18/05/2011

Essen: Delhi Chicken / Mysore Pack

.

Essen: Delhi Chicken / Mysore Pack

India is an infinite tapestry of overlapping cultures and opposing traditions, miraculously held together by inclusive policy and a long history. In the sprawling metropolis of Delhi alone, at least eleven languages are commonly spoken. Modernisation is widening the already massive gap between rich and poor, and international fashion, music and art is pouring into Indian culture at increasing speed. It comes as no surprise that India’s food culture is equally as diverse, both in terms of the dishes themselves, as well as the religious and social customs that go into each cuisine’s preparation.


Sikh diets differ markedly from those of hindus or buddhists, and all can differ markedly even within the groups. Islam openly encourages vegetarianism, but for muslim carnivores Koran law requires that the meat they eat be slaughtered as humanely as possible. Factory farming is out of the question. India’s vast muslim population, therefore, requires an alternative.

Somewhere deep inside the pulsating Delhi metropolis, hidden in plain sight adjacent to a massive food market, chickens are slaughtered in accordance to Koran tradition. This is a sophisticated operation despite its apparent lack of machinery, with upwards of two billion chickens passing through every year.

Italian photographer Vittore Buzzi managed the difficult feat of capturing these heroic scenes. Blood. Overpowering smells. His recounting of the story is both disorienting and revealing: this food preparation for a modern society, even when regulated by a religious law that forbids cruelty, is a gory, dirty affair. This type of work is livelihood for many and chicken is an excellent source of protein for millions, but the violence inherent in the process is something we usually don’t give much thought to.

“The inner section of the market pulsates. Millions of terrorised chickens stare at you from cages, and the bitter odour of their excrements mixes with the sickly sweet smell of blood.”

While they may be unsettling, Vittore’s images provocatively raise the awkward issue of our tenuous relationship with food. Muslim or otherwise, most food crusaders today tirelessly advocate a more intimate relationship with everything we eat. But there is undoubtedly an awkward disconnect between informed consumerism and honest acknowledgement of our food’s origins: knowing where your vegetables come from is one thing. Coming to terms with where your meat comes from is much more difficult.

“In Europe it isn’t quite so easy to take these kinds of photographs… We seem to act as if the animals we eat grew on trees and didn’t have to be killed to be eaten. We distance ourselves from reality to sanitise our existence: cellophane and already cleaned chickens…”

In honour of the chickens, today we bring you a conspicuously meatless Indian treat from the canon of 19th century royal gastronomy.

Mysore Pack

The dish was prepared for the first time by Kaakasura Madappa, one of the chief Mahatmas of the royal court. The chefs of the kingdom were required to prepare sweets everyday for the court. One day, Madappa invented Mysore Pack by accidentally mixing besan (gram flour) with butter. It was loved by the royals, and subsequently by the common people.

The Maddappa family kept the secret of its preparation for years, until the grandchildren of Madappa opened a kiosk in Ashoka called Sweet Guru. Today, the fourth generation of the family runs the business and Mysore Pack has become part of Indian gastronomic patrimony.

Watch out – this is a recipe that can get quite sticky!

200 grammes besan (gram flour)
400 grammes sugar
200 grammes ghee
300 ml water

In a saucepan, heat the sugar in the water until when almost at boil, it attains a pastelike consistency. Slowly add the flour, mixing constantly making sure to avoid lumpiness. Once everything is well mixed, add the heated ghee and continue to mix.


Cook until the mixture becomes frothy and the ghee begins to separate. Pour evenly onto a plate coated in ghee. When it solidifies, cut into pieces and serve.

Visit Essen for more fantastic insight into the world of food.

Photos Vittore Buzzi – Text Tag Christof – Recipe Christina Zaga
Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
17/05/2011

2DM / Hero 5 & Simon Nessman

.

2DM / Hero 5 & Simon Nessman

We previously shared Bruna Kazinoti and Ana Murillas’ fantastic editorial on Malthé Madsen for the most recent issue of eye-candy-fest Hero.

Now that we’ve finally gotten our hands on the entire issue, we’re glad to share quite a bit more about the issue, including more excellent work from the 2DM universe. This month marks the start of a new section in the magazine, billed REFS – a reference of contemporary fashion. It’s to be a digest of the best models, photographers, stylists and hottest brands.

For the new section, Vicky Trombetta shot Kieran Martin in Christopher Shannon and styled by John Colver. Céline Marioni styled Amuary Baudoin in for photographer Antoine Seiter. And in case you hadn’t gotten enough Bruna Kazinoti last time around, she also shot Jack Manhood in Versace and styled by Harry Lambert.

This month’s cover features curly-haired god Simon Nessman, and inside you’ll find an 18 page feature on the Canadian model extraordinaire by Fabien Kruszelnicki and styled by Stevie Westgarth.

Hero’s hot, as usual.

From the Bureau – Thanks to Juan Alvarado

Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
17/05/2011

Mr. Chair / Vin & Mong

.

Mr. Chair / Vin & Mong

Salone Satellite is usually the antidote to the Salone del Mobile’s corporate main event, providing a glimpse at the work of future design greats before it is placed under the pressures of industry and commercialisation. As usual, there were several bright spots, from the impressive Superfarm project to surreal furniture laser-carved from solid blocks of marble, as well as a host of projects dedicated to sustainability and handcraft. But chairs are the lifeblood of Salone, and in this year’s cautious environment our favourite came from Korean design duo Vin & Mong, and just a few weeks after the event, we’re happy to report that the chair will almost certainly see production.

While Fabio Novembre’s surreal inside-a-face “Nemo Chair” for Driade caused quite a stir and Kartell’s huge plastic lineup is the best its been in ages, there was no big-named showstopper this year. No paradigm-challenging design exercises like Vitra’s “Chairless” to wow the crowds.

Vin & Mong’s muscly black chair, however, stopped us in our tracks. Billed Mr. Chair (and not to be confused with Mies Van der Rohe’s iconic MR Chair), it isn’t exactly subtle, but was one of the very few pieces we saw this year to combine generous measures of practicality and genuine imagination, as well as a sense of humour.

The designers’ take on the chair: “During our research of chairs, we found that armchairs and men have a lot in common, Men have arms, skin, and muscles and comparatively, armchairs have arms, leather and cushion. Mr. Chair shows the commonalities with a dignified wit.”

At once a sturdy armchair rendered in buttery soft leather and something to cuddle up with, we appreciate Mr. Chair for its sense of fun – something design has been sorely lacking in these recessionary times. It even captures a fair bit of the late 1970s zeitgeist that’s going around (especially if you hang a gold chain around its “neck”), and definitely provides better photo opportunities than Novembre’s creepy swivelling face.

Tag Christof – Images courtesy Vin & Mong

Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
16/05/2011

The Editorial: Election Day / Everyday

.

The Editorial: Election Day / Everyday

There’s something about elections that inflames our sense of urgency. They bring concerns we let lie beneath the surface to the forefront, and we temporarily become activists. We engage in heated discussion. We evaluate our conditions, our place in our countries and cities, our values. Today, Milan is voting. Several candidates with drastically different agendas are vying for the future of this first-class world city, which has over the past two decades lost much of its lustre. Milan is, at the very least, ready for a renewal.

There have been drastic shifts in our way of life over the past several years, driven by an infinitely more dynamic generation and consumption of information. Much of this information is misguided, and clear voices have been subsumed by a general raucous. Advertising and marketing is slipped ever more sneakily into our daily routines. Cycles have sped up, trends live and die at lightening speed, and overarching cultural trends – i.e. the “decades” of the twentieth century – have in just a few years become unequivocally a thing of the past. In the midst of this, we face a major crisis of values. Our problems are no longer generational; they are systemic, huge and transcend age and geography.

But despite these apparently monumental changes, the real material issues we’ve faced for years remain. Problems of sustainability are accelerating. Food crises deepen. Current policy is neither adequate nor forward thinking enough to address the myriad socioeconomic, cultural and design problems we face. And if we were under-informed before the advent of blogs and Twitter (and slave to the whims of newspaper editors and TV anchormen), we now run the risk of being dangerously misinformed. All discourse, no matter how absurd, misguided or hateful, is now privy to its own platform. Sifting through the noise has therefore never been more imperative – politics, environment, everything depends on it.

So, where does your information come from? And by extension… what about your food? Your energy?

These questions address issues central to our happiness, our future, our health and even our continued existence. Their answers are values around which our generation must rally. We must remain informed (and that means much more than just spreading messages by social media), and learn to diligently curate and edit the information we consume in order to remain well-informed.

We must take a more active part in our food’s genesis, and at the very least understand where it comes from. From the simple mechanics of growing a few greens, we can better conceive of the massive shortcomings inherent in pure supermarket consumption, and then make smarter choices concerning the foods we will inevitably purchase. It takes neither an epic effort nor a huge plot of land to grow a sizable portion of the vegetables you would otherwise buy at a shoppe. Not to mention, maintaining a garden is spiritually (and gastronomically) quite rewarding.

If only a third of the citizenry with the financial means to do so would install solar panels in their homes, the impact on consumption over time would be monumental. A perceptual shift – by taking part in making energy – also would force us to understand that the electricity from the sockets we plug into everyday are not endless fountains of an intangible X that allows our objects to function.

And in much the same way, our politics must well-considered, honest and hands-on. Today is election day. Get out and vote if you’re able (and live in Milan). In addition to a recharged hope for a new era in the city, we hope for a brighter new era for everyone. Wherever on the planet you may find yourself, channel the energy and hope inherent in this day (and any election day) into these matters of substance everyday. Left, right or centre, they’re truly what matters.

Tag Christof

Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
13/05/2011

Sean Frank / Alexander McQueen

.

Sean Frank / Alexander McQueen

Sean Frank‘s career in filmmaking is just beginning, and already he’s making waves. His fashion work evinces the sensitivity of a much more seasoned artist, and he has quite the knack for crafting cinematic tension. The 22-year-old Londoner got his start in New York, where he shot the short film for 3.1 Phillip Lim to accompany the label’s lookbook shot by 2DM’s Vicky Trombetta. He’s since been at Alexander McQueen, and his newest, a gorgeous, shimmering behind-the-scenes film of the label’s Autumn/Winter 2011 collection has been burning up the blogosphere from its release.

Hot on the heels of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art’s smash hit Alexander McQueen retrospective, “Savage Beauty,” Sean’s films take on an even greater poignancy. They come at a pivotal time for the Alexander McQueen universe, as its creator passes into legend and the label searches for its voice without him at the head.



Sean studied graphic design at both Goldsmiths and Central Saint Martins, and his sensibility as a visual designer certainly shines through in his films. “I’ve always had a passion for cinema and film, and for how it has the ability to momentarily transport you to another place while giving insight into different worlds and ways of seeing,” he told us in a short conversation yesterday. He draws inspiration from a range of artists, and interestingly, the wabi-sabi of everyday life.

Sean’s young work is extremely promising, and we can’t wait to see what might be up his sleeves over the next few seasons.

Tag Christof – Film and still courtesy Alexander McQueen – Special thanks to Sean Frank

Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
12/05/2011

The Lowrider Coloring Book / Dokument Press

.

The Lowrider Coloring Book / Dokument Press

LA is in the air lately. Our love for that most quintessential of 20th century cities seems to be growing in reaction to a collective disenchantment with the characterless, hyper-global cities we increasingly live in. And as we stand on the precipice of an increasingly uncertain future, the neon boulevards, eternal youth and soaring dreams Los Angeles embodies look even better in retrospect.

Even LA’s lifeblood, the car itself, has become dangerously unsustainable, with traffic now snarling motorways in every major city of the world and atrocities like the Tata Nano mobilising masses who were arguably better off without a car in the first place. And as we look for a simpler time that will never return, LA’s myth alongside the automobile as object of worship is only bound to grow. Especially the lowrider.

Interestingly, Dokument Press, an independent publishing house in Sweden (where cars have long cost exorbitant amounts to own and whose Volvo vanilla aesthetic isn’t exactly permissive of excess), has released a fun colouring book dedicated entirely to lowriders. Not only does it honour the artform, its playful format is a nice nod to the creative freedom inherent in lowrider culture. The book is illustrated by Stockholm native Oscar Nilsson – who also happens to be a graffiti artist – and features cars from real LA car clubs like Royals, Viejitos, and Klique.


In northern New Mexico – where lowrider culture runs even purer and deeper than in LA – little boys still sketch lowriders in school notebooks, dreaming of the day they’ll have the money to transform a junked out 1960s Impala or Oldsmobile into a shiny, rolling (and bouncing) work of art. To this day, aficionados obsess over their rides – their custom and insanely detailed paint jobs and velvet interiors – with the care and precision of a fine artist.

Few artforms – including grafitti – have maintained the cultural and ideological purity of the lowrider, so it’s excellent to see its influence spread. And since the artform’s very canvas is both finite (there isn’t much traditional 1950s and 1960s Detroit metal left on the road) and changing (fifty years from now, nobody will dream of turning a Nissan Leaf into anything but compost), it is bound to remain encased in its native time and place: 20th century LA. No matter how far its its culture spreads.

p style=”margin-left: 2px; color: #000000;”>Bust out the airbrush paints and make these rides shine, locos! Get your copy from Dokument Press online shop.

Tag Christof

Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
12/05/2011

Radio Off / The Milan Review: Ghost

.

Radio Off / The Milan Review: Ghost

Tonight Radio Off is hosting the release of independent publishing house The Milan Review’s first project, “The Milan Review of Ghosts. The hardback literary review looks to be an genuinely well-curated, unusually interesting collection of short stories. And when’s the last time you read something genuine compelling about ghosts? Never, that’s when. And as icing-on-the-cake, the book is illustrated by Matt Furie (the monster mastermind), as well as Maison du Crac.

GHOST (n.) 1. The spirit of a dead person, especially one believed to appear in bodily likeness to living persons or to haunt former habitats. 2. The centre of spiritual life; the spirit; the soul of man. 3. A demon or spirit. 4. A returning or haunting memory or image. 5. Any faint shadowy semblance; an unsubstantial image; a phantom; a glimmering; as, not a ghost of a chance; the ghost of an idea. A suggestion of some quality.

With Tim Small as editor and Riccardo Trotta as art director, The Milan Review project itself looks to grow into something rather exceptional. Its unrestrained editorial focus will see it bring life to “an unspecified number of narrative books, art books, fanzines, and anything else we feel like publishing.” We certainly look forward to impending pleasant surprises.

Radio Off is curated by the brilliant Marco Klefisch, and The Milan Review of Ghosts will be subsequently presented in both London and New York.

Opening tonight at 19:00 at Via Pestalozzi 4, Milan. Free drinks, and live tunes courtesy of Stargate (alias Lorenzo Senni). See you there!

Tag Christof

Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
11/05/2011

Mathieu Flamini / Tung Walsh for GQ Italia

.

Mathieu Flamini / Tung Walsh for GQ Italia

AC Milan’s is fresh off a victory this weekend over the AS Roma. And just in time for the festivities, Milan star forward Mathieu Flamini graces a 10 page spread in as this month’s Uomini di stile feature in GQ Italia. One of 2DM’s London boys, Tung Walsh, shot the the big-time calciatore and native Marseillaise on a gorgeous Triumph scrambler for “Fuori Dal Campo Come Steve McQueen” (Out of the Field Like Steve McQueen).


He even paid us a visit last month while in Italy for the shoot. And as usual, Mr. Walsh’s work shines – and these portraits are an incisive look into the footballer’s highly stylish side. Mathieu is dressed in everything from Woolrich, Closed, Fred Perry, Fred Mello, Tag Heuer and Gant, to Firetrap, Roy Rogers, Dirk Bikkembergs Sport Couture, Dries Van Noten and Yamamay.

The issue’s cover features an army-capped, bare-chested Bar Rafaeli (reason enough to buy the issue), a look look back at Bob Dylan, and a gripping piece on the women of Chernobyl. Of-the-moment and smart, this month’s issue of the Italian version of this most iconic of men’s fashion magazines is as good as ever, and we’re thrilled for Tung’s debut on these pages.


Tag Christof – Images courtesy GQ Italia & 2DM

Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
11/05/2011

Essen: Old Spitalfield Market, London

.

Essen: Old Spitalfield Market, London

In search of the lost market…

Once upon a time in a Victorian hall in East London there was a jewellery market filled with exceptional and exotic food stands mixed in among pedlars selling every type of merchandise imaginable – especially if one was willing to dust the fleas off their newfound treasures. Once upon a time, there grew a grove of delicacies at discount prices, a place in which to taste an oyster while on an afternoon walk en route to enjoy a rice cake.


Like in a fairy tale, the curse of the Old Spitalfield Market London seems to have been broken. A market with very old roots (with the first records of it appearing in Roman times), and it was reconstructed in 1893 by Robert Horner in typical Victorian Art Deco, and subsequently sold to the City of London as a place always distinguished by its extraordinary authenticity and independence, which lately seems to have lost some of its lustre. Strolling today among the few remaining merchants can leave a bit of a bitter taste in one’s mouth, considering that the many of the stands formerly serving delicacies have been replaced by clothing shoppes and restaurants.


If you look closely, though, a bit of the market’s old splendours remain happily isolated. Place in which to go in search of the lost market. Fragrant black breads made with ginger and poppyseed remain. And there are still the famous McManus Brothers oysters for one pound fifty,. There are still Apple Crumble wagons stocked with delicate little rice cakes. There are still lamb koftas wrapped in paper, ready to be easily devoured.

Nothing has really changed, in the end. The market of 16 Homer Square is not at all lost – the key is finding it.


If you pass by Old Spitalfield Market and you treat yourself to oysters, here’s a lovely little recipe for you:

Oysters allo Zabaglione
Ingredients and measurements for four people.
-16 oysters
-200g of round zucchini (courgette)
-1 yellow onion
-2 cloves of garlic
-4 egg yolks
-50 grammes of butter
-10cl of sparkling Brut wine
-Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation
Open the oysters and place the flesh in a plate; wash the shells well in running water. Cut the zucchini into thin rounds, then place in salted, boiling water for five minutes, remove most of the boiling water and liquefy them, making sure to leave a bit of the salted water for flavour. Place the sauce over slow heat, and add a spoonful of butter and a pinch of salt. Reserve.

Meanwhile, on to the zabaione: chop the onions finely, and crush the garlic cloves and place them in a skillet. Add the egg yolks and beat them with a whisk, diluting little by little with the spumante. Place the pan into a bain-marie at moderate heat, mixing vigorously, for about ten minutes or until it takes on the consistency of a cream. Be sure to keep it from boiling. Remove from heat, and fold in the remaining butter in little squares. Add a pinch of salt and of pepper.

On a serving platter, garnish eight oyster half-shells, filling them with a small spoonful of the zucchini sauce, and gingerly add an oyster drenched in the zabaglione. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 240 degrees for five minutes.


Visit Essen for more fantastic insight into the world of food.

Cristina Zaga – Images Stefano Secchia

Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
10/05/2011

Karin Kellner / Rolling Stone

.

Karin Kellner / Rolling Stone

We’ve been seeing a lot of 2DM’s Karin Kellner on the presses lately. And in addition to her excellent magazine work, she even brought our Opus Creative collaboration with boutique brand Neroli Cashmere to life. The German-born illustrator, known for her evocative watercolours and ethereal environments, worked her magic this month across the pages of Rolling Stone Italia.

Her works for the issue include three for the Rock & Roll style section in an article called “The Thieves of Wall Street,” as well as the key illustration for a hilarious piece by Gianni Vattimo entitled “The Liver’s Mail.” Finally, she made a lively portrait of economist Oscar Giannino which accopanies his informative editorial “Euro che va, neuro che viene.”

This month’s issue of Rolling Stone, features a bird-flipping Dave Grohl on the cover and an interview with the Foo Fighters frontman entitled “Kurt Was My Friend.” It’s an excellent read. The issue also features interviews with Ben Harper, Ricky Gervais, articles on Johnny Depp and Thin Lizzy, a look at Fondation Cartier exhibition on voodoo objects billed “Vaudou Child,” and an excellent mix of news, happenings and opinion. It even, unfortunately, features an article with photo of a barrel-chested Snooki.

Excellent work, Karin!

Tag Christof – Images courtesy 2DM & Rolling Stone

Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
Next Page » « Previous Page