Meet A Ceramicist Who Puts Her Head & Heart Into Her Work: Renate Hattinger

The following pieces of Renate Hattinger's were exhibited at Blickfang 2007 in Kongresshaus, Zurich:

Think Tank



Material: porcelain, gold plated, luster
Dimension (H/W/D): 15x11x10,5cm
Approx. $173.00 USD
Think Tank in nacre version, pink version and blue version available for purchase here.

Think Tank is part of the series Human Interior. Human Interior are porcelain containers in form of the central human organs, heart and brain. The highly specialized organs heart and brain designed by nature are symbols for life, intelligence, love.

The invisible inside becomes visible and gets a concrete emotional meaning by careful processing and refinement of the object's surface. The objects are not only to be admired on pedestals and in showcases but to be used and filled. This perhaps allows an irreverent, but hopefully humorous usage of my creations.


Golden Heart:


Golden Heart
Material: porcelain, gold plated, luster
Dimension (H/W/D): 13 x 15 x 14 cm
Approx $317.00 USD
Buy it here.

Golden Heart is part of the series Human Interior. Human Interior are porcelain containers in form of the central human organs, heart and brain. The highly specialized organs heart and brain designed by nature are symbols for life, intelligence, love.

Also in White (biscuit):


The heart is also available in biscuit.
Approx $275.00 USD, just order it via Email

In Renee's own words:
After my education at the HTBLA Ortweinplatz in Graz in the department of ceramics, I studied product design for ceramics with Matteo Thun at the University for Applied Arts in Vienna.

As a ceramist I work with different materials in ceramic technology. In the last years, however, I mainly specialized in the production of unique pieces and small series of porcelain.

I consider myself neither an artist in the classical sense nor a designer. I'd rather like to create a connection between the two disciplines. This means that the artistic expression of a product is more important to me than its ergonomic usefulness, I however create small art works which can also be used (e.g. as a box).

You can buy Think Tank and Golden Heart here at Pure Austrian Design's online shop.
Or you can contact the artist directly: renate.hattinger@chello.at


Visit her site to see her other work as well here.

Welcome To Longoland! The Curious Creations of Joshua Ben Longo

Well, there truly is no lack of unique talent to be found out there in cyberspace.
Meet artist/designer Joshua Ben Longo and Welcome to Longoland





I stumbled upon this site (not literally using Stumble Upon, however) and to my delight found some of the most curiously cuddly creations; fun furry monsters - complete with anatomically correct poopers and some radically whimsical furniture and clothing done in brushed woven wool and cashmere.

Apparently many of the items shown here are available for purchase upon inquiry, but Longoland plans to open an online store soon. Yay!

"Brooklyn Designs 07"
To successfully portray the Longoland world, Joshua had to not only make the monsters but design and build an evironment to house them. Everything in the image below was designed and built by Longoland.



Some more images from Longoland at brooklyn Designs 07:






"Monster Skin Rug"



Materials: Brushed Woven Cashmere & Wool, Polymer Clay
Dimensions:
Small: (approx 18in x 26in)
Medium: (approx 36in x 50in)
Large: (approx 50in x 70in)
Price: Available upon request.

"Monster Skin Chair"

Materials: Brushed Woven Wool, Antique Wing Back Chair
Dimensions: Available upon request.
Price: Available upon request.

"Beau"



Materials: Faux Fur, Wool, Polymer Clay, Polymer Stuffing
Dimensions: Approx.15in x 11in x 10in
Price: Available upon request.

"Macho"




Materials: Faux Fur, Wool, Polymer Clay, Polymer Stuffing
Dimensions: Approx.15in x 11in x 10in
Price: Available upon request.

"Grumpus"


Materials: Faux Fur, Wool, Polymer Clay, Medium Density Furniture Foam, Wood
Dimensions: Approx.15in x 11in x 10in
Price: Available upon request

The following fabulous pieces are sold:

"A Dictat on Etiquette"


Materials: Faux Fur, Wool, Polymer Clay, Polymer Stuffing
Dimensions: Approx. 36in x 20in x 20in
Price: Sold

"Mano Efferus"


Materials: Faux Fur, Wool, Polymer Clay, Polymer Stuffing
Dimensions: Approx. 15in x 11in x 18in
Price: Sold

I spoke briefly to Joshua via e-mail and asked him if there was anything else I ought to know about him. Amongst some other information, he had a comment that really stood out.

"I make art and design objects that make noises and speak to there owners. I talk to every piece I produce and when they talk back I know the piece is alive and ready to go their new owner." –Joshua Ben Longo

How wonderful is that?
There's a lot more to see on his fun site, be check out his archive of past work.

Joshua Ben Longo is also an Industrial Design Drawing instructor at the Pratt Institute & NJIT and home design consultant. He has an upcoming exhibition in May of 2008 at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont.

You can reach him here.

G1 GIYA Loudspeakers From Vivid Audio: Expensive & HUGE

and might I add...ugly?

Bizarre speakers by VIVID Audio to be unveiled next week in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Suggested price? $54,000. USD

Maybe this pic below will show you why.


Those suckers are giant!

Press release:
Vivid Audio are proud to announce the G1 GIYA loudspeaker system to be launched during CES 2008 from the penthouse suite at THE MIRAGE HOTEL 7 to 11 January 2008. Please call Jerry Hanna on +1 860 593 3868 or Philip O'Hanlon (USA) +1 310 266 6337 for more information on this exceptional product.