualized than men’s butts. Consensual touch is of course always okay, but this lamp toes the line a bit between playful humor and a harmful message encouraging a cheeky touch.
With the lamp on display in a female friendly boutique, it is safe to assume that these buns are cherished and receiving of well deserved respect and kindness. Both the artist and Petit Bisous strive to empower the body and joy within sensual touch and serve as a reminder of the importance of consent.
So if you ever get a chance to see this luminous derriere, make sure to appreciate it for what’s on the inside: complex programming, light bulbs, silicone and pride in its job! So give it some props!
Here’s a jam from the Booty Man to fill your mind with inanimate butt-touching daydreams in the meantime 😉 .
Images courtesy of Joseph Begley and DesignBoom
