"Quote of the day" sort of.. :)

SAATCHI GALLERY, what a wonderful place!

I went to Saatchi Gallery on friday, which is a gallery you should go see sometime! They set up new exhibitons regularly and this time they had some disturbing, some beautifull and some surprising art works. Several times I get this thought: "What the hell did this artist think while he did this?!"
Here is a small colletion of what I saw, with short notices on what I thought of them:

SUMMIT by Kris Martin

When you first enter this is what you see; a number of rocks.

Then you move closer to them, and suddenly sees this tiny cross on top of each one of them. The instant feeling I got was how little I suddenly felt. These rocks weren't just rocks anymore, they became mountains.

THE HEALERS by David Altmejd

This sculpture has a lot sexuality to it, in a very bizarre way. I am not sure if I liked it or not, but it made me stay staring at it for several minutes. Anyway, there is no doubt that this is a talented artist. You can see that for yourself in the detailed picture below.

UNTITLED by Dirk Skreber

This is an installation I really loved! It is a full-scale car wrapped around a pole. Have you seen one of these science fiction movies where they freeze a dramatic scene? It felt like you were in the midle of something like that, witnessing a terrible car crash!

20:50 by Richard Wilson

 Ok, this was a surprising installation. I want you to guess what this is before I reveal it. You enter a room with a black floor that is so shiny, without any footprints on it, completly untouched. The room have this strange smell to it, and my throat actually went sore after a few minutes.

Got any idea? No? Look further down.

It was a room filled with 1 meter deep oil!

Have you ever had the feeling of suddenly realise that you are standing on the edge of a steep cliff (or similar)? It makes you want to jump back a few steps. That is how I felt. A sudden uncomfortable feeling rushing through my body.

Hello down there :)

BRUSH! by Angki Purbandono

This was a part of a collection by Indonesian artists. I loved how he used something as simple as only toothbrushes to create this mix of different colours in a simple composition.

Book: Little People In The City

I went to Magma bookstore at Covent Garden this weekend. They have lots of magazines and books covering graphic design, architecture, illustrations, fashion, photography etc. A real candy store for those of us who are interested in anything about design!

The book that catched my eye this time was "Little People In The City" which covers street art by Slinkachu. Easiest way to describe what this book means to me: It gives me a good laugh!

Tea Party!

These are some of the awesome people I met the first day at the Kingston Uni! We were supposed to have a cup of tea(?), but felt more in the mood for a cup of coffee :) We are about 80 - 90 students at the Graphic Design Course (and some with Photography), so I'm really looking forward to get to know you all!

Circle of Memory

I went to an exhibiton in Norway a week ago that truly touched me at a personal level. The exhibiton is called Circle of Memory, created by Eleanor Coppola. To put it briefly the exhibiton was created as a consequence of her son's early death as a 22 year old. Several years later she attends a memorial ceremony in Ireland which inspired her to create Circle of Memory.
This is my experience of it:

 

The exhibiton was set up at a barn and as I enter, there is a three meter high wall of hay surrounding me. At that point I did not actually knew what I was going to see, and did not either know of the background for the exhibiton. My first thought was that it's not that extraordinary to set up high walls of hay.. in a barn..

 

Then I see this monitor standing at the very entrance. It is written:

"Messages left in the straw at Circle of Memory installations - Oakland, San Diego (...)"

This makes me more curious.

 

I'm turning left and walks further into the room. It is all quiet. No sound effects or music playing. Only the sound of footsteps walking across wooden floor.

 I see a women bending over something. She is writing on a small piece of paper.
After a few seconds she gets up, walk towards the wall and fasten the note in the hay.

 

When I get closer I see numerous of notes in the wall.

Each one is telling a message. A message containing lovely words to those who have past away.

 

I spot an entrance, being even more curious as I have no idea what this path would lead me to. The further I get in, the further the darkness encircles me.

I enter a cylinder shaped room covered in total darkness, except for one little spot in the centre. There is continously a small amount of white sand pouring from the ceiling.
Along with the darkness I am being surrounded by calm, soft voices telling their memories of those they have lost. You can't really hear what they are saying, but you still get the feeling of being part of their memories. At the same time, you are able to sit down and memorise yourself.

 I wish I could have stayed inside for much longer, but since I am allergic to hay I had to leave after only a few minutes.

I wrote down my own memory, a message to my grandmother who past away two years ago, stuck it in to the wall of hay and left with a great, peaceful feeling.

Thank you for creating this exhibiton, Eleanor Coppola.

33 Breathtaking Lake Photographs

And since I'm in a "photography mood", check out this link to

33 Breathtaking Lake Photographs! 

:)

Amazing photos by Bjarne Riesto!

I went to an exhibiton in Oslo on Friday to see a collection of Bjarne Riesto's photos. The exhibiton is called "Kyst" (Norwegian, means "Coast") and the work presents a selection of the coast line in Finnmark, Norway.
I believe this is some of the most fantastic photos I've ever seen! I love the strong dark and lighting contrasts, the prominent melancholic expression of the deserted places and in the middle of it you have this few light colorful parts. I think it is genius how he has chosen black and white to strengthen the contrasts of the nature, and at the same time choose to leave some of the photos in color to present how harmonic it all is at the same time.
If they some day are putting up this exhibiton nearby you, go see it!!

 

My favourite:

 

The exhibiton will take place between 8. September - 2. October at Fotografiens Hus in Oslo.
To get some more glimps of Bjarne Riestos works, visit his homepage here.

I came by an inspiring quote today, which will definitely follow me through my study for BA!
Hope it will inspire you to in either way :)

- It can be difficult, the Doubt said 

- It can be risky, the Dread said

- It won't be worthwhile, the Intelligence said 

- Do it anyway, the Heart whispered..

 

Playful typography

I read an article the other day about people who makes their own sausages. 

Or I did not actually read the article, I just skimed through it, but it hit me how "easy" the typography they used was! Almost childish. It looks to me that it's been hand-drawn with colored ink, and you can see the creator has left stains with ink several places.

I think this typography reflects the article very well, considering it is a story about handcrafting!  

And it is nice to see a piece of handcrafted typography sometimes, not just computer made! :)

 

Had to add some pictures of illustrations from the article :)

Oink-oink!

Amazing illustrator

 This is amazing!! Check it out!

  

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Solitude-20102011-A-work-in-progress/954142

Designers Saturday 2011, Oslo!

This weekend Designers Saturday was back in Oslo! 
Designers Saturday Oslo is the only national exhibition event in Norway dedicated to furniture, textiles, lighting, flooring and other interior and design related products aimed at both industry professionals and the wider design aware public. 


This is an untraditional design fair that is been arranged every second year; 180 cutting edge Norwegian, Scandinavian and international exhibitors display their latest offerings.
Of course I had to be there!
Unfortunately I can not show you -everything-, but here is a small selection:

STUDENT PROJECT

"Drivved" by Wang Ting

Why not use the rawmaterial as it is?

STUDENT PROJECT

"Wythered Leas" by Tuva Hellum

STUDENT PROJECT

"Taxiseat" by Camilla Akersveen

Loved how she was inspired by that ugly "wooden roller balls massage blanket" taxi drivers often used in their driving seat, and created this playfulness expression!

Of course I hade to include a picture of the inspiration, for those who is confused in what I am talking about:

Quite impressive how you can make something that ugly look so much better?!

STUDENT PROJECT

"Vidje" by Iris Djupvik

3rd place winner of Student Project!

NORTHERN LIGHTING

"Snakkes" (Norwegian, means "Talk to you later") by Daniel Cortazar

I want some in my future office, used as "idea-drawing-boards"! :D

CATELLANI & SMITH

"PK LED Parete" by Catellani & Smith

A quite simple lamp that casts this beautiful shadows!

More randomly:

Went past this building art, just had to take a picture!

 Just a random window sticker at Vitra; interesting way of presenting a product.