Paper Magazine’s spread from photographer Emily Shur is entitled Get Busy, Get Dizzy and features a head-spinning mish mash of prints and patterns.  The clothes are pretty much from everywhere with a healthy dose of Issey Miyake, Marni and Kenzo.  But almost every shot is styled with bold and chunky accessories from Alexis Bittar. 

This graphic print skirt from Pleats Please Issey Miyake is by far the most drool-worthy article in these shots.

via paper magazine

This Frida project from Atelier Olschinsky, a small creative studio out of Vienna, Austria, is stunning with its vivid colors and vibrant patterns.

Eri Imamura is a Japanese born artist who spent a few of her university years studying Native American arts and culture in New Mexico.  During that time she discovered shared essential cultural beliefs that exist between the two places.  Her work fuses ideologies both similar and disparate and is a strikingly-designed celebration of those beliefs.  

Most of her projects are a commentary on spirituality and nature and its struggle with modern culture through the use of Japanese tattooing imagery.  Traditionally tattoos were a private representation of spirituality and a symbol of bravery and manhood used amongst local clans or social groups.  Somewhere on the path to modernization, tattoos became the ultimate taboo in Japanese society.  Nowadays, they mostly represent yakuza gang culture despite the fact they are much more widespread than this and a truly beautiful work of art.  

Imamura’s use of the tattoo art form is her opportunity to emerge from close-minded and limiting cultural rules and inspire evolution.  Korea has a similar environment and tattoos are a cultural shame full of unwarranted judgement.  Korea has gone as far as making them illegal with social distaste so deep that if someone has one, they are commonly refused entry into jimjilbangs (public spas and bathhouses).  Seeing this firsthand and having tattooist friends in Seoul, Imamura’s mantra is something I can totally get behind.

She creates life-sized textile sculptures that combine Native American beadwork and Japanese tattoo aesthetics with a method thats quite similar to traditional Japanese embroidery.  The result is utterly breathtaking.

The work featured here is actually a statement on Japanese culture, the volatile relationship with nature and the penchant for materialism from a perspective affected by the 2010 tsunami.  The pieces can be found at La Lanta Fine Art in Bangkok with proceeds going to support continuing relief efforts.  

Check out more of Imamura’s work here.

When I arrived in Seoul nearly two years ago, Hyun was one of my first vintage discoveries and write-ups for .hoot. (see it here).  Back then it was a tiny, closet-sized space behind the APM mall in the Ehwa Women’s University area but despite its size, always stocked full of well-curated vintage gems and ethnic garb for the modern gypsy in all of us.  More than clothing, the greater appeal of Hyun was the woman herself - a super friendly, English-speaking free spirit who truly embodies the color and variety found throughout her shop.   Literally too - her hair is always a different color!  

Hyun has moved on to bigger and better things in a new shop just a few alleyways from her old spot.  The bright, airy space gives Hyun a palate for even more creativity with self-made DIY decorative projects adorning the walls and showcase floor.  The feel is very bohemian which is complemented by her diverse stock that is practically a trip around the world as you peruse from rack to rack.  She now also sells home decor items with loads of authentic ethnic textiles from all across Asia with some South American pieces snuck in there.  

As for the clothing, she’s now concentrating exclusively on womenswear and catering to an older clientele.  If you love prints, color and ethnic flavor - she’s got plenty of dresses, blouses, skirts and trousers to fit nicely into that fun-loving aesthetic.  She’s also started experimenting in reworked clothing for some really on trend designs.  Plus it is completely affordable with many pieces under 20,000 won.  However, the real selling point is the styling which is best represented by the large selection of Japanese haori coats.  She pairs the traditional men’s open-front overcoat with almost everything to spice up a look with pattern and color and create a truly unique silhouette that I honestly haven’t seen anywhere else.

If you are looking for menswear, her brother’s shop a few alleys away across from her old spot is the place to look.  The whole business is a family affair with mom and dad helping both of their refreshingly entrepreunial kids on their way to creating a vintage dynasty.

If you stop in, definitely take some time to chat.  She’s a gem.

Check out Hyun’s facebook here.

Directions:  Ehwa Women’s University Station, Line 2.  Exit  2 or 3.  Head towards APM mall turn left at the 2nd alley after.  Pass the Holly’s Coffee and Hyun is a few storefronts down on the right.

*This piece originally appears in the June issue of Seoul Magazine.  Please check it out for the official photos.  The ones that appear here are my personal shots from the shoot.*

At first glance Korea’s music scene doesn’t seem to be much more than cookie-cutter idol groups and sugary-sweet ballad crooners.  But beyond the over-exuberant k-pop smiles deep in Hongdae’s dusty basement bars, something raw and authentic is churning.  Seoul’s underground bands and artists flocked to the neighborhood years ago turning it into a creative haven.  They began laying the foundation for a movement that’s now evolved into more than just a valid and thriving indie music scene, but an entire counterculture.  Loose Union is a new project committed to letting everyone know just how awesome it really is.

It’s hard to describe exactly what Loose Union is but that just may be the best thing about them.  Adam Brennen (Canada), Danny Arens (US) and Ollie Walker (South Africa) are each active participants in Seoul’s creative community.  Brennen is the frontman for popular ex-pat band On Sparrow Hills, Arens plays in Used Cassettes and Walker is the founder of Aweh.tv, an online portfolio featuring creative work from around the globe.  Throughout their personal journey navigating Seoul’s artistic landscape, they noticed it was inhibited by a sense of impermanence.  People come out to shows and generate beautiful energy with the bands but when the night is over, everything disappears.  They came together with the common purpose of making sure the experience is not forgotten and the momentum continues.

And so Loose Union was born.  They characterize the initiative as a new media project designed to establish a permanent archive of the burgeoning scene.  Essentially, it’s a collective of people committed to documenting local artists and shows through video and sound.  Brennen explains “nobody is going to help make these records or help us other than by hosting these shows at their venues.  So if we don’t do it ourselves, that’s it.”

If their DIY ethos wasn’t inspirational enough, they are also helping bridge the gap that exists between ex-pat and Korean bands.  The boys have encountered an attitude amongst local musicians that often downplays Seoul with the belief that nothing going on here is worth anything.  Arens counters “sometimes it takes people from the outside to encourage you and tell you they think it’s worth it and I feel that’s something we can give…our support and encouraging people that what they are doing is legit.”  They’ve found the best way to connect with these musicians and break down the barriers is to create something with them so the majority of Loose Union’s content is dedicated to showcasing Korean bands. 

Right now Loose Union is capturing live performances offered as free downloads on their website (looseunion.com) and hosting events like their official launch party last month featuring local favorites JuckJuck Grunzie, Love X Stereo, On Sparrow Hills, Used Cassettes and Wagwak.  To establish something even more tangible, they have plans to morph into a record label to help Korean bands create recordings that capture the raw energy of their live shows rather than the over-produced k-pop or radio rock sound most local studios are slapping on them.  Ahrens explains “we’re really going to bringing a sound that you can’t get from bands around here.”  They also hinted of collaborating with the local skate scene to put on a small-scale festival.

Even with all the videos, concerts and records, perhaps the most lasting contribution Loose Union will make is helping build a community.  Brennen puts it best by saying, “Seoul is a lot cooler than everyone thinks it is” and a vibrant contingency of non-mainstream artists, performers, and designers is completely transforming the creative landscape.  Loose Union is joining the ranks of initiatives like Seoul Urban Art Project and VLUF that are broadening the scope of this alternative world and making sure it grows by making it accessible.

They boys are the official documentarians of the quickly growing VLUF parties, which are becoming the mecca of Seoul’s underground world.  VLUF is a Korean-run creative collective that brings together b-boys, skaters, independent fashion designers, punk bands, graffiti teams and a host of other artistic initiatives that are defining this emerging movement.  By joining forces with VLUF, Loose Union is helping eradicate the divide that has long existed between the Korean and foreign creative communities and making sure people pay attention to both.  Seoul has a vibrating pulse and these boys have got their fingers right on it. 

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SUP

The essence of Loose Union is best captured at the Seoul Urban Art Project’s first site.  SUP is a contemporary art movement featuring a collective of fourteen local artists including two foreigners whose purpose is “real art in the real street.”  Their initial project turned a redevelopment zone in Buk Ahyeon-dong into a colorful collage with creative murals, graffiti works, stenciling and wheatpaste posters tucked into corners amidst decay and ruin.  All of SUP’s projects in these eviction zones are doomed for destruction but through video, sound and photography it becomes immortalized through digital life.  The project and its unique location is a lasting commentary on destruction and rebirth in a rapidly changing city. 

SUP also aims to turn the city of Seoul into an open gallery.  Their follow-up project was last month’s street attack in Itaewon that allows everyday passerbys to interact with their work with a greater sense of permanence – it will probably stay on those walls longer than the ones of Ahyeon-dong.  Visit SUP’s website for maps of all works and an impressive digital archive of the work thus completed.  (sup-project.com) 

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I wish I had more opportunity to document the amazing work that SUP has done through the above piece in Seoul Magazine or interview them for an exclusive, but unfortunately, as the publication is partly funded through the Seoul city government, there was a conflict of interest due to the illegal nature of the work.  The photo shoot was the best we could do.  Regardless, it was a lot of fun with the great guys from Loose Union and Annie from Love X Stereo, who also happens to work for Seoul Magazine.

Here is a collection of personal shots while exploring their Ahyeon-dong site.

I highly recommend checking out SUP’s extensive digital library or their facebook and the impressive videos produced by their media artist team.  I had the privilege of attending their film festival last night in Hongdae at Quadro, a delightfully quaint subterranean creative space, which showcased the participating artists and well-produced work.

 I cannot boast enough about this project - Seoul really needs this.  

Directions:  Better explained by SUP than me - check out their detailed maps of the Ahyeon-dong and Itaewon works.

Swedish photographer/illustrator Ulika Kestere recently completed a photo project entitled The Girl With Seven Horses.  Beginning with the story:

“ Once upon a time there was a girl who had 7 invisible horses. People thought she was crazy and that she in fact had 7 imaginary horses, but this was not the case. When autumn came the girl spent a whole day washing all her clothes. She hung them on a string in her garden to let the gentle autumn sun dry them. Out of nowhere, a terrible storm came and its fiercefull winds grabbed a hold of all her clothes and all seven horses (authors note: since they are invisible they obviously didn’t weigh much). The girl was devestated and spent all autumn looking for each horse spread around the country, wrapped in her clothes. ”

She features photographs of clothing displayed in the shape of horses amidst beautiful Swedish landscapes.

via BOOOOOOOM.

Beautiful shots against Amsterdam scenery from photographer Ayumi Hase of Mamechiyo’s modern kimonos.

via trendtablet

Difficult to decide which is more striking - the interiors or the clothing showcased in this month’s Vogue spread from photographer Mario Testino in his self-designed home.    The clothes speak for themselves but as a traveller who has amassed hodge-podge of curiosities from across the globe, I am impressed with the ability to use such diverse items to create an interior showcasing quirkiness and story without sacrificing the elegance.

via Sketch42

Design duo Alexandra and Genevieve Smart are the creative minds behind the Australian label Ginger + Smart.  Their Autumn/Winter 2012 collection is entitled Curio and is just the treasure trove a name like that would suggest.  Pattern mix always catches my eye, but even more so when ethnically inspired like some of these garments with their Papau New Guinea injected flair.

This pairing of heavy, wintery fabrics and stripes against color blocked abstract is beautiful.  And I love the styling - want those shoes, wherever they came from.

via oyster