Moved my blog

was working on moving this blog to a more robust platform. visit my new blog some of the images were messed up during the import, still working on that and drafts of posts that have yet seen the world will be ready once i am done. thanks for your patience. bear with the mess just a little bit.

Vivienne Westwood in Bangkok

Some people adapt themselves to the world, while others adapt the world to themselves. The world goes round because of the latter group. A collaboration between Thailand Creative & Design Center and the Victoria & Albert Museum, the “Vivienne Westwood” exhibition reflects the evolution of her designs—from the outrageous punk rock style of the 70s, to the “neo-romantic” designs inspired by classical costumes during the 80s, and then the one-of-a-kind elegant style since the 90s to the present day, which has earned her world acclaim. Watch the retrospective of Vivienne Westwood, one of the most influential fashion designers of the last 30 years, unfold before your eyes. Vivienne Westwood When: 22 July - 24 September 2006 | 10:30-21:00 Where: Gallery 2, Thailand Creative & Design Center, 6th Fl. The Emporium Shopping Complex. 622 Sukhumvit 24, Bangkok 10110. Thailand

Public Art & Furniture in Roppongi Hills

“Roppongi Hills Public Art & Design Project” was launched to supply a key element in realizing the grand vision of Roppongi Hills as a cultural center in Tokyo. For this large-scale project with the ambitious theme of creating a new and much-needed cultural center in the heart of the city, over twenty world-class artists and designers were specially commissioned to create works to be placed at sites around the community. Transcending the boundary between art and design, the exquisite yet functional works are shaping the creative landscape of this cultural center.

Karim Rashid in Roppongi Hills

sKape KARIM RASHID 2003／GRC, urethane paint 0.7 x 9.0 x 1.94(h)m

sKape is an island of flowing color, designed as an extension of the Tokyo landscape. The signature curvatures of Karim. Really stands out at the same time adding vibrance to the area. The urban landscape of Roppongi Hills contains many specially commissioned works of public art and design, which give the town vibrancy and color while affirming its role as a cultural center. Four of the works were chosen by David Elliott, Director of the Mori Art Museum, which is located within Roppongi Hills. A further three works were selected by architect Fumihiko Maki for installation in and around his TV Asahi building. Shigeru Uchida collaborated with 10 designers to produce 11 custom-made benches and one bus stop, all of which are arranged along a 400m stretch of Roppongi Hills' main street, Keyaki-zaka Dori.

Counter Void

COUNTER VOID TATSUO MIYAJIMA 2003／Neon tube, glass, IC, aluminum, electric wire, etc. 1 unit: 3.2 x 2.2m x 6 figures Commissioned by TV Asahi Directed by MAKI AND ASSOCIATES

Digital numbers on a glass screen excite the imaginations of passersby. The Counter Void is an interesting one; we were fortunate to witness both how it looks during day and night time. The LED flipped from the Black on White to White on Black as soon as it turned dark. Inspirational piece!

Cuddliest Hero of Asia

When at TV Asahi in Roppongi, we couldn't skip visiting our favorite hero of all times - Doraemon. Doraemon (ドラえもん ) by Hiroshi Fujimoto, pen name Fujiko F. Fujio, is a Japanese manga about a robotic cat, Doraemon, who has travelled back in time from the future to aid a schoolboy, Nobita Nobi. The stories first appeared in January 1970. They were simultaneously published in six different magazines. In total, 1,344 of the original stories were created. They are published by Shogakukan under the Ladybug (てんとう虫, Tentōmushi) comics brand, extending to forty-five volumes. They are collected in the Takaoka Central Library, Toyama, Japan, where Fujimoto was born. Doraemon was awarded the grand prize of the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize (手塚治虫文化賞) of 1997. Doraemon Resource

Vestal Monte Carlo

This is a sweet retro-inspired oak-panel design. One of my favorite watch for the season. Remember those old Cadillacs your grandmom/grandpop drove? Vestal

ICFF 2006

Left: Lite Brite Neon > Chandelier | Right: Rubber Dipped Chandelier > Tobias Wong

I checked out the ICFF 2006 today. Lots of interesting furniture and furnishing designs, really a great source of inspiration. Also discovered some new materials for my projects. Going back tomorrow to continue my tour of duty. When: May 20 - 23, 2006 Where: Jacob Javits Convention Center, NYC ICFF

Vagary by Citizen

Vagary is a line of basic watches with basic functions that differentiate themselves with bold and distinctive graphic design, both on the watch face and the exterior form. It says FUN and PARTY all over. It is produced by the Citizen watch company. Vagary

Yellow Ox Mountain黃牛山

YELLOW OX MOUNTAIN USA, 2006, 27 Minutes, Color & B/W Directed by Miao Wang Cinematography by Ian Vollmer This a short documentary that portrays the artistic endeavors and the personal journeys of two such contemporary Chinese artists, Zhang Hongtu and Zhang Jian-Jun, whose lives and work span from the post-Cultural Revolution political environment of China to today's thriving Chinese contemporary art community of New York. They were determined to escape from the artistic leash imposed by the Chinese cultural control. Each represents a different personal background and experience of the Cultural Revolution, and very different reactions expressed through their artwork. Yet, there is a shared sense of constant cultural negotiations as they concurrently look back to their traditions and forward to the multifaceted creative influences of New York. Ian Vollmer the Cinematographer and Zhang Hongtu the Artist happen to be good friends of mine. Director Miao Wang is a talented young filmmaker. Please support. Screenings: Tribeca Underground Film Festival May 3, 2006, 7-9pm—The Park Avenue Screening Room (500 Park Avenue at the SW corner of 59th St.) San Francisco Documentary Film Festival May 21, 2006, 5pm—Women's Building (3543 18th at Valencia) Yellow Ox Mountain is produced by ThreeWatersProductions

Zhang Hongtu in the interview

Zhang Hongtu's work {The Last Banquet}

Zhang Jian-Jun painting