Dear God. Why, oh why, in such a tasteful, elegant, stylish and cultured country is one of the staple beers in their many bars… Tennents Super.
Tennents. Fucking. Super.
Super Fucking Flash Beer
April 24th, 2009“Effort is free, just put your back into it”
April 24th, 2009
If you’re a designer no doubt you have come across the legend that is Barbara Chandler. If you are a follower of design, then no doubt you have read some of her articles in a variety of newspapers and magazines, including the London based Evening Standard.
Barbara stood out from the other journalists that I have had experience with, for the pure and simple reason, she did her job well. There is nothing more entertaining than having a journalist cut and paste your press release directly, you won’t find this lazy approach with the Chandler. “I learn as much as I can, and I love it!”
She has a passion for her trade, the people she meets and a desire to learn and understand, that results in real journalism.
I caught up with Barbara at the DesignersBlock show, intrigued to see how her trade has evolved over her 35 year career.
The Maison That Martin Margiela Built.
April 24th, 2009Synonymous with groundbreaking avant-garde fashion pieces Maison Martin Margiela has never been one to follow the crowd.
In Paris he showcased his S/S 09 collection but no one will know if he heard the roars that ensued as the show was drawn to a close by the walk of a perambulating birthday cake, entire marching band and his many lab-coated assistants as, by tradition, he was absent. He has remained a mystery man in a forward thinking, pioneering Maison, but this has not stopped the demand to have access to the product.
And after twenty years the Maison has answered. In a preface to a new direction with the brand, Martin Margiela has introduced a proposal in the form prototypes of interior products and architecture that are in development for the future.
Theatre
April 24th, 2009
It is temporary, only for the duration of the Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2009. Maison Martin Margiela introduces its concepts of interior architecture through an installation. It is a recreation of the environment and workspace of their Parisian workshop. Highly detailed and theatrically produced it provides an insight into the inspirations that drive the fashion house and how it’s philosophy transfers to interior products.
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Notes from a Petri Dish…
April 24th, 2009
I write to you from a small world where I sit pruning my flagellum in contemplation. When our colony size is sufficient and when environmental conditions suit, we will engage in a group motility known as ‘swarming’. Some will grow extra flagella, become highly motile, attach themselves to each other and move as one. All in order to explore the environment and colonize a more favorable patch. Despite enormous progress, some extraordinary group behaviors remain poorly described by scientists and artists alike.
Validated by Process and Narrative.
April 23rd, 2009
Wandering around the Established & Sons preview the one ‘product’
that caught my attention was Sam Hecht’s Table, Bench, Chair.
The range of furniture seems a distinct shift from some of the more
recent, consumer goods, output from the london based studio Industrial Facility,
but it is still grounded in the attention to detail and passion for process one has come
to associate with the group.
Bisk – Unstuck.
April 23rd, 2009
Don’t we all want to make things? I think these guys do – The studio of Bisk. Model-makers-extraordinaire.
An Unburstable Balloon.
April 23rd, 2009
It’s always a pleasure to see anyone celebrate their own Birthday with such exuberance as 5.5 Designers have done this week in Milan. Upon entering the French cultural centre you are greeted by an array of bright colours, helium balloons and party-time confetti so it seems markedly clear that over the past five and half years since their inception, 5.5 designers have had a lot fun… and what a way to celebrate.
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Robots and Filigree
April 23rd, 2009Down a nondescript side street in the centre of Zona Torntona, a golden robot greets you into the crazy metal workshop Traviganti. A shiny tangle of doily-like filigree and oversized wonderland objects: giant gold-plated coffee pots, running horses, egg-shaped urns, and other fanciful creations wrought in brass, aluminium and silver by slightly bemused looking artisans. It is a surprise to find this warren of dusty machinery, skilled craftsmanship and ancient techniques, apparently ignoring passing design trends. But the main pull is the blue-eyed trundling robotic waitress Caterina, who follows you round the factory floor in a disconcertingly addictive way.
Carlo Traviganti di Riccardo
LavorazioneArtistica Metallo
Via Novi 5/7
Words & image: Tamsin van Essen
A Love Story In Google Images
April 23rd, 2009
I Would Prefer Not To: A love story set in Google image, is the current exhibition at Prometeo Gallery by the artist group Alterazoni Video. Based in different countries, their collective approach to making work is naturally made possible by the internet. Alterazoni Video are no strangers to the fine art that is searching Google Image and Youtube, however once they have finished blogging they do something with the material.
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