Today, the internet and in particular social media, has become an inevitable part of marketing manipulation. Studio Ho got inspired by this very real problem and selected a few manipulated ‘compositions in every day life’, adding a bit of humor…

Surreal collages by Jose Navarro, a young Spanish artist and graphic designer who combines animals and everyday objects to create strange, manipulated compositions and some more ‘manipulated everyday objects’…

More manipulation in Studio Ho projects; ‘what you see is not what you eat’…

CBD / CANNABIDIOL

Analysts estimate that CBD will reach $22 billion in retail sales by 2026. CBD (a non-psychoactive product of the Cannabis plant) is being studied for therapeutic options. Severe conditions such as epileptic seizures, neuropathic pain and diabetes. Yet in more recreational settings, people are finding support in reducing stress, anxiety, pain and inflammation, as well as increasing focus, calmness, regulating appetite and metabolism…

CBD INFUSED COKE?

CBD is about balancing, levelling and smoothing sensation in the body, rather than leaving the user with a “stoned” effect (caused by the psychoactive compound in cannabis = THC, removed from CBD products). Hemp derived CBD is legal in all 50 states in the USA. Even Coca-Cola is rumored to be developing a CBD product…

TRENDING CANNABIS

Check out these examples of ready-to-consume cannabis infused products… Drinks; Heineken introduced CBD Lagunitas beer, Recess sparkling water (U.S.) that promise to keep buyers ‘calm, cool and collected’. According to analysts in Forbes; ‘Starbucks might be the first big chain to launch CBD infused drinks’. Green Monkey and Botanic Lab already released ‘UK’s first’ CBD-infused soft drink. Foods; ice-cream, yogurts, soups, chocolate, cookies, chewing gum… Pain relief products, like BCD infused ‘recovery’ socks; for sale at Amazon… CBD Skin care products; The Body Shop, Dr. Kerklaan Therapeutics. Weight loss promotion; CV Sciences Inc. and what about CBD infused textiles; by Devan Chemicals…

CBD INFUSED TEXTILE 

Millions of people suffer from insomnia, insufficient sleep or other sleep disorders. Devan Chemicals Belgium, promotes deep sleep via its ‘R-vital™’ range with a new cbd-encapsulated textile treatment. When the skin touches the fabric, the resulting friction causes the capsules to break, releasing the CBD ingredients to the body. 

BEDDING, SLEEPWEAR

Since our skin is our body’s largest organ, it is ideal for transporting these ingredients, adding comfort, care and well-being with anti-oxidative effects to the body while sleeping. According to Devan Chemicals, CBD can be applied to everything from bedding to sleepwear fabrics. 

BARNEYS RETAIL

Barneys New York, an American chain of luxury department stores, will open its ‘High End’. High End is a luxury cannabis and wellness concept shop on the 5th floor of the Beverly Hills flagship location this month. “Barneys New York has always been at the forefront of shifts in culture and lifestyle, and cannabis is no exception,” according to Barneys New York CEO. Featuring an exclusive partnership with upscale Cannabis company Beboe (starting to be embraced by the Hollywood A-list as the ‘Hermès of marijuana’…)

SEVENTH SENSE

Green Growth Brands launches Seventh Sense across the U.S. Seventh Sense Botanical Therapy is a high-quality line of specially designed body and skin care products, made with essential oils and CBD. ‘Early results have seen Seventh Sense products selling at three times the typical performance of personal care products,’ Green Growth Brands CEO P. Horvath.

CANNABIS 3.0

Serra redesigned cannabis shopping into an experience that feels completely opposite to that of buying from your black-market dealer. Serra’s signature phrase, “Quality Drugs,” written in flawless script, is a bold statement that simultaneously acknowledges cannabis’ history and future…

FAD OR TREND?

Overwhelmed by modern‑day society, 24/7 connection, whether from politics, technology, the jobs, the economy; people are searching for solutions to take back control, whether through medication, yoga, sleepvacations or cannabis… We are loosing the negative image of this product, seeing potentional and the benefits. In my opinion, the CBD ‘fad’ is here to stay!

WUXI TAIHU THEATRE

This mesmerizing theater named Wuxi Taihu Show Theatre, opened in December 2021, was shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival Future Project Award in the Cultural category. London-based Steven Chilton Architects is inspired by The Sea of Bamboo Park in Yixing, the largest bamboo forest in China. Located close to Lake Taihu in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province in China.

During the night, the structure is illuminated from below creating a breathtaking view of the facade. Acting almost like a beacon, the light from the structure radiates from across Lake Taihu drawing audiences towards the theatre…

WABI SABI, JAPANESE PHILOSOPHY

In today’s world, it’s not something easy to live. Influenced by tv, social media and magazines, we want the perfect picture (photoshop), the perfect face (botox), the perfect body (bigger boobs) the perfect hair (bold, the new trend?) the perfect home; we want everything fast and right now!

Consequently, we are always desiring something else and unhappy with our own lives. In Japan, ‘wabi sabi’ is the art and philosophy of imperfect beauty; accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay. Flawed and scarred materials and surfaces, the enigma of time passing…

According to wabi sabi; when we learn to find beauty in the simplest things, in the imperfections, appreciating nature, family and all that we already have, that is the way to a truly happy life. Afterall, the most beautiful things in life aren’t ’things’… But have a look at some wabi sabi ’things’, a moment of silence…

SHUNMYO MASUNO

Come and see one of Japan’s finest and most daring contemporary zen stone gardens, high above the hussling and buzzing traffic of the city-center Aoyama-dori Avenue. Its designer, a living legend, Shunmyo Masuno (born 28 February 1953) is a Japanese monk and landscape designer. Take the elevator that ascends to the fourth floor of the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo’s well-heeled Aoyama-Itchome district…

GARDEN DESIGN 

Shunmyo Masuno is head priest of the Sōtō Zen temple Kenkō-ji, professor at Tama Art University, and president of a design firm that has completed numerous projects in Japan and overseas. He is arguably the only Buddhist priest still practicing garden design in the tradition of the original, itinerant ishi-tate-so (stone-setting priests) of whom there were famously many during the time of the Kamakura Shogunate (1192-1333). His work include traditional as well as strikingly contemporary designs…

KENGO KUMA

A topographical landscape of stone and water at an installation in Milan. Created by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. Kengo Kuma’s Naturescape was designed as an interpretation of a traditional Japanese Zen garden…

TOSHIYA OGINO

Open space showroom, integrates an interior garden in Kobe, Japan. It brings nature inside and make people going to the showroom feel relaxed in an environment that encourages that. Landscape designer Toshiya Ogino in collaboration with Nagayama & Associates.

DINARA KASKO

Pastry chef, Dinara Kasko pushes the limits of the creation by working the food such an architect. She is an Ukrainian culinary artist with a degree in architecture that combines her two passions to create incredible kinetic tarts. Dinara has a fascination for aesthetic and styling food. Foods are cut, carved, molded, worked. Their natural character is hidden to create confusion. Dinara: “I have always liked cakes. Since my early childhood, I have liked sweets. When my mom cooked a dessert, it was a holiday for me’…

KINETIC ART

Kasko likes to push the boundaries in the world of cooking. Working with an array of artists across various disciplines, Dinara models its molds using software, 3ds Max, Rhinoceros, Grasshopper using a 3D Ultimaker printer. She favors cakes with geometric shapes such as cubes, triangles, and spheres and likes to use sharp, straight lines in her work. When it comes to color, she prefers to work with black, red, and white.

SPACE ART

Kasko creates a 3D model on her computer, prints a cake mold on a 3D printer using plastic, and casts it with silicone. She then fills the silicone mold with her ingredients and bakes it. Edible architecture made from silicone moulds. The complex math (algorithms) applied to producing the moulds for Kasko’s creations, simulates the gravity movements and interactions of objects in space. This unique process creates quasi-kinetic designs and a real visual spectacle; innovating and inspiring to the world of food.

TAI PING PAINTINGS

Contemporary rugs look more like paintings than ever before. A beautiful rug can have the same energising effect on a room as hanging a painting on a bare wall. House of Tai Ping creates amazing bespoke rugs and textile floor coverings. They are headquartered in Hong Kong, with 14 showrooms across Europe, Asia and North America. House of Tai Ping covers every sphere of the residential and hospitality markets. Inspiring moods, colours, textures, pattern designs and prices starting around 10.000,- euro’s?. By the way, check out Walter Knolls cozy Badawi pillows and his ‘legends-of-carpets’ too…

DANISH BRICK FIRST

Such an impressive space; minimalism, calm serenity… Build by Danish architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen Klint (1853 – 1930) who died before Grundtvig’s Church in Copenhagen was finished. His son architect and designer Kaare Klint (1888-1954), completed the cathedral in 1940. Klint merged the modern geometric forms of Brick Expressionism with the classical vertical of Gothic architecture. He has also designed the wickerwork seat church chairs; a Danish furniture design classic!

CHRISTIAN SECOND

No signs of crosses or paintings of the Virgin Mary or worships of God. Grundtvigs Church was erected in commemoration of the influential Danish priest, poet and reformer N. Grundtvig (1783 – 1882). Grundtvig, presented the Evangelical Lutheran church with a whole new perspective: human first, Christian second…

Photography by: Finn Beales / Penelope Sloom / Olga Kuzminskaya / Valentina Solano / Sebastian Grote

ZINC TEXTILE FABRICS

Have a look at Zinc Textile’s amazing 2018 Geronimo collection. Love their photoshoot location, limewashed walls, colours, mood and atmosphere! Part of The Romo Group, Zinc Textile was launched in January 2010 as a new luxury fabric & wall covering brand, under the creative leadership of Justin Marr. Zinc takes its inspiration from the heights of 1970’s style. Zinc has a sophisticated urban chic look and feel. Original style solutions for residential and contract interiors.

NANO POETRY

Dokter Chien Ho, professor of biological sciences at USA Carnegie Mellon University and colleagues, have developed a novel way to improve delivery of chemotherapy nanodrugs with fewer side effects in treating cancer. By using ‘Intralipid’, an FDA-approved nutrition source (Food and Drug Administration). It reduces the amount of the toxic drugs that settle in the spleen, liver and kidneys; non-targeting organs. This study was published on nature.com – scientific reports.

SIDE-EFFECTS

Nanodrugs, drugs attached to tiny biocompatible particles, show great promise in treatment of a number of diseases, including cancer. Delivery of these drugs, however, is not very efficient. Only about 0.7 percent of chemotherapy nanodrugs reach their target tumor cells. The remainder are absorbed by other cells, including those in the liver, spleen and kidneys. When the drugs build up in these organs, they cause toxicity and side-effects that negatively impact a patient’s quality of life.

According to dokter Ho; ‘This methodology could have a major impact in the delivery of nanodrugs, not only for patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment, but also to those being treated with nanodrugs for other conditions’.

TECHNOPHOBIA

A lot op people have great fear of new technologies. As the great Johan Cruyff once said, who died from cancer, aged 68; ‘Every disadvantage has its advantage’… There are plenty of downsides from technology’s impact. It needs controling, monitoring and managing. On the other hand, technology makes our lives easier; nanotechnology is just one example of the promising future of ’techno poetry’…