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- ГООK¡ - Weekly Digest #8
ГООK¡ - Weekly Digest #8
Visa Fashion Week Tashkent, Vipoo Srivilas's Porcelain Characters, Sustainable Designs of 2024, Zhong Lin, a self-taught photographer, Seaweed Fabric, sARTorial / The Art of Looking Like an Artist and How to Read a Dress, an Interview with Lydia Edwards.
Ersel Örge
December 25, 2024
Hello! This is the weekly edition of ГООK¡ by Ersel Örge — one piece resurfaced from the unlimited archive as a timeless uplift for heart, mind, and spirit. You can always catch up on previous issues right here. Enjoy weekly inspirational articles.
Fashion
Joy in the ephemeral
Visa Fashion Week Tashkent 2024, held on November 14-15 at Tashkent City Mall, highlighted Central Asia's fashion evolution under the theme "Moments of Miracle." The event showcased 11 designers blending tradition with modernity, celebrating the region's cultural richness and creativity.
Standouts included Cosmodinass, debuting with futuristic gold-accented designs appealing to younger audiences, and Azukar Moreno, whose two-part show featured signature womenswear and a new menswear line inspired by the Timurid Empire, crafted from traditional handwoven fabrics. Emerging talent also shone, with Kazakh brand Arevik Hamar debuting a futuristic collection inspired by The Fifth Element under Darkncore.
Visa Fashion Week Tashkent 2024 successfully merged historical influences with contemporary innovation, positioning itself as a significant platform for established and rising fashion talents.
Art
Exuberant Porcelain Characters Emanate Optimism and Togetherness
Vipoo Srivilasa, a Thai-born artist based in Melbourne, is renowned for his elegant yet playful porcelain sculptures that explore themes of queerness, migration, and spirituality. His recent works feature dynamic characters adorned in vibrant glazes, often gesturing with "V" signs symbolizing peace or victory, and are imbued with titles like "Salutaris, the Patron of Well-being" and "Calma, the Spirit of Tranquility," reflecting their uplifting roles.
Emphasizing community and accessibility, Vipoo's art delves into universal values such as trust, fairness, and togetherness. His solo exhibition, "re/JOY," at the Australian Design Centre, showcases a diverse range of migration stories within Australia, drawing from personal narratives and mementos to weave a collective tale. The exhibition runs through February 19 in Darlinghurst, near Sydney. Complementing the show is a vibrant new monograph, "Positive Art Work," celebrating 25 years of Vipoo's artistic journey.
For more insights into Vipoo's work, visit his official website or Instagram page.
Vipoo emphasizes community, accessibility, and unwavering optimism in elegant yet playful porcelain sculptures.
Design
Sustainable Designs of 2024
In the contemporary context where sustainability transcends mere trends to become a pressing necessity, 2024 has witnessed a significant rise in eco-conscious designs seamlessly integrating innovation with ethical responsibility. Spanning a spectrum from everyday essentials to luxurious products, these creations redefine the benchmarks for sustainable living.
The top ten sustainable designs of the year by Yanko Design exemplify how ingenuity and environmental stewardship can harmoniously coexist. These pioneering products demonstrate that sustainability and aesthetics are not mutually exclusive, offering consumers responsible yet appealing choices that enhance their quality of life while positively impacting the environment. Explore these exemplary innovations to appreciate the synergy between creativity and conscientious living.
Saye’s sneakers are designed with sustainability, style, and affordability in mind.
Photography
Zhong Lin, a self-taught photographer
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysian-Chinese photographer Zhong Lin initiated "Project 365," committing to creating and sharing a new photograph daily on her Instagram for a year. This ambitious endeavour, which began on April 23, 2020, served as a testament to the power of creativity in providing joy and relief during challenging times.
Lin's work is celebrated for its sensuous and vibrant qualities, evoking textures and scents through imagery. Drawing from a diverse cultural background that weaves elements from Chinese opera's red to Malaysia's vibrancy, her photographs reflect a unique confluence of cultures.
Throughout the year-long project, Lin struggled to maintain creative momentum and make daily decisions on themes, subjects, and compositions without fail, regardless of external circumstances. "Project 365" not only highlights Lin's remarkable ability to find beauty and inspiration in the every day but also serves as a reminder of the enduring power of art to connect and uplift.
The full article explores Zhong Lin's "Project 365 " more deeply.
Exploring Zhong Lin's Project 365
Zhong Lin, a self-taught photographer renowned for her synesthetic images that merge tactile sensations with vibrant visuals
Textiles
Seaweed Fabric: Can Algae Clothing Kelp The Planet?
Seaweed fabric, derived from marine algae, is gaining attention as a sustainable alternative in the textile industry. One notable example is Kelsun™, a kelp-based yarn introduced by Stella McCartney in collaboration with Keel Labs. This bio-based material offers a significantly lower environmental footprint compared to conventional fibres. The production process involves extracting a biopolymer from seaweed, which is then transformed into fine filaments and spun into yarn. Seaweed's regenerative properties make it an eco-friendly resource, as it absorbs carbon dioxide and requires minimal land use.
Another example is SeaCell, a fibre made from brown algae called Knotted Wrack, primarily sourced from Icelandic fjords. SeaCell is known for its durability, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties. It is also touted for its anti-irritant qualities, making it suitable for sensitive skin.
However, some claims about seaweed fabric's health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, have been met with scepticism. A 2007 investigation found no evidence supporting these medicinal claims, suggesting that while seaweed fabric may offer environmental benefits, its health-related assertions require further scientific validation.
The seaweed fabric presents a promising sustainable textile option, offering environmental advantages like carbon absorption and minimal land use. While specific health benefit claims are unsubstantiated, the material's eco-friendly properties make it a noteworthy development in sustainable fashion.
Featured BOOK
sARTorial / The Art of Looking Like an Artist - Katerina Pantelides
Have you ever wondered about Yayoi Kusama’s affinity for polka dots or questioned Picasso’s frequent choice of the Breton tee?
Introducing sARTorial, a comprehensive exploration of the distinctive fashion choices of 60 influential artists spanning the 19th century to the present day. This insightful guide examines the wardrobe essentials of iconic figures such as Claude Monet alongside contemporary artists like Tauba Auerbach, offering an analysis of how their personal style choices align with and reflect their creative practices.
Featuring a curated selection of striking images of the artists in their signature attire, sARTorial provides a valuable resource for those interested in understanding the interplay between fashion and artistic identity, shedding light on the cultural significance of the artist's persona.
Featured PODCAST
How to Read a Dress, an Interview with Lydia Edwards (Dressed Classic)
The interview with fashion historian and author Lydia Edwards, who joined DRESSED to discuss her acclaimed book How to Read a Dress.
You can listen to this episode from Lives of Tomorrow on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
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Thank you for joining me this week on this journey through curated articles.
Until next time, Stay curious + Stay inspired.
Cheers,
Ersel