According to its quarterly reports, this Prada store in Marfa, TX has failed to make a single transaction since its grand opening in 2005. While this would usually mean bad news for the store's horribly unsuccessful manager -- this store doesn't have one, so it's no big deal. In fact, even though it's stocked with thousands of dollars of merchandise, it's not really a Prada store at all. It's an art installation conceived by Berliners Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset.

"Made of earth-friendly earth, this biodegradable adobe building will slowly melt back into the landscape once the looters have removed the merchandise. The slow fade to oblivion will provide countless hours of conversation for motorists driving through West Texas. Starting with simple questions like "What the hell was that?" it's sure to inspire more thoughtful dialogue - like "When is advertising art?" or "When is art advertising?" Or (for really long trips) "What is art, anyway?"

If you've happened to drive through this desolate stretch of west Texas, you must have wondered what the hell a Prada store is doing there. Either Prada is planning for very distant future growth, someone in their market analysis department really screwed up, or it's freaky art mirage.

[via Jossip]