Roundup of curiosities / May 2023
Things I watched, listened to, thought and talked about that inspired me so much that I can’t hold it.
“My whole point is to transcend the subject . . . go beyond the subject somehow, so that the composition, the lighting, all around, reaches a certain point of perfection.”
— Robert Mapplethorpe
This image captured my eye with its masterfully idealized simplicity to explore Robert’s photographs more. I think such simplicity is often understated.
There goes a lot of intention to create an image like this: natural or artificial lighting, flat or structured backgrounds, and composition to keep it minimal but with extraordinary detail. Altogether it makes the work meaningful.
Robert Mapplethorpe, Iris and Zinnia, 1984
If you see beauty in something,
don’t wait for others to agree.
serihan GAMAL
Brands that open new perspectives and spark the conversation will never be scrolled past.
Before Laura from AKI inquired about working with me, I never thought of the existence of an oil lamp, how much story it carries, and how incredibly it transforms the space's ambiance. This brand opened up new perspectives for me and brought a unique experience of lighting my home with a natural source of light — fire. Besides being honored to work with AKI, I am an absolute brand fan.
There is something special about exploring non-advertised brands you find through like-minded people and places. Incausa incenses is one of them. The smells of copal and palo santo are my transcendental and profoundly connecting. They also awakened my memories of adventuring around Latin America before the pandemic.
P.S. This is an excellent example of two neighbor brands, Aki and Incause, from different industries that connect to the same audience based on similar ethos and values.
If you spot someone in the case with this book, there is a 99% chance it’s a designer. This sparked a conversation with the girl next to me in the cafe. I don’t use or wear color as much, but this book is an amazing source of inspiration.
Japanese gifted a lot of deep philosophy and art to the world. I watched “Spirited Away” only in my 29th year of life. It’s one of those cartoons I would like to forget and watch again.