さくらん : Sakuran

Mika Ninagawa is one of the most famous photographers in Japan today. Her photographs, such as "Acid Bloom" (2004) above, are highly stylized and distinguishable with their vibrant colors, vivid contrast, and close perspective. She presents women, goldfish, flowers, and landscapes in a way that highlights their best features and accentuates their beauty to the extreme. Her most popular works are portraits of young women  surrounded by lush flowers and colorful backgrounds, which not only emphasize their beauty but also their femininity and mystique.

Her style is never more obvious than in her first feature film, Sakuran (2006), which was originally based on a popular comic by Moyoco Anno.

The movie follows the geisha, Kiyoha, in Edo era Japan as she falls into a taboo love affair with a merchant and her climb to be to become the most notorious "Oiran", or reigning geisha.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAmnZqbh9mA

The trailer opens with a stream of images with cherry blossoms and gold fish, most of which are in red. The color red is in nearly every scene throughout the movie, symbolizing love, passion, lust, and representing the rich, hedonistic culture in 18th century Edo. The geishas often have painting of birds, flowers, fish, and landscapes in the background, and the repetition of these images give the highly dense scenes a sense of unity and balance. Every scene is decorated with details of peonies, goldfish, silk kimonos, and reds, which makes them a piece of art by itself. Every character adorns a specific color; the main character always wearing red kimono offset with blacks. Reference to the characters` pasts are all in grey and any scene in which the character feels an intense emotion is followed by photos of cherry blossoms in full bloom. The emphasis through color and repetition not only balances and unifies the movie, but also builds on the emotions felt throughout the movie.
"Sakuran" is a lush, gorgeous, hedonistic movie that is candy to the eyes.

UNIQLO is UNIQUE. GAP is GENERAL.

Gap is like a common infectious disease; http://www.gap.com/.

New styles remain "new" only for a split second before every other person on the block seems to have already purchased it. The simplicity of the blue, square logo is universal but when traveling overseas, the label is instantly recognized as "the American clothing line'. Hence its huge success in Asia, where anything American is worth purchasing and striving for. In a society that encourages individuality, it is quite embarrassing to see three other girls in class wearing the same sweat shirt with the same logo.

UNIQLO is similar to the Gap in their production of everyday basics and simple designs. A clothing brand from Japan that has recently gained international success for their affordability, quality, and versatility of their clothing, UNIQLO may as well be dubbed as the new Gap; http://www.uniqlo.com/us/. Despite the similarities, the target customers of the two companies are different.

The design of the two company`s websites show the two brand`s character. The use of blues and greys on Gap`s website evoke coolness and a sense of maturity and conformity. Compared to the web design of UNIQLO, Gap`s website may be easier to navigate for shoppers for its basic layout with a large photo in the middle to catch the viewers eye. It is basic in the sense that there is nothing edgy or exciting about it; the brand is mainly marketed for the mature adult audience. It is the design label for grown ups.

For the young and restless college student however, Gap may be a little too boring for our highly imaginative minds. Although the brand offers basic clothing styles like T-shirts and work pants, it offers viewers a wide variety of different styles that is accessible to everyone from the urban hipster to the casual nerd. Both pages use similar fonts with little variation in color. And yet UNIQLO`s site seems so much more exciting and inspiring for the fashion forward. Their website is also much more simpler than Gap because it lacks the excessive lines, blocks, and extreme bold letters, allowing them to put more emphasis on their clothing.

Another important point that is less design-related is that Gap has the word "SALE" posted in almost every corner of their site. It makes one wonder whether Gap is trying to market their clothing or their "sales" pitch.

And although UNIQLO`s website is less structured and organized compared to GAP, I like it that way. The more fun, chaotic, and crazier the better. I can figure my way out and create a look that is truly my own.

奈良 美智; Nara Yoshimoto

At first glance, the child looks comical and cute. 

("Too Young to Die", Nara)

But the menacing glare and the burning cigarette tell a different story. The infant child, as cute, cuddly and adorable as she may seem, holds an expression of boredom, passivity, and unrest. The particular dullness of the colors, particularly the offset yellow, adds to the effect.

The stark expression contrasts with the simplicity of the work. The smooth lines, simples shapes, and lack of depth and detail that is inherent in most Japanese mangas and anime make this piece familiar and relevant with the manga style. The simplicity of her face also makes her relatable in some ways. The placement of her rather dominant figure to the left also gives a slight sense of off-balance. It confuses viewers at first glance because such styles are usually supposed to evoke utopian ideas of happy children in happy-land.

The artist, Nara Yoshimoto`s work share a common theme of irony displayed in the painting above. He is one of the leading pop artists from Japan famous for his depiction of children, dogs, and houses in paintings, sculptures and installations. His paintings of children depict the isolation, pubescent awkwardness, and general unrest felt amongst the youth today. Dogs remind us of the quiet submission that is also common amongst children. Houses evoke isolation, loneliness, and also the freedom of imagination that results from being alone. Nara molds the influences of simplistic manga that was popular in post-war Japan with his own style, allowing his work to be void of any details that may inhibit communication between the subject matter and the viewer. The images make the wide range of emotions expressed relatable to the general audience but also sympathizes and converses with the youth of today.

("Fuckin Politics", Nara)

NANOKA

I recently came across an article called "Masturbation Smasturbation" in The California Aggie by local author Alison Stevenson. It shunned social stigma towards female masturbation and mens` idea that "girls only poop rainbows and butterflies". Society expects women to remain "pure" (Stevenson, 2010) and the idea of a female pleasuring herself seems to be inappropriate, taboo, and wrong.

Such misconceptions should immediately be thrown away because we live in a time when feminism is the new black and women have the power to exercise their freedom and sexuality to the fullest extent.

The latest publication from blogger Katie West, "Nanoka", celebrates the beauty of the female figure and the power that women have to be who they want to be. With Canadian photographer Jack Scoresby, West traveled across Japan over a span of 7 days "shooting eachother, staying in some hotels they didn`t belong in ( and some they did), wandering around, drinking and getting tattoos" (Magcloud, 2010).

(image: Jack Scoresby for Nanoka)

The photo book follows the two as they enjoy various Japanese cuisines, subcultures, and places that makes Japan such a culturally unique country. The design of the book is simple with a few pages of writing from both West and Scoresby. But the simplicity of the book allows viewers to relive and enjoy the ride along with them. But in between such shots are the intimate photos taken of each other. It is sensual, beautiful, raw, gritty, and sometimes comical. 

The pictures seem to tell us that it is okay to be naked in front of a camera. That it is alright if you pleasure yourself in front of the window in a hotel room while the city bursts with life at midnight. There is nothing strange, taboo, or wrong about anything that you do because you are a man, woman, or both. 

You are human.

Stevenson`s article and Nanoka screams to the world what most people still do not seem to hear. In a society where sexism is still alive and glass ceilings remain unbroken, we are constantly pressured to abide by their rules. 

But to find your own voice and be mentally free from such binders is liberation. And it may be the greatest feeling besides love.

The Sartorialist: I Like Your Style

The term, "style", seems to be as broad and complex as "design". There are no limitations or definitions to style because its value depends on individual experience and perception. Style can express your inner character and be your own personal advertisement.

Style is whatever you may wish it to be.

In the blog, "The Sartorialist", photographer Scott Schuman shoots photos of on the streets whom he believes has great style. Although most of his photos are based from the streets of New York city, he also takes snaps in places such as Japan, Milan and Paris.

http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

The people he photographs are of course, fashionable. But fashionable in the sense that they carry themselves in a timeless manner and not be distracted by what is "new" or what is "out". Looking through the photos from past years, figures from five years ago still seem to be fashionable in todays terms.

The man on Rue St. Honore, Paris (Oct. 2009) is a classic example of The Sartorialist`s talent to find good style. The man`s outfit, which may seem random and slightly uncoordinated, works. It seems to project his character as the jolly but sophisticated man who can smoke a pipe and dress well. The hat, the glasses, the feminine red scarf, and the classic khaki jacket makes this man stand out from the crowd. It makes viewers wonder about rich history and yearn to become friends with him or at least bond over a cup of coffee.

Perhaps that is why the Sartorialist chose to take a photo of him that day.

The fashion world, or the media, always seems to stress the importance of being fashion-forward, skinny, and pursuing your own look through fashion magazines. Society these days seems to be bent on defining beauty for the masses; hence the repetitive advertisements of men and women who all seem the same.

Browsing through the Sartorialist, viewers can be inspired by the photos and draw tips for their upcoming outfit. But more importantly, it also encourages viewers to wear what they like and carry themselves with confidence.

Bliss; Jill Bliss

Anyone from Santa Cruz County would know we barely had a summer. We spent our summer days hiding under the sheets from the cold, then running to the rivers and beaches when the sun came out. The few summery days we had can be characterized with record temperatures and inhabitants resembling sloths.

It was either too hot or too cold to garden, pick flowers in the forest, or enjoy the bounties of summer.

But Jill Bliss can fix your post-summer blues.

Her recent Garden Series prints had been inspired by the lack of summer she had also experienced in her own neck of the woods. It was created as a homage to the summer of 2009 and her love for gardening and sustainable lifestyles.

Bliss infuses her work with a do-it-yourself spirit through a medium of everyday objects such as ball point pens, scrap paper, and threads. Her work is inspired by nature and she seems to permeate her appreciation for it through the use of simple lines and soft colors. She uses dots, lines, and circles to create beautifully organic images of nature. Her work is friendly, lovely, lush, and approachable.

The simplicity of Bliss art makes her a popular artist for indie-related designs such as Ucommon and blissen. Her work seems to reach out to the D.I.Y-loving indie hipsters who listen to She&;Him and Charlotte Gainsbourge.

                
The content of Bliss`s work comes from her interest in environmental studies ecology as well as from her upbringing on a farm. She emphasizes the beauty and ephemeral qualities of nature and seems to encourage an appreciation for it amongst her fans.

Bliss`s work is cute with a purpose. She will cure your summer blues with her evocative designs and inspire you to garden, hike, or just take a long walk at the Arboretum.

Stone Soup for Everyone

"What are we supposed to make with all this sh*t?!"

That was the first thought I had as my group and I gathered around our "loot". The ingredients that we had scavenged for our soup were random, inconsistent, and perhaps useless even in our daily lives. 

We had bags of blue and silver Christmas ornaments, a few small bottles of paint, empty plastic bottles, and duct tape. Our group seemed to be filled with a bit of skepticism because we did not know what to do with the materials and we did not know each other so well. The awkward politeness was ever present. The best mindset to have in such situations is to "just do it" (Nike, 1988). 

We created a somewhat unstable base that could have easily been blown away by the winds that day but we quickly secured it with my "ribbon of bubbles, or ornaments tied to a scarf. Kevin, a fellow group member then taped crushed water bottles around the center of the base. The protruding bottles, with the Kirkland label still on it, created a bursting, or explosive effects. We then continued by wrapping the object with thin craft paper and other random articles that added color and more texture. It was turning out to be a lot more interesting and creative than I had expected. Best of all, I was starting to really enjoy the Stone Soup creation process.

We continued to add, paste and hang. The final touches came when Maggie plotted a stem of fake rose and everyone dripped grey and fuchsia pink all over. The grey paint dripping over the sepia colored rose seemed to add a touch of nostalgia and the whole drip effect of the paint gave our work an organic feel.

It was then that I realized that we did not start with any conceptual ideas. Many artists seem to start on a project with some idea or concept in their minds. We, on the other hand, did not. 

But that was what made our soup so fantastic. From a pile of what I would usually call junk, we created an object, or abstract garden of torn paper, crushed bottles, bursting molecules, and flowers dripping with greys and pinks. I believe that in projects similar to Stone Soup, artists have the freedom of developing concepts after the creative process. They may not even need a conceptual idea because the whole point of the project was to create something out of whatever we had.

And the best part? It was so much fun!

What. Just. Happened.

What just happend?

To say that I had a whirlwind experience this past weekend may not suffice for what actually happened. It started with the Black Keys at the Fox Theater in Oakland and reached its peak at the Shpongle and Infected Mushroom show at the Warfield in San Francisco.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_PrT25o8Vs&playnext=1&videos=wI_JqhRH7pk&feature=artistob
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwdkexdiHh8&feature=related

In the midst of the flashing lights, thumping beats, and my psychedelic trance, a homework assignment suddenly popped into my mind out of no where. A homework question is the last thing you should be thinking about in such a state but this one was different and it came with the answer I was looking for.

Design is an illusion.

It is our reinterpretation of reality. We look to design to understand the world around us and try to make a deeper connection with our surroundings by shedding new light onto it.
That does not mean design is fake or a fabric of our imagination. It comes from a wide variety of experience and knowledge, all of which are real.
Kostas Terzidis mentions in his essay, "The Etymology of Design:Pre-Socratic Perspective", that design cannot be created out of nothing and that it cannot simply disappear. Its process of creation is based on reduction and regression; "reduction... can be associated with abstraction, simplification, and idealization. Similarly, reversion is about... return, reassessment, and reconsideration."

In other words, design is a mental process in which we dig through our memory box, use what we have, and create something extraordinary.
Furthermore, our memories and imaginations are limited. We cannot recall every data, information or sensation that we have experienced in our lives. And although this may seem problematic at first, I find myself more creative under such limitations, or design restraints, than when I am given a free-for-all assignment.

Sailormoon, Sexy Boys & Short Skirts

It all started with Sailormoon. Of course.

Living in Japan as a toddler, I was just like any other Japanese girl with the inherent qualities of a constant daydreamer. It was inevitable that I would find Sailormoon (Kodansha, 1992) dancing around in her short school girl skirts while shooting alien enemies of outer space.

The way the images flowed with the words and the strange relativity with the characters made me fall in love with the anime. Every cover design had a rainbow of colors that could catch anyones eyes and the art on every page compelled you to start drawing.

My first impression of Sailormoon would be similar to a first contact with an alien. She had unusually large eyes with unusually long lashes. She had golden blonde hair, which is extremely rare for a Japanese person and seemed anorexic. She also had no contours or shadows or color that could make her seem realistic. But she was relatable. As Scott McCloud mentioned in his comic, "Understanding Comics" (Harper Collins, 1994) the simplicity of the drawings allowed Sailormoon to become a "vacuum into which our identity and awareness are pulled" and allowed viewers to explore a different world in which we could become Sailormoon ourselves.

But it was also the powerful message of femininity that the TV show and comic series projected that drew such a large number of young girls. Us girls with some level of ballsiness were getting tired of teenage ninja turtles and G.I. Joes because we wanted to join in on the action and kick some butt as well. Sailormoon possessed the qualities of a fine Japanese woman and yet was also a rebel. She was beautiful and powerful.

Although Sailormoon may be a thing of the past, she is an icon that has allowed me to dream of the possibilities that art and design could create.