Calling all local artists: sketchers, painters, photographers, poets, writers, designers, printers or creators of any ilk. Papergirl Brisbane wants YOU to join this cultural initiative and bridge the gap between the wider Brisbane public and the artists who inhabit this fair city. The first step of Papergirl is collecting the works from any creative soul who is willing to give. Secondly, the art is exhibited (currently at White Canvas Gallery). Finally, the pieces are rolled up and distributed en masse by bicycle to random passers-by in Brisbane’s CBD. The idea was first brought to life in Berlin and has since traveled the globe and finally reached the sunshine state. Anybody can participate by submitting art, spreading the good word, assisting the gallery, or helping with bicycle distribution. Perhaps if you are wandering around the city today you will be surprised by the art of giving.
Design
Whether you’re bound to The Bible or not, it’s easy to spend hours gazing upon the beautiful architecture of a church. You could spend an entire day gently running an eye over the intricate carvings of the Gothic Notre-Dame de Paris, with its delicate blackened steeple and Romanesque stained-glass windows, and not see every fine detail. Gijs Van Vaerenbergh, a collaboration between young Belgian architects Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout Van Vaerenbergh, has built a church with this visual experience in mind, transforming the design of a traditional church of Limburg into a piece of public art. Entitled Reading between the Lines, this incredible transparent structure is constructed of 30 tonnes of steel horizontal plates and 200 columns. Positioned amongst the rural landscape of Borgoloon, this majestic piece is part of the Z33 Gallery’s Z-OUT program, bringing art into public space.
Image via Filip DuJardin
A mirror does not always reflect truth. In the eye of the viewer, it can show what they wish to see: who they aspire to be or perhaps who they once were. American photographer Tom Hussey created a set of advertising posters dedicated to a drug designed to treat Alzheimer’s dementia. The series labelled “reflections” offers a glimpse into the world of those suffering memory problems and the daily challenges they face. Through a highly emotive display, the images reveal how Alzheimer’s patients can be trapped by their youth. Another photographer taking a glimpse into the past is Irina Werning with her collection “back to the future“. Irina is a self-confessed old photo fanatic and has taken it upon herself to dig through the archives of family favourites and perfectly recreate the images, sometimes up to 50 years later.
“You make beautiful things out of the dust. You make beautiful things out of us.” This Gungor lyric may be Gospel based, but it also applies perfectly to the subject it is now printed on. At the bottom of grandparents’ wardrobes, in secondhand shops and bouquinistes around the world, once cherished LPs lie waiting to be rediscovered. Some are found and played once more and some are reborn in a new form. American artist Patrick Laurent takes old, dusty records and gives them new life – creating beautiful wall art under the name Quiet Boy Studio. Sketching out lyrics into the circular shape, he designs and paints songs onto disused vinyl. The lyrics themselves, the colour and design are all customisable, meaning you can entrap your favourite musical poetry into a treasurable keepsake.
Sometimes, words alone are not enough to express what we feel. Some turn to music to reveal their emotions, others divulge their inner thoughts through painting, poetry or dance. Still, some choose to say it in llama. When Helvetica feels bourgeoisie or Arial Bold is just too in your face, say it in llama. Send a love letter, write your shopping list or present your thesis with the help of these woolly mammals. Llama font is the creative work of Avery Oldfield and Jack Inscoe. In their mind, everything is better with llamas. How can you argue with that?
Christmas may be done and dusted for another year, but gift giving is a constant that remains throughout the seasons. Birthdays, Mother’s Day, Easter, the Queen’s Birthday, Friday… the occasions are limitless when it comes to gifting. Newcomers to the wrapping paper game, Gift Couture, have created a deliciously themed paper set. Complete with bun, pattie, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, Gift Couture’s Cheeseburger Wrapping is so amazing it doesn’t really matter what’s inside the box! In another food-meets-wrapping twist, the crafty folk at Creature Comforts offer step by step advice on creating beautifully stamped paper using celery. Yes, celery! To top it off, home and lifestyle queen Martha Stewart offers a concise 45 point list on wrapping ideas. You know, just in case hamburger or celery inspired papers aren’t creative enough.
In addition to his unique fashion sense, way with the ladies and penchant for walking around barefoot, Spanish painter Pablo Picasso’s works of art are among some of the world’s most recognisable. But in addition to his iconic cubist paintings, Pablo also extended his creative hand to other mediums including ceramics, sculpture … and light. The archives of LIFE magazine have recently revealed a series of photographs of the enigmatic artist painting with light. From abstract animals and people, to a dazzling vase of flowers, it’s amazing to witness the man’s creativity in action through the movements of the artist himself as his works pour from his imagination. You can view the comprehensive series, photographed by Gjon Mili, here.
Via Retronaut
Product by Process is a fascinating compilation of processes, material and interesting stories about products. It is an attempt to go beyond the polished products and objects that surround us and take a look at how they are manufactured and recycled. In doing so, the video collection highlights some beautiful craft and design, including everything from jeans, knives, chairs, to handmade wooden sunglasses by Capital.
“You have to be willing to grow. Growth is different from something that happens to you. You produce it. You live it. The prerequisites for growth: the openness to experience events and the willingness to be changed by them.” And so begins Bruce Mau Design’s Incomplete Manifesto for Growth. First penned in 1998, the manifesto details 43 suggestions to inspire daily design ventures. Whilst the manifesto is specifically aimed at designers, it could be applied to any aspect of life. Your life philosophy might align with point 29, which encourages you to think with your own mind, and stipulates; ‘Forget technology. Creativity is not device-dependent.’ Or you might be drawn to point 41, which champions the power of laughter. As a designer and a true optimist, Bruce Mau crafts inspiring ideas and fosters dreams.
Image courtesy of Bruce Mau Design.
Traditionally, the garden shed has been somewhat of a refuge – a place to while away the hours in solitude and lose yourself in the simplicity of handiwork. Helsinki architect Ville Hara and designer Linda Bergroth have created a unique twist on the backyard escape. The Greenhouse and Shed Summer House not only offers owners a storage space for prized petunias, but also a place to unwind and enjoy the world around you. Made from Finnish pine and toughened safety glass, with solar panels and reclaimed bricks, the transparent glasshouse can be easily assembled with a screwdriver wherever you may be – making for the perfect lakeside cabin or backyard spare room. There’s also a discreet storage shed at the back where you can stash your possessions to maintain a minimalist aesthetic in the rest of the space. The only problem is that, once you escape to such a precious retreat, you’ll most likely find it hard to tear yourself away.
Image via Drunken House.
How much time do you spend with your mobile phone? Do you keep it beside your bed? Is it the first thing you look at in the morning? As our lives become more dependent on our ever-advancing mobile phones, the technology is infiltrating our lifestyles in ways never thought possible. Biome, a modern-day terrarium by product designer Samuel Wilkinson, uses either a smartphone or iPad technology to control the life of the flowers inside a flora terrarium. Characterised as a design for ‘digital downtime’, Biome was made in response to the speed of life in the digital age. It encourages users to take time out of their schedules to care for their plants. Being able to control water, light, climate and overall nutrients through your technological appendages, there is no reason to forget about your mini-ecosystem.
Image via Inhabitat.
Hiding metaphorical skeletons, stowing away Christmas decor and stockpiling Tupperware. We certainly use our closets for a great number of things, but rarely do our storage spaces reflect artistic merit. Graphic Designer Igor Udushlivy has injected a shot of creativity into the humble wardrobe with his Surreal Hanger. This piece was inspired by The Song of Man by Rene Magritte, a self portrait in which his face is obsurced by a green apple. The iconic image shows that everything we see hides something else and we always want to see what is hidden from plain view.
When trying to solve a problem, develop an idea, or simply soothe the soul, sometimes the best solution is to wander barefoot through the grass. But in a world where our work and leisure balance is off centre, there is often little time to enjoy being out of the office. Designer Pia Wustenberg has created a remedy to this notion with the Garden Rug. Finding a new ground for organic matter within the home or office, Pia – who studied furniture design in Germany – pondered what qualities a living organism could bring to an otherwise inanimate object. The result was a living rug made from an organic material that fosters the germination of mossy green plants inside – perfect for wiggling your toes in while lost in thought. Pia’s manifesto and inspiration as a designer comes from curiosity in daily life and her philosophy that the mind is the main medium in a designer’s toolbox.
An art form that is becoming increasing more accessible, photography is a perfect remedy to quickly revisit lost memories and reminisce about the most inspiring moments of our lives. It gives us the ability to visualise history and experience the beautiful feeling of nostalgia. Panoramic photography, which captures the most of a moment as it is defined by elongated fields of view, candidly encompasses this feeling. German computer engineer Jonas Pfeil’s panoramic ball camera, which is thrown into the air to capture an image at the highest point of flight, is taking the world of photography into a different way of thinking. Jonas’ ingenious idea proves that often the best ideas are often the ones that are simple in nature and fun in application.
Inspired by a story his father told him that taught him the emotional connection that can be made with simple beauty, Richard Seymour found his approach as a designer. He begun to ask himself the question ‘Do we think beauty or do we feel it?’, and realised that the true concept of beauty is really about feeling. Asking people to tap into their emotions and identify the things that connect to your soul and make your heart swell, Richard has infused this philosophy into his design work as part of world-renowned design and innovation company seymourpowell. Working on products and concept for clients such at Virgin Galactic, Guinness and Samsung, Richard and his team dream of ‘emotional functionality’ and creating emotional bonds between a person and a product.
Image via Phorecast.
As the pace of life becomes ever-so rapid, many people are deprived of the absent consciousness and inactivity that characterises sleep. When our lives are full of commitments and looming deadlines, this blissful and natural act is often the first thing we compromise in order to fulfill our duties, leaving us feeling stressed, upset and, ironically, unable to sleep. Taking inspiration from inventor Richard Buckminster Fuller, who practiced Dymaxion Sleeping, architect/artist/scientist/graphic designer Forrest Jessee, has designed a cocoon-style sleeping instrument, which aims to assist us when the desire for an impromptu power nap takes over. With the mimicked comfort of a foam bed, Jessee’s modern-day sleeping bag allows for its users to pass out – anywhere, anytime.
It is often said that gardening decreases stress, acts as a creative release and improves one’s overall satisfaction with life, so it’s a wonder that we don’t spend more time outside, smelling the roses. While the benefits of gardening have been scientifically proven, many people struggle to find the time to be one with nature. Joel Derksen, a multi-disciplined designer residing in Canada, found inspiration in the many benefits of greenery-related activity. Putting his imagination into action, he constructed a contemporary gardening kit that includes everything from rustic gardening tools to an interactive iPhone application and cookbook. Named ‘A Container Gardening Kit’, the concept is intended to rekindle people’s love of a green-thumbed existence that celebrates the environment.
Learning from fellow creatives is an astute way to absorb knowledge, ideas and inspiration. Mitch Olson is co-founder of New Zealand’s largest social gaming company – SmallWorlds – and he is coming to Brisbane to share his knowledge with participants at the Creative3 Forum. At the Creative3 Forum, Mitch will share his story, and explain how his next-generation social game and 3D virtual environment has tripled its revenue and doubled its employees since its inception in 2008. SmallWorlds boasts over six-million registered players and recently attracted $1.8 million in New Zealand Government investment. Learn more about QUT Creative Enterprise Australia – the forum’s host – and register your tickets for the October 26–28 event by clicking here.
Dare to be challenged and enlightened when one of the world’s most inspiring and influential creatives, designer Stefan Sagmeister, explores the future of design and the possibilities of achieving fulfilment as a designer. Headlining at this month’s three day-creative intensive, the Creative3 Forum, Stefan will share his life lessons, his rules for design happiness and why his year-long sabbaticals to rejuvenate and refresh his creative outlook are now design folklore. Stefan’s highly engaging and interactive session will be held on October 27 at 11.45 am at the State Library of Queensland, South Bank. The Creative3 Forum is hosted by QUT Creative Enterprise Australia and offers Australian creative businesses a practical hands-on program, interactive panels and masterclasses, plus the chance to hear first-hand and learn from some of the world’s most inspiring and influential creatives. It’s held between October 26–28 across key cultural locations in Brisbane. Don’t miss your chance to register now.
