Lentspace

Lentspace, Interboro Partners, Adam Kleinman, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York, NYC

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.

Lentspace, Interboro Partners, Adam Kleinman, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York, NYC

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.

The Why Factory, Delft University of Technology, Winy Maas, futuristic cities, cities of tomorrow

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.

Seoul Museum of Art, Acme, Korea, concept design, building rendering, sustainable building

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.

Seoul Museum of Art, Acme, Korea, concept design, building rendering, sustainable building

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.

Marc Bell, Montreal, comics, folk art, popular culture, HOT POTATOE, modern contemporary

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.

Marc Bell, Montreal, comics, folk art, popular culture, HOT POTATOE, modern contemporary

Escape the City

Escape the City, The North Face, advertisement, print ad, ad campaign

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.

Escape the City, The North Face, advertisement, print ad, ad campaign

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.

Breakfast Machine, Breakfast Machine Project, Yuri Suzuki, Masa Kimura, Platform21, Aya Comorri, Lisette Haasnoot, Maison Monday

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.

Breakfast Machine, Breakfast Machine Project, Yuri Suzuki, Masa Kimura, Platform21, Aya Comorri, Lisette Haasnoot, Maison Monday

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.

Rio de Janeiro, 2016 Master Plan Video, Olympic Games 2016, Rio 2016, 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil

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.

Rio de Janeiro, 2016 Master Plan Video, Olympic Games 2016, Rio 2016, 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil

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.

Zork, sustainable cork, wine bottle cork, seal a bottle, cork tree

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.

Pak N Stor, advertisement, Taxi, Calgary, storage containers, household storage

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, Paper in Design, Art, Architecture, Stefan Diez, Konstantin Grcic, Issey Myake, 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.

Unfolded, Paper in Design, Art, Architecture, Stefan Diez, Konstantin Grcic, Issey Myake, Pixelgarten

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.

Eco-Pod (Gen1), Howeler + Yoon, Squared Design Lab, algae power

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.

Eco-Pod (Gen1), Howeler + Yoon, Squared Design Lab, algae power

Dymaxion Sleep

Dymaxion Sleep, International Garden Festival, Jardins de Métis, Reford Gardens, Jane Hutton, Adrian Blackwell, Buckminster Fuller, Dymaxion World Map

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.

Dymaxion Sleep, International Garden Festival, Jardins de Métis, Reford Gardens, Jane Hutton, Adrian Blackwell, Buckminster Fuller, Dymaxion World Map

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.

Electrolux Design Lab Finalists, Electrolux, Naturewash, Maison Monday

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.

Electrolux Design Lab Finalists, Electrolux, Naturewash, Maison Monday

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.

Poken Pulse, Gaby Zwaan, exchange social network information, social networking device

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.

You are the CSS to my HMTL, Pop and Shotry, CSS button, HTML button, I love CSS, I love HTML

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.

MAD Architects, Taichung Convention Center, Taiwan

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.

MAD Architects, Taichung Convention Center, Taiwan

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.

Lucas Price, Jesus Help Me Find My Proper Place, London's Rivington Street

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.”

Si Scott, Type for You, pen and ink, illustration, art, painting, Si Scott print, organic art theme

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!”

Si Scott, Type for You, pen and ink, illustration, art, painting, Si Scott print, organic art theme

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.

The T-Shirt Issue, Mashallah Kostowskihe, Linda Kostowskihe, 3D clothing, clothing sculpture

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.

The T-Shirt Issue, Mashallah Kostowskihe, Linda Kostowskihe, 3D clothing, clothing sculpture

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.

Beachball Lamp, TOBYhouse, PVC lampshade, beach ball lamp shade

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.”

Austin Eddy, painting, art, modern contemporary, magician gloves, magic

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”.”

Austin Eddy, painting, art, modern contemporary, magician gloves, magic

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.

OHWOW Pop-Up Store, Aaron Bondaroff, A-ron The Downtown Don, O.H.W.O.W., aNYthing brand

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.”

OHWOW Pop-Up Store, Aaron Bondaroff, A-ron The Downtown Don, O.H.W.O.W., aNYthing brand

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.”

Active Life Movement, obesity epidemic, obesity awareness campaign, America is fat, get fit America, advertisement

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.

Active Life Movement, obesity epidemic, obesity awareness campaign, America is fat, get fit America, advertisement

Jean Moulin High School

Jean Moulin High School, France, Lycee Jean Moulin, Off Architecture, Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture, Jeans Giacinto

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.

Jean Moulin High School, France, Lycee Jean Moulin, Off Architecture, Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture, Jeans Giacinto

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.

Daft Punk, DJ Hero, disc jockey hero

Contemporary Art at Château de Versailles

Contemporary Art at Château de Versailles, The Palace of Versailles, Marie Antoinette, Veilhan Versailles, Le Gisant Youri Gagarine

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.

Contemporary Art at Château de Versailles, The Palace of Versailles, Marie Antoinette, Veilhan Versailles, Le Gisant Youri Gagarine

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.

Light Emitting Wallpaper, Jonas Samson, virtual wallpaper, electronic wallpaper

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”.

Robin F. Williams, Hi-Fructose Magazine, painting, graphic design, modern contemporary

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.”

Robin F. Williams, Hi-Fructose Magazine, painting, graphic design, modern contemporary

Slash: Paper Under the Knife

Slash: Paper Under the Knife, Museum of Arts and Design, David Revere McFadden, Thomas Demand, Olafur Eliasson, Tom Friedman, Noriko Ambe, Judy Pfaff, Chris Kenny

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.

Slash: Paper Under the Knife, Museum of Arts and Design, David Revere McFadden, Thomas Demand, Olafur Eliasson, Tom Friedman, Noriko Ambe, Judy Pfaff, Chris Kenny

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.”

LAPP-pro, Jan Wallet, Jorg Miedza, photograph, slow exposure, lighting experimentation

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.

Pedro Matos, painting, painter, graphic design, modern contemporary, portrait

(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.

Pedro Matos, painting, painter, graphic design, modern contemporary, portrait