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'Eric Elms'


Kind of feeling obliged to myself to post this Eric 'Adorn' Elms BRKW interview from his recent exhibition @ Colette in Paris. Really into his stuff and probably one of the artists/designers I've enjoyed the most following over the years, together with Evan Hecox and Futura. Can't remember but the early tee designs he did for Supreme was probably what got me hooked. Be warned: all the 'likes' gets quite annoying after awhile. Still, dude's NY streetscene for sure!


2008-may-21 @ 5:45 pm Permalink
Tags: eric elms, street culture, art, youtube


'Emergence'




2007-jun-01 @ 1:34:28 pm Permalink
Tags: books, street culture, media convergence, sociology, mp3


'Still Murder'


2007-may-30 @ 9:28:34 am Permalink
Tags: skateboarding, street culture, mp3, youtube


'Substance'


Causa sui (cause of itself): the quality of having a solid basis in reality or fact; something creating meaning or continues to create meaning beyond its own life.

Street culture and its related components has to be considered one of my main focal points combined with new media/media convergence and branding overall. When it comes to defining what 'street culture' really is it is almost impossible to pinpoint this market and genre under one collective banner since it originates from so many different cultural expressions (however, see sites such as SlamxHype or Hypebeast for further reference). The fullseason of 2006 has to be considered when street culture finally entered a huge tipping point phase and reached a mass market audience very much with the help of different iconic figures such as Pharell Williams & Kanye Wests use of Bathing Ape and brands alike. The web-information hysteria also helped to produce an indemand market that could be easily accessed through various online shops and conceptual boutiques. Paradoxically 2006 was probably also the worst year for street culture so far. The coverage killed it, or rather it killed itself through overexposure. There are now literally hundreds of macrobrands that make up the basis of street culture but very few are really contributing to the actual development of a culture that in essence had its start decades ago. So what has gone wrong with street culture today? The lack of substance would be the number one answer to that question. Too much noise has been made without any actual implementation of value. A brand of any sort does not necessarily need a polished surface or great look to create value but it is rather through substance and what you are pouring into the perimeters of a brand that makes a brand successful. The reason why for example Shawn Stussy and James Jebbia of Supreme have been able to build two highly sought after brands are their connection to a fundamental platform. Stussy with its roots in LA surfculture and Supreme through the connection with NY skateboarding and lifestyle. Another prime example are all the brands created and affiliated with Hiroshi Fujiwara, and in this case the substance of those business models are in many ways HF himself. Outside the world of 'street culture' one can study another hugely successful brand, namely Google. Google is today one of the worlds strongest brands with probably (in my opinion) one of the world most hideous logos. This is what proves the point; the unparalleled match of relevant substance is what attracts millions of 'customers' on a daily basis to use Googles different services, not necessarily a fancy eyecatching look. Therefore purple drips, dots, all over prints, squares or whatever the recent trend might be within street culture is nothing but weekly flavour and should not have been emphasized as strongly as they have. These graphic solutions have certainly helped to solidify and create market value but the constant trend forecasting and copy cat behaviour is also making the culture weaken from inside.
Steven Vogel really nails it when exclaiming that he hates definitions. 'Street culture' doesn't exist on its own but is really just synonymous with ordinary popular culture with its vast array of components. Therefore, the culture and market widely know as 'street culture' and those brands, entreprenuers and individuals that feel obliged or suited to be involved in creating a healthy culture and market need to explore, rediscover and maybe even reinvent their own fundamental roots. They need to contribute with new components and original ideas. What those components and ideas might be is up to each and every individual to find answers to. So, what then, if you can't find any answers and still feel forced to follow set trends? Well, then those 'brands' and people behind probably sooner or later need to attach their non-existant selves somewhere else. In other words; bring the war home!

Related: 'Drips, Dots, Squares All Over My Skull Printed Tee'

2007-may-27 @ 9:05:29 am Permalink
Tags: street culture, analysis


'Super Supreme'


I'm impressed by how James Jebbia and Supreme has handled their business these last seasons. Some might argue that the brand is not what it should be but considering it's presence on the forefront of streetculture for the last 12 years but I'd say they're tighter than ever. Credibility is still a word synonymous with Supreme. Decided to cut a few corners on the supply chain with a good friend and went through quite a few backdoors while travelling through mainland factory-China. Picked up the above pictured objects not too faraway from the coast...
2006-aug-23 @ 8:51:18 pm Permalink
Tags: supreme, street culture, retail asia, china


'Sneaker Street'


2006-aug-23 @ 6:43:07 pm Permalink
Tags: hong kong, asia, sneakers, street culture, sneaker street


'Haze 2006'


(Haze @ Soi 1, BKK)


Bangkok shuffle:

Travellling - Burning Spear
We Are Free - Burning Spear
Caged Birdsong - Aloe Blacc
Whole World - Aloe Blacc
Long Time Coming - Aloe Blacc
90% Of Me Is You - Gwen McRae
Finest Dreams - Richard X feat Kelis
Burnin' - Daft Punk
2006-aug-21 @ 4:01:47 pm Permalink
Tags: haze, graffiti, thailand, asia, bangkok, street culture


'Modified Bangkok'


Brian delivered the intel that Futura had opened up shop in Bangkok. Clean, quiet design with an exclusively produced eight foot Pointman at window display. The location on Soi 1, near several shoppingcenters (MBK, Siam Center,Zen...). is quite unbeatable as both Thai and Westeners shop in this area.





2006-aug-20 @ 4:06 pm Permalink
Tags: street culture, futura, bangkok, asia, thailand


'Skulls Are Dead'


2006-aug-04 @ 3:24:15 Permalink
Tags: symbolism, hype, asia, street culture, indonesia


'Puma Vaughn Bode'


Sneakerculture is not my highest priority but Deus, street savant & aficionado of higher rank had the good fortune to hook this pair of Puma Clyde Vaughn Bodé yesterday. 246 pairs worldwide, retail price approximately $US 150 with a current bidding status of $515 dollars on eBay. That's what you call profit driven by passion.
2007-apr-01 @ 09:19:43 Permalink
Tags: street culture, deus, sneakers, puma


'Pumaroids'


Pumas VM kampanj har börjat synas. Polaroidbilder med fotbollsögonblick från spridda delar av världen ligger utlagda runt stan.


Riktigt lyckad guerillamarketing men finns det bara två olika 'pumaroids' eller kommer det fler? Borde finnas fler då man kunde skapa en 'collectors item' serie. Nästa steg skulle kunna vara att skapa en live-kampanj byggd på andra 'pumaroid moments' utifrån utgången i fotbollsVM. Man kan hoppas tanken är något i stil med det...


/////

Sprang på OG Zappo och fick mig en titt i hans blackbook. Den undre målningen är gjord på Bali för sex år sedan så jag lovade att undersöka om den finns kvar när jag kommer dit.

Deus One i aNYthing tee. Att aNYthing kommer att bli stort råder det ingen tvekan om. Med tanke på Arons kontaktsnät så är bara frågan hur STORT.
2006-jun-11 @ 6:20:08 pm Permalink
Tags: advertising, street culture, puma, graffiti


'Jonas/Ziggy @ Riche'

 

Lördag; Jonas (Sportif) höll som bäst på att installera sina målningar när vi anlände till Riche vid 19tiden. Mestadels symbolreferenser till diverse subkulturella uttryck. Drips, dödskallar, vapen och kamoflage. Har inga personliga kommentarer att ge och med risk för att bli missförstånd så tror jag inte det var syftet med utställningen heller.

Ziggys dödskalle installation

2006-may-27 @ 7:47:29 pm Permalink
Tags: exhibition, riche, street culture, sportif, ziggy


'Trash Not Trash'


2008-apr-14 @ 8:19 pm Permalink
Tags: street culture, design, subway, disruption


'Kings of The Yakkedy Yak'

Nedan är en gammal anteckning från 'Clash D'Urbaine' tiden. Har i perioder ett reserverat förhållande till sticker/stencil art kulturen och min inställning är ungefär den samma idag som för två år sedan då jag skrev det här:

*Nu när jag läser det i efterhand så är det aningen aggresivt men som sagt, jag har fortfarande svårt att hitta graffitikulturens kraft och uttrycksfullhet i de stickers och stenciler som målas på stan.

'August 18, 2004

Naturally, I hold a love for all things artistic but one thing boogles my mind. The phenomenon, or terminology known as 'streetart', 'sticker art', 'postgraffiti', 'neograffiti', 'urban art', 'stencil art...', could it really be worth attention? By some it would probably be labeled and categorized with 'graffiti' but that only in my opinion marginalize the role graffiti/aerosol art has earned within contemporary culture. By definition (my definition...) graffiti could be described as being first and foremost about style, putting your creativity into the game; stalk, prey and 'get up' to leave your mark on society. It's courage and creativity all in one. It is breaking new grounds, unadultory vision and creating motion. The territory (art) is not new but the output and style pattern could only be activated during our contemporary era. No other historical period could spread art and individual messages as fast and effective as the elements we habitate and the tools we use. Graffiti also involves passion. Unfortunately it is hard to identify this passion in what some have proclaimed the stepchild of graffiti/aerosol art and categorized 'street art'. So, for several reasons I occasionally find it even more uncomfortable to watch and observe than any top-to-bottom spraypainted train would be to a regular commuter. Mostly because 'street art' seem very empty. Does it hold any importance at all? Where graffitiwriters used to freeze into a 'critical minded' bboy stance, the 'street art' culture only seem to vaguely know how to strike that necessary pose but not for what reason. The technique might be there but the skill just seem misused. One could confront that writers and aerosol artists in the 70's, 80's and present time was and still is only after fame and recognition within their specific social tribe and, ofcourse that is the case, but then naturally and logically the next step in any artistic evolution would be to get up and actually say something. So far: pigs, elephants, yellow snot, old funny women in hats on white stickers and most probably any other stale message. Slapping doodad stickers on a lamppost or painting pigs is not progressive. Nor is it very rebellious. To some it would even be interpreted as the voice of a generation that is not blind or deaf but probably a wee bit naive and retro obssesed.'

2006-nov-12 @ 1:09:05 pm Permalink
Tags: street culture


'Fixed Frenzy'



There's been a steady increase of fixies around town lately and this weekend I headed downtown for an event organized by some of the cities coreriders. Snooped around a bit, played the role of the inquisitive outsider which in subcultural circles is usually met with suspiscion but everyone was more than happy to share stories. I noticed that there is a great mélange of participators and a healthy degree of personal expression within the fixed gear culture. The sense of individual contribution seemed far greater than the crave for tribal membership. What won me over was exactly that; individuality, the main ingredient to make any culture thrive and progress. The growing number of fixed gear riders is definitely a force with substantial value; eco conscious, 'open sourced' and a willingness to evolve. Rumour also has it that Stussy is working on a fixiemodel together with a wellknown Italian manufacturer.




2007-aug-29 @ 4:23 pm Permalink
Tags: fixies, street culture


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