Universal Favourite

The world before Photoshop

Ingrid — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:22:22 +0000

I remember doing a photoshoot with a group of eight-year olds once and I remember bribing them with sweets and toys in order to get them under control. I don’t remember, however, the time when type was set by hand, world wars were being fought and 21.000 soldiers were painstakingly placed to resemble a portrait. American photographer Arthur Mole did, and his extraordinary group pictures may possible be even more admirable in our time than they already were in the pre-Photoshop era when he took them. The results are extraordinary – even if some large-scale bribing was involved.

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Dream bags

Ingrid — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:44:07 +0000

Gracefully dressed, well posed young ladies wearing haute couture while holding an unaffordable bag in the centre of a poster come to mind when thinking about high-end brands like Louis Vuitton or Dior. And that’s exactly why their collaboration with Dutch designer/animator Christian Borstlap is so surprisingly refreshing. He created an imaginary world in which the bags and luxury products float their way through kaleidoscopic landscapes, abstract underwater views and morphing patterns which makes you just want to dive in (and even splurge on the bags).

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Turtles in turtlenecks.

Ashley — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:40:12 +0000

Art created in Photoshop tends not to be ‘art’. Great bits of design, ABSOLUTELY! But art? Nope. No way. Stop kidding yourself mate.

This cynical opinion holds true for most photo-collage-art I spot, but not all. Zoo Portraits by Yago Partal is an example of it done well. These photographs of animals in human attire are not especially clever, but they’re executed so well you can forgive them for being nothing more than great images. I guess my affection lies in the artists pairing of animal to outfit, it’s spot on. A grizzly in a woollen jumper? As if that doesn’t makes sense.

Here are my favourites.

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This bug be ballin’.

Ashley — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:42:43 +0000

The caddis fly is an interesting one. It’s larvae, to protect itself from the dangers of its birthplace, picks at its surroundings, pulling together a cocoon-esque sheath made from twigs, dirt, bark and whatever else is close enough for its mandibles to chomp down on.

But what if only gold, pearls and precious jewels were available? Well, these little guys help artist Hubert Duprat with his latest work, Trichopterae.

Duprat, who was born in 1957, began working with caddis fly larvae in the early 1980s. An avid naturalist since childhood, he was aware of the caddis fly in its role as a favored bait for trout fishermen, but his idea for the project depicted here began, he has said, after observing prospectors panning for gold in the Ariège river in southwestern France. After collecting the larvae from their normal environments, he relocates them to his studio where he gently removes their own natural cases and then places them in aquaria that he fills with alternative materials from which they can begin to recreate their protective sheaths. He began with only gold spangles but has since also added the kinds of semi-precious and precious stones (including turquoise, opals, lapis lazuli and coral, as well as pearls, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds) seen here. The insects do not always incorporate all the available materials into their case designs, and certain larvae, Duprat notes, seem to have better facility with some materials than with others. Additionally, cases built by one insect and then discarded when it evolves into its fly state are sometimes recovered by other larvae, who may repurpose it by adding to or altering its size and form.

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I see a friend up there!

Ashley — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:26:58 +0000

It’s far too easy to keep your eyes down when traversing the urban world – preferring the familiarity of your shoes, your phone or the soft-neck of that enigmatic beauty pottering along before you (creep). You most likely find yourself, mid stride, thinking “I wonder what I’m missing?”, but don’t give the thought two seconds to manifest before you brush it away to continue instagraming your Instagram.

French artist, Thomas Lamadieu, is far less transfixed by the ground as we, spending much of his free time with his eyes firmly set upward. In his series SkyArt, Thomas photographs all that amazingly jagged negative space produced by towering skyscrapers, then illustrates characters to populate them. These little people fill every inch of their aerial nook, creating a home that only they could live in. I love these. But probs won’t look up more.

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Mr Bingo

Ana — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 05:15:45 +0000

The story goes that it all started one drunken night… London artist Mr Bingo tweeted “I will send an offensive postcard to the first person to reply to this message”. Fifty people responded in the first minute, and a stranger by the name of Jonathan Hopkins was chosen. The postcard Mr Bingo sent to him said “F*ck you Jonathan, f*ck you and f*ck your sh*t legs”.

Strangers pay him in return for offensive postcards addressed to whomever they liked. Check out the story below.

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A coffee tribute

Ana — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:31:26 +0000

Watch out Anthora!

According to the talk of the town (the internet) Sweden was not only the first European country to have one but it now boasts 190 7-Eleven locations! And they are all about to get a lot cooler. A new design by Stockholm-based BVD has been introduced for their coffee section.

The new look is retro cool. Check it.

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Imagining life on the moon in 1836

Ashley — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:09:25 +0000

I don’t know too much about these images apart from:

They’re from 1836
They’re an imaginative visioning of a future where man inhabits the moon
(with many a creative liberty taken)
They’re utterly ridiculous
They’re absolutely amazing
I love them

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Stay Troublesome

Ana — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:43:50 +0000

Alana Paterson is one talented woman. This latest selection from Stay Troublesome is beautiful, nostalgic and a little melancholy.

It feels as if you’re looking into a calm moment a long way gone and in the past.

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You guys could be twins!

Ashley — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:16:33 +0000

Having a twin (who is somewhat similar in appearance), I am always intrigued by other pairings who look absolutely identical. It’s surreal. They’re a rare breed, and seeing them together is even more unlikely. Like spotting a platypus in the wild – it just doesn’t happen (the zoo doesn’t count, I swear they’re animatronics).

Photographer, Martin Schoeller shares a similar fascination, but is substantially more productive (read: less lazy) than myself. His book, Identical: Portraits of Twins, is a photographic collection of identical twins, all in matching clothes and hairstyles. Some are spookily similar, others have little, unique facial quirks. Below are a few spreads from the book, have a gander.

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