ArtFairPH Find: Laundry Detergent Box But Make It Art

The artwork by Shourouk Rhaiem costs $9,000 per box.
IMAGE PHOTO: Website / SHOUROUK RHAIEM

Everyday things in our households are often ignored. Why make a big deal out of dishwashing liquid bottles or grocery boxes lying around, after all?

But French jewellery designer Shourouk Rhaiem believes otherwise.

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Surf Automatic
Christa I. De La Cruz
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Shourouk Rhaiem's "Washing Powder Surf" at ArtFairPH

Her solo exhibition, Memory and Metamorphosis, at Columns Gallery in Singapore features everyday items like coffee cans and perfume containers adorned with Swarovski crystals. Two of her pieces (both named "Washing Powder Surf'," either "Automatic" or "Hand Washing") are on display at the Columns Gallery (Booth 17) at Art Fair Philippines, which runs from February 21 to 23, at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City.

Washing Powder Surf
Christa I. De La Cruz
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"Washing Powder Surf" is exactly that, but the unique thing about it is that the boxes are actually from 1986. (Hoarders can relate.) All sides are bejeweled, with the front side with the brand name, the sides with the old advertising copies, and the back part with female figures. The boxes are mounted on nails, allowing the gallerist to pick up the 3D piece and show every side to interested buyers. One box costs $9,000, which is roughly P520,000.

Washing Powder Surf Front
Website / SHOUROUK RHAIEM
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Washing Powder Surf Side
Website / SHOUROUK RHAIEM

Washing Powder Surf Other Side
Website / SHOUROUK RHAIEM

Washing Powder Surf Back
Website / SHOUROUK RHAIEM
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"Memory and Metamorphosis delves into the interplay between persona history and collective memory, highlighting how ordinary objects can hold profound emotional and cultural significance. Through her art, Rhalem invites us to discover the extraordinary potential of the everyday, transforming seemingly insignificant items into bold, radiant expressions of identity and aspiration," Rhaim's exhibition notes said.

Art Fair Philippines 2025 runs from February 21 to 23, 2025, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City. Tickets, which cost P750, are available through the Art Fair Philippines website.

About The Author
Christa I. De La Cruz
Associate Editor
Christa I. De La Cruz is a Metro Manila-based editor with more than a decade of experience in feature writing for print, digital media, and coffee-table books. She is also a Palanca Award-winning writer; and has published works of poetry and fiction in local and international literary journals.
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