Renee Nault

WE'RE SUPPORTING

You see a man pondering life, but on closer inspection, realisation sets in, and what you actually notice is a sculpture covered in photography prints, creating a truer than life image of art. Gwon Osang is a Korean contemporary artist who has exhibited at the Manchester Art Gallery, among other places. He creates life-size sculptures of people, spending ample time researching his subjects and creating an inspiration for his works.

WE'RE LISTENING TO

Beijing-based band Hanggai write original songs in the traditional folk styles of their Mongolian ancestors — throat-singing, horsehair fiddles, lutes — spearheading an Asian version of the old-time revival. Though it’s only through the digital age that the rest of the world can access this beautiful music, it makes you want to slow down and reflect on what we’ve lost as a species. This stuff makes every flavor of the month indie band seem vapid and meaningless.

WE'RE THINKING

John Lennon was right, these are ’strange days indeed’. Mind you, he also claimed to have seen ‘a UFO over New York’ and ‘Nazis in the bathroom, just below the stairs’, so he may not have been the most reliable witness. Read more

WE'RE TRAVELLING TO

This isn’t an outdoor art installation, but it is still somewhat curated. Or maybe hoarded is a better description. Somewhere in the inner western suburb of Sydney’s Summer Hill, there is a brightly coloured collection of garden gnomes on display. The owner of the home is yet to be seen, but there are hundreds of gnomes, side by side, all with equally dopey expressions on their faces and accompanied by a second fixation: caterpillar soft toys. There are so many gnomes, the garden is no longer visible. Maybe it’s an Amelie style prank that has just piled up over the years? Read more

Oh man! To be young enough to bop, groove and scratch like these kids. For Japanese superstars DJ Sara (8 years old) and DJ Ryusei (5 years old), there’s no such thing as tomorrow. Read more

WE'RE WEARING

Cast from actual Keys, these unisex rings by young New York-based designer Kiel Mead are a fun way to celebrate an old car or an apartment. They come in Sterling Silver and we have them for sale through the Lost At E Minor online shop.

WE'RE READING

Our friends over at SNAP!, Montreal’s only free and independent arts and lifestyle magazine have just released their fourth issue in which they look back and celebrate the faded beauty of past eras, grandmas and grandpas, Polaroids, antique finds, old wisdom and vintage style. Yeeha! They also remember the best of 2008 in Montreal arts, with a variety of writers and photographers giving their take on their favourite cultural discoveries.