:: I love what Dustin Hostetler (publisher and curator of Faesthetic Magazine) is up to with the This Must Be The Place show he curated for Scion. Check it out below.

Also, check out his Think Faest! blog here. He is also a pretty ridiculously talented designer himself, all of his work is archived here. // AjS

:: in case you weren’t able to come by A Nice Set | Shanghai, the exhibition of international and Chinese designer slipmats, we’ve produced a short video of the opening night that you can check out below. If this video is loading slowly for you, try viewing it on Tudou or .

Special thanks again to our co-curators in making the event happen: Jellymon and We Are Plus; along with our sponsors and partners: Aerial7, Vedett, SOURCE, Supermarkart, IdN, AWE5OME, and Neocha. And a special shout-out to , who provided the beats and scratches at the party as well as the soundtrack for the video.

For more A Nice Set | Shanghai-related content on NeochaEDGE, link here.  // AjS

This post was originally published on NeochaEDGE, a site I regularly contribute to. To see more of my posts on NeochaEDGE, link here.

NeochaEDGE is a daily-curated, bilingual website and discovery engine dedicated to showcasing leading-edge creative content and emerging youth culture in China.

:: for more from Bananasail on NeochaEDGE, link here.  // AjS

This post was originally published on NeochaEDGE, a site I regularly contribute to. To see more of my posts on NeochaEDGE, link here.

NeochaEDGE is a daily-curated, bilingual website and discovery engine dedicated to showcasing leading-edge creative content and emerging youth culture in China.

:: Shanghai is the next stop for A Nice Set, a traveling exhibition of customized slipmats designed by leading artists from around the world. Presented by NeochaEDGE and Jellymon, A Nice Set | Shanghai will feature slipmat designs from international artists as well as the first showing of original slipmat designs from emerging Chinese artists. Further integrating the music + art theme, a set of Aerial7 headphones will receive a custom-design treatment by Chinese artists and displayed at the exhibition.

A Nice Set | Shanghai exhibition will open at 7:30 PM on September 12th at SOURCE’s gallery space, and run until September 28. Original slipmats, reproductions, IdN’s commemorative book, and custom-designed Aerial7 headphones will all be available for sale throughout the exhibition. // AjS

Exhibition Opening Party :: Sept 12, 2009, 19:30

Exhibition Dates :: Sept 12 – Sept 28, 2009

Location :: SOURCE (158 Xinle Road, Near Donghu Road)

Participating Artists ::

China

Raylei, B6, Tyakasha, Yan Wei, Nini Sum, Jellymon, Kidplastik, Chairman, Shinjil, 96k, Rubberpixy

International

Asif Mian, Ben Loiz & Carolina Chaves, Bob Kronbauer, Build, Carlos Rodriguez, David Ellis, Genevieve Gauckler, Gerry Villareal, Harmen Liemburg, Hanna Werning, Hort, Ian Wright, Ian “Swifty” Swift, Jeff Staple, Jeff Zimmermann, Jenni Kim, Jeremy Hollister, Jeremyville, Maki Kawakita, Marc Atlan, Ray Smith, Republic of Regina, Stephen Bliss, Judy Wellfare, Kai and Sunny, Kenn Sakurai, Kustaa Saksi, Luca Ionesco, Maceo Villareal, Stephan “Maze” Georges, Timothy Saccenti, Universal Everything, Value and Service, Yuko Shimizu and many more

What is a slipmat?

A slipmat is a circular piece of felt material that DJs use on turntables to manipulate a record.

The Concept ::

Just as DJs sample the work of many musicians into the new mixes, visual artists tap into their own cultural surroundings, sampling the influences they have accumulated and integrate them into their work. Both the visual artist and the DJ can be seen as “selectors” who draw inspiration from their respective environments, as well as its trends and fads, with the finished product of a painting or a mix being their interpretation of the world around them.

First conceptualised by Jeremy Hollister of New York creative studio Plus et Plus and Jeff Staple of Staple Designs and The Reed Space, A Nice Set invites leading artists to customize a pair of blank slipmats with dimensions of the canvas as their only constraints.

The Artists ::

The selection of participating artists for A Nice Set is not based on any universal visual aesthetic, but rather on talent, uniqueness and a passion for music – in both the work and the lives of the chosen artists.

Since its debut in Hong Kong, A Nice Set has been on tour for the past three years, travelling from Tokyo to Spain, Paris, Australia and Singapore hitting Shanghai this September. In each city, a selection of local talent is chosen to be included in each exhibition alongside the original collective. The works of the local artists then travel to the next city of the tour, ever expanding global pool of customized designs.

Organizers ::

NeochaEDGE

NeochaEDGE is a full-service idea and execution house passionate about helping clients understand, engage, and co-create with Chinese creative communities, trendsetters, and youth culture opinion leaders.

NeochaEDGE is a daily-curated, bilingual website and discovery engine dedicated to showcasing leading-edge creative content and emerging youth culture in China.

NeochaEDGE is a product of Neocha.com, an online community and social network that empowers Chinese creatives to promote their work, collaborate with other creatives, and engage with fans.

Jellymon

Jellymon / JMGS is a multi-discipline design studio that creates Artwork, Toys, Fashion, Lifestyle products, Branding, Creative Direction. Jellymon was set up by Lin Lin and Sam Jacobs. The pair met at Chelsea School of Art in 2002 and have been working together ever since. Jellymon is about art and products with a fun and thoughtful twist. JMGS works closely with brands and advertising agencies. The projects we work on are very wide ranging but most focus mainly on the Youth Market.

Sponsors ::

Aerial7

Aerial7 was founded in 2008 based on the idea that great sound can be combined with awesome, eye-catching design. Our headphones are influenced by our devotion to art, streetwear, action sports, and DJ culture. They deliver unsurpassed audio quality in models that are as much a statement of individualism as they are a practical necessity.

Vedett

Vedett is a premium Belgian beer brand with a somewhat different attitude; taking itself not too serious (except when it comes to quality, then we’re damn serious!), a bit quirky, modest, not telling you what to do or how to behave.

:: I was recently in Chengdu and picked up some “worshiping incense” outside a local temple. When I got back home and took a better look at the packaging, I was impressed with the all-in-one design. The box that holds the dhoop sticks has a metal ringlet that acts as a burner / holder. A simple detail, but significantly differentiating and very functional. Bravo, well done.  // AjS

:: I was recently gifted some cologne and was particularly impressed with the design of the bottle it came in. Firstly, the product just sits so nicely on its own, like a polished stone of sorts. Secondly, it’s just so easy to get a grip on. Thirdly, as soon you get a grip on it, the product ready to be sprayed / used. The scent is not bad either. Bravo, well done.  // AjS

:: the below “thing” showed up at the Neocha.com studio a couple weeks ago – at first I didn’t know what it was, but it didn’t take me long to fall in love. It’s part funky plastic casing, part string-bound book, and part pixel-art USB rabbit – there is some Styrofoam-like substance and a magnet in there as well. It was gifted to us from W+K Shanghai and is essentially a credentials document presenting the agency’s work in China for 2008. The book is full of what books should be full of – bold, compelling photos. Even without a word of text, it captures (what appears to be) the creative energy and inspiration behind W+K client campaigns. They even went as far to pre-load the pixel-art USB rabbit with cool multimedia content – a Flash presentation of 2008 W+K work, with photos and videos; and a separate video showcasing life at W+K for employees. All of us in the marketing / advertising / PR space in China should take note of this effort. I’m très impressed. Bravo, well done. Good timing too, I just lost my USB drive – I want a fucking laptop next year though, or a pair of Nikes. // AjS

:: Chinese retro design has always fascinated me. Over the years I’ve bought more than a few 70’s and 80’s era Chinese books just for the cover designs. I recently saw some threads on MOP with interesting primary school language study book covers, so I thought I’d scour the Web for more examples from the 60s through to the 80s and share here, see below. It’s not only the images that get people nostalgic, there are a few dedicated souls transcribing the stories in these books.  // XD

[Xiao Du is a guest contributor on fifty 5]

:: Apple is apparently opening a second official store in Beijing, near the Qianmen area. Ben Wood, the Shanghai-based architect of Xintiandi-fame, and his Shanghai Studio design firm are behind the project. Link here for more. Uh, when can we get an official Apple store in Shanghai. Pretty please? // AjS

:: taken in Shanghai in an alleyway near the intersection of Middle Fuxing Rd. and Baoqing Rd. Maybe I’m the only one, but I quite like the glass chard aesthetic atop brick walls in China. On some level, I think it’s artistic. I’ve seen it done with multi-colored glass and even with bits and pieces of smashed wine bottles.  // AjS

:: Garfield has always been one of my favorite Neocha.com users. Her work is always innovative, imaginative, and inspiring. See below for a few examples of her amazing illustrative creations. At the bottom of this post, I have also shared a slideshow that showcases all of her work on Neocha.com.  // AjS

[full disclosure: 56minus1 is a partner at Neocha.com]

:: I stumbled on this interesting graphic while checking out Rou Bo’s (肉博) photo blog, which pointed me to E E E E E E E E’s photo blog, who is one of the creative forces behind Perk Art Studio. There is more on Perk Art Studio at their official (single page!) website. Also, check out their Taobao shop. Perk Art Studio is a Shanghai-based Chinese indie brand that designs clothing and accessories.  // AjS

:: I just came across Chinese multimedia designer Ray Lei (雪磊)’s latest work, titled City Mobilization, via his blog. The piece was done as a promo for the 2009 Shenzhen & Hong Kong Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism / Architecture, and, as with anything Ray produces, it’s superb. For more fifty 5 posts about Ray Lei‘s work, link here. Bravo, well done.  // AjS

:: the Chinese government’s pet dissident and well-known conceptual artist / designer / all-around decent guy Ai Weiwei (艾未未) is now on and Fanfou (a China-market Twitter clone), and has just launched a new blog. In order to verify his identity to the netizen community, Ai Weiwei posted the below semi-nude / grotesque photographs of himself. Hmm…I’m still not convinced. Mr. Ai’s grand entrance into the China Twitter-sphere is likely a tipping point: Twitter will be blocked in China soon enough.  // AjS

:: an excellent animated film titled The Face (面) by Chinese multimedia designers Ray Lei (雪磊) and Chai Mi (柴觅), AKA Ray and Penny. The film was apparently awarded the Best Art Design in Animation at an International Animation Festival (still looking for details / link) and was Ray and Penny’s graduation project for the Academy of Art & Design at Tsinghua University in Beijing in 2007. They both have degrees in animation from the prestigious university. The below video is also on Tudou for faster loading in China. I’ve written about Ray’s work before on 56minus1, link here for more. Bravo, well done.  // AjS