~ like ~ Yuken Teruya

yuken teruya is an artist based in new york. he loves manipulating everyday objects which are then later exploited through traditional craft techniques ; creating detailed and intricate artworks.

i might even categorized his works into sustainability as the fact that his works always explore issues of the growing consumerism in the society today - placing his concerns and responses with current threat in globalism. 

  

i came across to his works while doing research for my assignments many years back. yup, uni again (>ε<)

yuken teruya has several sculpture series (using different medias) throughout his projects.  they are all very remarkable.

nevertheless the following series which i would love to share include his utilization of paper bags, toilet rolls and books - cutting tiny detailed trees out from these materials with his delicate hand.


                    notice - forest series 

in this series, yuken teruya create his small enchanting world inside disposable paper bags. elaborate shapes of tree branches were cut and created without adding anything at all. he just folded and then placed each cut-out parts in the bags.

Notice – Forest exhibition shot, 7 paper bags from different business fields
Glue and bags, dimensions vary, 2005

in each bag, portrait of a tree was assembled inside.

mcdonald's paper bags

Notice- Forest (McDonald’s paper bag), Paper Bag, Glue, 2005

 "When I studied at art-school, I became enchanted with the ornamental interiors of paper bags and began cutting out shapes with tiny scissors, basing the cuts on photographs of actual trees. The inside of the bag is a perfect place to resurrect the original qualities and spirit of an authentic tree. In here, the tree appears to be situated in the middle of a vivid forest with the light coming in through the hole on the top of the bag, imitating sunlight and shadow. These technical aspects come together in an automated way and give the piece a harmonious rhythm. Starting out, I utilised brown bags, but then I noticed McDonalds, Starbucks and subsequently Christie’s auction house bags. I first thought that the colours of the bag would distract, but then I recognised that they reflect the changing seasons flawlessly. It is captivating to work with commercial bags because you sense their origins, which have then been superseded by perishable sculptural trees. Amalgamating such ideals in the form of minute trees causes confusion and is telling, because it mirrors that people are not just diametrically opposed, they also peacefully coexist." yuken teruya

Golden Arch Parkway McDonald's, paper, glue, 2005

left : blue tree ; right : brown

Golden Arch Parkway McDonald's, paper, glue, 2005

left : yellow ; right : japanese

designer's store bags

paper, glue, 2005, left" LVMH - Le Bon Marche ; right: LVMH - Louis Vuitton

paper, glue, 2005, left: LVMH - Christian Dior ; right: LVMH - Berluti

            

 
              rain forest / corner forest series

For his rain forest and corner forest projects, yuken teruya transformed toilet paper rolls into another beautiful artworks. he carefully cut tree branches; creating remarkable positive and negative images.

rain forest series, toilet paper rolls, 2007

" I appreciate the relationship between form and function and the continuation of different functionalities. When I started Rain Forest, I was intrigued with Aristotle and his philosophy of nature. One particular sentence became embedded in my mind. Relating to the potentiality of nature Aristotle describes how an acorn already has within it the potential to be an oak tree. Similarly a full-grown oak tree is proof of the potentiality of the acorn. Whenever I see a paper product, I remember these words and in my vision and work the props follow the destination of nature because I bring the tree back, thereby expanding on Aristotle’s notion. In the procedure of creating Rain Forest, the round form of the toilet roll resembles a tree trunk and then I start adding to it. Eventually I cut out a woodpecker. It is still a simple paper roll but folded out with a little bird it becomes a tree. It is like making magic. " yuken teruya

corner forest series, toilet paper rolls, 2007

corner forest series, toilet paper rolls, 2006

how magnificent is the cut-out tree silhouettes that support themselves by just using their own weight. these amazing craftsmanship - giving a new life to the lifeless.


looking as fragile as it might be; instead - it shows us the existence and remind us the strength of a tree.


think this post is going way too long （´-`） so i'll be posting another project by yuken teruya which i like very much ♡ 

hope you like them too (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o))

                

(images courtesy from yuken teruya studio & saatchi gallery)

(interview quotes from Asian Art Newspaper)

~ like ~ Wakatsuki Chinatsu

it's the third day of may.

fourth day of the week !

what had i done ?

did some sewing yesterday.

gonna continue some hand-stitching after this (´・ω・｀)

i have been so lacked of blogging for the past few days

ʕ•̫͡ʕ•̫͡ʕ•̫͡ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ

introducing ♪♪

                          wakatsuki chinatsu 

                            若槻       千夏

april 2012

april 2012

a short introduction;

chinatsu is a japanese artist who used to act and sing but now active as a model and producer for her own clothing brand w♥c

multi-talented indeed.

i used to see her in tv shows back during my stay in japan, i think that's when i know her. she is funny, cute. (*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)

but never a deep impression until lately.

she has her own column in some japanese magazines introducing her fashion and coordinates; and that's what took my interest on her.

i just love her styles.

she has one of those quirky styling from head to toe;

likewise she could just pull any looks off (*´▽｀*)

here are some which i had collated;

different coordination;

all my favourites ♪ 

→ → →

 

①　white skirt

 

left to right : March  April  Feb 2012

this look is laid back wearing hard-textured (denim, sweater, jumper) on top and a soft-flowing bottom.

② maxi skirt X sweatshirts

left to right : Oct 2011  Jan 2012  Nov 2011

you can find her a lot in this typical style for autumn-winter-look. baggy; oversized and how comfy.

③ cardi X casual

Feb 2012

how relaxed in a cardi.

④ decorative sweaters

left to right : Oct 2011 Mar 2012

i love these sweaters (≧∇≦)”  don't you ?

⑤ black X chic

left to right : April 2011 Dec 2011

she could be really chic sometimes too.

conquering the black look with accessories.

⑥　denim X denim

left to right : April 2012 Feb 2011

  

rocking with denim on denim.

the trick with this trend is making sure to balance both the fabric weights and the washes of the denim.

⑦ drapery vest

left to right : May 2011 Spet 2011

this particular piece is one of my favourite from her wardrobe.

just caught my eyes at first glance.

the drapery vest minus the fur.

⑧　girlish

left to right : July 2011 May 2012

sometime very feminine; 

with just simple pieces and minimal accessorizing.

⑨　vintage-look inspired

June 2011

i know that she has a love-for-vintage where she would fly overseas for their flee markets, not sure if she still does that.

this piece is actually from her own production line.

April 2012

now i have overloaded this post with photos (´∀`)

most of the items she put on are actually from her own production line, which i think could only be purchased in japan (;_;)”

hope you find her styles inspiring as well.

have a good day ♡

(image courtesy from wakatsuki's blog)

~ like ~ Tim Walker part II

remember Tim Walker ?

read my old post about him if you haven't ( ´∀｀)

here are some other works he did back in 2011 that i love to share

Audrey Marnay, UK, 2011

if you have been reading my blog, i guess you know i'm pretty obsessed with doll-theme  ... and that's what he did for these  amazing images !

Audrey Marnay, UK, 2011

Audrey Marnay, UK, 2011

Kirsi Pyrhonen, UK, 2011

Audrey Marnay, UK, 2011

Audrey Marnay and Kirsi Pyrhonen, UK, 2011

and,

as i mentioned before, i wrote a thesis during my last year in uni examining the elements represented by the dolls and mannequins through the relationship with fashion and through our hands.

i strongly believe that dolls have become a conceptual response of men's desire and also a symbol of life.

for example,

you can see how Tim Walker had adapted and emphasized these patterns into his works above.

women and mannequins are blurred and overlapped by human imagination; filled with endless doubts and uncertainties.

fashion has always been reflecting on the construction of ideas around the body and its display. nonetheless, only a good photograph could convey this message - most apparently through the styling and presentation.

... .... blurred and confused; indirect but related - which is living and which is lifeless ?

hope you like it ♪♪

~ like ~ Yoon Seung Ah for Vogue Girl May 2012

the weather is really gloomy today (－－〆)”

um, just a quick share today 

photos from Vogue Girl Korea May 2012

just love everything from the shoot!

the theme, the clothing, the make-up .

sitting still like a doll (my favorite)

do you like them too?

enjoy your weekend ! 

~ like ~ Alice/ Něco z Alenky

i remember growing up reading children's stories and fairy-tales; watching disney and fairy-tales movies ♡♡

my mum has this really huge, super-thick aged story book containing thousands pages and hundreds of fairy-tales that i love to read over and over. it is the most amazing book you wanna read. i think the book is kept hidden somewhere back at home now. and i'm going to unfold the pages again someday soon.

even though i have been reading and watching lots of happily-ever-after which i love to; i'm also fascinated by the peculiar  adaptation of these stories where the sweetness are striped away by giving them a touch of darkness and fear. possibly uncanny too.

these iconic tales have always been an inspiration and references to the artists.

      
and i would like to share one today ♡
an adaptation of Alice's Adventure in Wonderland.

in fact, i have been looking for this particular adaptation and i finally found it ! ( ´∀｀)
how i came across to this film? that was many years ago in uni-days when i watched it during class. i was very impressed with this version of that it keeps lingering in my mind all these years （´-`）



                               'Alice'


 























Alice (original Czech title is Něco z Alenky, which means 'Something from Alice')is a 1988 film directed by Jan Švankmajer, a Czech filmmaker and artist. This is one of the earlier bizarre version of adaptation from Lewis Carroll's infamous story, and to mention the latest adaptation would be Tim Burton's in 2010
(・ω-｀；)

 

have you watched it?

this particular version is an unusual spin where it explored the fears of children's dreams and imaginations.


you could also find Jan Švankmajer's territory throughout the scenes - he is recognized for his unique stop-motion technique and his capability to make the film surreal yet humorous.

living Alice

in this film, Alice's characteristic is slightly more haunting, in which her world is painted into a sinister theme.

varieties of stop-motion animated creatures had been employed throughout the film; even having Alice manifesting as a doll (when she became small)

doll Alice

still from the film

 

still from the film

these animated creatures have already invited us a reading of surreal manner; creating an ambiguous atmosphere between the living and the inanimate.











so if you are a lover of surrealism, this is one of the not-to-miss film, perhaps?










and i found the full length film in youtube (such excitement!)
sadly there is no subtitles but i wouldn't be too bothered,really o(≧▽≦)o

this film has such expressive images and scenes which actually takes you right through the storyline without much dialogues.

so if you are interested to watch it ♥

hope you enjoy it ♥

~ like ~ fur fur

introducing another japanese label  ~ furfur ~

the creative director behind this label is Koichi Chida.

behind the concept

fur fur ss12 photo by keita sawa

"不完全なもの、はかないものへ
のいとおしさ、
ぼろぼろで歪んだ服の中にあるエレガント。感情のある服作り、
ナチュラルであるという感覚。ファッションという文化を通して
伝え続けていきたいという想い。"
my interpretation
"a fondness towards incomplete and ephemeral things, the elegance found within tattered and distorted clothing。 creating clothing filled with emotion, with a sense of naturalness。 a desire to continue conveying this thought through the culture of fashion。"

i think this label was actually founded around 2005 under the brand name 'FUR Label' and had its first tokyo collection debut in 2007♪♪

the name was changed the following year in 2008 to what people know nowadays ~ 'furfur'. from what i have learn from its website, furfur did and still does a lot of collaborations with other well-known labels; not forgetting to mention a few like UGG, The North Face and Lee.

the latest collection from fur fur is autumn/winter 2012-13; which is very much inspired by the 1920s silhouette.

fur fur autumn/winter 2012-13

fur fur autumn/winter 2012-13

this particular collection is slightly different from what was created previously; powerful maybe? i guess it was the choice of fabrications and minimalism uses of its trademark laces and layers; together with the styling which is emphasized through the drop-waists belted look.

just in case you are wondering about 1920s fashion, it's also called the flapper-look (emerged around the mid 20s), or 'garçonne' as the French called. Flat chest, short cropped sleek hair along with a shift dress length just below the knee with lower waistline. this typical boyish-look suggested the enhancing of a new ideal feminine beauty without curves, which was also later pioneered by Coco Chanel.

fur fur spring/summer 2012

fur fur's collection shows on stages are often being exaggerated; usually overwhelmed with extreme and conceptual styling through headpieces, layers and of course the ambiance/background music of the stage - undeniably showing another expression of the clothing.

fur fur spring/summer 2012

fur fur spring/summer 2012

it took me some time finding the other photos and figuring out which pieces belong to which (ノ∀｀)

in 2010, a sub-label was created ~ YOiM ~

fur fur X YOiM autumn 2012

fur fur X YOiM autumn 2012

fur fur X YOiM summer 2012

fur fur X YOiM summer 2012

here is a video about fur fur spring/summer 2010 backstage, and designer talking about her inspiration for the collection, it's been translated in english (*´ω｀*)”

(collections image courtesy from tokyo mercedes benz fashionweek)

(look books image courtesy from zozotown)

visit fur fur homepage if you are interested to view its collection shows video ♡

it's anzac day tomorrow here in australia so happy holiday to you-who-is-from australia ♪♪

hope you like it ！ ！

~ like ~ Jeremy Scott X Adidas Originals

my fashion style.

i considered myself quite diverse in choices;

either it be soft feminine or hard funky look

i was obsessed with punk years ago and chose to write a thesis about it back in my study years, now talked about vivienne westwood - the queen of punk (;_;)” 

(but i had never dressed like one.. even though i would like to, maybe someday?)

maybe those funky hard rock style is the inner part of me;

but i choose to dress up more to the feminine look, otherwise?

what's your style?

anyway.

just a short post cause i wanna get back on track with my pattern cutting ♪( ´▽｀)

i never am quite a sporty person in dressing up but i would love to have a few pieces of these from Jeremy Scott X Adidas Originals.
nowadays, sportswear are usually taken to the edge through collaboration with designers

i admit that i had never paid much attention to designer Jeremy Scott but he does have exceptional amazing works and ideas.

2NE1 for Adidas Original campaign

it was 2NE1(a korean pop group that sing amazingly good and i would highly recommend too!) that got me back to him. 
they would occasionally dressed up in his designs and what's more - a collaboration recently where Jeremy Scott had taken inspiration from their flamboyant music, personality and styles.

2NE1 for Adidas Original campaign

2NE1 for Adidas Original campaign

1st Look Magazine X Jeremy Scott Adidas Originals

1st Look Magazine X Jeremy Scott Adidas Originals

not everyone can pull his design off, but that's not the case for 2NE1 ♪♪

also
check out an exclusive interview for NYLON JAPAN;

Jeremy Scott showing his collaboration collection with Adidas Originals; talking about his ideas and favorites.

 

do you like them too?



hope you have a lovely weekend ♪♪


(image courtesy from Adidas Original and 1st Look Magazine)