Do-Ho Suh

Korean artist Do-Ho Suh's work looks like eye candy, but reads like a masterpiece. Every sculpture is intricately crafted to raise questions about individuality and anonymity. In our contemporary, overpopulated world, is it even possible to stand out, or are we all part of a collective machine? In many of his deceptively simple sculptures, thousands of singular pieces are linked together to form one overarching statement.

Following two years of mandatory military service in Korea, thousands of dog tags were fashioned together to form the shape of an Emperor's Robe for Suh's piece, Some/One.

Suh's experience in the military led to a slew of works questioning the indentity of the individual in the face of a regiment that essentially seeks to efface identity.

Screen

Paratrooper

Who Am We?

Cause and Effect

Another piece from his Paratrooper series features embroidered signatures on a parachute.

Floor

Suh's mastery of space and the interaction of objects with their environments led him to create a series of pieces that question the nature of identity in a different way. His architectural works crafted from silk or nylon and steel tubing center on the idea of home as a structure and a concept.

Seoul Home/LA Home/New York Home/Baltimore Home/London Home/Seattle Home, reflects Suh's status as a transient being. After growing up in Korea, he moved to New York, and now frequently travels to promote his work.

Perfect Home II

Reflection

Staircase

I appreciate the tactile quality of Suh's work as much as I appreciate the clarity and complexity of his vision. And it doesn't hurt that he likes to read Cabinet, Dwell, and the sadly defunct Blueprint, either. Who says you can't be pretty and smart?

(Photos courtesy of Lehmann Maupin Gallery and Designboom.)

Will I Ever Get Sick of the Horse Lamp?

Hmmm, will I ever get sick of the Front Design Horse Lamp?  It really is a question for the ages.  After getting a glimpse of it at the Barcelona Raval Hotel in Barcelona, Spain, my guess is NO:

Holy God what is happening on that ceiling?

More! More! More!

Oh!  The reflection! Heart. Can't. Take. It.

ce qui?! Une Tufting??!!  

Oui! Oui!

Am going to need every last drop from every last bottle

Ever since I posted the Goldbar, it has been my default fantasy destination.  I've had a pretend wedding, make-believe dance party, and imaginary ladies night among its perfect gold skull walls.  While I'm not tired of it at all and plan many more fake vacations among all its gold-filled glory, I think the Barcelo Ravel is giving the gold bar a run for it's money.  I might skip the rooms though, the lounge is where its at.

Thanks, Yatzer for the lovely images 

Come Along and Ride on a Maptastic Voyage

8 million years ago I wrote a post on my map fixation, and you all seemed to agree that maps rule the world. Well, don't spend too much time fixating on how I brilliantly used language and the internets to write something long before the Big Bang, because part deux is coming at all you map lovers bright and early this morning. Set your international time clocks to awesome and let's get this globe trotting. Now I could do my usual patter that goes something like: maps... globalization... maps... economy... maps... self deprecating political joke. But in my own little latitude x longitudinal coordinate, pollen is dripping from the trees in our canopied neighborhood and making my life a living hell, so I'll settle for maps... pretty. That works, right?

Interior designer, S. R. Gambrel goes nautical in this room decoupaged with maps. I'm a thinking this look can move beyond the solely sea worthy, though. Industrial glam would work equally well.

Annie Schlecter makes this map retro fresh by adding a dash of Mimosa yellow to cool gray, dropping in a sprig of shiny pendant goodness, pouring in a heaping helping of shaggy delight, and garnishing with a burl wood cross section that acts like nature's own growth chart. Delicious.

Per Ranung

This humble little map pirouettes on center stage like a prima ballerina in this... boy's (?) room. Whatever. I'm keeping the metaphor. Boys can dance, too, right?

At night, little Billy Elliot in training could cover up with an amazing map quilt by Leah Evans. This beauty is already sold, but you should check out her other work which walks the line between symbol and abstraction with stunning intricacy.

OWI

This Belgian architect couple spends six months out of the year traveling around Europe in a very swank mobile home, and the other six living in a garage they've tricked out with various and sundry creature comforts. A map is a must for planning future journeys.

Here they show off their essentials: Ligne Roset's Togo sofa, kitchen appliances, a picture of their beloved camper, and the ever popular globe.

Speaking of globes, check out what this crafty chica did to hers. One whole makes two halves (and a very cool pair of pendant lights).

Here's another nifty idea for all your peeps unafraid of a little glue, courtesy of The Bedlam of Beefy's funny blog. Based in the UK, online retailer All Things Original stocks their virtual shop with tons of cute and quirky selctions. Good thing the interweb makes hopping across the pond nothing more than a skip and a jump.

This incredible TEXTILE by Young British Artist (YBA) Gavin Turk hits all those political notes I alluded to but am too lazy to actually cover in this post. The map is fashioned from bits of commercial packaging that reflect the increasingly global nature of consumerism. What's most important is that Coca Cola is available in Uzbekistan, right? Insert your own analysis here.

Nope. Not the same house as the first image, but just goes to show that great minds think alike. Courtesy of the now defunct Domino, via Alicia B. Designs.

Say hello to my current obsession: maps of Tokyo designed by cartographer extraordinaire, Hajime Ishikawa. This little gem is even conveniently featured in chartreuse and turquoise, a hot color combo discussed here and here. Its veiny rivers and jagged arteries set my heart to double pump!

Mmmmm... topolicious.