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One of the most fascinating people I have encountered is one Marije Vogelzang a Dutch food artist/innovator and designer. I met her at the Design Indaba, her company Proef plays with their food – all the time. “According to Marije , food is already perfectly designed by nature. Instead, her designs focus around the verb ‘to eat’. Vogelzang is inspired by the origin of food and the preparation, etiquette, history and culture around it. For this reason, she doesn’t associate as a ‘food designer’, but as the first ‘eating-designer’ in The Netherlands.” I was reminded of her experiments with the nature of food ( one of which is pictured above) and eating when I read this article about the ‘Restaurant of the Future’ at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Coming to food near you in the near future:
“Intelligent packaging: sensors in the wrappers of fresh meat and veg that will tell the retailer — or you — what the food’s temperature or state of freshness is. They could trigger the release of gases or chemicals such as nano-silver to change the internal climate or kill microbes.
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So yesterday I read about this on Hurricane Vanessa , today I read about it on Jezebel and The Times. And I feel a horrible sense of despair.
I am sure Carine Roitfeld thought she was being clever and witty and paying some kind of brilliant homage to black supermodels by painting Lara Stone black ( which the edition was all about – paying homage to supermodels). But as Justice Malala has pointed out to me on this very subject at SA Fashion Week “black face” is not a look to be toyed with. This is not subject to post-modern wit, the wounds of slavery and racism have not healed. Perhaps they have crusted over but a scratch like this and it all comes oozing out again.
Eish!
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That would be James Brown – Kate’s stylist-(who is the latest in a slew of quasi celebrities or celebrities by association) to get a reality show. This one is largely about opening his new salon and Kate’s approach to ageing. This, being a subject close to every girl’s temple and neckline, is sure to make compelling viewing. After all she has six covers this month but apparently an entirely au naturel approach to the onset of age .
Read the article in The Times - fascinating not least because of our youth obsessive culture. I like how Kate’s girlfriends come out in support of her right to age.
” In among the gossipy whirl, you don’t have to look very hard to find supporters who are having none of it. “Of course Kate’s got older, she’s 35! She’s not a 20-year-old model any more,” says her friend the PR Fran Cutler, 46. “It’s a witch-hunt,” says Lulu Kennedy, 39, of Fashion East. “What’s she done to deserve it? They’re just jealous.” “The thing with Kate is,” sighs Serena Rees, 41, co-founder of Agent Provocateur, “it’s been like that her whole career. First she’s too thin, then she smokes too much, now she’s getting older. What’s she gonna do? Start doing ridiculous stuff to her face? She’s beautiful and always will be, whether she’s got wrinkles or not.”
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AA Gill who in this particular picture is styled to resemble a “sort of distressed-gentlefolk, Oxfam-Dickensian thing, with a bit of banker/wanker irony going on” would have you wear something that could come off very easily, or alternatively something that would not/never come off at all. But in order to comprehensively pursue the question of what men would have you wear if they had complete freedom over your wardrobe, The Times asked 5 men to dress one girl. Funny stuff. My all suffering man would exclusively dress me in jeans and Converse All stars – always.
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Hilary Knight much loved illustrator of Eloise has taken to blogging – Hilary Knight’s Sketchbook begins with the delights of Ms Grace Jones and her inimitable derriere. Another bottom making the news today is that of La Moss. The Times tells us how to quite literally get it.Read this if only to see the amusing comments the article generated.
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Jacquie Myburgh wrote about Clive Rundle today – makes for a fascinating vignette of SA fashion indsutry.
( pic courtesy of addictlab)
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I recently spent a spectacularly pleasant afternoon at the Nirox Art Foundation in the Cradle of Mankind listening to Neil Dundas of the Goodman Gallery as he led a walking tour of the exhibition ‘Sources: Contemporary Sculpture in the Landscape’. The landscape in this instance is truly magnificent as was the contemporary sculpture by among others Deborah Bell, Willie Bester, William Kentridge, Kagiso Pat Mautloa and Brett Murray.
I loved this lady by Kentridge…..
After the break see the slide show narrated by The Times chief photographer Thys Dullart whose pictures grace our Ten in Ten feature today.
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Everywhere I look, Vogue, Elle, and The Times I find snippets about Colin Firth’s eco venture. With his Italian wife Livia he has opened a shop in London called Eco – an “ecological destination store”, offering artisan-made, ethical, Fairtrade and eco goods, and the services of environmental experts to help homeowners make their spaces more energy efficient.
Here’s a little article if you want more – I just want to know where I can get a wooden computer? I think they are bloody gorgeous – Livia has one and she also has Mr Darcy – I am feeling the jealous….
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Let it not be said that The Times does not celebrate our most venerated nonagenarian’s birthday in style. We ordered quite possibly the most fabulous cake in the country from the Patisserie. Not only did the lovely Glenda Lederle supply us with outrageously rich chocolate gateau but also the most charming macaroons – knowing that we have a soft spot for them in the newsroom.
Like our esteemed national hero the cake was both charming, unpretentious and relentlessly upbeat. This is the sugar high speaking.
I also went to 5 fm this morning for Gareth Cliff’s celebratory breakfast show and watched the Soweto Gospel Choir in action in the studio – well done 5fm – you put the nation on a high this morning – I particularly enjoyed the way Gareth shut the stupid caller who was about to moan down. Marvelously executed Mr Cliff.
Watch the Soweto Gospel Choir singing happy birthday here
May we celebrate 100 !!!!
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The Times Chief photographer Thys Dullart is planning wonderful things for SA Fahion Week at the end of August.Today there was a preview with some of the work that will be showcased. I told him we had to post some of his brilliant pics so here they are to give you a taste for things to come… Aspasia
