• We all need a bit of peace these days, and it seems like the folks at Hong Kong publisher viction:ary might be feeling the same way. One of their more recent releases is a book titled Life Stills, Art and Illustrations Inspired by Serenity, featuring artists and illustrators showing how their perspective on disconnecting and liesure time.

    “Despite being told that life is short and that we should enjoy it, it has become increasingly hard for modern people to find a moment of peace amid the restless hubbub of the modern world. Nevertheless, there is still happiness to be found in even the smallest things — from a fresh breeze in the morning to a warm cup of coffee in the afternoon, or just a beautiful sunset.

    LIFE STILLS invites readers to submerge themselves in the tranquil illustrations within, and never hold back from romanticising even the tiniest silver lining in life.”

    'Life Stills' Art and Illustrations Inspired by Serenity
    'Life Stills' Art and Illustrations Inspired by Serenity
    'Life Stills' Art and Illustrations Inspired by Serenity
    'Life Stills' Art and Illustrations Inspired by Serenity
  • Craig Green, you wild for this one. In collaboration with Dover Street Market, the avant-garde designer, who’s known for his extremely creative take on fashion, released a limited edition series of “JUMBO WOODEN TOOLS”, of which, only 11 were made. Their phallic appearance certainly grabbed a lot of attention, many sites calling them “sex toys” which is pretty laughable. I think they look pretty rad, the colorways are especially amazing, and I love that you can see the natural wood grain showing through. Honestly, these would fit in perfectly in my apartment, though I’m also a stylish queer person ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I will always love art like this that makes certain kinds of people uncomfortable.

    Craig Green Unveils Limited Edition "Jumbo Wooden Tools"
  • I am so in love with these little Japanese cookies. I came across these in a roundup of cat-themed cookies on Casa Brutus (because of course they did). Made by Mitorakaruna, these are a mix of natural, vegan cookies that come in a variety of flavors such as “purple sweet potato and cardamom, coffee cinnamon, and pumpkin clove chocolate” which all sound delightful. What really gets me though is how all the kitties fit together in the tin, almost like a delectable, M.C. Echer-esque arrangement. And how cute is the little drawin on the front, it’s so dang charming. If you’re is in Japan, please buy these for me and I will pay you back!

    Mitorakaruna Bakes Up a Tin of Adorable Kitten Cookies
    Mitorakaruna Bakes Up a Tin of Adorable Kitten Cookies
    Mitorakaruna Bakes Up a Tin of Adorable Kitten Cookies
  • In the newest issue of Monocle, there’s a fantastic piece on innovative eco-friendly materials (link for subscribers only, sorry) that was photographed by Baker & Evans. Photographing together since 2011, Brendan Baker and Danny Evans work out of South London creating beautiful still life imagery for major beauty and fashion brands. In checking out their site I found these great photos they made for Louis Vuitton for… something, it doesn’t say!

    They remind me a bit of the compositions Nacho Allegre makes, which is maybe why I like these so much. The arrangements are so pleasing to me. A variety of woods were used like Beech, Polar, and Okoume, which highlights the varying nature of each. Wouldn’t these be stunning as large format prints?I would totally hang one in my apartment.

    Wooden Compositions from Photography Duo Baker & Evans
    Wooden Compositions from Photography Duo Baker & Evans
    Wooden Compositions from Photography Duo Baker & Evans
    Wooden Compositions from Photography Duo Baker & Evans
  • I’ve written before about Jacquemus, many times now, and how designer Simon Jacquemus has a touch for absurdity in marketing. This trend is continuing, now with a pop-up shop in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong district that’s shaped like their iconic Le Chouchou bag called Le Café Fleurs. The shop literally only sells Le Chouchou bags, though they seem to be giving away bunches of flowers to customers as well as having some specialty cocktails. It’s fun, it’s absurd, it’s whimsical, and I love that he and his team keep creating these weird yet refined experiences that defy the norms.

    Le Café Fleurs
    101-1, Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu,
    Seoul – Republic of Korea

    Café Fleurs Is Jacquemus' Newest Pop-Up in Seoul, shaped like a Le Chouchou handbag
    Café Fleurs Is Jacquemus' Newest Pop-Up in Seoul, shaped like a Le Chouchou handbag
    Café Fleurs Is Jacquemus' Newest Pop-Up in Seoul, shaped like a Le Chouchou handbag
  • Coming up in the world of blogging and Tumblrs and all that it’s awesome to see that Justin Saunders has found such success with JJJJound. Started as a mood board of items and objects, it’s over the years become one of the most sought after clothing and accessory brands. Noah Johnson went deep on the JJJJound world for GQ, profiling Justin and his crew about the work they do, the whats and whys, and how it all works.

    JJJJound Interview - Justin Saunders - Photos by Samuel Fournier


    The line below was really what I found to be most impactful, Johnson speaking about the path he’s taken, as well as the roads he has yet to travel.

    “But the true brilliance of JJJJound might be something that no one saw coming, not even Saunders. JJJJound was an education for the internet. It was a visual guide to the rules and patterns of good design that Saunders has lately been employing with the products he’s developed. He spent years building a customer base, drawing them into his world with images long before he ever thought about making clothes. And now he sits at another pivotal moment. There are a number of ways he might grow the brand, including expanding JJJJound’s distribution channels in Europe, where demand is high. Retail stores might also be on the horizon. “I’ve never gotten to this level of the video game,” he tells me. The blog worked without words, but the brand now has a story to tell. “With my approach to things, how do we communicate that the product’s good?” he says. “I’m not very forthcoming. I’m kind of a shy individual, more private. But a lot of people want to know more.””

    JJJJound Interview - Photos by Samuel Fournier
    JJJJound Interview - Photos by Samuel Fournier

  • Stumbled across Kamakura Rokusho, a small boutique florist located in Kamakura in the Kanagawa prefecture. What caught my eye was the way they mixed both flowers with wildflowers and grasses to create a more natural and pleasing combination. I also like how much greenery they use in their arrangements. They feel more like something you could have magically found in nature, rather than a gaudy, over-the-top mix of blooms. Plus their use of balance and wabi sabi principles are clear throughout. I wish I could find a cute florist doing arrangements like these in my neigborhood.

    Kamakura Rokusho - Japanese Florists
    Kamakura Rokusho - Japanese Florists
    Kamakura Rokusho - Japanese Florists
    Kamakura Rokusho - Japanese Florists
  • This came across my TikTok over the weekend I thought It was too beautiful not to share. FKJ, aka French Kiwi Juice, is a French multi-instrumentalist who creates music that’s that I would describe as a jazz-flecked with electronic touches. At a recent performance at Red Rock in Colorado, he performed his track “Ylang Ylang” along with these stunning visuals. If you were able to bottle up a memory, I think it might end up looking (and soudning) something like this.

    FKJ (French Kiwi Juice) performing "Ylang Ylang" at Red Rock Amphitheater, Colorado
  • A few weeks back, I wrote in my newsletter about visiting Sips, a bar here in Barcelona which at the time had been crowned the fourth best bar in the world. Well, as of a few days ago, Sips has now been named the best bar in the world. When I moved to Barcelona I knew things would be culturally different from Los Angeles. There is a gluttony of things to do in LA, so how would Barcelona fare, or compare, in contrast? So it’s little things like this, knowing that the best bar in the world is a literal 8 minute walk from my apartment, that make me so happy to be here.

    The whole list of Best Bars in the World is always fascinating to look through, especially seeing which cities/parts of the world tend to over-index. Plus you get so many great ideas for cocktails you can try to make at home.

    Sips in Barcelona Named Best Bar in the World
    Sips in Barcelona Named Best Bar in the World
    Sips in Barcelona Named Best Bar in the World
  • I keep seeing the work of South Korean photographer Cho Gi-Seok show up many places, and rightfully so, his imagery is surreal and captivating. From a young age, Gi-Seok liked to draw and wanted to be an art director. He then started a streetwear brand called KUSIKOHC, where he would take photos for his look books, thus eventually focusing on photography as a means of a visual creative output.

    The world’s he creates in his photos are bizarre and edgy and beautiful all at once. Recently, he did a phenomenal shoot with Billie Eilish for Allure, as well as the cover of Vogue Korea featuring Naomi Campbell. Between these projects, as well as the work below, you can truly get a sense of his range and creativity.

    Photograph by Cho Gi-Seok
    Photograph by Cho Gi-Seok
    Photograph by Cho Gi-Seok
    Photograph by Cho Gi-Seok
    Photograph by Cho Gi-Seok
  • “Why is a painting dry?”

    This is the sort of thesis for Akiko Nakayama’s “alive paintings” where she combines different liquids combined with projectors to bringing painting to life. The stills of her work look like galaxies or alien micro-organisms, while her live work is like a fascinating journey through an alien universe. I’m so impressed by the way that she’s been able to figure out, I’m assuming through trial and error, how to manipulate these liquids to do such extraordinary things, while also putting on a captivating show at the same time. Be sure to watch the video below in it’s super high-res, full-screen glory for the optimal experience.

    Akiko Nakayama - Alive Paintings
    Akiko Nakayama - Alive Paintings
    Akiko Nakayama - Alive Paintings
  • Linda Nguyen Lopez, a first-generation American artist of Vietnamese and Mexican heritage, creates “abstract works that uncover the emotional depth within ordinary objects, revealing the poetic essence of the everyday.” There’s a lovely organic, kind of alien vibe to her pieces, or perhaps like something out of a children’s book. Her ceramic pieces are so full of life and whimsy, and the gradient color palette she creates is mystifying. I want to own one of these so that I can walk by and run my hands over the surfaces, I bet they feel amazing.

    Linda Nguyen Lopez - Ceramic Art
    Linda Nguyen Lopez - Ceramic Art
    Linda Nguyen Lopez - Ceramic Art
    Linda Nguyen Lopez - Ceramic Art