minirobot

Imagine the whimsical delight in hanging all one’s outerwear on colourful titties…I was so tempted to buy a whole bunch and cover an entire wall with them. Seen at Laboratory Bazaar, I think these nipples belong to Jeroen Wesselink as does the chair below -made from a radiator, it would ensure a toasty bottom.

And miracle of miracles, it is possible to have a poetic toaster.

Dutch design week kicked off on Saturday and is in full swing all week long. Some favourites from the Design Academy graduation show:

Brandmerk by Esther de Groot, a series of pendants playing on a mash-up of iconic logos;

A way to utilize and engage the ceiling, by Pieter De Caluwe;

Björn Rooijackers‘ On its own vase lets the floral form take all the glory;

Light Facet, a gorgeous wall hanging/room divider/sculpture by Mireille Meijs. The diamonds can be moved to create new shapes, light and shadows.

Corrugated cardboard toy, City in a Box by Patricia Weusten lets children decide how colourful each metropolis can be. The city can be put away easily as the buildings and monuments fit together like a puzzle when folded up.

Steven Kessels‘ Ventilator which uses a fan based on the form of a propellor to circulate air by the use of gears and weight.

Christmas trees for the unsentimental with a sense of humour. One Pop-out Tree can be placed neatly in a corner, two against a wall, three for the full tree experience. By Simeon van Tellingen.

Wieland Vogel’s beautiful halo-like hanging lamp which can be expanded and contracted. At its widest, it looks like a halo, creating a very ethereal look. I love the juxtaposition of the lightness of the lamp (no pun intended) with its very industrial materials.

Pump Up chairs by Nacho Carbonell that inflate friendly companions as you lounge. It’s super cute how the animals deflate when you get up off the chair…shrinking with loneliness.

I picked up a book of postcards in Berlin by UK illustrator Andrew Rae, but I couldn’t bear breaking up the set and sending them away. Sadly my favourite one, a simple ‘to do’ list, was noticeably missing from the pack. Menacing and odd illustrations to send only to your worst enemies and best friends.

Medicom Life is distributing the re-production of Herman Makkink’s “Rocking Machine” chair made famous by A Clockwork Orange. Having just completed an exhaustive month doing up my portfolio, I’ve been thinking a great deal about the intersection of art and design -and ultimately the trajectory of my future within it. Here’s a quote from the artist on the creation of the iconic piece and the inclusion of it in the film that I found quite amusing and apt:

“The Rocking Machine and the Christ Unlimited figures were not designed especially for A Clockwork Orange. They formed part of my studio work at the time, and, after seeing them there, Kubrick wanted to use them for the film because they probably had the futuristic look he and his wife wanted.

In the late sixties and early seventies, we, London based artists, felt terribly hip. We didn’t want to fight the establishment so much as shock them.

Pop Art was in full swing and so was the sexual revolution, so I combined a penis with a beautifully shaped female rear in fibre glass. I thought this would be really shocking. I thought I could make the object move by constructing a heavy pendulum swing inside. To my surprise I found that it made an irregular movement, so I exaggerated that by adding extra weights in various places. That resulted in Rocking Machine’s specific jerky motion.”

That jerky motion is forever imprinted on my brain. Hilarious! A marvel of physics, industrial design and art, all at once. But the question still remains: Functional and pragmatic design vs. the fantastical and arty? I should think that both can co-exist.

Looking for a sofa faithful to one’s personality and lifestyle is a difficult task. Finding the perfect model for one’s home and then trying to figure out how to get it from Japan to Eastern Canada is another matter. I simply refuse to submit to yupster furniture and the requisite ridiculously large “luxury” sofas, and this Medicom Life sofa upholstered in a print by Genevieve Gaukler is the perfect antidote. It even retains a certain DIY element that is much appreciated. While I play the waiting game on a particular hunter green cord l-shaped mid-century modern sofa that shall remain nameless, this one comes a close second.

What Matt might call a “warm up” may be an illustration sprint of sorts for us mere mortals. A very nice interpretation indeed; it truly captures the coquettish.  I’m really enjoying the personal renditions of the Facehunter and Sartorialist photographs.

(Gocco print by Loosetooth)

A dear friend recently returned from a stint in Tokyo with a most precious gift, something I had wanted for ages: a Print Gocco. Now instead of spending dull hours printing some gnome holiday cards at the printers, I can now create to my heart’s delight in the comfort of my own home. Although last year’s gnomes had watercolour painted hats, this year’s run will be all handmade love.

I’m reading up on the tips and techniques and I must say I am a little scared of the device. I nearly want to tuck it away under the bed until I am ready to deal with the immense possibility and power of this wee contraption. Matt offered to babysit Gocco for me until I stopped being a scaredycat, but I think I have to seize the opportunity and print, dammit, print!

The morning’s work. I must say, I love silkscreening. A bit slow on the setup, but once everything was ready, it went swimmingly (many thanks to my studio assistant).

Soon to be available in t-shirt form.

Oh how I cooed when I saw this amazing set of plates from Dutch designer, Hella Jongerius. Deer, hippo, snail, rabbit and bird -she’s got her gentle animals covered. I think Mr. Hippo frolicking in a blue flowered sauce is my absolute favourite.

(Mischa Lampert Nana hat)

I recall a Seinfeld episode where George gets Elaine to buy him a Russian sable fur hat on the J. Peterman expense account, and discovers said hat contains great powers for sustaining warmth in the dead of winter that eventually lead George to renounce all winter outerwear in favour of this one mega hat. When trying on winter toques and winter headwear, I must sheepishly admit to using this reference as a barometer of whether or not a hat will hold its own against the harsh (but increasingly less so) winter climate.

A friend recently turned me onto Mischa Lampert, whose beautifully nubby and sculptural knit hats were described by him as “individually perfect,” with thick luxe cashmere and amazing craftsmanship and construction. The designer splits her time between New York, London and Holland -a Dutch sensibility definitely shines through her pieces. I’m particularly fond of her Nana and Fisher XL styles. These hats are enough to make me wish for a brisk winter, and if that’s what it turns out to be, I’m almost convinced this would be all I need to keep warm.