Italian brand Gucci's Creative Director Frida Giannini and renowned Japanese Manga artist, Hirohiko Araki, have collaborated to create special store window displays featuring the Japanese artist's illustrations and Gucci's 2013 Cruise Collection.
Araki says ‘Frida’s beautiful cruise collection with its strong colours and graphic designs set my mind racing the moment she showed it to me. From there the characters and storylines came into being so naturally. It was very stimulating to work together on this project.’
Araki has created an exclusive Manga (Japanese comic strip), inspired by the collection and a story that will bring the windows of Gucci's worldwide direct store network to life in January and February. The story is also featured in Japan's SPUR Magazine.
Some sites and blogs are confusing this collaboration with Gucci's previous first collaboration with the Japanese artist in 2011 and posting the wrong illustrations and window displays. Araki worked with the Gucci brand in September 2011 when they collaborated with Spur for an exhibit of Gucci’s 90 year anniversary that featured Araki’s illustrations. Because the exhibit was only featured in Gucci’s Shinjuku store, this time around, the partnership is on a global stage.
Entitled “Jolyne, Fly High with Gucci,” Araki's Manga tells the adventure of Jolyne Cujoh, a student who inherits a keepsake from her mother’s Gucci collection. Propelled by the mystery behind her vintage treasure, she embarks on a journey that transcends time. Echoing the sensual color palette and graphic undertones of Giannini's Cruise collection with symbolic references to the House's iconic Flora pattern that has been reinterpreted in a number of the collection’s signature pieces, Araki's extraordinary technique gives a three dimensional effect to his characters.
Spur Magazine of Japan reports:
The illustrative story entitled Jolyne, Fly High with Gucci, tells the story of Jolyne Cujoh, a student who inherits a vintage treasure from her mother’s Gucci collection. Inspired by the mystery behind the piece, she embarks on a journey that transcends time. The result is a stunning collection of art. Heavily influenced by the cruise collection, expect to see Gucci’s historic flora pattern strongly referenced. As Giannini has noted, ‘I am quite sure his window installations will stop people in their tracks in cities around the world as they immerse themselves in the fabulous fantasy world he has created.’
Images of Gucci Manga Window Displays (courtesy of SPUR Magazine):
Araki says ‘Frida’s beautiful cruise collection with its strong colours and graphic designs set my mind racing the moment she showed it to me. From there the characters and storylines came into being so naturally. It was very stimulating to work together on this project.’
images and information courtesy of Gucci, and Spur
Gucci Goes Manga. The Italian Brand Collaborates With Illustrator Hirohiko Araki For Window Displays and SPUR Magazine
2012 Reviewed in An Animated Infographic by Yiying Lu for Visual.ly
Artist Yiying Lu created this fun animated infographic for the San Francisco based data visualization company Visual.ly
Included after the infographic are some of her good 'old school' hand drawn ink sketches for the project.
Visual.ly
Yiying Lu
Goodnight iPad, A Parody Of The Children's Classic For The Gadget Loving Generation.
The classic children's book, Goodnight Moon, has been more parodied a few times, one of my favorites being Goodnight Keith Moon. The latest to turn the illustrated children's tale "Goodnight Moon," written by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd and first published in 1947, into a version that resonates with our contemporary world, is Goodnight iPad. Written by Ann Droyd (a pseudonym) with charming illustrations by David Milgrim, the book is a version for today's generation, living modern-day lives filled with products we power up.
Modern life is abuzz. There are huge LCD WiFi HD TVs and Facebook requests and thumbs tapping texts and new viral clips of cats doing flips. Wouldn't it be nice to say goodnight to all that? Like the rest of us who cannot resist just a few more scrolls and clicks, you may find yourself ready for bed while still clinging to your electronics long after dark. 
This book, which is made of paper, is a reminder for the child in all of us to power down at the end of the day. This hilarious parody not only pokes loving fun at the bygone quiet of the original classic, but also at our modern plugged-in lives. It will make you laugh, and it will also help you put yourself and your machines to sleep. Don't worry, though. Your gadgets will be waiting for you, fully charged, in the morning.
The book has received excellent press by many reputable critics (see some here)
About the author:
Ann Droyd is the pseudonym for an IRA/CBC Children's Choice winner who has written and illustrated over twenty picture books for young readers. Droyd's work is known for its sense of narrative, humor, and visual playfulness. Ann Droyd, who studied graphic design at Parsons, lives in Massachusetts.
Product details:
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Hardcover: 30 pages
Publisher: Blue Rider Press (October 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399158561
ISBN-13: 978-0399158568
Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
The original Goodnight Moon:
Other parodies of the book available to purchase:
Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody
Goodnight Bush: A Parody
Goodnight Husband, Goodnight Wife
Goodnight Keith Moon: A Parody!
Morphik: Cool Cuffs With Original Lowbrow Art, Photography and Graffiti.
Morphik is an arts-focused design company founded with the vision that everyone should have the opportunity to experience and own art... and wear it.
above: artwork by Bob Dob on turquoise calf leather wristband and photo by Jerry Uelsmann on python textured leather bracelet
Designed as an art-to-wear accessory piece, Morphik's men's and women's cuffs -or bracelets- feature limited edition artwork by many of today's hottest lowbrow artists, graffiti artists and illustrators and would make a very special gift for any contemporary art lover. Reproduced in a square frame and clasp made of brushed stainless steel, the artwork has an acrylic face that is scratch resistant. The artwork can also be hung on the wall just like a favorite painting or photograph (as shown in the example below).
above: artwork by Ciou is shown mounted for display
above: the back of the stainless steel insert is etched with the artist's name
The stainless steel frame enclosing the artwork drops and locks magnetically into the leather wristband or cuff.
above: artwork by graffiti artist John "Crash" Mathos on Men's Black Calf leather wristband
above: artwork by Skount on Men's Cognac distressed leather wristband
The artworks are interchangeable and can be switched out by pushing through a small opening at the back of the bracelet. The combination of wristband and artwork presents a truly unique outlet for personal expression.
The same piece of artwork (DAIM's Cold Explosion) can take on different characteristics when you change the leather wristband:
The same wristband or cuff (distressed metallic gold) with different pieces of artwork by Kim Zu and Nathan Ota:
They have a huge selection of both artwork and leather cuffs for both men and women. You can choose from photography, illustration, paintings, graffiti and more. Below are a few examples from some of the artists:
Ciou:
Bob Dob:
Junko Mizuno:
Miso:
Maggie Taylor:
DOES and John "Crash" Mathos:
Jerry Uelsmann:
DUST:
Sayuka Bloodstone:
The leather wristbands are stitched and assembled in Los Angeles.
Men's Cuffs:
•available in six colors (Calf and Vintage leather),
•Size 7 1/4 - 9 inches or 18 1/2 - 23 cm.
• $170
Women's Cuffs:
•available in 24 beautiful colors (Calf, Vintage, Metallic and Python textured leather), •Size 6 1/4 - 7 1/2 inches or 16 - 19 cm
•$170
THE IMAGE:
above: artwork by Maggie Taylor
Careful thought and care has been made to retain the artwork’s original attributes. Printed on genuine Moab fine art paper and placed under a scratch resistant cover, the artwork is set securely inside a stainless steel frame. The image is made using a highest standard for inkjet printing performance. This original process results in archival prints that deliver amazing color and an acutely clear, photographic appearance. This metal frame contains strong magnets that allow it to lock securely.
AS ARTWORK:
Maintaining the idea that our art-inspired goods are objects of value and meaning, we have designed unique boxes to ensure care and safekeeping. The artwork comes in a specially made box with a black, finely textured outer covering. The artwork magnetically locks into a metal pedestal at the center where it is firmly held in place. At the top of the box is a closed window to display the piece. There are features on the back that allow the box to be hung on the wall. In form and function, the box is very similar to the frame of an artwork.
THE BRACELET BOX:
We have given great thought and time to the design of our boxes to provide care, safekeeping, and aesthetic value. The band comes in a specially made box with a black, finely textured outer covering. A display window is located at the top. Magnets are built inside to securely hold the band in place. The box can be placed on a dresser or table for display.
THE ARTIST BOOKLET
Each artwork comes with a booklet with information about the artist and work. Like an exhibition catalogue, the booklets contain the artist’s biography along with descriptions about each of their artworks available at Morphik. The artists have provided their own descriptions, which include interesting background details about the creative process, inspiration, and ideas behind each image.
A guiding principal at Morphik is to make contemporary artists more accessible to a larger and more diverse audience. For this reason, support of the artist community is very important. Our artist network spans the globe including Japan, China, the United States, Brazil, Germany, and France. Each artist has his or her individual style. Working in genres such as painting, graffiti and photography, each artist creates an exciting and fresh visual language representing the diverse trends happening in contemporary art practice today.
Morphik works to generate sponsorship of arts organizations that bring awareness to the benefits and vitality the arts have to offer. By donating to the arts, we aim to build creative and supportive partnerships worldwide.
Shop for your Morphik Art and bracelets here
