Such vision.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Tobias Wong 1974-2010
IN LOVING MEMORY OF A GREAT DESIGNER / ARTIST.
Tobias Wong. 1974-2010.
One of the greatest young minds to ever come from Vancouver.
You will be missed and loved. Let the place you are now be free of the suffering you experienced in this life.
Friday, May 21, 2010
WANT (Les Essentiels de la Vie)
KANSAI - COMPUTER PORTFOLIO
KIX01
$450
PORTELA iPHONE / iPOD TOUCH CASE
LIS01
$150
Basics items for men are a hard thing to find, but WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie really nails it with these two items. Even though a little pricey, I would definitely part with the dollars and cents for these two cases... Now I just need an Iphone and a Mac.
WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie
http://www.wantessentiels.com/
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
FAIL
The Saudi Pavilion was one of the pavilions I was looking forward to the most, partially because of the renderings and partially because of the extravagant budget ($200 million at 20% completion). Unfortunately, this becomes an example of one of those projects which seems amazing in concept, but fail in reality.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Paisajes Emergentes - 2010.03.09
Visiting Toronto (as well as Canada in general) for the first time ever, Luis Callejas spoke at U of T's Buthaup Series, representing Paisajes Emergentes (Emerging Landscapes) a landscape architecture practice based in Medellin, Columbia.
Paisajes Emergentes have received much media attention and critical praise since the firm first came about in 2007. Luis as well as two other fellow graduates started their practice fresh from school, where the firm now stands at a strong number of eleven individuals.
Luis spoke about recent projects including:
"Weightless". Surrey, Canada, 2010.
El Campin Stadium. Bogota, Columbia. 2009/10.
"The Hours". Lagoon Park. Venice, Murano. 2010.
Aquatic Complex for Panamerican Games. Medellin, Columbia. 2008.
Where P.E. exceeds at is the conceptual level. While the projects and concepts themselves seem deceptively simple, they are actually quite provocative (not only on a theoretical level, but when realized and/or visualized, also at an existential level).
for more information on the company and their projects, please visit:
http://www.archdaily.com/17671/ad-futures-6-paisajes-emergentes/
http://www.paisajesemergentes.com/
Paisajes Emergentes have received much media attention and critical praise since the firm first came about in 2007. Luis as well as two other fellow graduates started their practice fresh from school, where the firm now stands at a strong number of eleven individuals.
Luis spoke about recent projects including:
"Weightless". Surrey, Canada, 2010.
El Campin Stadium. Bogota, Columbia. 2009/10.
"The Hours". Lagoon Park. Venice, Murano. 2010.
Aquatic Complex for Panamerican Games. Medellin, Columbia. 2008.
Where P.E. exceeds at is the conceptual level. While the projects and concepts themselves seem deceptively simple, they are actually quite provocative (not only on a theoretical level, but when realized and/or visualized, also at an existential level).
for more information on the company and their projects, please visit:
http://www.archdaily.com/17671/ad-futures-6-paisajes-emergentes/
http://www.paisajesemergentes.com/
thought entry #03
A --> B
"The only thing getting in the way between point A and B, are buildings."
A notion of unimportance, unless of course you are an architect. Much like a thing I realized a few years ago: the best places I like in Toronto aren't actually designed by interior designers (e.g.- Sydney's, The Hoof/The Hoof Cafe, etc.)
The quote itself carries relation to a discussion I was having with an architect last weekend at a friend's party. I've noticed that many partners at architecture firms don't actually have an architecture background, but rather a landscape architecture and/or urban architecture degree/masters... Thus, my point was that it is possible that the understanding of the negative space (i.e.- landscape and urban) is more important than the positive (architecture) itself. Architecture is after all, simply sculpture. Moreover, landscape and urban design seems much more difficult because of a (more-or-less) two dimensional limitation, not to mention extremely drastic differences in programming.
To relate back to the quote itself, is it A or B that is more important or more memorable than the path itself? OR is it vise versa? It would seem both are equally important. But as sculpture, I believe, is something which is an inherent ability and understanding of form and proportions, a study in landscape and urban design would seem to be more necessary than the latter.
That night, I finished my point and silence floated between us. The architect stood there without reaction or expression, seemingly stunned...
whether because of the point itself, or the fact that it was coming from an interior design student, I am not sure.
"The only thing getting in the way between point A and B, are buildings."
A notion of unimportance, unless of course you are an architect. Much like a thing I realized a few years ago: the best places I like in Toronto aren't actually designed by interior designers (e.g.- Sydney's, The Hoof/The Hoof Cafe, etc.)
The quote itself carries relation to a discussion I was having with an architect last weekend at a friend's party. I've noticed that many partners at architecture firms don't actually have an architecture background, but rather a landscape architecture and/or urban architecture degree/masters... Thus, my point was that it is possible that the understanding of the negative space (i.e.- landscape and urban) is more important than the positive (architecture) itself. Architecture is after all, simply sculpture. Moreover, landscape and urban design seems much more difficult because of a (more-or-less) two dimensional limitation, not to mention extremely drastic differences in programming.
To relate back to the quote itself, is it A or B that is more important or more memorable than the path itself? OR is it vise versa? It would seem both are equally important. But as sculpture, I believe, is something which is an inherent ability and understanding of form and proportions, a study in landscape and urban design would seem to be more necessary than the latter.
That night, I finished my point and silence floated between us. The architect stood there without reaction or expression, seemingly stunned...
whether because of the point itself, or the fact that it was coming from an interior design student, I am not sure.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Alexa Meade
This blows my mind. Alexa Meade does acrylic paintings on three dimensional objects (humans, objects, clothing).
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
thought entry #02
MODERNISM - POSTMODERNISM - HYPERMODERNISM
A few friends and I were sitting at dinner discussing school and such arose the topic of modernism, postmodernism and hypermodernism. This discussion began from a confusion that was brought upon by some inter-related readings. Our discussion is as follows:
What REALLY is postmodernism?? We know that postmodernism consists of no absolutes and is referential of history... And what is hypermodernism then? It must preceed postmodernism by understanding, and thus a premeditated theory about a state of culture and society to come...
Our absolute answer to the latter two, laid in the first... modernism. Modernism was born from a state of industrialization and finite and absolutes (especially in terms of the rigidity of form). Modernism can be seen as an reaction to the the baroque, rococo, and gothic, and a pace and state of life which is associated with the past. Thus can modernism, postmodernism, and hypermodernism can be simply understood as a pendulum of action and reaction? If modernism is of absolutes, then postmodernism is a reaction to those absolutes, granting the freedom of no absolutes. And thus hypermodernism is a reaction to postmodernism, an attempt to redefine a state of postmodern which would be found to be no longer representative of a current state of affairs, and would attempt to provide a definition somewhere between postmodernism and hypermodernism.
A few friends and I were sitting at dinner discussing school and such arose the topic of modernism, postmodernism and hypermodernism. This discussion began from a confusion that was brought upon by some inter-related readings. Our discussion is as follows:
What REALLY is postmodernism?? We know that postmodernism consists of no absolutes and is referential of history... And what is hypermodernism then? It must preceed postmodernism by understanding, and thus a premeditated theory about a state of culture and society to come...
Our absolute answer to the latter two, laid in the first... modernism. Modernism was born from a state of industrialization and finite and absolutes (especially in terms of the rigidity of form). Modernism can be seen as an reaction to the the baroque, rococo, and gothic, and a pace and state of life which is associated with the past. Thus can modernism, postmodernism, and hypermodernism can be simply understood as a pendulum of action and reaction? If modernism is of absolutes, then postmodernism is a reaction to those absolutes, granting the freedom of no absolutes. And thus hypermodernism is a reaction to postmodernism, an attempt to redefine a state of postmodern which would be found to be no longer representative of a current state of affairs, and would attempt to provide a definition somewhere between postmodernism and hypermodernism.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
thought insert #01 - TV & VIDEO
We all realize the cultural effects of MTV on the late eighty's and nineties. Music videos use to borrow from film as much as today; i.e. thinking of the Lady Gaga, Telephone, it's not only extremely referential of Thelma & Louise, Kill Bill, and any Americana film, but also referential to Michael Jackson's Thriller... in terms of the time span to the video, certain choreography, and even the relation between artist and director.
However, what is the largest difference between current and past music videos? SELLING OUT, aka. plugging products and companies! Heartbeats earphones, Virgin Mobile, Diet Coke, Virgin Mobile (again), HP Envy ‘Beats Limited Editon’ laptop from Monster,Plenty Of Fish dating site, Chevrolet, Polaroid, Wonderbread, Miracle Whip, Polaroid (again).
IT WAS NEVER OKAY TO PLUGGING PRODUCTS FROM HUGE CORPORATIONS!! BECAUSE YOU'D BE A HUGE FUCKING SELLOUT!!! BUT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY... after grudge (circa Kurt Cobain) to Moby, Moby made it okay to sellout (plus other artists, I don't want to put the entire blame on Moby)... but we're digressing...
But what is the MTV of the postmodern? The internet? More specifically, YouTube... Streaming media sites (not mentioning any is intention... less attention = less chance they'll get shut down). Largest change between YouTube and MTV? Indiviualistic control (within the legal boundaries of multi-national capitalistic telecommunication corporations). Control of time and viewing pace - an evolution to adapt to current cultural and sociological pace of existence.
However, what is the largest difference between current and past music videos? SELLING OUT, aka. plugging products and companies! Heartbeats earphones, Virgin Mobile, Diet Coke, Virgin Mobile (again), HP Envy ‘Beats Limited Editon’ laptop from Monster,Plenty Of Fish dating site, Chevrolet, Polaroid, Wonderbread, Miracle Whip, Polaroid (again).
IT WAS NEVER OKAY TO PLUGGING PRODUCTS FROM HUGE CORPORATIONS!! BECAUSE YOU'D BE A HUGE FUCKING SELLOUT!!! BUT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY... after grudge (circa Kurt Cobain) to Moby, Moby made it okay to sellout (plus other artists, I don't want to put the entire blame on Moby)... but we're digressing...
But what is the MTV of the postmodern? The internet? More specifically, YouTube... Streaming media sites (not mentioning any is intention... less attention = less chance they'll get shut down). Largest change between YouTube and MTV? Indiviualistic control (within the legal boundaries of multi-national capitalistic telecommunication corporations). Control of time and viewing pace - an evolution to adapt to current cultural and sociological pace of existence.
Mandula, Vancouver
A boutique store in Gastown, Vancouver for local designer Hajnalka Mandula.
MANDULA
http://mandula.com/
214 Abbott Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2K8
(604) 568-9211
Sunday, March 14, 2010
How to end an unforgettable day (which will later go on an even better night)
How do you end an unforgettable Friday in Vancouver during the Olympics... venturing the city... and going to H-Mart (a new Korean grocery store in downtown), galleries, the Rennie Group building, the private Keefer Hotel, Fortune nightclub, and boutique stores?
Well, by watching the sunset fall behind the downtown cityscape while eating Ja Jeoung Mein (Korean noodles you got from H-Mart) and Vancouver's best apple pies (from Chinatown)...
and just think... the night brought so much more: the Olympic Village, GO! installation, more galleries, drinks at Chill Winston, drinks at a pop-up bar in Blood Alley, more drinks at The Diamond, Gay Bash (a party) in a random residential house in East Vancouver, seeing the "EastVan" cross installation by Ken Lam, finding an after hours party in an industrial part of town where factories, shipping crates and trucks exist in the plenty ("follow the sound of music... we'll find it.")
The Keefer
The Keefer is a boutique hotel consisting of only 4 suites and a bar. This adventure was experienced right after sneaking up into the Rennie Group building... I knock on the locked door, spoke briefly with the manager and he offered to take my up to the penthouse to look around! The penthouse was two levels: living quarters and rooftop terrace with a lap pool that can be viewed from inside the suite. I was strictly told by the gentleman that pictures of the interior is not allowed (even though I took a lot of pictures and videos as well), but I can reassure you that the interiors are beautiful. The penthouse goes for about $3200/night.
Check out photos of the hotel at their website:
http://www.thekeefer.com/
Rennie Group office
The Rennie Group office is located in the Wing Sang building in Chinatown, the most historic building in Vancouver Chinatown. The building was owned by the Yip family in 1889, a successful Chinese-Canadian business man who made a flourishing living employing Chinese immigrants who faced discrimination. The Rennie Group purchased the building... at sometime, and initiated a restoration which took four years. As well as being their headquarters, the building also hosts the Rennie Collection of fine art (a private collection).
I snuck into the office and somehow managed to make it all the way up to the private rooftop sculpture garden!!!! Most amazing Vancouver moment ever...
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