11.12.08 2
geisha
I bet you guys could see this coming, couldn't you? She's up in the shop...
8.12.08 0
Muji
Muji means "without brand" in Japanese, but you spot a Muji branded object from a mile. They are super clean, super smart, super rational but super cute: they are super Japanese too. And this Christmas, I'd watch out for these:
House gift wrap:
House incense holder:
Cactus container:
28.10.08 1
The most fantastic non-sense: Tuttuki bako
Check this out. Isn't it just great how much fabulous non-sense can we humans come up with (specially Japanese humans). The game is described as a "new interactive toy from japan (that) involves sticking your finger in a hole on the side of the box to interact with a virtual environment".Oh, yes. Sticking fingers is always a good ability to develop.
Via designboom.
25.10.08 1
Kimonos!
I am slowly finding my ways around Oxford, and today i've had a thrifty day. I first passed by Oxfam where they had a special camera sale (including a lomo at 99p! Shame it was the same I have), and then I found a poster pointing to an Alley I didn't even notice, and i found a dozen of elderly ladies selling bits and pieces. But they were closing and I moved on to the Oxfam book fair. Oh, yes. You know that as far as books are concerned, i am a sinner.
And forgive me, readers, for I have sinned. I have bought the catalogue of the Great Japan Exhibition of Art of the Edo period (1600-1868), by the Royal Academy of the Arts. And the main reason were the Kimonos. The impredictability of the colors and patterns and motifs to my western eye! Ihave taken shabby pics of them for you to check them out:
2.9.08 1
Ukiyo-e
People of the blogosphere, I've just returned from a day trip to Barcelona and I've been to see an exhibition about Ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world), Japanese woodblock prints that depict their contemporary culture (17th to 19th-ish centuries). It was divided into different sections: theatre still-lives; sumo ones; female beauty; erotic and lanscape.It has been so beautiful, inspiring and awe-provoking. Absolutely outstanding. We've also been lucky enough to catch a free guide around the show with the most expert young lady. She made us understand how connected the circumstances of the artists were with the political power regenting Japan at the times. (on a funny note, the very explicit erotic prints were forbidden -altought they still circulated- not because of what was shown but because of the couples depicted being from different social casts).
The delicacy and peculiar aesthetics (for an occidental art composition mind set) were totally bewildering.
It's made me confirm I might want to study Art History next.
