August 2008
28 posts
4 tags
superfuture
With labor day creeping up and summer vacationers squeezing in that last trip before fall, superfuture offers a valuable map tool for the lone traveler. Founded under the premise that one doesn’t always have time to show visiting friends around the city, superfutre is a collection of interactive maps highlighting cool shopping, food, art, hotels and bars for a variety of international...
3 tags
Rotator by Ron Arad for Teuco
Designer Ron Arad has designed a bath for Italian manufacturers Teuco that cleverly transforms into a shower. With no drain, the bath empties its water by rotating it 180 degrees, at which point it becomes a canopy for a shower. Reminiscent of Eero Aarnio’s classic Ball Chair, the shell’s concave shape offers a sense of seclusion whether its in the bath or shower orientation.
Watch...
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Devi Art Foundation, Gurgaon India
This Saturday marks a groundbreaking movement for India; over the weekend the Devi Art Foundation will open its doors, effectively becoming the country’s first museum of comtemporary art. Located in the suburbs of New Dehli, the two floor 7,500 square foot space will house the soon to be pulblic collection of the Poddar family, known for their daring eye and recognition of budding artist....
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LEGO minifigure turns 30
Surprising to say that the little Lego man has hit the big 3-0, now probably older than you, and has barely aged a bit. The man with the little bemused smile was designed by Jens Nygaard Knudsen in 1978 to stand exactly three bricks high, hold a Lego brick in its hand, and to plug stand or sitting on top of other Lego elements. With the ability to instantly change garb from spaceman to knight to...
3 tags
The Movie Billboard Collection
When new films leave the theater, the movie billboards are usually removed and thrown away. The Movie Billboard Collection by ModuLab diverts these vinyl posters from ending up in landfills by recycling them into sturdy, waterproof bags and wallets. Due to the large scale of the original billboards, each bag features extreme close ups of actors and movie lettering that blend into unique, abtract...
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BAMN! Automat, NYC
Ordering a grilled cheese has never been so gratifying. Operating under the slogan, “Satisfaction is automatic!,” BAMN! is the quintessential grab-and-go fast food destination. The establishment is essentially one giant vending machine, offering an assortment of hotly served american and dim-sum items each for $3 or less. Located in the midst of St Marks’ trendy, and often...
2 tags
What are you, Matt Tong?
Matt Tong draws inluence from Polvo, Neil Young, Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, Supertramp, Dinosaur Jr (the early stuff), Richard Brautigan, Dead Meadow, and Big Star. He has a tendancy to drum topless with a large electric fan ontage lest he spontaneously combusts like the numerous drummers of mockumentary legends Spinal Tap.
He is a member of a band that has recently realeased its third album...
4 tags
Fruition, Las Vegas
Las Vegas vintage botique Fruition has relaunched their website, making it easy to browse their eclectic collection of 80s and 90s prints. The new site showcases original pieces from the likes of Gucci and Ralph Lauren as well as colorful collaborations with Jeremy Scott, Dr. Romanelli and Stussy (RIP Stussy NYC).
Check out who’s buying up all the vintage Chanel scarves in their slideshow...
4 tags
4960
Set during the seige of Sarajevo, 4960 is a chilling short film from director Wing Yee Wu, depicting a young man and woman trying to communicate accross the war torn space between them. Raised in Sweeden by Chinese parents, Wu did her undergraduate studies at Central Saint Martins College in London. Her unique, international background is apparent in the film’s tanscendental display of...
3 tags
Sui Jianguo - Made In China
Sculptor Sui Jianguo works with powerful symbols of an antiquated China moving into modernity. His oversized toy red dinosaurs - a visual allusion to imperial China - are the incarnation of a country struggling with its identity as it has become the factory floor of the West.
The artist has said: “The reason I enlarged the toys to such an enormous size is to highlight the political...
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Flower Fire Extinguisher
This ingenious, easy to use Japanese fire extinguisher comes in the form of plastic flowers. In the event of a grease or oil fire, you simply throw the flowers into the pan and they will transform into somesort of film or coffee cake that quickly suffocates the flame. We think.
The best part of this clever safety device is that it magnetically sticks to your fridge for easy access. Watch the...
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Paulson Press
In its conception, Pamela Paulson and Renee Bott founded Paulson Press to facilitate rather than direct an artist, creating an environment where artists can do their best work. Located in Berkeley, California, Paulson Press bagan by teaching workshops in the unique artform of intaglio and printing editions for local artists. The Press gradually expanded its scope and now produces exclusive...
4 tags
Korean Hot Dogs
As with other American inventions, the Koreans inevitably had to go and apply their technological superiority to the beloved hot dog. And then put it on a stick. As it turns out, Seoul is packed full of artisan hot dog vendors. Vendors wrap them in bacon, mashed potato, corn batter or seaweed then invariably deep fry them. Now if only they could freeze and box them, Jimmy Dean would get a run...
5 tags
ACRONYM
Simply put, Acronym makes clothes for the modern ninja. The Munich based design firm focuses only on the essentials: material, form, and function. Striped of all color, Acronym’s innovative outerwear will not only keep you sheilded from the elements due to its superior construction, but it will also allow you to lurk steathly through the shadows. Clever pockets are also meticulously...
3 tags
The Dodos - Visitor
San Franciscan folkists The Dodos are pounding life into an ailing genre. With their raucus Tahitian infused percussions, the band’s latest album, “Visitor”, will certainly raise your heart rate. Drummer Logan Kroeber reportedly strapped tamporines to his shoes for the album’s recording, stomping his way through tribal tracks like “Red and Purple” and...
3 tags
Rack Magazine
Rack是一本覆盖国际街头文化的中英文双语 季刊， 并着重于受亚洲影响的全球青年文化
Rack is a quarterly Chinese/English bilingual publication geared towards covering international street culture with a special emphasis on Asian-influenced youth.
As its clever title suggests, the magazine features seductive photography associated with the general mayhem of graffiti, skateboarding and hip hop but with a Chinese twist.
Flip through...
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Weardrobe
Weardrobe is an online closet where you can add your favorite clothes to a cyber closet, upload pictures of yourself wearing them, and share those photos with friends. A cool feature is that you can search photos by items, so if you need inspiration, you can see how other people pair a white dress shirt with jeans.
As shallow as taking photos of yourself is, sometimes you just look too good not...
4 tags
Concepts, Cambridge MA
Originally established in 1996, Concepts was a pioneer as the first ever shop-within-a-shop. Focused on fashion-forward apparel infused with skate/snow gear, Concepts paved the way, and today the combination has become a normal retail practice. Concepts has evolved into a key component in the retail world, displaying influential premium designer product, exclusive collaborations and limited...
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In Search of the Greatest Dumpling: Dumpling Man,...
Dumpling Man chef-owner Lucas Lin spent an entire year researching the fine art of tang-mian, the northern-Chinese technique of making the dough with boiling water for superior texture and flavor. The results of his hard work become evident when taking a bite into one of his dumplings; as a friend put it, “The texture is…weird.” It is a bit “weird” when you are...
3 tags
Slippers for the Rest of Us
A good pair of slippers is a must in this age of global warming. Light and affordable, slippers (flip-flops) are the most practical way to stay cool while keeping a reasonable barrier between you and the ground. Here are several alternatives to your standard Havianas and Rainbows that will keep it casual without that frat boy aesthetic.
Trying to maintian that badass bitch persona sans socks?...
4 tags
Monkey Journey to the West - Album
If you missed the acrobatic opera spectacular that was Monkey Journey to the West, put on by Gorillaz creators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, you can now experience the music with the release of the show’s soundtrack. Composer Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz, The Good the Bad and the Queen) lends his synth pop fingerprints to the production’s music, however his immediate pressence is...
6 tags
The Rockwell Shop
Illustrator Parra Rockwell knows how to work the market. His hand drawn graphics can be seen plastered on just about anything that can be sold; from posters to skate decks to limited quantity sneakers. Thankfully, the Rockwell shop has been organized by color for those who are seeking the perfect t-shirt to match their Alife mids. Each color’s page (Black and Blue shown above) displays...
1 tag
Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off the Lavender...
Let’s not beat around the bush, this is an emo album. But don’t let labels deter you from this lovable Star Wars geek. What sets this debut solo effort from former Test Icicles man Devonte Hynes apart from his moody Midwestern counterparts is the accessibility of his soulful lyrics. In his anthem for longing, All My Friends are Listening to Crunk, Hynes sings, “Come over I just...
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鉄コン筋クリート (Tekkonkinkreet)
Tekkonkinkreet tells the plainspoken tale of “good and evil” set against a surreal urban landscape constructed from vivid colors, skewed angles, and a childlike imagination. American born director Michael Arias’ immerses his audience in the fantastic, highly stylized environment through his devotion to design and detail. Before animation of the film began, Arias and his team of...
3 tags
Maui & Sons for Opening Ceremony
As a child that grew up in ill-fitting hand-me-downs I am overjoyed by the relaunch of classic surf brand Maui & Sons. With a boost from LA based Opening Ceremony, the t-shirts and board shorts feature the vintage Maui & Sons graphics and colors, which are just as rooted in the 80s as the memories of my older brother shredding the bowl. The only difference this time around is that the...
4 tags
3 Na Massa
Three Na Massa was founded by São Paulo natives Rica Amabis, Pupillo and Sucinto Silva. The trio takes their name from a phrase that loosely translates to “in the dough,” an expression used to describe something that makes your mouth water in expectation of a special treat. Special indeed, the band’s concept for the album is women.
Enlisting the sensual vocals of some of...
What Are You?
For the exotic, displaced, and eclectic. For those who are unique but can seemingly be from anywhere. For those who cannot accurately discribe themselves by checking “all that apply.” And for anyone who has ever been asked:
What are you?
Ha/f Culuture is a collection of articles and artifacts that celebrate the eccentric and multicolored; what is niether here nor there.