Lyrois

Chair #12

2010-02-09T03:30:00.003+01:00

The fifth Lyrois chair, #12 --

Chair #12 is based on the original Lyrois shape #12, a simple, inviting shape, with a total height of 72cm (28in). The seat is 45cm (18in) wide at a height of 43cm (17in). The material thickness is 4cm (1.5in). Overall dimensions are 72 × 72 × 53cm / 28 × 28 × 21in.

Models are made in hard wood and a very limited collector's edition will be made from translucent and colored acrylic glass.

Please inquire about prices, colors, and availability via lyrois [at] googlemail.com.

You might want to read the backstory and see a list of models.

Chair #06b

2010-02-04T02:00:00.004+01:00

The fourth Lyrois chair, in fact, a stool, #06b --

Chair #06b is based on the original Lyrois shape #06, a bar stool, the companion piece to the director's chair, with a total height of 131cm (51.5in). The seat is 50cm (19.5in) wide at a height of 83cm (32.5in). The material thickness is 4cm (1.5in). Overall dimensions are 131 × 68 × 58cm / 51.5 × 27 × 23in.

Models are made in hard wood and a very limited collector's edition will be made from translucent and colored acrylic glass.

Please inquire about prices, colors, and availability via lyrois [at] googlemail.com.

You might want to read the backstory and see a list of models.

Chair #06a

2010-02-02T01:30:00.002+01:00

The third Lyrois chair and a bench variation, #06a --

Chair #06a is based on the original Lyrois shape #06, a director's chair and a variant as a bench, with a total height of 78cm (31in). The seat is 45cm (17.5in) wide for the chair and 90cm (35in) for the bench at a height of 40cm (16in) for both. The material thickness is 4cm (1.5in). Overall dimensions are 78 × 55 × 53cm (bench: 98cm) / 31 × 21.5 × 21in (bench: 38.5in).

Models are made in hard wood and a very limited collector's edition will be made from translucent and colored acrylic glass.

Please inquire about prices, colors, and availability via lyrois [at] googlemail.com.

You might want to read the backstory and see a list of models.

Thoughts and Rants on Seth Godin's Linchpin: "You do Art when you make Change"

2010-01-31T15:57:00.006+01:00

Parts and pieces from a recent discussion on Twitter on a question by Clint Watson whether Seth Godin is demeaning or enhancing the word artist in his recent book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

Quotes from Seth Godin --

Acting like an artist. Being personal, making change, communicating a vision.

You do art when you make change that matters, and do it via a connection with an individual.

Artists take it farther than that, much farther. That's our assignment.

Other relevant quotes --

Art is a liaison between some sort of deranged mentality and others who are not going through it. --John Chamberlain

Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. --Andy Warhol

It's not so much where it's made than why it is made. Also, for whom something is made might be significant. Why, when, and for whom, are all relevant, as opposed to where.

On the "artist" label --

Once artists are or feel offended, they have some work to do. I'm with Seth that art is the expression of any kind of mastery. Many contemporary "artists" are kinda far away from classical fine art, yet they're "artists." Seems that Seth Godin targeted just the right word and people. Fighting for a label is fighting for some misunderstood ego.

I try to express my vision and that's about it. Could care less if I or the pizza guy is labeled artist or not. It's genius how Seth manages to divide artists, it's about time for some trouble. The irony being that those defending their "artist" label lose authenticity and thus face.

Replies from John T. Unger --

I've always tried to make my art be about ideas and meaning larger than myself, sort of channeling bigger voices if I can.

I'm not sure where I fall on the "art for art's sake" thing but I consider myself to be in service to the art, not vice versa...

The artist's job is communicating/convincing the world that "there is more."

John T. Unger on the artist's role --

No one is more responsible for the society's valuation of art than artists themselves. If art is not valued it's our fault.

I see a lot of things no one else sees. Some of them are even real!

On editing --

Lately, I'm finding myself editing not just for clarity but to polarize. It clarifies positions. I see editing as removing the unnecessary, with whatever technique. The distinction between editing and composing is often artificial anyway, I'm faster this way.

On exclusivity --

You don't you have to be an artist to value art. That's the worst outcome: Creating art exclusively for fellow artists. Artists are rare. It's HOW you do it that defines what it is. Why should the term "artist" be reserved only for people who think they are? What about creative, elegant, and graceful self-expression ...

When objection against using the term artist comes from artists trying to preserve exclusivity -- it's time to shake things up. Which brings "therapy" into play. What about artists for whom art is therapy?

You're an artist through expression of some sort, combined with excellence in something. Or so. Where to draw the line, if any?

A great metaphor for art itself --

I don't paint things. I only paint the difference between things. --Henri Matisse

P.S.: I didn't receive the book yet, and I think the artist discussion is only marginal to the book itself. Fron the many reviews, the "emotional labor" part seems to be a more important part of the changing landscape.

P.P.S.: Following and especially threading a Twitter-discussion depends on the angle of perspective. Mine in this case. Whoever read or participated and contributed might have a different view and perception of the exchanged ideas.

Here is the backstory --

Chair #02

2010-01-28T04:00:00.000+01:00

The second Lyrois chair, #02 --

Chair #02 is based on the original Lyrois shape #02, a lounge chair, companion piece to chair #10 with a total height of 100cm (39in). The seat is 60cm (23.5in) wide at a height of 36cm (14in). The material thickness is 4cm (1.5in). Overall dimensions are 100 × 104 × 68cm / 39 × 40.5 × 26.5in.

Models are made in hard wood and a very limited collector's edition will be made from translucent and colored acrylic glass.

Please inquire about prices, colors, and availability via lyrois [at] googlemail.com.

You might want to read the backstory and see a list of models.

The Puppet Master

2010-01-27T04:00:00.000+01:00

Taking pics of shadows. Again. And again. With the eyes of a child.

Cut from paper and suspended on nylon lines. (Based on the original Lyrois shape #11.)

The focus on EITHER shadow OR object is Heisenberg's uncertainty principle at work.

The more the object is out of perspective, the better perspective the shadow is in.

Or: The more distorted the object, the less distorted the shadow. And vice versa.

At some point, I may rewrite the Lyrois story since basically it is a form of puppetry, the shapes are puppets, I'm a puppeteer. Again, it's a matter of perspective.

Chair #10

2010-01-26T03:30:00.004+01:00

The first one from a line of exquisite furniture items, chair #10 is finally ready to be shown --

Chair #10 is based on the original Lyrois shape #10, a coffeehouse and lounge design piece with a total height of 120cm (47in). The seat is 55cm (21.5in) wide at a height of 40cm (16in). The material thickness is 4cm (1.5in). Overall dimensions are 120 × 87 × 63cm / 47 × 34 × 25in.

Models are made in hard wood and a very limited collector's edition will be made from translucent and colored acrylic glass.

Please inquire about prices, colors, and availability via lyrois [at] googlemail.com.

You might want to read the backstory and see a list of models.

Reinventing the Chair

2010-01-22T04:00:00.009+01:00

Something new for 2010: A micro-manufacturing project featuring a line of chairs: A couple of lounge chairs, a director's chair, a bench, and a bar stool, ... all built around, of course, the LYROIS shapes.

Loud coffeehouses and calm lounges, as well as the big stage, or that stylish office -- a Lyrois chair might add the final touch in your quest towards extraordinary --

The prototype production is in progress, there will be high quality chairs in heavy wood and a line of collector's chairs in translucent and colored acrylic glass. Watch this space for updates and the different models dropping in.

Index of Models

Chair #10
Chair #02
Chair #06a
Chair #06b
Chair #12
Chair #16a & 16b
Chair #13
Chair #18

How to get Yours

As always, I am making these on a custom basis and am able to make the chairs according to your input; size, and color, and material-wise. The shapes can't be altered though, it wouldn't be an original Lyrois anymore...

You may contact me for options and prices via lyrois [at] googlemail.com.

Ace of Spades

2010-01-19T08:00:00.004+01:00

I don't play cards because it violates rule #7. Other than that, when I play -- if I play -- I play by my own rules with cards from my own deck.

Here is my hand, drawn randomly from the deck of 52 aces of spades --

Thorough preparation makes its own luck.

--Joe Poyer

Obvious or not, there is more to it and in it, but it's a good starting point.

Lyrois Purple

2010-01-05T00:49:00.000+01:00

Pantone unveils color of the year for 2010: PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise --

Turquoise transports us to an exciting, tropical paradise while offering a sense of protection and healing in stressful times.

Enter LYROIS PURPLE --

The Lyrois color of the year stays Purple -- I just can't see it pairing nicely with any other color in the spectrum, particularly not with Turquoise...

Here is why --

It looks like ice-cream.

And while I love ice-cream, it kinda takes the royalty from Purple.

Also, it hurts in the eye.

Don't you think?

Besides, explaining over and over that it's neither green, nor blue would be quite a waste of time, and guess what: Lyrois Purple is neither green, nor blue, without explaining.

In my eyes, it is Purple, which transports us to an exciting, tropical paradise while offering a sense of protection and healing in stressful times.

See?

The task will be to avoid Purple overload, in writing and in design.

The Lyrois Questionary

2009-12-03T17:30:00.000+01:00

I put together this questionary based on conversations, discussions, and the occasional rant from my Twitter stream of the last couple of months, kind of straight from the shop.

18 questions: Topics include inspiration, the ongoing art vs. design debate, business, and obsessions --

How do you work?: Creating ideas through cross-pollinating multiple streams of input and refining incubation through repeated destruction & creation. Sitting over dozens of versions of a work in progress. Balancing visual effect vs. carried message. After about 50 pencil drafts and 34 vector drawings for a particular project, they're all great and none is. Off for the next round, back to the drawing board, refining the vision. Create, create, create, create, design, create, create, create, Lyrois, Lyrois, Lyrois, create, eat, sleep, repeat... Several projects culminating with new ones in pre-production. Working like the Lawnmower Man and loving it.
What's your inspiration and what are your artistic influences?: ART is almost never an INSPIRATION for me. Intelligence is, personality is, and natural phenomena are INSPIRATION. I like to read artist's writings and study their art. Being a fan of an artist is not necessarily the same as being a fan of their work. Most often, it correlates inversely.
Why do you do what you do?: Acting "out of character" is harder than it sounds -- talk about CHASING SHADOWS or tails. Whatever, you are what you are.
What do you obsess about?: IN GENERAL, I don't care -- but IN PARTICULAR, I do care obsessively. Perfectionism, details, research, expression.
What are the rules of the game?: Once the ACTUAL rules are known, it may be possible to perform "miracles" -- things which violate the PERCEIVED rules.
What's your opinion of the art world and of its business aspects?: MY art business doesn't follow the rules of THE art business. Quite the opposite. To me, art is the cake and business is the icing. Or vice versa. I love both. As for art = cake or whatever; I still plan & execute my projects military commando-operation style. And it's STILL a game. Over the years, I got to like documenting my work. Apart from the track record, it generates great potential for insights. Continually updated business plans are important: Unfolding events mean more clarity and lead to more precise and efficient action.
What's your take on collaborations or mashups?: Combining styles creates something new. Multiplying genes. It's hard to collaborate and NOT succeed in creating something greater than the sum of ingredients.
What's integral to the work of an artist?: Expression, combined with excellence in something, of some sort.
What's your take on art vs. design?: I'm thinking along art as expression of self and design as expression of other peoples ideas. It's the overlap where it gets interesting. With design, I have to care about feedback, while with art, I don't (in a way). Then again, being an artist is a moniker you earn, more so than labeling yourself with, neither is it some kind of lifestyle.
What about hackers vs. artists?: Artist's, as well as hacker's "research" is rooted in insatiable, raw curiosity and the urge to create SOMETHING. That's the thing with shortcuts: There are none, but through hacking you can find them anyway. Continually sorting out ACTUAL vs. PERCEIVED RULES -- It's an ongoing effort for hackers as well as for artists. For the longest time, I felt more confident being a hacker than an artist. Hacking is -- often -- dabbling, while art is striving. Hacking may become a tool to create art.
What's your subject matter?: Making stuff that looks the way I envision it. Or, to put it more deeply: It is the guilt of contemporary superficiality, the struggle with lightness, and the conflict of art and design, which fuels the notoriety of LYROIS. Whatever.
What are your artistic fundamentals and principles of design?: Literally clear-cut, bold shapes. Contrast. Planting frozen vectors in hot-blooded surroundings. Incorporating the environment, the dialogue with the canvas, into the work.
What are your various art techniques and styles?: Light and shadows, papercutting, vinyl, graffiti, typography, street-art, vectors, repeating patterns (rapports). Exploring repetitive patterns, mind-bending and soul-soothing -- why DRAW the same lines twice? A production approach.
What's your past and current development?: Andy Warhol is quoted saying: I think, at the time, I started repeating the same image because I liked the way the repetition changed the same image. Repetition changes.
What are you trying to do to people with your art?: Going full circle: ARTIST striving for sanity meets COLLECTOR longing for -- at least a glimpse of -- insanity.
What are your future projects?: Even less brick and mortar, more mobile everything, NOMADIC! Then again, I have no clue how this whole art thing is going down -- and I don't care. I just keep going, delusionally confident.
How do you roll? Some rants or musings?: There are so MANY people -- and so FEW TRUE personalities. BE REAL.; ONLY comply when complying is NOT an option.; Arrogance is not a sin. Hubris is.; IDEAS are cheap, conception itself isn't hard; execution is. Therefore: EXECUTE!; Most people don't want change -- they want justification.; Excellence in leadership starts with assuming responsibility for your staff.; When people say something doesn't work, they either have no clue or no motivation.; As long as you do everything you ever do, everything will be as it ever was.; Planning is an ART. And the competition is sparse.
What's so funny?: Taking names: I'm so accustomed to Google suggesting LYRICS for LYROIS that I keep seeing LYROIS in place of LYRICS.

For more information, read the Lyrois Story, see a list of selected works, and follow Lyrois on Twitter.

Buy a Special Lyrois to Support John T. Unger's Legal Defense Fund

2009-11-24T09:16:00.004+01:00

This is the story of John T. Unger --

I need your help. My original art has been copied by a manufacturer who is now suing me in federal court to overturn my existing copyrights and continue making knockoffs. I have a strong case, a great lawyer and believe that if I can continue to defend myself, the case will be resolved in my favor. If I run out of funds before we reach trial, a default judgment would be issued against me and could put me out of business. I don't believe my opponent can win this case in court and I don't believe he really intends to try. I believe his goal is to use strong-arm litigation tactics to force me to keep spending money or risk losing my copyrights — not by true adjudication, but by default if he is able to outspend me.

Read all about how an imitator sues an artist to overturn copyrights.

To Defend Art: An important cause to support

The idea is to have art donated from artists all over the world to feed the Legal Defense Fund --

Two special editions made as series of 10, with #000 and #001 being retained as artist's proof and the remaining #002 through #009 donated to support John T. Unger's Legal Defense Fund in his quest to defend himself and art in general.

The pieces are scratch-signed and numbered on the back, and accompanied by a printed and signed certificate documenting its story and origin. No more pieces of these editions will ever be made.

Lyrois Silhouettes Mural Limited Edition Aluminum Series

The Aluminum Series come in 140 × 55mm, are executed in matte black (upper part) and glossy black (lower part) vinyl on 2mm aluminum --

See the sales page to buy this work and other great art donated to the fund.

Lyrois Silhouettes Mural Limited Edition Vinyl Series

The Vinyl Series come in 140 × 70mm, are executed in matte black and glossy Lyrois signature-purple vinyl on 2mm foam-board --

See the sales page to buy this work and other great art donated to the fund.

Support John T. Unger's Legal Defense Fund.

Silhouettes Mural Limited Edition Vinyl Series

2009-11-22T02:50:00.008+01:00

It's tiny, it's affordable, and best of all, it's specifically made for a good cause --

This special miniature edition is executed in matte black and glossy Lyrois signature-purple vinyl on 2mm foam-board. It is the sibling of much bigger works, sampling and remixing the silhouettes shapeset painted on walls, etched as well as decaled on glass, even printed on a collection of snowboards.

The Lyrois Silhouettes Mural Limited Edition Vinyl Series come in 140 × 70mm, it is a series of 10, with #000 and #001 being retained as artist's proof and the remaining #002 through #009 donated to support John T. Unger's Legal Defense Fund in his quest to defend himself and art in general.

The pieces are scratch-signed and numbered on the back, and accompanied by a printed and signed certificate documenting its story and origin. No more pieces of this edition will ever be made.

Buy them as long as they last, for your pleasure and for a good cause, at John T. Unger's Artist's Legal Defense Sale.

See also, the companion piece to the Vinyl Series, the Aluminum Series, in black/black.

Silhouettes Mural Limited Edition Aluminum Series

2009-11-22T02:48:00.011+01:00

It's tiny, it's affordable, and best of all, it's specifically made for a good cause --

This special miniature edition is executed in matte black (upper part) and glossy black (lower part) vinyl on 2mm aluminum. It is the sibling of much bigger works, sampling and remixing the silhouettes shapeset painted on walls, etched as well as decaled on glass, even printed on a collection of snowboards.

The Lyrois Silhouettes Mural Limited Edition Aluminum Series come in 140 × 55mm, it is a series of 10, with #000 and #001 being retained as artist's proof and the remaining #002 through #009 donated to support John T. Unger's Legal Defense Fund in his quest to defend himself and art in general.

The pieces are scratch-signed and numbered on the back, and accompanied by a printed and signed certificate documenting its story and origin. No more pieces of this edition will ever be made.

Buy them as long as they last, for your pleasure and for a good cause, at John T. Unger's Artist's Legal Defense Sale.

See also, the companion piece to the Aluminum Series, the Vinyl Series, in black/purple.

Wallpaper: Electric Shapes

2009-10-16T09:35:00.002+02:00

After playing with repetitive shapes on skatedecks, here are the electric patterns again -- they're repetitive, after all --

How it is done: Printed on water-resistant billboard paper or on self-adhesive, non water-resistant standard paper, for outdoor walls, it is possible to produce wallpapers on glossy or matte vinyl.

What you get: Rolls, 2ft wide or sheets, up to 5ft wide.

Please note that the artwork is clean and clear vector data, here is a close-up detail --

The Lyrois Companion

2009-10-12T12:34:00.001+02:00

A new batch of the Lyrois Companion figure is in the final stages of production.

While the first release was made from vinyl, the new ones are black-opaque acrylic, with a glossy, glass-like appearance on the front-side and a height of 3" --

See the reflection?

Skatedecks: The High Voltage Series

2009-10-01T22:28:00.000+02:00

Who doesn't need skatedecks these days?

The Lyrois High Voltage Series glows with electricity and makes a great collector's wall tiling.

After releasing two snowboard series from the 2009/10 menu (Spectators and Twins) here is the latest drop of powerful colors --

#1A, #1B, #1C

#2A, #2B, #2C

#3A, #3B, #3C

Made from "7-ply Canadian maple." Available in 4 sizes and 3 styles × 3 colorways --

You can buy any one or two or the whole series at the Lyrois Board Store.

As always, I'm accepting corporate and private commissions on your brand of decks or custom designs on your favorite deck from next year.

Mashup: Lyrois X Picasso's Guernica

2009-09-28T12:34:00.003+02:00

I'm a big fan of pop culture and graffiti, I like papercutting and transparent vs. opaque, then again, I like light and shadows, particularly shadows. What better representation of light and shadows than dancing and dying?

I keep seeing Pablo Picasso's Guernica in the original shape-set for the mural. With the connection already and always there, here is the resulting mashup; web only, no prints --

Check out the details that mix nicely with shapes #1, #2, and #5.

One more thing, it is said that Le Corbusier once called tapestries -- like the Guernica copy at the United Nations in New York -- "nomadic murals". (Note to self: Make nomadic murals, for the name and for the concept.)

UPDATE: I added the very hi-res version of the mashup for your download and print-it-yourself pleasure. You may even send it to me or fly me in to sign it and make it very, very special. (Hazel Dooney's idea?) Also, I've heard that there's a big empty wall at the UN Security Council...

Snowboards: The Twins Series

2009-09-21T11:11:00.000+02:00

Two more boards from the 2009/10 Lyrois Snowboards collection.

After the introduction of the Spectators Series, here is the Twins package.

Two fresh boards --

Made of "coreflex fiberglass, wood cores, and Durasurf 2001." Available in 7 sizes and in 2 styles --

And..., I'm accepting corporate and private commissions on your brand of boards or custom designs on your favorite board from last year.

Gobos 2009 [Teaser]

2009-09-17T23:06:00.003+02:00

A preview of the 2009 Gobos. What you see is the acrylic plate with the updated shapes for some shadow-work --

Photos are in progress. Small prints will be made, signed and numbered.

Check out the original 2002 gobos and the gobos strips, also from 2002.

Architectural Essays [Catalogue]

2009-09-17T10:54:00.006+02:00

With the Architectural Essays all spread out, it's time to recollect them and put them together in a small catalogue for the screen, or, if you want to, for printing.

The print-edition catalogue with all 14 works is available as a PDF-file now and here --

Also, please note that selected works are available as limited-edition, high-quality, signed and numbered, prints.

Snowboards: The Spectators Series

2009-09-13T23:11:00.004+02:00

Introducing the 2009/10 Lyrois Snowboards collection.

With winter coming slowly but surely, here is the first batch in the new lineup of snowboards, the Spectators Series --

Made of "coreflex fiberglass, wood cores, and Durasurf 2001." Available in 7 sizes and in 5 styles --

Spectators Series #1: purple-white-white
Spectators Series #2: black-purple-white
Spectators Series #3: black-white-white
Spectators Series #4: white-black-purple
Spectators Series #5: white-black-white (Special: All black and white)

With the Lyrois Spectators Series, you bring your own spectators everywhere you rock and roll. All in all, five colorways for the exact feeling of the day or to collect them and combine...

And yes, it's Spectators, plural, because you've got more than one spectator.

As always, I'm accepting corporate and private commissions on your brand of boards or custom designs on your favorite board from last year.

Chicago Crownhall [Architectural Essays #14]

2009-09-07T04:40:00.002+02:00

Chicago Crownhall, interior window --

Number #14 in the Mies Series.

Production notes --

Black and pink, translucent vinyl (#14). Fully reversible and scalable.

Please see the project introduction with more information on Lyrois' Architectural Essays and on owning an original Lyrois.

Chicago Crownhall [Architectural Essays #13]

2009-08-31T03:35:00.001+02:00

Chicago Crownhall, facade --

Number #13 in the Mies Series.

Production notes --

White, transparent vinyl (#13). Fully reversible and scalable.

Please see the project introduction with more information on Lyrois' Architectural Essays and on owning an original Lyrois.

New York Seagram Building [Architectural Essays #12]

2009-08-24T01:32:00.002+02:00

New York Seagram Building, facade --

Number #12 in the Mies Series.

Production notes --

White, black, and pink opaque vinyl (#12). Fully reversible and scalable.

Please see the project introduction with more information on Lyrois' Architectural Essays and on owning an original Lyrois.