Security with a smile.
By ruby222
@ruby222 (4847)
July 17, 2008 3:32pm CST
A young man who owns a security firm has pledged to make the security industry more pleasing to the eye.He believes everything from burglar alarms to CCTVs can be aesthetically pleasing, cheering eveople are paranoid,' says Megyeri,who started his fascination with improving security while studying at the Royal College of Art seven years ag0
'I was creating a photographic documentary on how people live in cities and I began to understand the psychology of crime and fear.
I also realised we need cuteness in our lives. 'Security has almost become a mental illness.
'The fear of crime has grown so the security market has grown with it, but no one is taking care of our mental well-being. There's too much fear and it's damaging.'
Perhaps this explains why his creations include a burglar alarm box in the shape of a daisy, Victorianstyle railings with jagged wrought-iron animals on top, and star-shaped razor wire.
'You can either order Mr Smish and Madame Buttly separately, or together as the dream team of security,' his website states of the razor wire range.
The names of his security range are light-hearted, too.
A heavy padlock in the shape of a teddy bear is called Billy B alarm, Heart To Heart describes a heavy heart-shaped chain (pictured below with the Billy B padlock and daisy-shaped burglar alarm) and his CCTV invention, a cat-shaped shade to protect film footage from light distortion, is called CityCatTV.
Today, inside his studio in a converted warehouse in London Fields, the fashionable hub for creatives in London's East End, even the art on his wall reflects his attitude.
In one photo, a sweet-looking rabbit holding a wheelbarrow planter is chained by the throat to the nearest fence.
So is this more than just an artist's project? Megyeri says: 'Definitely.'
According to one study, 87 per cent of victims of burglary said they'd been left emotionally affected.
He claims he wants to make the urban environment a better place.
A social commentary
Indeed, his approach is already proving popular.
Not only can his products be found everywhere from Tokyo to London to New York, he now has a second studio in Germany where his business partner is securing manufacturing and distribution deals across the US and Europe.
He also consults with clients – including government bodies, architects, developers and crime prevention officers on the state of security and its psychological effects.
He's even advising on the London Olympic site. As if that wasn't enough, he is exhibiting at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
'Yes, I'm making an artistic statement – a social commentary, even – I want it to be relevant,' he says.
'But I want to do something about the state we're in, not just comment on it.'
So does it appeal to you??I cannot imagine a teddy bear wrought iron gate!!
1 person likes this
1 response
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
18 Jul 08
How peculiar! I can't imagine how making your alarm like a flower makes it any less like having an alarm, but whatever make folks happy really. Security is a miserable thing to have to think about, so if you can make it pretty then I suppose it makes it more fun at least.
1 person likes this


