La Perla Lingerie Bustier Chairs For De Ponte Studios & SensoReal.

above: Lingerie brand La Perla's Feather Bustier Chair for Sensoreal

A collaborative project between La Perla and the De Ponte Studio (an architectural and lighting design studio) resulted in an unusual environment in which a collection of furniture designs incorporating La Perla's sexy lingerie were displayed. The following pieces were designed to be showcased as part of a this special sensory laden environment, SensoReal, designed for Salone del Mobile 2010.

Silk Bustier Chair and Lace Bustier Chair:

Tulle Bustier Chair and Satin Bustier Chair:

Metal Lace vis-à-vis Bench, which incorporates the metallic fretwork from La Perla's garter belt:

Metal Lace Garter Sofa:


As the Bustier chairs and Lace Garter-inspired sofa appeared at Sensoreal:







More about SensoReal:
Silvio De Ponte of De Ponte Designs joined the 49th edition of Salone Internazionale del Mobile, presenting a project of sensorial architecture where matter, light, sound and scent turn into stimulus capable of altering the perceptive space.




The SensoReal project harmoniously integrated into the sensual context of La Perla’s showroom, becoming an integral part of this emotional scenery. A combination of shapes, surfaces and colors gave life to a urban landscape where there was no limit between architecture, space and design.



An environment devoid of hardness and edges, an elastic space, dynamic, where light became physical/tangible matter. The visitors were able to submerge into the different areas interacting with the luminescent surfaces and with the innovative seating system represented by horizontal plans in which it is possible to sit in different height levels, small hideouts where one can huddle up, horizontal environments to climb over, supporting surfaces and hybrid places to meet up and exchange different experiences.




Settings were created in which design, body, matter, water and nature integrated with each other according to an eco-sustainable concept of the artificial environment. The scenery that presented itself to the eyes of the visitors was a “soft” and light habitat where it was possible to move in balance between aesthetic and technology.




Inside the exhibition area some of La Perla’s creations will be presented reinterpreted by a new design perspective and through this creative process will adopt a new meaning and a new function.



Starting from the archetypal shape of a chair, new seating concepts were created, the Bustier Chairs, in which the backrest becomes protagonist incorporating some of the scenographic corsages from La Perla’s collection. New life also for the metallic fretworked garter belt, one of the most scenographic pieces from La Perla’s Black Label collection, which will become a suggestive vis-à-vis bench (these pieces are all shown at the beginning of the post).






images and info courtesy of fourisalone, de Ponte studios and La Perla

Sweet Structures. Buildings Made Of Sugarcubes by Lionel Scoccimaro.

above: a digital print of Lionel Scoccimaro's Sugar cube tower atop raw meat

Marseille-born and based artist Lionel Scoccimaro is a photographer and sculptor whose work encompasses many different art genres and utilizes various unusual materials. One of his most interesting series are his sugar cube sculptures in the forms of buildings, water towers and igloos.

Shown below, in reverse chronological order, are images of several of his exhibits and installations featuring Lionel's sugar cube work. In some of the images, beyond his sculptures, you can see his photographs and his digital prints, which include his Octodegenerates series.

Snow Landscape 2009
views of his 40 square meter installation, Sweet Palace, at the Galerie des grands bains douches de la plaine, Marseille, Photographs by Jean-Christophe Lett:



White Landscape 2008
the installation measured 300 x 500 x 170 cm and used 400 kg of sugar
exposition Show room artorama N°1, Atelier d'artistes de la ville de Marseille, Photographs by Jean-Christophe Lett:



2007 Water Towers, sugar cube structures, a series of 12 numbered photographs:




2007, Beyond the valley of the sugar histories, at Centre d'Art Chapelle St Jacques, Saint-Gaudens:



Water-Tanks & Sugar Histories (with artist Eric Angenot) at the Galerie In-situ, Aalst, Belgium:




Buro bildende Kunst installation De Willem 3, commissioned by Leon Riekweill, Vlissingen, Hollande:



Diabolo, bridge & candy, Galerie Averse/Espace à vendre, Nice and Rira bien qui rira le dernier exhibit at galerie de l'école des beaux-arts in Aix en Provence, 2004:



Rira bien qui rira le dernier, Centre d’art de Morsang-sur-Orge in 2004:





One of his earliest showings of "Architecture of Happyness", 1999:



Digital prints from his 1999 "Architecture of Happyness" series:


all images courtesy of Documents d'Artistes

From Roughs To Rad. Josh Cooley & Bill Presing's 54 Intercontinental Cuties.

Both Josh Cooley and Bill Presing are super talented storyboard artists at Pixar Animation Studios who have recently joined forces on this creative project. Most recently, Josh received lots of blog and press attention for his Movies R Fun/ Inappropriate Golden Book and Emeryville-based Bill Presing is especially known for his pin-up girl-like illustrations.

Another Vodka Tries Attracting Women. Introducing Van Gogh Blue.

In today's New York Times, Stuart Elliott, in his campaign spotlight column, wrote about Van Gogh Blue, a triple distilled wheat Vodka that specifically targets women.

Having previously written several posts on this blog about premium vodkas, including other female-targeted brands like Diva and Igor Velodin's Damaskaya, both of which seem to have gone by the wayside* after a very short period of time, I was intrigued to say the least.

*Both the Diva and the Damaskaya websites have disappeared and neither can be found on the web or in liquor stores anymore.

above: Diva Vodka was packaged with real Swarovski Crystals emulating a stripper pole in the middle.


above: Russian brand Damaskaya caused nothing but headaches for the brand.

Will yet another "Ladies Only" Vodka make it? Van Gogh Blue does have the social media support behind it (a facebook page and twitter account) that the other two lacked and an advertising campaign with an edgy sense of humor. Diva and Damaskaya went the ultra feminine route with butterflies, diamonds and a nod to Marilyn Monroe.



The ads for Van Gogh Blue:




On their website, they the lure ladies to the liquor with the following text:

"Come unbottled with the only premium triple wheat vodka that’s guaranteed to be smoother than most of the men you meet out at the bars. Okay, all.

Sometimes a girl just wants to shake things up a bit. And we think there’s no better way to do that than with a great cocktail and some great friends. That’s why Van Gogh Vodka has been serving up five-star rated flavors that are smoother than silk sheets for…well, the exact number doesn’t matter. But let’s just say it’s been a while. And now we’re introducing women everywhere to Van Gogh BLUE, the first premium, triple wheat vodka made from three international sources (France, Germany and Holland). It’s 80-proof. And already proving to create some of the best ladies night memories. Ever.

So, leave the kids with the babysitter, and join the party on Facebook and Twitter. See you there."

So, what makes this one women-targeted vodka different from the other two?
Well, first of all, Van Gogh Vodka is already a well established brand. This particular release is the eleventh vodka from the distillery. Secondly they have a very large US distribution, not to mention ad advertising budget of one million dollars, which both Diva and Damaskaya lacked. These facts coupled with the social media efforts may just make this female-specific vodka work.

So, put away those wine spritzers, girls and raise a glass of Van Gogh Blue.

info and images courtesy of the NY Times and Van Gogh Vodka