WELCOME TO THE HOUSE OF VIKTOR & ROLF…

Welcome to the house of Viktor & Rolf… Excuse the pun, but you would be far pushed to not fall head over heels in amazement at this Viktor & Rolf store in Milan.


The whole store has been turned upside-down - from the window displays to the interior, every detail has been flipped. The chandeliers are on the floor and the welcome mat on the ceiling. Luckily, the clothes are the right way up, so you will not have to climb the walls to get your hands on them. (No matter how fun that sounds, sadly it is not a real life Alice In Wonderland.)


The pair worked with architect Siebe Tettero to create the neoclassical style with a twist and as you can see from the images below, they clearly succeeded in creating a surreal store environment.

[R] DARK

PS. In a timely fashion the Barbican will soon be hosting a V&R retrospective - the first ever in the UK... see http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?ID=7272 for details.

WARHOL IS OVER!

Whilst pounding the streets of East London we came across these thought provoking posters by Amuti who, “specialise in buying and selling contemporary art, rare and first edition books, rock 'n' roll and drug literature, memorabilia and ephemera”.

It is an interesting campaign, as we have lived in an era where Warhol has been the benchmark for art, youth culture and anything slightly creative. Is this the first step of emerging from the Warhol shadow? How many times have the mainstream press waxed lyrical about Bansky being the new AW and how BoomBox was London’s answer to Studio 54..?

joes[a]fiend

MIND YOUR OWN BEESWAX

When we saw this Bee Raw packaging we instantly fell in love with the simplicity of its design. In an age where food packaging is overcomplicated, messy and screaming for attention on the supermarket shelf, Bee Raw is clean, simple and to the point.

“Bee Raw single varietal honey is as unique as its floral source - it can be compared to wine, tea, and coffee in its variety and complexity. Both distinction and quality are becoming a rarity in our culture and Bee Raw's goal is to make high-quality, varietal honeys more readily available to food lovers everywhere.” Bee Raw

joes[a]fiend

BANK HOLIDAY COMES SIX TIMES A YEAR

Charles Csuri at work

Apparently there are many great happenings this weekend in London (and no doubt throughout this green and pleasant land.) To quash any rumours of us becoming a listings guide we are focusing on one small but intriguing event happening on Sunday eve as part of ‘The Long Weekend’ at the Tate Modern.

Early Experiments in Computer Animation is the unambiguous title of this show. According to the Tate, the grand space of the Turbine Hall will be ‘transformed by the pulsating, kinetic and colourful rhythms of these visionary glimpses into the future of cinema.’

Key works by pioneers such as Charles Csuri, Ed Emshwiller, Lillian Schwartz and Stan VanDerBeek will be screened. To cap it all, in true bank holiday spirit the event is entirely free of charge… and then it’s back to work a-g-a-i-n. On Tuesday.

Ps. Check out the rest of ‘The Long Weekend’ itinerary – there’s a few gems in there.

PFH Thompson

FUR-ZINE

Illustration: Fabio Gurjao

Fur is a new publication, monthly exhibition and online gallery that provides a platform for new artists, designers photographers and illustrators.

Illustration: Klaus Schmidt

Photo: Cassia Tabatini
Styling: Fabio Gurjao

The first issue entitled Black and White contains stark photography, animated GIFs and fantastic illustrations. Fur will be throwing a launch party at Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen, June 22nd, hosted by the "Phone in Sick" team. It will include fashion, art, performances, DJs, free drinks and general debauchery.

Photo: Cibelle

Fur has an impressive list of collaborators, clients of whom include Burberry, Hermes, Fleet Ilya, Daft Punk and Pepsi.

They are on the look out for new contributors so why not give them a shout: info@fur.uk.com

joes[a]fiend

THE DECAPITATOR STRIKES AGAIN

London street artist the Decapitator has been dismembering models on the city’s billboards again. The Decapitator's trademark is removing the model’s head and leaving a bloody calling card.

S/he’s latest work can be found where Old Street meets Shoreditch High Street. The victim this time round is a Uniqlo advert for a popup store on Brick Lane.


With Banksy making the front page of the broadsheets, street art is now firmly placed in the satchel of popular culture. We’re wondering how long it will take before a Decapitator styled image lands itself in a glossy fashion magazine… or even on the front of the Telegraph.

joes[a]fiend

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDLANDS

The spiritual home of joes[a]fiend is the scene of our latest discovery, a shop which re-invigorates a whole area with a wag of its tail. Le Chien Et Moi in Nottingham has to be seen to be believed and follows in the city’s tradition for innovative retail environments (we’re thinking Paul Smith’s Willoughby House rather than the Broadmarsh here…. Sorry, getting a bit local on y’all.)


Proprietors Pip and Andrew Bolton (plus live-in basset hound Mulberry) evidently have a great passion for retail and this is clear from the moment you clap eyes on the shop on Derby Road. Inside a haul of objets-trouvé (including Andrew’s old man’s carpentry workbenches) sit amongst well sourced items of the new kind – from beautiful Italian bicycles (by Abici) to French linens and jewellery from Japan, New York and England.


The charming owners cite their love of ‘traditional shops, from old pharmacies to hardware stores’ in informing their interior (and exterior) choices. Unsurprisingly both have backgrounds with Nottingham’s Paul Smith. I have a strong feeling that Nottingham’s favourite son would approve.

www.lechienetmoi.com (under construction at present)

Preferably visit:
Le Chien Et Moi, 60 Derby Road, Nottingham, NG1 5FD. Tel: 0115 979 9199


(All photos by Scene Photography, Nottingham)

PFH Thompson

COUNTERPART CULTURE

We came across this little gem whilst taking an extended lunchtime stroll to Rough Trade on Talbot Road and what a cracker it is! Encased in a neat 7” blank sleeve comes the Counterpart DVD-zine and a delightfully ethereal poster by Hannah Waldron.

joes[a]fiend loved the format so much that we got in touch with the creator and editor of Counterpart, Matt Shires. Here are a few highlights of our Q&A:

How did Counterpart come to exist?

‘A friend and I actually started it in order to promote a band we were working with at the time. I worked in TV so had access to the facilities to produce a DVD-zine. We invited various designers and bands to get on board and, by the time we got to editing, the band we managed ended up on the cutting room floor.’

What piece of confectionery would Counterpart be?

‘A Kinder Surprise – we want each issue to hold something personal to each person who owns it – something you want to keep and can show your kids in the future on holodisc.’

What are Counterpart’s three favourite songs?

‘Today they are: Paul Simon – You Can Call Me Al, Jeffrey Lewis – Heavy Heart and Neutral Milk Hotel – Holland, 1945. Tomorrow they’ll have changed.’

As for the future…?

‘Issue 3 we hope… We’d like to have some low-key presenter type doing features in the style of The Old Grey Whistle Test hosted by Melvyn Bragg but with a twist… Most of all we want to keep changing – both in format and editorially.’

Counterpart Magazine Issue 2 Trailer


http://www.myspace.com/COUNTERPARTMAGAZINE

PFH Thompson

A CRYSTALLINE CLEAR IDEA

How does Kate Moross [not to be confused with Moss] do it? The current darling of the graphics world has already designed a range for Topshop at a mere 21 years of age (amongst an impressive array of other projects.)

So what does this wunderkind do next? Launch a hot record label, that’s what. Isomorphs believes that the artwork should be of the highest standard possible. Also, all releases are on vinyl and, as is par for the course these days, strictly limited.

The latest release [limited to 500 copies and the second to come from the label] is Hearts Revolution. They live by their own motto ‘C.Y.O.A’ (an acronym for Chose Your Own Adventure.) Be sure to check them out.

http://www.myspace.com/heartsrevolution

joes[a]fiend

LIVIN’ THE ALIFE

Cult New York streetwear brand Alife have opened their first store outside of America. The new store is located in Shibuya, Tokyo. Alife are constantly raising the bar within streetwear; whether it's their clothing line or truly inspiring store designs - which can also be seen in New York and Los Angles. Be sure to check out the store if you plan on turning Japanese in the near future.



joes[a]fiend