Yeeeeees!

Fiiinally something more from the splendid Miike Snow...



Devil's Work

Buttons - antique and collectable at Co- [code]

The great thing about Tokyo is that there are lots of independent shops that specialise in very specific things and Co-[code] is a great example of this. They sell antique and collectable buttons (in the theme of 'imagine and 'creativity' so their website says...), as well as other vintage items, sourcing them from all over the world. I love their vintage suitcases (above)

Co- also hold lots of events and exhibitions. Their latest project, ACT Button, is to raise money for the Great Kanto earthquake which asks people to donate buttons which they will then resell to collect money for the victims of 11/03. Please send any buttons you can to the Tokyo shop address: Mori Building, 1F, 1-8-11, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0031

Co- have a shop in Chiyoda-ku - 1F, 1-8-11 Higashikamida Forest Wave (3 minutes walk from Bakurocho station). For directions check out my Google maps

If you're not in Tokyo you can buy from their online shop (its in Japanese but if you turn on translate in your internet browser you should be able to get the gist!)

Glowing Tourism

Spotted these posters on the way to see a friend in Northern Tokyo - can't remember which station but I've since seen them in a few places since then. I liked them for their bold use of line, colour and mix of black and white half-tone images and initially thought the white parts were glow-in-the-dark so I was surprised to realise, after taking a closer look, that they are a series if tourism posters promoting the areas directly surrounding Fukushima (the site of the infamous nuclear plant meltdown). In the end I was wrong about the glow part and on second thoughts it would have been in pretty poor taste...

So how do you promote an area that is so damaged and now synonymously linked with the scary 'nuclear' word? Is it possible that posters can have an effect on convincing people to visit these areas to see what's on offer when health scares are still a serious worry for many?

Bygone is the era of powerful propoganda posters (although they do have a slight communist feel don't you think?) and with such serious questions raised about safety, I'm not sure how these posters will help improve the situation of the people in the effected prefectures.

Would you visit these areas?

The good, bad and the ugly - The 2012 London Olympic posters

Earlier this month the 2012 Olympic artists' posters were released - a series by contemporary artists from different fields which continues a concept that began with the 1972 Munich games intended to 'represent the intertwining of arts and sports worldwide'. I think it's a great idea that this tradition has been revived for the 2012 games but it's a huge shame that the context wasn't communicated better as the artists have gained a lot of criticism in terms of the posters not being effective visual messages for promoting the games (which they were not intended to be). The artist's were given the brief which "encouraged them to celebrate the Games coming to London and to look at the values of the Olympic or Paralympic Games". Their responses were therefore works of art that show the artist's emotional response towards the games rather than promotional material with communication objectives. Viewed from this perspective I think it is perfectly valid to criticise the work based on artistic merit and subjective choice, rather than as a piece of advertising. As you would probably expect with an fairly open brief given to a group of diverse artists, the responses are erratic, but then you could argue that that is the beauty of the project.

If you're unimpressed with the official versions, there are some other nice alternatives from students at Kingston University on Creative Review.

And here's my own take...

Can you guess my emotional response?

Speedy website - Shinjuku

Thought I would go and check out the fasted painted website in Shinjuku last night after hearing about the idea by agency Party to promote the launch of Toyota's new car. The concept was to create a painted murial and connect it to a live website meaning viewers could interact with the painting online in real time via http://fpw.toyota-digital.com/. So you can stand in front of the billboard and tweet or like on facebook and your message scrolls across the top on an LCD screen. I really liked the idea and thought it looked interesting but have to say it definitely looks better in the video. Should have really remembered that it is being filmed and streamed (including audio) live though when I said that standing next to the mic. Oops. Anyway despite the faux paus I think the idea is definitely innovative and Party show how important it is to bring together Art Directors and technical minds to create innovative campaigns.

All in the name of Thanksgiving

Oh how I do like to jump on any available national holiday and with it being Thanksgiving - and despite being British - as far as I'm concerned today is no exception and therefore fair game for consuming excessive amounts of food and drink. This will be my first thanksgiving dinner with my lovely Tokyo-based American friends so I fancied baking something and have been busy drooling over researching many diet busting recipes and wouldn't mind getting my greedy little hands on some whoopie pie right now...

I wandered past Rag and Bone on Cat Street the other day which reminded me to check out their blog which is where I found this tasty treat. Would bet their entire collection though that Candice doesn't eat any of this crap.

Biatch. Anyway despite good intentions (and not having a frickin oven - why do Japanese places not have ovens goddamnit?) I ended up copping out and buying a box full of donoughts (well they're American aren't they?). After the chow down it's definitely back to yoga tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

Recently I've been...

Trying to ink faces that don't end up looking retarded. This is one of the better ones. Can't make a decision on the hat though. Makes me appreciate all the talented inkers out there like Johanna Basford, Sarah Blake and Mr Frivolous. Clearly lots more practice needed.

Little rain clouds

Ha look at these! To quote the website they are 'lamps in the shape of a cloud that makes rain'. Japanese designer Tadao Shimizu's has created a series for Abovo. Made from washi paper and thin metal rods, I'm sure they're sturdier than they look, but I can't help but think I would break it in about 5 minutes. I can see it now delicately balancing in the corner of my miniature Tokyo apartment looking lovely until I take a wrong footed step from my bed and squash it flat. Shame as think it would have looked nice.

I've read somewhere that cloud motifs are meant to convey happiness and hope (vague fact alert) but I do feel there is something a little bit sad about these adorable lamps. The cloud motif is pretty common in Japan and during a visit to Kyoto recently I found this contemporary design on one of the shopping centres which was woven throughout the building using various colours. The bright turquoise was a striking contrast to the industrial coppers and bare brick work inside. Kyoto was surprising for having these contemporary gems hidden amongst a gazillion temples and shrines.

Watch out Banksy...

            http://thisisnotagraffiti.tumblr.com/

There is something cool but slightly creepy about this senseless drawing bot created by So Kanno and Takahiro Yamaguchi. Powered by a pendulum motion and propelled by a side to side wobble, it can draw random, chaotic lines along walls. The tag could do with a bit of work but I like the way it flares the can. Wonder how long it will be before it's filling up a warehouse in Bristol and selling 'paintings' for millions?

D.I.Y Tokyo

Loved the DIY Dictionary Club exhibition and events this weekend in Shibuya full of geometric prints and colourful workshops. Not sure what the lady with huge chunky knit hat was all about though, unfortunately Google translate struggled with that question...