source for the couch?

I'm not sure that an actual picture a person being executed is appropriate for a living room. I know it has historical value but its still an actual picture of a person being killed, not a "cool" living room accessory. I wonder what other people think.

Art above sofa: Ew. Coffee table in front of sofa: thought it was a cardboard box being emptied (at first glance)...but clever.

@sic, it is distressing. actually, i don't know in which room in a home such "decor" would be appropriate.

slc, when I saw the "art" I thought: seriously? God, I hope we're not so immune to wartime atrocities to think we can sit across from that and chitterchatter about the last movie we saw. It's not just "in bad taste"--it's gruesome and horrible. I'm not sure I'd want to constantly be reminding my guests of the worst of human nature, and the only way not to do that this art is to downplay what it is actually, truly depicting.

very disturbing

If the Art is reminding you of these things, then it is working.

Someone tell me more about the sofa. I must admit it distracted me so much that I didn't even notice the pop art print of the execution.

My first inclination is to criticize the artwork for it's ability to exploit a meaningful tragedy and turn it into graphic eye candy.

And yet, I pause. Who knows? Perhaps this image has a personal meaning to it's owner. I shudder to confess this, but for a while I had a clock in my house that could be considered offensive.

The clock was tacky. It had a mirrored frame and image of the twin towers with twinkling lights. It was purchased by a friend, shortly after 9/11. I can certainly understand why people would consider this in bad taste, but please hear me out. For me, it was a reminder of the people who experienced a tragedy and turned it into an opportunity for profit. In poor taste? Absolutely, but in a way it represented America in both it's worst and best light.

It made me think how right there in China town, merchants were continuing to sell kitschy items, just as they always have and probably always will. They were making the best of their situation even in the midst of a tragedy. The clock served as a reminder of many things to me- the precious and precarious nature of life, the commercialism that capitalism demands and most of all...humankind's ability to move on even while we're still grieving.

The clock was a gift to me, and I've since taken it down. Despite the personal meaning it carried, I decided that the weight of it was just too heavy for home decor.

the sofa is (or was) the blake by gus* modern

it doesn't seem to be listed on their site any longer however...