I thought the most exciting collaboration news I'd get this month was going to be Lanvin x H&M, but clearly I was wrong. While that piece of news has stagnated as we await the release of the looks, I think in early November, this you can get right away. Star Wars x Winnie the Pooh! Chewy boy gets the plum role of Pooh himself, while Han Solo channels Christopher Robin. There's also Sesame Street x Picasso (something I know a thing or two about too... AHEM) and Sesame x Star Wars, plus lots of other hilarious, adorable goodness at Jances Hance's site. Prints are available as well as other merchandise. More images after the cut! Pat, these are for you, even though I don't think you read this blog. Some best friend!

My laptop charger has died rendering me completely useless at home. So this will have to be a sneaky quick one as I'm meant to be working in the office and also have to tend to my Restaurant City establishment, Mall World shop and watch the live stream of Game Five (end 3rd quarter, Boston up 10, woohoo!)

Instead of bringing you interesting information and new designer finds or happening and hip restaurants (all of which I have planned in abundance) you get an image dump of stuffs I like right now. Because adding an "s" to things that aren't supposed to be plural is funnies. In the same way as removing the suffixed "s" from things that don't really need them is cool. Like... I like the new Alex Wang resort short.


I like this twisted Thakoon trench more than any of the Burberry ones.


I like slouchy jumpsuits, I hate the fact that when you go pee in public bathrooms you have to be completely topless to do it. Brrrrr!


I like restaurants that give you crayons, allow dogs and serve french toast for $45 with easy-to-find street parking nearby. I also like drawing pictures of my dog.


I like it when we post about things like coffee table books with luscious photos of to-die-for merchandise made of the tastiest treats... and I like it even more when we get the real thing. FYI, "Taste Matters", the photo exhibit, will be hosted by Hongkong Land from July 5 at the bridges that connect all those Central buildings like Landmark, Alexandra House et al.


I like eating carbs with carbs. Noodles and rice is one thing, but also: pasta with pizza, french fry sandwiches and french toast with hash browns. Don't knock it till you've tried it. And if you try it and don't like it... I'll finish it for you.


I like when you go to the art fair and the art looks exactly like the HK$69.90 trash can I bought from Pricerite two months ago. And while we're at it, it also looks identical to the HK$199 trash can I bought from Ikea and then promptly returned two hours later when I found the Pricerite one.

Alright, back to proofreading. Boston is now 12 up and Kobe is at the free throw line with less than three on the clock. Dream on, LA fans.

Images: Style.com and... my iPhone.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been one of those people who go to the museums, pick up one of those audio guides and then wander off looking at pieces without listening to the tour. I think the only exception was when I went to the Chanel Mobile Art exhibition and afterwards, I still retraced my route to look at the pieces in my own pace and order. If, however, you are a fan of audio guides, then you should check out the Langham Place in Mongkok which is now offering their guests iPod tours of their Chinese contemporary art.


One little known fact: the hotel owns more than 1,500 pieces of contemporary Chinese art estimated to hold a value of more than HK$20 million. This collection is displayed throughout the entire hotel and the iPod tour highlights the hotel’s top 21 pieces from the ground level to the 41st floor. The free guide is narrated by Angela Li of Contemporary by Angela Li and is available in English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese. After the tour, you’ll receive a complimentary take-home petite box-set guide with image prints and written explanations in English and Traditional Chinese.

The tour is available seven days a week from 6:00am – 11:00pm.

For more information on Langham Place, Mongkok, Hong Kong visit http://hongkong.langhamplacehotels.com

Some say fashion is a type of armour against the world, but I don't think that those people had this in mind. The lovely Nicola sent us this crazy concept ensemble by artist Tetsuya Noguchi paying homage to the classic brand Chanel. For some reason, I have this image in my head of that scene from Glee, when the football team does the routine from the Single Ladies music video to distract the opposition. How many samurais would stop in their tracks at the sight of this haute-couture outfit? Bear in mind that lots of samurai were apparently of the homosexual persuasion, and so it's more than likely they would worship at the altar of Chanel. Those bitchin' Maison Michel-esque bunny ears are pretty darn attention-grabbing as well -- paired with a runway strut a la Miss J Alexander, and the enemy doesn't have a chance.




Images: Pink Tentacle

Happy Thanksgiving from your resident Geeks! I know nobody really celebrates this festival out here, but here's a tribute to turkey with Norman Rockwell's Freedom from Want print. And... a canvas/satire I spotted at an art school which will certainly make you go "awwww".


Image: artexpertswebsite.com

If you're in the mood for a bit of culture, check out 10 Chancery Lane this Sunday.

Despite having the world's most confusing and annoying website, Thomas Voorn appears to be a very interesting, quirky artist-designer who's taken a relatively simple concept and made a name for himself. What does good ol' Tom do? He makes weird sentences out of clothes, and places them in random locations, then photographs them. Bet you're having one of those "well I could do that" moments. Yeah, me too. But he thought of it, you didn't, and you can't deny the minimalist appeal of these weird and random still creations. I can't say I would mind having one of these images hanging on my living room wall. That said, I bet he's a really annoying and consciously cryptic "artist type". Yep, his ridiculously un-user-friendly website is still bothering me.

We’ve showcased a few local Hong Kong jewellery designers so this time, I’m branching out to include Half A Cup Of Tea. This talented artist painstakingly cuts, scores and folds paper into miniature sculptures that take your breath away. She started her Etsy store at the end of last year and is very prolific. She shares an anecdote behind the reasoning of her shop’s name, “ During a cold winter evening many years ago, I was waiting for a friend in an MTR station and craving a hot drink.
I thought to myself, I’d love to open a shop called Half A Cup Of Tea that offers drinks at half size as there are no public toilets in the MTR station. I loved the name so much that when I opened my online shop, I choose it for the name.

“I have a little story to amuse myself as to why an online store can have this name. Every customer who comes in is offered a cup of tea. They sip half of it, then start to look at my sculptures. They are so amazed by my work that they quickly buy my stuff and leave happily, forgetting about the other half cup of tea. So, if I become successful in future, and need to open a second shop, I may call it "A quarter cup of tea!”


Fun Facts

Best-selling piece:
I'd say, it's the Dance of Pont D'Avignon Pop-up Bookmarks. Each of them is one of a kind but the design is basically the same. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6576495§ion_id=5995970

Most-used material
Naturally all kinds of paper: iridescent paper, textured paper, plain A4 paper, recycled paper, tissue paper, etc.

Piece that you can't bear to part with
I guess it's the Mountain Village illuminated paper sculpture. I've spent so much time and effort on it, and in the cutting and folding processes, I attempted to give up a few times, thinking it was impossible to make. But I finally made it, and the result was very satisfying. Oh yes, I do wish to part with it and share it with someone who really loves it! :-)
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18805867

Favourite designer
My favourite paper artists are Su Blackwell and Peter Callesen. Their creations are magical!
http://www.petercallesen.com/
http://www.sublackwell.co.uk/

Art Jamming is always fun to do with friends and, with the help of a couple glasses of wine, the perfect opportunity to indulge in your inner Picasso. However, I’ve heard many a complaint from participants as to what to do with their masterpieces. After all, there are only so many you can hang up in your apartment, give to friends, present to your parents, trade in for food etc. Now I’ve discovered something even better than Art Jam; Random Art Workshop (RAW), a living room space where you can create your own arts & crafts. Why the excitement? Firstly, the location. It’s smack in the middle of Causeway Bay next to Island Beverley. Perfect for a little artsy project after a day of shopping. RAW offers many different kinds of workshops including scrap booking, blinging up accessories, collage and jewellery making. RAW also provides gaming consoles such as PS3 and the Wii, for the boyfriend who doesn’t want to make jewellery perhaps?

Random Art Workshop: Unit1203, 12/F, Island Beverley , 1 Great George Street, Causeway Bay

You can always depend on Hong Kongers to commercialise anything as long as there’s an element of charity in it. This time, it’s both. YY9 Gallery is doing an ‘exhibition’ on canvas bags created by over 100 artists, designers and celebrities including Barney Cheng (fashion designer), Cathy Lee (former model now society tai tai), Craig Au Yeung (comic artist), Chow Chun Fai (artist who paints HK movie scenes), Douglas Young (founder of G.O.D), Prudence Mak (of Chocolate Rain fame), Steve Leung (interior designer and architect) and more. Each will be given a plain canvas bag to ‘recreate’ the bag in some incarnation. After the exhibition, the bags will be sold under silent auction. Starting bid is HK$1,000.

While reading through the list, Cathy Lee’s name sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb. What does a tai tai have to do with the rest of the art crew? Well it becomes clear when you take a look at the charity element. All proceeds are donated to the Chi Heng Foundation which help ADIS impacted orphans and their families in mainland China. And whose pet project is the Chi Heng Foundation? Why Cathy Lee of course.

Exhibition Period: 8 - 30 May 2009

YY9 Gallery
G/F., 83-85 Sing Woo Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat 10-7pm (closed on Sun and Public Holidays)
T: 2574 3370 yy9@2bsquare.com www.2bsquare.com