The Peace sign has turned 50 this year.
ArabAd magazine has recently launched its first poster design contest for the Middle East around the notion of peace and as a tribute to its symbol.
All details are here; there is also a Flickr group here...
SALAM to all peace jammers around the world..
PLEASE KEEP THE PEACE ROLLIN', WAR ISN'T AN OPTION...
20080831
tarararam
The cedar tree of the Lebanese flag is the national symbol of Lebanon, eternity and life. As our country gets shaped over the decades by never ending conflicts, maybe it’s time to replace our headstrong cedar with a curling winding twisting spiral. (tarararam) (music of the Lebanese National Anthem).
By Wael Morcos from The Place.
20080830
COKE ROCKS 8x
This is An artistic and cultural exchange like no other and the latest from Coke, Operation~: Coca Cola’s WE8 Project.
What is it all about?
Uniting eight of China's most interesting artists and design firms, and eight of the West's most exciting artists and design firms, and eight of the West's most progressive musicians to interpret the ideas and passions that connect us all--by sharing and expressing one of eight themes:
Happiness; Active; Human collaboration; Peace on Earth; Individual perseverance, Healthy world; Uplifting moments; Global Harmony.
To search out an answer to the questions:
What opens your heart?
What does good fortune look like?
What makes you smile?
What fuels your desire?
How do you live in Harmony with the environment?
What do you wish for the world?
What makes you happiest?
The result?
The result is we8: A vision and soundtrack that celebrates the infinite possibilities that await us when the doors are flung wide-from East to West, from culture, from me to you.
Some of the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous soda packaging bottles ever seen. The eight bottles are already circulating in various markets, and collectors are already rushing to get their hands on these unique Coke limited edition bottles.
The vision and soundtrack are available now "for a whole new world living on the Coke Side of Life."
Moreover, Coca Cola is giving you the opportunity to design your own?
Yep, Coke allows you to input your own designs for others to check out and assess.
Many creations are already on the roll, and you can check it all out at we8.coca-cola.com
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The Peace on Earth Bottle was created by Joyn Viscom.
'Peace = lotus + bottle. Red balloons and white birds morphing from origami airplanes symbolize the message of peace. As messengers, the four children in white are sending the message of peace to people from all over the world.'
The Happiness Bottle was created by Wang Xu.
'The Haha mirror shows happiness you can see. Hahaha is the sound of someone laughing, full of happiness.'The Uplifting Moments Bottle was created by MeWe.
'Now, we are trying to put imagination back to the aluminum bottle. With the gemstones, when the Coca-Cola logo faces you, you discover the word ‘happy.’ And the butterfly bottle symbolizes beauty and the most uplifting moment when its transformation takes place.'The Human Collaboration Bottle was created by Milkxhake.
'Coming from all over the world yet sharing the same sky, we start everything with a loving heart, so that our world will be even more beautiful.'The Active Optimism Bottle was created by Chen Shao-hua.
'Nothing visual can fully represent the multi-faceted meanings of happiness. But the artist turned to popular text messaging and his blog to ask to young Chinese people: What words say happiness to you? He then selected 8, 4-character words, which most represent the idea of happiness among young people, and placed the words in the mouth of the laughing Bodhisattva—a traditionally hilarious Chinese symbol.'The Individual Perseverance Bottle was created by Jiang Hua.
'The horizontally extending pattern is actually Coca-Cola in Chinese characters. They are used to wrap around the bottle. Customers in China might be able to guess its meaning. The geometric pattern also reminds the user of the organic shape of the Coke bottle.'
It's all the same
This is part of an exhibition entitled FREE FOR WALL! part 2 that took place couple of months ago [11th - 28th July] following FREE FOR WALL part I, were The Brick Lane gallery invites street artists to submit work and then go on a show/exhibit with live spray paint performances.
The Artists included were people & collective such as 'Agent Provocateur', Carlos Zuniga-Andrighetti, Ben Lawson, 'Data Done', 'Jen', Max Wiedemann, 'Part2ism', 'R1', Rodrigo Souto, 'Since'...
These visuals are of the 'reflections' series by Finbarr Notte.
The Brick Lane Gallery has been building a strong selection of artists for Free For Wall! Part 3 exhibition, including very new faces from all over the world, as far as Brazil.
The Tunnel
This is tunnel, where the best street artists of the world, gathered for spray street battle.
A photo that constitutes a piece of art by itself.
Found on Pure Evil's site.
A photo that constitutes a piece of art by itself.
Found on Pure Evil's site.
20080829
Urban taggin' -3 MUST HAVE BOOKS
Street World: Urban Art and Culture from Five Continents Around the Globe
by Roger Gastman, Caleb Neelon, and Anthony SmyrskiThe authors of Street World have put together this rich collection showcasing over 1,000 images and authoritative text, highlighting street art and life in cultural hot spots around the globe. Street World: Urban Art and Culture from Five Continents Around the Globe follows skateboarders in Japan, hunts down graffiti artists in San Paolo, Brazil, and exposes the newest Pakistani truck artwork in the world.
At almost 500 pages, this book, with its rare images and in-depth commentary, is sure to become a staple in libraries of any true street art fan.
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SOON TO GET PUBLISHED-PRE-ORDER IT NOW!
Written On The City: Graffiti Messages Worldwide
Axel Albin, Josh Kamler
Publisher: How (September 2, 2008)
Newsweek, Aug. 18-25, 2008Written on the City is a glimpse into a vast conversation happening illegally and in public. All over the world, people are writing messages on the walls and sidewalks of the cities in which we live. They are staying up late, breaking the law, and taking risks to say something to you. Some of it is funny. Some of it is beautiful. Lots of it is upsetting, crazy, and brilliant at the same time. And all of it is important. This book continues that conversation through the eyes of photographers who recognized the importance of those words on the walls and shared them with us.
"Poignant ... funny ... thought-provoking ..."
Pop & Bang
Hand drawn using inks and markers on Saunders & Waterford paper, this is one of a kind original canvas. [Size 56x76 cm.]
Born and raised in the North East of England, Toad is one of an emerging breed of contemporary image-makers… He graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2005 with a first class honour in Graphical Communication. He has been surviving on his creative skills ever since, working between Newcastle, Sheffield and London. This is one incredibly busy artist who you can expect to see a lot more from in the near future!
The dark humour and graphic narrative of his work draws inspiration from comic books, B movies, current affairs, the human condition…etc.
A few words from the toad himself.
“I create images much like a DJ creates tunes - both creating and sampling, mashing styles and fusing genres into new visual flavours, layering meanings and constantly experimenting, evolving and progressing”
20080828
Not a piece of cake
One of the poster designs submitted to ArabAd peace poster contest.
For more about the results, visit IF WE CAN'T MAKE PEACE title of ArabAd's first edition of the Middle Easter poster design challenge, all on Flickr group.
For more about the results, visit IF WE CAN'T MAKE PEACE title of ArabAd's first edition of the Middle Easter poster design challenge, all on Flickr group.
ultraman
RETHINK REFRESH REMIX YOUR MIND. I'd rather have a 961 beer, instead of a Heineken...Am an ULTRAWOMAN though who likes ULTRA MAN, R U THERE?
20080827
Celebrating 50 years of PEACE-sign
“The 100+ posters submitted for ArabAd peace poster design contest reflect the diversity of religions and beliefs in the communications industry and the Arab community at large and we believe we have succeeded in addressing responsible design in a creative approach,” asserted Walid Azzi, Publisher of ArabAd.
The posters received for ArabAd magazine poster design contest demonstrated the sheer power of the peace symbol, the peace imagery and the extraordinary visual vocabulary the peace sign continues to inspire 50 years later....
For more about ArabAd Peace Poster Design Contest & Exhibit/Show
visit:
ArabAd Peace poster contest, THE BLOG
flickr/mabulle
here is Nada Borji's poster submission and top 8 in the final selection winner pick...Borji's is an architect at Solidere company in Beirut.
;0) ...a little secret here...that's my dad, Walid's fav among all...Here was a scoop..:0)
The posters received for ArabAd magazine poster design contest demonstrated the sheer power of the peace symbol, the peace imagery and the extraordinary visual vocabulary the peace sign continues to inspire 50 years later....
For more about ArabAd Peace Poster Design Contest & Exhibit/Show
visit:
ArabAd Peace poster contest, THE BLOG
flickr/mabulle
here is Nada Borji's poster submission and top 8 in the final selection winner pick...Borji's is an architect at Solidere company in Beirut.
;0) ...a little secret here...that's my dad, Walid's fav among all...Here was a scoop..:0)
20080720
20080714
There is horror in my work...
"There is horror in my work, a kind of cinematic narrative where the good guy always loses. There is a duplicity where cuteness and evil coexist behind the saccharine façade of a comic-book character or a much loved fast food restaurant. I am reflecting a world in trouble, a heaving dying fur-seal of an earth that is being repeatedly clubbed with baton-sized television remote controls. The drips that melt down the canvas are nods to an immense self-destructing machine made up of endless icons, logos and expressions that are the infected medical waste of the 20 th century.At first it is a feeling of wanting to express this consumerist, pop-culture Armageddon that we are a part of, but I realize I have no choice, as, like you I have been given the responsibility of its maintenance and I never flipped through the instruction book (if there ever was one).
Any second now, any second now – we’ll all wake up."
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Ben Frost's work fuses logos, comic book characters and corporate mascots together into sometimes irreverent yet always playful statements on the nature of today's society.
He has worked and exhibited in Japan, Europe and across the USA. Frost's work has appeared in many magazines such as Vogue, Australian Art Collector and Harper's Bazar; and his commissioned work includes Nokia, Mambo, Tiger Beer, Livid and Warner Records
The philosophy of Obey
The Philosophy of Obey (Obey Giant) is said to be "one of the fundamental texts of 21st Century aesthetics - short, bold, candid, puzzling and remarkable in its power to stir the imagination of philosophers and artists alike.”
Philosophy of Obey is the only artistic — philosophical work that Obey has published during its campaign.
Written in short, carefully numbered sentences of extremely revealing candor, it is certain to capture the imagination of a generation of Street Artists and philosophers. For Obey, discourse is something used to examine reality, which is in itself both elusive and unobtainable.
Shepard of Obey famously summarised this book in the following words:
The work is prefaced by Sarah Jaye Williams introduction to the first edition.
Sarah Jaye Williams has followed all Obey's art and ideas throughout Shepard Fairey's career.
She has compiled quotes for the “Philosophy of Obey” book by meticulously reading hundreds of his articles and interviews. These quotes touch on a broad range of topics and show the evolution of Fairey's positions over the years.
"There is humour, irreverence, hope, pessimism, anger, jubilation, and even maybe some wisdom mixed in with all the potentially contradictory thoughts and emotions," comments Shepard Fairey about the book.
Written in short, carefully numbered sentences of extremely revealing candor, it is certain to capture the imagination of a generation of Street Artists and philosophers. For Obey, discourse is something used to examine reality, which is in itself both elusive and unobtainable.
Shepard of Obey famously summarised this book in the following words:
“I aim to bring something new to every artwork.”
The work is prefaced by Sarah Jaye Williams introduction to the first edition.
Sarah Jaye Williams has followed all Obey's art and ideas throughout Shepard Fairey's career.
She has compiled quotes for the “Philosophy of Obey” book by meticulously reading hundreds of his articles and interviews. These quotes touch on a broad range of topics and show the evolution of Fairey's positions over the years.
"There is humour, irreverence, hope, pessimism, anger, jubilation, and even maybe some wisdom mixed in with all the potentially contradictory thoughts and emotions," comments Shepard Fairey about the book.
The Philosophy of Obey (Obey Giant): The Formative Years (1989 - 2008) by Sarah Jaye Williams (NerveBooks - UK)
Three (3) Versions of the book are available at nervebooks.net; Comprehensive, Volume I and Volume II
Obey Giant (1989 – 2008). Regarded by many as one of the most significant street art campaigns.
Three (3) Versions of the book are available at nervebooks.net; Comprehensive, Volume I and Volume II
Obey Giant (1989 – 2008). Regarded by many as one of the most significant street art campaigns.
20080713
Pink, Orange, and Yellow Sheets
One of the many ways in which a royalty-free art book can be used!
The below photos display an installation of over 180 graphics from the new book, "Reproduce & Revolt" (Soft Skull Press/Counterpoint; 978-0-9796636-1-1). All images in the book are copyright free and were reproduced via xerox on neon-colored paper. The more than 150 sheets of paper were manually tacked in about 8 hours of time! Special thanks to my buddies Ray Hernandez and Leticia Hernandez for helping me with this great task!!
The photo shows Reproduce and Revolt's co-editor, Favianna Rodriguez and Ray Hernandez.
The piece is part of the book release party happening this weekend in Los Angeles, CA.
Photo by Favianna Rodriguez
YES! Posters are crucial
They needed strong pro-immigrant and migrant art to confront the multitude of images of disempowerment given by daily media.
The Taller Tupac Amaru got set out to meet this need; by enlisting the help of artists, art enthusiasts and movement supporters this past May 2008.
The Taller Tupac Amaru's mission is to produce and distribute screenprinted political posters and to foster a resurgence in the screenprinting medium.
Jesus Barraza, Melanie Cervantes, Dylan Miner and Artemio Rodriguez under the leadership of fellow artist Favianna Rodriguez set out to produce of FIVE empowering posters for the international immigrant rights movement. The Taller Tupac Amaru's mission is to produce and distribute screenprinted political posters and to foster a resurgence in the screenprinting medium.
This type of collaboration and support given by a vast network of people was crucial in order to place 10,000 posters into the hands of hundreds immigrant right activists around the globe, and the thousands of people they help organize.
A historic gathering brought together over 300 migrant leaders from the US and Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America this May 2008, in Mexico City, to form a global association of remitters and their families.
The event is said to have helped consolidate remitters’ economic and political power and gave them the space to define an agenda for the sustainable economic development of migrant communities.
The conference was convened by TIGRA (Transnational Institute for Grassroots Research and Action).
YES! Posters are crucial for today’s immigrant rights movement!
They printed EACH poster in a run of 2000 via offset and freely distribute them to the organisations attending the gathering. The posters will reach cities around the globe, so that they may introduce new and inspiring concepts about what it means to be an immigrant in the 21st century. They forged partnerships with over 20 individual donors, whose generosity made this project possible.
This ambitious project was advanced by the collective power, action and love of many, many people all of whom are part of the immigrant rights movement.
The Gun & the Gaze
Shirin Neshat's "Women of Allah" photo series:
There is a palpable energy in Shirin Neshat's photographs, an almost tangible seduction obviating the violence it borders, deeply rooted in the historical culture she would ultimately have to call "home."
Born in Iran in 1957, photographer and installation/film artist Neshat came to the United States as a student in 1974. She remained away from Iran throughout the revolution, until her first visit back in 1990. This trip, and the visits that followed, catalysed her exploration of Westernisation, Islam, gender roles, martyrdom, and censorship against the backdrop of her birth country.
Her stark yet stunning black-and-white photography series "Women of Allah" wherein her models (often herself) are clothed in the iconographic chador, Farsi calligraphy, and weapons won her international acclaim.
Neshat followed this success with a series of installation video and film projects that are often mounted on two screens in enclosed spaces, gripping the audience in visual and aural experience. Less specific to the revolution, these metaphorical, unconventional and performative narratives employ Islamic/Eastern references and other archetypes to explore power dynamics, isolation, societal forces, autobiography, and exile. Throughout her work, Neshat not only redefines the critical boundaries of her art but expands the viewer's capacity to contemplate ideas of universal significance.
20080707
iResist
iPod' s ads subverted by a brilliant Egyptian designer, nicknamed Al yassary, the leftist. check out his social and political graphic design work; it's worth it!!
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