Elif AKCAY

In a golden age of fake news we are becoming more accustomed to politicians spouting self-serving lies. We are also beginning to grasp the complicity of their audience.

The names we assign to colors are restrictive and only serve to impede our minds. The water that comes out of a faucet isn’t “blue.” Leaves on the trees can be “green” but they can be so much more. In Japan there’s even the absurd hada-iro (skin color), a peachy color that’s so wrong I’m not even going to begin. But now a young designer duo wants to change the way kids learn about color. They’ve created a set of “Nameless Paints” whose colors are simply identified by just that – their color.

“By not assigning names to the colors we want to expand the definition of what a color can be, and the various shades they can create by mixing them,” explains Yusuke Imai. Together with Ayami Moteki they form the design duo Ima Moteki.

Instead of names, each tube in the 10-color paint set is identified by one or more circles of color. For tubes with more than one circle, the size of the circle indicates the proportion of paint that were mixed to create the resulting color. It’s a radical new way of getting kids to intuitively understand color and remove the preconceptions that names like “green” and “blue” create.

The set of “Nameless Paints” were originally part of the 2012 Kokuyo Design Awards, one of the most interesting design awards in Japan that’s helped commercialize simple yet groundbreaking products like the kadokeshi eraser or the infinite canvas roll table.

Kokuyo’s stationary brand Campus spent the last 3 years working with the designer duo to refine their concept and eventually bring it to market. The set of “Nameless Paints” will go on sale in Japan in October of 2015 and will retail for 1800 yen.

carriehopefletcher: gameraboy: Helene Stanley dancing for Marc Davis and other animators for Sleeping Beauty. See the video here. Oh I love this so much!!

Up until now becoming an astronaut had one major downside - good fresh coffee can't be made in space. To solve the problem, coffee giant Lavazza teamed up with the Italian Space Agency (because who else would place such importance on coffee) and Turin-based engineering company, Argotech, to design a zero-gravity ISSpresso machine that can brew delicious coffee for astronauts as they orbit.

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The Bus by Paul Kirchner Title: J.G. Ballard Atley

Have you seen Brittany Maynard's incredibly moving video, below?

When 29-year-old newlywed Brittany Maynard was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and given six months to live, she and her husband thought carefully and decided to move to Oregon, which is one of five U.S. states that allow patients to die with dignity. Her doctor prescribed a pill that will allow her to end her life peacefully and painlessly. Maynard says she plans to die this November 1st in her bedroom, surrounded by her mother, stepfather, husband and best friend.

"There is not a cell in my body that is suicidal or that wants to die. I want to live. I wish there was a cure for my disease, but there's not," Maynard explained to People. "I've discussed with many experts how I would die from it, and it's a terrible, terrible way to die. Being able to choose to go with dignity is less terrifying...For my mother, it's really difficult, and for my husband as well, but they've all supported me because they've stood in hospital rooms and heard what would happen to me."

Here's her video:

On a similar note, surgeon, writer and public health researcher Atul Gawande published a book yesterday called Being Mortal. He discusses how, when patients are aging and dying, the goals of medicine seem to frequently run counter to the interest of the human spirit:

I had never seen anyone die before I became a doctor, and when I did, it came as a shock....I felt as if I’d failed. But death, of course, is not a failure. Death is normal. Death may be the enemy, but it is also the natural order of things. I knew these truths abstractly, but I didn’t know them concretely—that they could be truths not just for everyone but also for this person right in front of me, for this person I was responsible for.

You don't have to spend much time with the elderly or those with terminal illness to see how often medicine fails the people it is supposed to help. The waning days of our lives are given over to treatments that addle our brains and sap our bodies for a sliver's chance of benefit. These days are spent in institutions—nursing homes and intensive-care units—where regimented, anonymous routines cut us off from all the things that matter to us in life.

As recently as 1945, most deaths occurred in the home. By the 1980s, just 17 percent did. Lacking a coherent view of how people might live successfully all the way to the very end, we have allowed our fates to be controlled by medicine, technology, and strangers.

I'm not sure how to wrap up a post like this other than saying I'm so moved.

Architect Piotr Zuraw has designed a bench named uiliuili, as part of the Wroclaw City Furniture Project. The bench was constructed by the University of Wroclaw in Poland.

You can watch a ‘making of’ video of the bench – here.

Project description

uiliuili bench, designed by the architect Piotr Zuraw, is a piece of city furniture of an intriguing aesthetic form. Its curious shape encourages unconventional behaviors – on the uiliuili bench users can sit, lie down, stretch, curl up, sit a bit higher, climb, jump… Possibilities are endless, and new ones will surely be discovered by the users according to their own preferences and creativity.

Openwork construction of uiliuili made of steel and beech wood, 10 meters long and 3 meters wide, has been designed according to ergonomic principles, and the wooden seat is pleasant and warm to the touch. The bench is situated on Grunwaldzki Campus, at the main entrance to the University Library on Fryderyk Joliot-Curie street. Set in the space of the minimalist Library building, it attracts attention but does not dominate. Where does the name come from? The order of letters in “uiliuili” word resembles the undulating shape of the bench.

The bench is not intended to be used only by students – although one can read and relax on it during breaks from intellectual work – but meant to be a meeting and resting spot for all who appreciate good design and are open to new, inspiring solutions.

uiliuili has been created within the framework of the University project „dobrze wiedzie? wi?cej| good to know more”. The starting point was the belief that the University of Wroc?aw is a perfect place to implement interesting ideas – also those going beyond the everyday, scientific and educational, functioning of the university. The University promotes inspiring ideas regardless of their scope and nature. What counts is their uniqueness.

Design: Piotr Zuraw

After opening in Soho, London, earlier this year, guests of the Ham Yard Hotel have been mesmerised by this beautiful 135-dial digital clock. Each of the hands on the smaller traditional clocks have been synchronised to work together to display the time on a much larger scale. As well as displaying numbers, the clocks can also work together to form complex geometric shapes.

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On January 1, 2013 Cape Town based artist Lorraine Loots took upon a 365 day challenge of creating one miniature painting, on a 10cm x 10cm piece of...

Artist: Richard Wright

Venue: The Modern Institute, Glasgow

Exhibition Title: Aird’s Lane

Date: June 25 – September 6, 2014

Click here to view slideshow

Full gallery of images, press release and link available after the jump.

Images:

Images courtesy of Richard Wright and The Modern Institute/Toby Webster Ltd, Glasgow. Photos by Keith Hunter. 

Press Release:

Richard Wright continues his work with York Glaziers Trust – Britain’s oldest stained glass conservation studio, who have a special connection to the medieval windows at York Minster. For this project he has made four leaded glass skylights in the ceiling at Aird’s Lane.

Utilising the four rectangular skylights, Wright’s new work incorporates handmade, blown glass and leading, following a complex design developed by the artist. In response to the horizontal structure of the skylights, Wright has adapted the technique initially employed in his recent commission for Tate Britain’s eastern windows, in the Milbank foyer.

Wright’s new work at The Modern Institute subtly responds to the architecture of the space and its primary source of light. Each of the four rectangular skylights house a steel frame comprised of nine individual panels – positioning within the structure specifically handmade glass. Cut at definite angles within an intricately designed lead-matrix to produce a three dimensional effect, the distinctively – textured glass interferes with the light to create a play on perspective through the use of light, reflection and the observer’s viewpoint. Alluding to the transient nature of Wright’s wall paintings – which are almost always removed when exhibitions come to an end, Wright’s new glass work creates a collection of unique drawings and patterns which shift across the walls and floor, governed by the natural movement of light as daytime passes.

Richard Wright (b. 1960, London) lives and works in Glasgow. He studied BA (Hons) Painting at Edinburgh College of Art and received his MFA from The Glasgow School of Art. Wright has exhibited internationally since 1994, and has produced several major commissions including those at: Tate Britain, London (2013); Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (2013); and Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh (2010). Selected solo exhibitions include: Kunshistorisches Museum, Thesus Temple, Vienna (2013); ‘Works on Paper’, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow (2010); Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (2007); Centre d’Art contemporian, Le Domaine de Kerguéhennec, Bignan (2005); DCA, Dundee (2004); and Tate Liverpool (2001). Wright won the Turner prize in 2009 and has presented work in numerous group exhibitions worldwide, including those at: NBK Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin; Tate Britain, London; Tate Modern, London; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Charlottenborg Museum, Copenhagen and Walker art Centre, Minneapolis.

Richard Wright and The Modern Institute would like to thank the York Glaziers Trust, DO Architecture, and Scott Associates.

Link: Richard Wright at The Modern Institute

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Margaux Keller in association with architect Bertrand Guillon, has recently completed Le Coiffeur, a hair salon located in Marseille, France.

Project description

In addition to bouillabasse and aioli, the seaside city of Marseille is now home to a new gem – a cleverly designed hair salon called Le Coiffeur.

Conceived for local stylist and salon owner Pascal Lancien by Fabrica alumnus Margaux Keller, a Marseille native herself, the elegant space puts an inviting new spin on the conventional format of a hairdressing studio.

For shampoo services, Keller has designed a one-sided wooden cabana, discreetly tucked at the end of the space for privacy. Haircuts and styling take place at individual desks called ‘La Coiffeuse’ that come with arched, slightly hooded mirrors to further preserve a sense of intimacy for clients.

The creative thinking behind the salon is visible throughout its interior. From suspended glass pendant lights, blown in Italy and inspired by the shape of vintage hairdryers, to the simple sofa and coffee table that adorn the salon’s waiting area, there is an alluring tone to the modern space, which has been realised in the muted seaside tones of azure blue and yellow.

Keller was also careful to retain plenty of southern French touches. Not only is the shampoo cabana inspired by the cabins of Marseille fishermen, the mix of concrete and tile on the shop floor is also a nod to Provençal tradition.

Design: Margaux Keller with Bertrand Guillon

Photography by Laure Melone

Ahoy mini hammock, love this little contraption that gives you stress relief and a little bit of R&R. Called the Füüt, we totally picture ourselves getting a couple of these for our YD office. You hear me boss?

Designer: Three Dot

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE - We are more than just concepts. See what's hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(Some Foot Rest! was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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(english added below)

Cetveller ve Ritim Çalışmaları Amsterdam’da Stedelijk Müzesi koleksiyon bölümünde sergilenmeye başlanmış. 2011’de burada (İstanbul) sergilendiği haline çok yakın, masa az değişik, beyaz ve de 2011’de (grup sergisinin şartlarından (ya da tam ikna edemediğimden) dolayı) gösterilemeyen dairesel hafta ve ritim 1 cetvellerine ait sesler de duvarda. Arka duvarda Sol LeWitt’in bol renkli 1084 numaralı duvar çizimi var, o sanırım hep orada duruyor.

Cetvelleri görmeyen veya hatırlamak isteyenler için 2011’deki sergilemeye ait cetveller katalogu burada  pdf: cevdet erek cetveller ve ritim rulers and rhythm (o zaman belgelemede bana yardım eden özgür atlagan ve elif akçay’a tekrar teşekkür ve selam).

Bu arada, bu cetvellerin bazıları, bu katalogdaki masanın 1/2’si, ve de başka bir sürü irili ufaklı şey şu an İstanbul Modern’de açık olan Çok Sesli adlı sergide görülebilir. Bunun için ayrı bir posta, önümüzdeki günlerde. Bu postaya da zaman buldukça bir kaç ekleme yapılacak.

………………..

english, translated by duygu

The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam is now exhibiting “Rulers and Rhythm Studies” as part of their collection display. This presentation is very much similar to when the work was installed for the first time in Istanbul; the table is a little different, it is white, and in addition, sound pieces of Circular Week and Rhythm 1 are also included on the wall (which, either due to the physical conditions of a group exhibition or because I wasn’t convincing enough, were not exhibited then). On the wall in the back is Sol LeWitt’s colorful wall drawing no:1084, I believe that it is permanent.

For those who haven’t seen the rulers or want to see them again, visit the pdf link here: cevdet erek cetveller ve ritim rulers and rhythm (a nod and thank you to özgür atlagan and elif akçay who helped me with the documentation of the work).

Also, some of the rulers, half of the table shown in the pdf and a few other things are currently on view at İstanbul Modern, as part of the exhibition Plurivocality. Another post about this will follow in the next few days. Additions to this very post will be made as well.

Maki Ohkojima is a 27-year old Japanese painter who creates sprawling yet intricate paintings that often feature imagery pertaining to mother earth and animals. Over the years she has developed in interesting style she calls – quite straightforwardly – “the mural beyond the frame.”

“When drawing a picture, I always think that the picture I am drawing in that moment is merely one part of a larger world and narrative,” says Ohkojima. She compares her feelings to the frustration we’ve all felt when encountering a beautiful landscape. We take out our phone or camera to capture it, only to realize that, inevitably, there is no way to capture the scene in its entirety. So when the opportunity presents itself, as if often does, Ohkojima doesn’t stop at the edges of her canvas. She extends the scene onto the wall creating a sprawling mural. “By drawing like this, the land and the picture are becoming further connected and one piece of scenery, which I could not see before, is starting to emerge.

Ohkojima is a frequent participant in the Wall Art Festival and earlier this year she spent several days in India creating a sprawling mural on the walls of a classroom. This summer she plans to return to India once again as part of the Earth Art Project.

271 years before Pantone, an artist mixed and described every color imaginable in an 800-page book.

“We invent nothing. We borrow and re-create. We uncover and discover. All has been given… We have only to open our eyes and our hearts to become one with that which is.”

- Henry Miller

Sevgililer gününe çok az kaldi! Bu yil sevgilinize göndermeniz için çok lezzetli, çok sevimli ve iç isitan bir hediye paketi hazirladik.

Scandinavian headboards by Marie-Pier Guilmain and Maud Beauchamp.

Located in Madrid, the Didomestic apartment was designed by Spanish studio Elii Architects and occupies the loft of an old building. In order to make the most of the relatively small space, the architects designed the interior in a way which kept it completely open, enabling furniture and storage areas to be pushed back into the walls, floor and ceiling.

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Funny how no one else finds your childhood photos interesting, but you yourself could probably get lost in those little visual time traps for hours without getting bored. Chino Otsuka found her childhood photos so intriguing that she decided to put them to good use and make a very curious art project out of them. Imagine Finding Me sees Chino impeccably superimpose herself into these old images to create the illusion that she is hanging out with her former self.

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Reminiscent of rolltop desks from the early 1900s, this take on the multifunctional cabinet desk incorporates modern amenities like integrated LED lights and power sockets to enhance your modern workspace. Classic, minimal styling lets you achieve that sought-after vintage look without sacrificing the necessities for powering your modern devices.

Designer: Laura Petraitytė

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE - We are more than just concepts. See what's hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(Modern Multifunctional Desk was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
- Howard Thurman

(via)

Absolutely gorgeous soft pastel drawings by artist Zaria Forman. See the finished version of this piece and lots more below.

View the whole post: Stunning Pastel Drawings of Greenland by Artist Zaria Forman over on BOOOOOOOM!.

 
Animator Jim Le Fevre, whom I posted about way back in 2008 (See here: “Phonographantasmascope”), teamed up with Roops and Al Johnstone to make a fantastic phonotrope animation for the Crafts Council.

Roops and Al Johnstone make earthenware under the name RAMP, which stands for Roop and Al Make Pots. I can only imagine how anxious they must have been waiting for this thing to fire in the kiln, hoping nothing went wrong after all their hard work.

 

 

craftscouncil.org.uk

View the whole post: Experimental Animation Meets Pottery over on BOOOOOOOM!.

We're only 3 days into the new year and I've already got the travel bug. After recent trips to Russia, Turkey, Greece and Southeast Asia, I'm itching to head...