MOST is excited to announce that in the Sala del Cenacolo, the fresco room at MOST (The Natonal Museum of Science and technology in Italy) , Studio Job and Lensvelt’s latest collaboration will be launched.
Continuing from the 2011 Job Cabinet (shown below), this new line for home and office will now also includes tables, low cabinets and lamps. above: the 2011 Job Cabinet is available at Lensvelt
To promote the new collection, they have cast a gold nose and are placing it upon images of famous people.
The cooperation between Lensvelt and Studio Job started in 2011 with the development of Job Office. In 2012 the Job Cabinet won the Wallpaper Design Award and the Elle Decoration International Design Award. During the 2013 Milan Design Week, Lensvelt will dedicate a solo presentation just to Job Office.
Italian brand Gucci's Creative Director Frida Giannini and renowned Japanese Manga artist, Hirohiko Araki, have collaborated to create special store window displays featuring the Japanese artist's illustrations and Gucci's 2013 Cruise Collection.
Araki says ‘Frida’s beautiful cruise collection with its strong colours and graphic designs set my mind racing the moment she showed it to me. From there the characters and storylines came into being so naturally. It was very stimulating to work together on this project.’
Araki has created an exclusive Manga (Japanese comic strip), inspired by the collection and a story that will bring the windows of Gucci's worldwide direct store network to life in January and February. The story is also featured in Japan's SPUR Magazine.
Some sites and blogs are confusing this collaboration with Gucci's previous first collaboration with the Japanese artist in 2011 and posting the wrong illustrations and window displays. Araki worked with the Gucci brand in September 2011 when they collaborated with Spur for an exhibit of Gucci’s 90 year anniversary that featured Araki’s illustrations. Because the exhibit was only featured in Gucci’s Shinjuku store, this time around, the partnership is on a global stage.
Entitled “Jolyne, Fly High with Gucci,” Araki's Manga tells the adventure of Jolyne Cujoh, a student who inherits a keepsake from her mother’s Gucci collection. Propelled by the mystery behind her vintage treasure, she embarks on a journey that transcends time. Echoing the sensual color palette and graphic undertones of Giannini's Cruise collection with symbolic references to the House's iconic Flora pattern that has been reinterpreted in a number of the collection’s signature pieces, Araki's extraordinary technique gives a three dimensional effect to his characters.
Spur Magazine of Japan reports: The illustrative story entitled Jolyne, Fly High with Gucci, tells the story of Jolyne Cujoh, a student who inherits a vintage treasure from her mother’s Gucci collection. Inspired by the mystery behind the piece, she embarks on a journey that transcends time. The result is a stunning collection of art. Heavily influenced by the cruise collection, expect to see Gucci’s historic flora pattern strongly referenced. As Giannini has noted, ‘I am quite sure his window installations will stop people in their tracks in cities around the world as they immerse themselves in the fabulous fantasy world he has created.’
Images of Gucci Manga Window Displays (courtesy of SPUR Magazine):
Araki says ‘Frida’s beautiful cruise collection with its strong colours and graphic designs set my mind racing the moment she showed it to me. From there the characters and storylines came into being so naturally. It was very stimulating to work together on this project.’
images and information courtesy of Gucci, and Spur
The Official Star Wars branded versions of products released in Japan just keep coming. After a line of eyewear and watches, now we move to the kitchen with tabletop coffee makers. Nestle Japan has collaborated with Lucas Films to release two Star Wars models of their Gold Blend Barista Machines. The limited edition tabletop coffeemakers come in two styles, each complete with light up light saber stirrer and porcelain coffee mug with icon.
The Dark Side: The Dark Side/Empire model (limited to 3000 units) comes with two side panels, one that with the Star Wars logotype and the other featuring Darth Vader with the words "The Dark Side Is Strong With This One." A coffee mug with the symbol of the empire and a red functioning light saber as a coffee stirrer comes with the set:
The Light Side: The Light/Alliance Model (Limited to 2,000 units) comes with two side panels- one with R2D2 and the Star Wars logotype, the other with C3PO and says "Thank The Maker." A coffee mug with the symbol of the Alliance and a blue functioning light saber as a coffee stirrer comes with the set:
Both CNET and Gizmodo knocked the items as silly Star Wars collaborative products not worthy of the official George Lucas 'stamp' but they also didn't show both side panels or even mention the light saber stirrers which are, frankly, awesome.
Each set costs ¥9,800. They can be purchased online here. Or some Japanese sellers already have them on ebay.
Did you see these other new Star Wars products? • Star Wars Eyewear:
This Exquisite Forest by Chris Milk and Aaron Koblin is an online collaborative art experiment presented by Google and Tate Modern. The project lets users create short animations that build off one another as they explore a specific theme.
Taking a series of short animation sequences created by artists represented in Tate’s collection as the starting point, users of the website and visitors to the installation are invited to draw and animate new sequences and thus continue the ‘seeds’ begun by the artists.
As more sequences are added, the videos dynamically branch out and evolve, forming multiple new visual narratives.
The Making Of:
It can be accessed via the website exquisiteforest.com and through a physical installation at Tate Modern from July 23, 2012.
The collaborations between Parisian house Hermès and Leica camera keep getting more impressive - and more expensive. This is the third time the brands have teamed up to create a special edition camera.
Launched in two different sets, one of which 300 are available, the other of which only 100 are available, the cameras are wrapped in Hermes' ‘Veau Swift' calfskin in ocre and finished in silver chrome and anodized silver. Below is a look at the luxurious camera and the making of it.
Limited special edition: The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès’
Following the Leica MP and the Leica M7, this is the third in a line of premium special editions of the M-System to be created in collaboration with the well-known Parisian house Hermès. The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' is being offered as a strictly limited edition. The limited numbers, unique product design and premium finishing with numerous extras make this a truly special edition in every respect.
The white-gloved unboxing of the camera:
Craftsmanship of the highest degree
The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' represents the quintessence of a long-standing tradition of master craftsmanship at both Leica and Hermès. So it is only logical that the handcrafted leather supplied by Hermès for the trim of the camera should be applied by hand. Absolute precision is the guiding principle in the construction of this masterpiece.
Luxurious leather by Hermès The special limited edition Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' is extraordinary in every respect. The highlight is its ‘Veau Swift' calfskin in ocre, supplied by Hermès for the leather finish of the Leica M9-P camera.
This exclusive leather trim by Hermès determines the colour concept of the special edition and ensures a perfect tactile sensation. The fine and supple leather is applied not only to the camera body, but is also used for the shoulder strap included in the set.
Unmistakeable design In collaboration with automotive designer Walter de'Silva, selected features of the camera body were restyled, including the top and base plates, the shutter speed dial, the multifunction wheel and the shutter release. In addition, the frame selector lever, the accessory shoe and the Leica script on the upper face of the top plate have also been omitted to further emphasize the unique status of this limited edition.
The camera is finished in silver chrome and its lens in anodised silver. In another true master stroke of the Leica factory, the two finishes are absolutely indistinguishable. All protective caps are also manufactured completely in metal.
A video of the making of the Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès:
AVAILABLE IN TWO SETS:
The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' - Set 1 This first of the two Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' sets comes in a worldwide limited edition of 300. In addition to the camera, the set includes a silver anodised Leica Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens.
The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' - Set 2
The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' - Série Limitée Jean-Louis Dumas, in a strictly limited edition of only 100 sets worldwide, is a memorial to the friendship between the former president of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas, and Leica.
The camera in this set is accompanied by three lenses: a Leica Summicron-M 28 mm f/2 ASPH., a Leica Noctilux-M 50 mm f/0.95 ASPH. and a Leica APO-Summicron-M 90 mm f/2 ASPH., all featuring a stunning silver-anodized finish.
This unique collection of photographic equipment finds a fitting home in a hand-crafted Hermès camera bag that is available exclusively as part of this second set.
As an homage to Jean-Louis Dumas, the second set also includes a book with a selection of his pictures.
This photographic work in two volumes shows an entertainingly diverse portfolio of 200 black-and-white images captured by Jean-Louis Dumas with his Leica M-camera.
