The Universal Declaration of Human Rights


Seth Brau – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (2008, 18.1MB, 4:31)

Really lovely piece of moving typology from
Seth Brau of the Human Rights Action Center.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
turns 60 this year. Read the full text here.
Music from Rumspringa.
Video via Osocio

Ari Marcopoulos – Claremont


Ari Macopoulos – Claremont (2008, 50.5MB, 10:44)

Okay, this requires some breakdown and explanation.
So Adam Kimmel is an NYC men’s wear designer. This
video is a promo for his Spring 2009 line. And you’re
thinking, what does this have to do with video art or
conceptual cinema or animation? Right. Well, not much.

But what it does have to do with is the Internet. The way
that now, we get to see things we didn’t five years ago.
Five years ago, this video would have been shown at some
runway event that few to none of us would ever fathom
attending – not that they’d let us in the door. And I’m not
worried about that. But I am worried about not seeing great
video. And that changed.

So now, you can watch this insane video of two skater guys –
yes, in Adam Kimmel suits, that’s the point – ride down wild
hills, dodging cars, in southern California. It isn’t that this
has superior quality – the first two minutes are a little dry –
and it doesn’t say anything meaningful about the evolution
of digital video, though they did make an HD version, if that
sort of thing interests you. But you get to see it, and you
probably wouldn’t get this point of view unless you’re a
gifted skater in our midst and we had no idea. It would also
be tacky to hate on this kind of video because the skill of
skating, filming, and not wiping out is something laudable
on its own. This kind of extreme boarding? Well, it clearly
struck a chord with me. No one makes this video for a film
festival, and if they did, it wouldn’t be like this. The Internet
is the natural home for this sort of piece. I’m just saying that
I’m glad the house was built.

Video by Ari Macopoulos.

Skye Bender-deMoll


Skye Bender-deMoll – Organic Brand Ownership Networks (2007, 9MB, 0:18)

We love moving charts and maps, in case you couldn’t tell.
This one, from Skye Bender-deMoll, features organic food brands
circa late 2007, and their often overlooked connections.
The yellow nodes are food processors, blue are investment firms,
green are organic brands, and red are new organic brand introductions.

via Another Limited Rebellion

Matt Smithson

manvsmagnet2
What’s He Building? (2006, 6.7MB, 1 min.)

Matt Smithson is a gifted illustrator whose videos incorporate text,
drawing and photography into rich animated collages.
This video perfectly complements the Tom Waits reading it accompanies.

By Mica.

Rock History

goodjoke
Rock History (2006, 6.3 MB, 2:34 min.)

Ugly pictures and Man VS Magnet have created a short film play before
the Battle of the Ad Bands at Irving Plaza in New York. (The show is a
charity venue where advertising agency garage bands compete for the
best band and all the proceeds go to help the public schools of New York.)
The result is a funny and hilarious and violent animation about the recent
music history, and especially the design of the LPs.
from its art mag.

Keep On Smoking


Michel de Broin – Keep On Smoking (2006, 8.2MB, 2:51)

Absolutely hilarious video for a fantastic piece of interactive art.
I thought I was going to end up with a statement about
smoking cigarettes with I came across Michel de Broin’s
Keep On Smoking.
But completely unrelated, de Broin says this:

As an alternative to petrol, this custom-made bicycle
transforms kinetic energy produced by the cyclist into smoke.
The will to power is a renewable energy resource that can be
recuperated by a power generator supplying enough electricity
to operate a smoke machine. The work is the result of two
coupled machines; the one human is productive and the other
machine, consumptive. This coupling of machines produces smoke,
a waste energy that is liberated freely in the atmosphere.

Invisible Threads: Sweatshop Jean Factory in Second Life

recruitment
Invisible Threads (2008, 18.3 MB, 2:53 min.)

Stephanie Rothenburg & Jeff Crouse will be producing designer blue jeans.
Styles include boot cut, skinny leg, flare and the new “Boyfriend” trousers.
Profits from these purchases will be used to maintain the factory and pay for
workers

I Found Love


Grow Design Work – I Found Love (2006, 8.8MB, 1:35)

So precious. A “music video” made for Nick Jr. show
Yo Gabba Gabba, from Bran Dougherty-Johnson,
who is Grow Design Work. Originally a Free Design
song, covered here by the Trembling Blue Stars.
This makes me so happy.

Designer Slash Model

designermodel
Designer Slash Model (2007, 9.19 MB, 3:04 min)

“There aren’t many Saul Bass/Hiedi Klums out there”
but you may already be a Designer Slash Model.
The award winning creative shop Digital Kitchen pokes
fun at self-congratulatory, uber cool designers
while showcasing their own work.

By Mica Scalin.

Interactive design

Intimate Controllers
Intimate Controllers Game Console (2007, 3.5MB, 2:40)

An interpersonal videogame in progress from JennyLC Chowdhurdy,
a woman responsible for such projects as an emphysema-ridden
My Little Pony and a portable telephone booth so you can finally
have some privacy on your cellular in public.

Muttering Hat
Muttering Hat (2007, 7.5MB, 1:12)

Also, a Muttering Hat from Kate Hartman, who believes
plants should be able to call humans on the telephone
and makes gloves that dance.
I wish I got to spend all day making this kind of innovation.