The Arrival
Good children’s books keep children occupied and interested. Great children’s books make lifelong impressions and bring joy to the child well into adulthood. Shaun Tan’s latest picture book/graphic novel,The Arrival, about a migrant from a nameless country settling in another nameless and vast foreign culture, is a great book by any standards, despite it not having a single word. While younger children may not fully understand the themes of diaspora and cultural alienation, the soft, intricately rendered black and white illustrations are beautiful and fantastical enough to keep children of all ages staring at the pages. The haunting pictures, full of strange creatures, expressive faces, and surreal, Metropolis-like cityscapes, are as melancholic-yet-comforting as Chris Van Allsburg’s illustrations in The Mysteries of Harris Burdick and are certainly as memorable. [see also Ida Pearle]
Also by GERRY MAK
Nazis, who have colonized the dark side of the moon since their defeat in WWII, have decided to re-invade Earth in the upcoming comedic action/sci-fi/steampunk-ish film Iron Sky. Laibach did the soundtrack. Who’s stoked? I’m stoked.
Runny Nose Soap Shower Gel Dispenser
Let your inner Pee-Wee Herman shine with this ridiculous and gross ‘runny nose’ soap and shower gel dispenser.
20-foot-tall Inflatable Self-Portrait by Takashi Murakami
Taking the idea of an ‘inflated ego’ to the next level, Takashi Murakami created this 20-foot-tall inflatable self-portrait for his solo show, Murakami-Ego, in Doha, Qatar.
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Since Clive Barker has been writing children’s books, I figured it was only a matter of time before he started designing Halloween costumes. These are pretty amazing. Read more
Whether a torrent of abuse flows in my direction or not, I’ll bite my lip and say that Four Tet’s Rounds is perhaps the greatest electronica album ever released. Read more
There was a time, many moons ago, when I would only listen to bands off New Zealand’s Flying Nun label. Yup, I would strap myself into a comfy chair, put my headphones on and, armed with a chunk of chocolate coated Peanut Slab and a can of L&P, soak up album after album of wonderfully self-indulgent low-fi melancholy. Read more
One of the largest contemporary construction projects in the world [it's the size of London's Hyde Park], the 220 suite Hydropolis, situated twenty metres below the surface of the Persian Gulf near Dubai, will be the first luxury underwater hotel. It’s expected to open to the public in late 2009. Read more
Finally, the Tumblr we’ve all been waiting for. Lonely Cheetos casts a discerning light on those poor neglected cheese puffs that dot the New York subways. Read more
Hmmm, I don’t know if it’s the extra strong coffee I’m gulping down, or that faintest slither of feel good sunshine that’s creeping through the blinds, but this song is making me feel mildly euphoric, and that kinda works right now. Play it loud. Play it through headphones. And imagine you’re decked out in day glo polyester with a dramatic burst of velvet lining. Damn, my feet just can’t stop from dancin’.
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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.
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Cookie Boy’s creative cookie designs
I don’t eat cookies, so good thing Cookie Boy’s cookies are little pieces of art too pretty and cute to eat. Read more
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Christoph Niemann illustrates a nightmare flight
New York Times illustrator Christoph Niemann has created a brilliant visual diary outlining the peril and pitfalls that beset the everyday passenger based on his recent experience flying from New York to his home town of Berlin. Read more
Nerd-attack! Man, this TARDIS zipper robe is so much cooler than any Star Wars crap people are hawking this days. This is for the true gangsta nerd.
The Arquebus Clothing Brand, based in Brooklyn, is dedicated to designs that are self-expressive and meaningful through imagery or typography. They are bold, positive, inspirational, motivational, witty, philosophical and very wearable. We love these pieces inspired by nature, history, and everyday living. Some favorites can be found in the Lost At E Minor store.
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Meg said | 3 October, 2007
I had the pleasure of attending a private presentation Shaun gave to the English Teachers Association of Western Australia in March of this year. He really is one of the most talented illustrators / artists in Australia atm. I have all of his books which are signed with little creatures by Shaun and 3 of his originally graphite sketches from various project he has worked on. They are amazing and the little bits and pieces that he adds to each drawing really add to the magic – like the red leaf in the pages of The Red Tree which you sometimes have to look hard to find. For those in or with backgrounds of illustration and graphic art like myself his attention to detail is all-the-more inspiring. Down-to-earth, good guy too. The Arrival is the sort of book you keep for your grand kids.