Sophie Alda is a freelance illustrator, painter and prop maker based in East London. She works primarily in a light pastel tonal palette creating surreal and fantastical compositions. Some of her paintings appear as a fragmented narrative that unfolds in a disjointed, almost dream-like, fashion. Her subject matter covers personal stories, creation mythology and cultural folklore.
Bend is a furniture and product design company based in Los Angeles, California. The company was started by Gaurav Nanda who has always had a fascination with creation and construction. The brand is known for their colourful wire seating, which is “made up of intricate arrangements of wires or lines through a hand crafted method of shaping and spot welding, a process we like to call bending.”
Florian Reischauer is an Austrian-born photographer who currently lives and works in Berlin. Grüß Gott - a fairy tale is a photographic series that was created in and around the town he grew up in as a child. Drawing on childhood memories, narrative motifs and expansive landscapes, Reischauer creates his own nostalgic, non-linear fairy tale populated by strange and interesting individuals.
I recently finished watching an amazing series called Top of the Lake (thanks for the recommendation Terence and Jelena). Here is a brief description of the seven-part miniseries:
“12 years old and 5 months pregnant, Tui Mitcham walks into a freezing lake … then disappears. Robin Griffin is a gutsy but inexperienced detective called in to investigate. As Robin becomes more and more obsessed with the search for Tui, she slowly begins to realize that finding Tui is tantamount to finding herself – a self she has kept well hidden.”
The series was written and directed by Jane Campion and Gerard Lee. Elisabeth Moss (otherwise known as the character of Peggy from Mad Men) plays the troubled detective Robin – the central character of the narrative.
Most of the performances are really strong, giving a nuanced portrait of each character. Holly Hunter plays an eccentric “soothsaying bullshitter” who leads a group of troubled woman on an untouched piece of land ironically called Paradise.
The drama unfolds against the backdrop of rural New Zealand, replete with its epic mountains, large lakes and misty forests. These landscapes become a character in the story telling – captured through shots where characters are dwarfed by their surrroundings. When I watched it, I got the sense that each shot was carefully considered and plotted, the cinematography and art direction is exceptional. It’s interesting, sad, unexpected and I highly recommend you give it a watch.
I’m sick at the moment with some awful chest and head cold thing, which has left me feeling rather grumpy and sorry for myself. Another “side effect” of this is a greatly increased desire for comfort food – this compilation is intended to satiate that desire. It may inspire you too!
Minty Asparagus & Zucchini Frittata
Salted Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream with Chocolate Caramel Sauce
Zosia Dzierzawska is a Polish illustrator based in Milan. She works in a collaborative creative studio called Studio Armad’illo. Her illustration reminds me of artist and children’s book illustrator Carson Ellis. It has a delicate and rich cultural quality about it.
An amazing illustration of Yeah Yeah Yeah’s front woman Karen O by Andrea Fleitas.
Some lovely details from the home of Riikka Kantinkoski, the Finnish photographer and designer behind the awesome Weekday Carnival blog.
This beautiful gathering in Portugal.
Great basics from Neuw Denim’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection.
O Plant Hangers from Ladies & Gentlemen Studio
The work of New York-based, Mexican illustrator Rachel Levit, whose minimal use of colour is most pleasing.
Ginger, citrus and black sesame carrots with avocado and edamame by The First Mess.
Amazing wool blankets from Norwegian textile brand Røros Tweed.
This dapper fellow wearing a Dent De Man suit.
Two elegantly simple pieces from Verse Jewelry.
Photographer Vanessa Püntener took a series of portraits of 13 women from Vilnius, Lithuania. The portraits feature the back of each women’s head adorned with a different head scarf. The project seeks to explore the diverse identities of women in post-Communist Lithuania.
