Get your tissues out. It gives me absolutely no joy to advise you that HC2′s Design News is going on a brief hiatus until January 1st, 2010. This is necessary in order to put the finishing touches on our latest, and greatest website overhaul. Version four if you can believe it! Now, eight weeks may seem like a very long time, but when you’re on this side of the looking glass, it’ll go by in a flash. For the past one and half years, we have employed Joomla as the Content Management System (CMS) to help operate our flagship site. Since then, we have completed numerous client projects using WordPress, which is much easier to develop, customize, and maintain. Come January, we’ll be back just in time for our annual “best of” series, showing off the greatest artists, architects, advertisements, technology, and community-centric ideas from 2009. We’re also planning some changes such as shortening blog posts, which will allow us to post more content, more often. In addition, our projects section will have a new look, and our services refined to reflect our growing skill set. Last but not least, we’ll be making it easier to comment, and convey which bits of Design News you love, and otherwise, not so much. Until then, enjoy the rest of 2009, and stay safe during the silly season.
Maison Monday: Table
Design Kamiya is our latest focus within the realm of Maison Monday, thanks to a playful and extremely useful dining room table concept. The idea incorporates a table top and seating that are presented the form of letter-shaped pieces that spell out the word ‘table’. Although the set may be a bit too childish for some to use in their main dining area, perhaps it would be more appropriate as a workspace in a tots play space. Otherwise, if you’re a big kid at some progressive think tank, perhaps this would be considered for your office space. While I love the basic colours, there’s no word as to whether or not you could order different ones to match your space.
Rest in Bed
Studio Robert Stadler was hired by a client to help a loved one rest in peace, thereby creating a tombstone monument in the shape of a bed. According to the artist: “This is a very special project, namely the design of my family grave, devised on the death of my father. Despite the inoffensive nature of the proposition, it demanded long negotiations in order to obtain the necessary authorizations. The idea is simple: a granite bed, white marble pillows and a blanket of greenery. The project contrasts with traditional graves by its colour and its horizontal form.” In my opinion, this everlasting project playful, and perfectly respectful.
Lentspace
The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council has transformed an entire block of downtown New York into a platform for free contemporary art exhibitions. The space is located between Canal, Varick, Grand Steet and Sixth Avenue with a landscape designed by the Brooklyn-based Interboro Partners. The vacant site is awaiting development but temporarily available to the public through this special project. Interboro Partners’ design features a nursery for trees that will be planted nearby and a movable sculptural fence. The fence spins to open up the space in varying degrees while also serving as benches for sitting and a surface for graphic design commissions. The space is currently housing the exhibition ‘points & lines’ curated by Adam Kleinman, which will run until the end of the year. The show features seven artworks addressing ‘demarcation and boundary as their subject matter, through the use of construction materials and objects’. Along side the artworks is the first commissioned graphic design piece by thumb, installed along the entire fence.
The Why Factory
Early this month, a new think tank ‘The Why Factory‘ opened at the Faculty of Architecture at the Delft University of Technology. The Why Factory was conceived as a global urban think tank and research institute led by Professor Winy Maas. It started in 2008 with the ambition to enlarge the argumentative power of the architectural and urbanistic profession. The Why Factory’s future cities research program explores the endless possibilities for the development of our cities – at a moment that a majority of the world’s population becomes citizen. The outcome is a series of models and visualisations for the cities of the future, theories and practical solutions, proposals for existing cities, applied software design, movies and a series of publications by Nai Publishers.
Seoul Museum of Art
Before I begin, would you trust an architecture firm that goes by the name Acme? I mean, if I told you that a new marvel of architectural awesomeness in Dubai was an Acme product, would you call the project loony? What’s in a name? London-based architectural firm Acme recently released rendered images of their latest creation, the Seoul Museum of Art.
The proposed structure is broken down into smaller, interconnected buildings that are adjoined to surrounding facilities including a library, inhabitants’ hall, an octagonal pavillion, playground and exercise facilities. The new building avoids a clear boundary between the existing park and district as a centre of art, allowing the park to meander through the building on the ground floor, and second level. A birdseye view of the Seoul Museum of Art gives the appearance of the crystalline, microscopic arrangement of a snowflake.
Marc Bell
Via Fecal Face: Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Marc Bell’s work is constantly negotiating between disparate influences including comics, folk art, popular culture and Fine Art. Embedded in his drawings is complex and layered wordplay that allude to these influences while remaining deeply funny. Bell’s works vary from pen and ink drawings coloured with subtle watercolors, to comics, to elaborate mixed media cardboard constructions, and, put all together for the first time in HOT POTATOE, provide a comprehensive portrait of a multi-talented and influential contemporary artist.
Regarding his process, Marc responded: That depends what kind of piece I am working on. If I am working on a watercoloured drawing it is fairly straightforward. I could explain further if you like (the specifics) but they are essentially that (an ink drawing that is watercoloured). My mixed media pieces are a little different/more involved in that they can go through all sorts of changes. I have a couple boxes of “scrap” material that I go through to select things to get the image going. The scraps are usually old drawing scraps of mine or paper I find interesting. Sometimes they are actually half-finished works or pieces of pieces that didn’t work out that I decided might be better composed into something new later on. Anyway, so I gather some things and begin and see how it goes. In some cases I will compose one of these works and work on it over a long period of time and then decide I am not happy with it and then cut it up and it ends up being used to create several new pieces. For example: recently I was working on a 20″ x 15″ piece and decided it just wasn’t working and so that was cut down into three stand alone pieces and there were several other parts were leftover and these elements were integrated into (I think) three other works. So I like it to be changing and shifting in an attempt to keep myself engaged. Sometimes these things just become uninteresting to me and something must be done about it.
Escape the City
The North Face products are fantastically durable, engineered and tuned to overcome the elements, and stylish to boot. I must admit that I have a small collection of The North Face jackets, vests, and boots, while even the oldest garment still retains it original features, and look. For a city slicker, The North Face helps conquer harsh winters, crazy rain storms and everything in between. That said, urban conditions are a far cry from the peaks and valleys intended for advanced users of this pricey brand. In keeping with this, The North Face has launched a new ad campaign under the banner of ‘Escape the City‘. Whether you choose to challenge mother nature in her backyard, or take the elements in the cityscape, The North Face has you covered.
Maison Monday: Breakfast Machine
In late September, construction of the Breakfast Machine Project began at Platform21, Amsterdam. Under the direction of designer Yuri Suzuki, artist Masa Kimura, and various visitors sketched, built and tested many inventive devices. The project concluded with the machine serving breakfasts, which consisted of omelets, coffee and toast with jam. Although this creation isn’t going to be available in stores, it’s a perfect find for our ongoing Maison Monday series.
Platform21 documented the entire process via their online journal. With only two days of construction remaining, here’s what they had to say about the challenge of spreading the perfect amount of jam on a slice of bread. “After much drawing and pondering over difficult mathematical theories designers Aya Comorri and Lisette Haasnoot decided it was better to just give it a try. In practise it turned out to be as easy as it seemed difficult. The tools: a rope, a small container for paint, a paper plate and foam rollers. By means of a small motor the plate holding a slice of bread rolled into the paint container. Here it gets smeared with an even amount of jelly by the foam rollers. Afterwards the plate rolls along to other parts of the machine to complete breakfast.” For a complete look at the project, check out the rest of the journal entries, and video.
Rio 2016 Master Plan Video
Via Arch Daily: Rio de Janeiro recently won the bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. If we add this to fact that Brazil is hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup, one can expect a major dose of architectural projects in support of these major events. This will be a fantastic opportunity for Brazilian architects to show the world the level of their creativity. For the 2016 games, Rio will utilize a total of 33 venues, from which 8 correspond to facilities already built for the Pan-American games that will be renovated. There will be 11 new buildings (judo, wrestling, fencing, basketball, taekwondo, tennis, handball, modern pentathlon, swimming and synchronized swimming, canoe and kayak slaloms, and BMX cycling) and 11 temporal structures.
The masterplan video created in support of their Olympic bid shows that 4 clusters will concentrate the venues inside the city. These clusters will be connected by a new high speed transportation system, as well as massive automotive highways. Another aspect that is relevant for architecture, is that the city will need to build accommodations these events. While some space may be provided via cruise ships, other options such as temporary shipping container-based accommodations (aka Travelpod), may also be employed.
Zork
The Zork is a new alternative to the classic cork for sealing wine bottles. Since cork is becoming more rare, Winemakers have been searching for a new method of sealing their products. In recent years there have been wines sealed using tetra packs, screw tops, synthetic corks and now Zork. The design combines the ease of use found in screw tops with the pop and resealing ability of a natural cork. To open a Zork sealed wine bottle, the user simply peels off the bottom part of the cap and then simply lifts the top part off. The cap can be reused after popping to preserve the wine and never requires a corkscrew or other special tool. The Zork comes in a still wine version and sparkling. That said, we couldn’t determine whether or not the plastic peel is recyclable or not. If so, that would definitely propel this to the top of the list for chic connoisseurs, and treehuggers alike.
Pak N Stor
Calgary’s Taxi ad agency has created a fantastic series that promotes the core value of Pak N Stor. Pak N Stor is a modest sized, Calgary-based business that delivers storage containers to your house, which you fill with all the goodies you want to keep safe. From there, Pak N Stor picks up your trash and treasures, then relocates it to their storage facility. Out of sight, out of mind. The end result is hopefully less clutter, and more room to grow in your abode. Both Taxi and Pak N Stor have a hit with this series, as it really puts them both on the map for consumers and prospective marketers.
Unfolded – Paper in Design, Art, Architecture and Industry
Pulished by Birkhäuser, Unfolded – Paper in Design, Art, Architecture and Industry covers a wide range of design projects from different disciplines in the first part, while the second part forms a reference resource explaining high-tech paper products and technologies. Unfolded features work by designers including Stefan Diez, Konstantin Grcic and Issey Myake, and has been designed by German studio Pixelgarten.
Unfolded features work by designers including Stefan Diez, Konstantin Grcic and Issey Myake, and has been designed by German studio Pixelgarten. From Japanese washi paper and paper foam, to ceramic paper and carbon fiber paper, Unfolded presents the latest in research and development, as well as the most important methods and technologies in handcrafts and industry.
Eco-Pod (Gen1)
Boston architects Howeler + Yoon and Los Angeles digital designers Squared Design Lab have designed a conceptual structure for Boston, where an unfinished building would be covered in modular pods growing algae for biofuel. The pods would be continuously rearranged by robotic arms (powered by the micro-algae produced) to ensure the optimum growing conditions for algae in each pod.
The designers intend to use the structure, called Eco-pods, to inform the public about the potential of micro-algae, a bio-fuel that can be grown vertically. The pods could also house research projects. The designers hope that the temporary nature of the structure would lead to many being placed around Boston, installed on suspended construction sites and areas particularly hit by the recession.
Dymaxion Sleep
Via Inhabitat: For this year’s International Garden Festival at Jardins de Métis/Reford Gardens, Jane Hutton and Adrian Blackwell created this garden installation called Dymaxion Sleep. The project featured a hammock-like structure floating above triangulated planting beds modelled after Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion World Map. With scents of lavender, lemon geranium and peppermint wafting up the resters noses, the project is the perfect place to lounge outdoors.
Maison Monday: Electrolux Design Lab Finalists
The Electrolux Design Lab 2009 annual global design competition showcases the style and creativity of undergraduate and graduate industrial design students who imagine what home appliance and electronics products might look like in the near future. This year’s 8 finalists range in concept from robotic greenhouses to waterless washing machines. The latter was featured here in one of our previous Maison Monday’s, back in early September. After reviewing the finalists, I decided that HC2 must give all 8 finalists a shout out, as there are some truly spectacular ideas amongst them. Some more plausible than others.
One of my other personal favourites, is the Naturewash, a waterless washing machine that uses negative ions to wash nano-coated fabrics. Horizontal in shape, the washing machine has three touchscreen settings: clean clothes, grass scent, and flower scent. A user can lie or sit on Naturewash to clean or refresh the clothes they are wearing. For a more thorough clean, clothes can be placed flat on the washer. Be sure to check out this video, featuring all of the 8 finalists.
Poken Pulse
The Poken Pulse is a small device which digitally exchanges contact information linking real life encounters with online social networks. The Poken Pulse works by touching two devices together. Once connected, the pieces exchange information and store it on a usb key so it can be uploaded to a computer. The poken concept aims to provide the same function as a business card only digitally. The original poken featured a small animal or character on the gadget, while the new poken pulse is a more professional looking product with a number of colourways created by dutch artist Gaby Zwaan. The poken pulse has storage for contacts as well as a free 2gb of memory for other data. The device is battery operated, but battery life is estimated at 8 to 12 months.
CSS to my HMTL
You complete me. A dream is a wish your heart makes. Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get. You make me want to be a better man. Hearts will be practical only when they are made unbreakable. When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. And the list of memorable love quotes from Hollywood goes on. We recently noticed a nerdtastic message of love at Pop and Shorty on a fridge magnet. You are the CSS to my HTML will not be the next, you had me at hello, but it will hit certain people right behind their pocket protectors.
Taichung Goes MAD
Beijing based MAD Architects has recently completed the design for the Taichung Convention Center, its first project in Taiwan commissioned by the Taiwanese government. Taichung requires a metropolitan landmark that can go beyond the local to renew urban life and redefine the cultural landscape of the city, launching Taichung into the arena of world class cultural cites. This requires unique architectural concepts and a new kind of architectural philosophy. No longer characterized by mere considerations of height or visual impact, landmark buildings must first and foremost foster public recreation and inspire communication and imagination, redefining our relationship to culture and nature.
This project is conceived as a continuous weave of architecture and landscape, a futuristic vision based on a naturalistic spirit. The design inherits Chinese architecture’s long-standing attitude towards holistic integration and order of space, employing the essence of the East’s philosophy of a harmonized cycle between human and nature. In the face of the project’s enormous scale, the architecture no longer exists as a series of individual blocks, but instead is rendered as a collective form. The resultant spaces come into focus in a natural order emerging from air, wind and light, fostering a resonance between human and nature.
Lucas Price Solo Show
Starting today, street artist Lucas Price aka Cyclops will be hosting a solo show, called “Jesus Help Me Find My Proper Place,” at Black Rat Press on London’s Rivington Street, which opened earlier this month. Price has fast become one of Britain’s most popular new street artists, covering east London with his unique, visceral pieces. This show will feature subversive slogans, on light boxes, which Price has left in high-visibility locations around London. I know that remixing letter boards is not revolutionary stuff, but Price isn’t some poetic drunkard who thought it would be funny to L our of lass. His work is carefully thought out, and positioned in highly unusual places such as the entrance to a Tube station, and in the middle of busy intersections. Additionally, he’s been known to add his own personal touch to construction equipment, giving them faces and a message of their own.
Si Scott
I’ve come across Si Scott’s work in the past, but when it came time to decorate my house, and put some flair up on the walls, I was instantly drawn to his piece titled “the Swan”. I find his work to be a juxtaposition of simplicity and complexity, while in some cases, his animal images display certain parallels with native paintings. For further insight, I turned to an interview Scott did with Type for You back in ’06. Regarding his process, Scott answered as follows: “I always start by picking a font I feel fits the brief or works with what I am trying to achieve the piece and then will play around with different page layouts for a while. The next phase is to just bring the piece to life using fine liners to create the illustration. I always work bigger than the finished piece is going to be and scan the illustrations at 1000dpi at 125% so when it is decreased to the actual size it’s very crisp an clean.”
Regarding his training, education and inspiration, Si Scott provided this answer: “I am a graphic designer from the Uk who is originally from Leeds but has moved around the country quite a bit (the next plan is to spend some time living abroad hopefully New York or somewhere like that). I left school at 16 and went to Leeds College Of Art & Design (Where I am now a part time lecturer) to study a BTEC in Graphic Design and then a foundation in Visual Communication, before going to Buckinghamshire Chilterns University to study a degree in Graphic Design. Upon completion I stayed in London for another 2 or 3 years and worked for a number of different small design agencies whilst continuing with my own work and freelance projects on the side. Most of my inspiration comes from music – I am constantly listening to music while I work and the lyrics especially. I’m really into words!”
The T-Shirt Issue
Three people are portrayed digitally by scanning their bodies. The output of this scan is a 3d file, which resolution is defined by the amount of polygons, similar to pixels in a bitmap image. Linked with their biographical memories a digital twin of the body is created, which expands and personifies the garment in a formal-poetic way. The 3-D data is turned into 2-D sewing patterns by using an unfolding function, which is a common tool in industrial design process to make paper models. The single fabric pieces and the inner interface which defines the edges are cut out with the help of a laser cutter.
Making a clothes pattern in this way changes the aesthetics of the garment fundamentally, because in contrary to ordinary pattern construction methods, unfolding does not factor in orientations such as center front or the shape of a armhole. This logic frees the designer’s imagination in a way that feels fresh and deliberate. Designers Mashallah and Linda Kostowskihe chose sweatshirt fabric as a reference to the common clichee that Berlin is the city which fashionable output lies in making and painting on t-shirts.
Maison Monday: Beach Ball Lamp Shade
You have to be pretty ballsy to pull off today’s find. Get it? Ballsy! Around our maison, we’ve been updating a lot of our light fixtures, specifically to spruce up the place, but also to convert fixtures into energy efficient, money saving heroes. Needless to say TOBYhouse’s beach ball lamp shade didn’t make the cut, but it definitely deserved a nod. This is a real PVC Beach Ball that has been treated so as to have a ‘rock hard’ polyurethane inner, and yet remains ‘untouched’ on the outside. So the outer surface is the PVC finish of a Beach Ball, it displays all the joints between the sections and even the ‘blowhole’ remains visible. Perhaps if I can afford a cottage someday, this playful element would work.
Austin Eddy
Via Fecal Face: Austin Eddy responded to a question regarding the use of magic and magician gloves in his work: “My thoughts on magic are always changing. Though I would like to think as an artist I am in a way a magician and in being so I am trying to make people believe in the painting or object much like a magician for hire is trying to convince people to trust in the trick that they are looking at, and letting go enough to lose themselves in what is in front of them. I think iconic magic imagery is a metaphor for the magic found everywhere in the world. At the moment, this imagery has taken the back seat and now is functioning more as an underlying experience in the work.”
Where is the imagery and composition coming from? “A lot of these things I am trying to make I am using a lot of stock imagery from art history as well as textiles and other highly patterned objects and images. In regard to the newer work I am also pulling a lot from the compositional tools of Matisse, Avery, and Picasso as well others old and new. That being the foundation or starting point of the works I am also using my personal relationship as well as my experiences of seeing in the world to be combined and tell this sort of ambiguous story. It all really takes place in my head and in order to distill these things I use my imagination in order to attempt to make something interesting if not “new”.”
OHWOW Pop-Up Store
Aaron Bondaroff, also known as A-ron The Downtown Don, has produced legendary gatherings, designs, and creative direction that have received a tremendous amount of international recognition, earning him a permanent place in the New York City timeline. Bondaroff is the Co-Founder and Co-Creative Director of O.H.W.O.W. as well as the Founder of the NYC based aNYthing brand. Aaron recently provided a first glimpse at the OHWOW pop-up store inside the New York Minute exhibition that opened last week in Rome. The exhibition and store were designed by another massive name in design, Rafael de Cardenas. If you’ve never heard tell of de Cardenas, you need to check out this interview where he talks at length about his involvement with the O.H.W.O.W. Pop-Up Store.
Regarding the challenges he faced with this project, de Cardenas responded: “When you’ve been designing for a while, you come to each new project with a bag of tricks. There are ideas you like, that you know tend to work for you. O.H.W.O.W. was kind of like a playground. I got to take my favourite ideas out for a run—like, the whole black and white motif, for example. I love that contrast. But in a way, my approach to design operates as its own control. I’m very invested in the way spaces are experienced. So that leads to things like the pattern on the O.H.W.O.W. floors suggesting pathways through the galleries.”
Active Life Movement
According to the Active Life Movement: “our country (they’re talking about the US, but it is equally true in Canada, the UK and others) is at a crossroads. We have a crisis of culture—a culture that is rapidly becoming unsustainable and threatens to bankrupt our country and its people. We have become passive consumers of a lifestyle that is increasingly unhealthy, sedentary and disconnected from one another and our communities. Though our shared crisis is daunting, we know from our history that a committed group of people and places working in unison around a common cause can overcome huge obstacles to create rapid, positive change.”
This is the essence of a new series of ads created for the Active Life Movement by Latinworks. As displayed, you can see that the campaign is geared towards children, with Superman and Barbie-esque characters depicted in massively obese states. In addition to being large and in charge, the familiar characters are shown relaxing on their recliners, surrounded by mind numbing conveniences. Although the message is simple, is anyone really listening? Obesity is an epidemic that is projected to eclipse smoking by claiming 90% of the adult population by 2030. That translates into $960 billion US dollars spent each year on associated health care costs.
Jean Moulin High School
The architectural reconstruction project of Lycee Jean Moulin in Revin, France is to be completed by Off Architecture in association with Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture and Jeans Giacinto. Located within a vast and undulating terrain with many curves, the architects want to install the new building into the topography of the landscape. They will utilize the constraints of the slope, so the school is elevated and recedes upwards, creating a pattern of movement. Through incorporating the architecture into hilly surroundings, they want to ensure that the users of this new college will benefit from the natural qualities of the surrounding environment. The project is set to be completed for 2012.
DJ Hero
The dynamic Daft Punk duo will be making an appearance in the upcoming scratch-happy video game DJ Hero. The group will bring five of their songs to the game, including “Around the World”, “Da Funk”, “Robot Rock”, “Technologic” and “Televsion Rules the Nation”, to be used in eleven exclusive mixes with tracks by other artists. If you weren’t already excited about DJ Hero, it’s likely you will be now! That said, I am a bit disappointed with Daft Punk’s portrayal in the DJ Hero trailer. The game designers have this super group clapping to their own songs, and pumping up the crowd with lame hand gestures. Let’s hope all of this will be a side note to an otherwise awesome game. For a quick and dirty tutorial on game play, check out this authentic training video.
Contemporary Art at Château de Versailles
Via Otto: The Palace of Versailles, the 17th and 18th century home of Marie Antoinette and the rest of the French Royal Family, is now a sparkling showcase of royal French style and décor. The last thing one expects to see when visiting the château is contemporary art, but that is exactly what Veilhan Versailles, an exhibit of artist Xavier Veilhan’s work at the palace, offers from September 13 – December 13, 2009. The crisp modernity of Veilhan’s pieces are sharply contrasted by their posh and extravagant surroundings, and make for an overwhelmingly successful exhibit. The abstract purple horses of Le Carrosse, and the deceased astronaut, aka Le Gisant Youri Gagarine, are personal favourites.
Maison Monday: Light Emitting Wallpaper
When I first read up on today’s feature, I was reminded of a short story I enjoyed back in high school, which told the tale of a family living in a futuristic home in the not too distant future. For the life of me I cannot recall the title or name of the author, while only bits and pieces of the plot remain. My most vivid recollection of the home described in the story is of a giant viewing screen, which two of the children crawl into, only to get devoured by lions. I also recall that the house had motion sensors, which were used to control lighting and climate control systems. In retrospect, the author’s vision of the future wasn’t too far off. Had the short story been a bit longer, perhaps it would have predicted the creations of Dutch designer Jonas Samson. Jonas has developed a stylish and sophisticated, light emitting wallpaper, that turns a flat 2D object into an illuminating, 3D piece of art. When turned on, the nature-inspired pattern of the wallpaper is constantly changing, and thereby transforming the overall ambiance of a room. It would be interesting to see if this idea could be tailored to reflect the seasons. From falling leaves in Autumn, to budding branches in Spring, artificially incorporating the elements indoors could be a definite source of tranquillity.
Robin F. Williams
Robin Williams is a painter both wise and talented beyond her years. Last Spring, Hi-Fructose Magazine got a chance to catch up with Robin on a brief studio break, and she was gracious enough to share some of her thoughts and work. Regarding art school and how it prepares one for the real world, Robin states: “When I first graduated, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t have more knowledge of the business side of the art world. In retrospect though, I’m glad I spent most of my time at RISD learning to be an artist instead of a business woman. The business stuff you tend to figure out on your own, and it just takes practise. The art making atmosphere and the artistic community were what I really valued about art school. I’ve considered going back for my MFA for those reasons, but we’ll see”.
Regarding the importance of life outside of the studio, and away from the brushes, Ms. Williams responded as follows: “Very. I work hard, and I put in full weeks at studio. But man, I am not one of those artists who works 24 hours a day and is a slave to their work. I love what I do, but I need balance. I think that is one of the advantages of being an artist and working for yourself. So many people, in New York especially, are what they do. I think it is a very American thing to work constantly and invest all your self-worth in your job. Artists can choose to do that as well, but I think they live longer and have more meaningful lives if they strike a balance. Besides, if I work too long I go brain dead. There comes a point where I can’t be creative or productive anymore. I have to rest my mind. I get a lot of my ideas outside of studio.”
Slash: Paper Under the Knife
The Museum of Arts and Design will begin a new exhibition next month dedicated to the phenomenon of cut paper in contemporary art. The exhibition will feature numerous paper based works by 50 international artists, including 12 site-specific works in the museum. These pieces will be built and installed during the show giving the public a chance to peer into the creative process. While paper has a traditional role as a surface for art, this exhibt explores artwork that uses paper as a medium in itself. Curated by the museum’s Chief Curator, David Revere McFadden, “Slash” is the third exhibit in MAD’s materials and process series after previous shows on knitting and embroidery. Artists on show include Thomas Demand, Olafur Eliasson, Tom Friedman, Noriko Ambe, Judy Pfaff and Chris Kenny, among others.
LAPP-pro
LAPP-pro (light art performance photography) is the name given to an ongoing project by Jan Wallet and Jorg Miedza. The German duo create these colourful images by taking a slow exposure photograph of various light sources such as LEDs and strobe lights. Each piece is the result of a rehearsed performance – none of them are enhanced using additional software. “LAPP is descended from from light drawing and has been developed into it’s own art form. LAPP, as the evolution of light drawing, is complemented with additional elements in the form of light figures, colours and light forms to create such a special view of the general view.”
Pedro Matos
Interview snippets via Format Mag: (Format) It is obvious that a lot of emotion goes into each of your paintings. Tell me about Pedro Matos as a person and how your personal life/upbringing/experiences influence your art. (Pedro) I am 20 years old and I live in Lisbon, Portugal. Having a graffiti/skateboarding background and travelling a lot has definitely influenced how I live, see, think and paint. I am a pretty emotional person myself, so I guess that will just reflect upon my work no matter what. The emotions expressed on my paintings are my own.
(Format) I know you are a graffiti artist as well. How do you tie your graffiti passion into the beautiful works you create on paper and canvas? (Pedro) I don’t do traditional graffiti these days that much and that has always been something I did with friends just for fun. I do take street-art more seriously though, and I try to put up good work. Having a graffiti background has given me the experience to go out and not get caught. Obviously those influences translate into my paintings, and I find it beautiful to juxtapose this graffiti/street look with something more classic, realistic, figurative and detailed.
BIG’s Origami Skyscraper
Via Inhabitat: BIG Architects recently unveiled their origami-folded skyscraper for the Shenzhen Energy Company. The facade is folded accordion-style, and shades the office complex from direct sunlight with integrated solar thermal panels, while simultaneously allowing for indirect light into the interior.
The new international headquarters of Shenzhen Energy Company will be located in the center of Shenzhen, and the 200 meter tall structure is designed to withstand the tropical climate of the city. The winning proposal by BIG was selected by a jury of experts from Shenzhen Municipal Planning Bureau due to its innovative exterior design, which will drastically reduce the cooling load inside and at the same time provide power through solar energy.
On the southern faces, integrated solar thermal panels receive direct sunlight, which goes to power the air conditioning and provide dehumidification for the working spaces. These southern faces are also highly insulated, shielding the interior for direct heat gain. Meanwhile the northern faces receive indirect light, which bounces into the interior as natural daylight. Even when the sun is in the east or west, the sun’s rays will reflect off the solar walls and bounce into the interior. BIG’s innovative exterior facade with integrated solar panels and indirect light will reduce energy consumption by 60%.
Folliderm
Are you concerned about male pattern baldness? Have you ever considered getting plugs? These are the difficult questions, which many men face on a daily basis. Save for good genes, preventative maintenance is touted by many as a means to ensure you, or your man, do not have to go through life without hair. Folliderm is one such brand, that gets their hair enhancement message across with an interesting elevator treatment, which transforms a bald head into one with a full head of hair. Sorento Healthcare Communications accomplished this by placing a photo of a bald man inside the elevator, and a man with hair on the outside, the magic happens as the doors open and close. Although we’ve seen numerous related treatments to buses, this is a new take on the concept.
Maison Monday: Ikea Hacker
I have to admit that I am a closet Ikea lover. It’s not as though that omission is socially unacceptable, as there’s certainly nothing taboo about Ikea. That said, the fact remains that I have been burned one too many times by the Sweedish furniture giant. Too often I forget that their stylish furniture is not meant to last. I have come to realize that the press board construction of their beds, desks etc… will self-destruct, and should be filed under the category of student-oriented stuff that can be bought for next to nothing.
In light of this realization, there’s Ikea Hacker. Ikea Hacker does not overemphasize the sometimes poor quality of Ikeas products, rather, it attempts to breath new life into the standard product line. Whatever they may be – a funked up Klippan sofa, an ingenious idea for your Pax wardrobe, a creative twist on your kitchen countertop, or even advice on how to finally stop Forby stools from wobbling, Ikea Hacks has you covered with step by step instructions and community-sourced, DIY projects.
Incheon Masterplan
Foster + Partners, together with PHA and mobility in chain, has won an international competition to design the masterplan for the expansion of the incheon free economic zone, an extensive mixed-use scheme encompassing the islands of Kanghwa and Onjin-Gun, to the north east of Seoul. Conceived as a self-sufficient, sustainable development, the 300 square-kilometre masterplan will extend organically from a central transportation spine, creating a centre for green industry and serving a population that is expected to grow from 35,000 to 320,000 residents and commuters.
The scheme integrates a range of low to high-density mixed-use areas, connected by a light rapid transit system and construction will be phased over 10 to 15 years. The area spans three main sites within the free trade zone – the north of Kanghwa will be a centre of inter-Korean economic cooperation, taking advantage of its strategic location close to incheon airport and north Korea, while the south of the island will be mixed-use, combining green technology industry with community, cultural and residential buildings.
A Love Letter for You
A Love Letter for You is literally a love letter painted on the walls facing the a parking lot, park or elevated transit system. 40 Philadelphia-based and international artists painted walls in August and the letters have been on view for one and all to see since Labor Day. The project encompasses 50 painted walls between 63rd and 45th street on Market Street. Additionally, a documentary film with scripted elements, as well as a sign school for area youth, free signage for businesses, and 2 books will accompany the overall project.
One of the books is planned as a small paperback that will be distributed to area businesses free of charge. The other book is described as a larger hardcover book that will document not only the artwork, but the neighborhood and the inspirations of the Love Letter Project. Love Letter is an unprecedented public art project by Steve Powers and The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. It is funded by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative.
Solar Roadways
Via Inhabitat: Ever drive on the highway and think about how much solar energy is wasted on the asphalt below? Apparently, so has Solar Roadways. The startup was awarded a $100,000 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant to prototype its Solar Road Panel–an energy-generating panel made from solar cells and glass that is meant to replace petroleum-based asphalt on roads and in parking lots. The panels, designed by Solar Roadways founder Scott Brusaw, contain embedded LED lights that might eventually act as a “smart” system, providing travel lines as well as timely warnings to drivers about roadblocks and wildlife up ahead. At the same time, embedded heating elements in the panels could prevent snow and ice from building up on the road.
Once a prototype is complete, Solar Roadways still has a long ways to go before its technology is commercialized. But if and when it is, Brusaw estimates that covering the entire U.S. interstate highway system with his 12? by 12? panels could fulfill the country’s energy needs (based on each panel producing 7.6 kilowatt hours of power each day). It’s an expensive plan–each panel costs approximately $6,900–but a single four-lane, one-mile road plastered with Solar Road Panels could provide enough power to take 500 homes off-grid. And potentially, the panels could even create an “intelligent highway that will double as a secure, intelligent, decentralized, self-healing power grid which will enable a gradual weaning from fossil fuels.” A lofty goal, to be sure, but one that is worth keeping in mind–especially now that the government has given Solar Roadways the go-ahead.