simples

Brazil - Temperature and Precipitation from Map No. 503241 1977, Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, Univ. of Texas

When we met a few weeks ago, Susan Yelavich suggested I read Cornel West’s essay “The New Cultural Politics of Difference” (October, Vol. 53, Summer 1990, pp. 93-109), as part of the research for my Master Thesis on contemporary Brazilian product design. I found it truly inspiring, especially this paragraph:

The time has come for critics and artists of the new cultural politics of difference to cast their nets widely, flex their muscles broadly, and thereby refuse to limit their visions, analyses, and praxis to their particular terrains. The aim is to dare to recast, redefine, and revise the very notions of “modernity,” “main-stream,” “margins,” “difference,” “otherness.” We have now reached a new stage in the perennial struggle for freedom and dignity. And while much of the First World intelligentsia adopts retrospective and conservative outlooks that defend the crisis-ridden present, we promote a prospective and prophetic vision with a sense of possibility and potential, especially for those who bear the social costs of the present. We look to the past for strength, not solace; we look at the present and see people perishing, not profits mounting; we look toward the future and vow to make it different and better.

More “Alvorada” (the working title of my thesis) thoughts and notes will be coming to this space regularly from now on.

I made this 30x30cm image in 1998, as part of a visual concepts alphabet exercise on my 2nd year in university. The word for S was "simples".

a few more images of one of my favourite school assignments ever after the jump.

(more…)

I have to say there is something special about this place.
Merry Christmas.

“There are times when we are perhaps visited by a mild nostalgia for the harmless and leisured times before the advent of advertising. yet if we considered how the world would look without advertising, we should certainly have to admit that it would lose much of its form and color. that we should no longer see the faces turned towards the bright displays, nor the eyes that sparkle in the light of illuminated advertisements. The walls would be monotonous, the streets emptier and duller; there might be unemployment, there might be even misery. And above all we should not see our own progress, for advertisement is nothing if not a manifestation of progress.”

Carlo Dinelli, “Advertising Art in Italy”, Graphis, #33, 1950

I chose 12 Proprietary Eponyms out of all these suggestions that arrived from all over the world to my inbox: Kodak, Xerox, Bic, Aspirin, Q-Tip, Styrofoam, Windex, Ketchup, Post it, Nescafe, Nesquik, Spax, Google, Rolodex, Filofax, Tupperware, Walkman, Phillips Screw, Lego, Pampers, Black & Decker, Vespa, Fridge (Frigidaire), Keds, Band-Aids, Cellophane, BMX Granola, Zipper, Yo-Yo, Nicorette, Nutella, Tampaz, Sharpie, X-Acto, La-Z-Boy, Velcro, Play-Doh, Zambuk, Lip Ice, BluTack, Chapstick, Skype, FedEx, Kraft Dinner, Tippex, Disprin, Dettol, Chupa Chups, Hoover, Jeep, Rollerblade, Gillete, Kispo, Formica, Cool Whip, TiVo, Linoleum, Guiness, Coke, Plexiglas, ZipLock, Saran Wrap, iPod, Frisbee, UHU, Tixo, Obi, Goiserer, Tesa, Patez, Tempo, Philadelphia, Zippo, Stanley, Scottex, Frigo, Sopalin, Vaseline, Chiclet, Labello, Cimbalino, Zewa, Edding, Nivea, Speedo, Slinky, Gladwrap, Sunlight, Prestik, Kreepy Krauly, Radenska, Superga, Spa, Stanley Knife.

Here is the result.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freduarte/sets/72157608708661776/

Thank you so much to everyone who sent their suggestions.