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Graffiti’s Gone Mobile!


Voice of the Streets is a interesting site that gives graffiti writers and artists a way to receive feedback on their work anonymously. Because it’s in Beta form, the functionality of the site isn’t really smooth, but the concept is pretty hot. The graff artists could upload their work and receive a unique QR Code (which conveys info like URL, images, phone numbers, etc), all the while uploading their own voice message. If someone recognizes the work, they could leave the artist a voice-mail response to their work.

There aren’t many uploads to this website and it seems to be a global project, so there are language barriers involved. Adding a simple text feedback option could be advantageous to the site so artists could translate the response if it was in a different language or if the voice-mail fails somehow.

Engaging the graffiti artists with their public/fanbase through technology is an interesting one as it provides an open, anonymous channel of communication, while increasing visibility for the artist.

Artwork: Dragon Bodysuit


Here’s a throwback to Asian tattooing styles. The drawing on the right was the initial graphite drawing on vellum; the girl was drawn separately. They were then scanned, cleaned up, collaged, and digitally colored in Photoshop.

I haven’t designed tattoos in a while, so this image has been clawing its way through my head till now. I owe so much to tattooing–as an illustrator (picking up different visual styles) and as a designer (logo work and lettering). It’s also made me realize that everything has potential and can be a source of inspiration. With such a rich history (dating back to paleolithic ages), it’s great to see that tattooing is rising past being a mere fad. The inspiration for my artwork “Dragon Bodysuit” is the Irezumi or Japanese tattoo, and the artist and master tattooist, Horiyoshi III.

Here are some notable artists who’ve created artworks of tattooed women: Richard Chesler, Caroline Young, Luis Royo, and Olivia.

Inspirations: Art & Life

I became inspired today by two very different artists. In Talib Kweli’s “Listen” music video, the urban art of Kofie is incorporated as motion graphics. The video is a few years old, but the artwork is still hip and vibrant. Kofie’s work is very deliberate, yet expressionistic. Hip hop has created a platform for a global youth culture and it’s always fascinating to see different art-forms merge.

Another inspiration was seeing the film “War Photographer” and being exposed to the deeply moving documentary photography of James Nachtwey. He braves the battlefields and streets to capture the human condition and the stories behind them. His photos are morbidly beautiful and intimate–art with a conscience.

Artwork: Ghosts from Khmer Rouge (Heritage Series)

. Art by Sherrie Thai of ShaireProductions.com

This piece was inspired by the stories of my family–of tragedies from the hands of the Khmer Rouge (Pol Pot), military intervention, and refugee camps. Different times beget different circumstances, but overall, history repeats itself. In a general sense, this piece is also a commentary on the atrocities of war, power, and corruption. Because this artwork comes from a very personal space, it holds great sentimental value. My family is ethnically Chinese, but have faced the same atrocities as Cambodians and Vietnamese from the Khmer Rouge. Modern Pan-Asian pollination has unified different cultures through basic life experiences. Sparked by personal events and a sense of self-exploration, I’m glad to have finally created the first (in hopefully–many) artistic tributes to my family and culture: The Heritage Series.

The initial illustration on the right is graphite on vellum. From there, I scanned in the artwork, collaged patterns (created from my brush pen) and digitally colored the piece. In many of my mixed media pieces, I tend to leave certain areas in grayscale. I’ve always loved juxtaposing detail with simplicity–in concept or through visual elements (Graphic Alchemy). While the Buddha monument is in the foreground, it’s mostly monochrome–the viewer gets drawn into the detail, and not distracted by color. Although color can be a powerful tool, I like to emphasize the simplicity of the subject matter by taking color away. View Larger Version

The Dark Knight Guerrilla Marketing Campaign





The marketing campaign for the upcoming Batman movie “The Dark Knight” is pure genius. This is the one of the first times I’ve seen multiple online guerrilla venues to promote a brand. I have yet to discover the ad/media agency behind this, but it’s caused quite a stir.

The new Batman movies (with Christian Bale) are a reinvention of the Batman enterprise. The content and approach of the new movies are darker and explores character development, steering away from its cheesy predecessors of the 90s. This reinvention carries over to the online medium. Because Batman has a cultural heritage (decades of comics, t.v. shows, toys, movies, etc.), it has an existing cult-like following. Creating a world around this is no simple task, as execution must be tactful.

The whole premise for the campaign revolves around the user/viewer becoming engaged in the world of Gotham–it’s characters, activities, sights, and sounds. This engagement marketing is very Web 2.0–utilizing User Generated Content to propel the projects further. One example of this is the Why So Serious site (screenshots above). The atmosphere surrounding the Flash site is very covert and mysterious. A viewer is encouraged to submit photos–not with a generic “submit now” button–but through the copy, graphics, and hints of a secret Clown society. If you are pro-Batman, there’s Citizens for Batman, or if you’re interested in politics, you could support Harvey Dent’s bid for District Attorney. Another great site is the mutation of the Gotham Times to the HaHaHa Times by clicking the headline. The campaign is very strategic and fluid as it’s been timed to coordinate with various events–from Comic Con Clown Recruitment to Movie Screenings.

The intelligence of this campaign is due to its non-explicit advertising; it’s about discovery and exploration. It allows people to come to their own conclusions about certain characters or activities. There’s no central homepage listing for all the sites–adding to the mystique of the campaign as it’s user-generated–from articles, other bloggers/fans (Batman Blog), and countless searches.

A new face of online advertising is upon us.

Fire Drill


Going Up
Originally uploaded by shaire productions

This photo was taken while I was doing a photowalk, where I just take a camera and go exploring in the city. There’s never a dull moment. In this shot, the firefighters practiced climbing the ladder and hitting the rooftop. . .

Cultural Editors

I bought the book Design Your Self by Karim Rashid (fashion and furniture designer) the other day. Some of the things he mentions in the book is pretty common sense stuff (about how to live your life through balance), but there are a few interesting points. He mentions designers as being “cultural editors” and that there are three types of beings: “those who create culture, those who consume culture, and those who don’t give a damn about culture.”

I do agree that designers can have enormous cultural power to create fads and change the scope of culture. Look at the impact design has had on Apple–from the functional design of the iPod to the silhouette ads (influenced by the 1900 Victorian cuts). From aesthetics to mass consumerism, design not only affects our visual palette, but how we live and the bottom line. Japanese products are indicative of the design culture and the American market of product design has been catching on. Aesthetics sell.

To say that it’s only designers who have this power of “cultural editor” may be a bit presumptuous. Society is made up by many different types of people, and everyone can make a ripple in their own way–from academics to artists and everyone else in-between. Passion is what makes people “cultural editors,” not necessarily what your line of work is. That passion affects so many things: your outlook on life affects your relationships, demeanor, and the actions you take. I’ve heard people say that ‘work is who you are’, but I know plenty of people who can’t work in their field that they’re passionate about due to external circumstances, or are transitioning into what they love to do. If you have an external passion aside from work, that can provide happiness and a sense of balance.