Bloodgroup

I love discovering new places, cultures, restaurants, design, little roads, drinks, styles, people, sides of me, sides of my friends, movies, (re)discovering old pictures 

(...) 

AND new music. Without good tunes life can sometimes be dull.

So there I was starting my music discovery trip:

- bought tickets for a concert of an (by me) unknown band, check

- no pre-concert-google/ youtube activity, check

- no references, check 

- no idea what to expect, check

The band is called Bloodgroup and they are from Iceland. I mainly went to this concert because of their name. I was intrigued. I thought it would be some sort of hard-rock, dark music, but I was wrong. Four lovely, very outgoing musicians, that make an amazing mix&match music, that I would describe as electro-pop-with gothic, church-like influences. They played in front of a small group of people and they gave us a super performance with super tunes. What I took from their show is a small addiction and some pictures.

Prague

A couple of weeks back I went to Prague - a weekend escape - I wandered the busy roads and discovered small, not-touristy-streets that I absolutely adored. I decided to do at least one museum while in Prague; so I did. The story behind the choice of going to the KGB museum started with tripadvisor: the good ranking and very positive comments from visitors convinced me to take a look. After a 50 minutes express-tour of the maybe 80 m2 museum surface my had was overwhelmed by the 200 words per minutes tempo that our guide was so acustomed to. So I left the museum with two gifted magnets, a couple of gun photos, a somehow bewildered smile on my face, mixed feelings and the question: was it really worth it?

I abstain myself from publishing photos containing automatic guns, knives and other gadgets used by URSS spies - only because I was practically obliged to take a few snaps. However, I am gladly showing two of my favorite city shots.

Let's gips it!

My friend fall and broke his leg. Now he's lying in bed with a gips on. This unfortunate event inspired me to post something about gips. First of all, gypsum isn't only a material that sustains and fixes broken bones, but it's also a material that helps building things. It is used in construction but also in the design of plaster and sculptures- under the name of alabaster.

What I found even more interesting, was the use of gypsum in furniture design. The following object is made out of gypsum and has a polystyren core- so that makes the item lighter. It's not the pretties furniture item that I was given to see, but there is certainly something about this armchair.

Finding items like this one make me want to start create- after all, there are so many materials that could be used in design.

Pic via johann-kral.blogspot.de

Broomstick

Who ever thinks of broomsticks? Hm, I would say not a lot of people. Who thinks of broomsticks as a possible material for creating something as practical as...let's say...a broom itself? Reinier de Jong does. He took a couple of old, over used broomsticks and transformed them into a new, polished and useful item. A chair. From old to new-old. I find the idea genius, yet so simple. But it's always like that: simple ideas are the most striking ones.

These chairs would probably make a good match with this funky piece of furniture:

                                                           Pics via reinierdejong.com and demilked.com

At the prince

Traveling, this escape from monotony comes along not only with discovering new places but also with experiencing different traditions, cultures, food and...someone elese's monotony.

My trip to Munich was far from beeing a cultural clash or the discovery of a new way of living- 400km down south isnt't that much of a change. However, I did discover something novel. A restaurant, a vegetarian restaurant, an exquisite one. 

If the idea of vegetarianism makes you think of Asia or subcultures- as in rather alternative individuals, then you will be bewildered once stepping in Prinz Myschkin. It's nothing like that. First you'll notice a very sleek, minimalistic design, second you'll feel that it's not like those vegetarian restaurants you were used to in Thailand, and last you'll taste some very well prepared dishes. 

A big thumb up for the food, service and design. The ambience could have been better though.

Location: Prinz Myshkin, Munich, Hackenstr. 2

Early modern dance

I like to think of myself as an inspired and inspiring person. When I found this excerpt from one of Martha Grahams performances, I wanted to find out my own interpretation of this mourning dance, so I watched it a couple of times. For me this performance shows her effort of breaking out, her discontent and her desire of changing her character. But I might be wrong, it could have been only lamentation. However, that's not the point and that's exactly what I appreciate in modern dance. Infinite posibilities of interepting a sequence of movements, unending messages and meanings.

No words

Today: no words, no ideas, only pictures.
Enjoy!

Location: Nato, Leipzig, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 46