lifeiscarbon®

Rare Bergman Documentary

2011-10-24T17:51:00+02:00

Ingmar Bergman produced two films about his beloved Fårö, the island on which he made his longterm home and that served as the setting for seven of his films including Through a Glass Darkly, Scenes from a Marriage and Persona.

In 1969, troubled by the island's disappearing traditions and the exodus of its young people to the mainland, Bergman made a surprisingly direct and political document about Fårö's importance. Swedish critics hailed it as "one of his finest films." Ten years later, he decided to take a second look at situation, and made his second Fårö Document (a third was planned for 1989, but was never made). The update is surprisingly optimistic, with several remarkable "then and now" juxtapositions. The unhappy teenagers about to decamp for Stockholm in the first film turn out to have settled into the quiet, isolated Fårö life.

Interweaving scenes of extraordinary beauty with interviews and rigorous sequences depicting everyday chores, customs and rituals on Fårö, Bergman develops a complex, understated and loving portrait of his tiny island. Both documentaries will screen during the upcoming Ingmar Bergman Festival of Gotland in New York. Take a look below for more information:

Fårö Document

November 2 2011

Directed by Ingmar Bergman (Sweden, 1969). 60 min.

Fårö Document 1979

November 4 2011

Directed by Ingmar Bergman (Sweden, 1979). 103 min.

For more information about Gotland in New York, please visit here.

Earlier this year, the 1969 version of Fåro Document was released on DVD for the first time ever and is available from The Bergman Center (run by the Fårö Bergman Center Foundation).

Everyday Photographic Surrealism

2011-06-18T17:26:40+02:00

Following in the tradition of Tony-Ray Jones, Garry Winogrand, Jacques Henri Lartigue and Mary Ellen Mark (with whom she recently studied), the young Norwegian photographer Mona Ødegård seeks out people in their natural habitat and photographs them in their most unguarded moments. Her quietly intriguing photographs reveal the nature of modern life as a series of narrowly avoided catastrophes.

With her distinctive aesthetic sense, Ødegård´s photographs somehow manage to slow time and show us glimpses of a world that, for all its technology, still relies on simple human interaction. Follow the link to read more about Mona Ødegård, one of our favorite Scandinavian photographers, and to see a small selection of her work:

Mona Ødegård was born and raised in Flå, a small village in Hallingdal, Norway. After studying photography in Trondheim, Mona moved to Oslo and quickly gained a reputation for innovative photographic style, with work being published in magazines such as Carls´s Cars, Vice, Det Nye, Natt&Dag, Forum, Dagbladet and Vinduet.

Beyond commercial work, the photographer has recently started to exhibit her personal work. Her first show, part of the Oslo Open, consisted of 3D stereoscopic photographs of acrobatic dogs and their slightly less acrobatic owners.

To steal the title of a Winogrand book, Mona Ødegård has that rare ability to capture “figments from the Real World”.

MONA ØDEGÅRD.

Contemporary Danish Design Triumvirate

2011-06-16T14:28:12+02:00

Having collaborated on multiple projects for years Lars Holme Larsen, Bjarke Ingels and Jens Martin Skibsted decided to turn their intuitive inclination to work together into a full time collaboration. The result was KiBiSi, a Copenhagen based industrial design firm that is spawning a new breed of idea driven design.

In an age in which products should be the carriers of brand ideas rather than merely the form and formula of an individual designer, KiBiSi is successfully navigating a course in the fertile overlap between design, architecture and ideation. Take a look below to read more about KiBiSi and to see a selection of lifeiscarbon® favorites:

Brick

The Brick seating series was designed for Versus. The series consists of chair, poof and two and three seater sofas. KiBiSi set out to make a sofa with strong architectural references since KiBiSi partner Bjarke Ingels couldn’t really find the right architect’s sofa for his apartment. The point of departure was a classic brick bond forming the cushion pattern. The cushions are tied together and fixed with a button. The button, also designed by KiBiSi, is molded out of fiber concrete.

Hang Around & Toss Around

A range of kitchen utensils that manage to combine form, function and craftsmanship. The wooden tools are precisely designed and crafted for a sleek modern look and improved functionality. The innovative extrusion cut in the back of Hang Around lets people work freely in the kitchen, while their utensils sit on the edge of pots or pans. Toss Around, salad servers, tell the same story of craftsmanship, materials and centuries-old processes but in KiBiSi’s interpretation, the wooden tools are precisely designed and crafted for an essential contemporary look with functional ergonomics.

Puma Mopion

The latest design in a series of successful bike designs by KiBiSi for Puma. By mixing city bike features with those of cargo bikes, the Puma Mopion makes for a sturdy ride.  It comes with a super-sized front carrier for heavy duty transport of groceries and bigger loads. Developed with city dwellers in mind, The use of a light aluminum frame makes it a very lightweight  cargo bike weighing only 22 kilos.

MA-1 Headphone

The main focus in designing the TMA-1 was to develop a design that on one hand is an icon of headphones and on the other hand works and looks like a tool for the user. The design approach was to clean out as much as possible in the design and focus on exaggerating the details that are necessary to make the design work technically and visually. Produced by Aiaiai.

Tripart Chair

Belgian design brand Quinze & Milan invited KiBiSi to create the ultimate simple “knock down” chair without the need for major tooling. Tripart Chair is made from folded aluminium plates and made from as few parts as necessary. Everything is simple about the design – and it is simple to understand its idea, just by taking a quick look. KiBiSi believe that strong designs should be a product of their idea.

Hole Plate Table

Hole Plate Table was designed for the 8 HOUSE architectural project by BIG. Manufactured in steel plate, the table is designed with reference to another project by BIG, the award winning Mountain Dwellings Project in Copenehagen.

Moire Chair

Also developed for the 8 HOUSE project, Moire Chair is a stackable chair consisting of two individually molded perforated steel plates that create moiré patterns.

Ki + Bi + Si = KiBiSi

Each of the partners contributes knowledge and experience from their own disciplines and gives KiBiSi the ability to operate within a broad range of disciplines, including architecture, design, furniture, electronics, transportation, contemporary culture and lifestyle.

Kilo Design by Lars Holme Larsen is known as an industrial design studio rooted in a straight forward approach to design merging elements of contemporary culture from high and low: the art scene as well as the street, the fashion house as well as the workshop. Lars Holme Larsen’s natural eye for blatant and simple solutions to complex design problems, has earned him acclaim as one of Danish designs fastest rising stars.

BIG architects founded by Bjarke Ingels has become one of the leading firms within a new generation of architects, repeatedly attracting public attention and triggering political debate with thought provoking designs. Often moving beyond the traditional boundaries of building, BIG’s ideas absorb all the economical, ecological, social and political interests surrounding a project and turn them into innovative forms that are as surprising as they are obvious.

Skibsted Ideation, founded by Biomega creator Jens Martin Skibsted, is a prolific generator of radically new concepts for brand owners: Applying the thinking of branding, fashion and cuisine to the world of industrial design. A Young Global Leader and member of the Davos design think tank, frequent collaborator with the world’s biggest brands and best designers, Jens Martin Skibsted is a hyper active citizen of the global design elite.

KiBiSi claims that is merges the faculties of its founders into a symbiotic hybrid of design, architecture and ideation: The production know-how and design sensibility of Kilo Design, the big ideas and large scale perspective of BIG architects and the idea driven innovation and brand awareness of Skibsted Ideation.

KiBiSi

Rugged Edged Sophistication

2011-06-13T14:59:54+02:00

The usual signatures of grungy tailoring, sheer fabrics and layered textures are all much in evidence in the latest collection from Finnish designer and lifeiscarbon® favorite Heikki Salonen.

Born in 1979 Vantaa, Finland, Salonen graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2008. A year later, his graduation collection was part of the Victoria & Albert museum Future Fashion Now exhibition. Before starting his eponymous London ready-to-wear line in 2008 with his artist partner Johanna, Salonen worked for Erdem and is currently a consultant for Diesel. The artist and designer duo combine their shared passion for arts and fashion by striving to create collections with rich layers of references and innovative experimental techniques. Take a look below at the photographs and a video from the stunning Heikki Salonen AW 2011 Look Book shot by Nicole Maria Winkler:

In the words of the designer himself, the Heikki Salonen design signatures is “Sophistication with a dirty, rugged edge.” The designer further explains “We play with the classics, re-evaluating their essence and shifting the garment's destiny.” The AW 2011 Collection is inspired by “secret societies, Bauhaus textiles and the revolutionary essays of Antti Nylen”.

Watch this space for the launch of a shoe collection for Autumn Winter 2011.

HEIKKI SALONEN

Neo-Punk Infused Fashion

2011-06-12T20:44:52+02:00

After spending time working for the London based Danish designer Jens Laugesen but whilst still studying at Central Saint Martin’s, Lina Österman launched her own ready-to-wear label Pudel. Not long after Pudel’s first showings in Copenhagen, the young Swedish designer was approached by Top Shop and asked to design a capsule collection to be sold exclusively at their Oxford Circus store.

After graduating from Central Saint Martin’s in 2008, Österman launched a second line, the eponymously named Lina Österman. Building on the unisex concept behind Prudel, the new high-end line is famed for its signature studded garments, intricate knitwear and deconstructed tailoring. As a color, Bottle Green may not be for us, but other than that we love the Lina Österman AW 2011 Collection. See it below:

Originally from Sweden, Lina Österman, moved to London to study at Central Saint Martin’s famed Fashion Knitwear course.

Österman has also launched a limited edition jewellery collection in collaboration with a former employee of The Great Frog (London based jewelers to rockers and bikers) and regularly makes stage clothing for the likes of Jared Leto, Lykke Li, Scissor Sisters and The xx.

LINA ÖSTERMAN

First Look - Acne Spring Summer 2012

2011-06-10T18:42:02+02:00

The Swedish fashion house Acne unveiled their Spring Summer 2012 collection for women yesterday in a pre presentation in New York. To quote Acne founder, Jonny Johansson, the Resort Collection draws inspiration from “a downtown, young jeans girl….who is colliding with romantic, historic fashion and creating a trapped volume”. Tortuous fashion speak perhaps but the resulting mash-up of couture fabrics such as taffeta, brocade, silk and denim, in historically inspired Scandinavian colors, creates a world of volume somehow impossibly captured within ultra slim silhouettes.

Loving it all, as we do, look below to our favorites....photos and video of the entire SS 2012 Resort Collection:

ACNE STUDIOS

Traditional Scandinavian Futurist

2011-06-09T18:40:13+02:00

Staffan Holm, a young Swedish designer with a studio in Gothenburg, is fast building quite a reputation for himself with his impressive work in interior architecture, industrial design and furniture design. The designer´s work has already been widely exhibited, including shows at Salone Satellite in Milan and at the Stockholm Furniture Fair for the last three years in a row. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that a number of his prototypes have already been put into production.

lifeiscarbon® loves the designer´s eclectic sources of inspiration and ability to combine traditional craft techniques with the latest manufacturing technologies. Take a look below at all five pieces that Staffan Holm exhibited in Milan this year and some earlier favorites of ours:

Whilst gaining Bachelor and Master degrees in Fine Art and Design from the School of Design and Crafts at the University of Gothenburg, Staffan also happened to work as an intern at Lots Design (another lifeiscarbon® favorite that you can read about here).

Staffan Holm´s latest collection consists of five new items each inspired by aspects that designer values most in a product; craftsmanship, materials and interesting well executed out details. For the designer, details act as the final touch to a well composed whole that make a product great. Details communicate the aspiration and efforts of the designer and hopefully can create value beyond economy or trends.

Atlas, Dining table, 2011

Solid ash wood, laminated ash veneer, stained hard wax oil

Combining three pieces of laminated wood into a leg pair creates unparalleled strength and lightness and gives a distinctive character to this table.

Spira, Candelabrum, 2011

Steel, powder coating

Old laboratory equipment was the inspiration for this set of candelabra. The arms are adjustable for both height and angle. A simple twist of the lock screw makes this a very versatile candleholder.

Tete á tete, Pepper Mill, 2011

Ash wood, stainless steel container, ceramic mill, stained hard wax oil

Inspired by the French expression (head to head), these pepper mills play with the meeting point between handle and container. The three versions cater for black pepper, white pepper and salt.

D ´Albe, Stool, 2011

Solid ash wood, laminated ash veneer, stained hard wax oil

Often there is much inspiration to be found in objects that were created for practical use but have become beautiful or interesting by coincidence. This stool is inspired by so called ”Duc d’Albe’s”; old anchoring tripods hammered into the bottom of harbors and these days mostly popular social spots for the seagull community.

Forward, Clothes hanger, 2011

Solid ash, steel pipe, enamel paint.

This versatile wall-hanged clothes hanging stystem is as much a sculpture as it is a clothes hanger. The rings can be freely placed on the wall and are designed to lighten up any room with their sense of playfulness.

Hangover, Clother hanger, 2011

Spot, Table, 2011

Furniture inspired by basic manufacturing techniques such as casting iron and dove tail joints for wood.

These two pieces were first shown as prototypes at Salone Satellite in Milan 2010 and became two of the new products for Swedish producer Källemo that were introduced at this year's Stockholm Furniture Fair.

Spin, Stool, 2011

Spin stool is the result of a collaboration together between Staffan Holm and Swedish furniture producer, Swedese. Spin is a stackable lightweight stool that stacks in a spiral for as high one safely dares. The laminated veneer legs are bent in two directions and are the result of a great deal of experimentation.

Milk, Stool, 2009

The industrialization of furniture manufacture has given us cheaper more uniform furniture. In the process many interesting aspects of craftsmanship have been neglected in order to keep profit as high as possible. Staffan Holm believes that furniture that takes time, effort and care to create tells a better story and is far more likely to stand the test of time than cheap industrially made ones.

The designer successfully combined old techniques for joining wood with the latest CNC technology for creating complex surfaces, and the result was the Milk stool. A simple stool with one foot in the past and one foot in the future.

STAFFAN HOLM

Quintessential Scandinavian Photographer

2011-06-08T22:03:12+02:00

Born in Scotland and educated in San Francisco, and yet for us, Julie Pike is a quintessentially Scandinavian photographer. Seemingly innocent and playful images are often tinged with a sense of melancholy. Describing her own work as fragile but strong, and as nostalgic with an edge, few photographers manage to capture and utilize the unique quality of Scandinavian light as successfully as Julie Pike.

Based in Oslo, since 2001, the photographer´s work has been widely exhibited internationally and published in a range of magazines around the world: Including many of the notable independents such as Cake, Carl´s Cars, Vanity Teen, Let Them Eat Cake, I Love Fake, Nylon, Tokion Factory, Vice and S Magazine.

Loving the photographers work as we do makes it difficult to pick our favorites, but take a look below to see a small selection of Julie Pike´s stunning images:

iis Of Norway, 2010

Cake Magazine, 2010

Tokion Factory Magazine, 2010

Costume Magazine, 2009

I Love Fake Magazine, 2009

Vanity Teen Magazine, 2009

Inside Magazine, 2007

S Magazine, 2006

Julie Pike is represented in London by Peppercookies and by Commando Group in Oslo.

Scandinavian Master Of Light

2011-06-06T13:50:56+02:00

Ranging from limited editions, art installations, architecture and product prototypes, the work of Norwegian design Daniel Rybakken has always been difficult to define; occupying as it does, a space between art and design. One example is Right Angle Mirror (pictured above). A simple yet intriguing piece by Rybakken, that has recently become part of the Ligne-Roset collection. CNC-milled from a single piece of aluminum that is then polished and chrome plated, the design casts reflections and shadows on surrounding walls to create the illusion of being suspended in space.

Earlier this year, Daniel Rybakken was commissioned by Cosmit to create an installation to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Salone del Mobile, and exhibited not only at must-see Spazio Rossana Orlandi but also at Salone Satellite. Take a look below to see photographs of pieces from the installation and some of our favorite works by this highly talanted designer:

Born in 1984, Daniel Rybakken grew up in Oslo, Norway. After studying design at the Oslo School of Architecture, the designer went on to study at the School of Arts & Crafts in Gothernburg, Sweden before establishing his own design studio.

Rybakken has already received numerous awards including Norsk Form (Foundation for Design and Architecture in Norway) Prize to Young Designers in 2010, Design Report Award (for best design at SaloneSatellite Milan) in 2009, the Anders Jahre Culture Prize for Young Artists in 2008 and Best of the Best, Red Dot Award in 2007.

Light Tray (2011) Designed together with Andreas Engesvik. Hand blow colored glass, powder-coated aluminium, 2700ºK light source.

Counterbalance (2011) Wall-mounted counterbalanced lamp using cogwheels. Steel, stainless steel, black-oxidized steel, aluminium, 3000ºK light source, neodymium magnet.

Screened Daylight (2011) Simulation of the ambient light that enters a room through drawn blinds or curtains. Powder-coated aluminium, aluminium square section tubes, 4000ºK light source, polypropylene plastic.

Tinted Mirror (2010) Rendered shadows and two flat surfaces creating a 3 dimensional space. Colored glass and mirror, hung from ceiling and wall.

Daylight Entrance (2008 - 2010). Light installation in the entrance of an office building using over 6000 LEDs to simulate the positive effects of daylight.

Surface Daylight (2009 - 2010) A continuation of the thoughts and ideas behind Subconscious Effect of Daylight and Daylight Comes Sideways, and proof of concept of the later Daylight Entrance.

Subconscious Effect of Daylight (2008) A table that gives the illusion of daylight entering a room by projecting light with shadow pattern onto the floor.

Daylight Comes Sideways (2007) Wall light that gives the illusion of daylight through trees (continually moving shadows) by individually dimming the intensity of 1100 LEDs arranged behind a translucent surface.

Daniel Rybakken Design Studio

Neo-Baroque Sculptural Fashion

2011-06-04T16:10:01+02:00

Founded in 2004 by Astrid Olsson and Lee Cotter, the Swedish fashion label Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair boasts not just one but two successful lines; a ready to wear line as well as a couture inspired line under the name By The No.

We love Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair´s AW 2011/2012 ready-to-wear collection for men and women. A truly minimalistic investigation of different shades of black, grey, beige and white, resulting in a monochrome world of subtle nuances. Take a look below to read more about Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair and to see more images of the new collection:

Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair´s latest collection for women explores the natural beauty of draping both with sheer jerseys and knits – something of a signature for the brand. Presented in a tall, slim silhouette with intricate leather pieces and the elegant feel of an undefined past. Metal plated corsets and jackets, combined with leather and cotton twill, serving to exaggerate body shapes, are much in evidence.

The new menʼs collection features slim fitted suits in fine wool with treated surfaces, artfully combining utility detailing with raw, destroyed silhouettes.

Astrid Olsson was a qualified traditional tailor with a background in patternmaking and sewing before graduating in fashion design from the Textile School of Fashion in Borås, Sweden.   Lee Cotter is self-taught and previously worked as a buyer and freelance designer for different men’s brands.

When you make the pilgrimage to one of Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair´s two stores in Stockholm (something we highly recommend), if you only buy one thing make sure it´s their stunning Kite Shoe.

Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair

Emerging Graphic Design Talent

2011-05-31T23:12:34+02:00

lifeiscarbon® applauds the comprehensive identity program developed by Norwegian graphic designer Mikael Fløysand for the New Deichmanske Library at Bjørvika in Oslo. Including everything from logos and fonts to notebooks and promotional posters (and much in between) the design was actually created for Fløysand´s 2nd year final exam.

Originally from Bergen, on the west coast of Norway, Mikael Fløysand is currently part of Studio 3, the in-school  design agency consisting of 15 handpicked third year students at Westerdals School of Communication in Oslo. Take a look below at the full scope of his design for the new Deichmaske Library and then make sure to follow the link to check out more great work on his website:

The new Deichmaske Library aims to be one of the most modern and functional libraries in Europe, by integrating digital media with the best-of-the-past library traditions. The new building, when complete, will function more as a cultural institution rather than mere public library. Fløysand´s new identity focuses on the many sides of the institution by building a brand that can constantly evolve rather than remain static... much as the library itself plans to do.

Mikael Fløysand

Monkey See, Monkey Do

2011-05-30T23:13:50+02:00

Despite our somewhat puritanical view of Scandinavian fashion, it´s difficult not to fall for Monki, the story-based female fashion concept from Sweden. Created in 2006, the Monki brand has grown from a handful of stores in its homeland to a successful international retail chain. Monki´s core collection manages to successfully flirt between street-style and crisp Scandinavian fashion sense.

The brand concept is based on the idea of the Monki World; apparently a magical place where anything can happen. However, this is not the clever creation of a group of independent designers. Monki happens to be the feisty, quirky little sister of Weekday and Cheap Monday, and is therefore owned by omni-present H&M (Hennes & Mauritz AB). Take a look below at some more wonderful images from Monki´s style campaign:

Styling: Emma Wickström / Monki
Photography: Aorta / Lundlund
Illustration: Ellen Berggren / Monki
Set design: Monki & Joel Junsjö / Lundlund
Hair / Make up: Erika Svedjevik / Link

Monki

blackgraphite by lifeiscarbon®

2011-05-24T17:50:15+02:00

Photo by Danièle Martinie

Given the frequent coverage of Scandinavian photography here on lifeiscarbon® and our long running carboncollective™ series, it´s no secret that we have a vested interest in photography. In between our various commercial projects we are sometimes commissioned to do fashion shoots. In the spirit of openness and honesty, we thought it time we shared one of our other popular blogs with you. blackgraphite® is a continual curation of random inspiration for our various art fashion photo shoots. Take a look below to see a small selection of images and start following blackgraphite® today:

Photo by Patrick Armstrong

Photo by Stefany Alves

Photo by Jane

Photo by Desiree Dolron

Photo by Santa Katkute

If you´re new to lifeiscarbon®, why not subscribe to our RSS feed or follow us on Twitter or Tumblr. You can even join our Facebook and Linked In groups, if you´re into that sort of thing. Remember to subscribe to carbonpaper™ to receive our regular email newsletters.

Or simply get a glimpse of what´s inspiring us at the moment by following our other blogs carbonislife® and blackgraphite®.

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Ida Gullhav for Helly Hansen

2011-05-23T21:56:29+02:00

Contrary to popular belief, we are not effete aesthetes. We hike. We climb. We cycle. And, of course, we ski. When we do, we like to be clothed and equipped with the best stuff for the job. Having long been fans of Helly Hansen´s classic products (there´s nothing that can match the performance of their timeless Lausanne Fibre Jacket), we are happy to see that the company is using the talents of Scandinavian designers to create interesting new product ranges.

It´s been a while since we´ve written about Ida Gullhav, one of our favorite Norwegian fashion designers, but we´ve fallen in love with the new Training Collection she´s created at Helly Hansen. It´s clear that Ida has drawn inspiration not only from her own background as a lingerie designer but also from the heritage of the distinctive Helly Hansen Lifa stripe: Take a look below to see our favorites from the new collection:

Mens Pace LS Half Zip

Mens Pace Stripe SS

Womens Pace SS

Womens Pace Singlet

Given our love of the monochromatic, we´ve selected black on black but the new collection comes in a range of colors including our other favorites, white on white and grey with yellow highlights:

Womens Pace SS

Helly Hansen Training Collection

New Book from Lina Scheynius

2011-05-23T15:57:58+02:00

Lina Scheynius, one of our favorite Swedish photographers, will be launching her latest book this week at the Mörel Space in London. The first edition of the photographer´s third book, published in an A5 format with 80 pages, is limited to 1000 numbered and signed copies. Given the popularity of the Lina´s first two books, both of which quickly sold out, we´ve already nabbed a copy. You can do the same by following the link below:

Originally from Vänersborg but raised in Trollhättan, Lina Scheynius now divides her time between London and Paris. Since first writing about Lina back in 2008 (as part of our carboncollective™ series), the photograph´s work has been published in an impressive list of titles including AnOther Magazine, Double, Exit, Dazed and Confused, Elle US, Numero Korea and Vogue UK. Much of Lina´s work takes the form of a pictorial diary that somehow elevates the banal and everyday into extraordinary and magical moments. Her commissioned fashion shoots manage to capture the same spontaneity and lack of nostalgia evident in her more personal work. Life in the moment captured, preserved and presented un-selfconsciously. See more of her work here and here.

Browse through a copy of the book on YouTube and order a copy here.

Lina Scheynius

The Mörel Space is a temporary crucible of independent Creatives, that brings together books, magazines, furniture design, exhibitions and events. The space is run by Mörel Books, a London based independent non-profit publisher specializing in affordable limited edition art books and booklets.

Mörel Books