Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
I AM FINE EISHI TAKAOKA SOLO EXHIBITION MAY 5 – MAY 30, 2012 Eishi Takaoka’s work is coming back. Although the sculptures of Eishi Takaoka all portray the same serene expression, their outwardly calm façade belies a world of bottled-up emotions. With nowhere to go, these intense feelings manifest themselves in outlandish formations that sprout out of the top of each figure’s head. The uniquely sculpted heads of Takaoka are rooted in a personal fantasy world that is fueled by the emotional ups and downs of daily life in lower-middle class Japan. He instills his frustration with life in Kagoshima and feelings of isolation into each of the pieces, which are comprised of carved wood painted with raw mineral pigments placed atop empty glass medicine bottles. Takaoka’s pieces have been seen in group shows in Tokyo and New York, one-person exhibitions at Giant Robot New York and GR2 in Los Angeles, and on the cover of novelist Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore. For this exhibition, Takaoka will create 34 sculptures at Giant Robot 2 in Los Angeles. See the exhibit. AARTING – BLANKIE DESIGNER SERIES 1 FIGURE Blankie is a great new blind box figure series from aarting. 12 different figures designed by artists from around the world. Artists include, Matucha, Miss Shelby, Cvele, Atomic1970, and more. SHINZI KATOH SERENO HELLOTOTE Shinzi Katoh creates some of the cutest products around. Four leaf clovers are extra lucky when gifted by your crush. Sprouting flowers and clovers on back side. Made of a durable canvas material. MINI TAPE ROLL ROBOTS Add this robot pattern to your mundane taping tasks. It’s sure to make your craft projects cooler. P+G DESIGN POCHI PANDA POUCH Are the contents of your purse not cute enough? Now it is! What a cute Panda Bear face on this silicone pouch. YOSHITOMO NARA LITTLE WANDERER FIGURE Drag the Little Wanderer back a bit, let it go, and it propels itself across whatever flat surface you like. Beautiful, classy design which is what to expect from Yoshitomo Nara products. TAKASHI MURAKAMI MINI TOWEL Superb mini hand towels from world renowned Supeflat artist Takashi Murakami. Made of soft terry cloth material. MOLESKINE SKETCHBOOK The cover is plain black, the blue stripe is just a piece of paper. Interior pages are heavy paper. EGGLING PETUNIA Grow your own flowers in this nature inspired planter. Just crack open and water. LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL MAY 10 – MAY 20, 2012 Surrogate Valentine: 5/12; Surrogate Valentine 2: 5/12, 5/13; Tormented: 5/12; Dragon: 5/14 PHOTOGRAPHS OF TōHOKU By MICHAEL ARIAS As previously posted on GR, I made several trips to the northern countryside of Japan in the days and weeks following the disaster of 3/11. And, though the intent of these ragtag “missions,” was primarily humanitarian, I took many photos along the way, posting them with my reports on these pages. I recently culled the most evocative of those shots for display at the 12th incarnation of...
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Here’s a very well-done working transformer model built by Japanese engineer Kenji Ishida (Twitter him @BRLab). LEGO schmego. A tip of the hat to filmmaker/multimedia journalist Katsuyuki Ueno of Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan. [youtube]pzrc_yzdt1o[/youtube]
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I AM FINE EISHI TAKAOKA SOLO EXHIBITION MAY 5 – MAY 30, 2012 RECEPTION: SATURDAY, MAY 5TH, 6:30-10PM Eishi Takaoka’s work is coming back. Although the sculptures of Eishi Takaoka all portray the same serene expression, their outwardly calm façade belies a world of bottled-up emotions. With nowhere to go, these intense feelings manifest themselves in outlandish formations that sprout out of the top of each figure’s head. The uniquely sculpted heads of Takaoka are rooted in a personal fantasy world that is fueled by the emotional ups and downs of daily life in lower-middle class Japan. He instills his frustration with life in Kagoshima and feelings of isolation into each of the pieces, which are comprised of carved wood painted with raw mineral pigments placed atop empty glass medicine bottles. Takaoka’s pieces have been seen in group shows in Tokyo and New York, one-person exhibitions at Giant Robot New York and GR2 in Los Angeles, and on the cover of novelist Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore. For this exhibition, Takaoka will create 34 sculptures at Giant Robot 2 in Los Angeles. He is currently attending school in his hometown of Kagoshima, Japan and will not be in Los Angeles for the opening. PRINCESS TINA DECORATIVE TOOTH T-SHIRT We’ve got some new Princess Tina merch in like these beautiful decorative tooth tees! UPPER PLAYGROUND DAVID CHOE SKATEBOARD T-SHIRT A classic David Choe image of faces and limbs collided together to create this great design. KOZYNDAN NAKANO PRINT A panoramic view outside the train station at Nakano in Tokyo through the eyes of Kozyndan. STINCKERS STICKER SHEET JOVEN KEREKES The Irish based San Francisco native Joven Kerekes illustrates the most rocking geriatric characters you’ve ever seen. Ltd ed. Signed by the artist. MEAT BUN DQ VALUE MEAL T-SHIRT This is the sweetest looking value menu I’ve ever seen. The cuteness is rotting my heart! JIBIBUTS ARTIST COLLECTION FIGURE BLIND BOX These 100% Birch wood figures have been custom designed by 12 different artists including Andrea Kang, Anna Chambers, Bubi Au Yeung, Buff Monster, and more. GAMA-GO QUIRKEYS KEY COVERS (OWLS) Very quirky key covers from Gama-Go! These cute owls will help you find the right key in the darkness of night! HEISUKE KITAZAWA (PCP) COME RUN AWAY WITH US PRINT From artist Heisuke Kitazawa comes this printed poster! WIN FREE TICKETS FIRST 10 TO EMAIL INFO@GIANTROBOT.COM SURROGATE VALENTINE DOUBLE FEATURE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL: SURROGATE VALENTINE Saturday 5/12/2012 5:30 PM + SURROGATE VALENTINE 2: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS Saturday 5/12/2012 7:00 PM MOTHERFUCKERLAND: INSTALLMENT 16 By ED LIN nbsp; Read author Ed Lin’s new serial novel, Motherfuckerland. New installments will be released weekly. Lin, who is of Taiwanese and Chinese descent, is the first author to win three Asian American Literary Awards. His latest book, One Red Bastard, has been recently published by Minotaur in April 2012. CHRIS CHU ON THE FATE OF THE MORNING BENDERS AND FUTURE OF POP ETC By...
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TAIJI, Wakayama ~ The town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, plans to make part of its cove a huge pool where people can swim and kayak among small whales and dolphins, Jiji Press reported Tuesday. The town, known for its bloody annual dolphin slaughter, aims to officially launch the project within five years after negotiating with the prefectural government, which manages the bay, and pearl farmers operating there. “We’ve never heard of such an attempt elsewhere,” an official at the Fisheries Agency said. The plan, compiled by a local panel of residents, calls for creating a pool with an area of roughly 28 hectares by putting up a net on the entrance of Moriura Bay in northwestern Taiji. Black whales and bottlenose dolphins caught near the town are to be released into the pool, which would be developed as a natural park that also includes beaches and mudflats. The town government will consider whether it is possible to raise large whales as well. The town also intends to use the park for therapy and ecological research. It hopes to make the area a center for whale research by inviting research institutions from outside as well. The plan is part of efforts to make the whole town a natural museum that will allow people to learn about whales, including the culture and history of whale hunting.
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If you happen to pull off the highway in one of the more picturesque areas of Japan during the extended Golden Week (April 29 through May 6) you might be in for a surprise. Aghast truck drivers have found young couples pulling off the road not only to enjoy the beautiful scenery but each other. “There are too damned many of these outrageous people,” said a 45-year-old tanker driver. “We can’t see anything because they have curtains on their windows, but we can hear the women moaning and saying stuff.” (The Tokyo Reporter – Ribald Motorists)
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