Follow the Light

From Nelson Mandela to Google Glass, David Bowie to Yayoi Kusama—a look at this year's top headlines

Color consultant and adjunct professor at Parsons The New School for Design, Jasmine Takanikos was quick to share the Pantone color of the year announcement for 2014: Radiant Orchid. The bold shade reaches across the color wheel from the 2013 Pantone 17-5641 Emerald, flashing fuchsia, purple and pink undertones to create Pantone 18-3224. With the news out, expect an influx of purple in SS14 wardrobes.

Self Obliteration

From Nelson Mandela to Google Glass, David Bowie to Yayoi Kusama—a look at this year's top headlines

When an artist’s medium is simply light, their work will inspire a certain amount of curiosity, but James Turrell’s work over the last several decades has gained an almost spiritual following. With his atmospheric installations known as “skyspaces,” he creates an environment where light perception and sensual engagement are at center stage. In 2013 it was difficult to escape his brilliance—he showed at NYC’s Guggenheim …

The Hyperloop System

From Nelson Mandela to Google Glass, David Bowie to Yayoi Kusama—a look at this year's top headlines

The 84-year-old artist Yayoi Kusama has voluntarily lived and painted in a psychiatric clinic since the ’70s. With her mesmerizing concepts popping up everywhere from museums and galleries to Louis Vuitton this year, Nowness made a video that showcases her work, which she calls “Self Obliteration.” Her process is a revelation of her inner-psychic reality, saying that painting is what keeps her going. The obsessive …