Happy Spring! This is one of my most favorite times of the year, the time when I so happily start packing away wool sweaters, baking green samsa with spring greens and preparing for warmer days.
Happy new beginnings to all of us!
Navruz muborak!
Photography and my philosophy of de-materialization
When it comes to photography I am clearly on a pause mode these days. The old techniques no longer inspire me, the new ones have yet to be discovered. In fact, my last two travel tips I made without my Nikon – something unthinkable a few years ago!
Decisions to travel without a camera could also be a result of an overall change towards life – I want to be light! The idea is to have less material things which require my attention. In other words, less things will result in less time I need to take care of them and will give me more free time and space.
So, in light of my de-materialization philosophy, a bag with a camera and 2 lenses sounds like too much weight on my shoulders.
Below are some photos from one of the most recent trips to Istanbul. Enjoy!
Alisher Navoi Library Room
“It is not what you know, it is who you know” saying is very true when it comes to how I got a chance to work on this project – an opportunity came through my yoga friend, our mats are right next to each other in a yoga class. One day before the beginning of the class he whispered “Hey, what do you know about Alisher Navoi?”. I jokingly whispered back “I know he was cool guy”.
Today is February 9, 2016 which in literary circles means 575th birthday anniversary of Nizamaddin Mir Alisher Navoi. To many he is known as a poetic genius who turned Turki (an old Uzbek language) into a literature language and put it on the same level as Farsi, which then had a prerogative of the only poetic language. In addition to being a poet, Navoi was a vizier to then ruler of Khorasan – an extremely high- ranking role in the State, calligrapher, philanthropist and a Sufi of Nakshbandi order. When I discovered the Sufi part (I am very curious about Sufism as a philosophy) my eyes lit up like Christmas lights and I knew exactly which way I was going to take this project.
There are many interpretation of the word Sufi. Many suppose it derives from the Arabic word “suff” (wool). However, given that the word is used to describe spiritually pure people, there is a supposition that it comes the Arabic “safa” (purity).
The project is to design Alisher Navoi room (105 square meters) in the National Library of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi.
Main users of the library room will be:
- students (majority)
- non-student readers
- researchers
On a day-to-day basis the room should be suitable for an individual learning, group studies (a hexagonal shape of desks was chosen to easily put a few desks together for a group work) and a more relaxed learning. As needs arise, the room will also be used for special events such as conferences, seminars and interviews with important guests. There should be an area for computers to provide users access to electronic database of the library and a small desk for a room coordinator. The client requested to keep the design contemporary with a use of old traditional decorative elements such as miniature paintings and geometric patterns.
The design concept for this project revolves around an idea of Sufi purity and multifaceted personality of Navoi. This room was designed to be a tour into a personality of Navoi which starts with an Introduction Wall (on the right from the entrance), moves onto “Fani” and “Navoi” poetic walls, and then then takes us to a “Wisdom wall “, a collection of quotes by Navoi for those who are learning, maybe struggling and need a dose of encouragement. “Wisdom wall” is followed by a “Sufi wall” which is titled with Navoi’s own summary of Sufi philosophy: “A way of being content with less”.
*Note, as of a today, the interior design of the room is approved but the wall text content is in refinement process by experts specializing on Navoi heritage. Implementation is scheduled for March – April 2016.
“12 kinds of kindness”: fears, insecurities and graphic design
Long time, no posts… My life has been good and happy but a bit too hectic. I have a lot of catching up to do with the portfolio updates, photography and a few other things but first things first…
Happy New 2016! (well ahead of time for Chinese New Year)
I wish us all peace, tolerance, acceptance, love and compassion. As for myself my personal wish for this year is to slow down in a sort of slow-down-and-smell-the-roses way – quite a challenge for a hyperactive type like myself.
This specific post is to share a discovery and an inspiration which came through Jessica Walsh’ instagram post hash tagged #12kindsofkindness (www.12kindsofkindness.com).
The project is by two New York based graphic designers – Jessica Walsh and Timothy Goodman – exploring their behavior patterns, personal insecurities, baring their souls and bringing out their inner shit in a very honest and graphically beautiful way.
Speaking of honesty, this reminds me of a saying by another graphic designer, Stefan Sagmeister, who states “everybody who is honest is interesting”. That’s exactly what I am seeing here – a self-therapy by two very successful people talking about things that would normally find their way to a secret diary or, if life got real tough, would get discussed in a therapist’s office.
I was sort of familiar with Jessica Walsh – she collaborated with Bjarke Ingels Group on “Hot to Cold” book. It is Timothy Goodman whom I discovered recently and whose work I find to be fresh and very authentic. Step 4 “Don’t beat yourself up” or instragram hasgtag #memoriesofagirlineverknew is his own poetic exploration of his fears of commitments and real relationships – a great insight into a male psyche.
Here are a few highlights:
La Ménagère – a new retro restaurant in Florence by Q-BIC
La Ménagère, a historic 19th century building in Florence, Italy which back in the days was known as a number one store to shop for household items by Florentine women, has been reincarnated as a retro restaurant. The architectural part and the interior design were curated by a Florence-based studio Q-BIC. Lights, which are an essential and the most mesmerizing part of the project, are by Karman, Italian studio specializing on light design.
Friends who are in Florence – definitely check it out and let me know how cool it is. I will definitely visit it next time I am in town 🙂
Full article on the project describing aspects of light design can be found here.
My photos were honored at the Louvre Museum!
My dear friends and family,
Thank you for your support during Exposure Award times. My photos were honored at a private reception at the Louvre Museum in Paris on July 13th, 2015 and are included in the Candid Collection book which is available to see/share/purchase here.
I browsed the book and I am blown away by the images taken by photographers around the world. Links to a few of my favorites are below. Follow the links, browse and get inspired, the collection is truly magnificent.
Индустриально-скандинавский стиль “My Cafe” в Алмате
Алмата продолжает радовать погодой (сегодня даже жарко, около +35с) и своими кафе, а вернее их дизайном. Очередное кафе в индустриально-скандинавском стиле “My cafe” на Фурманова + Кабанбай Батыра. Все очень продуманно и красиво от дизайна меню до сustoms-made ламп. Обратите внимание на индустриальный смеситель в туалете.
P.S. Выяснила, что дизайн алматинского “My cafe” делала российская NB studio. Вот интервью с дизайнером: http://indress.kz/creative-people/vstrecha-s-dizaynerom-intererov-nataley-belonogovoy.html
О разном за чашкой капучино в кафе “Льдинка”
В Алмате пахнет осенью. Еще раз убеждаюсь, что Алмата – город очень приятный: зеленый, чистый, относительно спокойный (Ташкент мне кажется более динамичным) и главное умно спланированный. Дорожное движение напоминает цивильную часть Европу – пешеходов пропускают и водят спо-кой-но. Короче, система штрафов делает свое дело . Ещё бы урезать количество машин и построить велосипедные дорожки, цены бы этому городу не было.
Встретились с подругой на обед, которая мне дала список заведений, которые я обязательно должна посетить. В списке кафе “Льдинка”, которое недавно открылось в новом скандинавской облике со старым лого. Та же подруга посоветовала погуглить творчество алматинского дизайнера Тимура Актаева, что вывело на следующую статью, которая очень была бы полезна 95% людей, которых я знаю.
A formula for decorating a nightstand
I saw this in the past, loved it but forgot to pin it. I re-discovered “the formula” today (courtesy of Melissa Boyer’s blog ) and am bookmarking it everywhere including my own blog. This is a formula for decorating a night stand, end table, anything which has a purpose of creatively displaying things.
Those in Uzbekistan – pay attention to a blue ikat bowl – made in Uzbekistan, cherished around the world!
Uzbek kazan as a decor item
I came across this photo and could not believe my eyes at first – Uzbek kazan, a quite modern one too, (a kin of Chinese wok) placed in one of the most visible spots in the living room as a decor item. And it looks like it really belongs there!
I must say, this is something that will work only outside of Uzbekistan or even post-Soviet territories. Why? Because for people who had a brilliant idea of using a kazan as a decor accessories it is probably considered a cultural object fused with sweet memories of the Silk Road. For us it is the most utilitarian pot that belongs to one and only place – the kitchen!