Think About It

A thought came to mind while I was at the office earlier.  Why am I so insistent in trying to become an active part of the art, design and music culture?

I’m not really sure what to say, but this idea came to me while thinking about it. I think partly it’s because it allows me to make my mark in this world. In today’s current age where products and ideas are pushed by multinationals, being involved in culture is one of the things that I feel is something that’s achievable by an ordinary citizen like me. It’s one of the things that you can still try to grasp and feel with your own hands, not just something mass produced by or built up by factory or marketing machines just to sell. Something like a song, when written honestly can feel like the artist or the band is sharing part of their soul or their personality to the listen. It feels genuine.

But these days, even that isn’t safe from the prying hands of the big players. It’s funny though, because even before some of these subcultures have already crossed bounderies to mainstream markets. However I feel that these days, what’s happening is that companies are integrating into the culture and making it seem that they are supporting it’s ideals and history.  But the truth is they are bastardizing it and making it fit into their mold, while still selling it to people who don’t know better. And as you see more and more people are getting into these cultures or subcultures under the assumption that it is real, when in reality this just the same machine under a different guise.

I hope I made sense. Think about it.

Wonderwall Inc.

Today I want to share another design company. This time we are focusing on interior design. I would like to introduce to everybody, Wonderwall Inc.

Wonderwall Inc. is spearheaded by Masamichi Katayama. It’s the same company that’s responsible for the A Bathing Ape retail store Busy Work Shop in Japan, London, New York and Hong Kong. In fact, Nigo and Bape was one of their first customers and some could say, their claim to fame.

They have since then gone on to design various retail stores as well as restaurants. From APC to the Tokyo Curry House, Wonderwall Inc’s design concepts is all about breaking barriers while still taking in consideration everything that is important in any store. The Japanese are known for their focus on detail, it’s the same ideals for Wonderwall. From the type of lighting, materials, proportions as well as the actual experience of the store, all these elements come into play in their designs.

I felt it was only appropriate that the first masterpiece I should present is none other than the atelier of Wonderwall Inc.

Next up is one of the first projects of Wonderwall Inc.. The Busy Work Shop in Harajuku, it was originally built during 1998, but it has been recently renovated.

BUSY WORK SHOP HARAJUKU

For the Bape store, after discussions with Nigo, we decided to create a store that felt like a town within a building with an American diner flair. However, for the top floor, a sense of playfulness was added with a colonial style resort inspired space.

They also worked on the offices of Ogilvy & Mathers in Japan, as well as the retail store for A.P.C. Homme in Daikanyama.

OGILVY & MATHER JAPAN

These offices are located on the 25th floor of a large office building. A great view of the Tokyo landscape is incorporated into a common space connecting each division which can be used as a lounge, with a variety of randomly placed chairs.

A.P.C. HOMME DAIKANYAMA

Creating an impression of a space that had some big changes to the interior without actually making changes was an important factor in this project. The space has been restructured while revering the fact that it was cherished for a long time, with a garden as the entrance, with different rooms and space each with it’s own scenario of the A.P.C. world.

I felt it was only apt to end with another Bape store. This time we have the Bapexclusive store in Aoyama.

BAPEXCLUSIVE AOYAMA

For this project, Katayama wanted a coexistence of two opposing ideas; minimal and maximum. The ground floor is very minimal; a very controlled space made of pure-white grids of tiles. The second floor is a maxim space surrounded by walls of sneakers and floored with carpeting made of 10 colors. For the stairway which links the two floors, a lighting system and mirrors are utilized to change colors and allow the light to spill down to the ground floor. The conveyer belt for the sneakers on the 2nd floor is enclosed in a glass cylinder. The middle of the conveyer belt is open through the ground floor that allows one to view the rotating sneakers from below via the mirrored ceiling.

Store descriptions and pictures were courtesy of the Wonderwall website. You can see more of their designs and some bonus stuff in their website.

Hope you guys enjoyed this feature, I will try to share more cool stuff in the future.

Under Cover Japan

I’ve always liked looking at nice things, whether it’s girls, drawings, pictures, whatever.

Today, I shall share the office/laboratory of Under Cover in Tokyo, Japan. Now, what is Under Cover? Well those who follow Paris fashion shows should know the brand by now, headed by Jun Takashi. Well, no, I don’t follow fashion shows, but I know Jun Takashi because of his streetwear background.

In the early 90’s, Jun or Jonio as he is called, opened a shop named Nowhere in Harajuku. Together with his partner, Nigo, they sold limited and exclusive shirts designed and printed by themselves. And yes, it’s the same Nigo who is now the head of the multi-million A Bathing Ape label.

Without further ado, here are the pictures of the UC office. Designed by Klein Dytham architecture (KNa). Pictures and text also courtesy of KNa.

Undercover Lab is a building, which is undercover. Not only is it tucked away in the back streets of Harajuku but the site is also very deceiving. A 10m long narrow driveway leads to a 12m x 12m site at the rear.

The building houses a studio, press showroom, and office. A 20m long hanger rail to show the entire collection of one season was required. This is housed in a black tube running along the only 20m straight line on the site, which extends out over the entrance driveway. This cantilevered tube extends the building’s influence to the main street in a strong but stealth way.

The tube was made to look as anonymous as possible, almost like a shipping container where you have no idea of its contents. The tube also conjures up images of telescopes etc, which give the building a mysterious feel _ nobody knowing what quite is going on inside. So much so that some people may feel intimidated just walking under the tube if they are unannounced.

Transcribing

Wow, I never would have thought how tough transcribing an interview could be. I’m currently in the process of transcribing for an article that I’m working on. I hope I can get this done by this week and at least have the basic outline for my article ready.

I love working on this project, I’ve been very, very excited about the potential of this thing. I hope that in a small way, it can have a positive impact on our society.

Now, I’m being quite vague innit? Hehehehe. You’ll find out soon enough.

So I shall continue to transcribe, listening to the sounds of early 90’s backpack hip-hop, A Tribe Called Quest and Gang Starr!

Conversations

Yesterday, I had what I would say was one of the most stimulating conversations I’ve had in a while. Although I’m unable to divulge the contents nor the parties involved at this time, all I can say is that it is an exciting time for design, art and lifestyle here in the Philippines.

“because it’s not just graphic design.”

and in a totally not related to the local scene but something just to satisfy your visual cravings, here are a few time lapse videos by New York artist Rostarr. Enjoy!

Your Lifestyle - A Top 10 List

Hi! I figured this would be a good way to introduce myself. Basically it’s a list of things that are ‘must haves’ in my life today. Idea and title jacked from Superfuture.

1. Family

Not much explaination needed. Family is the basic foundation of society, yes? We are not the perfect family, but we do okay.

2. Basketball

Flashback, the 1993 NBA finals, Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson and the Phoenix versus Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the Chicago Bulls. Jordan with his swagger moves, Barkley with his power plays, it was a Wednesday night I think, it wasn’t even a live telecast. But ever since that time, I was hooked to, no, LOVED basketball. If there was any one constant thing in my life, this was it. My interests have come and go and some come back again, but this was one thing that never changed while I was growing up.

Not just limited to watching basketball, I grew up playing the game, I was never and ever will be good at this game, but I’m a decent player. I could probably do better explaining the technical aspects of playing basketball like shooting, defense, running plays,etc. than actually playing in the game.

I’m 25 now and it’s been 15 years, and this will be forever.

3. Sneakers

Playing basketball meant you needed the proper kicks to play. Most people just wore whatever back then, as long as it was ‘rubber shoes’, it was okay. But I saw more than just shoes, I saw great design and a certain connection to the player wearing or endorsing the sneakers. Early years I was enamored by the designs on Reebok shoes, the Shaqnosis worn by Shaq or the Kamikazes that were designed for Shawn Kemp, as a kid unknowingly learning to love how good design affect our lives. Eventually I caught up with Nike and Adidas, with Penny Hardaway rockin’ Zoom Flight 96s and of course, Jordan with his Air Jordans. Later on was the love for the 3 stripes, with great Feet You Wear campaign banned by then-rising stars Kobe Bryant and Antoine Walker.

I always wore mid-level priced kicks back then though, because my parents would never buy me expensive shoes. I would always buy at sales and shoes that were from the previous season, and I would wear ‘em till the soles fell off. It was only recently when I got into the working world that I had the capacity to purchase whatever shoes that I liked and still there was still a certain frugality that was instilled to me that prevented me from going wild with shoe purchases.

From basketball shoes I grew to love casual sneakers as well, and it just grew and grew to what it is now. Whatever pair I have now doesn’t just look good but appeals to whatever personal ideals I have, it’s many different stories in each pair. It’s not just something that conforms to the body but to the person wearing it, to me.

4. Comics

One of the other things I got growing up. This was one of the ways my father used to get me to read. I loved comic books, those Superhero types most of all. It kinda waned off when I grew older, probably due to the fact that I couldn’t afford to follow every issue, but later on I got back to it. Just like when people say it’s meant to be. The internet did help a lot with downloadable scans allowed me to follow the current storyline, and after a while I got back to buying the trade paperbacks and hardbound books as well. As of late, I’ve been buying hardbound books because I figured I would start my own collection and perhaps it could be something I could show my kids later on and hopefully they’ll love it too.

5. Internet

The Internet has been revolutionary, it’s been said a million times and they should keep on saying it. I’ve just learned some much online which I wouldn’t have access to without it. Growing up in a 3rd world country meant being limited to whatever resources available locally, and with people starving and jobless, those resources would be scarce as most funding would be needed for more important matters. I admit that I grew up on the Internet, most of my interests now are influenced someway by what I’ve learned online. From the type of music I listen to, to my personal ideals, even to the shoes I wear. I’m just sick and tired of being satisfied of the things that are just available here, I want something more, I want something different, something that not every Jack walking in the street is wearing, or every Manang is listening to. I want to say something is cool because it is, and not because everybody says it’s cool. The Internet helps me do that.

6. Design

I got into design by way of comic books. Naturally I dreamt of growing up and becoming a comic book artist one day, perhaps in the mold of a Jim Lee. I used to copy a lot of comic book covers and tried to make some of my own characters. Used to think I really had talent, but that kinda fell apart especially when I stopped developing. I can still draw decently but it’s nothing compared to the skills Pros have. But that led the way to me learning to appreciate design on another level, on how a certain line can change a whole scene or how proper placement of shadows can set the mood of the panel, just how color affects a certain piece. Graphic design was a natural next step for me, I did try to self teach myself and was able to decently handle Photoshop, but without the proper education behind me, all plans of doing design just fell off too.

Design will always be an interest, whether it’s a book layout or a great CD cover, I’m always looking out for that something, that spark of inspiration. It’s a great feeling.

7. Glasses/Contact Lenses

I’ve had glasses since grade 3, and been wearing contact lenses since I was in 3rd year high school. I wish I could live without them but for now this is something I must have, unless I want to walk around ‘blind’. I hope that someday I can avail of Lasik and live a life without worrying about my glasses getting broken or losing my contact lens.

8. Music

I’m a pretty late bloomer. While all my life, I was surrounded by The Beatles and The Carpenters playing in my parents’ radio, I never really got into music until I was around 13-14. And even then I only got into mainstream stuff, I was downloading songs since I was around 16-17, so it just grew from downloading songs that was on the Billboards Top 50 singles and discovering songs that were not available locally, and then hearing 2Pac doing ‘California Love’ or Jay-Z’s ‘Can I Get A’ was when I learned about rap and from then I kept listening and researching. I joined an mIRC channel back then where I got to know about the Wu-Tang Clan, and more underground stuff and I was lovin’ it. It was around 2000 and I was probably 7 years late. I moved on to more rock oriented songs while still maintaining interest for hip-hop and r&b ballads, and it just kept expanding, from mainstream alternative rock songs to more emo songs and to indiepop and the list just kept growing and growing. I just like good music, irregardless of genre and no, Akon doesn’t count.

9. Friends

Now these are the people that keep me sane. There will always be a side of me that most people won’t see unless I’m with friends, it’s the Jason who is totally unguarded and relaxed. A place where I can say pretty much whatever I want without any discrimination or fear of acceptance. Like most people I have a few sets or groups of friends but one in particular, the Monztarz, is like family to me, I’ve known most of these people for more than a decade now.

10. Water

I’m a water freak and I probably go to the john more often than most guys. I just have this need to be constantly hydrated and just feeling dryness for just a few moments will make me uneasy. So for me, it’s gotta be H2O for life!

So what’s on your list?