Abel Picogna's 'OH! Open House' mimics IKEA catalog with porn set screenshots

Artist Abel Picogna (born 1994) created 'OH! Open House' (2021), a book that replicates the layout and design of an IKEA catalog but replaces product photos with screenshots from professional pornography. Picogna began photographing mountains as a teenager at Istituto d'Arte di Udine, then studied at Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia and ISIA Urbino, where he developed an interest in found photography and the book form. The project originated from his habit of collecting screenshots from films and online images; he realized he had overlooked pornography. As he built an archive, his focus shifted from content to context, leading to the idea of a glossy interior catalog. Picogna studied the IKEA 2020 catalog extensively to achieve perfect mimicry, ensuring the game of confusion would work. He faced challenges including poor image quality (solved by screen capture) and cataloging hundreds of furniture items. The book is available via his website or email. The interview was conducted by Angela Madesani.