Death Vader | Jagnus Design Studio x INS | STGCC 2014

Jagnus Design Studio in collaboration with Imagine Nation Studios will be releasing a limited run of the customized Vader Boy Head called 'Death Vader' at The Hidden Fortress Booth STGCC 2014, unit AA17.

Official Launch of Crystal Head Vodka in Manila | Secret Fresh Gallery

Secret Fresh presents: "Crystal Head Vodka's Official Launch Party in Manila! "

 
In origin, crystal skulls are human skull hardstone carvings made from precious stones and is claimed to be pre-Columbian Mesoamerican artifacts by their alleged finders. These mythical skulls are said to be found in ancient lands attributed with the Mayan and Aztec civilizations. Unlike other artifacts, these skulls are often claimed to exhibit paranormal phenomena and mystical powers. Because it is made with crystals they are believed to be spiritually charged. This served as the root of the cleverly designed CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA.

Crystal Head has won numerous awards, including a Gold Medal for Excellent Taste at the 2013 Moscow ProdExpo Internation Tasting Contest, as well as a Double Gold Medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Cystal Head Vodka is also the official vodka of the legendary English rock band , The Rolling Stones.

The entire process of creating Crystal Head Vodka is resoundingly PURE at heart - from the high quality grain to the pristine waters of Newfoundland, Canada. Crystal Head is quadruple distilled, then filtered seven times, of which three are through semi-precious crystals known as Herkimer Diamonds. No glycol, citrus oil or added sugars are used in the making of Crystal Head Vodka. The result is a pure and extraordinarily smooth spirit making it one of the world’s finest Vodka.

Crystal Head Vodka in partnership with Secret Fresh, celebrates the launching of the ultra premium vodka in the Philippines. Remarkable for its pure spirit and mystical process, the vodka is infused with quality peaches and cream corn blended with fresh water from New Foundland, Canada. Also, it contains no additives. It is filtered multiple times and again specially filtered thrice with Herkimer diamonds and spiritually charged crystals. Herkimer diamonds are high vibration crystals that grow on lands from which the legendary crystal heads were carved. The bottles are originally designed by Dan Aykroyd and John Alexander and is crafted with superior materials and minerals. The collaboration includes various artists who will design and customize limited Crystal Head Vodka Bottles.

Participating artists:

Archie “chichimonster” Geotina, Arnold Austria and Sonny Sunga of Jagnus Design Studio, Auggie “Okto” Fontanilla, Bato, Beejay Esber, Bembol Dela Cruz,Bjorn Calleja, Bree Johnson, Carla Sebastian, Chill, Clint Catalan, Dave Lock, Dino Sarmiento, Drol Elfino, Edric Go, Egg Fiasco, Ekis, Elena Lirio, Epjey Pacheco, Fabo, Gene Paul Martin, Imagine Nation Studios, James Esguerra, Jason Montinola,, Jazel Kristin, Jerik Robleza, Jigger Cruz, JJ “Exld” Zamoranos, Jood Clarino, Karl Gustav, Leeroy New, Marcushiro Nada, Mark Barretto, Nelz Yumul, Nemo Aguila, Ornussa Cadness, Potti Lesaguis, Quiccs, Ranelle Dial, Rommel Celespara, Sanya Smith, Sidney Valdez, Suzette Tan, Tawnie Tantay, Tripp63, Whooop and Zoey Alfonso

With music by Manila’s hottest Djs : Ace Ramos, Jet Boado, Dj Spank and Gandhi Tuazon

The Exhibit opening will be on their official Launch party happening on the 17th of November at the Prime gallery of Secret Fresh located at the Ronac art Center. The exhibit is on view until the 22nd of November.

Secret Fresh is at RONAC Art Center, Ortigas Ave., Greenhills, 1502 Manila, Philippines. Open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 2-10 PM and Sundays at 1-6 PM.

For updates you may click on to - http://www.freshmanila.blogspot.com/ or http://www.twitter.com/freshmanila or http://secretfresh.net/

Ai Wei Wei By Charlie Co

Secret Fresh once again collaborates with artist Charlie Co to present Ai Wei Wei - A follow-up to Chinaman, his successfully released first art toy produced by Secret Fresh.
 
The bust was launched yesterday at the Art Fair Philippines 2013.

 Ai Wei Wei Bust By Charlie Co x Secret fresh

"COMRADE AI WEIWEI IN THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON"

 Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist known for his political activitism. He has openly criticized the Chinese government and  its stance for human rights and has been apprehended and jailed in Beijing.

Charlie sees Ai Weiwei as icon for his radical thinking. In his painting, he depicts the Chinese artist as a brave and courageous individual. Ai Weiwei's hair is as fiery as his ideas. His bright red beard is like the fire that comes out of a Dragon's mouth.  His eyes are like white pearls against a black background, Charlie's interpretation that Ai Weiwei's views are only either black or white, and no grey areas.

Limited to 30 with 5 unique editions hand painted by the artist.

Meow Tse Tung By Ice Cream Kid

One of our junior designers here at Jagnus Design Studio, Isaiah See aka Ice Cream Kid customized a Mao Zedong bust named "Meow Tse Tung".

The bust is now displayed in the restaurant we recently opened called LUNCHBOX.

Nice one Ice!

BOTOTOY Loves Boobies!

BOTOTOY goes pink in Manila for the breast cancer awareness month! 

The event "BOTOTOY Loves Boobies" is part of  Ministry of Mushrooms' Mushrooms Go Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. 

"October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it is especially important for us to be aware about breast cancer and it's prevention as it is today's leading killer of women ages 35 to 54. It is also one of the leading causes of cancer deaths for men in the Philippines. Early detection, a healthy diet, and the reduction of stress and negative energies have saved and will continue to save many lives.

Mushrooms have long been regarded as one of nature's super-foods. Today mushrooms are the main focus of many ongoing scientific studies as there is strong evidence that some properties may ultimately lead to breast cancer prevention and elimination. The mushroom growers of Canada and Australia have both turned pink to support breast cancer prevention and awareness. See the links: Mushrooms Go Pink Canada | Mushrooms Go Pink Australia

Many well-lauded restaurants around Metro Manila are creating and serving special mushroom-based dishes for the benefit of ICanServe Foundation on October. Apart from food as a platform to raise awareness, we believe that art is another platform we can employ. We are collaborating with JAGNUS DESIGN STUDIO, DETALLE FURNITURE & SECRET FRESH to have a BOTOTOY exhibit called "BOTOTOY LOVES BOOBIES". We Invited some of the country’s most talented artists from different fields to design a BOTOTOY to be (auction/sold) for the charity."  - MARCO LOBREGAT

Campbell’s Celebrates 50 Years of Andy Warhol with Pop Art Soup Cans

In celebration of 50 years of Andy Warhol, Campbell’s is releasing 4 limited-edition tomato soup cans with labels derived from original Warhol artwork.

  

The limited cans will be available starting September 2 at Target stores in the US for $0.75 per 10.75 ounce can.

Secret Fresh Presents Epjey Pacheco + Dave Lock + Iya Consorio

I am also excited to go to this show today!

6pm at Secret Fresh Gallery A, RONAC Art Center, Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills, San Juan

Three individual openings by Epjey Pacheco, Dave Lock and Iya Consorio.

Epjey Pacheco's new series of works in an exhibit titled "BuildxSleepxDestroy" deals with his very labor intensive process that produces intricately detailed works that ruminates on the surfeit of surface doodling now incorporating paper cut outs and finally nuanced by the addition of spray paint stains in an inclination to destroy them as a diametric dynamic of its very creation.

Dave Lock presents us permutations of neurosis that begs more than Rorschach readings on the psyche of contemporary man as the artist pondering on being, evolution and theosophy. He'll be rounding out this series with a new set of prints and a mannequin bust fleshed out as one of his tormented contorted figure from his distinctive lexicon of expressive anatomia.

Iya Consorio's ink drawings richly weaves personas, encounters and symbols in a series of " portrait tapestries" mined from the tradition of Japanese prints in creating such pulpy stratas of reading from a work that begets rather epic interpretation, with each portrait being a novella of its own.

All three exhibits will be on view until September 11, 2012. - via LC

"SECRETS, DREAMS and WHAT-IFS" | Genepaul Martin + Tawnie Tantay + Jj Zamoranos

It's today!

Congratulations guys!! See you all later!

"SECRETS, DREAMS and WHAT-IFS" a 3-man-show featuring the works of very talented young artists - Genepaul Martin, Tawnie Tantay and Jj Zamoranos.

August 19, 2012 | 6pm | Secret Fresh Gallery B, RONAC Art Center

Secrets, Dreams, and What If’s is a three-man show revolving around the imagination and the unconscious brought about by odd juxtapositions and dis/orders in everyday life. The artists attempt to illustrate a child’s vision hence the playful, bright, comical, cartoonish appearances. These images though do not render mere fun at all, but a rather light satire of society.

Genepaul Martin leads us to a hodgepodge of characters from our childhood – Ultraman and Alice (in Wonderland). It may look sweet, resembling Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory – colorful candies, donuts, gummies and other melted sweets. The characters, however, have a sad look upon their faces – Ultraman without his horn, cut, decapitated, devastated, Alice sitting on donuts, carrying a teacup yet with no one to share some afternoon tea.

Tawnie Tantay’s characters are reminiscent of dolls – bright eyes, flushed cheeks, tinted lips, pretty dresses. Just the way society wants its women to be. At an early age, little girls are aligned towards the epitome of a desirable female. The artist begs to look at the dolls’ faces, but viewers still tend to take more pleasure in staring at the body and its surroundings, hauling a more judgmental look at women, formulating a sexual connotation rather than an innocent interpretation.

JJ Zamoranos routed viewers to a seemingly unfamiliar dimension, or maybe actually a familiar one. He displays a colorful yet uncanny group of characters in between lego blocks, masks, toys, and dark castles representing perhaps how figures from television register in a child’s mind – a chaotic combination of childhood’s innocence, smothered with adulthood’s harsh realities.

Secrets, Dreams, and What If’s is a reaffirmation of Roland Barthes’ Toys (in Mythologies). This reflects, reiterates, and reinstates how society purposely yet unknowingly molds children into the harsh world of adulthood. This presents us once again what society has initially presented us in childhood – left unspoken and unquestioned.

After this trip back to childhood, how then are you going to see things?
 - words by Astrid Bullanday

STRAY by Jagnus Design Studio | WONDER PUPPY EXHIBIT

Our office Jagnus Design Studio was invited to participate in this event by Magis, Dimensione & Secret Fresh called "WONDER PUPPY"

Join us this Friday Aug 17, 2012 5PM as we exhibit our take on Eero Aarnio's Magis Puppy Chair at Dimensione Fort Bonifacio together with other creatives Whoop Wonka, Nemo Aguila, Tripp63, Farley del Rosario, Mimi Tecson, Wesley Valenzuela & Electrolychee.

STRAY

It means to deviate, wander or roam from the direct course or go beyond the proper limits.

Like a lost dog, we aptly named our entry STRAY, to express our idea for the exhibition and the ideals of our office. All entries must use the original Magis design as the basis of the final customized model. We took it a little further and instead, used the base object’s geometry and dimensions to accomplish our goal.

Being the only architecture studio among other participants composed of painters and graffiti artists, we decided to reinterpret Aarnio’s design through carpentry, an expression more familiar to our discipline. The design is executed by deconstructing the original form into 40 planar pieces and assembling them like a three dimensional puzzle.

Gmelina or White Teak is the wood we selected. In the Philippines, Gmelina is commonly used for furniture, cabinetry, mouldings and wood sculptures, particularly for religious statues because it is fairly easy to carve. Its stable supply and abundance makes this material sustainable and inexpensive to use.

With our technical skills in drawing combined with a little imagination and the use of fine natural material, our studio was able to reinterpret Eero Aarnio’s iconic creation in a manner that compliments our design principles.

 STRAY with BOTOTOY

American Depress | Ron English x Kidrobot Black

Ron English for the 6th limited vinyl toy from Kidrobot Black.

The 12" American Depress toy features a bloated Mickey Mouse crucified in a credit card/mouse trap.

Edition of 200 at $400 each.

"Pop iconoclast Ron English presents the ultimate black vinyl fetish item – American Depress. A three dimensional depiction of America's Bloated Billionaire Mouse Messiah is crucified upon the mousetrap status symbol of American capitalism: the Black Card.

Ron English reinvents imagery from modern popular culture, manipulating visual symbols to create complex, humorous, and insightful meanings. For American Depress, the urban pop prankster has focused on a beloved character happily entrapped by the consumerism that has made him. The over-stuffed mouse is splayed on a 12-inch tall sheet of black ABS, embellished with gold printing. The card numbers reference the beginning of the royal rodent’s reign, and, a very short time after, the darkest hour in the history of the American economy. From there both iconic rodent and consumer grow to obesity until the card’s expiration date - the day of the foretold apocalypse. Fitted with an indent on the back, this modern relic is built to be hung over all we devour. 

Typical of the culture this mash-up of feigned innocence and greed represents, American Depress is available for purchase at the right price and limited to the persistent and the lucky. Each of the 200 pieces in this edition is hand numbered, with the artist’s signature engraved on the back."

 Ron's artwork for a trapped Mickey Mouse

Artist Proof Metal BUMMER | Joe Ledbetter

The first Joe Ledbetter metal figure - Bummer from Fully Visual  

The metal figure was released 4 years ago [February 13th 2008]

Bummer is limited to 99 silver-plated pieces and one gold-plated chase. There are also 15 silver-plated AP [Artist Proof] editions reserved for Joe's subscribers.  

I just got one of the Artist Proof editions thanks to my brother Jeng Cruz!

Each numbered figure is sealed in an aluminum can and measures 2.5" tall and 3" wide.

BOTOTOY & Friends

Photos of BOTOTOY with friends :D