Dispatchwork - Jan Vormann Lego Installation

This urban art installation titles 'Dispatchwork' was an idea by Jan Vormann and others who gave a helping hand. Lego pieces are contructed to fill in gaps in buildings and walls. The colours create an eye catching patchwork in the usually dull wall. The corners are executed particularly well and must have taken a while to perfect.

Axis Maps - Typographic Maps

These typographic maps by Axis Maps are brilliant. Often typographic maps created and be too cluttered or don't read well, but these have a very suitable typeface which is legible at small point size. The different colours build up an visually pleasing poster that looks like it has depth. I think these maps work much better showing cities which are built on a grid system. London or even Leeds would possibly create quite a mess which wouldn't be as pleasing to look at.

I particularly like the Chicago version in colour. The creators say...

"Typographic Maps accurately depict the streets and highways, parks, neighborhoods, coastlines, and physical features of the city using nothing but type. By weaving together thousands of words, a full picture of the city emerges. Every letter was carefully placed, taking hundreds of hours to complete for each map."

The posters and letterpress prints are available to buy for $20-150. Cities available are Manhattan, Chicago, Madison, San Francisco, Washington DC, Boston and New York City.

 All photos from Axis Maps.

I Wish This Was - Ctiy Project

In November 2010, 'I Wish It Was' began in New Orleans. The idea created by Candy Chang was for people to stick specifically created stickers onto empty store fronts and write what they would want to be there. It's a very interesting way for people to get their opinions across, and for the people in charge to make decisions based on what the public need. The stickers look similar to the famous 'My Name Is..' stickers, but instead say 'I Wish This Was..'

The responses ranged from answers such as 'a bakery' to more personal 'the place we kissed for the first time' and also funnier 'less expensive'.

Lorenzo Duran - Leaf Art for Plant for the Planet

From looking into more of Spanish artist Lorenzo Duran's work, I've found some leaves he was commissioned to create for a German organisation - Plant for the Planet. These are more colourful and based on the theme of pollution and the global problems due that emissions cause. I particularly like the shapes in the plane.

Lorenzo Duran - Leaf Art

Amazing intricate leaf art by Lorenzo Duran. The Spanish artist washes and dries the leaf before cutting away to create a scene or pattern.

Malleus Rock Art Lab

Malleus have been creating amazing gig posters for years. I love the detail and the curving lines. The figures are feminine yet still have a dark overtone. Taken from the Malleus bio -

"Malleus is an omnivore creature. The iconography at the base of their work originates from a vast scenery including figurative arts, in particular Expressionism and Symbolism, Art Nouveau and Surrealism, Pop Art and Psychedelic Art, and also comics, photography, cinema and literature. All these ingredients blend in with the main element of their poetics; that is the female form, the primordial goddess, from whom everything comes."

 In 2008 Malleus released a book called "The Hammer of God" which showcased over 150 of their silkscreen posters. It isn't a book to look at and put on a shelf to gather dust. It is a book to keep delving into, to keep appreciating the talent and beauty of the prints.

Above image is a record cover for Morkobot. The beautiful design creates a really special sleeve to accompany the music.

Many bands have had Malleus create amazing posters for them. The list from their website names: Amanda Palmer, Auf der Maur, Baroness, Beck, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Blues Explosion, Brant Bjork, The Chemical Brothers, The Cure, Deftones, Dinosaur Jr., The Donnas, Dresden Dolls, Eagles of Death Metal, Fantômas, Fishbone, Flaming Lips, Helmet, Iggy Pop & The Stooges, Incubus, Isis, Jovanotti, Kings of Leon, Korn, Linkin Park, Mars Volta, Melvins, Mogwai, Motorpsycho, Monster Magnet, Mark Lanegan, Mudhoney, Muse, Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, Robert Plant, Queen of the Stone age, Sonic Youth, Tool, Turbonegro and Ufomammut, but I know there are many more that are not above.
Music creates enjoyment for the ears and the sense of hearing however to accompany that with something visually attractive too makes something altogether more appealing - and by that I don't mean boy-bands with stereotypical 'beautiful' looks.

Malleus prints are available to purchase from their store.

EDF Dancing Advert - My Keepon

Now I'm not the biggest fan of EDF. Had some big issues with them in the past, and so have many other people. Energy companies aren't seen in the best light by their customers, and this new EDF advert is trying to change that.

A small orange flame looking character dances to music whilst standing on difference appliances. The first time I saw this advert I really liked it - I think it's the way it moves and dances - but I had no idea it was for EDF until the very end. A clever advert to keep viewers watching until their newest promotional information is fed into their ears. However much I like this advert, it won't make me change my opinion of them. It does however make me think that they at least have a good team working on their adverts.

From doing a little research around the internet I've found the little orange dancers really do exist! It is a character created by BeatBots called My Keepon. They say "My Keepon™ is an interactive robotic toy for kids of all ages. In its touch mode, it responds to pokes, pats, and tickles with a rich variety of emotional movements and sounds. In its dance mode, it hears the beat in music or clapping and dances in synchronized rhythm." I think it's not just for kids though! They're available to purchase now from shops such as Toys R Us amongst others.

Any just for good measure, here's almost 4 minutes of pure dancing!