The Concepts of Human Life by Muhannad Zidan
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2 september 2010 - Remember playing memory games as a kid? Well, you can start playing it again, but in a fashionable way this time. Flemish photographer Barbara Iweins has been photographing people on the streets of Amsterdam for a while. She takes an hour or two per week to go bother these beautiful human beings at the corner of her house and takes pictures of their heads and legs. Combined, these pictures do not only make a beautiful exhibition, but also a fun and entertaining memory game.
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2 september 2010 - If you are too cool for school you need to stock up at your local Marc Jacobs store. Under the name Book Marc (yes, really) mr. Jacobs is bringing out cases, colored pencils and cool marble patterned tins. You can find all supplies on his website, under special items.
2 september 2010 - Yes… the rumors are true; after collaborations with Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Comme des Garçons and Sonia Rykiel, H&M announces the next collaboration will be with great fashion house Lanvin.
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1 september 2010 - ART
Everyone scribbles a little every once in a while. During a boring phone call the best you can do is make funny little drawings on a post-it notes. Especially fun when you are good at it.
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Everyone scribbles a little every once in a while. During a boring phone call the best you can do is make funny little drawings on a post-it notes. Especially fun when you are good at it.
READ MORE \
31 augustus 2010 - ART
Recently graduated from Kansas City Art Institute, Brian J. Hettler fuses digital images with heavily saturated colors, pop culture and virtual elements. His works are often chaotic, almost disturbingly colorful but definitely create an entirely new image.
Some of Hettler’s pieces are abstracted self-portraits that, according to the artist himself, although he mainly works in digital media, can act as paintings, densely layered, rich in projected surface quality, and built upon the precepts of formalism.
Funny thing is, Hettler draws inspiration from one of Holland’s renowned artists of the past, as he states on his website: ‘I pull inspiration from many places, although in my recent studio practice I have been studying the early paintings of Willem de Kooning and the layering process in which he searched for a resolved and emotionally relevant image.’
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Recently graduated from Kansas City Art Institute, Brian J. Hettler fuses digital images with heavily saturated colors, pop culture and virtual elements. His works are often chaotic, almost disturbingly colorful but definitely create an entirely new image.
Some of Hettler’s pieces are abstracted self-portraits that, according to the artist himself, although he mainly works in digital media, can act as paintings, densely layered, rich in projected surface quality, and built upon the precepts of formalism.
Funny thing is, Hettler draws inspiration from one of Holland’s renowned artists of the past, as he states on his website: ‘I pull inspiration from many places, although in my recent studio practice I have been studying the early paintings of Willem de Kooning and the layering process in which he searched for a resolved and emotionally relevant image.’
VIEW MORE \
31 augustus 2010 - FASHION
While Kate Moss called it quits with her design duties at Topshop, another big brand revealed a little bit more about an upcoming collaboration. While rumors about H&M collaborating with Taiwanese haute couture label Shiatzy Chen were still going until a few weeks ago, breaking news hit BLEND’s headquarters. H&M supposedly reached out to top of the bill luxury brand Bottega Veneta for their annual collection of affordable high fashion.
While the Swedish clothing company didn’t make a statement yet, the brand released two videos that reveal some interesting characteristics of the man and female assigned to work on this special line. Their heavily accented voices, clothes and (according to an alert viewer) even their hands bear striking resemblances to those of Tomas Maier and Carolina Herrera. H&M will announce the designer’s names on September 9th.
While Kate Moss called it quits with her design duties at Topshop, another big brand revealed a little bit more about an upcoming collaboration. While rumors about H&M collaborating with Taiwanese haute couture label Shiatzy Chen were still going until a few weeks ago, breaking news hit BLEND’s headquarters. H&M supposedly reached out to top of the bill luxury brand Bottega Veneta for their annual collection of affordable high fashion.
While the Swedish clothing company didn’t make a statement yet, the brand released two videos that reveal some interesting characteristics of the man and female assigned to work on this special line. Their heavily accented voices, clothes and (according to an alert viewer) even their hands bear striking resemblances to those of Tomas Maier and Carolina Herrera. H&M will announce the designer’s names on September 9th.
31 augustus 2010 - MUSIC
This September, American musician George Lewis Jr. will release his debut album called Forget under the name Twin Shadow. With the sound of this record and his quirky style, Twin Shadow is the personification of the Brooklyn-based band hype. Lewis Jr. is right in the middle of the city’s musical epicenter and clearly knows his way around. The lush, romantic sound of his eighties inspired record received just a little bit extra from everything-I-touch-turns-into-gold production wizard Chris Taylor who's also partially responsible for the success of Grizzly Bear's album Veckatimest.
Today’s Tuesday Tune is the album’s stunner called Slow because it makes Twin Shadow’s dark and deep voice, which bears a striking resemblance to that of The Smith’s front man Morrissey, stand out and take you on a ride through his suburban, bedroom-recorded world of Forget.
This September, American musician George Lewis Jr. will release his debut album called Forget under the name Twin Shadow. With the sound of this record and his quirky style, Twin Shadow is the personification of the Brooklyn-based band hype. Lewis Jr. is right in the middle of the city’s musical epicenter and clearly knows his way around. The lush, romantic sound of his eighties inspired record received just a little bit extra from everything-I-touch-turns-into-gold production wizard Chris Taylor who's also partially responsible for the success of Grizzly Bear's album Veckatimest.
Today’s Tuesday Tune is the album’s stunner called Slow because it makes Twin Shadow’s dark and deep voice, which bears a striking resemblance to that of The Smith’s front man Morrissey, stand out and take you on a ride through his suburban, bedroom-recorded world of Forget.
30 augustus 2010 - ART
Video games are a $40 billion-a-year industry, and have moved well beyond the simulated table tennis world of Pong. But is it art? Film critic Roger Ebert recently argued that video games can never be art. Author and game addict Tom Bissell begs to differ and breaks down his argument in his book Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter. However, the last thing you want to tell a gamer is what their medium can't be. Gaming by definition rails against that sort of arbitrary small-mindedness.
In 'Space Invaders: Art In The Computer Game Environment' the Netherlands Media Art Institute brings art and games culture together. In an artistic, playful yet serious manner, Space Invaders reveals the influence of games on art and society. This group exhibition with Dutch and international media artists examines the increasing blurring of the boundaries between game worlds and reality. In Space Invaders media art works illuminate the migration of the physical world into gaming systems. Conversely, gaming elements are more and more finding their way into physical space. By infiltrating both game environments and real spaces, the artworks clarify the nature and influence of the computer game environments, and provide greater insight into the role that computer games play in contemporary culture.
In short, Space Invaders shows the increasing blurring of the boundaries between the real world and the game world. In this exhibition gaming is more than sitting in front of a screen and playing a game; the relation with the real world is never far away.
Space Invaders: Art In The Computer Game Environment opens on Saturday, August 28th at the Netherlands Media Art Institute. The last day of the exhibition coincides with this year’s museumnight on the 6th of November.
Video games are a $40 billion-a-year industry, and have moved well beyond the simulated table tennis world of Pong. But is it art? Film critic Roger Ebert recently argued that video games can never be art. Author and game addict Tom Bissell begs to differ and breaks down his argument in his book Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter. However, the last thing you want to tell a gamer is what their medium can't be. Gaming by definition rails against that sort of arbitrary small-mindedness.
In 'Space Invaders: Art In The Computer Game Environment' the Netherlands Media Art Institute brings art and games culture together. In an artistic, playful yet serious manner, Space Invaders reveals the influence of games on art and society. This group exhibition with Dutch and international media artists examines the increasing blurring of the boundaries between game worlds and reality. In Space Invaders media art works illuminate the migration of the physical world into gaming systems. Conversely, gaming elements are more and more finding their way into physical space. By infiltrating both game environments and real spaces, the artworks clarify the nature and influence of the computer game environments, and provide greater insight into the role that computer games play in contemporary culture.
In short, Space Invaders shows the increasing blurring of the boundaries between the real world and the game world. In this exhibition gaming is more than sitting in front of a screen and playing a game; the relation with the real world is never far away.
Space Invaders: Art In The Computer Game Environment opens on Saturday, August 28th at the Netherlands Media Art Institute. The last day of the exhibition coincides with this year’s museumnight on the 6th of November.
30 augustus 2010 - FASHION
Argentinian foldable zine VNFold just released its third issue Close To Nature. Buenos Aires-based visionaries Agustin Merlo and Oscar Gómez Poviña founded VNFold; a magazine that you can check out online, open up on a table or hang on your wall.
VNFold’s shoots are beautiful, the content is absolutely renewing with fresh opinions when it comes to style and, not to forget, we’re just big fans of the sympathetic editors behind this fruitful South American concept. For BLEND’s paper issue, which is currently available, we did an interview with VNFold’s Merlo, which you can check out over here. Go to VNFold’s website to view the entire magazine.
To give its readers an impression of what’s going on behind the scenes of its marvelous productions, VNFold put a video online called Last Day Parade, directed by Chrisopher Starbody.
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VNFOLD - ISSUE III - LAST DAY PARADE BY CHRISTOPHER STARBODY from VNFOLD on Vimeo.
Argentinian foldable zine VNFold just released its third issue Close To Nature. Buenos Aires-based visionaries Agustin Merlo and Oscar Gómez Poviña founded VNFold; a magazine that you can check out online, open up on a table or hang on your wall.
VNFold’s shoots are beautiful, the content is absolutely renewing with fresh opinions when it comes to style and, not to forget, we’re just big fans of the sympathetic editors behind this fruitful South American concept. For BLEND’s paper issue, which is currently available, we did an interview with VNFold’s Merlo, which you can check out over here. Go to VNFold’s website to view the entire magazine.
To give its readers an impression of what’s going on behind the scenes of its marvelous productions, VNFold put a video online called Last Day Parade, directed by Chrisopher Starbody.
VIEW MORE \
30 augustus 2010 - FASHION
American designer duo Meghan Lavery & J’aime Lizotte are both natives of Maine and have been collaborating since they met in 1999. Lavery studied tailoring at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC while Lizotte attended Massachusetts College of Art & Design and interned at Armani Exchange.
In the summer of 2009 they found themselves both living in Brooklyn and started working on their new label Shape Shiftr, which was a sort of case study about constant change in silhouette and form motivated by geometry.
The two designers like mixing muted colors with outspoken, lush tones and combine the use of wool and cashmeres with light fabrics such as silk. Their pieces look simple from a distance but are super detailed when viewed up-close. Shape Shiftr’s pieces represent the perfect venture into fall/winter dressing.
VIEW MORE \
American designer duo Meghan Lavery & J’aime Lizotte are both natives of Maine and have been collaborating since they met in 1999. Lavery studied tailoring at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC while Lizotte attended Massachusetts College of Art & Design and interned at Armani Exchange.
In the summer of 2009 they found themselves both living in Brooklyn and started working on their new label Shape Shiftr, which was a sort of case study about constant change in silhouette and form motivated by geometry.
The two designers like mixing muted colors with outspoken, lush tones and combine the use of wool and cashmeres with light fabrics such as silk. Their pieces look simple from a distance but are super detailed when viewed up-close. Shape Shiftr’s pieces represent the perfect venture into fall/winter dressing.
VIEW MORE \
30 augustus 2010 - MUSIC
Multi-instrumental American musician Sufjan Stevens is working on a new album, which will be released this year. In addition to the news he will be releasing this album called The Age of Adz in October, he dropped a first single for the crowd to download for free. This beat-heavy, sensitive yet strong five-minute-song is called I Walked and makes us curious for more.
This announcement and the free download come as a pleasant surprise, as Stevens just released his EP All Delighted People for digital download last week. Detroit-born, Brooklyn-based Stevens collaborated with his friends from indie rock band The National on their album High Violet. In exchange he was allowed to record in the band’s studio and the band will appear on some tracks of Stevens’ upcoming album.
The Age of Adz will be his first full-length album since 2005’s Illinois. Stevens is known for his obsession with outerspace, supernatural and apocalyptic fantasies, that’s why we’re not surprised by the choice of his title; it refers to the apocalyptic paintings of artist Royal Robertson. He used his artwork for the album cover and as general inspiration for the tone of the album.
Multi-instrumental American musician Sufjan Stevens is working on a new album, which will be released this year. In addition to the news he will be releasing this album called The Age of Adz in October, he dropped a first single for the crowd to download for free. This beat-heavy, sensitive yet strong five-minute-song is called I Walked and makes us curious for more.
This announcement and the free download come as a pleasant surprise, as Stevens just released his EP All Delighted People for digital download last week. Detroit-born, Brooklyn-based Stevens collaborated with his friends from indie rock band The National on their album High Violet. In exchange he was allowed to record in the band’s studio and the band will appear on some tracks of Stevens’ upcoming album.
The Age of Adz will be his first full-length album since 2005’s Illinois. Stevens is known for his obsession with outerspace, supernatural and apocalyptic fantasies, that’s why we’re not surprised by the choice of his title; it refers to the apocalyptic paintings of artist Royal Robertson. He used his artwork for the album cover and as general inspiration for the tone of the album.
27 augustus 2010 - FASHION
These extremely high, grey flannel boots are characteristic for Alexander Wang’s ballsy designs. This 25-year-old American fashion designer was born in San Francisco and made his way up in the fashion scene by creating by one gorgeous collection after another.
Wang launched his first full collection of women’s wear in 2007, which caused an immediate buzz in the fashion scene. After winning a 200.000-dollar prize from CDFA/Vogue Fashion Fund his career took a lift. His edgy, somewhat masculine designs are simple but chic and these amazing, high-heeled boots represent his outstanding taste like no other.
These extremely high, grey flannel boots are characteristic for Alexander Wang’s ballsy designs. This 25-year-old American fashion designer was born in San Francisco and made his way up in the fashion scene by creating by one gorgeous collection after another.
Wang launched his first full collection of women’s wear in 2007, which caused an immediate buzz in the fashion scene. After winning a 200.000-dollar prize from CDFA/Vogue Fashion Fund his career took a lift. His edgy, somewhat masculine designs are simple but chic and these amazing, high-heeled boots represent his outstanding taste like no other.
The Concepts of Human Life by Muhannad Zidan
22 maart 2010 - Dankzij een roadtrip via Mitfahrgelegenheit afgelopen weekend, een online initiatief, waarmee georganiseerd kan worden gelift, kwamen we in de auto terecht bij Muhannad Zidan, een Syrisch kunstenaar, die voornamelijk schildert met verf en vuur. Zijn artworks, waarvan sommige gecreëerd zijn met behulp van firepainting, komen voornamelijk tot stand in Berlijn en Aix en Provence, de twee plekken, waar Zidan woonachtig is en zijn emoties vorm geeft.
In zijn werken staan de elementen van het menselijk leven centraal, vertaald in een persoonlijke wereld van beleving, ervaring en betekenis uitgewerkt in impressies van vuur, bloed, beweging en relaties. Een eerste blik op Zidan's schilderijen toont een excessief kleurgebruik in overwegend rood, roze en oranje tinten, voorzien van zwarte contouren die menselijke gedaantes symboliseren. Het overmatig gebruik van de kleur rood kan in verband worden gebracht met emoties als liefde en agressie en staat voor het bloed dat wordt gepompt door het lichaam, waarmee een levenspad wordt afgelegd.
Daarnaast is een voorliefde voor ronde venusvormen alsook rechthoekige lijnen te herkennen in groepen afgebeelde wezens, vaak in trio verhouding, met een overwegend vrouwelijke uitstraling. Een thematiek, die kan worden afgeleid van Zidan's filosofie dat zich in de mens een drietal alterego's bewegen en overeenkomsten lijkt te vertonen met de Freudiaanse psychologie. Hierbinnen staan het 'Es', het 'Ich' en het 'Über-Ich' centraal. Respectievelijk de gedeeltes van de menselijke psyche, die zich laten sturen door de drift (Es), de interactie met de geciviliseerde werkelijkheid (Ich) of de eigen idealen, spirituele doeleinden en de realisatie hiervan in de samenleving (Über-Ich).
Muhannad Zidan werd in 1973 geboren in Damascus en studeerde daar in 1997 af aan de Interior Design Faculty. Zijn firepaint performances en schilderijen waren eerder te bezichtigen in Duitsland, Frankrijk, Syrië, De Verenigde Staten, Noorwegen, Italië en Luxemburg. Op 17 en 18 april zal hij een firepaint performance geven in Kopenhagen in samenwerking met De Koninklijke Deense Academie van de Schone Kunsten.
Daarnaast is een voorliefde voor ronde venusvormen alsook rechthoekige lijnen te herkennen in groepen afgebeelde wezens, vaak in trio verhouding, met een overwegend vrouwelijke uitstraling. Een thematiek, die kan worden afgeleid van Zidan's filosofie dat zich in de mens een drietal alterego's bewegen en overeenkomsten lijkt te vertonen met de Freudiaanse psychologie. Hierbinnen staan het 'Es', het 'Ich' en het 'Über-Ich' centraal. Respectievelijk de gedeeltes van de menselijke psyche, die zich laten sturen door de drift (Es), de interactie met de geciviliseerde werkelijkheid (Ich) of de eigen idealen, spirituele doeleinden en de realisatie hiervan in de samenleving (Über-Ich).
Muhannad Zidan werd in 1973 geboren in Damascus en studeerde daar in 1997 af aan de Interior Design Faculty. Zijn firepaint performances en schilderijen waren eerder te bezichtigen in Duitsland, Frankrijk, Syrië, De Verenigde Staten, Noorwegen, Italië en Luxemburg. Op 17 en 18 april zal hij een firepaint performance geven in Kopenhagen in samenwerking met De Koninklijke Deense Academie van de Schone Kunsten.
