Colossal | A blog about art and visual ingenuity.

Recordis Magazine No. 1

Recordis Magazine No. 1 magazines editorial

Forewarning: a few links below are slightly NSFW.

A few days ago I received an email from Andrew Harlow telling me about a new publication he’s been working on with Sabino Aguad called Recordis Magazine. I just took the time to sit down and go through it and was I floored. It’s an impeccably curated 78-page collection of photography and other visual art including the works of Joshua Scott, Kay Jan and Shannon Rankin (all shown above), as well as seventeen additional artists. It also includes several essays and interviews, all as a free download, or a perfect bound print. You really should check it out.

By Christopher on June 6, 2011 • editorial magazines

A Modular Typographical Bookcase by Saporiti

Holy awesome bookcase batman! Designers Eva Alessandrini and Roberto Saporiti of the Italian furniture design firm Saporiti have created this beautiful bookcase system that allows you to spell custom words and phrases using modular bookcase letters. If you liked this, see also the Alphabet Bookshelf by Lincoln Kayiwa. (via illusion, fasels Suppe)

Liquid Bricks

Liquid Bricks street art interactive installation

This wonderful video arrived in my inbox from Benjamin Boré who created this perfectly executed liquid brick installation as part of a collaboration at Raum à La Box in France. Meant to “question the harshness of the city” the idea is really quite simple, to embed a water-filled pouch beneath the city streets, and the effect is pretty charming, especially for the kids clamoring all over the thing. Music by Mansfield Tya. Thanks Benjamin!

By Christopher on June 3, 2011 • installation interactive street art

Ridiculously detailed spray-paint and stencil portraits by Kris Trappeniers

Ridiculously detailed spray paint and stencil portraits by Kris Trappeniers street art stencils portraits paper painting

I just discovered the work of Belgium-based Kris Trappeniers who describes himself as a “paper sculptor”. His delicately cut stencils are among the most complex I’ve ever seen, the twisting, curving line work creating these amazing portraits that are unbelievably finished with spraypaint.

By Christopher on June 3, 2011 • painting paper portraits stencils street art

Inner Space

Inner Space water tableau studio space models

Inner Space is a lovely series of photos by London-based Owen Silverwood that depicts miniaturized spacecraft blasting through confined aquatic landscapes. Thanks Owen for sharing your work with Colossal! (via notcot)

By Christopher on June 3, 2011 • models space studio tableau water

Jacob Hashimoto: Armada

Armada is the latest exhibition by Jacob Hashimoto currently at Studio La Città in Verona. Hashimoto frequently uses acrylic, paper, bamboo, and nylon to create densely layered installations of translucent discs and other geometric shapes that are mounted on walls. Some of his much larger works fill entire gallery rooms or ceiling spaces. Unique to this exhibition he installed a large-scale kinetic sculpture of suspended sailboats affixed to three gently rolling lever mechanisms that cause the ships to roll gently along invisible waves. I hope dearly somebody shoots a video of this in action. (via wowgreat)

By Christopher on June 3, 2011 • boats installation maritime multiples

Cold Mailman: Time is of the Essence

Cold Mailman: Time is of the Essence Norway light

A great new video for Cold Mailman from director and animator André Chocron, shot against a number of soon to be demolished buildings in Oslo. (via your music today)

By Christopher on June 2, 2011 • light Norway

Michael Konstantin Wolke Upcycles Found Objects to Create Beautifully Designed Furniture, Lighting, and Storage

Michael Konstantin Wolke Upcycles Found Objects to Create Beautifully Designed Furniture, Lighting, and Storage upcycling recycling lighting furniture

Light shades made from recycled corrugated cardboard.

Michael Konstantin Wolke Upcycles Found Objects to Create Beautifully Designed Furniture, Lighting, and Storage upcycling recycling lighting furniture

Expandable shelving and bench storage made from patched bicycle tubes.

Michael Konstantin Wolke Upcycles Found Objects to Create Beautifully Designed Furniture, Lighting, and Storage upcycling recycling lighting furniture

A wall-mounted storage basket constructed from a salvaged shopping cart.

Michael Konstantin Wolke Upcycles Found Objects to Create Beautifully Designed Furniture, Lighting, and Storage upcycling recycling lighting furniture
Urban seating made from steel and mesh fencing.

Cologne-based designer Michael Konstantin Wolke upcycles found objects, converting them into new works that are as equally functional as stunning. My favorite by far is his expandable wardrobe made from patched bicycle innertubes that have been wrapped around a solid metal frame. This is genuinely brilliant work and I can’t wait to see what he cobbles together next. (via de|zine)