Frozen in time, the fifth floor of Liverpool’s iconic Lewis’s department store has been closed since the early 80s, and miraculously still houses an untouched, although obviously in disrepair, 1950s restaurant and a 1970s hair salon. In collaboration with creative project managers, Neutral Spoon, local photographer – and co-founder of Document Skateboard Magazine – Stephen King has produced a book of photographs from Lewis’s haunting ‘lost’ floor, alongside engaging portraits of current and ex-employees. Showing as an exhibition at Liverpool’s National Conservation Centre from the 26th of this month, through to the end of August, the project also has a website collecting intriguing, and truly captivating memories of the forgotten – or seemingly not so – floor, from staff and public alike…..
Lewis’s Fifth Floor: A Department Story
Liverpool department store's 'lost' floor in photographs.....
February 9th, 2010
One Deck of Cards by Dzek
playing cards as mathematical functions and geometric shapes...
February 9th, 2010
Not yet 30, San Francisco born artist, Tauba Auerbach is already causing a noteworthy buzz on the American art scene. Her interest in typography and calligraphy alongside logic and physics are seemingly the catalyst for these truly remarkable playing cards, of which only 250 of each deck have been produced to a beautifully high standard, in collaboration with Brent Dzekciorius of DZEK. Consisting of two different decks, one based on mathematical functions, the other on geometric shapes, you probably won’t be cracking these open for a game of Texas Hold’em anytime soon…. however, thanks to their stupendously high production quality, and in particular those stunning linen and cardboard cases with blind de-bossing, you’ll no doubt be cherishing your collectors items as they continue to grow in value. $175 a set, from Project No.8.
Café Vue at 401 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Versailles inspired café in central Melbourne....
February 8th, 2010
With the likes of ‘Slowed cooked wagyu beef, oxtail sauce & root vegetables’ and ‘Red mullet with drunken prawns & Shoi Xing sauce’ on the menu, you know that the small chain of cafés from Shannon Bennett’s Vue brand – famous for the award winning Melbourne restaurant, Vue de monde – are a cut above your traditional lunchtime venue, and witnessing the fabulous decor of their new 401 St Kilda Road outpost only confirms that. Situated on Melbourne’s most prestigious boulevard as part of a swanky new development, Café Vue at 401 St Kilda Road, designed by Elenberg Fraser, is a bold, contemporary French café, inspired by Paris’ iconic royal château, Versailles, Marie Antoinette and clothing of the period… Offering a contemporary twist on this classical period are the café’s distinct centrepiece, a unique wooden, chandelier-like, crinoline structure, surrounding one of the rear tables and the portrayal of Antoinette’s death by guillotine at the height of the French Revolution through the stylish blood-red bathrooms.
Transition by Li Hui, Mannheimer Kunstverein
young Chinese artist's first institutional solo show in Europe....
February 8th, 2010
Using rising fog to convey the meaning of metempsychosis – the transmigration of the soul – it is clear that spiritualism, in particular Buddhism, is central to the work of young Chinese artist, Li Hui. Chinese philosophy also plays a key part in his work to, in this case the concept of transforming negativity into positivity, through the visual representation of a bandaged car wreck, beautifully illuminated by some 13,000 lasers…. a factor which, visually at least, offers a similarity to Moritz Waldemeyer’s work, his ‘Home Disco‘ featured by us early this year. Following it’s showings in Beijing, Busan and Vienna, Hui’s Transition – in cooperation with The Ministry of Art – will be showing in Mannheim, Germany’s Mannheimer Kunstverein gallery until 21st March.
Dumbfoundead: Jam Session 2.0
8 people, 5 instruments, 4 Continents, 3 languages, 1 song....
February 5th, 2010
Very little information around as to exactly how this was put together, but one thing’s for sure, is that the end result quite simply demands your attention. LA based emcee, Dumbfoundead – aka Johnathan Park – fronts an 8 person multinational collective, who with some magic from LA’s interactive media agency, Cain Mosni, have created a unique online jam session that pays homage to Galt MacDermot’s 1966 ‘Coffee Cold’ and Handsome Boy Modeling School’s MacDermot sampling 1999 track, ‘The Truth’. Just another example of how today’s technology, when used in the right hands, can create original and truly inspiring art.
Local Islington girl, Lizzie Evans, is one of those types that are so often referred to as, ‘annoyingly talented’, it’s a turn of phrase that’s terribly easy to use in these circumstances, especially given the name of her shop…. the ‘annoying’ fact is, however, that interior and graphic designer Lizzie has every right to be…. ‘Smug‘, her Camden Passage boutique is a wonderfully retro hotpot of inspiration that just oozes class. Kitchenware, glassware, clothing, ceramics and handmade toys are just some of the terribly cool and retro bits and bobs on display alongside retro furniture, artworks, accessories and textiles… as fabulously curated as it is designed, Lizzie’s little emporium of cool would make any of us feel infinitely smug!
Manga Ormolu by Brendan Lee Satish Tang
Ming dynasty ceramics attacked by Manga prosthetics.....
February 4th, 2010
Well go out on a limb here, and say that, Brendan Lee Satish Tang’s beautifully detailed, if not completely barmy, ceramic artworks are truly one of a kind…. Surely the concept of traditional Chinese Ming dynasty vessels being mutated by the forms of robotic Manga style prosthetics, simply has to be an original one. The British-Canadian artist presents his ‘Manga Ormolu’ series as a “dialogue on contemporary culture, technology, and globaliation through a fabricated relationship between ceramic tradition and techno-Pop Art”…. and we rather like the occasional ridiculousness of his artworks as they so very well visualise our unnerving tendencies to assimilate cultural identities. Exhibiting across Canada this year, Tang is a challenging and unique artist whose reputation we’re sure will grow…..
Spain’s international footwear giant, Camper, are always ones for doing things a little differently…. their simple approach to casual luxury is always injected with a heavy dose of humour and imagination, something that Spain’s über-designer, Jaime Hayón, is certainly in no shortage of. The Tokyo outpost of Camper, designed by 36 year old Hayón and inspired by “classic circus elements”, is a light, airy space, abundant in youthful vigor and laden with charming details such as the candy cane doorhandles and accompanying striped walling. The soft curves, mirrors and contrasting materials along with the beautiful lighting and Hayón’s signature window piece make this a shop you simply want to spend time in…. and that, ladies and gentlemen, is the key to successful design. Perfect.
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Independent Dublin based design studio, Superfolk, are launching a new range of products at this week's Stockholm Furniture Fair, that will pay tribute to Irish heritage... whilst remaining desirably modern.
Loving this high quality print from the ever-impressive Scott Hansen... highly limited to 200 pieces so move quick.
Previously only available in German, Berlin’s Innervisions have released a limited English run of Tobias Rapp’s book, ‘Lost and Sound: Berlin, Techno and the Easyjetset’. Investigating the city's love affair with electronic music and the world's descent upon the German capital in search of the ultimate party....
Ether, the Southbank Centre's annual culture-fest of music, art, technology and experimentation is back from 16th - 24th April with the likes of Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio, Broadcast and Gil Scott-Heron... the highlight for us has to be the 23rd where mindfuck genius Chris Cunningham performs a live multimedia extravaganza... expect to be disturbed....
Running from 5th - 13th February at the rather brilliant Darkroom, 'An Exhibitional Orgy of Love Hearts' is a celebration of Saint Valentine's in which a host of creative types have been commissioned to create a piece of work based upon the heart.... All pieces will be for sale for £125, with a portion of the profits going to the Haiti Fund
The latest product from magic industry pioneers, theory11, is this rather tasty set of playing cards that commemorate 125 years of design and development by the US Playing Card Company....
Everyones favourite handmade accessory makers, Hard Graft, are already on the 'case' with an iPad prototype... nearly as fast as these domain name jerks...
Showcasing a "curated portfolio of hotels in 108 destinations across the globe", Design Hotels™ latest annual catalogue of properties increasingly moves further towards the realms of deluxe coffee-table tome....
As they prepare to release a new single on Monday and their second album, ‘The Optimist’, on March 1st, New Young Pony Club today announce a spring club tour with pre-sale happening right now....
We adore the beautifully simplistic illustrations of French-born, London-based designer Jean Jullien. Check out the Central Saint Martins graduate's website for a visual feast of distorted characters and lovable monsters....
Superfolk
ISO50 'Adrift' Print
Lost and Sound
Ether 10
An Exhibitional Orgy of Love Hearts @ Darkroom
Bicycle 125 Playing Cards
Hard Graft iPad Case
Design Hotels™ Book 2010
New Young Pony Club Tour
Jean Jullien
