Peace and Love

Finally, my first Cirque du Soleil experience and I was definitely not disappointed. During the entire show, I was on the edge of my seat, dreaming to do nothing else but be part of their creative process. However, I have pieces to the story I couldn't decipher. So here is a snapshot of the inner-workings behind Cirque du Soleil's creative thinking in partnership with The Beatles.

LOVE connected the imagination of Crique du Soleil and the imagination of The Beatles. All the remixes that were heard in my LOVE experience were recreated in The Abby Studio where The Beatles were first recorded. They would sometimes remix one Beatles soundtrack, or a particular beat on another.

The show's opening "Get Back" was set on the rooftop, recreating their spontaneous LIVE rooftop concert. The rooftop concerts was one of their last concerts. Most of the scenes were illustrated very literally like "Octopus Garden". There were literally artificial octopus's hanging from the ceiling of the production, and that was all was prepared for that particular song. However, most of the songs were portrayed with a powerful connection to a historical phenomenon relatable to the audience (WWI & II various human rights movements). All the cast members were characterized as free-spirited, spontaneous, young, street-wise, basically "Beta Beatles". Cirque Du Soleil made sure to incorporate modern day urban culture into the production since urban culture primarily characterized The Beatles. There was a scene dedicated to in-line skating and the various tricks they had up their sleeve.

Overall, the mixture of creative ideas and sound visuals created a real powerful show. You will walk away with a new perspective on how to visualize the world around you, and also a room to appreciate surreal imaginative ideas.

A Tribute to the Cold Weather and to "Stuff Whilte People Like"

#111 Pea Coats

As the temperature starts to drop, many white people are forced to start wearing winter coats. Though many will simply don outdoor performance gear, a great number will turn to the #1 white winter jacket of all time: The Pea Coat.

The Pea Coat was originally worn by sailors and members of the European Navy. If you think about it for a second, this means that the coat is European, Coastal, and Vintage. Three of white people’s favorite things.

Another common characteristic of the coat is that white people will write their names on the label inside the coat. This is not done for fear of theft, but rather as a necessary precaution against party mixups. You see, when a white person attends a party in the winter time they will often be required to put their jacket in a room with literally dozens of other pea coats! Since these coats often contain ticket stubs to the same concerts and identical Trader Joe’s receipts, it can be impossible to find the original owner without a name written inside.

Like with sweaters, the process of acquiring a Pea Coat is almost as important as the coat itself. Fashionable white people can purchase designer pea coats for well over $1000, but the top ranked white people purchase their at Army Surplus stores. This makes them feel better than the white people have spent thousands of dollars on an identical piece of clothing.

But perhaps the greatest value of the pea coat is its ability to help you determine which non-white people have been accepted into the ranks of white people. It is not known if the coat is given to them in an elaborate ceremony or if they buy it themselves, but in either case by wearing the coat they are telling the world that they have white friends.

Long story short, if you want to increase your popularity with white people this winter, get a Pea Coat.

I Miss Taipei

100 Contemporary Architects

It was my birthday on Nov. 3 and I received one of the best gifts ever! The Taschen's 25th anniversary Special Edition: 100 Contemporary Architects. It comprises a comprehensive study of architecture around the world from the dawn of the 21st century. Here are some of the images from the collection. The two massive books must weigh at least 1/3 my size...maybe more?

About the author:
Philip Jodidio studied art history and economics at Harvard University, and was editor-in-chief of the leading French art journal Connaissance des Arts for over two decades. He has published numerous monographs on Tadao Ando, Santiago Calatrava, Norman Foster, Richard Meier, Jean Nouvel, and Álvaro Siza.

Herzog & De Meuron, my FAVORITE architectural firm and architects. I looked into their work a few years ago at Harvard's GSD. Amazing, amazing work!

Stuff White People Like

This book cracked me up...pretty accurate.

Airo Island in Austria

Built in 2003, this piece of work is called the Airo Island, located on the Mur River in Austria. Vito Acconci, Brookly-based artist/architect is the main designer. It features a sunbathing elevated terrace, modern bar, and a coffee house. The piece of artwork allows circulation from both shores of the Mur River. Airo Island's inverse ramps that circulate traffic in and out of the "hub" reminds me of Corbu's Carpenter Center in Cambridge, Boston.

Influence

"Influence", a book filled with exclusive interviews of iconic people who have made a mark in the design/art/fashion industry. Overall, pretty amazing book with a good amount of inspirational quotes and stories. Responses and reflections are candid and real.

The Charlie Rose

My heart is still with Anderson Cooper but I also found another...

Houses Going Green

This is Thomas Small and Joanna Brody's eco-friendly house. It is intensely green: it relies on cross-ventilation for cooling, solar energy for heating and recycled water for irrigating the garden.The structure reminds me of Corbu's Notre Dam Du Haut.

Pretty cool how the venue becomes a stage set, especially with different elevations!

The mix of translucent and transparent windows create privacy but still lets enough sunlight into the interior.
With the blue saturated sky, the house almost looks like a ship ready to sail out. I think it has to do with the smooth concrete panel pointing horizontally. Notice how the house is mostly made with very fine concrete. Pretty amazing.

Snowbound in Japan

This is one of my favorite photo spreads published by the New York Times. The photo shoot takes place in Akita Prefecture on Japan's Honshu Island. Akita Prefecture is known for Lake Tazawa and the Akita women. It's been said that Akita women are renowned for their porcelain white skin, rounded faces, and high voices, traits that are considered highly desirable. Something also worth noting: Akita has the highest consumption of sake in Japan.