note: click image for more info

andreas

brit artist nick walker put up this intriguing, if not slightly controversial, wall painting in paris earlier this week. dubbed le corancan, it’s a visual amalgamation of the islamic veil and french 19th-century dance, the can can. the wall painting is a pre-taster of the i love america group show in which the artist participates, held next may at studio 55. wall painting location: quai de valmy [canal st.-martin].



© studio 55 / note: click image to enlarge

andreas

currently showing at peres projects is boy, an exhibition by cody critcheloe, lead singer of ssion, a queer punk / performance / art band that he invented ten years ago [on until apr 3]. on display are nine separately shot but jointly conceived music videos for the band’s 2007 record fool’s gold. the story of ssion is a raucous, louched up, camp parody of critcheloe’s own life, in which a small-town punk kid hooked on doughnuts and pizza follows his dreams. location: 2766 south la cienega boulevard [culver junction].

andreas

note: click image for more information

andreas

note: click image for more information

andreas

this interesting book has been out for a while but only recently caught our eye. we’re talking portrait from above by architect rufina wu and photographer stefan canham, and released by berlin-based peperoni books. the 280-page german/english publication focuses on the self-built structures on top of five high-rise buildings in hong kong’s densely populated kowloon area.

rooftop settlements have been part of the city’s urban landscape for many decades and range from humble shelters to multi-storey constructions with modern amenities. portrait from above really delves into the subject, combining images, compelling stories of its residents and even measured drawings of each of the dwellings.



© peperoni books

andreas

as many of you know, finding a unique fragrance these days is tough. after only five minutes at the local fragrance counter, we can barely note the difference from one bottle to another, and most of them just give us a headache. luckily the owners of min new york were kind enough to invite us in for a fragrance consultation.

talk about an olfactory adventure! the fragrance range these guys carry is pretty old school, colorful and diverse. the one collection we were drawn to was the l’artisan parfumeur range from paris. although there are dozens of alluring scents by l’artisan parfumeur [many of which are unisex], we were taken by the more dramatic, masculine concoctions. our top 5 of must-haves is as follows:

piment brûlant - derived from an ancient aztec love potion, this guy was on fire like mexican pepper with a narcotic dash of poppy. key notes: red pepper, chocolate, vanilla, cloves, poppy, musk and amber [usd 135]

al oudh - the arabian desert is a strange kingdom and this one is the key to the sultan’s tent. key notes: sandalwood, cumin, cardamom, pink pepper, date, rose, neroli, saffron, leather, atlas cedar, myrrh, vanilla and tonka bean [usd 155]

l’eau du navigateur - did someone say hot sailor? this one is for lovers of coffee, smoke, leather and pirates. key notes: bergamot, galbanum, coffee, cinnamon, cedar, incense, opoponax and leather [usd 135]

méchant loup - meaning ‘naughty wolf’, it smells like a forest full of exotic wood. key notes: hazelnut, spices, honey and tonka bean [usd 135]

poivre piquant - another exotic love potion, this one is inspired by the kamasutra, burning with white pepper and soft milk. key notes: white pepper, liquorice, milk and honey [usd 135]

the exclusive l’artisan parfumeur fragrance range is available at the min new york store in new york. location: 117 crosby street [soho].





© min new york

simon

launching today at the museum of contemporary art is unseen cinema, an elaborate screening cycle of experimental american avant-garde films from 1894-1941 [on until may 2]. many of these works have been unseen until 2001, when the unseen cinema retrospective was presented at the moscow international film festival. the film cycle is curated by bruce posner and has seven thematic sections. location: m.n.a.c. auditorium, palaţul parlamentului, wing e4, calea izvor 2-4 [downtown].

andreas

what could ever top an awe-inspiring structure like the burj khalifa? well, maybe dubai pearl. although this isn’t a competitive attempt to erect the world’s tallest building, it’s the size and striking shape that make it stand out. designed by german schweger association architects, the mixed-use complex boasts a staggering 20 million sq.ft. spread over several high-rise towers and costs eur 2.6 billion [approx. usd 3.5 billion].

the complex features top-end apartments and penthouses for 9,000 residents, a business center, a 2,000-seat theater and no less than six five-star hotels [including vegas blockbusters mgm grand and bellaggio, and the newly established baccarat]. construction of the dubai pearl started in 2008 and its completion is scheduled for 2013. location: sheikh zayed road [al sufouh].

andreas

buzzin’ fly are about to release soldiers., a 12-inch single from mademoiselle caro + franck garcia’s upcoming album left! it has received great response from a slew of pros in the music biz and superfuture’s very own picky crew. the new single features a ben watt remix, one by the revenge and a fine original mix. check it out!

andreas

design duo blasius osko + oliver deichmann’s show funktionale beschädigung opens at helmrinderknecht gallery on fri – mar 26 [6pm-9pm]. the exhibition focuses on their tubular steel furniture designs. tubing used in the furniture is not bent but functionally folded, dented and kinked.

blasius osko + oliver deichmann manually manipulate or ‘damage’ the material, creating a style all their own. on display are new furniture pieces, all part of a limited-edition series that’s exclusively available at the gallery. location: linienstrasse 87 [mitte].



© helmrinderknecht

andreas

central studios, a creative services company recently opened in central shanghai. offering top-end photography production facilities and related services, the company’s new premises are a dream space for creatives. facilities include three oversized studios with soaring 5.2-metre ceilings, a media room / v.i.p. lounge, in-house catering and superior caffè latte from original la pavoni coffee machines! central studios is just a five-minute walk away from the bustling xintiandi shopping area. location: 751 huangpi nan lu, building 1, first floor [luwan].





© central studios / foyer [top], west studio [middle] and south studio [bottom]

andreas

superfuture’s fav glassware brand iittala has just released an eye-catching product range that isn’t made of glass…but is desirable all the same. the piilo is a striking organic-shaped miniature box made from polished aluminium. created by milan-based designer giorgio vigna, the box comes in different sizes [there's even an amulet version in sterling silver] and in two shades. the piilo is available at iittala stores across the planet.


© iittala / the piilo family

andreas

event: unlimited edition independent book + magazine market #2
date: mar 26-28 [different opening hours each day]
location: platoon kunsthalle, 97-22 nonhyeon-dong [gangnam-gu].

andreas

cipher has just released two cool styles. the timeless and sleek alpha is all about understatement and fits any urban fashion style. the 2010 edition is available in ivory, grey calf suede and white nappa or black perforated nappa. the new seditionary, an edgier punk-infused, quilted hi-top is glammed up with gold buckles. this model comes in all-black or in ivory with black quilting. both new cipher trophies can be ordered online.




© cipher / the alpha in ivory [top] and the seditionary in black [bottom]

andreas

cool! anyone interested in japanese design should go see the japanese design today 100 exhibition at the national art gallery [on until apr 11]. this show brings together approx. 100 of the best examples of japanese design created between the 1990s and the present, focusing on products used in everyday life. location: 2 jalan temerloh [titiwangsa].



image: the honda ev cub [2009], the modern-day electric equivalent of the honda super cub original [1958].

andreas

congrats to supertalk members jenniferst3nyc and cash! you guys are the winners of the nobody jeans contest held here on superfuture. a stylish pair of nobody’s empire tube reno and strine wasted will be sent to you respectively. you will be both be contacted shortly by e-mail for more information on jeans size and postal address.

andreas

another great exhibition arrives at galerie des galeries! opening wed - mar 24 [6pm-9pm] is space for fantasy, a show that focuses on the mind-blowing creative forces of five contemporary creatives that are known to circumvent the boundaries of their craft: fashion designers manish arora and henrik vibskov, artists thomas lélu, vincent olinet and industrial designer jerszy seymour. on display is a selection of work of each artist that illustrates how their artistic vision and humour relate to their creative output. gallery location: 40 boulevard haussmann, 1st floor [st.-honoré].



© akatre

andreas

shopping in singapore has become increasingly funky these past few years. it’s no longer the exclusive domain of blockbuster luxury brands or bland mid-range fashion chains. a new generation of savvy fashion entrepreneurs has emerged in the city who influence the retail scene with quirky initiatives. paul khor of well-known fashion store actually… has stepped up his game and opened actuallyactually.

located only a stone’s throw from the first, this new shop should be seen as an extrapolation, featuring a wide range of edgy, young labels that have previously been unavailable in town. actuallyactually includes collections of suecomma bonnie, complexgeometries, christophe lemaire, juun j. and damir doma’s new silent line. location: 16 purvis street, shop 02-01 [bugis].





© actually

andreas

hot eyewear brand mykita just opened its first swiss outpost in zurich. just as the other mykita stores, this new outlet boasts that signature all-white interior with understated hi-tech touches. the brand’s entire collection of sharp eyewear will be available here. location: langstrasse 187 [downtown].




© mykita

andreas

as you know, superfuture are obsessed with skin care and this week we’ve been playing with two products from australian brand aesop, namely the parsley seed cleanser and facial serum. first off, both products smell like heaven and parsley seed is a good conduit for delivering anti-oxidants to the skin. the cleansing oil is water-activated and creates a superlight foam. it contains macadamia seed and beta-carotene, which rid the face of excess grease [and makeup] without stripping moisture.

next step was the anti-oxidant serum, which contains grape and parsley seed. it has an interesting gel-like texture and smells really good [think fresh rain x liquorice]. the bottle comes with an inbuilt eye drop applicator which gives it an old school apothecary feel. we found it useful as a general layer of pre-moisture cream hydration. it feels as if it’s sealing in all the good stuff and leaves skin elasticized. also worked well as an after shave balm, especially on the neck.

packaging is good: dark amber bottles with minimal label. our verdict: good botanically based treatments for a fresh and revitalized face. for more info, please visit the aesop website.



© aesop

simon

dean chalkley’s exhibition the new faces just kicked off at the book club [on until apr 29]. next to having a knack for photography, he deejays at shake!, a monthly party he organises in london. showcased are a fab series of black + white photos of sharply dressed, dance-mad young mods that he encountered there and became totally fascinated with. location: 100 leonard street [shoreditch].




© dean chalkley

andreas

japan’s neighborhood label teams up with hong kong’s izzue, setting up a pop-up store in the causeway bay area for their special collab collection [open until apr 4]. neighborhood’s creative director shinsuke takizawa, a passionate motorcycle devil with a flavour for all things military, has cooked up series of exclusive items for the pop-up store. items include a limited-edition tee, special edition black jeans and a handy backpack.

as to complement the merchandise, the shop is a testosterone-infused affair, boasting a jet-black interior with subtle spotlights against a black wired ceiling. a homey back section features bauhaus sofas and round coffee tables and a genuine norton motorbike is used as prop. location: 5 pak sha road [causeway bay].



© i.t

andreas

saenai’s our holy roses a/w 2010 collection is as spot on as the urban hotbed where it was conceived. its two designers jason escobara and daniel au have created a series of men’s and women’s designs that are playful, sexy and ooze that inimitable brooklyn savoir-faire. we’re hooked!

saenai is available at selected stores across the planet, including scout [los angeles], project no. 8 [new york], bblessing [new york], colette [paris] and loveless [tokyo].







© saenai

andreas

we love what wasted spaces do to drab urban surroundings. in a recent post we told you about the creative collective’s activities in london’s wembley area. well…they’re at it again, having just launched the hello wall!, a massive interactive wall installation in collaboration with artists hellicar & lewis.

the hello wall! is designed to empower people and to allow them to have a certain degree of creative input into the architectural space that they find themselves in. until sun - mar 14 you can interact with this live artwork by tweeting your commands from across the planet to @thehellowall. location: wembley high road [wembley].



© wasted spaces / photo: the hello wall on wembley high road

andreas

with a pouting phoebe philo on the cover, fantastic man’s new bi-annual sister mag the gentlewoman drops in bookstores and newsstands across the planet on mon - mar 22. helmed by editor-in-chief penny martin, the 148-page launch edition obviously includes a profile on celine’s creative director, another one on light artist jenny holzer, articles on sanaa starchitect kazuyo sejima, london dj princess julia and more. should be a great read!

andreas

hyun yeu is a promising amsterdam-based designer. the showcase of the rain a/w 2010 collection of his menswear label ado les scents at amsterdam fashion week proved to be one of the highlights. this collection can be viewed up close, fitted and also pre-ordered during a special showcase at the newly opened kabinet store on sun - mar 21 [2pm-7pm]. rsvp [here] for access. location: herenstraat 13 [centrum].

andreas

80*81 is a retro-visionary research endeavor by journalist georg diez and artist christopher roth. collaborating with artists, astrologists, philosophers, psychologists, writers, filmmakers, and actors, they explore the central question: what happened? in 1980 ronald reagan was elected, andy warhol dined with william s. burroughs at the chelsea hotel, and john galliano was a blitz kid. and what happened in 1981, when khomeini released the u.s. hostages, and aids surfaced?

those were the years that changed the world forever and all this is documented in the 11 volumes of the 80*81 book collection. on sat – mar 20 [8pm] there’ll be a related showcase with sound, video and documents at 032c magazine’s new hq. location: brunnenstrasse 9 [mitte].

andreas

new york-based french painter jules de balincourt will be mori art museum’s man of the moment at the mam project 011 exhibition, opening on sat - mar 20. as one of the frontmen of new york’s post-9/11 arts scene, he paints a wide range of topics, ranging from everyday scenes to wild psychological landscapes that are strikingly characterized by bold lines and bright colors. mind you, the artist will be present on the opening day to discuss his paintings in the exhibition and other works [5.30pm-7pm]. location: 6-10-1 roppongi, 53rd floor [roppongi].



© mori art museum / jules de balincourt - untitled [2005] - oil on enamel on panel

andreas

andreas

this one’s for movie buffs! the inaugural edition of the amsterdam turkish film festival is held mar 19-21 at studio k. apart from a slew of turkish films [all subtitled in english], including an interesting retrospective of film director + screen writer çağan irmak, there’ll be artist talks, parties, performances, food and more. click [here] to view the program. location: timorplein 62 [oost].

andreas

not to be missed! we’re talking the new fantastic 4 group show at pure evil gallery, opening thu - mar 18 [6pm-9pm / mind you, come in your superhero costume and get a free new fantastic 4 comic book!]. what’s cookin’? a display of work of four amazing urban artists from across europe: 3ttman [madrid], zbiok [wroclaw], remed [lille] and grems [london]. location: 108 leonard street [shoreditch].

andreas

milan-based designer neil barrett has designed an exclusive unisex t-shirt for the corner, the savvy online retailer that offers cutting-edge brands for men and women through dedicated mini-stores. this year neil barrett has been chosen to customize a limited-edition tee, reinventing the logo of this virtual space. as of today this tee will be offered as a gift to thank the corner customers…wow!



© the corner

andreas

event: gig series at sxsw
date: thu – mar 18 [7pm]
location: the phoenix, 409 colorado street [downtown]
lineup: we are scientists, the chapman family, elevator fight, turbogeist, the click clack boom, prophit, moneypenney

andreas

a new fashion source launched sometime ago in amsterdam’s canal district maze. dubbed kabinet, the store combines the best of vintage designer fashion with edgy contemporary labels and creates a retail ambiance all its own. helmed by veteran vintage collector ferry van der nat, the store mainly stocks womenswear but will gradually expand its sharp range of menswear items which currently includes labels such as sjaak hullekes, pop cph and later this year also jean//phillip.

kabinet’s quirky endeavours are reflected in the shop’s interior. although the size of a dollhouse [albeit an expanding one, as plans are underway to add retail space in the back section and basement], it isn’t short of artsy visual drama by means of a silvery metal-plated floor, stacks of little vintage cabinets and a draped wall. location: herenstraat 13 [centrum].



© kabinet

andreas

these are the final days of artist gerhard richter’s new overpainted photographs exhibition at wako works of art [on until mar 13]. on display is selection of approx. 30 photographs which have been magnificently reworked with paint by the artist, conjuring up totally new images. the works are part of his overpainted photograph series, now consisting of nearly 600 snapshots taken by richter himself. they address many of his concerns, from the relationship between painting and photography, to the blurring between the abstract and the figurative. location: 3-18-2-101 nishi-shinjuku [shinjuku].



© wako works of art / gerhard richter - detail of 21.6.05 [2005] - oil on photograph

andreas

insiders’ label ohne titel arrives at online retailer the corner with its very own mini store. what’s on offer? ohne titel designers flora gill and alexa adams concocted a one-of-a-kind s/s 2010 women’s collection that was inspired by the graphic lines and wrapped silhouettes in egyptian reliefs and sculptures, and is made of exquisite, lush fabrics. mind you, ohne titel’s designs are exclusively available online at the corner.



© the corner

andreas

a new star shines brightly in the greek capital’s retail scene. we’re talking the antonios markos concept store that opened a few months ago in the upmarket kolonaki area. the store features striking interior design by pierre jorge gonzalez + judith haase that could probably be best described as a refined interplay of hyperclean lines captured in pure materials and colours. measuring 200 sqm. spread over two floors that each have a distinct look and feel. displays have been computer-designed, adding a futuristic touch.

the antonios markos concept store offers a selection of merchandise that has proven to be popular with a savvy urban crowd across the planet, and includes labels such as zucca, dagmar, christophe lemaire, commune de paris 1871 and opening ceremony. location: 25 odos skoufa [kolonaki].





© antonios markos

andreas

pecha kucha night vol. #4 is held thu - mar 18 [8.20pm-11pm / free entrance] at hayal kahvesi bistro with presentations by various designers and artists, including burak bayburtlu, emre güneş and altuğ demircioğlu. location: meşelik sokak 10 [taksim].

andreas

barneys new york expands outside the tokyo metropolitan area and opened a new flagship in kobe. located smack in the middle of town at the kobe kyu-kyoryuchi 25 bankan complex, the new store occupies 2,800 sqm. spread over three floors. the merchandise on offer includes men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, shoes and home decorations.

in celebration of the opening, brit model agyness deyn was flown in. she collaborated on the i am agyness deyn for barneys green fashion collection that is aimed to raise environmental awareness and will be sold here in advance of other stores. location: 25 kyomachi [chuo-ku].



© barneys new york

andreas