A comment on life, death, beauty and decay

'Mr Potato Face!' - The concept takes on a whole new meaning in Ginou Choueiri's latest art instillation. Rather than use canvas, Choueiri has chosen to depict hundreds of portraits on none other than the humble potato!











'I chose the potato to portray human faces because of the many striking parallels. Not only is their skin porous like ours, but their skin texture and color is very similar... Potatoes grow, live, and then decay, mirroring the ephemeral existence and fragility of our own human nature.'

Wow and I just thought they were tasty to eat!

And the winner is...

The winner of 5 packs of CAFFE L'AFFARE'S FAIR TRADE HOT CHOCOLATE goes to - JAMESS!!
In reply to our question 'tell us which flavour is your favourite, and how you like to have it?' He submitted this...

'Smothered in snow crystals and the heavy memories of a trek best forgotten, the slight, crippled traveller staggers down the hill towards his cabin. The pine needles that quilt the dead earth are too cold and frozen to be anything but painful upon his frostbitten, bible-black feet, but he meanders on. Clinging to the branches that have become his life support on the downhill battle, he spies the flickering fire of his cabin. Reborn with the desire to once more drink from the mug of Dark Hot Chocolate he knew would await him, his flailing corpse of a frame stumbles the remaining metres to the door. Clutching at the doorknob, the aroma hit him instantly. Its intensity enveloped him, wrapped him up and warmed him like no blanket, duvet or throw could. His hot chocolate awaited. He was home.'

Thanks to all our other entries! It was hard to deny this boy a prize, as his answer was much more creative than our question! Jamess, keep up the adventure trekking and happy drinking!

....a bed to rest my head....

When I was nine my mother took me trekking through the mountains in Thailand. When we reached the pinnacle of our trip we came across a tribe and it was here that we were destined to stay - for a day, to rest our head. And it was here, this very moment in time, when I came face-to-face with the luxurious western notions of comfort that I so naively accepted as 'normal' and 'fair.' Shocked I remember feeling when a mattress, but 3 cm high was given to us and sad when I witnessed the others reside onto cold and disheveled slats. However as a nine year old (brought up in the west) these reactions were expected and certainly aroused a life long obsession with cultural inequality, developmental theories and world poverty. Note: The point of this post is not to sound like a begging beauty queen, but to introduce you to another obsession I there developed. Practical, tranquil, sanctuary or to sleep...Just how do others like their bed, I wondered.... how do they choose to rest their head?

Thats me on the right wearing glasses

It never ceases to amaze me what weird and wonderful sites I seem to come across...and this one made me chuckle. Yes it's a relief to make fun of other's families and what better way to do it than publicly across the net?!Let's face it, families are awkward and if yours is dead set on having it's pic taken year after year, chances are there's an image of you somewhere here!!     'Say cheese and smile!!!!'

And this is why your mother never left you in the kitchen..

More awesome/disturbing images here. Great site!

Tightening of wallets, but what about our belts?

I've often heard it uttered amongst the streets of our fine 'cultural capital', that there aren't enough cheap eats. Cheap being the operative word...sure there are myriad fine dining restaurants, but we're talking loose change here, between 3 to 6 dollars max! Well I've come up with a short, yet comprehensive guide to the paupers dining in Wellington....Take your pick!
Welcome Takeaways...
The great thing about Welcome is that no matter how discerning you think you are, at 3am this is the only place to be (and nobody gives a shit.) The Chick Burger has somewhat of a cult following amongst dedicated party goers and if you can forgive the somewhat 'curious' hygiene practices you can fill yourself up for a measily $3 to $5. Yes admit it, we all recognise this guy!
The Cosy Cake Kitchen...Yes the interior is not flash, but at $3 for a sandwhich why bother!? I was introduced to this joint on a rather poverty stricken Tuesday, and my lord- this place is like the good old Chinese run bakeries of days gone by. Cheap, colourful and with no 'how are you' or 'what can i get you' but a good old fashioned wham-bam-thank-you-mam. Cozy cake, you're great!
Satay Kingdom.... Yes tried and true ( yawn yawn yawn) you still can't beat it on quality and price. Seriously $6 for Roti Chanai? And a burger for $3!!! This place has provided many a meal and vegetable intake during the colder, poorer months. Sometimes a bit bland, but meh. Oh and go for the vegetarian option. Like welcome, I wouldn't vouch for their hygiene practices. The less meat, the safer!
AND
Last but not least is the new SOUP joint just below the tacky beast that is the city bungy. 5 bucks for a large cup of home made soup and a roll, this is a great place to nip by when it's cold.

Note : You may have noticed this paupers guide to Wellington excludes two of the most obvious. Mr bun ( of which I have witnessed somebody finding a tooth in their pie. No jokes!) and Offbeat, which has, despite maintaining quality, just jumped over that $7 bench mark. Now there are NO excuses to starve or live off noodles this winter. Wellington go eat!

SO HOT RIGHT NOW

Boy oh boy...through the power of the Internet this image is verging on 'old news today' (see HERE and HERE.) However all this means is that kiwi's are darn proud of their own kind and especially so when they're young, glamours and talented!
During Sydney Fashion week Twenty Seven Names designer Rachel Easting was snapped sporting a piece from her winter collection 'Crazy Horse' by none other than The Satoralist. During this icy snap a reminder of sea, sun and sand is doing my mental health wonders...

Awww isn't she loverly.

Wear what I want, do want I want, eat what I want?

I always thought that when I was rich and famous life would be sooo much easier. I could do what I want, wear what I want..and of course I could eat what I want. But it seems life ain't so easy for those 'on top.' Not even a song and dance will get poor Pharrell served....

Beware of the Zombie's this weekend..

Oh Lordy. So this Friday our ram-shamble team will gather to devise a plan of action for the 48 hours we have....to produce a film! Yes last minute we have submitted (and devised a team) who hopefully have what it takes to be, New Zealands Next Top...Film Wankers?I really do hope so. I've done this once before, but with an advertising team who provided food ( let me sleep) and even gave me a whole new wardrobe.This time we will be 'creating' on absolute peanuts, but like the tag line insists ' creativity costs nothing.' Thank goodness!!
Luckily I hit up a burger joint today who is going to hook is up ( phew)...and hopefully, we will be able to beat ( or realistically compete) with the 100's of teams who will also be taking to the streets.
The finalists will be screened 27th May at Embassy Theatre. If you're keen to get a seat, buy a ticket fast as they always sell out and are well worth it. Watch out NZ - the nation is going to be littered with sleepy zombie's!!!
Now who knows how to work while they sleep?

Miranda July...

There are some people who are just so damn talented you can't help but watch them in awe. They're not good at one thing, but five and not only produce great work, but get worthy recognition too!!!

Miranda July is such a girl. In 2005 she wrote, directed and starred in her first feature film Me and You and Everyone We Know, she won the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award for her collection of short stories, and in July 2002 created the participatory website, learningtoloveyoumore.com with artist Harrell Fletcher.

Last year she also produced an installation work 'The Hallway.' This features a series of thoughts which are displayed down a 125 foot hallway and feature English one way, Japanese the other.

Strangely compelling, thought provoking and utterly random ..Miranda July, I think I heart you!!!

Our second BLOG Free Bee!!!!

Miss Madame Fancy Pants is giving one lucky FLURO viewer a beautiful MFP necklace!!!
This baby is uni sex so boys and girls get creative and tell us what fictitious animal you would want to be and why?!
Why? Because the new animal inspired "DEADLY PONIES PRECIOUS RANGE" has dropped in store today! YAY! I know there's a cult following out there desperate to get their hands on these babies...So jump online, or get yourself into MFP to pick up your PRECIOUS now. Good luck! Decisions will be made BY WEDNESDAY

xoxox

Hipster Hubba Hubba !?

'better than the official video'....'unexpected but so nice'....'hipster hubba hubba' (These are comments left on the youtube video for this clip)
I love this song just a little bit more perhaps...and so i decided to share it...

WOWZAZ

I forgot to post these ages ago ( being two tones and all it's always interesting to see our fashion shoots in colour!) Here are a few pics from Issue 8 'Creative Desctruction'

You can view more here...

Dreams

check this out