Tamara Kostianovsky: Actus Reus

by Doug Black

"Actus Reus" is the debut solo exhibition of Tamara Kostianovsky, an Israeli artist raised in Argentina and currently living in Brooklyn. The show consists of life-sized animal carcasses painstakingly reconstructed using second-hand clothing, which are all former pieces from the artist's actual wardrobe. The patchwork constructions adopt a remarkably grotesque quality, hanging from meat hooks in an antiseptic gallery space. The exhibition's Latin title translates roughly to "guilty act," which is a term used in court cases to signify criminal liability. This, coupled with the uncompromising appearance, effectively casts a harsh judgment on one of the more gruesome aspects of our animal-centric food service economy. (Click on the images for more detail.)

The exhibition builds on Kostianovsky's past work with corporeal elements. (Previously she made portraits and maps using the her own hair.) "Actus Reus" is also the second installment in a three-part series at Black and White Gallery in Chelsea. Dubbed "The Proper Animal," it features three successive solo exhibitions (by Kostianovsky along with Asja Jung and Julian Montague) that incorporate animal iconography to make ethical statements on human-animal interplay.

Actus Reus
Opening reception: 17 April 2008, 6-8pm
17 April through 24 May 2008
Black and White Gallery
636 West 28th Street
New York, NY 10001 map
tel. +1 212 244 3007

Harry Winston Rare Timepieces x Frédéric Opus 8

by Watchismo

In this era of mechanical one-upmanship, the Opus 8 from Harry Winston Rare Timepieces shone at Baselworld 2008.

Inspired by early electronic LED watches of the 1970s (like the first Hamilton Pulsar), creator Frédéric Garinaud (of Renaud & Papi) and CSH developed the Opus 8 with a new twist on mechanical-digital watches. Pulling the side-lever down activates mechanical pixels to rise up from the digitally segmented dial displaying the hour of the day, am/pm, and indication of minutes by rising five minute markers located in a vertical scale next to the primary display.

My attempts to describe this to you might be complicating matters from what might be best explained with images. I should also compare the functions to the contouring rods of the Pinpression toy, but instead of pressing the pins against your hand or face, the time is reflected by the precisely placed pegs of a music box-style mechanism.

Rumor has it that these were sold out before they being presented (from an edition of 50). Max Büsser's original vision (Opus 1-5) continues to have a lasting impression with this innovative series.

What impresses me most of all has nothing to do with the watch itself but the story of how the Opus 8 was created by neither a watchmaker or a designer but instead a visionary with an absurd and genius idea. For more info, head to Watchismo.

Karim Rashid x Veuve Clicquot Globalight

by Ami Kealoha

Launching tonight as part of Milan's furniture festivities, the latest collaboration with leading designers and the second with blob lord Karim Rashid and Veuve Clicquot is this reinvention of a chandelier in the form of a glowing pink champagne holder that doubles as a cooling tote. The design, an asymmetrical sensual ellipse, was the result of Rashid's initial scribble after asked to meld the immaterial and the material like he'd done with his first project for Veuve, the loveseat. Realizing his doodle was "the idea in itself," the Globalight literally circles the champagne and adds ambient illumination that plays off the pink hue of Ros champagne, for which it was designed.

Bringing lighting experts Zumtobel into the project, the lamp-cum-basket uses technology to light up without heating and in fact keeps bottles at the ideal temperature for up to two hours.

See the wonderfully surreal photos for the campaign after the jump.

Limited to a run of 500 (only 50 of those will be available for the U.S. market), the Globalight will be available on Eclicquot in May for $4,000.

Also on Cool Hunting: Vertical Limit

Judith Supine: Dirt Mansion

by Tim Yu

Opened last Friday,12 April 2008, "Dirt Mansion" at English Kills Art Gallery in Brooklyn is Judith Supine's second show in the New York City area—unless of course you are counting his numerous pieces pasted up throughout the city.

Large installations consisting of his dramatic 20 foot high wooden puppet characters fill the maze-like warehouse space. Glossy psychedelic imagery and bright florals and figures set against a black backdrop mold a theatrical feel. Like most of his work, it's hard to explain so have a look at some more images after the jump.

"Dirt Mansion"
Through 8 June 2008
English Kills Art Gallery
114 Forrest Street
Brooklyn, NY 11206 map
tel. +1 718 366 7323

Images from Hrag Vartanian and Luna Park via Supertouch

Also on Cool Hunting: Judith Supine Gets Wet

Pattern Body Washes

by Letizia Rossi

Since Pattern Body Washes appeared in my bathroom, each shower is a new aromatic experience. The all-natural body washes are made from the finest essential oils and plant extracts without parabens, artificial colors or dyes and are available in four scents, Cucumber, Citrus, Eucalyptus and (my favorite) Black Pepper. The spicy scent is made from herbal extracts and essential oils of black pepper, ylang-ylang and vetiver, which all have antiseptic properties to cleanse the skin while remaining gentle enough not to strip the body of its natural oils. The rich lather has anti-oxidants and vitamin E to protect the skin from environment damage—and is said to stimulate and refresh the mind.

Pattern's motto "Think. Wash. Repeat." is apparent is their thoughtfully-conceived products and the small company aims to do one thing very well. Pattern's products are not tested on animals and are 100 percent vegan. The Body Washes are available online for $20 each or a full-size set of all four for $60 with guaranteed 100% satisfaction.