whatilike

transcendence

2011-10-19T04:01:00.004+09:00

i want to be her when i grow up.

The Challenge of Rei Kawakubo from david cheung® on Vimeo.

table service

2011-10-19T02:53:00.008+09:00

found this on my desktop. my best friend sent it to me over skype one night and said, "don't know why i have this, but you might like it":

the 'abu ghraib coffee table' by phillip toledano, a part of his america the gift shop series. lovely one-off piece made of moulded resin +plexiglass, though the plastic bag looks like it's made of leather..hope it is. did i mention an item on my bucketlist is to acquire every single garment imaginable in leather? from your basics like footwear and outer, to socks and i don't know, unitards and maybe a ballgown. no rush though, i think i'll work on sky diving and swimming alongside orcas first.

tada! in china.

2011-10-15T13:45:00.003+09:00

oh asia i just can't quit you.
2 weeks ago i hauled my butt and 13 pair of heels and 2 books ( you can't wear virtual shoes like you can read virtual books!!) from lil ol' ottawa, canada to lovely beijing, ccccchina. you could say it was an intentional, planned out, spree of the moment thing.

i've spent the beginning ironing out vitals like phone/living/transportation but i think now i more or less have a handle on things. i learned the hard way you have to buy electricity in your apartment by refilling a swipe card much like refilling metro money. otherwise, when it runs empty you end up with a half head of wet hair and befuddled why you are suddenly plunged into absolute darkness. thank god for the flashlight app on my iphone and my chinese roommate who informed me: no, it's not because we are being evicted.

sooo in honour of my new home in the people's republic, here is a slick 3D promo vid MOMENTUM from c-town based retailers MO&CO who will be invading the NY+Paris market in 2012! wooohooo it's about time c-town DESIGNED brands infiltrate the west...though ironically the styling and inspiro is suppose to be 'parisienne chic'. also features chinese supers liu we+ shu pei, enjoy!

MO&Co.: MOMENTUM² from SWELL Likes on Vimeo.

video shot by barnaby roper/featured on fashionista.com

EARonic

2011-09-20T12:24:00.002+09:00

so i'm on my second iphone -the first was unceremoniously stolen from me on an irresponsible night out in nyc, and i've gotten into the habit of switching protective covers quite frequently. perhaps it's the early signs of my budding maternal instincts to protect the precious and weak, but more likely it's the barbie lover in me that now has an adult toy to dress! right now my uhh..'barbie' sports a cheap AND chic $2 gold flat sequin pattern case with a clear bumper, but i've had my eye on collabcubed 'EARonic plastic case for awhile.

with 5 different ear/ facial accessory prints to choose from, this $20 case is the brainchild of art schooler and blogger daniela gilsanz. although i love the trompe d'oeil effect and the tongue and cheek social commentary on technology, the lack of skintone variation deters me slightly. it won't quite have the same effect if an olive hued/raven haired azn sprouted a porcelain white ear and cheek...oh well on to the next. however if you've always wondered what you'd look like with A sideburn or multi ear piercings...get your EAROnic trial here:

shape shifter

2011-06-22T08:11:00.000+09:00

writer's block for two months. i mean 'blogger's' block? shame on me. i wish i owned these. i would have them carefully perched on an elevated platform beside my bed so that when i feel bleak and wimpy i could carefully maneuver my feet into their rigid form and let the taut leather swallow my feet whole. vacuum suck my problems away!

beauties by italian shoemaker/graphic designer raffaello scardigli

wo ai ni, ai wei wei

2011-04-16T11:39:00.000+09:00

so much to say but only this for now

choice destination_____hideout

2011-04-14T13:20:00.005+09:00

what i would give to live in one of the hollowed out volcanic rock underground cave rooms at the yunak evleri cave hotel. i would consider ditching civilization and become a modern day troglodyte is what i would do.

a labyrinth of roughly carved cave rooms with tiny peekaboo windows, yunak evleri in cappadoci boasts six connecting cave houses with 30 rooms that can be traced back to the 5th century. in this central region of turkey, restored cave lodgings are actually quite popular. one can choose from more primitive 'pension like' traditional cave inns to more modern adaptations like the yunak hotel, complete with jacuzzi and mini bar ( hence why it's my choice destination). yunak also resembles what i imagine the seven dwarfs of snow white would have lived in had they struck gold and were, er turkish. a lair as exquisite as this needs no further explanation:

images+ info here*sigh on the bucket list.

the barbie killer_____

2011-04-14T11:01:00.001+09:00

owners beware: hide your beloved dolls from jewelry designer margaux lange! once she gets her nimble fingers on them, your barbie's iconic good looks and hot bod will become no longer distinguishable...

this new york based artist and barbie murderer has been on the loose for over a decade hunting victims for her 'plastic bodies series'. she purposely scours garage sales and ebay far and wide for the worn, torn, no longer loved barbies to take home and dismantle. she first collects them all (she does not discriminate colour, model or gender), then cold-heartedly disassembles every single one and reattaches their smooth, shiny body parts into dangling appendages strung on cold, metal chains and resin.

flower bud earrings made of tiny barbie ears? available in bulk. tennis bracelet constructed out of multi-ethnic metal shackled hands? online for purchase on her website. not even barbie's perfectly pert nipple less breasts are sacred: they have been silver plated into heart shaped boob brooches and psychedelic disco statement necklaces complete with metallic pasties!

lucky for toy emporiums, lange only preys on second hand dolls that have experienced love in some form, as she hopes her wearable creations will continue to embody the spirit of barbies past, that sacred bond between gal and doll.

although lange sounds like the ultimate barbie mutilator her pieces are actually quirky, clever and surprisingly not gimmicky. her incorporation of inexpensive metal wires and candy coloured resin with barbie's familiar bits maintain that central sense of playfulness; however her designs also enable us to view everyones favourite mass produced toy as a viable material to create rhythm, harmonious shapes and most of all, visual pun.

nonetheless, i still plan to keep my beloved collection of staceys and carolines safe from becoming any of the following products:

images from le murderess

gutted

2011-03-16T13:44:00.002+09:00

see, chairs are flesh and guts just like us.

photo from unknown source.

play-suit up______

2011-01-26T01:05:00.009+09:00

whether it's fall/winter or spring/summer, men wanna play too! since the playsuit originated for men, it only makes sense they take back their claim, and why not in luxurious leather or crispy cotton? not sure how many men can pull off a belted leather onesie, perhaps an italian man on a vespa and with a pair of aviators on comes to mind, but the point is the option is there. a more wearable warm weather alternative would be the clean cut white short version. minimal and non fussy, i think more than a few fashionable straight/ gay boys would gravitate to this look to pair with their raf man-dals or kicks.
as a personal lover of jumpsuits/rompers/onesies/playsuits in any incarnation, i look forward to having men use the restroom half naked too! ! but wait, if men pee side by side in urinals, doesn't that mean if a man has a jumpsuit on, he would have to strip off half his clothes while standing next to a stranger? hmm luckily i need not worry about the logistics. men, play-suit up!

leather jumpsuits a la hermes fall 2012, short sleeved white playsuit a la yigal azrouel spring 2011: from style.com. more on 'stompers' viafashionista

viscosity

2011-01-25T01:30:00.006+09:00

what's going on for menswear fall 2011

thierry mugler fall 2011 by nicola formichetti photos from tommyton
jellyfish courtesy of google images.

unveil

2011-01-24T06:29:00.014+09:00

swedish design duo humans since 1982 have created a hair accessory that will literally give you eyes at the back of your head.

the simple, rectangular metal hair clip with a photograph of an elusive woman's pair of peepers creates the visual illusion of a woman's face wearing a niqāb headdress when clipped onto a head of long cascading black locks.
without any explanation on their website except that you can purchase one for $90.00 (only 15 remaining) is the 'hair clip on hair' a gimmicky novelty product or a statement piece that quietly implies their intent?

on one hand, i like the creep factor and the jarring visual impact it boasts while being such a simple product, i just can't decide if it's exploiting the imagery of the controversial headdress or generating awareness and potential dialogue of its political and religious implications.
perhaps humans since 1982 was inspired by french graffiti royalty princess hijab who paints black veils on huge scale fashion ad campaigns in and around paris public spaces as a form of guerilla art that 'challenges, frightens and reimagines.' the princess or perhaps prince as there is speculation she's a he, says it best: "the veil has many hidden meanings, it can be as profane as it is sacred, consumerist and sanctimonious. from Arabic Gothicism to the condition of man. the interpretations are numerous and of course it carries great symbolism on race, sexuality and real and imagined geography."

**works of princess hijab pulled from google image search, quote from here.

2011: carry-on!

2011-01-24T05:30:00.009+09:00

when 2010 drew to a close, i found myself questioning the purpose and function of this blog. it started out as documentation of my experience living in korea, but i've been back home now to good ol' canada for five months and i can barely remember the taste of soju (oh, wait-pure, rank chemical liquid compound. nevermind, still got it). i then shifted gears to posting more about 'what i like' which mostly seems to encompass japanese architecture, packaging design, a dash of fashion and a strange obsession with chairs (how amazing is the octopus chair??!!). but as my physical environment was so non-inspiring (no offense otown) i struggled with self motivation, and productivity in all aspects of my life dwindled and suffered.
but as 2011 advances, and i've finally realigned my goals and expectations for the year, it's time to CARRY-ON! in the upcoming months, 'what i like' will slowly but surely experience a refresher, a virtual facelift in terms of appearance, content and perhaps domain. there will be more of an emphasis on FASHION+CHINA...because who knows...asia might be back in the cards. but for now, CARRY-ON! chairs! kpop boys! leather! jap-architecture! beautiful things! beautifully ugly things!!

****image from 'dandy' exhibition @ the nordiska museet in stockholm. all display+exhibit architecture by swedish design group form us with love on till may 2011 if you can make it to stockholm! ;)

a real sucker

2011-01-18T03:35:00.020+09:00

as a sucker (heh heh) for sea creatures and anything that looks like latex or leather, the monochromatic octopus chair by spanish designer/artist máximo riera is an instant object of desire. accurately described on his website as 'ancient marine life sculpted by modernity' this invertebrate chaise is indeed as much an artistic achievement as it is a tech engineered masterpiece. from the sprawling lifelike tentacles to the luxe texture (the art direction of the photographs play a big part), this mysterious and slightly gothic looking piece of furniture would fit swimmingly in a directional hi-end retail space or....my future home in 2020 (i imagine a shoe closet and just this singular chair, and maybe a crockpot).
surprisingly, it is actually available for purchase as a limited edition on riera's website, but before you take out a bank loan, or start counting your secret stash of hundreds, keep in mind the octopus chair is only the first in line of riera's 15 piece animal chairs collection. still to be released: rhino, lion, beetle, walrus and *gasp, WHALE (i can only hope it's a killer).
with the help of the hi-tech manufacturing company who work for the likes of zaha hadid and CHANEL, the original sketches of the octopus chair were able to be intepreted into the finished product using 'computer numerical control,' a program that basically translates 3D digital renderings into precise sculptural replicas using compressed foam. the pieces were then assembled, glued, sanded down, and finally hand painted into the biologically correct, pebble leather-like, functional chair below:

all photos and info from here

shame

2011-01-08T01:21:00.005+09:00

i still find kpop incurably catchy. oh well.
tvxq / dbsk / tohoshinki, depending on which east asian country you're from directly translates to 'rising gods of the east'. real modest. anyway 3 of the members left the group [SCANDAL] basically siting slave labour by their agency so now there's only two of 'em left. to pick up the slack, one has a krumping solo and the other wears a d&g inspired blazer cut to the navel. enjoy!

also i'm a fan of their matching missoni-esque patterned suits minus the random fur bit. too lazy to scour the interwebs...is it by anyone or just their stylist?

divine texture____TOUCH ME

2010-12-25T02:44:00.015+09:00

the tactile surface quality of a large scale structure's exterior is usually off limits to the average human hand, unless of course you're the one in the hard hat fitting in window panes and assembling the metal rods. when i went to the shanghai expo in august 2010, i took all these close-up shots of the pavillions purely by accident. it was the only way i could think of to capture each building without having a million and one pesky black heads in every shot (though first photo, clearly a FAIL).

in order of appearance:
1. great britain and their plexi fibre rods that look like cyber porcupine quill
2. switzerland with their red polka dot led lights cascading from a curtain of wire fishnet
3. spain's truly unique undulating roof fabricated solely out of some type of basket weave
4. structural detail of the central hub overlooking the ground
5. singapore, south korea both utilized thin three dimensional steel detailing
6. rainbow lego links by unknown east european nation

clear cut

2010-12-23T13:49:00.001+09:00

examples of exquisite glass candy: bench by yoshioka tokujin. puzzle rings by MM6.

early xmas present to myself. the rings, not the bench (i wish).

ghettoelectro?

2010-12-21T13:07:00.004+09:00

kpop, i haven't COMPLETELY forgot/lost interest in you:

this video is a prime example that there are only so many ways asians can torture their hair; since both have exhausted dreads, bowl cuts, perms, mohawks, mullets, side parts, artfully teased, moused and primped they've now resorted to nappy a la will.i.am (gdragon) and silverfox a la mr jay (t.o.p.)

welcome 2011

2010-12-12T22:54:00.007+09:00

prepare for the new year with 'honeysuckle' deemed by the 'authority of colour' pantone corp as the designated colour of 2011. this coral-in-disguise hue is being packaged as 'courageous, uplifting and dynamic,' a vibrate colour to push through dreary winter in preparation for spring. i've never really paid too much attention to colour forecasting but 2011, i'll be keeping my eyes out for flashes of coral, i mean honeysuckle.

the perfect slice

2010-12-08T12:30:00.016+09:00

the riverbank house by atsushi and mayumi kawamoto of mA-st is a slice of flawless precision. every angle reveals a fresh perspective: full frontal presents a mysterious concrete slab, a slight rotation exposes a hidden front entrance; a hair more, and the whole structure morphs into a razor sharp piece of sheet metal piercing through a tiny portal. only when viewed from the peripheral is the true depth and profundity unveiled. large airy windows, concaved balconies and vast open space create a surprisingly warm ambience, all carefully concealed from public view.

while the windowless facade projects the impression of absolute aesterity like a hard protective shell, the riverbank view looks soft, bright and clean. the interor shot suggests an abundance of light floods through the kitchen and living space, naturally flowing outside to the terrance, creating a natural path of sunlight. can you tell i'm enamoured?

collection of photos by kai nakamura. something about the images makes me imagine the concrete facade is painted on like watercolour, with its uneven patches of texture. my only qualm with this slice of perfection is the floor plan. the only bathroom is located on the first floor which means alot of hustling during mealtimes no?

i think i should

2010-12-06T12:33:00.003+09:00

i just need an idea too.

rotten fashion

2010-11-17T09:05:00.009+09:00

man, i've been slacking. this ol' post has been slowly fermenting in my drafts for almost 2 weeks, its almost at its expiry date.
thai designer somchana kangwarnjit's t-shirt packaging concept for Here! Sod tshirt is a clever play on fast fashion: to be consumed immediately upon purchase, kept fresh in a dry cool place, and to be disposed when past the best before date, i.e. the next trend cycle.

i absolutely love the concept of the perishable food packaging, especially the saran wrapped beef tee and the paper wrapped baguette tee. after all, clothes ARE a basic human need, like food and water.
however, the packaging is unfortunately the highlight of the product. the garment itself is not particularily unique or well designed, i mean who consciously wants a shapeless lettuce bibbed t-shirt? perhaps a little more effort should have been injected into the function and form of the product instead of just sealing it in a cleaver package. buying this t-shirt would be like unknowingly buying a prepackaged rotten vegetable at the grocery store; appetizing and desirable wrapped up, spoiled and inedible once opened and inspected.
anyway, it's 4:44am and i should probably stop criticizing beef t-shirts and conk out. will post about a cinderella toaster tomorrow! :)
*photos from here

retreat____the womb of nostalgia

2010-11-14T03:48:00.013+09:00

on a bleak and cold sunday afternoon, unclejon and i attempted to escape the blandness of ottawa's social landscape by taking a trip down memory lane. we drove deep into the east end, where 'canada's museum of science and technology' sat, surrounded by barbed wired parking lots and deserted strip malls. this flat boxy building once contained the magic of our childhood. many a field trips were taken on large rumbling yellow school buses to this once elusive mecca of invention and wonderment. many a memories still strong, of running rampant up and down the halls yelling and screaming, stumbling through the tilted 'crazy kitchen' and gazing up gaped-toothed at larger than life train cabooses.

but how times have changed. and time was not kind to dear old science+tech. in a decade and then some, our old childhood haunt had received minimal rejuvenation from the government and the years were clearly etched into its worn out face: peeling signage, corny eighties graphics and new, cheaply constructed exhibits that looked like a maze of red and white rogers at&t cellphone kiosks. the life-sized white space hub that was once packed with eager kids lining up to try its state of the art interactive features, now was empty and hollow, eerily silent like the real thing. the gloriously massive trains that use to tower over our small prepubescent bodies now look like old, retired machines held captive in a crowded, dimly lit airplane hanger: no glimpse of the grandeur and stature they once possessed.

we stood in the doorway of the beloved crazy kitchen like two silent ghosts of childrens' pasts, and watched a miniature army of little munchkins bulldoze through the slanted room, falling and sliding, and clutching the rail for dear life, with glee on their faces, completely oblivious to anything else. we didn't even walk through the kitchen. why bother, their glee was nontransferable. we left after an hour.

jon: " if 'a night at the museum' ever happened here, it would be the dullest cast of characters ever. it would be that tweed dude behind the glass, riding on one of the canoes."
me: "so...musuem of civilization next week?"

if you don't believe me, here is the site for more info...it's as updated as the museum itself.

punch+kick+stab

2010-11-11T02:58:00.005+09:00

i have a friend who rejects the conventional methods of expressing emotional reaction towards cute, adorable objects. instead of the standard cooing and cawing, she prefers to project her delight through the threat of verbal violence, the more violent the action, the more precious the object is.
for instance, when she sees a photo of a rolly polly fluffy panda she growls, "oh my god i want to punch it and throw it across the room right now." a wrinkly little bald pug: "ugh, i just want to kick it in the head and launch it outside," a somewhat strange usage of abrasive language, yet oddly fitting as the degree of separation between love+hate is really not that far off.

with this formula in mind, mats ottdal's work in progress 'birdy juice' packaging makes me want to scrunch up each penguin carton, stomp on them and then drive them over with a pick-up truck. so cute its disgusting. i mean, what kid/ adult wouldn't want a juicebox that has tiny orange triangle flippers on the bottom and a slick jet black straw!!!!??!!! it's like an ordinary juice container wearing a snazzy penguin suit. even juice boxes deserve a fashion's night out right?
but perhaps that's the AZN in me speaking, i'm a sucker for creative packaging. i'm not sure if this product would fly so high in the north american market. the disconnect between the visual imagery and the actual product is probably too great and let's face it, north american consumers want to see some real life, juicy apples on their apple juice boxes. there's a lack of play and imagination when it comes to most packaging design here. everyone is scared of anything that looks too cute because it automatically translates to juvenile and that somehow depletes their sense of adultness. but like always, i digress. all i wanted to say was that these birdy juices are 100% punch+kick+stab worthy.
* photos+concept from here

i miss you_____1

2010-11-10T15:24:00.016+09:00

'translucency' exhibit by hyungshin hwang @ sangsang madang in hongdae, seoul: august 22, 2010.

dear sangsang madang art square,
i miss you.

i miss all the amazing stationary you sold, all made in korea, and sold at a fraction of the price of stationary sold in canada and a million times more innovative. i miss your museum/gallery style shop products (though less overpriced). novelty yet cleverly designed trinkets and gadgets you taunted me to purchase, like the light-up silicon astronaut tea strainer and the candy coloured lucite currency rings- i'm still thinking about you. i miss secretly snapping photos of the front window art installations like the wonderfully organic weaved lights of hyungshin hwang that looked like they were giant black tulips frozen in motion, which i got to see on my birthday right before i left.
i miss the swarms of enthusiastic students and curious tourists alike, all fighting to touch and prod all the creative products lined up and labelled neatly on the shelves. i miss buying back issues of dazed+confused korea that you miraculously stocked. i miss drinking your mediocre coffee at your utterly cramped coffee bar on the side. i miss your upstairs galleries, filled with unique art and installations from hongik university alum and upcoming korean artists and designers. i miss your dedication to promoting the projects and ideas of fresh korean talent and providing such a large space and forum for their expression and exhibition.
i even miss your cold hard face, your tall glass facade covered in that weird concrete mesh membrane, always visible, even at night. but most of all, i miss taking you for granted. knowing that whenever i needed a spark of inspiration i could drop by and be inspired, motivated to create on my own like all the young korean designers featured. i cherish our time together and the happiness you brought me just by being in your presence. i cherish all the gifts i took away like my leather bound sketchbook, my seoul+tokyo maps and stacks of pristine notebooks. i just wanted you to know that.

located in hongdae, take line 6 to hongik university, exit 5 and walk towards the 'luxury' norabang. website only in korean T.T
**excuse the last pixelated photo. it's not mine so it's stretched @.@

the transformer

2010-11-05T01:48:00.006+09:00

sven milcent + the utopik design lab have designed the james bond of stemware. a seemingly simple water glass that can instantly activate into one of three aliases: a robust wine glass, a statuesque champagne flute or even a snazzy tilted snifter all with one stealth twist. one part crystal clear glass and three parts hard, cold steel, this four-in-one convertible looks and functions like a lean, mean, booze guzzling machine. and although the metal stem attachments look a little clunky and let's face it, the champagne flute is in fact an elongated wine glass, a set of these would require minimal space and maximize use. no more wine in mugs hooray!

find them here!

choice_costume

2010-11-03T10:03:00.005+09:00

too bad halloween is over.
as the chair lover that i am, this would have been a choice costume to prance around in at a halloween party. oh. well i guess not, i mean to sit and people watch in. actually, i mean just to sit in. and maybe breathe (if that fabric is breathable). at least you know you'll have a seat at the party.
but then you'll be spending the night making sure no one sits ON you.
ok, maybe not too bad.

'arm chair' by jamie isenstein

one chair is not enough

2010-11-02T12:23:00.004+09:00

matylda krzykowski strips thirteen chairs of their neutral utilitarian meaning and forces them to become helpless, submissive victims for her own gruesomely twisted experiments, and i don't mean a bad paint job or cheesy upholstery. ***video may not suitable for children. graphic/sexually suggestive imagery to follow.
i quite love chairs so this hurts me to watch.

based on the idea of 'modus operandi,' a method of operating or functioning, krzykowski's project is about extracting the known and expected method of operation of the 13 spruce wood chairs she designed and constructed and redefining them into living and breathing characters for her dark fantastical film.

one of her many helpless victims
creepy and clever, krzykowski's borrowed imagery of common torture scenes from movies makes me look twice at the chair heavily piled up with clothes in my room: a lifeless object or a motionless, mute slave person?
video and images from yatzer.com
*** not actually! it's about chairs, come on now. chair-on-chair porn? not hot.

covet _____book block

2010-11-02T09:15:00.006+09:00

can't decide if i would want this bookshelf for myself or my future child. functional from both sides as the letter cutouts are hollow, it can be used as a room divider or the perfect exhibition space for one's accumulated junk i mean priceless treasures.
made by helsinki based designer lincoln kayiwa, this playful yet functional unit challenges the owner to dismiss the concept of neat and tidy linear storage and embrace the notion of harmoniously disorganized chaos. a fitting representation of the creative mind no? strange combinations that don't alway make sense, never particularily orderly, but all fits together anyway. the AAKKOSET as it's named, get its metal like smooth surface quality from being composed of medium-density fibre, which is a type of engineered wood fibre+resin+wax that is easy to manipulate and drill through and stronger than plywood..

these days i seem to be daydreaming about furniture rather than clothes, maybe it's a side effect of living in ottawa? just think, if you left the AAK empty (see we are already on nickname terms), you could set up small tea light candles/ LEDs in each crevice and experiment with the silhouettes the shadows would project on the wall...or even 'light up' a message to your significant other (again, what s.o. am i talking about?) like 'I' 'LUV' 'Y'. it also comes in glossy black, green, yellow, white, violet, blue and orange!!! ok i'm getting too attached. and at almost $20,000 canadian dollars and available only in finland that's probably not a good idea. check it out here

food for thought___carnivorous cocktails

2010-10-28T00:55:00.008+09:00

since my blog is about whatilike i feel like i should expand to the wonderful world of food! this may include meat, vegetables, alcohol, but usually not consumed together...in a cocktail.
Flor de Caña rum however, seems to disagree. a few days ago the nicaraguan rum company invited press in nyc to try out their new liquified boozed up versions of nyc comfort foods like the blt, pb&j sandwich and cheeseburger, ready to serve in champagne flutes.

these 'savory carnivorous cocktails,' as they call it, seem a little counter intuitive to me. why would anyone want to ingest a scrumptious, glistening blt sandwich that is dumped in a blender with some south american rum, mutilated beyond recognition and poured into a fancy glass? unless your mouth is paralyzed from fresh dental work and you can't eat solid food....in which case it probably isn't smart to have any alcohol in the first place, it just doesn't make sense.

the whole experience of biting into a juicy burger or savoring a cheese-laden slice of pizza is completely lost if it arrives to you already prechewed and processed, like adult baby porridge. now don't get me wrong, i'm all for creative food interpretations, like lay's peking duck flavoured chips in china, or sweets that look like savory food, 'spaghetti cupcakes' or 'fried egg' panne cotta, but completely disfiguring a yummy classic american dish and cramming it all down a glass tube seems so.....cold, and unappetizing. what part of sipping down a slippery, rum infused cheeseburger smoothie sounds satisfying to you?
'SLUUURRRP!' and i'm done lunch.

personally, and i apologize beforehand for my graphic imagery, the ingredients, preparation and physical appearance of these 'cocktails' remind me of throw-up after a long, hard night of binge drinking+ fast food eating, except garnished with a pretty little roma tomato. wouldn't it just be cheaper to drink up your own bile then? it's essentially the same ingredients minus your stomach acids, and best of all, you don't need to pay someone to blend it for you. your digestive system can handle that all on it's own!

but anyway, for the serious carnivores with a stomach of steel and the finesse of a cordin bleu chef (CHRISTIAN i'm talking to you,) some of the recipes can be found here. bon appetit @.@

-we-are-family-

2010-10-26T07:37:00.000+09:00

jun'ya ishigami's 'family chairs' is a charming set of knobbly steel chairs fashioned into family archetypes like the patriarch, matriarch and baby incarnated into furniture. manufactured by living divani in italy, they first popped up on design boom in may. but now that the weather is colder, ishigami has thoughtfully refurnished his clan in some cozy couture:

for his installation 'picnic' at the interieur biennale in kortrijk, belgium, ishigami gathered all the relatives of 'family chairs' and threw them a winter wonderland garden party!
he outfitted each of his quirky-shaped chairs in warm creamy knit hats and socks and set them up in pairs and groups mimicking the social interaction of humans. some chairs huddled in the corner like sisters sharing secrets, some were placed in semi circles like a boisterous crew of aunts and uncles bickering and some were lined up neatly like a couple of grannies observing quietly from their wheelchairs. each chair was injected with a sense of liveliness and personality that the designer hoped would elevate the status of his furniture from being purely functional to having social function, to encourage humans to interact more freely like his casually arranged chairs.

seriously, i can't stop starring at the little crochet booties each chair is wearing. im pretty sure NO fluffy kitten or plump baby can be cuter than these skinny steel stems covered in yarn! is that weird?
also, although the idea of dressing furniture in 'clothes' sounds like a seniors home diy project gone wrong, somehow ishigami executes his 'light and white world' in a non-unbearably precious way. each of the five chair designs already resemble human bodies, one is squat and short ( like a beer bellied dad), one is lean and crooked (aka awkward prepubescent boy), so knitting them winter gear doesn't look contrived but actually quite fitting. and each monochromatic accessory like the teeny tiny bow tie, granny sweater with rounded collar and covered buttons, or crochet flower pin add just the right amount of charm and whimsy, never looking too gimmicky.
the more i stare at these photos the more i'm smitten by them. i'm truly inspired by ishigami's ability to breathe life and character into something as simple as a standard metal chair. how the imperfection of an uneven curvature in the back of the chair can instantly transform a basic chaise into one that looks like it's cocking it's head at you, interacting with you, so much so that putting a scarf on it makes complete sense. the concept, execution and aesthetic looks so inherently japanese; cute and poetic, austere and minimal all at the same time.
as he use to be apart of superstar architecture firm SANAA, this is probably childsplay for him. love love love junya ishigami.

don't look at me

2010-10-26T07:19:00.003+09:00

it's impossible NOT to look at kimiko yoshida's series of slick, highly stylized self portraits, even though her current solo show at the maison europeene de la photographie in paris is entitled,'there where i am not.'
yoshida is a japanese born, paris based artist who uses herself as the subject matter to explore the themes of disappearance, transformation, gender and heredity all wrapped up beautifully in her fashion editorial worthy imagery, outfitted by one mr. paco robanne. her immaculately styled photographs from her most recent series, "painting. self-portrait" draws inspiration from historical costume and the classical works of picasso, matisse, rembrandt, rubens, delacroix, watteau, among others. however yoshida's trademark restrained monochrome colour palette and use of everyday found objects as props and costume is uniquely her own.
below are a FEW selects from her archive of over 82 portraits in the collection:

photos from 2002:

i have yet to comb through all her images in her archive... i'm kind of relishing the opportunity to do so on a rainy day when i can carefully absorb each meticulous detail in every single one of her works and ooh and ahh over them respectively ^.^

shoe porn

2010-10-12T02:23:00.006+09:00

israeli designer kobi levi makes us redefine the term 'shoe whore'

the above"xxx" and "blow up" creations are two of levi's more successful designs from among his many kitschy conceptual 'foot sculptures' that he individually engineers by hand. these two models in particular showcase his eye for detail and the ability to abstract the essence of his idea whilst maintaining a desirable shoe silhouette. for instance, the miniature plastic stopper at the back of the 'blow up' coupled with the patent red trim on the peep toe tells the story without needing to resort to inking graphic eyes or blond hair. similarly, the sensual low cut top line + high arch of the 'xxx' pump paired with the stocky curved shape of the heel and a few suggestive imprints connotes quite clearly its naughty inspiration.

but not all his designs are quite as fluid from concept to execution. his other models like the banana split, dog, chewing gum which can all be found on his blog, are much less aesthetically pleasing. some shapes and materials used seem too literal or bulky and lack a sense of refinement and finesse. but his quirky ability to manipulate the basic components of a functional shoe like the heel, toe box, insole and shank into tongue-in-cheek imagery like a dog leg, *cough genitalia, a wheel or even a stick of gum, is definitely commendable. and perhaps his intention is not to make a fashionable shoe in the first place...he's no andreia chaves, but he ain't no steve madden either. and since his latest creations to date were his best (xxx+blow up), his work will surely only continue to...climax.

with teeth__(2) much time

2010-10-10T16:23:00.006+09:00

too far? probably. but my love knows no limits

with teeth

2010-10-10T14:42:00.008+09:00

one of the few perks of living in central suburbia (read:ottawa) these days, is my close proximity to one of canada's best known secrets: BULK BARN. an unassuming emporium containing every known candy, salty treat and chocolate combo all glowing out of shiny plexiglass cases filled to the brim ready for the scooping. one of my longtime obsessions at the BB are cinnamon hotlips: over sized, sweet and spicy candy chews in the mould of sensual botox injected puckers that i literally shovel into my mouth like tic-tacs.

but last week, during one of my usual trips, something happened. my seemingly undying dedication to hot lips was suddenly usurped when i laid my eyes on THESE:

milk chocolate bites covered in the most heart-stoppingly beautiful foil that was ever to be conceived. i'm not going to lie...i'm a little bit in love. i'm sure they were manufactured with the twi-hards/ vamp diarists / true blooders'/ halloweeners in mind, but i feel like they were made especially for me. so i bought some. alot actually. to have and to hold but certainly not to eat ( the chocolate itself tastes as about delicious as real blood=nasty..but points for the fangs being coated in white chocolate!)

so as i sit here typing this, surrounded by my legions of vampy-fangs, i feel the sudden urge to share my new found love with my dear friends...so if you want a pair or more, send me your addy and i will faithfully mail you a pair of my errr--teeth.

the marni mutant ninja turtle

2010-10-05T14:21:00.006+09:00

thinking up a clever yet somewhat attractive halloween costume is a mighty hard feat. there's not a lot of selection besides looking like a ho, hobo or ho-rrifically ugly.
luckily consuelo castiglioni of marni has made it easy for us come halloween 2011 via her spring/summer collection:

all you need is a red silk scarf, brown leather belt, and of course a few thousand dollars to spare and you're set to go!
marni spring/summer' 11- style.com

forgive me father for i have sinned part II: photos

2010-10-02T04:18:00.012+09:00

forgive me father for i have sinned

2010-09-29T01:05:00.007+09:00

it's been over a month since my last confes- er post.

i sincerely apologize for my neglect. the tail end of august and the whole month of september has truly been a whirlwind. after my shanghai blitz week, i returned to korea for a few days just to hastily celebrate my birthday, say good bye to my babies at school and compact all my junk from the last two years and sprint to the airport.

and before i could even utter, '안녕히 계세요!' i was already in vancouver, then seattle and locked in a rental car with my parents on a roadtrip to portland, Oregon. when i opened my eyes again, i was being pushed onto a cruise ship heading to the capital of the seniors society of the world, ALASKA! then after a week of that, squinting at blobs that may or may not have been glaciers/ whales, and eating like a mother-to-be of triples, my fam and i rolled ourselves off the plank in picturesque victoria, BC. after only one day, we ferried our way to lovely but rainy vancouver where i proceeded to beach myself for another week after my parents left for home first.

finally after the second week of september, i dragged my bloated suitcases on a flight home to ottawa where i had just enough time to quickly unpack my suitcases and repack a small rolly for a quick trip to toronto to see my best friends.

so you see, my departure from korea was rather unceremonious and kind of abrupt. i literally felt like i fled the country. instead of casting a meaningful glance over my shoulder as i boarded the plane, i was a sweaty mess who hadn't slept in 36 hours, bulldozing past other passengers to get to my seat. to pass out. i was out cold before we even lifted off from incheon airport.

in truth, i don't think i said goodbye to korea. just a temporary 'see you later', until a different time, a different context...until we're on a more level playing field. and to arrive there, i have temporarily parked my rear in the sleepy suburbs of ottawa, the nation's capitol.

how will i survive, father eddie norton? guide me, enlighten me! perhaps i should rechristen my blog: design culture + the suburban journal of a recovering city slicker...

上海__preview

2010-08-21T01:16:00.008+09:00

nine days. forty degrees celsius. an illiterate korean coated canadiana chinaman (me) running around the city of shanghai trying not to drip the litres of sweat pouring down my face and back on fellow countrymen or reveal the fact i have the mandarin reading comprehension of a preschooler.

3 days of expo, 3 days of exploring, 3 days of recovery/transit. 3 shades darker in skincolour. more to come...

acquired___sou brette

2010-07-30T00:45:00.008+09:00

a while back i was salivating over the chunky hardware of indonesian designer muqliza imroni's sou brette collection but since it was only available in the uk/indonesia/australia, i sadly let my dreams of acquiring one shrivel up and die. but perhaps somethings are meant to be: a few months ago my dearest bunny my-my moved to brisbane for grad school and although i selfishly wish she was still in korea, an exceptional consolation prize was generously mailed to me!! ^.^

it's as heavy as i imagined, and and ironically one of the only light coloured pieces of jewelry i own that isn't black, leather or both. merci my-my!

for eva eva

2010-07-13T09:45:00.011+09:00

the everland resort in yongin (a little south of central seoul,) is korea's answer to disneyworld. read: not many thrilling rides, but chock full of fuzzy animal ears merch and concession stands galore, albeit NO COTTON CANDY. perhaps i'm just being culturally ignorant but isn't cotton candy a universal representative of amusement parks??!!! it's not like they don't have the machines...there's a popular cotton candy stand in hongdae!!!

but i digress. the main attractions of the park include a mini safari tour where you can see a handful of tigers, giraffes, one zebra and a few bears from the comfort of an air conditioned bus, a water show parade for kiddies (with an all russian cast) and 2 roller coasters.

the one roller coaster worth mentioning is the t express (sponsored by SK telecom) which might be asia's largest wooden coaster? now i've been on north america's largest/oldest coaster at la ronde in montreal and i must say the t express at everland was mighty impressive. it was not as rickety and bone jolting as most wooden coasters are and the climatic drop literally looked and felt like it was at ninety degrees! smooth and exhilerating. do i sound like i'm twelve? i am.

was this here before or after avatar?

these middle school girls were decked to the nines in coordinating rompers, strappy sandals and of course fuzzy ears. though the clear standout was the gal in the fiery floral.

a row of tired boys waiting for their bus to take them back to seoul. about an hour and a half trip by special bus.

ceramix

2010-07-02T16:02:00.007+09:00

lacoste recently collaborated with chinese artist li xiaofeng to design two porcelain polos- one printed for retail(limited to 20,000) and one made with real shards of fragmented porcelain for their 'holiday collector's series. while the print polo was underwhelming, li's other porcelain sculptures are a sight to see:

li acquires bits and pieces of real ming dynasty vases and bowls from archeological digs and sculpts them into hard bodied porcelain figures and garments held together using metal wires. his use of ceramic scraps as a sculpting medium to create texture, volume, shape and patterns is awe inspiring. he basically creates 3d puzzles from scratch using reject pieces that he force fits together. i love that his chinese background resonates strongly in his work. even though his sculpture might be a modern item of clothing like a suit or a dress, the pattern of chinese motifs in the blue and white, no matter how fragmented screams china.

my favourite is the woman in the communist(looking) hat). she looks like she has full on tattoo sleeves and is wearing a skin tight, rib bruising latex dress.

shop_drop

2010-06-29T15:11:00.006+09:00

as my time in korea is slowly but surely drawing nearer to its expiry date i feel like it's my active duty to share some of my hard earned shopping knowledge so others can compulsively shop like i did...or do.

for almost two years i've been dedicated to ensuring not a single mall or shopping zone in seoul be overlooked or unexamined. underground, above ground, on the street...i've seen it all! and touched it all! and tried it all! and tried not to buy it all.
so before i depart so i'll try to post my favourite places/deals. perhaps by passing on the knowledge i can also pass on the disease. and be at peace with myself and my chronically ailing bank account.

first a preview: vintage siamese cdg shirts (about 500,000won) sewn as one by korean label fleamadonna, found at ALAND in myeongdong.

with three locations, ALAND's myeongdong store is the ultimate 4 level emporium with something for everyone. literally. i’ve been there with every single one of my friends who all have different tastes and somehow everyone leaves with at least one of their sturdy brown paper bag (or three...i’m talking to YOU caro).

whether you are looking for new korean labels like fleamadonna, viva_h, le centaur, johnny hates jazz or well known imports like a.p.c. cheap mondays or april 77, the ground level shop lays it all out for you. one of a kind creations, experimental fabrics and silhouettes, this is defintiely the hub for upcoming/ prevailing trends.

for cheaper basics both in price and quality the basement floor is filled with cute print dresses, tees and piles and piles of jeggings. also handmade jewelry and headbands are aplenty though beware! the awesome chunky 3D metal rings with animals or buildings are imported from thailand and SOOOOooOO much cheaper there! so for a deal...buy a ticket to bangkok(?) im talking like 70% cheaper.

head upstairs and you will find stationary and knickknacks and tom shoes and above that….the fourth floor vintage section will assault your senses with neon brites and more polyester than mrs. doubtfire's entire wardrobe. the prices are decent but definitely not the best vintage prices in seoul. also the men's selection (first floor) is quite extensive....lots of interesting prints and well tailored basics to be found. once i contemplated buying a men's jersey blend jumpsuit but realized in fact, that i really just wanted to buy the model in the look book.

i feel better already. perhaps all it takes to cure shopaholic syndrome is to talk it out? photos of the actual store to come.

** also can i mention shop_drop is what my mother calls shoppers drugmart :-)

DRAW

2010-06-28T20:39:00.003+09:00

at first glance, the two woman show entitled DRAW at samcheongdong's arario gallery resembled a homage to black licorice and hard candies. heeseop yoon's black masking tape drawings crept and crawled all over the gallery walls like a controlled chaotic virus while woojung choi's lollipop coloured plexiglas and glue portraitures dangled in midair daring you to lick them.

what i love about this gallery is how seamless the gallery and the work it exhibits become. the masking tape landscapes looked completely natural encompassing not only the gallery walls but also the reception walls and even spilled outside onto the entrance wall. both artists use such everyday mediums (the whole purpose of exhibit was the convey the accessibility and necessity of drawing for an artist,) that one can practically peel the intended lumps and texture of the tape or pick off the stray glue strands from the hot glue gun used to create the freehand faces on the plexiglas.

the first exhibit i saw at this gallery was back in 2008 and the prints of the excruciating detailed pencil and ink drawings of lee seungae's monsters still reside on my walls.

like no other

2010-06-28T02:02:00.010+09:00

karen's birthday dinner on saturday led us to a truly head scratching dining experience. while the italian food at on the six restaurant in hongdae isn't even worth mentioning the decor was definitely above and beyond--- unique.

the interior was modern oriental gone wrong: towering lacquered wooden panels with intricate carvings loomed menacing at the entrance across from an expansive white wall that looked like a giant fragment of plastic braided rope bathed in red light district lighting.

private tables were crescent shaped booths closed off with gauzy rice paper thin fabric curtains that looked more nightclub than restaurant. then to top it all off, delicate bamboo woven light fixtures floated awkwardly above side tables filled with milky drippy gothic candles and old christmas decorations.

however the true piece de resistance was saved for the washroom. i don't know the mens room looks like but the ladies powdering room was a cross between a kitschy art installation + nature museum. One wall was an army of miniature wooden stick figured encased in glass (like in the robitussin commercials) and in the actual stall a large aquarium of plastic flora showcasing three real or fake butterflies starred at you while you peed ( reminded me of the alexander mcqueen finale where there was the fat lady covered in butterflies inside a glass box). did i mention there was a mini corona beer bottle nonchalantly hanging out beside the soap dispenser?

it just looked like a mash up of expensive furnishings forced to live together. like the owner wanted it to be sexy/slick/traditional/theatrical/zen/romantic....but instead turned it into more of a/hot/mess. it's just a shame since each individual element like the drippy candles (very dracula) or the rope wall would have looked great in the appropriate context but cluttered together just cheapened the overall aesthetic quality. shame the food wasn't better...now there's no excuse to visit the alexander mcqueen-like butterfly aquarium again...

go POP!

2010-06-26T09:13:00.002+09:00

celly barnacles__this girl bought the set of 3d decals on the internet and glued it to the back of her phone..i saw this trend in tokyo as well

lovely harriet potter who works at the vintage market in jongro-5ga

AMAZINE tights spotted in busan. contemplated buying them online until shannon pointed out they kinda look like a speedo print. but on this katie shillingford chick....perfection.

lucky vitamin

2010-06-09T23:15:00.007+09:00

some kid left their 'lucky vitamin' syringe pen in my classroom....your loss buddy!

**note there is some kind of yellow liquid inside the pen so that when you write with it, the mystery liquid swirls around just like real human bodily fluid!

bunnies & bboys

2010-06-09T00:55:00.005+09:00

no i don't know who this is. but he looks like he could be a bunny and a bboy

hop hop hop__________who knew bboys in action would look so good in b&w?

photos by lovely myan from a party @ luv lounge 2 weeks ago + bboy battle @ theatre zero, on sunday.

SPECTRUM

2010-05-18T00:16:00.010+09:00

tokujin yoshioka solo show @ museum beyond museum_________________
a painfully long description to follow in a few days. beware it will probably be a 500 word stalker letter to him.
in blood.

*photos by lovely myan

chillin

2010-05-07T01:50:00.003+09:00

mismatch chairs are endearing. this set, near dondaemun look like three old men congregating. i took it at 6 in the morning while heading to the subway station. a day later when i was back in the area in the busy afternoon, i passed by again, this time they were occupied by three real old men, just shooting the shit. wish i had the after photo!

all night long

2010-05-07T01:45:00.001+09:00

in an effort to avoid drinking last friday shan and i decided to pull an all nighter shopping at dondaemun. we started off at midnight and literally strolled around until every complex closed around 4:30am.
from there we camped out at a korean diner(?) till the subway opened at 6am. the strangest part was we weren't alone. tourists and gangs of youth alike were bustling around us, going about their business like it was completely normal. since ddm is such a hot tourist destination almost every cosmetic shop like etude house and face shop were also still open just in case you needed a new lipgloss at five in the morning.

the red lcd light on my watch didn't turn out but it read 5:10AM

6:00AM: you can't really see but there are 5 people in this shot...and let me tell you they ain't heading to their office

6:10AM: never too late or in this case early, to take a tourist shot. funny thing is we barely left with any goodies. the fact i could fit all my purchases in my purse is a sad, sad sign.

eau de toilette__safety hazard

2010-05-07T00:38:00.005+09:00

so a month ago i went drinking in my hood in pyeongtaek. i don't remember any of the places we went to, i just remember this washroom.

looking at this photo now, those stairs don't look quite as dangerously impossible as they did when i was inebriated at 3am, but i still remember pausing at the base of these stairs and squinting at the glowing light reflecting off the toilet and slowly wobbling up the stairs, blurred vision and all. i made it out alive but i was lucky.

but how about all the fellow korean patrons who tend to drink beyond their limit (till unconsciousness), how could they sprint up those stairs if they need to yak at a moment's notice? wouldn't there just be a puke trail? furthermore, i fear instead of girls passing out locked in the washroom, they'll only make it as far as the third step before having to lay their pretty permed hair on the cold, dirty concrete.
thus i proclaim poorly designated restrooms as such a safety hazard to patrons! they should be abolished! renovated! the owners must be responsible!

now if i could just remember where the hell it was so i could tell them so.

3:20am

2010-04-22T03:10:00.005+09:00

is it still called insomnia when you can't fall asleep but you haven't tried? i'm in my pj's with my teeth brushed and eye cream slathered on but i can't seem to physically remove myself from my computer to even lay on my bed. been so for almost 3 hours. my eyelids are starting to weigh down but my mind is racing around like a kid with a.d.d.
four months left in korea. perhaps that's the disturbance. changes are never easy to accept even if they loom far away in the future. four months seems like so long and too short.
when you're so close to coming full circle you realize all that you could have done and what you haven't done. it's enough to keep one awake.

covet _____bauble bauble

2010-04-21T15:18:00.005+09:00

i'm trying to describe the sou brette by muqliza imroni's jewelry
line without resorting to the cliche term 'statement jewelry' but it's not working. clearly when you look at these chunky slabs of resin and razor sharp sheets of metal fused together by thick wiry rope you're not looking at subtle. the collection, runic, is inspired by 'tales of an apocalyptic future,' but is quite fitting for the stylel nomads of the present day.

i love the weight of the pieces from the third photo, they demand attention without looking too flashy or bulky.
in seoul it's near impossible to find a bold piece of jewelry that isn't: a) a cheap marni or lanvin knock-off, b) the real deal which of course is impossible, c)smothered in rhinestones and bows or d) interesting looking but overpriced for it's shody construction. unlucky for me sou brette is not available in seoul and can only be attained in indonesia, the uk or australia...hmmm summer trip to jakarta anyone?

valuable information

2010-04-07T03:30:00.009+09:00

it's 3:30am now and i have to get up in 3 hours to shower, pack and haul myself to school for a 3 day field trip with the first year kids to a "eco-lodge training centre' where they will learn about nature. i stress i must shower because apparently the training centre is super enviro-friendly and only allow visitors to use their special organic soaps and shampoos...that will be interesting. hope they have some kind of organic dandelion root dandruff shampoo.

it's my own fault really. ingesting a honey vanilla latte at 9pm is pretty much the equivalent of a triple hit of liquid cocaine for my body. on top of that i decided to watch primal fear ( my beloved eddie norton's breakout role) and his creepy pyscho killer face in the last scene keeps resurfacing in my mind when i try to close my eyes.(sidenote, look how young and smooth he looks!)
i'm seriously going to sleep with a light on. or perhaps if i just stare at my current desktop photo long enough i can lull myself to sleep...

i sent this to my dad too because the combover pup not the donald, would be the exact love child of my father's hair and my chihuahua-poodle at home. surprisingly my father was not as amused as i had anticipated.

see the uncanny resemblance?
now that i have shared this valuable information with you i can finally lay to rest.

skin and bones

2010-04-05T14:55:00.007+09:00

dsquared really?

after seeing photos of these vertebrae-lly inclined (heh heh) shoes from the dsquared a/w10 runway on a few blogs i still can't believe the're by the same dudes that made leather chaps for madonna way back when...remember the 'tell me' video where she's walking aimlessly on a conveyor belt wearing dirty chaps and plaid- that's dsquared. although since they're fellow canadians there should be much less hatin' and more appreciatin' eh.

anyway, these shoes are clearly made for an ass-kicking, leather catsuit wearing post-apocalyptic sci-fi goddess. i love the curvature and the delicacy of each individual segment that stack together to create the shape of the heel, and the heel's organic bone white hue provides a nice contrast to the taut leather upper and overall chunky silhouette.
the peeptoe ankle strap style in particular looks quite wearible and versatile since the shape of the actual shoe is quite classic. now if only they came in a white bootie version... envision soft bone china leather, ankle length with the same covered platform but minus the studs... or a gritty industrial version with the skeleton heel cast in actual metal, the possibilities are endless! if only my bank account was so as well. *sigh and goodnight.

a good day to remember

2010-03-15T23:17:00.008+09:00

tokyo______ feb2- feb7 2010

comme inside

2010-02-24T12:51:00.009+09:00

yes i'm beaming, wouldn't you? at the comme des garcons store in aoyama designed by architect takao kawasaki and future systems in 1999. the walls looked like giant see-through flexible plastic folders molded and glued to the ceiling and ground. the store interiors were fluid, dynamic and sectioned off like a maze. each corner took you to surprises and racks and racks of desireables from cdg's many lines. next: dover street market please.

undercoverism__tokyo

2010-02-24T09:10:00.009+09:00

sometime in late 2003 i watched a fashionfile or fashiontv segment on jun takahashi's paris debut collection, entitled 'scab'. i remember burka-like headdresses in vivid colours and stredded denim covered in tiny patches hand stitched with red, blue, black trailing threads that literally resembled scabs. at the time his d.i.y. grotesque but beautiful aesthetic was still considered refreshing (unlike cheap, mass produced 'grunge' these days X.X), and i made a mental note: UNDERCOVER.

later in 2004, i picked up my very first glossy oversized V magazine and what did i see, but a feature on ASIANPUNKBOY, undercover. i was hooked. i didn't see much of his clothes but i was completed enthralled by his punk spirit and ideas of nonconformist fashion and peaceful anarchism. i started following his collections on style.com every season, and still do, to this day. although his aesthetics and direction has evolved in the last few years and focused more on sportswear and technology, my adoration for undercover far exceeds the clothes, it encompasses his art projects, his careful branding and how he's been able to maintain a sense of innovation and integrity in all his endeavours. although he doesn't advertise, undercover is known for its cult following.

anyway the point of that long winded intro was that in early february i finally went to tokyo and got to visit his flagship store in aoyama. situated a mere minutes from the impressive glass prada store, it did not disappoint.i had seen photos, read reviews about the space, and i finally set foot in his shop and touched each garment with my very own grubby little hands (there i am, disappearing into the change room, with my grubby hands and all).

the mass clusters of naked light bulbs looked like waxy bubbles of sea foam barnacle undulating on the ceiling, while the steel walls resembled those of an airplane hanger or construction site, industrial strength and ready for heavy machinery. the space was minimal and orderly yet injected with the perfect balance of grudgy creepiness that i have come to expect from takahashi.

the in-store spring collection for a lack of a better word, was very clean, lots of lightweight hi-tech fabrics cut in simple sportswear shapes with ventilation strips and leather detailing in a palette of gray, white and orange. i tried on a classically cut black blazer with a leather embedded belt that had tiny white lettering all over that spelled out 'pocket here'or 'ventialltion area' to indicate the specific function of each detail. although extremely wearable and charming (the little labels felt like they were whispering to you), i decided to save that chunk of change...mostly because caro forced me too...however, the nanosecond it goes on sale, i'm flying to tokyo to snatch it from the rack.

i'm done. lovin' undercover since ~2004.

it's monday.

2010-02-22T14:30:00.004+09:00

*wood pierced into leather chair by mattias karlsson and erik bjork of karlsson & bjork, shown at the stockholm furniture fair 2010,
hannibal being hannibal

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-17T12:10:00.008+09:00

that is how i feel about the upcoming shanghai expo.
slated to open from may-oct and titled 'better city, better life,' the expo is about showcasing ideas of sustainability in urban living from china and countries all over the world. most countries have their own specially designed pavilions and after seeing photos of the proposed designs, i'm pretty much jumping out of my pants (ie: leggings) in anticipation!
the china pavilion, below has just been completed after two years of construction. the theme is 'oriental crown'. not the most modern...but a work in progress?

the following photos are some of the stand out pavilions that are in the process of being built.

the british pavilion by thomas heatherwick. the interior is a cube, covered in radiating acrylic filaments that move with the wind and light up at night. looks like a giant dandelion :).

the spanish pavilion, led by miralles tagliabue EMBT is a fluid structure inspired by traditional spanish basketwork.

the korean pavilion, designed by mass studies (who designed the ann dem store in seoul,) worked with the theme of 'signs' and literally has korean hangeul symbols making up the exterior of the massive structure.

see you in may.
all photos and info from designboom.com

haute upholster

2010-02-16T20:55:00.009+09:00

if the sofa dress which i blogged about a few months ago, provided ready-to-wear fashion for chairs,

then surely swedish designer fredrik färg's re:cover chairs would be deemed the haute couture version:

each re:cover chair design is derived from a flea market chair that was stripped of its original backrest and re outfitted with an intricately crafted polyester-felt creation inspired by classic tailoring on jackets and suits, think structural ruffles, pleating and seams.

this project reminds me of a cinderella story for furniture...dusting off lonely unwanted chairs, swathing them in gowns of flawless proportions and having everyone at the ball( or in this case, the swedish furniture fair) lust after them.

although reupholstering old chairs is nothing new, this project really highlights the power of fashion+textiles. how a few metres of fabric can transform unremarkable, outdated chairs into suddenly beautiful, relevant objects of desire. a once faded, wooden chair now looks like it's wearing an impeccably constructed viktor&rolf wool coat.
one always associates fashion + architecture, but re:cover chairs successfully meld fashion + furniture design into a seamless harmony of aesthetics and function. not to mention sustainability....and that is truly a happy ending.

the gray chairs (made in 2009) look very yohji yamamoto to me -rigid yet fluid shapes, menswear fabric and quiet restraint of details. in contrast, the new series (all in white) remind me of eighteenth century men in their powdered wigs and fitted jackets sitting around discussing politics. in short, i want all of them for my future nonexistent home.

leather is forever, leather is for whomever

2010-02-12T12:45:00.003+09:00

maison martin margiela fall 2010 - leather tees reign supreme!
i've been rather late in checking out the mens offerings for fall 2010 but late is better than never.
menswear has only recently started to interest me and this season was packed with lots of texture, sci-fi cuts and crazy layering (cdg of course). it wasn't until I came across the leather tees by MMM, however, that my true appreciation for menswear blossomed.

while the second look is a tad too seventies s&m porn king, the first look is immaculate and the third is definitely the glam 'going out version'. all appropriate for both sexes, might i add.

the leather t-shirt trend was inevitable as the leather pant, leather leggings, leather bustier, leather thigh highs, leather blazer and leather motorcycle jacket trends have already been exhausted in the past few years. i wonder if this will actually translate to the retail market here in korea.
so far i've seen leather looking t-shirts by viva. h! but i've yet to see the real deal.

in the meantime i shall hunt for a leather maker in seoul. i'm sure a custom made leather tee in made in korea would still cost less than the celine/margiela versions. after all leather is forever, but cheaper is better.
photos from gq.com

love+popart

2010-02-10T21:56:00.004+09:00

i've returned from my virgin trip to tokyo but have yet to organize and acquire all the photos i want to upload.
until then, this is caro & i at the love&pop art exhibit @skyart, on top of the 63 building in seoul.

the upcoming weekend is lunar new year *cough chinese new year...wish i could hop on a plane back to tokyo

tomorrow

2010-02-01T22:55:00.001+09:00

finally.

caro

2010-02-01T00:26:00.003+09:00

im in the wrong country

2010-01-21T11:37:00.004+09:00

on jan 29, beijing is set to unveil their new WORLD CHOCOLATE WONDERLAND THEMEPARK. take a moment and let that sink in. that's right, beijing is dedicating a whole park in the crowded capitol to promote chocolate consumption. chocolate is not really a popular treat in china and is considered more for children or for special occasions. chinese folk are more fans of salty snacks (enter abundance of lays products), thus why we don't really eat desserts. however with this new 5 hall theme park with miniature replicas of china's famous landmarks rendered in chocolate, organizers are hoping to generate some buzz about the amazing phenomenon that is chocolate for the domestic market, as well as attract cocao loving tourists. this new park will also be a great marketing tool for foreign chocolatiers to gain entry into the market...to begin cultivating a new generation of chinese chocolate addicts.

a 10 metre long kiddie size model of the great wall of china created completely in bricks of dark chocolate with white chocolate accents. below, an army of cutie chocolate terracotta warriors

now this excited me because i want to go and basically lick every monument in the park, but it worries me because i don't want the next generation of chinese kids to be chocolate dependent fatties. they already have the expansive world of fast food to devour, soon they will have the wonderful world of candy bars to compliment their mcPeking duck burger and rice...
...it's already too late for me, but save yourselves young kids! because once you go black

get a grip

2010-01-13T15:37:00.004+09:00

i'm a little speechless after seeing these detail pics from hussein chalayan's ss2010 collection on this blog. reminds me a little of cdg and the hands on the pants/ mickeymouse inspired fall/winter collection from awhile back, but the white palette and draped effect give the garments a completely different feel...like it should be worn by an elegant grecian horror heroine.

i especially love how the solid fingers melt into the folds of the fabric, as if the hand reaching out morphed from the fluid layers of the milky material.

i wonder if these will be produced as is or if the hands were simply a styling tool...i dream of the former but assume the latter :(

leather is better, leather is forever

2010-01-13T11:36:00.001+09:00

if i could, i would swath myself in head to toe leather. completely encase my body in supple yet firm, glossy yet matte, jet black leather. i don't mean a leather jacket or gloves or thigh high boots. those items are child'splay. i mean, a flawless leather catsuit cut in the perfect silhouette, or a rich, buttery leather gown that skims the floor like liquid silk. perhaps badass belted leather chaps for when you're feeling feisty, and a laser cut leather tee for when you're feeling corporate. in any case, leather is just better:

i'm fairly certain this love for cowhide began in 1995 after i saw the 'say you'll be there video' by the spice girls. i was mesmerized by posh spice's big hair and her trashy skintight one piece. i thought, wow. i didn't know people could look like that. like a shimmying electric eel in heat. now looking back, her one piece looks more like cheap pvc...

other icons of the nineties that nurtured my eternal love include trent reznor and madonna. i think it is no coincidence that their glorydays were had, clad only in the best

*first image by natalia brilli, looks: alexander mcqueen, MMM, celine by phoebe philo

tribute

2009-12-30T18:31:00.009+09:00

this is my tribute to the fashematics formula:

TAKE ONE FEARLESS KOREAN MALE

+ADD THE ESSENCE OF SCI-FI GROOMING

+SMOTHER IN ELECTRIC ICING

VOILA=

g dragon unveils his dior-homme+ spock 'shroom hybrid at the SBS network gayo daejun performances dec 29.
below is his performance of 'gossip man' in skin tight cropped pants and creepers:

HAPPY 2010!!!!!

december 25th_____2009

2009-12-28T09:24:00.004+09:00

when december rolls around, and the temperature suddenly plummets, you know the burden of christmas looms near.
i say burden because being away from home there is a unspoken pressure to create some semblance of tradition. somehow transport the homey-ness of the familiar to the cold foreign streets of seoul. last year was a quiet night of home alone and ice cream cake. this year was a menage a trois with the likes of krispy kreme, apple pie and ice cream cake coupled with sober dancing and new friends.
traditions are warm and comforting but changes fuel growth and progression. for once, i genuinely look forward to the new year.

follow me

2009-12-22T18:29:00.004+09:00

first and last two photos from the leeum samsung museum of art

the leeum samsung museum of art, comprised of two collections housed in two dissimilar structures, is definitely worth a visit or two.
gallery 1 focuses on traditional korean arts whereas gallery 2 is basically a who's who of contemporary art: rothko, murakami, matthew barney (bjork's hubby), damien hirst, anish kapoor, louise bourgeois, and even a full size dollhouse by yoshitomo nara.

word of wise: spend the two dollars for the digital guide, i didn't......thus why i must go for round two. also, seeing the louise bourgeois giant spider sculptor at the entrance made my heart tingle just a little ...it reminded me of the same one we have in ottawa, plopped so scandalously in front of the National Arts Gallery. ooooh, a sudden shooting pain of homesickness for ottawa...could it be?

the replacements_II

2009-12-17T23:36:00.003+09:00

"well hello there, you certainly look familiar..."

all good things must come to an end.
black walking shoes from last year: you were great. couldn't have survived fall/winter 08 without you. but now you're overly stretched and your platform is hanging on by a few shoddy nails...it's time to let you go with your dignity still intact. so, meet version 2.0: cheaper, sleeker, taller and unfortunately a lot less comfortable. nevertheless, your duties have now been relieved.

am i the only one that gets the frantic need to replace a favourite possession when its nearing its end? for instance even if the item in question can continue to service for at least a few more months, there is an obligation to respect its remaining life by preserving it and buying a replacement that must look almost identical to it. then the original can just rest on its laurels for the rest of its shelf life. never discarded but never worn again either.

abnormal or just a symptom of packrack syndrome?

all i want

2009-12-16T13:13:00.005+09:00

there's something inexplicably intoxicating about being in a room lined wall to wall with twinkling, strappy, elevated bundles of leather. especially if there is sign nestled between two four-inch patent soldiers that reads, "all samples 50,000won."

unfortunately...sample sizes stop at size 7.5

no better day

2009-12-16T11:14:00.009+09:00

somedays i lament over my lack of heterosexual male friends...but most days i don't
* baozhi had in samcheongdong, mussels at macaroni market in itaewon

toosexshigirl

2009-12-16T11:02:00.002+09:00

we miss you T.T

light up

2009-12-16T10:47:00.001+09:00

good friends

2009-12-15T21:43:00.011+09:00

new friends

...and old friends

its nice to have good friends waiting for you in seoul. friends that accompany you when you go shopping or walk hand in hand with you when you stumble home at dawn. friends give you protection, strength and lift you up. literally.

during the weekdays they wait patiently, sheltered in their temporary seoul abode. until friday eve arrives, then they can come out and play. some friends collect dust in the background because sometimes they don't act like good friends and cause you pain and heartache. and others are so worn out because they've been too good of a friend.

as seasons change out so do some partners. some are deported back to the country life and some....to the abyss. but nevertheless, they always remain in my heart.

no easy feet

2009-12-14T10:46:00.015+09:00

why settle for a glass slipper when you can slip on a virtually invisible mirror panelled wedge bootie by andreia chaves?

along with four other footwear designs that experiment with the concepts of chaos, texture, form and visual effect, brazilian born chaves is all about expressing contradictions within the context of visual illusions.

her 'invisible' shoe can camouflage into any surroundings by reflecting the surfaces around it while 'the prism shoe' can project intricate shapes and designs with its complex three dimensional structure.

the 'form & texture shoe' is a jumble of flat leather squares combined with strategically placed sycamore wood cubes that creates the illusion of being much bulkier than it actually is.
'the twirled shoe's' spiral sculptural effect is created by the combo of soft pvc leather and malleable metal that allows it to look rigid and delicate at the same time.

however my absolute favourite is 'the velcro' shoe which is not solely (pun intended) visually stunning, but also for me completely wearable and versatile as well.

it's no surprise that chaves is inspired by concept heavy designers such as rei kawakubo, yohji yamamoto, issey miyake and margiela as the 'twirl shoe' pretty much has MIYAKE stamped all over it and 'the velcro shoe' is practically screaming to be worn with a margiela nude body suit. but in addition, chaves also sites her hometown of sao paulo to be a huge inspiration for her chaotic harmony of optical illusions as well as europe, where she studies.

now i've seen enough strange and unusual footwear concoctions...but andreia chaves' creations are truly a hyperbreed of innovation, artistic whimsy and a surprisingly high level of aesthetic appeal. whereas other footwear as art have borderlined on the grotesque or literally been the form of their inspiration (ie: a banana shoe), all of chaves' shoes retain the function and form of being a shoe in addition to being a piece of art. i cannot wait to see her final collection which is to be revealed this february.

images+info from yatzer & refinery.

dear tokyo,

2009-12-08T16:18:00.020+09:00

how are you? i'm doing well.

so this is a tad embarrassing... but i'm a little bit in love with you. i mean, i know i've never met you but i've read about you, heard about you...dreamt about you. i love everything about you...the way you dress, the way you live, the architecture you live in, the food you eat and the packaging you come in.

don't worry, i'm not a stalker, i surpassed that phase circa 2005-ish. my love has matured into a steady stream of continuous adoration, respect and incurable curiosity.
i don't want to sound creepy...but i moved to korea so i would be closer to you.

anyway, just wanted to tell you that i've finally mustered the nerve to meet you. is that ok? please don't disappointment me. in two months time i shall be walking all over you. i know it's impossible to get to know someone in six days but i will damn well try.

best regards,
rachel

here are images saved from my stalker days: extracted from my computer_

a suitable equation

2009-12-02T13:47:00.006+09:00

i loathe math and it lothes me back. i know, i know i'm asian...i'm rolling my eyes as we speak.
however, fashematics... fashematics, i can understand. all i want to do is print and laminate these equations and make them into a flashcard set! check out the site and the limited edition zine that is now available!

looks featured are Giambattista Valli SS2010 RTW, Bernhard Willhelm SS2010 RTW, Alexander Mcqueen SS2010 RTW, and Gaetanna Navarra, Fall 2009 RTW. all images from fashematics

covet_____x-mas

2009-12-02T13:41:00.000+09:00

films about fashion don't roll around that often. the few i can list off the top of my head are: the september issue, devil wears prada, unzipped, maybe zoolander and dare i mention bruno?

a film that i am currently itching to watch and OWN(*hint, hint), is a notebook about the city and clothes, a documentary filmed in 1989 about japanese fashion designer yohji yamamoto as captured by german filmmaker wim wenders.

2 years ago i glimpsed snippets of the film in my 'fashion film and semiotics' class but sadly never made the effort to track down a copy. i distinctively remember being intrigued by the images and completely mezmerized by mr. yamamoto's intimate interviews that he gave as we followed him around tokyo and paris pre-show season. my impression then was that the film was an authentic reflection of the silent but strong integrity that yamamoto exudes.

in the last week i've only been able to unearth the beginning clip of the film. i also dug up a film review by the new york times circa 1991 about it which only intensifies my need to watch it!

so dear friends, x-mas is coming up and....i've been a good girl this year.

时间，你跑到那里去了？

2009-11-30T01:45:00.006+09:00

我现在应该做什么。

ninja assassin

2009-11-30T00:42:00.010+09:00

i am not ashamed.
i have been waiting to see ninja assassin since i first hear about it. rain starring in a hollywood action film? count me in.
rain was my first korean infatuation circa 2005, thus i find it obligatory to support him in all his engrishee endeavours. furthermore i have quite the affinity for blood soaked action, especially if it involves any asian martial art.

however until i see it, i have this eloquent film review from nino tino:

12:37 AM
there are 2 scenes in particular
12:37 AM
i'll tell them to you
12:37 AM
so that you can think of me when you see them haahhaa
12:37 AM
1. when he's practicing at home near the beginning and he does this like kick flip thingy shirtless...and you see his ass crack
12:37 AM
i almost had a heart attack
12:38 AM
and 2. he's also practicing at home and he does a hand stand/push up thingy on a board of nails
and his body just looks sex

sounds like a body of work that should be checked out

in theatres now! i read some reviews about it, seems like it's a decent gorefest with limited story/character development which sounds just about right.

the matrix: brick by brick

2009-11-27T08:31:00.005+09:00

what better way to fete the matrix, which was released a whopping DECADE ago, than to recreate it's most iconic scene shot by shot in...lego?

click on the video for its full size on youtube

to prove their dedication to accuracy the creators even included a side by side comparison of the labour intensive recreation alongside the real scene:

now the only qualm i have with the lego homage is...the sunglasses on the lego characters are so obviously inaccurate and...don't legos people have hairpieces? neo isn't neo without his luscious slicked raven locks.

the whole matrix trilogy will forever remain dear to my heart because it was so visually appealing to me and featured a still young-ish keanu reeves kicking ass in head to toe black leather AND monica belucci in many a latex creations. what else can you ask for?

*update: i just went on the lego website and in their starwars series luke skywalker totally has a brown plasic hairpiece! so what's the deal???

pulled from cbcnews.com

issey miyake on the go

2009-11-25T23:19:00.008+09:00

if you live in tokyo you can now grab a new issey miyake shirt along with your sandwich on your lunch break. 24 iseey miyake is a new concept store designed by japanese firm nendo that offers a wide range of special and limited miyake items available in a convenient store type setting. to maximize space there is no storage room so all stock is on the floor packaged specifically for the on-the-go customer.

as i am planning to FINALLY visit tokyo for the first time in late january, i will definitely try to glimpse the 24 shop in shinjuku. however the stark walls, brightly coloured merchandise and even white grid fixtures are quite similar to the american apparel aesthetic...i wonder if the garments are just as overpriced?

*photos and info from designboom

back to basics

2009-11-25T23:04:00.003+09:00

‘I believe that in design, 30 percent dignity, 20 percent beauty and 50 percent absurdity are necessary’ -shigeo fukuda 1933-2009

beastly

2009-11-25T11:19:00.006+09:00

there is something viciously hideous about these traditional chinese vessels that look like they have been outfitted with bulky, pastel sci-fi extremities. perhaps it is the lack of unity between the two elements that makes the vessels look awkward but then again perhaps that was artist brendan lee satish tang's exact intention.

this series, entitled‘manga ormolu’is an exploration of globalization in the form of melding high art and low art. by adorning traditional Chinese Ming Dynasty Vases with elements derived from Japanese PopArt and Anime, each new hybrid is a reflection of our reality: modern integration of traditional culture with ever evolving pop culture that at times isn't always seamless or fluid. furthermore it is a commentary on the western's shifting views as 'the orient' becomes more and more culturally relevant.

a much more precise explanation of the 'manga ormolu’project can be found on the artist's site along with his personal motivations for this project.
this quote in particular resonates loudly for me:

"My family history is one of successive generations shedding the markers of ethnic identity in order to succeed in an adopted country – within a few generations this cultural filtration has spanned China, India, Trinidad, Ireland and Canada. Cultural appropriation and assimilation seem like a natural part of my identity, a survival technique not uncommon among ethnic minorities."

therefore although i still find these ceramic mutants aesthetically repulsive, as symbolic cultural ambassadors i can appreciate them.

golden boy

2009-11-24T08:36:00.012+09:00

in december's vogue korea, g-dragon parades around his inner pirate-tranny-chola-genie-native-american-nancyboy. his effeminate mug and frame is quite fitting for the adrogenous eighties uber furs, prints and mega watt accessories and the eurotrash bleached 'do with black roots does the concept justice. i think he's never looked better.

now the question is how long will it be before the legions of g-dragon clotheshorses in seoul peel off their skin tight margiela-esque shredded jeans and leather shrugs for plush leopard car coats and ornate neckpieces...
2 weeks maybe? i'll keep you posted

*is it just me or is the chanel-inspired look with the black flower in his hair and the tailored suiting and sheer cape seem a little astray from the rest of the looks? i don't think the look is actually by chanel but the chains, flower and silhouette remind me a little too much of a young, asian, nubile karl largerfeld. what does that even mean? you tell me
photos from popseoul + allkpop

i didn't know you but i sure wish i did

2009-11-20T15:30:00.003+09:00

my favourite model daul kim, age 20 died in paris thursday morning. death by suicide is speculated.

my perceived notion of daul kim is solely pieced together by the fragments of her blog personality, video diaries and candid photos that she chose to expose via world wide web. my figment of daul kim is that she was one cool girl

video from daul kim's blog.

weave it to believe it

2009-11-09T11:59:00.012+09:00

sunday night i only got four hours of sleep because i was hypnotized by 'good hair' a documentary narrated by chris rock about the multi-billion black hair industry. it premiered at the toronto international film festival this year, but i of course watched it online via grainy ninjavideo style at 2am.

i've always known there is a special bond between black women and their hair: i know about the wonderful world of weaves, wigs, extensions, braids, 'rows and relaxers and i've seen enough episodes of ANTM and tyra to know black manes are hiiiiigh maintenance. however this light doc uncovered some unbe-weaveable facts and i shall now share them with you because they are integral to your growth as a person:

- children as young six year old go to salons to chemically relax their hair which is basically a strong corrosive product that can burn your scalp. it is the only way to make naturally nappy hair into sleek smooth western or asian hair.

- weaves can cost $1000- 3,500! some women would rather spend their money on their weaves than their rent.

- a code name for hair relaxer is 'creamy crack' by women in the know

- black men can judge if they can afford a woman by the quality of their weave (after all they are going to be the ones paying for it...)

- there is an annual black hair dresser competition in atlanta called HAIR BATTLE ROYALE where hair artists use gimmicks like cutting hair underwater to make good show

- more than 80% of the black hair business is owned by non african-americans such as ASIANS specifically koreans
(READ: koreans make more $$ on afro-american hair than afro-americans)

- indian hair is the preferred source for weaves and are imported from temples in india

and that's that. go downlo- watch it!

heartbreaker

2009-11-04T22:09:00.009+09:00

first prize

2009-10-28T16:46:00.005+09:00

i forgot this one. now shinee isn't a new boyband but this is their latest come back single which was released the same week as the other two.
even though i have an extrmely high tolerance for shitty kpop, i could barely get through this video/song. so if you can, i will give you a prize. seriously. i warned you

oh no

2009-10-27T14:39:00.004+09:00

it's been awhile, i'm sure you've been itching to know the latest in the wonderfully manufactured world of kpop. here we are:

i find it abnormally fascinating(?)disturbing(?) that the korean entertainment industry mass produces adolescent boys with perms and plastic noses to seduce the public every few months. they usually come with alot of hype, a catchy hook and more sequins and studs than a cher concert. there's nothing quite like peeping rock solid abs on a 6 foot 130lbs pound seventeen year old.
_so are you blaq or a BEAST?

c'était un vendredi après-midi agréable

2009-10-25T23:27:00.006+09:00

"pizza hut pour le diner?"
"oui oui oui!"

i design_SDO 2009

2009-10-25T21:57:00.028+09:00

so i missed the seoul design olympiad last year out of shear ignorance so this year i made sure to zip on some flat shoes and make it out to the jamsil stadium for a full afternoon of exploring. this year's theme was i design! encouraging everyone to be designers and design conscious.

as the h1N1 flu is still very much alive and kicking in korea, all spectators were greeted with a double assault of anti bacterial spray upon entering the stadium. it was slightly jarring and felt like we were about to enter a highly sensitive domain...

SDO is an annual event that provides four components of design awareness: an exhibition, conference, competition and festival. i was only able to explore the exhibition which was further broken down into sub tangents like design market, tech and materials, enviro-design and student exhibits (among others). here is my limited narrative of my viewings.

there was alot of space dedicated to innovative product, industrial and packaging design from mostly korean designers. products ranged from kitschy cute (recycled fabric and wood dog stools and benches) to the practical- the all in one table/carrier work office for all your apple products (above).

the most frustrating aspect of the exhibition was the lack of english text to help decipher intriguing products. if they took the time to print out an english map/guide and signage why wouldn't bilingual labels of some sort be mandatory for the exhibitors as well? i mean they throw around konglish like no one's business anyway but when it comes to using english as a communication tool...

like the product below. at first glance it looked like some type of electronic speaker but it turned out to be a toothbrush sanitizer that can be plugged into a usb port (thanks to my co-teacher's translation).

there was also an auction of industrial goods up for bid to support a charity (can't remember which YIKES) which is always a nice pinch of social awareness for good measure. i love these shark fin shakers. in my own mind's eye they are killer whale fins. imagine them on a midnight blue glass surface...

the design brand market was for mainly small designed products for sale from independent vendors or small scale businesses. i think these photos are a mix of auction goods and commercial products but you get the idea. at some tables the designers were still painting or cutting out their one of a kind goods.

am i the only one that loves these goldfish plastic bags? maybe because i've never carried a goldfish in a baggie before thus this product creates an artificial bubble of nostalgia for me.

seen it done but still fun. and a little dirty no?

definitely the most tactile section of the exhibit was the future materials and technology section. this area was aimed at designers who were looking for material/tech suppliers. almost like a breeding ground for long lost soulmates: cool tech with no direction and designers with ideas and nothing tangible. let the mating begin!

there were lots of enviro-friendly materials on display as well as a balance of hi-tech and traditional materials. it was inspiring to see and feel fabrics and textures that were in their rawest froms, just waiting for the right designer to transform it into a little piece of ingenuity.

something about polyuralthan gel makes my heart melt! the possibilities! or maybe i just really enjoyed prodding it.

next was index: design to improve life. this branched into design for the workplace, community, home, body, environment etc. this area showcased innovative concepts and prototypes from all over the globe, of course all introduced in korean.

the hi!light were the post-its that were supplied to provide feedback for any of the products. with my limited korean i read notes that said "really cool idea!" "wow, i like it!"

i thought this type of indirect feedback system melted away a bit of the barrier between the viewer and the coldness of most industrial products that were behind glass cases. it created an open dialogue, further solidifying the year's theme as idesign! anyone and everyone being the i.

one of the winning concepts was PIG 05049 by a pretty blonde european designer (i took a photo of her board but too small to see her name-shame) who basically created a plethora of products from obscure parts of a swine that is normally wasted.

pigskin was made into gelatin leaf that can be used for baking, the bone marrow was made into fine bone china jewelry and the the fatty acids and bone fat was made into a make up foundation. packaged like pork chops sold at your meat market, the concept and execution deserved whatever prize it won (shame again on me T.T)

and next, design grad exhibits!!!!

by this leg of the tour, jums and i were fading away. since this section was outside, as we walked through it got colder and colder. this area was set up for all the major design/visual/communication departments of all the major korean universities/colleges.

from fashion, architecture, industrial, metal work, packaging and motion graphics, it was a nice sampling of graduate projects from the year.

this impressive granite, glass and mirrored maze housed a half dozen design projects by sukmyung women's university's enviro design grad students. read it: 11 girls totally kicked the shit out of all the other schools' exhibits with their manmade design funhaus.

*in the photo above you can sort of see one of the girls. she and her fellow colleagues were huddled around a small table beside their structure casually munching on kimbap. how my heart longed to join them (photos of their projects below)

*sidenote_ alot of the packing design which i didn't photograph used shapes that are seen in traditional korean paper folding. it was interesting to see those techniques applied to modern projects like packaging for oranges or cosmetics. it is always inevitable that the traditional sneak into modern design. i've never seen this technique in canada product design on the market or otherwise

amazingly accurate archetypes of korean youth, especially in hongdae...

this was a little cringe-worthy, especially since on a different sign in the same vicinity it was spelled correctly. see what i mean about the liberal sprinkling of useless konglish..

the end is near!
finally, there were haechis strewn around the grounds. read it for yourself:

this was painfully long and i commend you for getting through it, but truly truly worth checking out. on till thursday october 29 + it's free!!! b^.^b

hooked on a feeling:

2009-10-25T20:03:00.006+09:00

seoul's answer to recycling

near hakdong station
-looks like a tin android toting its groceries

cybersex

2009-10-15T01:30:00.006+09:00

the internet is like a 24 hour-service network of multi-disciplinary whorehouses. whatever you crave you got it.
on standby to give you sleazy dirty pleasure whenever you so demand it.

cheap thrill? how about pay by the hour celebrity junk site. updated every few hours, get bang for your buck. want something a little kinky? how about cyber-ogling the photo diary of a sixteen year old fashion blogger from bondi beach or scrolling down uploaded polaroids of a bleary eyed party girl from brooklyn. what's more of a turn on than the girl next door? if you want to kick it upscale, you can browse the high class shit, luxury online shops are always at your service, reminding you what ultimate fantasies are made of.

don't worry the internet pimpmachine won't cost you anything, just your time and space for critical thought. but as long as the vital organs are being well stimulated, who's keeping track of the other stuff.

well im spent. been serviced all night, time to take a rest i suppose, don't want to be out of commission for tomorrow's scheduled romp.

**note:
-whatever you do, don't get attached, don't fall in love. you're not the only one. remember its servicing every single person that gets a hold of its address. that could be millions a night, more than one at a time. so be safe. use protection. and never forget you are the client.