German film student Lena Steinkühler created the trippy little film below entitled “New York Biotopes”. It is a phantasmagoric take on how NYC might look if the infastructure began randomly morphing into surrealistic creatures—part organic and part mechanical. Take a peek:
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When we travel, it’s easy to overlook the quotidian elements of local infrastructure, such as the lowly manhole cover. But visitors to Japan who watch where they walk are treated to a veritable art show.
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Japanese manhole covers once looked as monotonous as those in most countries, but about thirty years ago imaginative city planners were encouraged to seek input from local artists, designers and civic organizations on cover design. Now, nearly all of Japan’s 1,780 municipalities have unique and fanciful manhole covers that reflect local culture, environment or history.
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There’s even a neat Japanese Manhole Cover flickr group.
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Melbourne Australia-based photographer Ben Thomas has been official dubbed Cityshrinker™ , in fact he has trademarked the title. Thomas earned the sobriquet after circumnavigating the globe to apply his personal take on tilt-shift photography to renowned cities and popular locations. His engaging photos are playful and entertaining takes on the commonplace, touristy and mundane.
All images ©Ben Thomas
Publishing house HarperCollins is planning to release a series of classic fantasy and sci-fi titles for its Voyager list with beautifully updated cloth-bound decorative covers. Designed by London-based illustrator Clare Skeats, the eight books are scheduled for March release. HarperCollins hopes to attract a new audience for the classic novels.
Throughout the month of February, London-based artist Tracey Emin is warming the hearts of visitors to New York City’s chilly Times Square with her romanticaly themed project “I Promise to Love You”. Every night from 11:57 until midnight, forty large advertising screens display Emin’s neon valentines.
VisitNorway’s newest marketing campaign celebrates the 150th anniversay of Edvard Munch‘s birth with a unique contest. Travelers can participate in the “Year of Munch” by uploading their personal “scream experience” video on the VisitNorway website during the month of February. Video stand-outs can win daily prizes and be eligible for the grand prize of $4000 in travel to Norway.
Empty bookshelves become the perfect backdrop for visual projections in this new music video from the House music duo Baarrengaard & Briem. The video for the song “Love With You” was created by Icelandic visual artist Harald Haroldsson.
Paris is often referred to as la ville lumière or the city of light. Paris-based freelance designer and photographer Clémentine Tantet decided to take that notion about the luminous city a step further and represent the Paris Metro map in the form of a lovely star chart. What a beautiful idea.
Images © Clémentine Tantet
Travelers flying on Virgin Atlantic between New York and London this month are being treated to the world’s first transatlantic, commercial art gallery. The “Gallery in the Air” is operating from February 1 through the 28th and is exclusively showing the work of British street artist Ben Eine. The artist is probably best known for his “Alphabet Street” project in London where he painted each letter of the alphabet on twenty-six shop shutters.
The “Gallery in the Air” features ten of Eine’s typography inspired paintings. While other works will be displayed at galleries in Virgin’s JFK, Newark and Heathrow clubhouses.
The Monastiraki neighborhood located in the heart of Athens beneath the Acropolis has been hard hit by the Greek economic crisis. But the art and design group beforelight has collaborated with local residents and businesses to transform the dark and gloomy Pittaki Street into a cozy, welcoming space.
Reprising their “Under a Different Light” project, beforelight worked with local volunteers to gather, rewire and hang old lamps and light fixtures above the narrow street.
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