chris godfrey molds the ultimate NYC souvenir from 30 different gifts

chris godfrey molds the ultimate NYC souvenir from 30 different gifts
all images courtesy of christopher godfrey

after spending two months in new york discovering the city as a tourist, london-based designer chris godfrey — like many travelers — wanted to buy friends and family sentimental gifts from his trip. he was confronted by a monotony of generic, mass produced knick-knacks and items without any individuality or personal identity. consequently, godfrey decided to design an object that offered something new every time its looked at.

comprised of over 30 statue of liberty-themed gifts, ‘souvenir’ is a one off and original piece, ironically created from unoriginal objects. broken-down mementos were placed inside a large silicone mold, before the novelties were mixed with clear resin, setting the combination for 24 hours. the base has been formed from plaster, mixing earth pigment until the desired color was achieved. a final, transparent lady liberty proudly stands with an amalgamation of pencils, iPhone cases and shot glasses tucked within her frame, symbolically representing the best of new york city.

the final souvenir is the ultimate travel memento

‘most of the souvenirs were dismantled, this included un-screwing, grating and good old smashing,‘ explained godfrey of the process and development. ‘some smaller objects such as key-rings, earrings, pins and the pressed penny went in complete. I dismantled the objects to ensure this was a complete one off. if everything had gone in full size, it could potentially be remade. this way, nearly every single thing in the statue is its own unique size and shape.’

details reveal the mass of diverse materials amassed within the final piece