RED VELVET

OK U GUYS SEEM TO BE REALLY GOOD AT THE Q&A’S ON THE BLOG. D.T IS THE CORRECT ANSWER TO THE QUESTION YESTERDAY…………… 

SITTING HERE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, UPDATING MY BLOG. WHAT AN INTERESTING WAY TO SPEND AN EVENING, OKAY I LIED…. ACTUALLY I JUST GOT HOME WHAT A LONG DAY IT HAS BEEN TODAY… ANYWAYS TO START OFF SPENT THE WHOLE DAY AT WORK, GOT AN EXCUSE TO DIP OUT TO SEE CHRISTIE’S LECTURE SERIES ON MURAKAMI TALK ABOUT OTAKU CULTURE - FOR ALL THOSE THAT DON’T KNOW ITS ABOUT MANGA CULTURE AND VIDEO GAMES….AND HIS PHILOSOPHY ON DESIGN AND CREATION, HE SAID SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO ME WHEN HE SAID ASKED HIMSELF WHAT ART IS, AND HE REALIZED THAT ART IS WHEN THERE IS A BLOODLESS REVOLUTION (IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY) AND I REALLY THINK THAT IS INTERESTING, AND HE ALSO MENTIONED ABOUT HOW NOWADAYS ART IS ALL RECYCLED AND THAT IS ONE OF HIS MAIN THEMES AS WELL, BUT WHAT I MOST RESPECTED WAS AT THE END OF THE TALK HE TOLD US THAT HIS MAIN DESIGN THEORY IS ABOUT BRINGING PEACE AROUND THE WORLD, INSTEAD OF OUTDOING EVERY COMPETITOR OR PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD, ITS REALLY ABOUT BRINGING PEACE INTO THIS WORLD. RESPECT 

THIS LADY DID NOT FANCY OTAKU CULTURE AT ALL… 

THIS GIRL ON THE OTHER HAND WAS TOO BUSY TAKING NOTES TO EVEN TALK TO ME… 

BACK TO THE OFFICE, TO GATHER UP THE ALIENEGRAS FOR ACTION

ADIDAS RE-OPENING OF THE KINGSTON STREET SHOP GOT GHOST STYLES GETTING ARAB MONEY 

KIT (24 HERBS) AND MAY (ADIDAS FAME) GETTING THEIR GROOVE ON…. SO HAPPY TO SEE THEM TOGETHER

THE PRINCES OF DMOP ROCKY AND KEN

AUNTIE IN THE BUILDING.

ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY I FORGOT WHO NOW… DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHO THIS ARTIST IS? SPECIAL PRIZE FOR THE WINNER LOL 

THE COOLEST NEW ADDITION TO THE STORE IS THIS Mi ADIDAS MACHINE, BASICALLY ITS LIKE A BARBER SHOP CHAIR WITH A STATE OF THE ART COMPUTER PLUS KEYBOARD, AND YOU CAN DESIGN YOUR OWN STAN SMITH OR SUPERSTAR… I OPTED FOR THE STAN SMITH….

MATERIAL SAMPLES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST FOR THE SKILLED SHOE DESIGNER 

THERE WERE CAMERAS ACTUALLY FILMING ME WHILE I WAS MAKING SHOES PUTTING THE PRESSURE ON

LUCKILY THERE WAS SOMEONE TO HELP ME INPUT MY DETAILS…. SO FUTURISTIC

THANK YOU SO MUCH ADIDAS HONG KONG AND SUSANNA AND MAY AND THE WHOLE TEAM…..! GOODNITE 

SIDEBAR: DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHO THAT ARTIST IS W/ THE PORCELEAN DOLLS. WILL REVEAL NEXT TIME………..

here kids, now this is something interesting…. 

Asia’s Contemporary Market: The Superflat Market’s Risks and Possibilities
Takashi Murakami, Artist
Friday 28 November 2008, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Venue: Grand Hall, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

Language: Japanese with English and Putonghua simultaneous interpretation

SYNOPSIS

“Now, we’re seeing cracks develop in the global economic structure. A structure built by rich people for the benefit of rich people.

For many years, art has been thought of mainly as a luxury for these same privileged few. Those who seek to understand the history of museums would do best to look at the Louvre Museum as a guide. In other words, during the French Revolution, the conventional hierarchy of rich and privileged people on the top and less privileged people on the bottom was overturned, and forms of entertainment once thought of only as a luxury for royal consumption became open for all people to enjoy.

I, too, as a Japanese, began my work as an artist with the belief that making works accessible to the general public was an idea at the very core of art itself. But the fact is that my work as well has largely served as a luxury for those who find themselves ahead in our capitalist system, for the rich.

In Japan, it is very difficult for artists to grow and thrive. The reason lies in the country’s post-war tax system. Before WW II, a great number of our wealthy could be relied on as collectors of Japanese art but after the war, the powerful conglomerates were broken up and it became nearly impossible to retain expensive works for more than a generation. Foundations, as well, began to lose their merit and it became harder and harder for them to function. It was under these circumstances that Manga, Anime, Games and the entire Otaku world that surrounds them came to be.

Not a luxury made for the consumption of those who can afford it, but something made for everyone. That’s otaku culture. The Superflat concept that I refer to is simply the setting aside of economic considerations in order to preserve the context provided by that culture.

But now, even Superflat has gradually become a luxury. However, I would remind you of the example that the Louvre provides. Art may travel a long road but it always returns eventually to the hands of the people.

Now I would like to explain a little bit more about Otaku-culture, in the hopes that it will help you understand what the Superflat concept is all about.”

Takashi Murakami

THIS WEEKEND I HAD THE PLEASURE TO ATTEND 2 WEDDINGS ON THE SAME NIGHT, WITH SOME OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS. FEDERICO TAN AKA THE MAJOR - HE’S THE MARKETING DIRECTOR OF DIESEL IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD, A FRIEND THAT HAS REALLY BEEN THERE FOR ME FOR A WHILE…. NICE!

LOOK AT FED LOOKING NICE, MATTHEW FROM VISIVM, YOUNG KIM FROM SUITMAN

‘

ANTON PARTY GUY LOPEZ

THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO CALIFORNIA RED TO WATCH FAMA FILM SOME THING… CAN’T TELL YOU NOW BUT HAVE A GUESS.

HI, THE WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN FROM YESTERDAYS BLOG POST AND THAT IS CAL…. CONGRATS, OUR REPRESENTATIVE WILL CONTACT YOU FOR YOUR PRIZE.

NOW THAT I GOT THAT OUT OF THE WAY, JUST WANTED TO UPDATE YOU GUYS ON THE HEAT THAT IS GENERATING DOWN UNDER….

THE FIRST SHOUTOUT IS TO ACCLAIM MAGAZINE, I RECENTLY DID AN INTERVIEW FOR THEM AND ITS NOW PUBLISHED AND OUT ON THE NEWSTANDS, FEATURING COOL ARTICLES AND REALLY SUPPORTING THE CULTURE AND THE SCENE OUT THERE THEY ARE DOING BIG THINGS….YOU CAN CHECK OUT HERE

AND THE COVER GIRL IS MAD FLY AS WELL….

ANOTHER SHOUTOUT THAT I HAD WAS TO FRANK LIEW AT THE QUBIC STORE. THEY ARE THE OFFICIAL STOCKISTS OF CLOT APPAREL IN NEW ZEALAND…. ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT NOT SEE KANGAROOS IN NEW ZEALAND BUT YOU DEFINITELY WILL SEE CLOT APPAREL IN NEW ZEALAND CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT THE QUBIC STORE EXCLUSIVELY. THEY JUST RECENTLY REVAMPED THEIR WEBSITE SO CHECK THEM OUT IF YOU ARE IN THAT REGION…

HEY WHATS UP LADIES AND GENTS…. HOPE THIS REACHES YOU ALL WELL WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, FOR ME ITS A FRIDAY AFTERNOON, A DAY IN THE LIFE. RUNNING AROUND SHAKING HANDS MAKING DEALS….. THIS MORNING I STOPPED BY THE RIM OFFICE, FOR THOSE THAT DON’T KNOW RIM STANDS FOR RESEARCH IN MOTION, WHICH IS THE COMPANY THAT CREATES THAT ONE GADGET THAT WE HOLD ON TO EVERYDAY CALLED THE BLACKBERRY…. YES FOLKS…. ALSO KNOWN AS CRACKBERRY FOR ALL YOU ADDICTS… APPARENTLY THEY ARE RELEASING A NEW GADGET CALLED THE JAVELIN - ITS BASICALLY A CURVE PT 2. WITH A 3MG PIXEL CAMERA WHICH IS INSANE…. GET WITH IT. 

AFTER THAT I STOPPED BY ONE OF THE COOLEST VINTAGE FRAMES STORE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD CALLED AOC - STANDS FOR ASIA OPTICAL SHOP.

THE OWNER MARTIN IS A NEW FRIEND OF MINE WHICH REALLY HAS IT GOING ON, HE’S GOT VINTAGE FRAMES FROM THE 60′S AND 70′S. THE GOODLOOKING GUY IN THE PHOTO IS MARTIN - SAY HELLO 

MARTIN PACKS SOME HEAT IN THE STORE, FROM NINA RICCI THROWBACK JOINTS, GUY LAROCHE THROWBACKS AND SOME OTHER MADNESS.. I PICKED OUT A FEW FRAMES FOR MYSELF AND THANKS TO MARTIN HE’S GOING TO LACE ME….. AOC - IS LOCATED ON ABERDEEN STREET IN CENTRAL HONG KONG - PLEASE STOP BY AND CHECK IT OUT IF YOU ARE IN TOWN. 

ALSO - A.O.C. / MARTIN IS THE NEWLY APPOINTED OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR OF DITA EYEWEAR IN HONG KONG - YOU GUYS MIGHT REMEMBER DITA BY THE SUNGLASSES COLLABORATION WE DID EARLIER…. GAME RECOGNIZE GAME. 

AFTER OOGLING OVER THE GLASSES, I STOPPED BY SONY HEADQUARTERS FOR SOME SERIOUS BIZNESS.

YES U GUESSED IT… FREE GAMES……THANKS JAMES…HOLLER 

BACK IN THE LAB RIGHT NOW, ABOUT TO WRAP IT UP… GOTTA LACE YOU GUYS WITH THE NEWEST SPOT ITEM TEES FROM OUR COLLECTION…… HIDDEN MESSAGE TEE’S AS WE LIKE TO CALL IT….. ITS A NEW TECHNOLOGY WITH OPTICAL ILLUSIONS THAT YOU CAN ONLY SEE THE TEES FROM A SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE…. PERFECT TO SAY WHATS ON YOUR MIND WITHOUT BEING TOO IN YOUR FACE. THESE TEE’S ARE AVAILABLE NEXT TUESDAY AT JUICE AND OUR ONLINE SHOP … CLICK HERE… IF YOU GUYS CAN READ THE SPECIAL MESSAGES FEEL FREE TO DROP ME A LINE ON THE COMMENTS PAGE, PERHAPS YOU CAN WIN A FREE PRIZE….

‘

OK U GUYS ALL HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND…….! 

hi, just got back to hong kong and i am so excited to see in my inbox, one of my most respected artists is having an exhibition…. simon birch is not only a phenomenal artist, he also survived from being sick and now his art has never been better. those who are in town should check it out 

actually REWIND: the night before i came home i had the pleasure to catch up with LA’s finest. JACK HELLER and DANIEL AND JASON LANDVER - holding it down………..

got back to the office with a few goodies on my desk….. first of all the 400% + 100% bearbrick set from LEILOW - thank you JULES 

next one is from ANTHONY MAK @ SUBDIVISION - thank you for the great collabo item with DVLK

inside this amazing disco ball is the keys to the 6th year anniversary of DRAGON-I. 

congrats on the big 6 GILBERT & CREW apparently a special guest by the name of jamiroquai will be there so i am sure people are going to be all up on it POPPIN CHAMPAGNE - ron browz style

the INVERTICAL shirts are now available at JUICE and all OFFICIAL STOCKISTS worldwide. pop your collar. 

lets see what else…. HIGH & LOW…@@!!!!! 

ok i am going back up on my grind folks… have a good afternoon, evening, night, morning, depending on where you are… !!! 

met up with the designers most favorite designer KAZUKI - holding it down for the ADIDAS OBYO meeting in LA talking about next years plans at the hipster resturant designed by PHILLIPE STARK - katsuya…. 

sean from dozen matters (shanghai) was also in town, fighting jetlag and bad service he managed to stay up and even went to dessert……….. also not in the picture are a few other clot riders…

everything was great except for the mozzarella cheese. do not get that. 

as we were leaving, we bumped into legendary MARK SPITZ for those who don’t know who that is, as i didn’t really either before someone sent me a wikipedia article about it. he’s the 9 time olympic gold medalist, he is the granddaddys of granddaddys and the predecessor to MICHAEL PHELPS 

one of my favorite shirts this season is now available at the online shop… CLICK HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!