Gold paint

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Gold paint

And he’s off. Dane Mitchell has just left the starting gates at Auckland airport, headed for the Olympics of the art world: Switzerland’s Art Basel. The first Kiwi to be asked to compete in the emerging artist event has been putting himself through some intensive training—recently exhibiting 300 images of civilian street protest barriers. While Mitchell is keeping quiet on what he’ll be showing at Basel, we’re not holding anything back on him.

Buzz off

The police force is now armed and taser-ous, but they’re not sharing their toys with us. Never mind, there are much more fun ways to fry a criminal—say, with a jacket that emits 80,000 vaults when activated. Take a good look at The No-Contact Jacket; make sure you can identify it in a police line-up. Because, even if you don’t like it, it would pay to be very complimentary to anyone who’s wearing one. (Via Geekologie)

Vehicle confusion

The new Toyota hybrid makes the Prius look even more yawn-inducing than it already does. The Dual Mode Vehicle is half bus, half train and uses half the fuel that either transport mode would on its own. Able to transport 25 people at a time, this is off-roading for the masses—grandmas included.

The sound surrounds

If you’re of the paranoid persuasion, read no further. Walls can now talk. A material scientist has devised a resin coating that allows piezoelectic sound devices to be painted onto surfaces—turning walls, ceilings and every other surface you’ve ever gossiped near into a speaker.

Volvo safe? Phhh

Guess what? It wasn’t Michael J Fox’s DeLorean that propelled him back to the future, it was the camera and radar in the back of the car’s window that did it. We know this because a safety-first, future visiting car has just been created using this method. Titled APROSYS, the EU-funded project has resulted in a car that can anticipate an impact a fraction of a second before it occurs, activating a metal brace that makes the car’s frame significantly stronger. The APROSYS has just passed crash tests by European engineers. Meanwhile Volvo is looking at moving into lawnmowers.

Extra Good

HB Media’s third magazine, Good, is out next Tuesday—but Good The Video is out now. While Good The Magazine is New Zealand’s guide to sustainable living, Good The Video is an official clip for UN World Environment Day. Both Goods are really not bad.

Get immersed

The Auckland Festival of Photography kicks off next week and Moments of Immersion is a great way to get into the thick of things. Fourteen images reflecting the spirit of iconic outdoor dance party Splore 08 will be on show from June 4 to 20 at The Centre of Gravity Cafe, 11 Mayoral Drive in Auckland City. Flashbacks and Gravity coffee available free with admission.

It may be on pretty well into the year, but Semi Permanent will help you design the rest of it very well. New Zealand’s largest design event is for people in graphics, illustration, branding, advertising, motion graphics, fashion, film production, animation and more—so unless you drive a rubbish truck, you should get your tickets now.

Quote of the week

“Mitchell is a new generation artist who deftly pilots his way through a churning media-soaked sea of babble and spin and locates islands of cool, calm information, ideal for repose, reflection and the odd bit of astral planning.”

—Hamish Coney on why Dane Mitchell is our best chance in the upcoming Art Olympics.

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  Juha Saarinen
  Politruk at Idealog

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