Stefan Valent

WE'RE SUPPORTING

Pamela Dale’s work is full of intricate detail: ‘Generally I’m trying to get a feel of the walk-in paradise’, she says. ‘Because these are large scale, you actually walk into them in a sense. You can get sucked into one of the flowers, but when you’re creating them it is like an organic development of shape upon shape and it also has echoes of how nature creates itself, the replication. Read more

WE'RE LISTENING TO

The indie, electronic pop duo Plastic Operator paired up whilst studying audio production at London’s Westminster University. In 2004, they released their first three track EP. Their music reminds me of bands like The Fashion, Crystal Castles and Cut Copy.

WE'RE THINKING

I’ve loved 3D art ever since I was a kid, especially the kind that requires 3D glasses to really appreciate it. My studio, Thunderdog, is working on an art book right now of just three dimensional art, featuring a hundred artists. It should be out next Christmas.

WE'RE READING

Fans of Australian buzzsaw rock trio, The Vines, might like to check out our sister site, My Secret Playlist, where drummer Hamish Rosser has written about eight songs he’s digging right now. There’s some interesting choices in there including The Strokes, James Brown, and, gulp, Joan Jett.

Heavy metal and hip-hop are perhaps the most popular forms of rebellion for kids the world over. In Malaysia, metal — particularly black metal — has taken such a strong hold that the Fatwa Council there banned it, fearing that the music would compel listeners to rebel against religion. Contrary to the council’s intentions, black metal is as popular as ever in Malaysia, and is a recognizable cultural touchstone there, as indicated by the above clip from the 2005 film Filem Rock.

WE'RE TRAVELLING TO

Of all the weird places the world has to offer, the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia has to be one of the coolest. Literally. At 3,700m above sea level, it’s the biggest and highest salt flat in the world, where after dark, temperatures can drop to minus 40 degrees celsius. The best way to explore the salt flat is to hire a 4WD and driver from the Uyuni township. En route, you can even stay at a Salt Hotel, where everything is, quite literally, made from salt: the chairs, beds, tables and even the walls. There’s no heating and the beds aren’t exactly ‘plush’, but it’s worth every salty second. Read more

WE'RE WEARING

Put simply, Sydney fashion label Andrea and Joen create the hottest shoes around. You’ll find a combination of pure sophistication and rock and roll attitude in every pair from their range. Their sexy style has become a must for contemporary women, including Gwen Stefani, Katy Steele and Pink, all of whom have been seen proudly flaunting them around town.