SPIKE CAGE

Year: 2024 · 1 of 1 for Charlie Charles · collab with Davide Di Lernia · Material: Cardboard and steel

Conceived as a sculptural display installation suspended between fashion, industrial design, and contemporary art, this project reinterprets the concept of protection and confinement through a monumental handcrafted structure designed exclusively to host a customized pair of MSCHF Boots.

The installation is composed of three interconnected architectural elements, entirely developed using layered cardboard construction combined with brushed steel inserts and aluminum structural connections. The contrast between raw handcrafted textures and industrial metallic details creates a visual language inspired by brutalist architecture, futuristic cages, and luxury exhibition design.

The three main structures are connected through precision-positioned aluminum tubes that physically and visually bind the composition together, transforming separate volumes into a single unified sculptural cage. The geometry intentionally recalls gothic silhouettes and sharp industrial forms, generating a dramatic vertical presence enhanced by the interplay of light and shadow across the layered surfaces.

Inside the structure, the custom MSCHF Boots become the centerpiece of the installation. The boots were individually customized and hand-finished by artist Davide Di Lernia, introducing a darker and more refined interpretation of the original silhouette through material research and surface treatment.

Rather than functioning as a traditional display case, the project transforms the product into a collectible artifact suspended within an architectural installation — blurring the boundaries between object design, fashion presentation, and contemporary sculpture.