Words // Staff HUH.

Ever wondered what it would look like if Manhattan was transported to the Grand Canyon? Probably not, but after a trip to the United States last year Swiss photographer Gus Petro was determined to find out. The project is the last in a series called “Empty, Dense, Merge” which explores the juxtaposition of emptiness and density in the US by combining the arid deserts with a bustling metropolis. “The contrast between the two was so strong and overwhelming that I had to express it somehow,” says Petro, who took photographs of the two sites from matching perspectives and then painstakingly Photoshopped them together. “After showing the images, most of the people who haven’t been in either place thought it was real,” he says. “They began questioning me where it is. I didn’t expect that for sure.”

Words // Staff Juxtapoz

Anthony Lister is selling printed copies of a compilation of his sketchbooks featuring 192 pages of selected sketchbook drawings over the course of ten years of drawing. This book represents a massive gathering of thoughts, memories and impressions; an impressive document for any artist who knows what it’s like to fill book after book, year after year. This ultimate sketchbook is sure to contain volumes of precious imagery and human narrative.

Words // Nina Designboom

Uniting food art and urban intervention, German artist, entertainer, and self-described ‘Nonsense Maker’ Peter Pink presents a humorous series of installations made from vegetables. Sunglass-wearing spuds and cucumbers are positioned throughout various public spaces and venues, necessitating an audience reaction. The staged veggies, all outfitted in hot-pink sunglasses, participate in a spectrum of circumstances — some taking the sun, rallying in a protest, and fighting with gourds. The setups communicate Pink’s opinions about consumerism and policy, while others document culturally significant historical events. In one series, the cucumbers are amassed to resemble an army assembly – another depicts the crucifixion. The physical characteristics of the edibles, such as their texture, contour, and color act as a human personality allowing them distinctive attributes and an anthropological quality. An intriguing aspect of the project for Pink is its ephemeral nature — food is alive, its state is constantly and consistently changing, furthering its relationship to humanity.

a group of potatoes take the sun

protesting potatoes rally on the street

the cucumbers against the potatoes

cucumbers organized like an army

a detail of the gourds

a group of pink-clad potatoes sun bathe on the sand

each potato has a miniature pink umbrella

a rally outside of a fast food chain

a smaller group of potatoes protest

potatoes that are destroyed by tiny workers

the public reacts to a group of potatoes on the sidewalk

the cucumbers and the potatoes meet

cucumbers stand outside the reichstag building in germany

Words // Jenny Designboom

Beijing-based artist Wang Qingsong, one of three artists exhibiting at the China Pavilion of the Venice Art Biennale 2013, creates elaborate staged photographs overflowing with people and objects in incisive detail. Born at the beginning of the cultural revolution, Qingsong has watched China’s transformation from a traditional society to one struggling with rapid urbanization and westernization, and his work is highly critical of consumerism and the influence that capitalism has had not only on economy but culture and society as well.

This year’s China Pavilion explores the idea of ‘Transfiguration’ in response to the overall theme of the 55th International Art Exhibition, ‘The Encyclopedic Palace’ where all human knowledge can be collected and absorbed. In fact the curatorial team for China selected the phrase ‘变位 (roughly, ‘changing tastes’) for its Pavilion, focusing on bridging the gap between past and present cultural values, as well as that between life and art.

Wang Qingsong’s photographs are technically astonishing: despite occupying significant depth, every detail seems to be in perfect focus throughout the image. Displayed at the China Pavilion as large prints, each mounted along the outer wall of a central cubic form, the three photographs became a kind of triptych investigating the sites and values of education and culture in contemporary society. ‘Follow Him’ in particular serves on its own as a theoretical ‘Encyclopedic Palace’, where a lone scholar tries futilely to take in all of the knowledge that mankind has accumulated.

The photograph above, ‘Temporary Ward’, was filmed in an experimental theatre in Newcastle, connecting the idea of wellness to society’s cultural and intellectual needs. In the theatre, Qingsong reflect, visitors find temporary relief for their minds, an idea he represents visually with a sprawling triage ward of accident victims and sick patients.

‘temporary ward’ by wang qingsong (2008) at the china pavilion, venice art biennale 2013
the photograph details a triage room (actually a theatre) filled with people suffering from all kinds of injuries and illness

closer view of ‘temporary ward’ by wang qingsong (2008)
on exhibition at the china national pavilion, venice art biennale 2013

‘Take a look at the urban people’s life. We dine at McDonald’s, KFC, and Pizza Hut. We drink cola, Starbucks’ coffe and Lipton Tea. We live in Roman fantasy, Lincoln Park, Vancouver Forest and East Provence. We drive Benz, BMW and Lamborghini. All these Western consumer products ‘modernize’ this originally agricultural country. However such life in high fashion is so ridiculous, contradictory and crazy. The Chinese traditions and elite culture fail to have energy and vigor, deserving to be trashed. This is the contemporary China in its massive scale.’
- Wang Qingsong, in his artist statement

‘follow me’ by wang qingsong (2013)
on exhibition at the china national pavilion, venice art biennale 2013
180 x 300 cm

The newest of the works, ‘Follow Me’, is a statement on contemporary education systems. A large classroom is filled with exhausted students, mountains of books stacked on their desks alongside large bottles of Coca-Cola. The walls are covered in posters written in Chinese and English; some are questions– ‘Why are babies born?’ or ‘Why do we yawn?’– but others are pivotal statements of contemporary education, to which a question mark is added: ‘Study well?’, ‘Education is crucial?’, ‘Progress everyday?’. As in many of his works Qingsong himself makes an appearance, here as the only alert student in the room, fueled by intravenous liquids.

the artist makes an appearance in his ‘follow me’ photograph
on exhibition at the china national pavilion, venice art biennale 2013

‘follow me’, closer view of the schoolroom walls

‘follow him’ by wang qingsong (2010)
on exhibition at the china national pavilion, venice art biennale 2013
130 x 300 cm

Set in a sprawling academic’s library, ‘Follow Him’ reflects on the breadth of human consciousness. Even if the solitary person pictured were to succeed in reading each of the thousands of books that surround him, he would be privy to only a tiny sliver of the whole of human knowledge. Don’t miss the funny close-up on a disguised Qing Wangsong in the gallery below.

‘follow him’ presents the futile task of a solitary academic trying desperately to absorb the knowledge mankind has accrued

in the stunning wall-scale photo at the 2013  venice art biennale, the title on every bookspine is visible,
juxtaposing contemporary western artists (for example damien hirst at left) and chinese ones (like liu bolin, at right),
amidst books on geology, art history, software, and other themes, traditional objects, knick-knacks, and cola bottles

temporary ward (2008), full view

closer view of temporary ward
on exhibition at the china national pavilion, venice art biennale 2013

follow me (2013), full view

incredible details such as the title of every book is clearly visible throughout the photograph

closer view of another wall, covered with posters and painted text

follow him (2010), full view

wang qingsong appears in his photograph as a lone scholar

follow him, detail view

follow him, detail view

Words // Katie Hosmer My Modern Met

Food art is quite the rage these days. Everything from lively little protesting spuds wearing pink sunglasses to spilled liquid portraits have been making the rounds in the art world. Inspired by this very appealing style of illustration, artist Sarah Rosado decided to initiate a series featuring quite the opposite. Dirty Little Secrets is a project in which the New York-based artist uses dirt as her medium to develop all kinds of not-so-mouthwatering shapes including a camera, a hot cup of tea, a bikini, a duck, and a video game controller.

All of the objects are created out of dirt which Rosado collects from local parks. She plunks the soil right down on the table and uses various tools to hand-shape each creation. Once an illustration is complete, she photographs the dark soil against a stark white background and, according to the artist, there is absolutely no digital manipulation to the final image.

Rosado says, “Each design seems to play with the fact that the material it’s crafted from comes from the ground, either morphing into plants and animals as natural as the ground itself, or running the opposite way and becoming objects of pure human-made materialism.”

Words // carlosgonzalez Arrested Motion (Orignally published 07.25.13)

Recently, the L.A. based art collective Cyrcle. traveled to Lisbon, Portugal for a show titled Capture the Flag! : Conquer the Divide! Putting on display a new collection of works that depart in both style and theme from their previous solo last year (covered), the group took their talents overseas to the Underdogs Gallery. This new exhibition studies the struggle of nations told through an American perspective in which both the mythology and the duality between the Cowboy and the Indian play an important role in deciphering the American identity and history. This body of work expands on this theme by featuring portraits of both Indians and Cowboys as shown through the iconography usually attached to both groups of people. However, each piece also aims to move beyond this layer by forcing the viewer to identify with the artwork, as seen in some pieces which feature reflective surfaces.

The exhibition also features a large scale sculptural piece that flips the meaning of the American flag and one that helps re-examine the meaning of American history and its origin mythology. Also, this showing is part of the Underdogs platform which is taking place in Lisbon. So if you’re anywhere near Lisbon, Portugal, don’t forget to check out this exhibition which will run till August 2nd. Also, stay tuned for a closer look at two large-scale murals that Cyrcle. just wrapped in Portugal as they continue to take their talents worldwide.

Discuss Cyrcle. here.

Words // Julia Dawidowicz ANIMAL

Of course you would. First Street Green, a majestic art-and-garden-oasis tucked away in the chaos of the East Village right off Houston Street, is seeking artists to paint murals on the plywood walls of First Park. Ideas and volunteers are also welcome. More, from their website

Words // Liv Siddall It’s Nice That

Wayyoooahhh! Yep, that’s the summer klaxon, tooting the arrival of more sun-drenched, rainbow doodles from arguably one of the busiest illustrators of 2013, Jordy van den Nieuwendijk. In this series, Jordy has turned to the trusty, blotchy felt-tip to give him the desired effect for this album artwork created for his friend and DJ Arthur King. Arthur requested the artwork for his annual summer mixtape which, according to Jordy, is “an explosion of furious groove and summer-ready hip hop beats”. A must-have for anyone who simultaneously enjoys music and excellent illustration.

Words // sleepboy Arrested Motion

Later tonight at CHG Circa, fans can attend the opening of Luke Chueh’s (featured) newest show in Culver City. Featuring mostly new works from the Los Angeles-based painter, Random Acts Of Sadness will include pieces that place his cast of animal characters in unfortunate situations (including more from his You Are What You Eat series – see tiger & bear), rendered in his signature style. Oftentimes, the true meaning of the paintings will more clearly reveal themselves when examining the titles as Chueh has a penchant for clever wordplay, including some that poke fun at himself. Take a look at more preview images below…

Discuss Luke Chueh here.

Words // Staff Juxtapoz

Born in Chiba, Japan, Akino Kondoh is an artist and animator known for her striking minimalist compositions, often executed with nothing more than graphite and watercolor. Kondoh as exhibited internationally, earning grants from the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs, and has also received the support and collaboration of jazz musician John Zorn, who has used her art on his album covers. Her animated short “Ladybird’s Requiem” made it to the top 25 list in the biennial showcase “YouTube Play” at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

Words // SAL Arrested Motion

American artist David Choe (featured) has spent the last several weeks working on his exhibition opening August 17th at the Museo Universitario del Chopo. This is his first big solo show after four years of “falling deep into addiction, heartbreak, rejoicing, discovery, recovery, hallucinogenics, worship and ignorant idiotic prophecies,” so there is a lot he wanted to create and share. From the title Snowman Monkey BBQ, which takes inspiration from the words that Chinese gamblers scream in casinos, to painting with Pedro Friedeberg, this show is 100% driven by his adventurous lifestyle and his urge for exploration. Based on what Choe describes as a life-changing experience (which happened a few years ago during a ceremony with the Kogui Indians’ in Colombia) that helped him develop a new sensory perception which is reflected in his use of a new vibrant color palette seen in some of his pieces, these works provide a full range of raw emotions detached from ordinary mental process.

The exhibition’s private opening is tonight, so for those who can’t make it, here are preview photos some of the new oil paintings, drawings, watercolors and of course site specific installations & murals he prepared for this occasion. More about the show can be found at SnowmanMonkeyBBQ.com.

Discuss David Choe here.

Words // Lauren Espeseth Cool Hunting

After graduating from Parsons with a BFA in Fashion Design in 2010, designer Taylor Forrest saw furniture as a sort of experiment. Come November 2013, she will have been experimenting with designing chairs for a solid year, and the upshot of her dedication can be seen in a recently-released first collection of leather sling chairs and lounges inspired by the malleability of the material, a few welding how-to videos and the work of Le Corbusier and Paul Evans. In the midst of this transitory phase, Forrest explained, “I wanted to try and crank something out—see if I could do it—and if it would be practical. I have a wandering mind that is sometimes not so practical, but I’m happy it led me here.”

 

For Forrest, the push and pull between fashion and furniture design has been an ongoing tug of war. There’s a love and appreciation for both, and that is evident and essential in her products. Forrest still says, “Because of my particular interest in accessories, I’m still in the mindset that I make handbags that just happen to be chairs.” Leather’s ability to look like draped fabric really brings this fantasy to life.

From a young age, Forrest became enamored with her mother’s collection of outlandish objects—many of which were pieces of furniture. These natural and animal-inspired oddities, paired with inspiration drawn fromCorbusier‘s refined work and Paul Evans‘ “Flintstones-meets-glam-1970s” look, culminated in the first Taylor Forrest collection. Most importantly for Forrest, they all resinated with a simple expression: “I like the idea of hiding nothing. There’s no hidden support or construction in this collection. Everything you need to know about how the chair is made is shown.”

What really elucidates Forrest’s hovering between bags to chairs is her crafting ability with leather—the two industries’ common medium. Each piece—the leather and the metal—is entirely designed and handmade by Forrest herself. Though welding may have come second (she “basically became a welder because of the internet”) her abilities with leather appear to be completely innate.

“Leather is an incredible material. It can be manipulated in so many ways and it has a natural longevity and warmth that has not been able to be synthetically replicated. Vegetable-tanned leather in particular develops a beautiful tone and patina over time,” Forrest says. “The natural body and and strength also lends itself to this process. The frames exist to showcase the quality of the leather and I envision each chair lasting a long time. I can’t wait to see what they look like when they’re old.”

 

Forrest envisions these chairs adding balance to the modern home. “I don’t see someone decking their whole place out in sling furniture,” she explains. “They could be the focal point of a minimal setting and they could also compliment an eclectic style, where the person’s home looks very collected over time.” And her love for fashion surfaces: “It’s sort of like wearing some Balenciaga boots with a worn, but loved, pair of Levi’s, or a simple vintage cotton dress with an Hermès bag.” Forrest says that either way, she just wants it to feel comfortable.

All the furniture is designed and handmade in Forrest’s New York City studio. Check out the rest of her debut collection online, where you can also place an inquiry for pricing and purchase information.

Images courtesy of Taylor Forrest

Words // SAL Arrested Motion

After showing her works in a couple of solo and group shows in the US and Europe recently, working on some huge public murals, releasing a sold out edition with Pictures On Walls, and releasing a line of swimsuits and bikinis withBillabong, American artist Maya Hayuk is opening her first solo museum show stateside at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. Known for her symmetrical compositions, bright, lush, and often transparent colors, drips and woven patterns, Hayuk’s work is a perfect blend of traditional Ukrainian crafts or mandalas and neon lights or vibrant elements of party culture. Painted in large scale, these strong abstract images are an “engaging mix of referents from popular culture and advanced painting practices while connecting to the ongoing pursuit of psychedelic experience in visual form.” It’s actually these murals that Hayuk has been working on for the last two weeks, painting site specific pieces on the walls of the museum lobby. Organized by Hammer assistant curator Corrina Peipon, Hammer Projects: Maya Hayuk’s official opening is on Sept 28th.

Discuss Maya Hayuk here.

Words // Caroline Williamson Design Milk

óceo is a segmented chair by industrial design student Pedro Arturo that was inspired by human nature meant to reflect “our structural and systematic way of living and showing how visceral and instinctive we are.” The chair’s open volume is established by the elliptical modules that make up the overall structure.

The segments are spaced out and evolve as they move up and down to create the seat area and the outer shape. An interior structure supports the entire chair while holding the modules in place. Beyond that, only four screws were used for extra safety.

By remaining open and being able to look through the piece, the chair carries a beautiful visual weight without being too heavy or bulky.

The design was developed in CAD and then each piece was CNC cut.

Words // Thia Shin Mia DesignTAXI

Swedish artist Michael Johansson has created life-size injection-molded assembly kits of boats, gardening tools, and other everyday objects.

Paying homage to the injection-molded toys that were present in many of our childhoods, the artist has broken down each component and assembled them with this injection-molded frame,

Visually intriguing, Johansson urges his viewers to look at the components of each object and see how they relate to one another.

Scroll down to view the rest of his works.

Words // Andy Butler Designboom

From the time of King George I through the 20th century, the Cliveden House was a place of political and social prestige. It was home to Waldorf and Nancy Astoria, and the infamous profumo scandal. Now a part of the UK national trust, it serves guests in the lap of luxyry. Recently, a 17.5m slide has been installed at the manor in Buckinghamshire, UK for visitors to enjoy while the building’s south terrace is being restored. The project was designed by the charity’s visitor experience consultant, Sam Willis.

Top photo: Mike Griggs

cliveden house

‘What could be a time of disruption is being turned into an advantage, as the slide offers visitors to Cliveden an original and unexpected experience – as well as a totally new way of looking at the house and garden. Scaffolding surrounds the staircase, but this is topped by a 6.5m-tall walkway, which encases the staircase on all sides, giving views of the Cliveden estate.’ National Trust

the stainless steel slide will be open daily 11am – 4pm and 4 people can ride at any one time.
Photos: Design Week

Words // Elaine YJ Lee Selectism

New York City’s Textile Arts Center curates a set of colorful postcards for “Pattern Box: 100 Postcards by 10 Contemporary Pattern Designers.” The pack includes a booklet about each of the featured designers who come from textile and patternmaker companies like Eskayel, Ermie and Blink Blink. Whether you want to actually send these mini pieces of art as letters, frame them, pin them up or simply display the equally artistic box they come in, it’s your choice. Buy it for $20.