Illustrative08

Andre, Peter’s former classmate from art school, came to present his work at Illustrative 08 and stayed with us in Zürich last week. He is a renown illustrator for children’s books, but this time he showed his other works on the biggest wall at the entrance to Illustrative.

Illustrative showcases works by selected artists, mainly from America and Europe. On the opening night, I got to see amazing works like this paper spray and spray cans on the floor:

We also saw an installation by my favorite fashion designer, Henrik Vibskov. I wanted to take a snap shot with him, but there was this fan hanging around Mr. Vibskov all the time (like a dog in season!) and the request for my snap shot was soon forgotten. I hope to see his installation soon again, perhaps in a city like Berlin.

Mr. Henrik Vibskov (left) in front of his installation “The Fringe Project“

When I interviewed Deanne back in 2001, she said illustration will change the way graphic design is (at the time) and the focus on illustration really brought dramatic changes to the graphic design scene in the last few years. When Peter and I were watching the movie “Helvetica” and reflecting back on the 90’s, I was constantly thinking “I wonder what it would be like in the coming years.”

auf der Titelseite

Damit ist das Spex ohne Frage meine Lieblingsausgabe.

dfa radiomix

Warum hab ich bisher nicht daran gedacht?

Chestnut Picking

It was a nice October weather in Switzerland. I asked my friend and her family to take me along to their annual chestnut picking in Italian region of Switzerland called Ticino. It was supposed to be a secret spot, so I did not know where we are heading to until we got there.

Unfortunately this summer was unusually cold, and there were not as many chestnuts in the forest as I’ve hoped. Nevertheless, we had fun finding chestnuts and imagining how good our 栗ごはん is going to be.

We were at one point so absorbed into looking for chestnuts that our voices and foot steps gradually went apart. Then I was alone in the middle of the forest. I only heard the leaves falling from trees from occasional breath of wind but otherwise it was serene and quiet. I enjoyed picking some more chestnuts in my own world and then went back to the rogues‘ gallery to report my catch. Everyone was already gathering by the open fire and starting to grill their favorite Wurst (sausage) for lunch. In the afternoon, we picked some more chestnuts and headed back home. This morning when I woke up, I noticed muscle ache in my stomach… that must have come from bending my back and picking chestnuts all day! Now I have to think about the labor of peeling a mountain of chestnuts. That must hurt my fingers!

手巻き寿司 en français

Last night we finally had an opportunity to invite our neighbor over to our apartment and have 手巻き寿司 dinner. Sandrine and Bruno are a lovely French couple who moved from Paris last year. This year, they traveled to Japan and ever since then became a fan of Japanese food and tea culture. We chatted a lot about food in Japan and France, what they liked there and what we like in France (like my favorite pain au chocolat!). Then I borrowed a Japanese Manga called『孤独のグルメ』(Le gourmet solitaire) in French. Apparently Japanese Mangas are very popular in France, and many get published in French. But the Western books start from the left side, so that means on top of translating a Manga, the French publisher also have to mirror the graphics. That’s a lot of work! But luckily I am not the one who has to translate it.

For dessert, Sandrine baked a beautiful array of Madeleine, another favorite of mine.

From left, orange peel, green tea powder, chocolate, and plain flavor. My favorite was by far chocolate! Note to myself: don’t forget to return the plate today.

Saul Steinberg

Image by Strange Maps

Even though you were born before this illustration by Saul Steinberg made the front cover of The New Yorker, you probably have seen it somewhere. This work is what I call “New York City and the Rest of the World Behind It.” Because NYC is so unique to US, I love this illustration for depicting New Yorker’s attitude (perhaps arrogance as well) that once crossing bridges and tunnel, the world does not mean much to them any more.

Last month, Gisela gave us an article about Paul Steinberg’s exhibition in Zürich’s Kunsthaus. Since then we have been meaning to go but had not had a chance. Saul Steinberg is an illustrator who lived 3 floors above Andy Warhol’s Factory and documented NYC over the course of 6 decades. He has passed away in 1999, but his works are still loved by many, especially people like Peter and I, who heart NYC.

In fall, when the leaves turn red and gold, I remember going to work from the apartment on Lexington Avenue and 31st Street in Manhattan. The morning air is crisp, and my nose turns slightly red as I walk. I first cross the Avenue to the other side, pass by the Korean deli and smell the coffee (still not burnt) and walk up the Park Avenue until I hit the Grand Central Station. Then I turn West towards 5th Avenue, pass the NYC Library and dozens of breakfast benders. I contemplate: should I get a blueberry muffin and a cup of coffee for $1.50 at a breakfast vendor or should I treat myself and get a Krispy Kreme® doughnut and a tall cappuccino for $6 at Starbucks today? I usually end up getting an oily donut and a cup of coffee with half and half at a breakfast vendor and regret afterwords. While I stand on line for my turn at the breakfast vendor, I watch steam coming out from the breakfast vendors across and down the 5th Avenue as well as from manholes on the side street. As I go through the revolving door at One Rockefeller Plaza and squeeze into the elevator, I notice that the grease from the donut is already staining the brown paper bag. When I pop out of the crowded elevator and finally reach my cubicle, I already see a mountain of drawings that I am supposed to work on that day.

That’s the kind of New York Saul Steinberg’s illustration reminded me of. He passed away without witnessing the whole craziness and parties at the turn of the century and 9/11. Then, Peter and I moved to Europe before witnessing the financial crisis in Wall Street and perhaps America’s first black president to be elected.

宿題

毎週木曜日はピーターが日本語教室に行く日。今週は星座占いについて勉強しました。その前日、復習を手伝っていると、ふとこんな宿題が机の上に。どうやらドイツ語の新聞に載ってる星座占いを和訳して感想を付け足す、という宿題だったよう。幸せに結婚していると思ってくれていて良かった！（ホッ！）

Jeden Donnerstag geht Peter ins Japanisch. Diese Woche hat er über Horoskope gelernt. Als ich bei der Hausaufgabe geholfen habe, fand ich seine japanische Übersetzung eines Horoskops aus dem Tagblatt. In seiner Bemerkung hat er geschrieben: Da ich glücklich verheiratet bin, trifft das Horoskop nicht zu. Gottseidank, das hat mich beruhigt. Puh!

Helvetica

世界中の人がいたるところで毎日見かけるフォント「Helvetica」。GAPやLufthansa, Nestlèにいたるまで、街角で見かけるロゴはほとんどHelveticaが基本になっている。それに加えてわたしとピーさんの思い出深いマンハッタン地下鉄表示もHelveticaだったのでした。

そんな顔の広いHelveticaフォントについての映画が、昨年Helveticaフォント５０周年を記念して制作された。映画はアメリカで制作されたものの、このフォント、実はスイス人のマックス・ミーディンガーという人が５０年代にデザインしたもので、その名前「Helvetica」はラテン語で「スイス」という意味。

生みの親スイスでHelveticaがどのくらい尊敬されているかというと、まず素手でHelveticaを描けないグラフィックデザイナーはいないほど。スイス機内誌のADを勤めたお友達のゲリーによると、コンピュータがなかった時代のグラフィックデザイン科では素手でHelveticaをかけるようになる練習から始まったそうで、それを聞いて鳥肌がたってしまいました。

Helveticaフォントは、ライバルでありHelveticaが基本にしたAkzidenz-Groteskというフォントから発展。このAkzidenz-Groteskの歴史は長く、１９世紀にベルリンで開発されてからは色々なフォントの基本になってきました。そしてAkzidenz-Groteskはピーターの一番好きなフォント！いつかはこちらのフォントについてもご紹介したいと思います。

ノーベル賞

昨日、日本人３人がノーベル物理学賞を受賞したことを知る。暗いニュースが続く中、とても嬉しいニュースだった。

たまたま数日前、チューリヒの地元新聞「Neuer Zürcher Zeitung」科学欄のジャーナリスト宅で夕食をごちそうになっている際、ノーベル賞の話になった。科学欄のジャーナリストは計８人。それぞれ医学、物理学、地理学などを個人で担当していて、編集部みんなでランチに行くたびに今年のノーベル賞の話でもちきりだったらしい。物理学を担当しているハナはもちろん同じスイス人の物理学者に賭けていたらしく、まさか日本人が賞を取るとは夢にも思っていなかったんじゃないかと昨日のニュースを読みながら思った。

今回の賞は愛読書、カール・セーガン著「コスモス」にも書いてあった宇宙の誕生解明について一歩近づく研究成果。物理学ってなに？って私でも嬉しくなるニュースだし、日本でこんな研究が行われていたとは知りもしなかった。それにしてもノーベル財団は大金の賞金をどこから出してくるんだろう？！

つけたし＞
そういっているあいだにまたもや日本人の下村さんが、他二人の科学者と同時にノーベル化学賞を受賞。下村さんが住んでいる地元ボストンではどういう報道がなされているの、もも？

あさっては平和賞。人権問題で世界中から避難を浴びている中国は、有力候補に挙がっている受刑中の活動家が平和賞をとるのではないかと神経をとがらせているらしい。どうなるんだろう。

Coffee Break

Yesterday before the German class, I met up with Julia and Julia’s cute cousin Markus from Hong Kong. We went to an Italian pastry shop called Caredda, where Aragoste is a speciality. But since it was late in the afternoon, they were unfortunately all sold out. We sat outside, and the aroma of cappuccino and the crisp and fresh October wind on my cheeks made me happy. Later on, Julia’s friend Martin joined us, and we were chatting our afternoon away until I had to go to the class to prepare for the weekly test.

I first met Julia in my Chinese class, and she happened to be in Tokyo during Peter’s exhibition at No.12 Gallery in Japan last Spring. Then she offered Peter to make her website for her photography works.

Julia and Markus just came from getting some bike parts from Velowerkstatt owned by the city of Zürich, and together with Martin, they were chatting about parts and types of bikes which I did not know much about.

Velowerkstatt in Zürich

So many people around me are good at bikes, like my lil’ sis in Boston and my friend Taro who build and repair bikes for their friends. Then Peter found out that his future colleague Hans makes his own fixed gear bikes and has a website called Hansmade.

I wonder how fixed gear bikes got so popular all of a sudden. When I was a little kid in Tokyo, neighborhood kids respected me for my BMX skillz. But lately I’ve been riding my 90’s mountain bike since 90’s, and the seat is too wide and comfy for looking good on a street. I also have a vintage folding bike that looks amazing, but its wheels get trapped in tram lanes quite often and last time I rode it to work, I ended up in a hospital. So I only ride it to the river in summer. I hope the weather will be nice this fall, so I can ride my 90’s mountain bike through rustling fallen leaves.