In the spirit of Africa Day, some Moroccan pics! Needless to say my heart is also in South Africa today, but since I have shared a lot of pics from back home recently, something new (well actually a few years old, but nevertheless!) instead.
Happy Africa Day everyone.
Earlier this week something happened that I haven't seen in years; it poured down whilst the sun was still shining brightly. In Afrikaans we say 'jakkals trou met wolf se vrou' ('jackal marries wolf's wife'), I have no idea why, but as a child we would start chanting this over and over the moment drops fell while the sun was still out. Random I know.
The only other place I have seen this happen was about 6 years ago in Hamburg. I was in the car with my dear friend Jenny (aka Diva), when I screamed 'jakkals trou met wolf se vrou', needless to say she wanted to know what I'm on about. From that day on she would say it in a beautiful Afrikaans (with a Portuguese Australian twang!) after a couple of glasses of wine.
This time I was in a car again when it happened (driving and taking pictures = not the best idea) and it was Diva's birthday. Later a beautiful sunset followed, How magical. Happy birthday my friend.
Via Wandering Star
You will find products from every country in Africa, in addition to traditional items and furniture from India, Bali and Indonesia. Owner Mark Valentine has been selling African craft for 18 years, some of the pieces dating back to the 1930s. He spends almost half of the year travelling the world discovering gems. I especially fell in love with the wooden vessels with metal inlays and the XL casted baskets for outdoor use, I think they would do very well in Japan. I also like the workshop feel and that you can see craftsmen and women creating. This is a must visit when you are in Joburg next.
For more information & address visit Amatulis Website
Happy Human Rights Day fellow South Africans! Spare a thought today for the unimaginable brutality that took place in our country. Here's to a future of continued equal rights and opportunity, in the spirit of love & tolerance.
Image Credit: The Independent
My Japan Part III opened today in Tokyo Midtown as part of the Nirvana Art Series. All prints are for sale here, with all proceeds going to the Japan Emergency Network to benefit those affected by the devastting earthquake and tsunami.
Thanks to Warren and Nirvana for the beautiful space, thanks to all the photograhers for your stunning contributions and thanks to the unbelievable team of volunteers for all your hard work. Image Credit: Exhibition Photos - Genevieve Sawtelle
Image Credit: News.au , National Post , CTV News , Katu and CNN
Today marks the one year anniversary of the 3.11 earthquake and tsunami. So much recovery has taken place, but the devastated areas still have a long way to go. Spare a thought. Light a candle. Make a contribution. Let's not forget. My heart is with Japan and its people today.
What is the Design Indaba?
'By attracting the world's brightest talent, Design Indaba has become a respected institution on the creative landscape and one of the few global events that celebrates all the creative sectors - graphic design, advertising, film, music, fashion design, industrial design, architecture, craft, visual art, new media, publishing, broadcasting and performing arts sector. Besides the flagship conference and expo, Design Indaba has grown into a multitiered experience that incorporates an extensive range of elements such as events, publications, education, training, business, development and community initiative
'With a focus on international thought leadership, the Design Indaba Conference has become one of the world’s leading design events and hosts more than 40 speakers and 3 000 delegates.
Independently curated with a focus on case studies and ingenious problem solving, rather than simply eye-catching portfolios, conference alumni are contemporary industry pacesetters'
If you are ever in South Africa this time of year make sure not to miss it. You will leave inspired, guaranteed.
(Image Credit, top to bottom: Eco Nesting, Apartment Therapy , Home Design Find, Design Fairy, Wabi Sabi Style )
When we moved to Tokyo a couple of years ago this book 'Wabi Sabi for artists, designers, poets, philosophers' grabbed my attention instantly and I read it cover to cover. Little did I know this philosophy would influence my aesthetic and design point of view in such a radical way. This morning I paged through my old designs and it was a little unnerving, almost like looking at a stranger's work. My style has changed so much since moving here, I have fallen in love with Wabi Sabi and the beauty of stripped back design. I no longer respond well to bright, OTT spaces and my taste in restaurants and cafes even shifted. Give me something earthy toned with soft lighting and natural finishes and I’m the happiest girl alive! This might change again when I move back to a land of color in abundance (like South Africa or hopefully Morocco one day), but for now this is what resonates with me and it soothes my soul.
Wabi-Sabi is based on three beliefs nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect. It’s about finding beauty in imperfection. Wabi Sabi inspires a minimalist aesthetic. In life possessions are pared down and down again until all that’s left is what’s necessary for utility or beauty. It’s about modesty and being humble.
Wabi-sabi asks three questions when designing a space; is it useful? Is it beautiful? Is it meaningful?
'Wabi-sabi is the quintessential Japanese aesthetic. It is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. It is a beauty of things modest and humble. It is a beauty of things unconventional...
It is also two separate words, with related but different meanings. "Wabi" is the kind of perfect beauty that is seemingly-paradoxically caused by just the right kind of imperfection, such as an asym
metry in a ceramic bowl, which reflects the handmade craftsmanship, as opposed to another bowl, which is perfect, but soul-less and machine-made.
"Sabi" is the kind of beauty that can come only with age, such as the patina on a very old bronze statue.
Wabi and Sabi are independent word stems in normal speech. They are brought together only to make a point about aesthetics'
What's not to love?
