You can love it or hate it, but Michael Jackson was not a regular person. He was a star. He created a new style in music and fashion, and he become an icon, an unforgettable one. This image was created on his 50th birthday... he past away today, with almost 51 years old.
Excuse me, if you don't like this post, but how can I'll be talking about design, when a big creator die today?.
Rest in Peace, Michael.
Eric Ku is an artist just graduated from School of Visual Arts in N.Y.C (by the way, he is looking for a job, right now). He describe his artwork as a mission to accomplish. In his site we can watch 14 missions, but here I will talk about mission n°5: City Shark
Sometimes artists are like magicians. Eric brings to New York City a big shark. He released it on the streets, to swim in the concrete jungle. You better watch the video to see it your self.
The conclusion that I've made after view the video was: When we convert our selves in boring adults? Why we left the surprise factor behind in time? The only person who really enjoyed the magic gift of Eric Nu, was a little kid.
Guys... I think we have homework to do.
The clean lines, the delicate silhouettes, the light and warm colors, are unique characteristics of the artwork of Audrey Kawasaki, a very talent artist from The Pratt Institute, Brooklyn. Just like she says on her website, Her art mix the old style of Art Nouveau with the relatively new manga style drawing. She paint on wood surfaces, that's why all her drawings have a lovely texture behind. Beautiful, don't you think?
Via Alex Cornell.
I will not write very much about how beautiful is the art of this artist, because I think the pictures speaks for it. Helen Musselwhite cut little pieces of paper to make her amazing artwork. She usually get inspiration in nature (landscapes and animals), so her work is perfect for this "earth's week". Don't forget yesterday was the official day of our dearest planet.
If you are interested about Helen work, you can watch more and even buy her artwork at her site.
Via Design Milk.
I don't have any other words for this work but WOW! Tara Donovan rocks
the installation art. From fishing wire to plastic straws, her work is
stunning and will leave you asking the question–How?
Donovan's work uses everyday manufactured materials such as Scotch tape,
Styrofoam cups, and drinking straws to create large scale sculptures
that often have a biomorphic quality. Her sculptures must be assembled
and disassembled carefully, which sometimes involve an extremely
tedious process. With regards to her artistic process, Donovan
explained that she chooses the material before she decides what can be
done with it. She noted in an interview that she thinks "in terms of
infinity, of [the materials] expanding."
Styrofoam Cups, Hot Glue
Stacked Clear Plastic Drinking Straws
Paper Plates
Showing now at the
ACE GALLERY Institute Of Contemporary Art
@ The Wilshire Tower
5514 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Swiss architect Peter Zumthor has been announced as the 2009 Laureate for the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the most prestigious award in the industry. His body of work, both built and unbuilt, has been honoured alongside his writing and commitment to the education of a new generation of architects.
Often described as the architect's architect, Zumthor lives and works at the foot of the Alps, keeps his firm small (no more than 20 staff), and insists on "enough time - enough money" for his projects. This passion for perfection and creative control is evidenced in his body of built work, however small it may be compared to current celebrity architect output. Zumthor resists the very world where "even the name is enough - you don’t have to deliver good work."
Perhaps befitting of the times, much of his built work is somber and understated, yet powerfully hopefully. Excerpts from the jury citation note that Zumthor's restrained, elegant body of work is now perhaps more relevant than ever.
Peter Zumthor is a master architect admired by his colleagues around the world for work that is focused, uncompromising and exceptionally determined.
Declining a majority of the commissions that come his way, he only accepts a project if he feels a deep affinity for its program, and from the moment of commitment, his devotion is complete, overseeing the project’s realization to the very last detail.
His buildings have a commanding presence, yet they prove the power of judicious intervention, showing us again and again that modesty in approach and boldness in overall result are not mutually exclusive. Humility resides alongside strength. While some have called his architecture quiet, his buildings masterfully assert their presence, engaging many of our senses, not just our sight but also our senses of touch, hearing and smell.
In Zumthor’s skillful hands, like those of the consummate craftsman, materials from cedar shingles to sandblasted glass are used in a way that celebrates their own unique qualities, all in the service of an architecture of permanence. In paring down architecture to its barest yet most sumptuous essentials, he has reaffirmed architecture’s indispensable place in a fragile world.
The citation also goes on to emphasise the importance of two projects in particular; the Thermal Baths in Vals, Switzerland, completed in 1996, and the 2006 Saint Bruder Klaus Field Chapel in Germany.
The former is Zumthor's best known work, and is often referred to as "his masterpiece." With a brief to create something special and unique to draw people to the Alpine town, Zumthor and his team created a bold, contemporary take on ancient baths, with structural walls clad in thin slabs of quartzite that evoke stacked Roman bricks.
[Concept Sketch by Peter Zumthor]
[Photography by Helene Binet]
Over 40,000 people have visited the Thermal Baths every year since their completion, making the most of the naturally occurring 30°C (86°F) thermal mountain springs and the calm, spiritual spaces. Australian architectural historian Professor Miles Lewis describes the Thermal Baths as "a superb example of simple detailing that is used to create highly atmospheric spaces. The design contrasts cool, gray stone walls with the warmth of bronze railings, and light and water are employed to sculpt the spaces. The horizontal joints of the stonework mimic the horizontal lines of the water, and there is a subtle change in the texture of the stone at the waterline. Skylights inserted into narrow slots in the ceiling create a dramatic line of light that accentuates the fluidity of the water. Every detail of the building thus reinforces the importance of the bath on a variety of levels."
More recently, the Saint Bruder Klaus Field Chapel has garnered much critical acclaim. Commissioned and largely constructed by a local farmer, his family, friends and local craftsmen, the chapel was formed by layering a tent-like tree trunk construction with thin coats of concrete over the course of three weeks. The tree trunks were then burnt out and removed from the structure, giving the interior its distinct aesthetic and scent.
[Concept Sketch by Peter Zumthor]
[Photos by Thomas Mayer]
[Photo by Pietro Savorelli]
The exterior is a smooth, unexpected form in the German countryside, however stepping into the chapel is an even more surprising and powerful event. Along with the overpowering scent, the main light source seeps down from the oculus and is punctuated by pinpricks of light that pierce through the unfilled holes left by the construction process. The available light reflects off the poured lead floor, creating an unparalleled atmosphere and experience that has become synonymous with the Zumthor's work. When interviewed at the time of the chapel's completion, Zumthor simply stated:
Atmosphere is my 'style'.
Read more about this announcement at the official Pritzker Architecture Prize website, The New York Times and bd online, or read the rest of the 2006 interview with Peter Zumthor here.
Simon Hogsberg is a talented photographer based in Copenhagen. His latest project is titled "We're All Gonna Die - 100 meters of existence," which consists of an image is that is 100 m long x 78 cm high.
Check out the project for yourself - and be sure to scroll through the entire 100m long image as it is quite fascinating.
--sdotg--
