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Animal Stools

July 12, 2012 / Johnny / Comments Off

Remember as a child, the utter disappointment of trying to ride on your stuffed animal, only to witness their legs quickly collapse under the pressure? Sure, our wild imaginations supplemented the harsh reality, but how cool would it have been to actually be lifted up into the air? Well Japanese design interiors company 4Seasons has come out with a collection of stuffed animals designed specifically to support your weight – up to 80kg (or about 175 lbs). The collection is affordable too – no animal is more than 9000 yen (but would probably cost a fortune to ship overseas).

And yet, while fun for kids, there’s a supremacy-quality to seeing adults sitting around on animals, drinking tea or chatting, that rubs me the wrong way. I feel like if this was a movie, the animals would come to life, completely trash the apartment, and then escape into the wild.

click images to enlarge

Comments from the peanut gallery | whimsical jewelry by Luccica

July 11, 2012 / Johnny / 2 Comments

Luccica is a small Japanese company specializing in women’s jewelry. And while nothing they’ve done in the past has really caught my eye, their latest collection of whimsical jewelry with a nutty twist seems to be a new direction for the brand. As if replacing the oyster with a peanut shell, the clever “peanut series” uses yellow gold as the coating that holds he pearl.

It’s available as an earring or necklace. It’s available through the Tokyo-based select shop orne de feuilles. If you need help ordering from abroad here can assist.

You can see all our other jewelry posts here.

source: matomeno

D-Bros for Business

July 10, 2012 / Johnny / Comments Off

It’s a well-known formula for success: (graphic design + product design) * stationary = magic! Japanese graphic design firm D-Bros (previously) have released a new line of stationary called D-Bros for Business. Targeted at working professionals, the new brand aims to put the fun back into work, or something like that. The new lineup currently features a reworked version of 3 standard business items: the notebook, the file and the card case.

The Javaring File (1,260 yen): the compressed bellows allow for all shapes and sizes of paper or documents to be quickly stored away for retrieval later.

The Pen and Note (1,050 yen): an easy-to-use design that incorporates a pen and paper pocket

Paper Card Case (840 yen): a simplistic form born a from a single piece of paper and a single fold

All their products are available through caina or if you need help ordering from abroad white rabbit can assist.

source: hitspaper | dbros

Wood is Good | House of Cedar by Suga Atelier

July 10, 2012 / Johnny / Comments Off

unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy the architects | click to enlarge

In a 1993 episode of Seinfeld, Kramer tells the gang that he’s buying fake wood wallpaper for his apartment. “I’m going to surround myself in wood. It’s gonna be like a log cabin. Because I need wood around me. Wood Jerry, wood.” Wood is certainly good. But it’s even better when it’s real. Fast forward 17 years and to Osaka where Suga Atelier have designed a home that has its owner surrounded in wood.

Discouraged by how the role of timber has been relegated to the realm of structural supports and finishes, the architects decided to flip the material inside-out. They created a system of wooden frames that created an open and warm space. But a little too open, some might say. The new owners should probably invest in some good-looking blinds because even passersby will feel they’re surrounded in wood.

The entrance is located on the side of the house.

photo by Yuko Tada

source: submission

flash sale #003 – tetsu to kinu scarf by Miya Ando

July 9, 2012 / Johnny / Comments Off

all photos by Karen Kristian | click to enlarge

For this week’s flash sale we were honored to collaborate with artist Miya Ando on her first ever product design. Tetsu to kinu scarf (鉄と絹スカーフ), literally “iron and silk” scarf is an ethereal silk scarf and is a reproduction of one of Ando’s steel paintings. Her most recent hand-dyed aluminum sculptural slabs are currently on display at Sundaram Tagore Gallery (through July 21) and then at California’s Madison Gallery (July 14-Aug 8).

While vastly contrastive compared to Ando’s massive iron and steel sculptures, the airy scarf maintains an ambiguous balance between light and heavy. And whether it’s wrapped around your neck, used as a vessel or simply hung on a wall, it’s appearance seems to morph, much in the same way the reflective qualities of her sculptures change the way you view the artwork depending on where you’re standing.

If you missed it, check out our post from last week in which we visited Ando at her studio in Brooklyn.

tetsu to kinu scarf
Designer: Miya Ando
Material: 100 % silk chiffon, dye
Dimensions: 22″ x 22″ (S) | 36″ x 36″ (L)
Price: $100 (S) | $150 (L)

This exclusive design is available only for a limited time. Each piece comes with the artist’s name inscribed. Sale closes on July 15 and product ships on July 30. 10% of all proceeds will be donated to earthquake relief efforts in Japan.

Sorry, but this flash sale has closed.

Ephemeral Ink on Skin drawings by Pinpin Co

July 5, 2012 / Johnny / Comments Off

all images courtesy the artist | click to enlarge

Pinpin Co, a Chinese artist raised in Japan, creates intricately detailed and somewhat disturbing skin drawings. Using just a 0.38mm gel ink pen, Pinpin spends about 5 hours on each subject, understanding them as human beings and creating an ephemeral artwork that often captures physical or mental scars that the subject possesses. “It often becomes a therapeutic process,” she says in an interview, describing how the relationship between her subjects can take on that of doctor and patient. It’s now wonder that her drawings often take on a grotesqueness that resembles blood veins.

Pinpin also divulges into how her art can be a healing process for herself too. She recently decided to draw on her father, who she had lived apart from her whole life. “Coming in contact with a stranger’s skin and a family member’s skin are two completely different experiences,” she says. During the span of 1 month, Pinpin commuted to Aomori to visit her father, slowly re-establishing a relationship, which resulted in what is perhaps one of her most compelling images.

Pinpin’s father

Pinpin’s Ink on Skin series will be on display at BankART Studio NYK in Yokohama from July 6 – July 16, 2012.

Tokusatsu Pop-Up Museum at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo

July 5, 2012 / Johnny / Comments Off

all images courtesy NTV | click to enlarge

Tokusatsu – it’s a word that invokes big dreams and nostalgic adventures – especially if you grew up watching shows like Ultraman and Kamen Rider. Tokusatsu literally means “special filming” but it implies so much more. Back in the day, if you wanted a monster to flatten a city you had to actually build a miniature city. Then you would set off fireworks as the monster dangled from fishing wire, and capture it all on film. It was an art form, some would say, wholly grounded in the realm of the analog.

And now, thanks to collaborative efforts between Anno Hideaki (creator of the Evangelion series), Toshio Suzuki (Studio Ghibli) and Shinji Higuchi (special effects director of Gamera series), “TOKUSATSU – Special Effects Museum” will open at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. The pop-up museum will run from July 10 – October 8, 2012, showcasing, in unprecedented scale, the special craftsmanship that bewildered and enchanted generations of children and adults. They even created a special film using the now-defunct technique that will feature Kyoshinhei (the “god warriors” from Nausicaa) invading Tokyo.Yes!

Studio Visit With Artist Miya Ando

July 3, 2012 / Johnny / Comments Off

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Link Furoshiki – an in-depth interview and factory photo shoot

July 2, 2012 / Johnny / 3 Comments

We’re excited to be able to work with LINK in showcasing the debut of their new line of Furoshiki (traditional Japanese wrapping cloth). And in addition, we’re also happy to share an exclusive interview and photos of the furoshiki printing process, which was done at Chiffonez, a printing company in Japan. Despite having a large portion of their operations in Kanagawa, their sewing factory is in Fukushima, where they sustained heavy damage due to the earthquake and tsunami. 10% of all furoshiki sales will be going towards recovery efforts in Tohoku.

I really love the modern twist that in-house designer Lucinda and UK-based designer Hannah Waldron applied to the age-old furoshiki.

The Interview

Kyoko, Link’s Tokyo director, and photographer Martin Holtkamp visited the furoshiki printing facility, along with Mr. Tanaka of Chiffonez. The facility is located near Chogo Station on the Odakyu-Enoshima line. The owner of the furoshiki printing facility, Mr. Fukuda, is carrying on a family tradition that has spanned over 50 years and two generations. Fukuda, who emits the faintest odor of salt, has enjoyed a long career. He started dyeing furoshiki all the way back when he was in kindergarten. (translated interview by Gengo)

all photos by Martin Holtkamp | click to enlarge

Atelier Muji | The Power of Kids

July 2, 2012 / Johnny / 5 Comments

all images courtesy muji atelier

Just in case you’re feeling overly competent in all your adult maturity, here’s a little reminder of the creative potential that lies in children. Currently on display at Atelier Muji is an exhibit titled “The Power of Kids,” featuring artwork created by elementary school students of Watanona Elementary School. If you go to the exhibition, what you’ll learn is that Watanoha is located in Ishinomaki City, which sustained heavy damage from the tsunami last year. And what you’ll also learn is that all the materials used to create the artwork are disaster debris – the only materials available to them.

To see the playful sculptures is both heart wrenching and encouraging at the same time. We so often underestimate the complexity of kids, not giving them the credit they deserve. Many have described Ishinomaki as “flattened” or with “nothing left.” That’s not how these kids saw it.

The exhibit runs through July 29, 2012 at Atelier Muji in Tokyo. During the month of July there are also 3 workshops for kids (free but registration required) in which you’ll make art from found objects.