Catch a Rabbit and Get Rich Every Year
Design work by Eric Hu, early hour mixes, an old new coffee shop, disappearing paintings, Doja Cat aka "bean pod," and much more.
新年快乐, happy new year! In honor of the Chinese New Year I thought it would be fun to highlight inspiring creative in and around Chinese culture. In preparation, I’ve been doing research on the new year, including finding this informative piece from GQ titled, Is it still okay to call Chinese New Year Chinese New Year? Of course, the answer is complicated! I also found this lovely piece by Lan Samantha Chang who shares how she celebrates Lunar New Year with Vogue. It starts out with this tidbit, which I didn’t know was a thing, but which I love:
The cleanse on Lunar New Year’s Eve is one of many customs—really, superstitions—taught to me by my late mother and father. It’s part of a larger idea that everything should be immaculate, including the body and the home, which should also be tidied and, most importantly, swept out. This is done to lay a perfect groundwork for the coming year: spotless and unblemished by past trouble.
When I read pieces like these I can see the spiritual value of such acts. The common sense of out with the old and in with the new. I did get a haircut (unrelated but well-timed) though I really wish I had trimmed my nails and given my body a refreshing scrub, just in case.
For me, I have such a fondness for sharing things about cultures different from my own because, simply, it’s awesome to learn about other cultures. What they do differently and their unique perspectives. And in what ways can we learn from them and not be stuck in a homogeneous echo chamber? Especially in a time when AAPI crimes have grossly accelerated in the U.S., it’s incredibly important to shine a light on all the beautiful things different cultures bring to the world. I hope you enjoy this little dive into Chinese culture, and I’ve misrepresented anyone or anything, please shoot me a note and I’ll update it. Wishing you good luck in the year of the rabbit 兔年!
📌 — When I began thinking about this edition, one of the first folks that came to mind was Eric Hu, a designer and creative director based in New York. He’s one of those people who’s had a rather distinctive impact on the world of graphic design.
First, there was his work at SSENSE, working with the in-house team to bring about a new look and feel to the e-commerce site. Then his stint as former Global Design Director at Nike, which he talks a bit about in this It’s Nice That talk from 2020. He’s even been making these rad illustrations in Midjourney that feel like airbrushed images from the 80’s/90’s inspired by video games and anime. I’m a fan of his work because he really has no distinctive style. He’s a polymath who seemingly loves to try and better himself as he goes.
📌 — In our apartment, Kyle and I are always playing music. We’re both obsessed with music and we love to explore what’s been recently released as well as old favorites. Recently, I’ve come to enjoy a new DJ series called Early Hours, filled with downtempo beats for calm mornings. The line-up so far is incredible, with folks like Galcher Lustwerk, Jacques Greene, Shigeto, Panda Bear, Waajeed, and lots more.
There’s one I listen to on repeat though, and that’s this mix from Ciel. She’s a Toronto-based DJ and producer who I found through her incredible DJ sets, like this 2 hour Resident Advisor mix, or this recent back-to-back set she did with DJ Voices.
📌 — I really wanted to feature some interesting Chinese architecture and I loved this project from Neri&Hu. They were commissioned by Blue Bottle to create a coffee shop in the historic Zhang Yuan area, a 140 year old historic site where “the existing brick walls, doors, and windows of the original architectural facades and atriums” had to be left untouched.
So they came up with a clever solution—drop the shop right into the middle of the space. It’s a beautiful combination, giving space and focus to the original building, while creating a multi-purpose cafe that feels warm and inviting. I also appreciate their use of repurposed wooden furniture that helps create a balance of materials.
📌 — I’ve become enthralled with the work of a Chinese painter named 方面面 who has the most fascinating TikTok. They go by the handle FMM Painting and they create these tiny paintings that literally blend in with the world around them.
Part of the charm is that they paint in public, so you see as they’re working people walk behind the pieces, basically becoming invisible in the process. As you can see in the janky, sped-up GIF I made above, they’re so talented, and the fact that they can work fast enough that the changing of the light doesn’t mess up their work is astonishing.
🍃 — I found a TikTok explaining that Doja Cat is called "bean pod" in China, since 豆荚 sounds like “Dòujiá”, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it.
🍃 — New York photographer Mischelle Moy is an incredible photographer, utilizing maximalist compositions and smorgasbord of colors. Her recent interview with Print delves into her craft, background, and why Chinese culture continues to be central to her work.
🍃 — LOEWE popped up open a brand new shop in Chengdu, with so many elements that make the space feel like you’re shopping in an art gallery.
🍃 — Chop Suey Club is an Asian lifestyle boutique in downtown NYC with a focus on contemporary Chinese design and arts. You can find gems like this calendar from YutLik and these incredible art pieces.
🍃 — If you’ve read Liu Cixin’s The Three-Body Problem you know it’s certainly going to be a challenge to adapt this to the screen. Wellllll the white bros from Game of Thrones are behind the adaptation, who are known for having no clue how to create a TV show. What can go wrong!
🍃 — One for your watch list, China’s Van Goghs is a documentary about the village of Dafen in the city of Shenzhen, a tiny hamlet that churns out thousands of replicas of world-famous Western paintings. Local painter Zhao has a dream to travel to Amsterdam to see the works of his legendary associate… and well, it’s a touching tale you shouldn’t miss.
🍃 — Obsessed with the tattoos that Chen Jie is creating. Imagine traditional Chinese ink paintings with the canvas instead being a person’s skin. Stunning works of art. If you happen to be heading to Beijing, look her up.
🍃 — Humberto Leon (well-known as one of the minds behind Opening Ceremony and previous creative director of Kenzo) recently opened Monarch, a new restaurant that focuses on Cantonese and Taiwanese dishes. Vogue had the inside scoop and the interiors look incredible.
‘Chinatown Pretty’ is a great sartorial coffee table book that you’d likely dig.