{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O118350"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O118350/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB3041/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB3041/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AB3041","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/David Poston","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AB2994","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/David Poston","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O118350","accessionNumber":"M.20-2005","objectType":"Pectoral cross","titles":[{"title":"The Real Thing","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"When David Poston was asked what prompted him to make this pectoral cross from Coca-Cola bottle tops, collected from a bar in Rwanda, he posed the following series of questions.\r\n\r\nIs there anything inherently offensive in the piece?  If someone were to choose to take offence would this be because of any statement genuinely inherent to the piece or a reflection of their own position, prejudices or assumptions?\r\n\r\nIf the juxtaposition of Cross and Coca-Cola is offensive, to whom and why?\r\n\r\nIf the unconventional juxtaposition is not offensive or emotive to an individual viewer, why not?\r\n\r\nThe Coca-Cola bottle tops were collected in Rwanda for the express purpose of making the piece.  Rwanda is a Christian country, an extremely poor society.\r\n\r\nWhat are Coca-Cola doing in Rwanda?  Are they helping Rwanda’s recovery from the events of 1994 through the development of commerce?  Are they exploiting mass-marketing techniques through people’s desire to participate in a glossy romanticised life-style?  What does the power of a Brand mean in markets like this?\r\n\r\n“Coca-Colonisation”.  Coca-Cola (and Pepsi Cola) can be bought in the very poorest villages in Africa, in many places dedicated fridges being supplied by the company for the presentation of their products but forbidden for any other alimentary or medical purpose.\r\n\r\nWhat does the cross mean?  To the moral American Christians who run Coca-Cola, to the Christians in Rwanda?\r\n\r\nWhat do Coca-Cola bottle tops imply or represent?  In this context, what is the significance of their coming from Rwanda?\r\n\r\nIf the juxtaposition appears to be significant, then the viewer may consider why this should be and what it implies regarding the respective meanings of the Cross and Coca-Cola symbols.\r\n\r\nHow great is the difference between the two symbols?  Do they both now represent brands?\r\n\r\nAre Christianity (or any religion) and commerce still compatible?  Have they ever been?\r\n\r\nWhat is “The Real Thing”?\r\n\r\nWhat is real?\r\n\r\nDoes this piece have any meaning?\n\nThe Coca-Cola bottle tops were collected by David Poston in the bar of the Hotel des Mille Collines, the subject of the film,<i> Hotel Rwanda, </i>directed by Terry George and released in 2004.  It was adapted from a screenplay written by both George and Keir Pearson. Based on real life events in Rwanda during the spring of 1994, the film stars Don Cheadle as hotelier Paul Rusesabagina, who attempts to rescue his fellow citizens from the ravages of the Rwandan Genocide. Sophie Okonedo and Nick Nolte also appear in principal roles. The film, which has been called an African Schindler's List, documents Rusesabagina's acts to save the lives of his family and more than a thousand other refugees, by granting them shelter in the besieged Hôtel des Mille Collines. Hotel Rwanda explores genocide, political corruption, and the repercussions of violence.","physicalDescription":"Pectoral cross in the shape of a cross, made from the flattened steel tops of Coca-Cola bottles, collected in Rwanda, laser welded over a wooden former.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"David Poston","id":"A16862"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"hemp","id":"AAT14043"}],"techniques":[{"text":"hammering","id":"AAT54098"},{"text":"cutting","id":"AAT54005"},{"text":"laser welding","id":"AAT53974"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel and wood","categories":[{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AB3041","2006AB2994"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"83","id":"THES49711"},"free":"","case":"CA8B","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Cross","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Suffolk","id":"x29440"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2004","earliest":"2004-01-01","latest":"2004-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Gift of the Whiteley family","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"13.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Made from Coca-Cola bottle tops, gathered in Rwanda.  Purchased from the Lesley Craze Gallery at the \"Collect\" exhibition, V&A, January 2005\n\nHistorical significance: When asked what prompted him to make this pectoral cross from Coca-Cola bottle tops, collected from a bar in Rwanda, the artist David Poston, posed the following series of questions.\r\n\r\n“The Real Thing” is intended to ambiguous, to tease.  Therefore the artist should not state the meaning of the piece but rather reflect a series of questions the viewer might address.\r\n\r\nOne of the issues of interest to the artist is the extent to which questions may or may not occur to the individual viewer.\r\n\r\nIs there anything inherently offensive in the piece?  If someone were to choose to take offence would this be because of any statement genuinely inherent to the piece or a reflection of their own position, prejudices or assumptions?\r\n\r\nIf the juxtaposition of Cross and Coca-Cola is offensive, to whom and why?\r\n\r\nIf the unconventional juxtaposition is not offensive or emotive to an individual viewer, why not?\r\n\r\nThe Coca-Cola bottle tops were collected in Rwanda for the express purpose of making the piece.  Rwanda is a Christian country, an extremely poor society.\r\n\r\nWhat are Coca-Cola doing in Rwanda?  Are they helping Rwanda’s recovery from the events of 1994 through the development of commerce?  Are they exploiting mass-marketing techniques through people’s desire to participate in a glossy romanticised life-style?  What does the power of a Brand mean in markets like this?\r\n\r\n“Coca-Colonisation”.  Coca-Cola (and Pepsi Cola) can be bought in the very poorest villages in Africa, in many places dedicated fridges being supplied by the company for the presentation of their products but forbidden for any other alimentary or medical purpose.\r\n\r\nWhat does the cross mean?  To the moral American Christians who run Coca-Cola, to the Christians in Rwanda?\r\n\r\nWhat do Coca-Cola bottle tops imply or represent?  In this context, what is the significance of their coming from Rwanda?\r\n\r\nIf the juxtaposition appears to be significant, then the viewer may consider why this should be and what it implies regarding the respective meanings of the Cross and Coca-Cola symbols.\r\n\r\nHow great is the difference between the two symbols?  Do they both now represent brands?\r\n\r\nAre Christianity (or any religion) and commerce still compatible?  Have they ever been?\r\n\r\nWhat is “The Real Thing”?\r\n\r\nWhat is real?\r\n\r\nDoes this piece have any meaning?\n\nThe Coca-Cola bottle tops were collected by David Poston in the bar of the Hotel des Mille Collines, the subject of the film,<i> Hotel Rwanda, </i>directed by Terry George and released in 2004.  It was adapted from a screenplay written by both George and Keir Pearson. Based on real life events in Rwanda during the spring of 1994, the film stars Don Cheadle as hotelier Paul Rusesabagina, who attempts to rescue his fellow citizens from the ravages of the Rwandan Genocide. Sophie Okonedo and Nick Nolte also appear in principal roles. The film, which has been called an African Schindler's List, documents Rusesabagina's acts to save the lives of his family and more than a thousand other refugees, by granting them shelter in the besieged Hôtel des Mille Collines. Hotel Rwanda explores genocide, political corruption, and the repercussions of violence.","historicalContext":"The Modern Church \r\nIn the late Victorian period two architects turned- craftsmen, Henry Wilson and C.R. Ashbee, initiated a decisive shift towards fine craftsmanship in church silver. This led to a sharp fall in the standing of commercial manufacturers but provided a steady source of work for many designer-silversmiths that has lasted into the present day. This revival of craftsmanship came out of the Arts and Crafts movement, one of the greatest social and artistic forces of the age. Favouring small studio workshops and simplicity of form, the movement set the pattern for church silver throughout the 20th century, whether for major cathedral commissions or for parish churches. Cathedral Church of St Michael, Coventry, 1954-62","briefDescription":"Flattened steel bottle tops from Coca-Cola bottles, gathered in Rwanda, laser welded over a wooden former, England, 2004, designed and made by David Poston.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"10  ‘The Real Thing’ Crucifix\r\nIs this a religious object? It is a cross decorated\r\nwith recycled Coca-Cola bottle tops gathered\r\nin Rwanda. Dr David Poston, works in Africa,\r\nhelping people to develop sustainable livelihoods \r\nas a way out of poverty. He asks, ‘If the juxtaposition \r\nof the Cross and Coca-Cola is offensive, to whom \r\nand why?’\r\n\r\nEngland, 2004; by David Poston (born 1948)\r\nSteel,wood and hemp\r\nMuseum no. M.20-2005\r\nGift of the Whiteley family","date":{"text":"03/11/2006","earliest":"2006-11-03","latest":"2006-11-03"}}],"partNumbers":["M.20-2005"],"accessionNumberNum":"20","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":2005,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-14","recordCreationDate":"2005-11-09","availableToBook":false}}