Vintage Tokyo Subway Manner Posters

Pink Tentacle have a wonderful collection of vintage Tokyo Subway manner posters. Explanations of their meaning and high resolution versions of these and many more can be seen HERE.



Links:
Vintage Tokyo Subway Manner Posters
Pink Tentacle

TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA

Tokujin Yoshioka's synthetic creations of natural elements in flux are like sculptural photographs, a bit like hitting pause on the world and walking among an avalanche or through the surf. Wonderful.

Born in Saga, Japan in 1967. Worked under Shiro Kuramata in 1987 and Issey Miyake since 1988 and established his own studio, Tokujin Yoshioka Design in 2000.

Some of his most important works are displayed as a part of permanent collections in the world's well-known museums such as Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, Centre National d'Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou, Victoria and Albert Museum, Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum and Vitra Design Museum.

Links:
Tokujin Yoshioka
Interview (DesignBoom)
Super Fiber Revolution (DesignBoom)

Amanita Design's MACHINARIUM

Our friends over at Amanita Design have released their first full length game in the form of the visually intriguing and mentally taxing Machinarium. Try it out HERE for free by way of the first three levels and visit the Amanita website to try their other classics.

Links:
Machinarium
Introducing Amanita Design (SiouxWIRE)
Amanita Design

HELMO: Colored Smoke

I am fond of this image from graphic designers Thomas Couderc and Clement Vauchez (HELMO) from their series Colored Smoke.

Links:
HELMO

Update: EDUARDO RECIFE

So much new work from sketches to fonts to be seen at Eduardo Recife's Misprinted Type 4.0. As my first interview for the Imaginarium, I was particularly gutted to learn that I missed his recent visit and exhibition in London.

Links:
Misprinted Type 4.0
Misprinted Type 3.0
Eduardo Recife (SiouxWIRE)

Introducing: ERNESTO NETO

Ernesto Neto's organic, epic and sensory works are intriguing, delicate worlds that demand to be explored.

Ernesto Neto was born in 1964 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he has exhibited since 1988 and from where he continues to work.



Links:
Ernesto Neto (Park Avenue Armory)
Ernesto Neto (Galeria Fortes Vilaça)
Ernesto Neto (Tanya Bonakdar Gallery)
Ernesto Neto (Universes in Universes)
Ernesto Neto (ArtNet)
The Malmö Experience (Dexigner.com)
Ernesto Neto Interview (Kultureflash)
Ernesto Neto biography (BAM-PFA)
Ernesto Neto (Wiki)

Featurette: MANDY GREER

Mandy Greer's work is living, warm, natural, social, and magic. Having just discovered her, I am still taking it all in and will in time post a more substantial post(including an interview) on this artist and her bewitching work.

In the meantime, click on these images to see more of her work or follow the links below. Her blog, A Quickening is also worth a look if you enjoy the Imaginarium.


Links:
Mandy Greer
Mater Matrix Mother
Mandy Greer (Flickr)
A quickening

Featurette: RAQIB SHAW

Opulant. indulgent, ornate, somewhat debauched and betraying his Kashmiri roots, Raqib Shaw's works are like tide pools left behind from the dreams of the night before.



Links:
Raqib Shaw (White Cube)
Raqib Shaw (MOMA)
Raqib Shaw (ArtNet)
Raqib Shaw (Daily Telegraph)
Raqib Shaw (Everyone Forever)

NOMA BAR's "Negative Space"

Israeli illustrator Noma Bar's negative space images are a lot of fun. He has a new book out now.



Links:
Negative Space, Mark Batty Publisher
Noma Bar (Artica)
Noma Bar Wiki
Noma Bar (DutchUncle Agency)
Pixelelement.com (source)

SEAN PECKNOLD's video for GRIZZLY BEAR's "While You Wait for the Others"

The parts weave nicely in this video from Sean Pecknold(Grandchildren) for Grizzly Bear's "While You Wait for the Others."

Grizzly Bear - While You Wait for the Others
Director - Sean Pecknold
DP - Michael Ragen
AD - Tristan Seniuk
Illustrations - Toby Liebowitz
Animators - Sean Pecknold & Britta Johnson
Producer - Joy Saez
4 faced mask - Jack Strain
Record label - Warp
Special thanks - Robin, Lisa, Greg, and Aja Pecknold,
Jennifer Popochock, Toby Liebowitz
Center Valley Animal Shelter

Grizzly Bear - While You Wait for the Others from Grandchildren on Vimeo.

Links:
ByGrandchildren.com
Grizzly Bear
Toby Liebowitz
While You Wait for the Others (HD-YouTube)

Featurette: MARK WEAVER

Mark Weaver's photographic and design work is like an extra sweet tea; have a look.




Links:
Mark Weaver
Mark Weaver (Flickr)
Mark Weaver (Behance)

HOOGERBRUGGE's New Book

The retrospective book of Han Hoogerbrugge's work not only displays his creations along with a handy DVD but also outlines his work process. I'm quite surprised that I haven't included his work earlier in the Wire, but for the unitiated, he is principally known for his animation works such as Modern Living, Flow, and Nails as well as his graphic/animated web series Prostress.


From Submarine Channel, publishers of the new book:

We're proud to present a coffee table book/DVD about the unparalleled work of one of the most original artists-slash-animators currently active on the web: Han Hoogerbrugge. The 200-page book covers all aspects of Hoogerbrugge's work and career: from the early beginnings of the Neurotica web series, up to Hotel, Nails and his commissioned works, such as illustrations, music videos and idents. Hoogerbrugge finally reveals how he makes his animations - comic strip style - in the chapter "How does he do it?"

Links:
Hoogerbrugge book
Hoogerbrugge.com
Modern Living
prostress 2.0
Skinover.biz
Interview (Submarine Channel)

TILT-SHIFT PHOTOGRAPHY

I enjoy the way the tilt-shift photographic technique can make a scene both real and surreal in the same breath. Ben Thomas' images are a good example. Other tilt-shift links HERE & HERE, and or see other miniature work HERE.

It's worth noting that a good number of people like to take credit for the technique despite the fact that it's been around for nearly four decades. I've noticed similar claims of "discovery" for light painting as well. Oh well. While I'm charmed by these images, I have yet to see anyone push the technique beyond the realm of novelty.



Links:
cityshrinker
tilt-shift links
tilt-shift Wiki
tilt-shift (Cheapshooter)
Build a cheap tilt-shift lens (CreativePro)
Fake tilt-shift using Photoshop
Creative Review blog (source)

KONDOURA's Miniature Railways

Having recently put together a model railroad for my son's fifth birthday, I discovered the intriguing work of Japanese enthusiast Kondoura whose creations are inspirationally individual. Throughout his blog, there are images of the places that have inspired Kondoura as well as the creations themselves and it's fascinating how much character and sense-of-place he is able to invest in his work.

Links:
Kondoura - blog (Japanese)
Kondoura (YouTube)
Kondoura (Japanese)

Featurette JEREMY GEDDES

Jeremy Geddes who is well known for illustrating the comic Doomed has been working on a compelling new series of paintings which feature a weightless cosmonaut in urban settings. Beyond the obvious technical ability at play here and aesthetic sense, I can't help but feel there's something more profound lingering under the surface.



Links:
Jeremy Geddes Art
Jeremy Geddes Blog
Jeremy Geddes (MySpace)
Doomed (IDW Publishing)
Jeremy Geddes - Fabrik Project (source)

YUMIKO MATSUI's paper craft city representations

I seem to be drawn toward dioramas recently and Yumiko Matsui's work is the latest to catch my eye. Here is an excerpt from her site:

"As we all know, There is much brutality and violence around the world. Everything can change in a moment, a happy, peaceful day can be destroyed in a second by things that are not in our control.

I used to be influenced by this continual potential for disastrous change and I felt compelled to paint what might be called a borderline:the line between light and dark, black and white, good and evil...etc. The way to express this was through abstract drawings and surrealism. But I have changed and I have begun to focus on a more happier aspect of life since I moved here to NYC.

I have been making paper sculpture since 2006. The catalyst for this change was seeing dollhouses created by my aunt with her husband when I retuned home to Japan on vacation. I realized I really like miniature worlds.

Therefore,I have been working on miniature world lately. My miniature worlds are patterned after Osaka and Tokyo, Japan. I, myself, am from Osaka, and I fold and glue pieces of colored paper to create 3D effect."

Links:
Yumiko Matsui's homepage
Paper City - Mixed Green Gallery (NYC)
Yumiko Matsui (ArtSlant)
Yumiko Matsui (Kyubidou Gallery - Tokyo)
Yumiko Matsui (カンナの花のように)

Featurette: MALIKA FAVRE

Noticing Malika's work on her Alphabunny typeface at the Creative Review Blog, I was pleased to find more interesting work on her MySpace.


Links:
Malika Favre MySpace
Biography (Airside.co.uk)
Creative Review Blog

The Kites of Nagasaki

The good people at PingMag have posted an interview with kite maker Akihiro Ogawa as part of their brilliant Make series.

Links:
Japanese Kites/Akihiro Ogawa
PingMag Make

PingMag's POSTCARD EXHIBITION

100 artists from around the globe customised postcards from home with some fun results which can be seen HERE. Also as a reminder, the postcard appeal is still open as ever to anyone willing to help.


Links:
Postcard Exhibition
PingMag (source)

LA MACHINE's "Princess"

François Delarozière, formerly of Royal de Luxe has branched out on his own with his company La Machine. His latest design, a giant Spider named "Princess" will be wandering the streets of Liverpool(5-7 Sep 2008) as part of the city's year as "Capital of Culture".

Here are some figures for the show:

THE CREATURE
Weight – 37 tonnes
Height – 50 feet high
50 hydraulic axes of movement
Made from steel and reclaimed poplar
Moves at 2 miles per hour
Took 1 year to build

SPECIAL EFFECTS
7 different special effects:
Water • Flame • Smoke • Wind • Snow • Light • Sound

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:
16 different cranes:
25 tonnes - 300 tonnes
300 different crane lifts
6 Forklift Trucks
8 Cherry Pickers

PERSONNEL
66 people in the French company
20 British musicians
250-strong technical and support crew

Links:
La Machine (UK)
La Machine (France)
Artichoke
Matthew Andrews
Royal de Luxe (SiouxWIRE)