There’s a curious bipolarity to waiting for the opening of a graffiti/mural fest high above a palm-tree speckled beachfront Xanadu, on an enormous lanai (don’t call it a terrace, haole). For someone who lives in lower Manhattan, the Surfjack’s penthouse is a far cry from typical street art environs; which usually involve ducking through a hole in a fence, or dodging the local bodega boys.
PowWow Honolulu isn’t your typical art fest. While Frieze skews ever closer to the embodiment of the ‘pinkys-up for Lapsang Souchong’ Sloane Ranger trust fund wet dream, and Basel Miami manifests as the social event of any season (this year I heard it described, without irony, many more times than one, as ‘fashion week without clothes’), PowWow remains a relatively grassroots event that focusses on – horror of horrors – the art.
Easily compartmentalized as a ‘graffiti’ event, PowWow founder Jasper Wong was clearly at the forefront in recognizing that the delineation between ‘street’ and ‘fine’ art was a capricious one – complete fucking nonsense, in layman’s terms – and based his event around a global community of artists who see no difference in the canvasses of the street and of the gallery.
Though it started in Hong Kong in 2010, and has expanded to events in Taiwan, Japan, Washington, and Long Beach, PowWow resonates as a Hawaiian affair. Centred around the gleefully gentrifying (gentrified?) formerly industrial Honolulu neighbourhood of Kaka’ako, PowWow evidently finds solace, and inspiration, in the pan-continental, pan-cultural Hawaiian scene; ensconced firmly between east and west.
Or, as Wong puts it, with characteristic understatement, ‘It’s my hometown and after living in various cities around the globe for 10 years, I wanted to give something back to the city that raised me’.
PowWow continues to display a rebellious streak, far from the Deitches and Gagosians of the world, even as their progeny participate. Daniel Arsham, the Perrotin-represented cross-platform multi-hyphenate, represented lovely this year with a pair of murals and an artist’s talk with Jeff Hamada (the founder of BOOOOOOOM). As did Tokidoki’s founder Simone Legno, the Italian illustrator-cum-anime opportunist extraordinaire, who did a large-scale mural, and a talk with Jasper Wong. Other artists included Ricky Watts, Faile, Whole9, and Royyaldog.
After previously presenting at iconic Berghain Berlin as well as recently during Paris Mens FW, Copenhagen designer TOBIAS BIRK NIELSEN just presented for the first time at Danish soil, during Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Gabriel Parker, George Shaw, Gabriel Hynes, William Ford, Paris Smith, Gus Sharpe, Felix Lewis, Arnow Ripoll, and Jon Lilford shot by Celia Croft and Grace Elliott and styled by Georgia Jessamine, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
Each person is an artist. Each individual must play his role in this theatrical and stimulating world that leads us to go on stage performing our function with the greatest possible perfection and veracity, in order to be… »
Kristi Jan and Andrea captured by Alessandro Lo Faro and styled by Domenico Kang with pieces from Marni, Calvin Klein, Palm Angels, Acne Studios, Prada, M140, Versace, Churchs, Sandro Paris, Antonio Marras or Bally in… »
Take a look below at some of the best looks and cool people captured by the lens of Marc Medina during the SS19 edition of CIFF, in exclusive for Fucking Young!
Set at the industrial Lokomotivværkstede, the show opened up with minimal intensity with Elias Gozal behind the decks to a highly anticipated crowd looking forward to see where the young label goes next.
Revisiting his tailoring roots, Asbjørn looks beyond streetwear and yet again blurs the lines between tailoring and sportswear – finding that sweet spot between formal and casual.
Six extremely fit military men kicked off the show by dashing down the runway outside Fitness DK at the newly opened gathering point BLOX set on the harbor.
AINT is a young unisex brand started two years ago. Jan and his partner in crime Michal design their pieces in London and ethically produce them in Poland using Italian fabrics and Swiss Riri hardware. Their production is ecologically and sustainable; everything is 100% made in the EU.
Models walked out in vintage-inspired pieces, reconstructed denim, hoodies, oversized suits and athletic wear that played with the ongoing trend of lux and streetwear with an upcycled aesthetic.
This season continues to take inspiration from Copenhagen kids growing up in the Danish welfare state, the same kids that you can find around the industrial docks.
It was hard to deny the political atmosphere and that MUF10 has something to say about the life and clothing of immigrants and refugees and more particular, a very anti-stance on the recently placed burqa and niqab ban.
White denim ensembles, cozy patterned sweaters, and lots of flowy, printed silk shirts brought a touch fjord nouveau riche it’s a mix of outerwear and cool.
