Cool Hunting
| 24 July 2007view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Inakadate Rice Fields
by Tim Yu
Located in southern Japan, around 8,000 Inakadate residents work together to create giant figurative pictures by carefully planting different varieties of rice, sometimes stretching across multiple farming fields.
Since 1993 the residents have taken it upon themselves to select different themes each year. This year the farmers are using the green phase of the rice cultivation to depict motifs of Hokusai's 36 views of Mount Fuji. Unlike crop circles, Inakadate Rice Pictures need to be well-planned from the beginning instead of an afterthought. These works of art are only visible from aerial vantage points until September when the rice will be harvested. More information on the village and the rice fields here.
Angela Singer
by Jacob Resneck
Those not acquainted with New Zealand-based artist and animal rights activist Angela Singer will soon, after a few glances, see what they've been missing.
While a strident activist against all forms of animal cruelty—including vivisection—much of her recent artwork is made from discarded hunting trophies and other taxidermy that strives to illuminate human exploitive tendencies of the rest of the animal kingdom. It's a chilling effect; these carcasses highlight how grotesque natural beauty can become after suffering at the hands of humanity.
With these past exhibitions with titles like "Brand New Wilderness" featured in this year's Auckland Arts Festival and several provocative showings at the Roger Williams Contemporary gallery in Auckland, the English-born painter is currently one of nearly 50 artists featured in " Existence: Life According to Art" featured now through 14 October at The Waikato Museum in Hamilton on the North Island of New Zealand.
Existence, the art exhibit, is an exploration of the ancient question of sentient existence; Descarte's "I think therefore I am..." being a jumping off point. Singer's contribution with her investigation of the divide between human and animal life is an intriguing compliment to the art world in the Southern Hemisphere.
Perks and Mini Open in Shibuya
by Fiona Killackey
Japanese style-starters take note. The Aussie label P.A.M. (aka Perks and Mini), responsible for injecting art and graphics into fashion since 2000, just opened the doors to their brand new store within the department store Parco in the Shibuya district. A globally-respected cult label, P.A.M. made their unique imprint on the fashion industry by going against the grain. They don't follow trends and they mix up each collection with a range of accessories and "bits 'n' bobs" such as posters, travel cushions and eclectic badges. CH caught up with the Aussie duo to find out a little more about fashion, Japan and outer space.
Why did you pick Parco, Shibuya?
They [Parco] approached us to make a store. P.A.M. has some history with Parco. In 2002 they invited us to have an exhibition in their gallery which was amazing for us as we'd seen some great stuff there like James Jarvis, Rita Ackerman and Mike Mills. That show in 2002 was P.A.M.'s first big art show.
How long had you been planning?
We started planning in January and it opened in March.
What did you have to prepare for when opening a store in Japan that you wouldn't have had to think about with your other store in Australia (Someday in Melbourne)?
There were a lot of rules about what you could and couldn't do [in Japan]. I think that's the nature of department stores worldwide. We also found out that recycled materials in Japan are about four times the price of new stuff…it was crazy!
What did the first customer buy?
Not sure. Maybe a Mike Kelley/P.A.M. Toy.
Best thing in your latest collection?
It's too hard to pick. The new collection "Weather Report" is one of our faves to date, lots of cool stuff and a new level of quality.
If you could open another P.A.M. store anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Outer space.
