gentlemen's bet: giant 45s

Bing Ji Ling in his NYC studio.

“Giant 45s”Spring/Summer 2011

Giant 45s

As disco hit the mainstream in the mid 1970s, a new format of vinyl records was becoming commonplace. The “Giant 45” single– giant, because it replaced the previously smaller standard 7 inch vinyls with a higher quality 12 inch pressing. Thus, cover art naturally improved with the enlarged template as well, with resulting visuals proving to be as dynamic and far reaching as the music itself.

As in all music, the expression of joy and pain were the domi-nant themes, specifically in the United States. Europe was no exception to this, however they often included an added obsession with the emerg-ing technologies of the time– drum machines, vocoders, and synthesizers brought fourth concepts of the computers, future, and space.

Around 1978, and several years following, shit got especially weird– and more so the further east you went, most specifically in Italy and Germany. As a result, much of this esoteric-genius was left vastly underappreciated in the West, thus fading into obscurity.

The following designs are meant to serve as homage to the beautiful, bizarre music and its accompanying art of that time and of those places.

The model:

Bing Ji Ling is Quinn Luke, also known as one half of the dance production/remix duo Coppa, one half of DFA’s Q & A, as well as a founding member of Incarnations, and The Phenomenal Handclap Band.

He tours globally with his bands, projects, and as a DJ. Currently he on a solo tour promoting his new album “Shadow to Shine.”

For more information visit www.bingjiling.com

Thank you for looking.Warm Regards,

Ariel Stark-Benz & Garrett SmithGentlemen’s Bet

Press and/or sales related inquiries can be made toinfo@gentlemensbet.us

Lookbook shot at AUDIO VISUAL ARTShttp://www.audiovisualarts.org