If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives)

Cuddle Up In Modern Art. New Religion Cashmere Blanket By Damien Hirst.

New Religion Blanket, Damien Hirst, 2010
Wanna cuddle up with some modern art? This blanket by artist Damien Hirst features icons from his New Religion series and is large enough for a double bed.

Made in conjunction with Other Criteria, the luxury blanket is 100% cashmere, made in Scotland on a Jacquard loom and finished by hand. Each has a purled fringe and 2 New Religion labels.

Using techniques similar to those used 150 years ago, fabric and colour are built up in layers and given clarity and depth by the use of soft, pure Scottish water and cloth woven from the finest of fibres. Part of the finishing process involves air-drying and paper-pressing the blankets to ensure a lustrous surface.

materials: 100% cashmere with purled fringe, made on jacquard loom and finished with two hand-made labels
dimensions: 1470 x 1830 mm
Buy it here Or here.

Other items from Damien Hirst's New Religion series available at Other Criteria:

Shop for these and more wonderful artist editions here.

Kerstin zu Pan's "Extra Virgin" photography series

A few months ago, I introduced you to the talented photographer Kerstin zu Pan and her "Supervision" project.

The Berlin photographer's latest series, "Extra Virgin", was shot on the beaches of South Africa with a bunch of stunning models from Vision Models. The images utilize the landscape as much as they do the interesting masks used as props on the undressed women.

The following images can be enlarged by clicking upon them. I advise you to view them in a new window or tab, so you can easily return to the post.

credits for this shoot:
Concept & Realisation: zu Pan
Hair and Make-up: Melanie Schöne & Henriette Höft
Models: Vision Models - Cape Town
I asked Kerstin a few questions about her latest project and she kindly obliged me with the following answers.

What was your inspiration?
The rainbow theme is something I worked with in the last years in my Fine Art projects. In my new series "Extra Virgin" its reduced, but still the basic inspiration.

What is the signficance of the masks?
Last Year I bought 20 masks in all colours in a giftshop in Singapore, and I knew immediatley that I wanted to shoot them in South Africa in these white dunes. Masks are a nice accessory to work with - they always let the viewer guessing whats behind - but the reality will never be revealed.

Why do the models lack any genitalia?
You know, I think with pictures it´s the same like with jokes... they get destroyed when you explain them.

See more of Kerstin zu Pan's fabulous work here.

Dive Into The World's Deepest Pool. Nemo 33 In Brussels.

Looking to learn to Scuba Dive? Get certified? Practice dives? Why not start with NEMO 33 in Brussels, the deepest swimming pool in the world? The 33 meter (105 feet) deep pool is designed for exactly that.

The pool was designed by diving expert John Beernaerts and architect Sebastian Morena-Vacca, who wanted to create a space in Belgium for divers to use as there wasn't one there before. Opened in 2004, it has become a tourist attraction as well as a teaching and practice facility.

The water is warm and has an automated filtering system. The pool has no chemicals, so there's no chlorine smell. There are 2 pools, 2 pits (5, 10 and 33 m), caves at -10m, three permanent belles of air under pressure (-9m, -7m, air renewed permanently); 250 anchoring points in the tank to: change the aspect of the swimming pool (for the amateurs), adapt it for film shooting, adapt it for scientists and technicians.

There are also heated changing rooms, separated for men and women, separate showers and separate toilets. The pool is filled with 2,500,000 liters of non-chlorinated, highly filtered spring water maintained at 30 °C (86 °F) and contains several simulated underwater caves at the 10 m depth level.

The diving pool is open to everyone from serious open water divers, deep sea advanced divers and beginners. Tourists, parties and more are welcome as well. Nemo 33 also features a restaurant, aquagym classes, hydrotherapy, deep sea diving, group packages and more.

To dive in the deepest pool you must be at least 12 years of age and accompanied by an instructor.

The adjoining restaurant and bar peeks into the pool via windows:

NEMO 33 is open 365 days a year, go here for reservations or more info. (Unfortunately the website is not available in English, despite indicating that it is).

NEMO 33
Rue de Stalle 333 (Rond-point des Menhirs)
1180 Uccle (Bruxelles) - Belgique
Téléphone : +32-2-332.33.34
EMail : dive@nemo33.com

photos are courtesy of the NEMO site and underwater photographer Michel Braunstein

Shoes Inspired by Clerks, QuickStop and 37: Kevin Smith Designs A Kicks Collection For Etnies.

above: three new pairs of kicks inspired by Kevin Smith's Clerks for Etnies; Clerks, Quick Stop and 37.

The action apparel and footwear company Etnies revealed some very fun new Kevin Smith -inspired sneakers at the 2010 Comic Con show.

Kevin Smith, the writer, director and star of the 1994 cult flick Clerks -and the guy who was 'too fat' to fly in recent news- teamed up with skater and surfer brand Etnies for three new fun pairs of kicks inspired by his hit movie.

Jay & Silent Bob Got Sole.

above: a still from Clerks featuring Jason Mewes (Silent Bob) and Kevin Smith (Jay)

above: Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes strike a pose as their characters Jay and Silent Bob, at Comic Con

One of the pairs of shoes feature Kevin Smith and co-star Jason Mewes on the soles and the movie's logotype on the shoes.

The other two Kevin Smith-inspired pairs also refer to the film Clerks. The yellow say "Quick Stop Groceries" on the heel, a reference to the convenience store in the movie.

The red pair has the number "37" on it referencing this funny and memorable scene from the movie:

The Quik Stop kicks and the 37 kicks:

Presented as an enticing giveway at Comic Con, the shoes will be produced and available for sale at Etnies soon (date not yet announced.)

In addition to the sneakers, tee-shirts with Kevin's own photo poking good-natured fun at himself, accompanied by the phrase "Too Phat To Fly" in white and heather grey will also be available.