Design: Portuguese Architect wins Pritzker

Portuguese architect, Eduardo Souto de Moura, wins this year’s Pritzker prize. Having worked mostly in Portugal, Mr. Souto de Moura is known for his Minimalist approach combined with the use of local materials and building techniques. For more on this story and others in contemporary art, design and architecture visit Culturalblahblah at http://www.culturalblahblah.com.

For more on the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego check out this video:

Casa das Histórias Paula Rego in Cascais, Portugal . Eduardo Souto de Moura from Vitor Gabriel on Vimeo.

Design: Yohji Yamamoto at the V&A

Yohji Yamamoto at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London opens to commemorate the 30 years of the designer’s career. Along with the exhibition Abrams Books and V & A Publishing collaborated on the book, Yohji Yamamoto. For more on the exhibition which opened last weekend and is up until July 10, 2011 visit the V&A website. For more: NYMag: First Look: Images From Yohji Yamamoto’s Latest Retrospective; Guardian: Yohji Yamamoto: the people’s designer who cuts loose from the catwalk

For more contemporary art, design and architecture visit Culturalblahblah at http://www.culturalblahblah.com

Film: Akira Kurosawa

Akira Kurosawa is one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. He died in his homeland of Japan in 1998 and would have been 101 years old on March 23rd, 2011. At one point or another, during their careers, George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg produced and/or funded one of Kurosawa’s films when Japanese financiers turned their backs on the aging master.

One of my “favorite looking” Kurosawa films is Dreams (1990), a smorgasbord of cinematography, scene choreography and imagination, produced by Steven Spielberg. I love Asian cinema for many reasons: monster movies, martial arts films and Akira Kurosawa... and God bless Japan.

Design: Mugler Fall 2011

When I was younger, I went to a Thierry Mugler couture show. Out of all the fashion shows I had been to, this was definitely one of the most exciting. Thierry Mugler was amongst those designers who instead of creating the bland fashion shows we see during Fashion Week in NYC, created theater on the runway. He was part of a generation of “createur” who were inspired by the arts and thought of themselves not merely as designers but as Artists.

With that in mind, last week was the debut collection of Nicola Formichetti for Mugler. Now, as we know, the debut collection of any designer is his/her opportunity to put a stake in the ground and claim their place within the ranks of the fashion world. Yet, one of the hardest things to do when taking over a name brand with a legacy is to follow in the footsteps of the namesake. Some designers need to put their own stamp on the collection and others just plain don’t get it.

For Mugler’s Fall collection, Nicola Formichetti was able to put his stake in the ground, get it and very elegantly follow in the footsteps of the namesake, Thierry Mugler. With his debut fall collection for Mugler, Formichetti created pieces that weren’t made for the racks of Bergdorf and Isetan. Instead of designing what was “sellable”, with the help of his cohort Lady Gaga, he decided to communicate his vision for the future of the brand, creating a road map for things to come. I was impressed with this collection and will definitely keep an eye on what he does next.

via (wwd and the sartorialist)

For more contemporary art, design and architecture visit Culturalblahblah at http://www.culturalblahblah.com

Film: The kid continues to stay in the picture.

If you have an iota of interest in producing a film some day or dream about running a major Hollywood studio, you must see the documentary, THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE.

The “kid” is Robert Evans—one of the most influential, infamous and industrious Hollywood producers alive. Let’s just say if you can persuade Henry Kissinger (U.S. Secretary of State during the Nixon and Ford administrations) to attend the premiere of THE GODFATHER (1972) instead of tending to integral U.S. Foreign policy affairs, you’re the sh-t.

From L to R: Actress Ali MacGraw, Robert Evans and U.S. Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger at the premiere party for THE GODFATHER in 1972. (Evans was head of production for Paramount Pictures during this time).

Now 81 years old, Evan's is still holding his own on the Hollywood lots with two films slated for release in the next two years.

Film: Fan films just as good as Hollywood?

You be the judge.

Note: EVERYONE involved in this production volunteered their time!

Design: Hedi Slimane's American Dream

Hedi Slimane, the former Creative Director of Dior Homme gives an interesting interview about what inspires him in Los Angeles and his new shows in Brussels and Paris. For more on the topic check out Dazed Digital.

Hedi Slimane: Anthology of a Decade is published by JRP Ringier in March jrp-ringier.com; Feb 26 – Mar 26 California Dreamin, Galerie Almine Rech, 19 Rue Saintonge 75003 Paris; Feb 25 – Mar 26 ‘Fragments Americana’, Galerie Almine Rech, 20 Rue de l’Abbaye Abdijstraat, Brussels

For more contemporary art, design and architecture visit my site, Culturalblahblah.com at http://www.culturalblahblah.com

Fashion: Rivals of Time

Rivals of Time is not your average apparel company. Their goal is to create a new brand experience by evolving a new avenue of collaborative projects, at the same time being able to expose the talent of the "Modern Day Art Renaissance", they call it. Along with the design on the garment, there is content, a song, and a video, creating personality beyond just a piece of clothing and reflecting the same theme of "time" along with the collaborative parties. This provides a new shopping experience for consumers, being able to connect to the brand and learn about talent that was right under their nose.

And it is all bonded with one common idea: Time

Get ready for March 10, when they are launching their full website, all garments and the rival against time.

And join them, along with MTV Sucker Free, at their First Official Launch Party, March 10, where I will be PERFORMING LIVE with acts including Short Dawg, Kooley High, Rugz D Bewler, Danse Daimons, Electric Slim, Prince Fev, Siya, Rivals of Time at Canal Room 8PM-4 AM.

Music: Adele 21

If you were some how searching for real music, well you found it. ADELE LAURIE BLUE is her name and her new album ADELE21 is AMAZING. A must buy, her voice is powerful and bone-chilling. You will feel like you're in a special place once you hear her sing. Please do yourself a favor and take some time out of your busy schedule and listen to true musical talent.

FILM: THE MILLENNIUM TRILOGY

Swedish actress Noomi Rapace’s portrayal of Lisbeth Salander, in the films based on Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy, is a tour de force. Lisbeth is a punk-rock, genius computer hacker, who aids an aggressive journalist trying to solve a murder mystery.

It’s just great storytelling (in all three films) and her character is so compelling you won’t forget her. These films were originally released in 2009 in Sweden and the last installment arrived in U.S. theaters this past October. All three are now available on DVD (I borrowed them from the public library) and (if you have the time) you might find yourself watching one right after the other.

In order they are:

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The Girl Who Played With Fire

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

I’m sure there’s talk of a Hollywood remake, but I highly recommend seeing the trilogy before that happens.