Cool Hunting
| 21 November 2006view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Box Magazine #5
by Ami Kealoha
Until now, the thinking person's softcore porn, Box Magazine, has (like un-thinking people's porn) been faithfully publishing in an online format only. With the work-themed issue five that launched earlier this month, the year-old publication goes print, featuring over a hundred pages of full-color photos, reviews, a Lady Sovereign interview (pictured above center), articles and illustrations.
Memorable (perhaps even unforgettable) spreads include Diana Krell's series "Fringe Benefits" (pictured above left), CH's party photographer Leo Zacharias' dream-like images (pictured above right) and artist Keith Boardwee's "Purple Squirt," which you'll have to buy Box to see. Look for the 8"x8" green (money-colored) cover in Austin, New York and San Francisco independent bookstores or get it online from Box ($13 for U.S. orders).
Also on Cool Hunting: Unisex Toy, Box Mag Issue 2, Box Mag
The Double Life of Véronique
by Letizia Rossi
Another stunning set from The Criterion Collection, this 2-disc release of The Double Life of Véronique marks the DVD debut of one of the seminal arthouse works of the 1990s, and the last of the major films by director Krzysztof Kieslowski (The Decalogue, Three Colors Trilogy) to make it to DVD. Per Criterion’s impeccable standards of quality, a new high-def transfer was created from the original negative, doing justice to film’s striking visuals, shot through a yellow filter and drained of the color blue, resulting in an otherworldly, sepia-toned tableau. An essential purchase for fans and collectors as well as a great introduction to Kieslowski’s work for neophytes, this set includes three of his early documentary shorts, two documentaries on his career, an insightful and eminently listenable commentary by film scholar Annette Insdorf and a new essay by the "Elvis of cultural theory,” Slavoj Żiżek. Also available from Amazon.
by Michael Talbott
Aurora Robson
by Ami Kealoha
Made from discarded plastic bottles, Brooklyn-based artist Aurora Robson's bulbous hanging sculptures look something like mutant sea creatures. She says her work stems from her interest in enantiodromia—the Jungian theory that the superabundance of any force inevitably produces its opposite—as it applies to psychology, nature and art," in this case referencing the beings that populate her nightmares. Her next exhibition will be at the Pulse Art Fair Miami with Richard Levy Gallery from 7-10 December 2006.
Nike Playstation 3 Airmax
by SummerSeventySix
For the second time, Nike has brought a sneaker to commemorate a Sony Playstation console (the first pair were Playstation Air Force Ones). Like the One Time Only pack, these are a hybrid of Air Max 90s on a 360 sole, and come complete with a 3M reflective hologram Swoosh. Only 24 pairs have been made to mark the launch of the PS3.
via Sole Collector
Digital Wellbeing Labs: Into the Woods
by Ami Kealoha
One of the highlights of the London Design Festival this year was the launch of Digital Wellbeing (DWB) , a retail space that curates a rotating collection of tech-based products based on a theme. For their next installment, "Into the Woods," the folks at DWB gave CH an exclusive sneak preview of the nature-based and nature-inspired items in store before it opens this Thursday, 23 November 2006.
Kicking things off opening night, Owl Project will perform using their iLogs (pictured above, far left), an instrument made from a single piece of wood that records and plays samples. Like the iLog, both Ooms' wooden USB stick and Bless' new wooden cord jewelry (pictured above, left) dress technology up in nature.
Other work that stands out includes Holz Kontor's desktop computers created from fine woods like mahogany and cocobolo (pictured above, right), as well as Jeremy Thorp's Tree.Growth (pictured above, far right), which programs L-systems that biologists use to stimulate growth in plants and colors sourced from your clothing to "grow" an image of a tree. Each print comes with a CD-ROM so you can grow your own trees on your Macbook at home.
