BERNDNAUT SMILDE is a prolific young Dutch artist from Amsterdam who deals with transitional spaces, corridors, staircases and well, clouds. Beautifully momentary clouds that are created through the alchemy of smoke, moisture, and spot lighting. As Smilde himself says of his installations, which were developed for the online gallery probe, give form to “physical presence found within transitional space.”
Category: CURIO
Barefoot in the Park: Swiss Protection Sock
On the heels (excuse the pun) of the barefoot trend such as Vibrams 5-fingers shoes come the Swiss Protection sock developed with Kevlar (of bullet proof vest origins) and laminated with PVC for further protection. Not for everyone but possibly the solution for a variety of water sports and such. Running on tacks and glass is probably not recommended.
It brings new meaning to casual and “socks with sandals” notoriety and may become as annoying as the ubiquitous Croc but comfort is obviously the new black. Enjoy.
See more at:Swiss Barefoot Co.
Rumplestilskin: The Art of Spinning Gold
True luxury has only one color – gold. A nanometer-thin layer of pure gold now lends ties and pocket handkerchiefs that authentic gold sheen, thanks to a new Empa-developed process. The yarn, which is coated using a high-tech plasma process, is soft and easy to weave. It is also washing machine compatible. A limited number of gold ties will be placed on the market before Christmas, making a truly exclusive present. Further fashion accessories will follow in 2012.
Caption: Tie, bow-tie and pocket handkerchief made of high-tech gold fabric. Plating: 8 grams of 24 carat pure gold for 7500 Swiss Francs.
Gold radiates with a violet hue, at least when it is sprayed onto a surface atom by atom, as can be seen by looking into a plasma coating plant when in operation. This particular plant, which is about as large as a household refrigerator, can be found on the premises of the Tersuisse spinning mill in Emmen. Inside the apparatus a piece of gold is bombarded with fast moving argon ions which knock atoms off the metal surface. These gold atoms fly off and land on a polyester fiber which is slowly pulled through the machine. This is the beginning of the production process which for the first time in the world creates a textile material permanently coated with a durable layer of gold. The precious metal remains attached to the fiber even when it is rolled, kinked, woven in a loom and given a final wash.
The culmination of 10 years of research work
The textile specialists at Empa in St Gallen had been researching for ten years to find a method of finely dividing titanium, aluminium, steel, copper and silver and then allowing these powdered metals in atomic form to rain onto polyester fibers. Originally the project aimed to create silver coated fibers, for which there were ready markets. Silver coated fibers possess an antibacterial effect, something which is of interest to sock manufacturers. In addition fashion designers were seeking durable silver coated textiles. And furthermore, silver conducts electricity extremely well, making the Empa-developed fiber eminently suitable for use in various sensors and as an antistatic filter material for industrial applications.
Sooner or later the project partners had the idea that what was possible with silver might also work with gold, so in January 2010 they began work on the “Gold Fiber Project”. Nowadays production in the coating plant has reached a stable level. The first kilometer was generated in the summer of 2011 and in 2012 production is expected to increase further. Further processing of the fiber is completed by two project partners, the Weisbrod-Zuerrer AG spinning mill in Hausen am Albis and the embroidery firm Jakob Schlaepfer in St. Gallen.
The Jakob Schlaepfer company, embroiderers and manufacturers of decorative textiles, will also use the gold yarn for items in its Winter 2012/13 Haute Couture collection.
Please Sir, May I Have Some More?
The AeroShot Pure Energy delivers a fine powder containing vitamin B and 100 mg of caffeine that dissolves instantly in the mouth. That’s around the same amount of caffeine found in one large cup of coffee … without the calories or coffee breath.
Tom Hadfield from Breathable Foods mission statement is “to bring the aesthetic experience of aerosol cuisine to commercial markets.” It can even be taken on an aircraft.
With the new shots, Le Whif and AeroShot, along with the AWOL, means it’s now possible to enjoy some chocolate flavor, get yourself inebriated, then try and sober up with a jolt of caffeine – all without food or beverage actually passing your lips…
see more here: AEROSHOT
Stuff It : Peter Gronquist
From Bio: Peter Gronquist was born in Portland, Oregon in 1979. Growing up in a creative family, he began drawing and painting at a very early age. This led to obsessive artmaking throughout his childhood that continues today. After highschool, Peter attended the School of Visual Arts for two years, then finished his bfa at the San Francisco Art Institute in 2001. Peter currently resides in Oakland California (EAST BAY!) and tries to paint every day.
His latest project just opened in Venice. If only I had more room…
See more here: PETER GRONQUIST
Le Nouveau Parfum: Swallowable Perfume
As if taking a scene from the beautiful French film, “Le Parfum” and reeling it into the 21st Century, a new chapter unfolds.
Introducing, SWALLOWABLE PARFUM, a innovative solution that permits the user to swallow a capsule and produce a fragrance that is generated from WITHIN.
Lucy McRae and synthetic biologist Sheref Mansy from Amsterdam, have produced a capsule with synthetic fragrant lipids that mimic the structure of the fat molecule found in the body, this when those lipids get metabolized by the body’s enzymes, fragrant molecules are released and excreted through the skin’s surface through perspiration. The skin acts like an atomizer for the fragrance and the resulting scent is determined by the individual: current temperature, stress, exercise or sexual arousal. Have a glimpse below:
SWALLOWABLE PARFUM® from Lucy McRae on Vimeo.
Website: http://www.swallowableparfum.com
Contact: Lucy@LucyMcrae.net
Internet: Circa 1969 A brave new world.
How our imaginations must have been stretched at the thought of such sci-fi communication and convenience. We simply don’t realize what a strain normal life must have been like (kidding of course). Here is an excerpt from a flight-of-fancy documentary. It’s pretty accurate! Watching this video on our new fangled computers is all very back to the future…
Air Conditioned Clothing “Kuchofuku” a rage in Japan
Not exactly the most aesthetically pleasing garment around, it is nevertheless a HUGE hit this summer as the Japanese avoid air conditioning and other mod cons amid power shortages in Japan after the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Two electric fans in the jacket can be controlled to draw air in at different speeds, giving the garment a puffed-up look. But this has not deterred those happy to be cool rather than “hot” when it comes to fashion.The fans in the Kuchofuku jacket are connected to a lithium-ion battery pack that lasts for 11 hours on a single charge, consuming only a fraction of the power used by conventional air-conditioning.A standard air-conditioned jacket sells for around 11,000 yen ($140).
Japanese Chilling Jel “Jewelry”
From the quirky minds of Japan, the latest sensory sensation, the eco-energy saving “Hokkyoku Monogatari” turquoise gel that sets on the skin and can be molded into chunky bracelet or necklace…or try Ice Spark that is sprayed n’spread over the skin, decreasing the temperature to freezing and sounding just like crackle pops!
AIRMOUSE by Deanmark
Don’t worry if you can’t or won’t buy the new iPad. You can still have fun and save your wrists on your pc by using the ingenious but rather ungainly “airmouse”.
Technology aside, the aesthetic design could be so much more unless you like looking half-human…
Deanmark founder s Mark Bajramovic and Oren Tessler met in university, where Mark learned first-hand (no pun intended) what it’s like to OD on mousing. “Half way through our first year, I developed a computer mouse related RSI (Repetitive Stress Injury) and lost the use of my right hand and arm for several weeks,” he tells us. According to the company website, the clinically-tested product works by aligning itself with the ligaments of your hand and wrist. This lets you keep your hand in a neutral position, and transmits more of your vector force than would be possible with a regular mouse. Not only does this make it easier on your hand, but it increases your mousing speed and accuracy as well. The mouse is also designed to remain inactive until your hand is placed in a neutral, flat position, so you can easily go back and forth between typing and mousing.
The AirMouse should be available for purchase within the next 6 to 12 months, at a price of $US129.
D+ROPOP Robotic Mannequin. Be very afraid, Kate Moss.
Apart from being made almost entirely made of recycled corrugated cardboard and hence cheap to produce and eco-friendly, the D+ropop is incredibly elegant and will perform a host of new and existing modeling tasks very cost-effectively. At an all-up price of around USD$5500, the D+ropop will work 24/7, won’t throw tantrums, get involved in scandals and damage your brand, or be perpetually late. D+ropop can obviously be customized, painted and re-purposed in many ways, though if there’s a weakness we can see, it’s that the whole model including eight lightweight motors weighs just 6kg, and may fray around the edges a bit if worked hard as a storefront mannequin.
I can see robots playing a significant role in displaying clothes, and how they might hang and “fall” on a human. Like most Japanese robotic companies, it’s difficult to determine an exact cost of ownership for a robot at present, and all of them offer some form of rental – the best I could ascertain regarding D+ropop was that it can be rented for around US$1800 a week.
My Very Own Doppelganger for Christmas
Japanese department store operator Sogo & Seibu have just the thing for you. As part of a New Year’s promotional sale Sogo, Seibu, and Robinson’s department stores will offer people the chance to buy a humanoid robot custom-built to look, move and sound just like themselves. The high-tech doppelgangers will be built by Kokoro, the Japanese robotics firm responsible for a line of Actroid human-like robotic receptionists. Seibu, or Robinson’s department stores from January 1 to 3, 2010. But be warned; only two robots will be available. If more than two orders are received the lucky buyers will be selected by a random lottery. However, with a price tag of 20.1 million yen (US$223,000). Make that an army of me…
Moon rock Christmas present
Looking for the ultimate Christmas gift? How about a limited edition copy of Norman Mailer’s epic tale of the Apollo II journey, including a signed print of Buzz Aldrin for just US$1500? And if that takes your fancy, a Marc Newson designed “Lunar Rock Edition” of Mailer’s tome including your own piece of genuine moon rock is sure to blow you away…and it will only set you back US$90,500.
ÆSTHETIQ 