Cloud seeding.

In theory, cloud seeding could be defined as "a form of intentional weather modification; the attempt to change the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds, by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei, which alter the microphysical processes within the cloud. The usual intent is to increase precipitation (rain or snow), but hail and fog suppression are also widely practiced in airports." (source: Wikipedia)

Using the analogy of this process, Erik Carlson and guys from the art and technology studio Sosolimited designed and produced a genius artwork called Cloud Seeding set in Denver Public Library. 

The visitors of the Library who choose to participate in this artwork, by searching for books, music and movies contribute to a big visual collage on an array of LCD screens which display images and quotes related to the search terms. So for example, if a visitor searches for a certain horror movie, the display shows images from horror movies, quotes from horror books and combines it with scary music. This way visitors become seeders and the giant video display becomes a cloud.

Cloud Seeding from Sosolimited on Vimeo.

The World of Origami.

Google Doodle from few days ago which was dedicated to father of origami, Akira Yoshizawa, inspired me to write about the Japanese art of paper folding which I admire so deeply.
There's something so graceful in the art of origami , I guess because of the patience and mathematical preciseness that it takes to make any origami object.

Montroll’s tree, Walker’s floribunda, Diaz’s & Yoshizawa’s cranes. Photo by Agne Mackonyte 

One of the incredible, origami-inspired projects which I discovered not so long ago is Ribbonesia.

Ribbonesia is an art project by Japanese illustrator Baku Maeda who combines his love for origami and ribbons and turns ribbons into beautiful art objects. 

via Ribbonesia 

Another incredible origami-inspired project is Takayuki Hori's X-ray origami which features folded figures of eight endangered species. The project's aim is to highlight pollution problems in Japan and the message is delivered through x-ray exposed animal skeletons and their garbage tainted guts.

via Co.Design

And then there's Origami Jewelry...

Oh how I love these. Perfect little jewelry creations by french designers Claire & Arnaud.

via Origami Jewelry 

All this talk about origami reminded me of one of the most incredible and vivid dreams that I had last year.

I was in a small boat in the middle of an ocean. It was very dark, the ocean looked like dark ink.There were heavy clouds in the sky and the moon was shining through them. And then one part of the sky kinda cleared up creating a hole through which a light came out and suddenly huge origami animals (an elephant, a giraffe, a tiger and so on...) with very vivid colors started falling from that hole into the water.

This is one of those dreams which you remember very lively. That is why I would love to work with someone who would like to turn my dream into animation so if anyone out there feels the desire to work with me on this one , please feel free to contact me. I would be delighted.

How I Can Make You a Real HE-MAN from Head to Toe!

I couldn't stop giggling when I saw this vintage ad and so I started my research on it...

This is the ad for Charles Atlas workout program which promises fulfillment of every man's dream: biiiiiig muscles.

Charles Atlas was actually a marketing genius of his time as he pushed these comic ads all over the newspaper and comic books which eventually led him to becoming a well known muscleman back in 1920's and 1930's. The entire advertising concept of fitness industry nowadays is more or less based on his advertising campaign.
Charles took self promotion very seriously. He posed for a number of  photographs and also for a number of statues throughout his life.

Now if YOU wish to "make YOUR body bring you ***FAME*** instead of ***SHAME***", it's time for a workout:

Keepfit Cabbage from Louise Bagnall on Vimeo.

Beware! Here comes the Rising Table.

Remember the Rising Chair? Newest creation from the same designer is the Rising Table.

Robert van Embricqs' s Rising Table comes from the same idea as the Rising Chair and that is the transformation of a flat surface into a beautiful piece of furniture.
As the designer says, the inspiration during the design process was sticking to nature as much as possible and the ways transformation takes place in nature. Once again...beautiful !

Hedgehog in the Fog

To all of you who haven't seen Hedgehog in the Fog, a masterpiece by Yuriy Norsteyn , prepare yourself to see one of the most beautiful animations. To all of you who have seen it already, I believe this is one of those things you can watch/hear/read/consume for uncountable number of times in life.

Little Hedgehog is about to visit his friend Bear so they can sit by the fire, drink tea, watch the sky and count the stars together just as they usually do. Such a simple story. So many metaphors along the way...

One interesting fact about how the fog was made: a very thin piece of paper was put on top of the scene and was slowly being lifted up toward the camera frame-by frame so that everything behind it became blurry and white.

From what I've read about Yuriy Norsteyn, I can conclude that he's a man with obsessive attention to details, admirable patience and preciseness. He has been nicknamed "The Golden Snail" because his uncompromising perfectionism always leads to veeeery slow production.

The project he's been working on ever since 1981. is Gogol's "The Overcoat" and up to this date the movie is still not finished. Everyone anticipates it, hoping for Norsteyn's greatest masterpiece, but I guess we all need to be more patient. In the meantime, you can check some abstracts from The Overcoat here.