All posts filed under: Design

Pride of Ussher

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For those growing up in Jamestown, Accra’s oldest and most densely populated neighbourhood, boxing is a way of life. A succession of world champions, including the legendary Azumah Nelson, considered by many to be the greatest African boxer of all time, and current IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey, grew up and learned their trade here, and for many young locals the dream is to follow in their footsteps.  French social documentary and portrait photographer Antoine Jonquiere was visiting the area last year, when he stumbled across one of its many boxing gyms. “I remember hearing the sounds of the boxers training, the vibrations on the floor were very strong so I entered and I saw the boys of all ages…” he says. Instantly captivated by the scene in front of him, his interest deepened after speaking to the boys coach, who told him of the areas unique boxing heritage.  He would go on to visit numerous gyms in Jamestown and nearby Usshertown over a two month period, photographing young fighters as they trained in the …

Velho Chico

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Velho Chico, the name affectionately given by the locals to the giant Sao Francisco river in the Sertao area of Northeastern Brazil, the backdrop for the solo project by Brazilian born Wieden + Kennedy Creative director, Mico Toledo. Known largely for its barren land and widespread poverty, but perhaps lesser known is the area’s unique diversity of people, cultures, and religions, the consequence of hundreds of years of immigration and erratic colonialism, and a place Mico describes as: “where folklore and reality seamlessly blend, becoming impossible to distinguish from one another.” Initially inspired by novelists, Jorge Amado, Euclides da Cunhaand and Rachel de Queiroz, who used the area as a setting for their stories. Mico visited the region several times between 2016 and 2018, meeting and photographing the local people; exploring their rich diversity and connection with the esoteric. The series includes a zine, inspired by the Cordel literature collections of folklore, poems and songs, usually accompanied by woodcut illustrations and sold locally by street vendors and at markets within the region. Designed by Adam Hunter; Mico …

Akari: Sculpture by Other Means

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Akari: Sculpture by Other Means, a new exhibition at New York’s Noguchi Museum, examines and celebrates Isamu Noguchi’s iconic, collapsible paper lanterns. One of the most important sculptors of the last century, Isamu Noguchi (1904–88) was born in Los Angeles, California, to a Scottish-American mother, and Japanese father, he moved to Japan shortly after, where he remained until the age of thirteen, when he returned to the US. He was interested in art and sculpture from an early age, but initially studied pre-medicine at Columbia, whilst also taking evening classes with sculptor Onorio Ruotolo. However, in 1926, after witnessing revolutionary sculptor Constantin Brancusi’s exhibition at the Brummer Gallery, he was inspired to focus entirely on his art, and in doing so, achieved the Guggenheim Fellowship allowing him to work as an assistant to Brancusi, at his Paris studio. “Great good fortune such as this has something of the divine and inevitable,” said Noguchi, of this opportunity, the pair forming a constructive and reciprocal relationship, with Noguchi, much like Brancusi, going on to work across a range of disciplines, using a multitude of …

AMOMENTO 18 Summer Resort Collection

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Seoul label and boutique, amomento, have been garnering  the attention of discerning womenswear enthusiasts recently, both with their contemporary and understated silhouettes, and their carefully curated selection of international brands. Their latest collection features essential summer items in nature inspired tonal cotton and linen, whilst the rugged backdrop accentuates the elegant simplicity that has become their trademark. Visit their website for more information and to purchase items from this collection.   All photos courtesy of amomento.      

Ventura/Foreman

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  Ventura/Foreman is a design and manufacturing studio made up of Ventura Clothing and Foreman Accessories. They focus on non-seasonal, conceptual projects, with utilitarian design, informed by the low-tech industrial sewing machinery they use to manufacture their products at their South East London studio. They also have a series of collaborative collections planned for the near future. See a selection of their products below, and for more information or to buy items from this collection go to the Ventura/Foreman website or visit London store Swim XYZ.   All photos courtesy of Ventura/Foreman, Photography by Alexander Mcluckie.