ROB MACHADO FINDS THE TREE OF LIFE IN POST-TSUNAMI SENDAI

Posted by Davide on Sep 5, 2013 in VIDEO

Iconic surfer Rob Machado has traveled the world for more than half his life. And during that time, he’s crossed paths with countless individuals who share a love for surfing and a passion for the arts. In his new series called Through The Lens, we meet these individuals and follow Rob as he connects with the people who’ve inspired him along the way.

In his second Through the Lens episode, Rob visits Sendai, Japan, one of the hardest places hit by the 2011 earthquake/tsunami. He meets artist/surfer Takashi Kobayashi, who shows him the area’s surrounding waves and a tree-house project particularly close to his heart. The results, as you’ll see in this short film directed by Tyler Manson, are nothing short of inspiring.
To support tsunami relief efforts and Takashi Kobayashi’s incredible work, Hurley has created the Through The Lens Tee, featuring photography by Rob Machado. The tee is available exclusively online at and 100 percent of proceeds go to Treehouse Creations Co LTD to build more tree-houses in tsunami-affected areas.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

CROWDED HONG KONG APARTMENTS BY MICHAEL WOLF (Via blog.gessato.com)

Posted by Kimberly on Feb 27, 2013 in PHOTOGRAPHY
Known for his series “Architecture of Density” that depicts the brutalist, compact apartments of Hong Kong, photojournalist Michael Wolf takes a more humanist approach to portraying the desperate, and often abhorrent, housing situation. Furthering the protests from the Society for Community Organization, the series of aerial snapshots of the interiors of Hong Kong apartments depict difficult juxtapositions. A man eats his dinner only a few feet away from the peeling paint on the apartment wall, while two siblings share a bed surrounded by shelves stuffed with shoes, boxes, and their life belongings. The aerial perspective is not just an artistic choice; it is a necessary one for lack of space, which is far too expensive per square foot for those living in poverty. Wolf’s continued choice to position himself as an outsider in his role as a documentarian highlights the cramped quarters, and draws attention to cry for proper government response.

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ABOUT KIMBERLY LI - Kimberly is a graduate from MIT's Department of Architecture, and has recently joined the publication team at MIT OpenCourseWare. While architecture remains her first love, her interests encompass literature – epic poetry and Medieval romances are her favorite – and also fashion. She delights in various design projects, featured on her website "unkliched".