Carnival season culminates today with Mardi Gras, a joyful celebration of fun and self-expression. Yet as we look at the news there isn't much to be joyful about, so let's mark the day with a painting that captures the aftermath of a carnival scene: "Scène de Carnaval" by Alexis Vollon (1889). This monumental piece debuted…

Finding original and intriguing sounds for a runway show can be challenging, but not impossible. One approach is to explore unconventional, abstract, and even alien-like sounds (and noises…), such as those inspired by Earth's magnetic field. Around 41,000 years ago, during what is known as the Laschamp event, Earth's magnetic field briefly reversed and significantly…

Last week, we explored the principle of self-similar scaling in art and fashion, though we left accessories out of the discussion. Milliner Stephen Jones, however, offers us the perfect opportunity to revisit this concept with a piece from his recently unveiled A/W 25 collection. Entitled "SENSEational" the collection looks at the sensory connections between hats…

Following our previous explorations of geometric interplay, let's draw inspiration from a work rooted in geometry and machines – Andor Weininger's sketch for his experimental project "Mechanische Bühnen-Revue" (Mechanical Stage – Abstract Revue). This piece will be featured in "Masterpieces on Paper from Budapest," an exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain (February 28th –…

At the end of yesterday's post, we mentioned Benoît Mandelbrot, the Polish-born French mathematician renowned for his groundbreaking work on fractal geometry. Today, rather than exploring other ideas, let's take a moment to relax and find inspiration in one of his most influential works, The Fractal Geometry of Nature (Download TheFractalGeometryofNature). First published in 1982,…

In yesterday's post, we explored a vintage interior design project. Today, let's shift focus to fashion with another piece from the same year and magazine, Echo de la Mode (16th – 22nd April 1967). This time, it's a pointed scarf by Jean-Charles Brosseau, a design that elegantly frames the wearer's face, foreshadowing the sculptural headdresses…

In the latest posts, we explored mathematical principles and fractal-like patterns. Today, let's put those inspirations into practice by creating something inspired by geometry – an origami paper lamp with a diamond pattern. The instructions come from a vintage French magazine, Echo de la Mode (19th – 25th November 1967). Enjoy! MATERIALS Two sheets of…

In yesterday's post, we explored the concept of self-similarity in art, science, and fashion. This discourse extends into architecture, where certain structures, often less immediately apparent, exemplify this principle, such as those designed by Paolo Portoghesi. An admirer of Baroque architect Francesco Borromini, Portoghesi deeply studied his work, particularly Borromini's mathematical approach to spatial design…

A recent study published on the journal PNAS Nexus in early February, titled "Scaling in Branch Thickness and the Fractal Aesthetic of Trees," reveals that trees depicted in paintings by renowned artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Piet Mondrian follow the same mathematical laws of natural branching as real trees. In nature, trees exhibit a…

In yesterday's post, we looked at a work from the Marcel Lehmann-Lefranc Collection, currently featured in Sotheby's "Contemporary Discoveries" sale. Among the striking pieces in the auction there is also Niki de Saint Phalle's "Tir (Old Master)" (1961), a visceral and performative exploration of destruction as creation. This piece belongs to her renowned Tirs series,…