Tag Archives: London

Voyage: A Fleet of 300 Illuminated Boats in Canary Wharf by Aether & Hemera

Media architect Claudio Benghi and light artist Gloria Ronchi joined together in 2006 to form Aether & Hemera, an interdisciplinary collaboration that seeks “to research the aesthetic challenges of light and its power to trigger emotions and response, creating a sense of identity or setting a mood.” Their latest installation in London’s Canary Wharf is this beautiful fleet of 300 illuminated boats called Voyage. Each floating light is reminiscent of a paper-folded origami boat that is illuminated from within, and I’m told there is a wireless network in the vicinity that allows you to join with your mobile device and somehow alter the color of the entire installation.

Voyage will be up through February 15th, 2013, and while the lights are on during the day, the viewing is probably best at night. I want to thank photographers Sean Batten and Ian Docwra for providing the images for this post.

The Happiness Machine: Exquisitely Detailed Architectural Drawings by Mark Lascelles Thornton

The Happiness Machine: Exquisitely Detailed Architectural Drawings by Mark Lascelles Thornton New York London drawing Chicago architecture

Using a rotring pen on white paper, Cornwall-based artist Mark Lascelles Thornton has embarked on a massive architectural drawing project called the The Happiness Machine. Each panel represents a stylized red and grayscale representation of architectural highlights from eight locations, so far including Chicago, New York, London and what appears to be a mix of Asian skyscrapers (Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, etc.). In addition to the meticulous detail of the buildings and clouds, the piece is all the more incredible considering its scale: the final piece will include eight panels spanning 8 ft. by 5 ft. (2.4 m. x 1.5 m.). The images here are great but you can see everything in much more detail over on his Tumblr. (via devid sketchbook)

By Christopher on December 11, 2012 • architecture Chicago drawing London New York

London Heathrow Approach Time-lapse Turns Jumbo Jets into Floating Toys

London Heathrow Approach Time lapse Turns Jumbo Jets into Floating Toys timelapse London flying airplanes

This short clip from the Cargospotter aviation video channel shows a few dozen planes as they queue up for approach at London’s Heathrow airport. At 17x normal speed the wind currents seem to bounce the planes like small toys suspended from invisible strings and the perpetually moving clouds create the illusion of a constantly panning camera. In an internet flooded with time-lapse videos this is definitely a gem. (via metafilter)

By Christopher on October 28, 2012 • airplanes flying London timelapse

Banksy Goes to the Olympics

Banksy Goes to the Olympics street art olympics London graffiti

It looks like a potential crackdown on graffiti artists prior to the 2012 Olympics in London didn’t involve the world’s most famous street artist. Two new pieces by Banksy were posted to his website this morning featuring his personal take on the games. I feel the same as Bobby over at The Fox is Black in hoping there’s more to come.

Update: There’s a great article over at The Atlantic Wire about Banksy and the politics of street art during the 2012 Olympic Games.

By Christopher on July 23, 2012 • graffiti London olympics street art

London in Puddles

London in Puddles street photography London black and white

For the past few weeks photographer Gavin Hammond has been capturing the beauty of London’s architecture and people as reflected in puddles. You can see much more over on My Modern Met and Flickr.

By Christopher on May 26, 2012 • black and white London street photography

Typographic Transit Maps

Typographic Transit Maps typography public transportation posters and prints New York maps London city cities Chicago

I’m enjoying these slick minimalist public transportation maps available at TRNSPRTNATION. Each train route is comprised of a long, repeated list of the station stops from that line. Only $25. They have maps available for Chicago, New York, London, San Francisco, Boston, and Washington D.C. (thnx, ryan!)

By Christopher on August 24, 2011 • Chicago cities city London maps New York posters and prints public transportation typography

Isaac Cordal: Cement Eclipses

A new piece from Isaac Cordal who just published a 256-page book entitled Cement Eclipses: Small Interventions in the Big City, a book that chronicles the misadventures of his tiny cement men on the streets of London. See more of his work documented over at Unurth.