Cool Hunting Video Presents: Mika Rottenberg

by Cool Hunting Video

For our final video taking a closer look at this year's Whitney Biennial, we travel to the Harlem studio of video artist Mika Rottenberg. Known for videos depicting women engaging in elaborate systems of production that often harvest their own body, Mika shows us the set of her latest piece (and Biennial installation), "Cheese" and tells us the backstory of making the video. We also spend some time at the former brewery talking over her motivations and strategies—from the role that sound plays to finding her actors online.

Also on Cool Hunting: Whitney Biennial, Olaf Breuning

Yang Yi: Uprooted

by Jonah Samson

The Three Gorges Dam project along the Yangtze River in the Hubei province of China is the world's largest engineering and construction site and has displaced over 1.2 million people and destroyed 11 cities. Once completed, the resulting 400 mile long reservoir will supply enough water to generate 84 billion kilowatts-per-hour of electricity. This project has been the at the center of much controversy, as well as the subject for many artists, perhaps most notably Edward Burtynsky.

But for Chinese artist Yang Yi, the Three Gorges Dam has a very personal meaning. Born in a small town overlooking a tributary of the Yangtze River, Yang Yi will see his hometown completely submerged during the last phase of the project in 2009. Striking and haunting him even in his dreams, this sad situation forced him to capture the remaining scenery before it disappears forever, along with his roots and childhood memories. Using both photography and digital techniques, Yang Yi's images depict a ghost town engulfed by water, whose scarce inhabitants (fitted out with masks and snorkels) go about their daily routines like lost souls. Click images for larger sizes and see more after the jump.

Called "Uprooted," the series is now on view at Paris-Beijing Photo Gallery. See below for details.

Uprooted
Through 25 April 2008
Paris-Beijing Photo Gallery
Chaoyangqu
Jiuxianqiaolu 4 hao
Dashanzi 798
Beijing 100015
China
tel. +8610 8459 9263

Incase Hardshell Case

by Ami Kealoha

For insensitive types like me who expect their laptops and iPhones to survive multiple drops and bangs, Incase's Hardshell case is the way to go. Over the past several weeks of use, it's proven itself as the perfect accessory for withstanding my abuse. I've toted my laptop in a variety of bags using a few different modes of transportation and my computer has fared well. Granted, I haven't recently experienced one of my infamous slips but from what I can tell the sturdy case would stand up to a floor spill or a bump against an airline armrest.

Made from injected molded plastic featuring a rubberized "soft-touch" coating, the case comes in two parts that snap onto the laptop. With cutouts for all the appropriate ports, slots, buttons and vents, it's highly functional, only adding the slightest bit of bulk—I can even slip my form-fitting neoprene Côte et Ciel sleeve over it for extra safety. The case does prevent the screen from tilting back at extreme angles but I haven't found it to be too much of a hindrance.

Currently, MacBook versions are available in black, white, red and purple from Incase for $50. A MacBook Pro version will hit stores this May and will fit nearly all 15" and 17" MacBook Pros including the newest. (If you have one of the earliest Pro models from 2006, you may want to double check.)

We've also heard good things about their neoprene MacBook Air sleeve ($35) and the Slider Case ($35) for the iPhone is one of our favorites. (I've had my share of mishaps with my iPhone too.)

Image via Notcot

AMP Winter '08

by Phuong-Cac Nguyen

With much excitement, we bring you an exclusive first look at AMP's new winter '08 collection. The São Paulo street clothing brand that can find no haters took action after encountering a few inspiring subjects. The designers turned to Claude Levi-Strauss' "The Raw and the Cooked," (a book explaining his theory for understanding mythology after his research on South American Indians), the world record Joey Chestnut broke in NYC when he ate 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes and, totally unrelated, the Rubik's cube.

It's hard to see how exactly these translate onto the clothes, but it's beside the point. The prints are still iron-strong and the styles still distinct. Take that, New Rave. I especially love the boxy backpack with argyle-like print, which is repeated in the girls' jumpsuit or guys' blazer. (Click images for detail.)