Category Archives: Travel
Vietnamese Crafts
Image via Gone Thrifting
I visited Vietnam a couple of years ago, and I had no idea what incredibly beautiful pieces of artistry I would encounter there. I made so many memories in this beautiful country, but there are a couple of them that I live with. One of them is a lacquered wine bottle holder, and the other is an embroidered shoe bag that I take with me when I travel.
Embroidery and lacquer, it turns out, are two of the crafts that the Vietnamese excel in. The skills needed to create beautiful objects out of thread or tree sap are not learned in art schools, seminars, or workshops, but are ingrained in village culture. Different villages specialize in different crafts, and these crafts are passed on in unending streams that have been gushing forth for many hundreds of years.
And the world has gladly embraced these fruits of Vietnamese creativity. Anybody can partake of this bounty, whether with a budget of a few dollars or a few hundred.
Embroidery
From afar they look like paintings, and it is only when one draws near that the texture of the thread becomes visible. The skill and intricacy of these museum-worthy works are heart-stopping and thrilling.
Vietnamese girl practicing her craft. Photo by Nathalie Mariano.
Gallery of embroidery. Image by Nathalie Mariano.
Image from XQ Vietnam
Image from XQ Vietnam
Sometimes the embroidery is done on sheer silk, and the transparency of the material gives the piece a wondrous ethereal quality.
Image via XQ Vietnam
If framed art pieces are too much commitment, there are a lot of functional objects that are embellished with lovely hand embroidery — tablecloths, table runners bed covers, handbags, underwear travel pouches and shoe bags, just to name a few.
Shoe bag from Vietnam. Image by Nathalie Mariano.
A stall in Benh Tanh Market selling embroidered items. Image by Nathalie Mariano.
Lacquerware
The Vietnamese artisans also express their skills in the “high-brow” and “low-brow”, with the ones that venture into the realm of fine art definitely take more time, skill, and artistry, and therefore cost quite a bit more.
A lacquered art work with an eggshell mosaic depicting a fishing scene. Image via Vietnamese Artwork.
Image via Tudo Art
Image via News Hopper at Sulekha.com
Lacquerware shop. Photo by Nathalie Mariano.
And Vietnam has beautiful lacquer products whose functionality do not diminish their status as beautiful art.
Image via Geoff James
The aforementioned wine bottle holder. Image by Nathalie Mariano.
Another bottle holder, this time with mother of pearl and eggshell inlays. Image via Nathalie Mariano.
For more about lacquerware, check out Midori’s post from the previous month.
Flying Cute Class: Hello Kitty Air
You would have had to been born under a rock to be unfamiliar with Hello Kitty, the adorable character created by Japan’s Sanrio in 1974.
(Photo: Limcorp)
Through brilliant marketing, the company has produced thousands of bright pink Hello Kitty objects for children and adults alike; The Design Tree’s own Nathalie Mariano recently blogged about her past and present interest in the brand’s endearingly cute products.
(Photo: AirTeamImages via Flight Global)
But the obsession has reached new heights, literally, with the introduction of Hello Kitty planes. Sanrio partnered with Taiwanese EVA Airways to launch three Hello Kitty jets in October, 2011. Obviously it has been a popular move, as a few days ago EVA announced that two more planes will be added to the fleet at the end of the month.
EVA didn’t just stick a few logos on the hulls of their aircraft; passengers can expect a full immersion in Hello Kitty world for the duration of their flight, starting with the check-in kiosks. The blinding mix of pink and bows and stars resembles the bedroom of a twelve year-old. I simply cannot imagine a businessman checking in here!
(Photo EVA Airways via Kawaii Kakkoii Sugoi)
During their trip, passengers are introduced to more than 100 specially designed Hello Kitty items, ranging from luggage tags and boarding passes to soap and toilet paper in the washrooms. If this isn’t enough for you, there are also limited edition duty-free products for sale onboard.
(Photo: EVA Airways via Gumship)
For those not obsessed with pink, the cabins are actually a rather lovely, muted shade of grey. And I think the little cushions are adorable and especially welcome in a time when such amenities are disappearing from other carriers.
(Photo: EVA Airways via Greasy)
The children’s meals look delightful and the fact that such an item is available speaks in part to EVA’s target audience for this venture. I don’t travel with children, so I am torn about these flights. Will all the memorabilia keep kids entertained (and quiet) or will they run riot like they would at an amusement park?
(Photo: Popflys)
But EVA hasn’t forgotten the adults onboard. These meals (which I think are for business class) look delectable. Perhaps businessmen in the know will endure the embarrassment of check-in if this is what is waiting for them in transit!
(Photo: If It’s Hip, It’s Here)
The planes run between Taipei, Fukuoka, Narita, Sapporo, Incheon, Hong Kong, and Guam. I’ve never really been the biggest Hello Kitty fan (though I have always wanted the toaster that imprints bread with the a little smiling kitty) but if I was travelling to one of these locations and the price was right, I might give it a try just for novelty’s sake.
(Photo: Kitty Hell)
What about you? Is this a dream flight or your worst nightmare come true?
Spinning Mao
Ceramic statuette of Mao. Image by Greentea Design.
Mao Tse Tung was the Chinese Communist revolutionary who instigated the Chinese revolution and established the People’s Republic of China, and held the nation under his authoritarian control for over 30 years.
Mao button. Image from Cafe Press.
There remains controversy on how he would be portrayed in history. People either love him or loathe him. His regime was pretty barbaric, with the massacre of his enemies, widespread violence and terror, and a purging of everything in Chinese culture that did not serve his purposes — religion, personal wealth, opposing ideologies, and all foreign influences and contributions.
Despite his reputation as monstrous mass murderer, there’s no denying how he has he has made an indelible mark on the Chinese culture and psyche. He has become a kind of a god for many Chinese, who gravitate toward the power that he represented. Portraits of him can be found in many Chinese homes. His speeches are rendered in beautiful calligraphy and proudly hung in public places. Shaoshan, his birthplace, from which emerged the death of Chinese religion, ironically has become a shrine to which thousands make their pilgrimage.
A suite in Hullet House, Hong Kong.
Mao Tse Tung has become a cultural icon that symbolizes China. His face and figure can be found in every souvenir shop in China — where T-shirts, mugs, keychains, refrigerator magnets are emblazoned with his image, sometimes in an absurdly irreverent manner.
Image from Bootstrappin'.
Mickey Mao bust. Image from Say No to Crack.
Image from Cafe Press.
Whether his elevation to the status of icon and element of Chinese art and design has evolved naturally or contrived artificially, Mao Tse Tung’s image has indeed undergone a spin into the artsy and cool.
Andy Warhol's MAO screenprints, 1972.
Print by artist Tom Kristensen
Glitch art by David Szauder
Spring Break Design Destinations
Scene from “Where the Boys Are”
Spring break is something anyone still in school looks forward to, regardless of what you decide to do for its duration. For some it might just be a reprieve from the usually hectic academic schedule and a way to catch up on an increasingly heavy workload, but for the most part many choose to take the time to enjoy some of the first bouts of warm weather for the year.
For the last few years I sadly haven’t really had the chance to do some exploring for spring break and mostly kept it local. For those people who still might be looking for some cool design and art-related destinations, however, I put together a list of some interesting destinations. I hope I get to visit some of these places in the future!
Asia
Towada Arts Center
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The Towada Arts Center is an art and exhibit space located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, north of Tokyo. It’s located in a small town, which, although developed, is still very much a part of the rural Japanese landscape. A visit to Towada would be interesting to see innovative contemporary art installations against the backdrop of traditional Japan.
Europe
Living architecture
Photo from www.bustler.net
Ever wondered what it would be like to live or stay in a space designed by a famous architect? Living Architecture, a social enterprise, gives you the chance to do just that. The collective currently has five houses designed by firms such as MVRDV and David Kohn, with one opening in 2013 designed by Peter Zumthor. The houses themselves are tucked away from an urban setting, but this vacation is definitely all about staying in.
North America, Stop 1
Washington, DC
Image from www.realcourage.org
A few weeks ago, the online magazine GOOD had a feature on 8 cities in America experiencing a boom in arts and design. I was beyond thrilled that DC made it to the list – the nation’s capital really has taken strides in becoming not just political hub, but a cultural center for the United States as well. The museums are overflowing with visitors, and art gallery walls are constantly being refreshed. There are also a number of notable interesting hotels to stay in if you decide to visit – like the Capitol Skyline hotel, which boasts a very mod exterior and lounge inside.
North America, Stop 2
Austin, Texas
http://www.sxsw.com
Photo by Brittany Ryan / SXSW
Another American city on the list was Austin, Texas. I haven’t looked into it too deeply, but one event that happens in Austin every year that is certainly on my list of things to do or see at some point in the future is the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference. SXSW is an annual event that showcases music, film, and interactive design. It was originally more of a music festival, but has grown over the years into a highly anticipated cultural event that heralds new trends in the cultural industries.
North America, Stop 3
Montreal
Photo from Sid Lee http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidlee/
Last year I had the great fortune of participating in the first international conference of the Society for Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD) in Montreal. While the conference location changes every year, last year’s even definitely put Montreal on my map of cultural hubs. Apart from iconic sights such as the Biosphere and the old city, there are numerous art installations and a constant flow of art and design events, such as the Design Montreal Open House. Unsurprisingly, Montreal is a UNESCO city of Design for this reason.
A Visit to LACMA
Last week I was lucky enough to visit sunny California for a conference. While I didn’t have a lot of spare time for sightseeing, I knew that I had to make a trip to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The last time I was in LA, I spent an entire, exhausting day there trying to see as many of the pavilions as I could. This year I limited myself to the Broad Contemporary Art Museum, which was designed by Renzo Piano and opened in 2008.
(Photo: Dipity)
The building reflects the sense of whimsy displayed by many of the artworks inside. If visitors take the outdoor escalator to the third floor, they are rewarded with a remarkable view of the iconic Hollywood sign.
(Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Shafted), Photo: Unframed)
Or one can enter on the ground floor and take the massive glass elevator, which provides an opportunity to examine Barbara Kruger’s three-story installation Untitled (Shafted) up close as it slowly rises and descends.
(Robert Therrien, No Title (Blue Plastic Plates), Photo: Tracey Eckersley)
Currently on display are two of Robert Therrien’s monumental dish sculptures. Much of this artist’s work has focused on transforming everyday items and he often involves a sense of movement. As you walk around the stacks of dishes, they appear to wobble as if they might topple at any moment.
(Chris Burden, Metropolis II, Photo: Tracey Eckersley)
Many of the pieces in the Broad are monumental in scale, none more so than Chris Burden’s kinetic sculpture Metropolis II. Like the dream creation of a ten-year old boy, Metropolis II fills a room with hundreds of structures enveloped by roads and train tracks. Hundreds of cars race around the track providing, as the artist states, “the stress of living in a dynamic, active, and bustling 21st Century city.”
When I first arrived, it wasn’t running (it is on only on for an hour at a time) but I was still struck by the scale of the work and the many small details that caught my eye. However, when I returned to see it in motion, I was truly mesmerized.
(Richard Serra, Band, Photo: Jamie Ratliff)
Richard Serra’s Band provided a more contemplative experience. The large, curving metal sculpture invites visitors to explore its internal spaces, reminiscent of a meditation maze.
I ended my visit to the Broad Contemporary Art Museum by spending some time in the large room that holds only Bruce Nauman’s For Beginners. The viewer is almost overwhelmed by the sound of the artist’s voice as he counts out the various combinations of finger positions shown on the large screen in the center of the room.
(Chris Burden, Urban Light, Photo: Art and Perception)
My time at LACMA was short but extremely rewarding. If, unlike me, you are lucky enough to be there at nightfall, make sure to stop by Urban Light, another installation by Chris Burden. The softly glowing light provides a great contrast to his frantic Metropolis II and it is the perfect spot to quietly contemplate the fantastic artworks in the Broad’s collection.
