Los Angeles born, but San Fransisco based artist Hugo Kobayashi, whose painting studio is in Oakland, has a new show opening at the Hang Art gallery today.
In his third solo exhibition with HANG ART, Hugo Kobayashi continues to materialize his observations of societal obsessions through meticulous rendering. He carefully explores how drastically the perception of gambling or chance has changed over the years and how its pervasive nature now causes fun to overshadow risk. Shown together, the body begs one to wonder how the scratchers’ owners were affected. Rather than implying a specific story, shown together the body leaves the viewer to wonder how the scratchers came to be.
The show, called Nothing For Something, features hyper realistic oil paintings of crumpled lottery tickets and scratchers. Each painting measures by 16" x 32" and I love every single one of them.
Nothing For Something: Easy Go: Losing My Cool: Spinout: Uneasy: Red Ink and Blue: In The Red:
The show runs from May 1 through May 15th. The Opening Reception will take place Thursday at the gallery May 6, from 6-8pm.
Hugo Kobayashi's vertical canvases are filmic, skillfully rendered, and often autobiographical. A native of Southern California, he spent four years as a comic strip writer for LA View, which gave him a strong grasp of the narrative potential of visual images. He draws inspiration from comics and films, and the tall, narrow format of his work invites the viewer to read his images from top to bottom like unreeling filmstrips.
Kobayashi's goal is to combine the graphic techniques of cartooning and design with a painterly brushstroke and representational approach, crafting powerful, unified paintings that can both tell personal stories and comment on the world at large.
Born in Los Angeles in 1962 and reared in Orange County, Kobayashi has been making images since he was five. He earned his bachelor's degree in studio art from the University of California at Berkeley in 1983 and his master's degree from Hunter College in New York in 1986. Hugo has participated in exhibitions at the Berkeley Art Center, the Keyson Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael.
See all of his work at his site.
above: Modern Mickey Mouse fabric on Cappellini's Rive Droite chair
Walt Disney Signature and Italian furniture brand Cappellini have collaborated to produce five limited edition chairs that were unveiled this month at the Milan Furniture Fair.
The chairs:
ECO FISH Walt Disney Signature limited edition from Cappellini - design: Satyendra Pakhalè 2010
An organic shape inspired by nature, the Fish Chair is the ideal way to showcase the latest advancement in fabrication - an opaque, multi-coloured plastic created from recycled materials, moulded using a rotational technique. The material is recycled to underline Cappellini's renewed focus on the theme of conserving raw materials for the future generations. The internal part of the seat is coloured white. Series of 99 numbered pieces. Armchair - cm. 55 x 87 x 40/72 h.
MICKEY'S RIBBON STOOL Walt Disney Signature limited edition from Cappellini - design: Nendo 2010
With its circular shape, open design and flowing lines, the Ribbon Stool lends itself perfectly to the famous silhouette that peeks over its seat. Merging flawlessly together, our two visions create a single, iconic representation of the seamless collaboration between Cappellini and Walt Disney Signature. This is a series of high and low stools with backrest, produced from laser cut and folded sheet metal. The low stool has a shiny red varnish, the high stool a shiny yellow varnish, whilst the feet are in transparent plastic. Series of 399 numbered pieces for the low stool. Series of 199 numbered pieces for the high stool. Low stool - cm. Ø 42 x 45/66 h. High stool - cm. Ø 42 x 78/99 h.
Y'S MICKEY Walt Disney Signature limited edition from Cappellini - design: Christophe Pillet 2010
With its rounded contours and unique design, the Y's De Lux Chair is the perfect canvas on which to embroider one of our signature icons: a subtle geometric pattern using Mickey's silhouette. Swivel armchair with integral polyurethane frame. Fixed cover in white leather with white yarn embroidery that reproduces the unmistakeable silhouette of the most famous cartoon character in the world. Base in die cast aluminium with matt white varnish, feet in black plastic. Series of 33 numbered pieces. Armchair - cm. 54.5 x 73 x 43/80 h.
MULTICOLOUR RIVE DROITE Walt Disney Signature limited edition from Cappellini - design: Patrick Norguet 2010
Making the connection between fashion and design, the Rive Droite chair seamlessly fuses a pure, modern shape, with the graphic pattern of Mickey's overlapping silhouette. The bold, daring palette illustrates both Walt Disney Signature and Cappellini's fearless approach to colour. Swivel armchair with wooden and moulded polyurethane frame. Fixed cover in fabric that presents a highly familiar silhouette in a daring pallette. Base in brushed stainless steel. Series of 99 numbered pieces. Armchair - cm. 93.5 x 73.5 x 38.5/71 h.
the press release:
Walt Disney Signature, Disney's first upscale, inspired, non-character, adult lifestyle brand and Cappellini, one of the most renowned design innovators worldwide, today unveiled five limited edition chairs at the Milan Furniture Fair in Italy. The combination of Cappellini's reputation for innovation and the magic and inspiration of Disney has produced a series of everyday products that resemble works of art.
above: The Disney and Cappellini Booth at The 2010 Milan Furniture fair
This introduction follows the success of Walt Disney Signature's dining installation in collaboration with Cappellini for last month's Dining By Design DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) event in New York City.
above: the Dining display at Diffa
A 3-dimensional sculpting of Mickey Mouse sitting on a giant chair, previously used for the DIFFA event display, was recreated at Fuori Salone, Milano Design Village to mark today's launch. The Mickey sculpture is made of polyurethane, measures more than three metres tall and weighs 40 kilos.
"Walt Disney and Cappellini both have a shared approach to design, creativity and collaboration that turns everyday products into functional works of art," commented Pamela Lifford, executive vice president, Home and Fashion, Disney Consumer Products. "Collaborating with a leading Italian design brand specialising in contemporary furnishings like Cappellini is another exciting step in continuing Walt Disney Signature's philosophy on design and innovation."
"This collaboration is the premise for a joint Cappellini and Walt Disney Signature stylistic commitment that promises to become a new, interesting and exciting chapter in the history of contemporary design, combining Cappellini's strong inclination for innovation with the magical creativity of Disney," added Giulio Cappellini, Art Director for Cappellini.
The Ribbon stool and the Fish Chair, Y's de Luxe and Rive Droite armchairs are embellished with patterns, each one with a different image and underlying theme. The Ribbon's new profile blends Cappellini design with the outline of Disney's most famous character, Mickey Mouse; Y's de Luxe and Rive Droite reflect and multiply the same image in striking processed fabrics; the Fish Chair's shape is inspired by Disney's It's A Small World and produced in recycled material.
Walt Disney Signature products from Cappellini are available at independent and specialty retailers across the globe. Your local Cappellini retailer will be able to take orders now.
the press release from Lexus Introducing the Lexus HB (Hybrid Bicycle) Concept
Lexus has established itself as an industry leader in bringing advanced technologies to the premium car market. Now it has applied the same thinking on a smaller scale to create the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle, a design concept the captures the fundamental engineering and design values of the brand, but with two wheels rather than four.
In every aspect this is Lexus, from the L-finesse design language of the engaging and elegant frame, to the application of hybrid power, an electric eight-speed transmission and lightweight carbon fibre construction.
Lexus has brought what is one of the only two examples in existence (one black and one white) to the UK for the first time, following the bicycle's debut at the 2009 Tokyo motor show (at that show, the concept bike was shown in black).
above: the Lexus HB Concept bike appeared in black at the 2009 Tokyo auto show
Its arrival coincides with the announcement of Lexus's title sponsorship of the Great British Bike Ride, a four-day charity fun ride from September 1-4, 2010, that will see hundreds of cyclists following a course from Land's End to the home of English rugby at Twickenham.
Lexus has pioneered high performance, low emissions and optimum fuel efficiency with its full hybrid Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain technology. The Hybrid Bicycle adopts similar principles, with the pedal power of the rider boosted by assistance to the front wheel from a 240W electric motor, via a 25.9V Lithium-ion battery, with a choice of Eco or Power modes. And, as with Lexus Hybrid Drive, there is an energy regeneration function that helps recharge the battery by capturing kinetic energy generated under braking.
The Lexus Hybrid Bicycle has all-wheel drive, by means of a belt system. It is equipped with an electric eight-speed Shimano internal gear system, which references the sophisticated eight-speed shift-by-wire automatic transmission of Lexus's LS 600h limousine.
The carbon fibre construction shares the same light-but-strong composite materials technology that was used on Valentino Rossi's MotoGP-winning motorcycle.
The video below is from the 2009 Tokyo Auto show (courtesy of Gizmag):
Specs:
Length (mm) 1,598
Width (mm) 425
Seat height (mm) 900
Wheelbase (mm) 1,080
Tyre size 20 x 1 3/8
Weight (kg) 17
Charge time Approx. 2hrs
Motor output (W) 240
Battery type Lithium-ion
Battery voltage 25.9V/4.0Ah
Gear system Shimano 8-speed internal gear
Shift lever Shimano dual control
Drive train Belt drive
The big bummer? There are no current plans for the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle to become a production model.
the white bike images are courtesy of Lexus and the black bike, courtesy of Gizmag
