My brother, aka black excellence Ini Archibong is one of the more brilliant minds of design I know since the Art Center days. It’s been great to see him rise in the world of furniture design.

Minimalism – ironically has in itself become an odd diluted, at the same time saturated trend. Yet those who truly understand simplicity without excess as the subtle essentials, and not a factor of ‘cool’, rise to the top and always make an impact for the long term.

Pay close attention. The excess of today will implode to return to the raw essentials that will be the future. Some great things to come, view more of Ini’s work Here.

For those who have been sleeping. Some thoughts from the daily studio grind…

A short, but thorough film that sheds some light into this process that is rarely spoken of. And if you step back and look at Hollywood it’s a rare jewel to have a film like this be produced and actually be a success in this saturated time. What makes this film hit the spot is it’s accuracy and realism on the process when it breaks down in sequence the stages of reaching that moment of greatness at the end of the film.  It follows the process from the spark, to flame, to fire, all the way through each phase of glory to failure followed by the next building into each other like alchemy. Here’s a few of the many moments of the film….

Greatness has been a common conversation lately among friends. And there’s a thing to point out. First – this is not for everyone. Although every single being has the potential doesn’t necessarily mean they are all designed to undergo this process. Otherwise there would be a lot more Michael Jordans, Bruce Lees, Steve Jobs, Mozarts, Kobe Bryants, and Michelangelos on earth – not just one of each. And to be clear – the definition of being GREAT, is achieving a state of being beyond the average status-quo, beyond ego – beyond the self. This is a spiritual transformation. In the end it has nothing to do with the individual identity of the person, yet during the process to achieve it, it requires ALL of the person. It’s a moment in time only accessible in the present where you are face to face with your maker and GOD – in which ever form you see it – takes over. As in the last scene of Whiplash. All those countless hours of labor, sacrifice, failures and the story you tell yourself becomes void because in that instant you enter no mind, no thought – complete emptiness, fully present in the moment. You have sculpted into your raw core of mortality, chipping away until finally in that instant you are truly free. Greatness is not achieved – you become it, but only when the self is dissolved.

If none of that made any sense, then Bruce Lee has a way of putting it that sounds much nicer:

“A good fight should be like a small play, but played seriously. A good martial artist does not become tense, but ready. Not thinking, yet not dreaming. Ready for whatever may come. When the opponent expands, I contract. When he contracts, I expand. And when there is an opportunity, I do not hit. It hits all by itself.”

Steven’s collection is beginning to mature with the theme of Homer’s “The Odyssey”.

The sleeve focuses on Odysseus and the Sirens during his path home, and the will to overcome temptation and stay the course.

Long hours, long days and many sessions to come.

Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil. Session one with Avicii….

You either have it or you don’t – and our girl Brittnie definitely gets it. A closer look at the series by our brother Paul Sun and The Social Trust that was apart of the Monarc installation showcase. The idea is subtle and starts as abstract forms of a body that leads into the space where black and grey emerge in a different environment. Photo to tattoo to design = transformation.

See more on ig: @thesocialtrust, @bbrittnie, @suziemakeup

“Continue in the direction of the Pyramids, and continue to pay heed to the omens. Your heart is still capable of showing you where the treasure is.

What you still need to know is this: before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve moved toward that dream. That’s the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one ‘dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.’

Every search begins with beginner’s luck. And every search ends with the victor’s being severely tested.” – The Alchemist

Stay tuned…

]]> http://monarcstudios.com/blog/nextlevel/feed/ 19 http://monarcstudios.com/blog/black-zen/ http://monarcstudios.com/blog/black-zen/#comments Fri, 08 Aug 2014 17:58:36 +0000
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http://70.32.66.8/?p=7237 An oldie but a goodie, a short inspiring piece from a zen master.

YOHJI YAMAMOTO: THIS IS MY DREAM from Huge Conglomerate on Vimeo.

“Notoriously private Japanese fashion design icon Yohji Yamamoto lets his guard down in an exclusive, intimate short documentary film about life and the creative process, from Tokyo to New York.
Opening up about his artistic motivations, his love of music, and his aesthetic vision, the documentary follows Yamamoto through the entire creative cycle of a collection for his revolutionary line in collaboration with adidas, Y-3.
Beginning with the finalization of the collection and styling for the show in Tokyo, followed by his arrival in New York City to oversee the final touches for the presentation of Y-3’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection, the documentary turns an intimate eye on Yamamoto during fittings, model castings, guitar-playing, philosophical musings, and interactions with his staff and the global team bringing his ideas to life.”

A nice tie in with Samson and the lion to the existing Moses.

The grind is constant. Eyes out for the wrap up of this collection.

Self-taught designer Joseph Walsh (born in 1979) founded his studio and workshop in 1999 in Co. Cork, Ireland. Walsh’s creative approach reflects his appreciation of nature and also his desire to engage the user with visual and tactile forms.

The great understanding and sympathetic use of the material, the intimate relationship between the process of finding forms and creating structures and the continuity and resolve from the concept stage to the making process define his studio and work today. Walsh’s workshop – employing an international team, engineering, resolving and crafting the work – continues to develop skills and to challenge existing practice in achieving the ambitious pieces realized, while employing wood in new and innovative ways.

“I believe we can enhance the quality of our lives by surrounding ourselves with objects that possess values beyond their function or aesthetic, that possess intelligence in their creation, that one can interact with and that will stimulate senses each and every time one engages with them.”

via: josephwalsh

“Backed by the Anaheim Angels, Angels RBI has provided over 8,000 kids who would not otherwise have the chance, the opportunity to play baseball and softball. Specifically targeted to youth in underserved communities and provide them a comprehensive athletic experience at no cost. In addition to learning the fundamentals each participant learns valuable character development and life skills enabling them to gain a sense of belonging, competence, usefulness and empowerment in their own lives.”

Things like this are always a curveball and a challenge not just to execute at a high quality but to manage at the last minute with our crazy schedules. But the idea of saving a kids life to us was worth the sleepless nights. All we needed was a vision and a ballpoint pen.

Jose kicked it off with the Canova tomb centerpiece angel, lion and helmet to tie into the bottom drapery.

Relighting that fire that we were born from a foundation of drawing. That first moment when we were kids and we connected to the source by the experience of drawing something with our bare hands. The sketching, blocking, etching and building of the forms out of nothing and the love of the craft and process itself.

And then soon after I added in the upper Arc de Triomphe revolution figures and the side transitional drapery.

What felt so good about this piece was its spontaneity and how organic things merged together with no plan, outline or preconceived ideas. But still a healthy challenge dealing with the fabric and pen and problem solving the composition of what Jose had started while maintaining the standard of quality and aesthetic.

After we both got this out of our system we tapped into something beautiful. A realization and an idea that will set things off for projects to come.

Stay tuned. For those in town all are welcome to support the event tonight:

Location and Time: Noah Fine Art Gallery 1599 Superior Ave, B1 Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Monday June 23rd 6pm-9pm

Our brother Jason is in rotation for a pass into his inner sleeve. Working our way to completion with the Lion and roses to compliment the outer sleeve of Daniel and the angels.

Kings and leaders aren’t born, they are made. You have to earn your position every day and those who lead best are those who lead from the trenches in the front. Only until you have put in the work and perfected the role how to follow can you emerge as a leader. At that point survival is over and thriving begins. Exciting things ahead.

Times are a changing. Metamorphosis into a new form marking a new era. We’ve gone too far to turn back and by the time we’ve climbed this mountain and journeyed this distance you’ll know that nothing is impossible. A sneak peek…

I’m grateful that all the clients I encounter are warriors. Alex sat through a long one with this first pass to his inner sleeve from top to bottom.

And then another day two for a second run through his outer sleeve.

It’s been a long month and it’s about time. Excited to roll out the things that have been in the works and share a vision that has been evolved into something great. Stay tuned.

As a kid I hated reading: Eventually and thankfully, life took a dark path during junior high and I headed down a bottom pit where The Autobiography of Malcolm X was waiting. I remember picking it up just because I liked the cover art, not knowing anything about it until something forced me to read. Malcolm X’s story changed my life since, and it was the seed that planted my aggressive reading habits today. It doesn’t matter if you’re white, black, brown, yellow, red or green, Malcolm’s life story is about universal lessons and the one that impacted me the most was of personal transformation.

There is no spoon: Siddhartha has been a classic that I’ve read many, many times over. Hermann Hesse paints a beautiful portrait of Siddhartha Gautama, the original Buddha of India and infuses life’s journey through the trials of the spiritual leader. Again, a story about transformation and self realization. This is one of those you find something knew every time you go back, and inspires a level of stillness that reflects the real Buddha’s teachings. No burning bushes, walking on water, 72 virgins or anti-god religious dogma in this book. Just a genuine story about a normal man who goes through real life to discover the simple truth.

Design matters: Some new books I’ve gone back through recently is Jony Ive’s biography. The soft spoken but distinct, high caliber presence of Ive we all know from Apple, but few know his true story that makes him a genius. Many make the mistake of associating aesthetic and design of Apple products with Steve Jobs, but the truth behind the beauty of the device you’re reading this post through belongs to Ive. Anyone leading a creative life, or working related to design, art etc should read this book. Like Dieter Rams was to the 60’s, this generation is lucky to have a designer like Jony Ive leading the path – whether they know it or not.

Pivot or persevere: Another fresh book is Eric Ries famous The Lean Startup that’s become like a bible for all entrepreneurs. Giving an insightful, and specific guide to taking a lean approach to starting a business through mobility, conserving resources and validating the assumptions one makes in creating an idea or product. This is a great practical book to go back through repeatedly to train new habits in thinking, and is a good contrast to the Steve Jobs’, change the world method of doing things. Although it focuses a lot on the Silicon Valley tech software scene and not so much on industrial design products it points out key realities that no strategy can ignore.

Reality distortion field: Of course, everyones staple go to book for inspiration. Job’s legend speaks to everyone in our time, and will continue long after. A lot of people critique his life on his aggressive approach, or on the basis of how they interpret what his motivation was to live the way he did in comparison to the ‘normal way’. And that’s their first mistake. Those who subscribe to living in this world by the standards of other people, who accept mediocrity as ‘the way things are’ and who are convinced it can’t be changed, molded or advanced forward, can’t fathom the fire that made Jobs a genius. If your’e a rebel and one of the crazy ones, this is a monthly read.

The strong rule the weak, but the wise rule the strong: Marcus Aurelius meditations has become a therapeutic read into the mind of one of the greatest leaders in history. A rare situation of a man with extreme power balanced with extreme wisdom. Aurelius is a tough example to live by because his values were elite, and solid as a rock far ahead of his time. This book also clarifies how far humanity has fallen from a standard of values even as we evolve in technology. The more the technology, the dumber we get out of convenience, and the more we revert back to eat, sleep, fuck, fight or flight mode. In the times where you need the Don Vito Corleone rationale to conquer the emotional Sonny Corleone in you this is a great read.

Emotion is your enemy: The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi is another old classic. In those warrior beast modes of life, when you’re on the Spartan 300 path of living, add in the mentality of one of the greatest Samurais of Japan. There was a time when I was younger where I took this more literally, but reading now is more for the poetic nature of the writing. The way Musashi infuses combat with a visceral death gives a deeper insight into life and every precious moment. In the days of the Samurai you could literally die by an enemy warrior the next day in a duel, so death was a real factor that made you appreciate the small things in life much greater. As a result you live like everyday is your last – not the popping bottles, wolf of wall st way – the bushido way.

Personal legend: Finally, The Alchemist – one of the most inspiring stories of all time is one I read over every few months. What makes this book so amazing is its simplicity, and its message that is universal about chasing your dream, or what the book calls your ‘personal legend’. The book is a nice blend of western and eastern philosophies and is a deep source of creative inspiration. It has all ingredients of a masterpiece, and can help direct you on a path much greater then yourself. No freedom can be obtained without sacrifice, no victory without loss, and the actions you take at each step today will shape the path you lead tomorrow.

Building on the inspiration of the last of the Five Wounds, the sleeve revolves around the story of Longinus who stabbed Christ on the cross.

With Christian or Catholic themes it’s an easy way out to default to a handful of the same references so it was fulfilling to come-up with a fresh mix and a different depiction of Jesus.

Next session to come is the inner sleeve…

“They say that Little kids and people who are Drunk seldom lie.  They always seem to tell the truth about things or as they say they have no hairs in their tongues.  While on the other hand us as adults we tell our selfs so many lies we create horrible stories of discouragement for our selfs.  We tell our selfs we can’t do this or that.  We constantly bring down our self-stem instead of becoming our best friend.  We need to become the person who can understand you the best the one who say yes it is possible, yes you can do it.  Only then can we take a step forward towards success and begin the beautiful and sometimes difficult road to attaining abundance of peace and happiness.”

Stay tuned for another round in London this September. Updates soon to come…

“VENICE.- From April 13 through December 31, 2014, Palazzo Grassi presents “Irving Penn, Resonance”, the first major exhibition dedicated to the American photographer Irving Penn (1917-2009) in Italy.
The exhibition “Irving Penn, Resonance”, curated by Pierre Apraxine and Matthieu Humery, brings together on the second floor of Palazzo Grassi 130 photographs, taken between the end of the 1940s and the mid-1980s. The exhibition is a collection of 90 platinum prints, 30 gelatin silver prints, 4 colorful dye transfer prints and 17 internegatives, which will be shown to the public for the first time.It tackles the themes dear to Irving Penn and which, beyond their apparent diversity, all capture every facet of ephemerality. This is true of the selection of photographs from the series “small trades”, taken in France, England and the United States in the 1950s. It is also the case for the portraits taken between the 1950s and the 1970s of celebrities from the world of art, cinema, and literature. Exhibited alongside ethnographic photographs of the people of Dahomey and of tribesmen from New Guinea and Morocco, they strongly underline the brevity of human existence, whether affluent or resourceless, famous or unknown.”
via: palazzograssi

Incredible…

“Vivian Maier was an amazing photographer whose talents went unrecognized during her lifetime. Back in 2011, a box filled with Maier’s negatives was discovered at a local thrift auction house in Chicago. Since that time, the American street photographer has become quite the recognizable name in the history of photography. During her forty years working as a nanny, Maier always found time to document the world around her. She seemed to carry her camera wherever she ventured, particularly along city streets, and directed most of her interest towards the poor and less fortunate. Maier’s extensive collection of work offers insight into the mind of an artist who was enthralled by the world around her. Her candid work is rich with urban American history. She had an incredible knack for looking in the right place at the right time in order to capture rare and intimate moments. Here, we offer another glimpse into the massive body of work that Maier produced throughout her lifetime. To learn more about the fascinating collection, watch the video below and visit the official Vivan Maier website.”

via: mm, www.vivianmaier.com

Its important to remember where we come from. A look into the evolution of product design from Apple…

“Thirty years ago, Apple introduced the Macintosh with the aim to put the creative power of technology in everyone’s hands. In 1984, most people didn’t even know how to use a computer. Thanks to the simple interface of the macintosh, users learned to navigate what is now a ubiquitous technology. The software and design was approachable and friendly; the start-up screen initiated with a smiley face that greeted you. There were folders that looked like file folders, and a trash can for throwing things away. with the click of a mouse, you could suddenly do the unimaginable. You could move things around on the screen, change the way they looked, combine words with images and sounds, and create like never before. A new era had begun.”

apple presents 30 years of mac, highlighting three decades of technology and design
via:© apple

Inspiration is constant and everywhere. But every now and then there’s a stroke of genius that bolts your attention. Progressive french car brand Peugeot unveiled their latest concept of design in Milan’s design week – the ONYX sofa. What’s so amazing to me is the simplicity of this concept and the purity in form. The contrast between modern design and thousands of year old stone work in perfect harmony in this piece. And to see past the obvious presentation as a commodity, the story behind the creative process is what takes this concept beyond to the level of sculpture. Amazing.
“In 2012, peugeot unveiled its 600 horsepower ONYX super car with innovative bodywork made of carbon fiber and copper, and a cabin entirely made out of felt and newspaper wood. Presented for the first time at the 2014 milan design week, the ONYX sofa, a three-meter long seat made of carbon fiber and volvic volcanic lava stone,demonstrates a ‘made to measure’ furniture concept developed by peugeot design lab in collaboration with designer Pierre Gimbergues. Material for the hybrid furniture piece was sourced from ‘the auvergne’, a landmark that dates back to almost eleven thousand years ago, when the volcanoes were still active with eruptions and lava flow. Spending thousands of years filtering water at the site; it is this specific volvic stone – resistant to freezing and chemical products – that has been chosen for the ONYX sofa, a symbol of robustness of the french car brand’s history. Taking a total of 70 days to produce, the sofa features a hybrid mix of lacquered black carbon fiber; the vernacular and technological design exercise results in a four hundred kilogram monolith. The final production is sealed by an oblique cut, a highly pronounced slash that references the copper and carbon fiber bodywork of the ONYX super car. The ONYX is a distillation of the natural processes from earth, intersecting technology.”
via: peugeot design lab handcrafts ONYX sofa with volcanic lava and carbon fiber
all images © peugeot design lab db

Progress with James’ collection working in another iteration on Heracles and Athena.

When your able to forget about time and lose yourself in the process, the journey is always the reward…

Beautiful application from recent work by Chinese born Li Hongbo…

“With what appears to be recreations of carved porcelain busts, the sculptures of Chinese artist Li Hongbo are actually entirely comprised of thousands of sheets of paper. Currently exhibiting ‘tools of study’ at Klein Sun Gallery, New York, the stretchable, slinky-like paper sculptures invite viewers to experience paper in a novel and playful way. Influenced by traditional folk art and Chinese decorations known as ‘paper gourds’, the carvings are made from glued layers of sheets; the application of the medium takes on a honeycomb-like structure to form incredibly elastic forms, transforming the media to stretch, twist, elongate and retract. Through this juxtaposition of playful mobility and a traditional aesthetic, Hongbo breathes a unique life into his works that stuns and awes the viewer.” via DB

li hongbo: tools of study, klein sun gallery, new york now through march 22nd, 2014

Taking another twist merging the classic theme with the modern fine line style.

Another long nights work to the marathon, Gerald sat for back to back sessions gliding through each hour.

With this piece I wanted to push the darkness and blacks further and exaggerate the tones to create consistency with the images that are each aesthetically very different.

Another fun and fulfilling session making progress. Next pass in London.

The piece is inspired by the Pergamon altar, Gigantomachy in Berlin and the symbolism of the snake and lion being the focal point.

Translating ruined stone can be tricky when you’re trying to balance clarity and depth. In the case of  the battle of Athena and Alkyoneus there’s a lot of room to improvise that helped shape forms that didn’t exist in the reference.

Sitting for a piece this massive is always a huge challenge for both the client and myself.  The mental process of thinking and composing from the beginning is as important as physically working through the session in tattooing. Big thanks to Jason for being a warrior. Another sitting to come.

“I strive to create images that elegantly articulate the totality of existence, focusing heavily on the broad themes of life and death, with further emphasis placed on ideas of fragility, impermanence and carnality. Through these images, I aspire to make apparent the restlessness of a life that is knowingly so temporary and vulnerable.” – Tara Sellios

“There is something strangely seductive about the grotesque materials that make their way into our lines of sight, from bloody raw chickens to slimy octopus tentacles. No matter how macabre the dark matter may be, something about it draws us closer, again and again. Photographer Tara Sellios is more than aware of this peculiar phenomenon, using it to lure unsuspecting viewers into her twisted Baroque still lifes. A contemporary take on the art historical vanitas tradition, Sellios’ eerie photographs are sumptuous reminders of our mortality, at once unnerving and beguiling. Rotting meats, dangling sea creatures and overripe fruits mingle with gaudy goblets and elegant table settings in what looks like the place setting for a surrealist ‘Last Supper.'”

via: hp, Tara Sellios

“Google’s exhibition, called “DevArt,” will feature digital installations by three renowned interactive artists and one as-yet-undiscovered artist. The Google digital art showcase will sit within the Barbican’s Digital Revolution exhibition–touted as the biggest exploration of digital creativity ever to be staged in the U.K. The three acclaimed interactive artists whose work will feature are Karsten Schmidt, Zach Lieberman, and the duo Varvara Guljajeva and Mar Carnet.”

“One of the works on display at the exhibition, Wishing Wall by Varvara Guljajeva and Mar Carnet, invites visitors to whisper their innermost wishes into an interactive wall. The spoken words are then transformed into virtual butterflies, which interact with the visitors. DevArt aims to highlight the Google Developers Program and, according to Google, showcase what developers can do in a creative way. Vranakis says,’We see coders as the new creatives…Traditional artists are taking up technology, but we’re also seeing developers and engineers taking up creativity. It’s important for people to realize that art has evolved. Saying that a coder is not creative is an antiquated notion.’ “

via: fastcompany, devart.withgoogle.com

Rich is back in to work the inner bicep of his Labours of Hercules sleeve.

Slow and steady wins the race. Almost there with this project.

Last session we worked the upper sleeve to lead the Lily of the Valley branch into this session’s lower sleeve lion.

More progress on the next run.