Cool Stuff: Cardboard Designs and Clothes that Transfrom

This week I came across two really interesting topics: One on cardboard designs from furniture to sculptures and art and one on multifunctional clothing items - jackets that turn into tents and the like.

It is really amazing how creative people can get with everyday objects. Cardboard is strong enough for all furniture items including beds, sofas and wall units in the house and even office furniture. Because it is sturdy and can be laminated to make it water- and spill proof, cardboard furniture is even geared for kids. Also, it is completely made from recycled or recyclable materials, so one can be stylish and environmentally conscious. Here's my cardboard article with more pictures of a Dutch advertising office made fully from cardboard, an artist who makes life-size cardboard cars, pianos and everyday objects and cool kids' furniture.

Oh, and while writing, I started humming "Living in a box," that great '80s smash hit by Living in a box. So there may be side effects associated with the article... I haven't been able to get that song out of my head ever since. The video's on YouTube.

Transformers or dual-purpose clothing are amazing because they keep our spending and consumption low and reduce the number of things one has to lug around, for example when going camping. A few design students have come up with a jacket that turns into a tent and a raincoat that does the same.

But my favorite is the bra that turns into a shopping bag. Yes, a bra. It's a Japanese invention and makes you think who came up with this. I mean, who'd take off their bra while shopping and then coolly start turning it into a bag? Has anyone thought of the logistics? In any case, cool stuff and here's more information: t-shirts that turn into bags or cocktail dresses, a jacket that's also a bag and pillow (perfect for the office) and other useful ideas.

Now, I guess from bras it's just a short way to a related subject: Eve Ensler's play "Vagina Monologues" (thanks Brijesh, for the comment). I've seen it thrice now under different circumstances: First in 2000 as part of the Feminist Expo where Eve Ensler was playing all the parts herself. It was mind blowing and the energy in the room was unbelievable! Then I saw it a few years after that as on off-Broadway production with different actors - fun, but the surprise effect was gone. And finally, about a year back, I saw it in the Indian context, which was amazing.

So, I guess the point I am trying to make is: See it whenever and wherever you can; the concept is just brilliant and very inspiring.

The image above, the condom church, is a sculpture by British cardboard artist Chris Gilmour.

Inspiring Books and Movies

Finding inspiration is as important for a writer as finding the right ingredients is for a cook. So just as a cook might consider other people's recipes and cookbooks for inspiration, a writer often finds inspiration the writings, movies and artworks of others.

It certainly works for me and I often read two or three books at a time - usually a comic book (if I can get my hands on a good one), one fiction book and a non-fiction one. The more exotic the setting, the better. Below is a list of books and movies that have inspired me in the past year.

Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow by Faiza Guene
This novel is about a young Algerian immigrant growing up in the public housing projects in Paris. Unsentimentally, it opens the reader's eyes to people, places and events that immigrant life in the '90s brings along. The novel was first published in France in 2004 when Faiza Guene was only 19 years old.

Women on the Edge by Maitena
Maitena is an awesome, unconventional woman cartoonist from Argentinia. In her comic books - Women on the Edge, Striving Women and Dangerous Curves are some of them - she portrays women but also relationships in general and growing up or old. She is funny, honest, biting and satirical and never fails to cheer me up.

The 3 Mistakes of My Life by Chetan Bhagat
The best-selling English author in India is often criticized for writing in a too basic style but what those critics often fail to mention is that because he's easy to understand, he manages to do what acclaimed Indian authors often cannot: connect with the masses. Bhagat touches a nerve and talks like his readers, the generation of Indian youths often called Youngistan (alluding to Hindustan, India's name in Hindi). In 3 Mistakes, his third book, he's come a long way in his writing and manages to connect such different topics as cricket, political fundamentalism and love.

Dev.D by Anurag Kashyap
This recent Indian movie is a far cry from Bollywood. A remake of the Indian classic Devdas, it tackles issues like unfulfilled love, sexual frustration, addiction and self-pity. A good part of the movie is set in Delhi's red-light district and it is amazing that the movie makes do without naked people jumping through every scene - a feat unheard of in European cinema, for example, where even shampoos and far-off products are sold through nudity. In any case, Dev.D is also funny - the first part set in Punjab especially - and is a must see.

So, from Paris to Argentina to India, there should be some inspiration here!

The image above is from the cover illustration to Maitena's 4th volume of Women on the Edge.

Some Facts About the Book Publishing Industry

A stunning fact I came across during my research last week was that, according to Bowker's Industry Statistics for 2007, an estimated 276,649 new titles and editions were published in 2007!

Want to know the Top 10 categories? Here they are:

1. Fiction (50,071 titles)


2. Juveniles (30,063)


3. Sociology, Economics (24,596)


4. Religion (18,956)


5. History (14,764)


6. Science (12,872)


7. Philosophy, Psychology (12,635)


8. Medicine (10,720)


9. Biography (10,615)


10. Poetry, Drama (10,258)

Quite amazing, isn't it? Who writes all these books and who reads them? Did I mention that the figure of 276,649 does not even include on-demand, short-run and other unclassified titles? Because that's another 134,773 titles, bringing the total to 411,422 new titles and editions in 2007.

So, if these are actual printed books, then think about the amount of print and online articles and blog posts there must be. Quite mind boggling!

Today's artwork is by Are Mokkelbost, a young talent from Oslo, Norway. It looks like a painting but is an amazing paper collage. Here's more about his works.