Xavier Martin: Sleek and Modern Designs

Xavier Martin is a designer located in Barcelona, Spain. Most of his work seems to be in the realm of interior design. However, he has also worked on projects in graphic design and architecture. It's not everyday that a designers website gives good browse, however, Martin's site is very interesting. His interior designs, like that for a Pharmacy above, are sleek and modern, allowing the product contained in the shops to shine. I also love the idea Martin gives for a shoe store based on Cherry Blossoms in Japan. See it for yourself on His Site.
 
Xavier Martin SITE HERE

Japan's Herbivores Make NPR

More on the "Herbivores" of Japan. I posted awhile ago about the new trend in Japan which finds the country's men rebelling against the long standing norms of gender, sex, machoism, and all around lifestyle decisions that have been apart of the Japanese culture for decades (original Post here). The new breed of younger, twenty and thirty somethings are breaking the mold and pursuing their passions without shame.



NPR has recently produced a story to investigate the trend further. My original post was made after reading an article on Slate.

Find out more about Japan's "Herbivores" HERE and HERE

Null Stern Hotel: Switzerland

This video is a short film that gives insight into a very interesting feat in hospitality taking place in Switzerland. Null Stern means "No Star." No star hotels could very well be the new trend in travel accommodations.The entire project is a part art installation and part real functional hotel. This being so, guests are treated to unique experiences as well as comfortable beds. The set up may not be for every traveler, but definitely for those looking for a refreshing and original approach to hospitality.

Null Stern SITE

2 Trios to check out

Micachu and The Shapes & Kitty, Daisy and Lewis

Both groups have built great word of mouth for their music. And both groups include talented musicians. The videos (below) are fun, and reflect the flavor of each act.

Micachu is a student of music and experiments with sound like a "noise researcher." She is joined by two friends to help her in doing so. Kitty, Daisy and Lewis are a family act heavily influenced by music their parents introduced and made apart of the family fabric.

Check out their sites to learn more and to hear some great stuff.
Micachu Site
Micachu Myspace
Kitty, Daisy and Lewis Myspace




Kitty Daisy & Lewis 'Going Up The Country'

Sunday Best | MySpace Music Videos

The Theo Adams Company: London

Theo Adams is a performance artist from London and this is a video of a piece put together and presented for W Magazine. Adams has a vision and he goes for it along with fellow creatives and members of his eponymous Company. He is the kind of person who wears braces on his teeth well after they were due to come off. The company is all self funded. I am sure that will soon change.

Theo Adams Company will be performing for one night only in Tokyo, Japan at the end of November. If you can't make it, check out the video above or the links to the Theo Adams Company blog.

You can truly get pulled into the pieces and may also feel slightly disturbed while watching. The artists do pour so much of themselves into their work. I find it poetic, exciting, and great to watch.

Interesting Theo Adams Interview
Theo's Blog site HERE

Obamitas Cookies: Based on President Obama

A Branding and Design firm in Spain have created a cookie inspired by President Barak Obama. Maybe you have seen this before. The firm, Neos Brand, gained some coverage on this chocolate treat in various publications, but I am just coming across it. My first thought is: Is this racist in any way? In all fairness, I am sure that the firm did not intentionally make the cookie as a racist gesture and to be mean spirited. On the contrary, it is probably a nod and a compliment to America's first Black President. But, the group must have known that there would be questions about RACE raised by their design. And maybe that is part of the project. Unfortunately, I do not speak nor read Spanish. If you do, however, Neos Brand have provided a case study for the "OBAMITAS COOKIE" (link below). 

I suppose my main concern is that, unless you count the addition of slightly large ears on the "face" of the cookie, there is truly no likeness to President Obama. And giving nods to the ears is pushing it, I think. And a chocolate cookie nonetheless... The cookie does give an example of the power of the "Obama Brand" and the president's apparent mass appeal. But where do we draw the line? Black gummy Obamas anyone?

Learn more about the "cookie" project HERE

Nous Brand site HERE

Obamitas dot Com

Kris Van Assche: Londerzeel

I was taking a look at Kris Van Assche's website to see his SS 2010 Menswear collection. But I found more than fashion on his pages. Kris Van Assche is a designer. He is also an artist and the Artistic Director for Dior Homme. What I found, and what I have linked to below, is a magazine put together by Kris with help from several artists and creatives. Londerzeel starts with a quote from The Little Prince; to tame… something too often forgotten. It means to create ties.”Ties between him and other artists, between him and men, between him and you.

The magazine showcases work by Van Assche, including an installation entitled  Poet On Strike (pic below), and others such as Ali Kazma and Andrea Mastrovito (the drawings by Mastrovito, like the one above, are very moody and incorporate looks designed by Van Assche).

I recommend taking a look at Londerzeel for inspiration and/or thinking about the life of a creative individual as he relates to the world around him.

As for Kris Van Assche's Mens Fashion designs: I feel like the man who wears these clothes may be introverted yet there is some "thing" that is a created product of his deeply inward thinking and lifestyle and this "thing" is shared with the rest of the world and "ties between men" continues.

Kris Van Assche site HERE

Londerzeel HERE

"Tokyo Vice" by Jake Adelstein

When I first heard of this book, I thought it would be a low key affair. But Jake Adelstein is truly promoting his newest book, "Tokyo Vice," even appearing on 60 minutes about a week ago ( I watched by chance, happy to hear they were doing a Japanese story, and was surprised to see him on TV). The 60 minutes piece was not actually on his book, but about a Top Level Yakuza (Japanese Mob) who received a liver transplant here in the USA. It seems that now Adelstein must watch his step after bringing forth such a revelation: His life may be in danger. It is no surprise that Adelstein would make some enemies while putting in time as a Crime Beat reporter for a Tokyo newspaper. But it is hard to tell just how much danger he may be in, particularly when he is appearing on TV, print, and even NPR (this coming week) to talk about his book. Regardless, I am a Tokyo fan and will definitely give the book a read in order to understand the city's underground a bit better.

What is a bit "messed-up" is that, on a Japanese internet site who gave Jake's book a thread, someone who is not too nice actually posted his parents address and suggested that affiliates of the Yakuza pay them a visit. Perhaps Adelstein is at more of a risk than I thought...

Linked is a interview given by Adelstein for Random House who is the "Tokyo Vice" publisher. HERE

Tokyo Subculture: site edited by Adelstein about Japan Underground

Yayoi Kusama

Obliterating the world with dots: Yayoi Kusama has given us some fantastic works of art. I am just now learning a bit more about the Japanese artist and think that other art lovers who don't already know Kusama's work need to take a look. Check out the trailer for a Kusama Bio film by Heather Lenz and Karen Johnson (below). Kusama's official website is also very informative.

She has done happenings, sculpture, painting, performance, installations, and more. Her name is known, but her work is probably not as known as it should be. Kusama has lead a very intriguing life and lives in a Mental Hospital in Tokyo with her studio down the street. 

Kusama Website HERE

Cory Doctorow and His Publishing Experiment

Cory Doctorow is a writer, blogger, and culturist. He is embarking on a new project in which he will track how much money he makes by pushing DIY publishing to new levels. The plan is to compare the money he makes himself to that which he receives when he publishes traditionally. It's the smorgasbord approach and should be very interesting to follow. Doctorow will chronicle his experiment in a Publisher's Weekly column. Read the first article HERE detailing the experimental parts to the DIY project.

I hope that Cory is successful in exceeding any profits he would have made by going the traditional route. With the way the publishing world is changing it is an approach like Doctorow's that will likely become most prudent for writers, Known or Unknown 

Read PW article

Tokyo! RENT IT NOW!!

I was finally able to see Tokyo! It's set in my favorite city and the stories told are brilliant. However, my favorite is the opening story "Interior Design." This first short was directed by  Michael Gondry. You can get the synopsis on the movie website (link above). But, I found it very powerful in the way it made me think about my life and what my purpose is. Don't we all want to fill useful? The story starts simple enough but slowly develops into a almost fablelike ending.

There are two additional shorts that are compiled into the whole by directors Bong Joon-Ho (story about a recluse or 'hikimori) and Leos Carax (story about a manlike creature that lives in the Tokyo sewers). The film is similar to "Je Taime, Paris" but focused on Tokyo, of course. There is actually another "city" film coming out soon, focused on New York City.

Tokyo! captures the vibe of the city and of the Japanese people and their society. The stories are very intricate yet simple at the same time. It's facinating to see the take on the city by non-Japanese directors.

RENT IT NOW!

This American Life takes on Health Care

I just finished listening to a fascinating edition of This American Life on NPR. There is a lot being said these days in regards to the Health Care debate, and as the show has done many times before with other topics, This American Life has given us a more clear, in depth, and pertinent view on the issues that impact the American Health Care System (Click the link below to listen).

There are so many parts to the Health Care puzzle that must be considered when developing the best plan of action to SAVE the entire system. Costs are spinning out of control and all major parties seem to understand this fact, including the Insurance Companies who would arguably stand to reap greater profits if NOTHING changed. But, these companies, just as doctors, hospital systems, and patients themselves understand, the system will collapse completely if nothing changes. In the past decade, costs associated with Health Care have risen 130%. If nothing changes, we could face a reality in which HALF of our income goes toward Health Care. That is only 9 years away if nothing changes.

But, what are the main problems and how can they be addressed and corrected? This American Life gives us a nice perspective of some of these In the show, we hear from doctors, patients, insurance reps, and journalists who have followed the issue for decades. The show today was the first of two parts, because there is so much to cover.

If you want a better picture of this very important debate, CHECK OUT THE SHOW HERE.

It is CODE RED for our Health Care System and it's an issue that can no longer be ignored.


THIS AMERICAN LIFE: 391: More of Less

Too Fresh to Die

I would call this collaboration between choreographer Christophe Haleb and the photographer Cyrille Weiner (both from France) a choreographed photo essay. It features La Zouze, a theatrical/dance company from Marseille. There are some captions that may assist those who can read in French. But it is all about the actions and scenes depicted in the photos.

The piece tells a story of a troupe of characters indulging in Life and it's offerings while running from it's ultimate conclusion. This is entertaining

Start the FEATURE HERE

Freaky Fortnight on SLATE

Slate editor, Michael Agger, and his wife, Susan Burton, are in the midst of an experiment of sorts. They have swapped jobs for 2 weeks. The switch has just started and you can follow their entries on the topic on Twitter and Facebook, OR read the articles HERE.

I have just started to read and am truly intrigued and curious about how the experiment will turn out. I am a bit surprised by my interest. You see, Mike and Susan are Thirty-somethings, married, with children. I am definitely not any of those things, yet I find the perspective and thoughts the two are sharing entertaining and enlightening. The Park Slope parents seem to be happy with their current life, but tell about the difficult decisions they both have had to    make in regards to finding the work/life balance.

Being a bit younger, unmarried, and without children, I am taking notes as to the circumstances and subsequent outcomes of the couples decisions and challenges. I think there is some definite value in the articles Mike and Susan are writing.

CHECK IT OUT ON SLATE, HERE

Gentle Friendly

PRESS TO PLAY "RIP STATIC"

PRESS TO PLAY "CLEAN BREAKER"

Gentle Friendly is from London UK. Their MySpace page lists influences as: british invasion,kraut jerk,caveman techno,cavepunk,,huge glistening party anthem,,anything screwd & chopd,buddhist bubblegum music 

It is quite the mix, but done so well. Check'em out on their MySpace or the label site: UPSET THE RYTHM


The art, including lyrics (above) is product of Gentle Friendly