Art + Design in Miami: Comic Aggression

Disgruntled artists mingle the cute with the profane

Artists have plenty of cause for complaint: politics, sexuality, war, the commercialization of the art market. Too witty for sincere criticism, the discontents at Art Basel 2012 and surrounding Miami fairs decided to childishly air their respective gripes with obscene humor. The result isn’t the inflammatory art of old, but a comic voice that mocks the nature of societal outrage. See below for highlights of …

Interview: Nathan Zhang

We talk to the Beijing-based founder of Brandnü about his upcycled fashion operation

Waste is one of the dark sides of development, especially in fast growing-country like China, and Beijing is no exception. With massive urbanization bringing crowds of mostly unskilled rural workers to the city and a literal ring of garbage dumps and unauthorized recycling centers besieging the capital, it’s often difficult to see the few making a positive impact in their community. Fully aware of these …

Artst Tlk

Pharrell Williams on curiosity and knowledge in a discussion about his new inquisitive video series

Pharrell Williams can easily be called a modern-day renaissance man. Already known as a gifted musician, producer, skateboarder and fashion designer, in his new video series Artst Tlk Williams subtly reveals himself as a highly capable conversationalist, asking some of contemporary culture’s finest minds a bevy of curious questions with the finesse of Barbara Walters. But as he told us recently in Miami, he isn’t …