THE GODDESS & THE THIEF: MAGIC VS FREEDOM

The Goddess and the Thief by Essie Fox, photo Agnes Prygiel

"The Goddess and the Thief" by Essie Fox is a contemporary novel written in the style of old Victorian romances. Full of ghosts, mysterious elixirs, crystal balls and dark visions - the book takes us back into the era of proper old-fashioned dramas. Published by Orion Books in 2013 it has a beautifully designed cover. Powerful colors and tantalizing Hindu imagery makes you just want to grab the book from the shelf.

It is 1850. Alice is a British girl growing up in India. When both of her parents die she is brought up in Britain by her aunt Mercy - a fake spiritualist medium.

Carefully manufactured ghost sessions aunt Mercy drags Alice into attract regular clients - grieving Queen Victoria being one of them - and become a way of making money. But while aunt Mercy is just a spiritual wannabe, growing up Alice showings real supernatural abilities and becomes a threat for a controlling guardian. Soon the young girl will have to choose between her gift, love and freedom.

THE CRACKLE OF THE FROST: LOVE & DEMONS

The Crackle Of The Frost

The Crackle Of The Frost is a touching graphic novel by Lorenzo Mattotti and Jorge Zentner published by Fantagraphics Books in 2012. It tells a story of a young man Samuel and his partner Alice.

Possessed by his fears and demons Samuel hears voices in his head. Alice wants to start a family but he is not ready. After a major fight she moves out but gets in touch a few months later through a mysterious letter. When Samuel gets on a train to find her there is an accident where his eyesight is affected. Temporarily blind he spends a few months in a hospital. In this time of darkness he gradually becomes ready to confront his girlfriend. But will it work out?

In this amazing graphic novel reality gets mixed up with myths and dreams. The Crackle Of The Frost is a psychological illustration of a complex human condition and a difficult emotional journey.

Don't Judge a Comics by its Size: PEBBLE ISLAND

"Pebble Island" / Photo by Nobrow Press

Pebble Island by Jon McNaught is a beautiful graphic novel published by Nobrow Press in 2010. This 15x15cm booklet fits into a large pocket. But one should not judge it by its size. It is an amazing collection of stories inspired with childhood memories of the Falkland Islands. Using a silent narration with hardly any words at all, the author invites us into an intimate world of forgotten adventures. This wonderfully crafted graphic novel depicts amazing landscapes, beautiful nature and quiet, but somehow magical and intriguing life on a small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with a particular sensitivity. Each image is a miniature print with lots of intricate details. Nostalgic and eerie, Pebble Island is a unique work bringing a lot of sentiment into the comics novel experience.

Pebble Island by Jon McNaught / photo Agnes Prygiel

EYE OF THE MAJESTIC CREATURE - It's All Right To Be Lost

Eye Of The Majestic Creature by Leslie Stein, Photo Agnes Prygiel

"Eye Of The Majestic Creature" is Leslie Stein's debut collection of stories published by Fantagraphics Books in 2011. This beautiful comics novel touched me with its pure honesty.

Larry is a young girl in her 20s looking for her own place in life. Trying to escape busy San Francisco, she moves to the countryside where she hopes to find comfort and peace of mind. Instead she ends up feeling pretty lonely and isolated in a small provisional town which does not have much to offer. When visiting home, she gets mixed up in all the emotional drama and her parents' complicated relationship which is no longer a real part of her own story. Going back to her little cottage is on one hand a relief. On the other it is not a real solution. By some point Larry realizes she needs to move on from her sanctuary and go back to the big city.

In her adventures she is accompanied by her guitar named Marshmallow. An interesting bit is that Marshmallow is like... real. By that I mean that it talks, walks and has its' secret life known only to Larry. Wow! THAT is quirky!

Leslie Stein's graphic novel feels is a bit of a personal memoir. I'm amazed with how much this story is similar to mine. Trying to escape London I ended up living in a small town which somehow does not feel right. When seeing my family and visiting my hometown I realize I just moved on so much it all becomes irrelevant. Trying to connect to the past I am confronted with that there is no real way back. I can only move on. But that turns out to be most difficult, because I just don't know where to turn.

Sometimes doing something is better than not doing anything I suppose. Like Larry I've found my own sanctuary, but it is not a place to stay in forever. I have to make a step. Feeling messed up like I do, I now know I am not the only one who is just looking for something in life and is honest about not having any big answers to some personal questions. It's comforting to realize that being in the process does not mean we are lost. We are changing the world around us little by little.

David Wants To Fly - Spiritual Enlightenment or Business

After having won an internet quiz with a main prize in a form of a 48-hour free access to an online film base, I am spending 2 days glued to my laptop screen, using the free access code up to the limit. As a result of that I have broadened my cultural horizonts and got to the level of intellectual enlightenment. And so I will tell you about an interesting documentary from 2010 I have just seen.

David Wants To Fly is a story of a German guy - David Sieveking - who wants to make films, but is not quite sure where to start from. As David Lynch is one of his idols, he takes part in Transcendental Meditation course organized by the acclaimed director. After having spent a few thousand Euros on seminars, he meets the leaders of TM movement and carries on meditating in order to calm down his crazy mind and pursue with the filmmaking career. He travels to India and meets religious gurus living high in the mountains, wearing orange robes and meditating on the real pursue of life. By some point he starts asking a question: "Where is the line between spirituality and business?".

The film is a documentary on TM organization and religion on the whole, but also the author's love life and spiritual journey. It ends with an interesting sentence: "When someone shows you the way, he may as well lead you astray". David Sieveking introduces us into the amazing world of spirituality, but then tells us that a bit of skepticism is not so bad at all.

ELIA - Sending Thunders Back To The Sky

Ingvar Cronhammar's Elia is a monumental sculpture  representing both ancient, industrial and somewhat extra-terrestrial fascinations. This enormous spherical dish of black iron is elevated 15 meters above the ground. One has to climb it in order to experience it. Crowned with 4 iron sails and topped with red lights, the monument generates heat, flames and - like a volcano - produces lava. At bad weather Elia concentrates thunders. A built-in 8-shaped element works like a trampoline which sends thunders back upto the sky.

"A person is still a fascinated spectator of the incomprehensible and wonderful mystery which is our existence." - Ingvar Cronhammar

Bibliography:

Henrik Hansen's  amazing short about 'Elia' and Ingvar Cronhammar:

http://www.rsafilms.com/company/rsa-uk/director/henrik-hansen/ingvar-cronhammar-elia-489
Elia's Official Website:http://www.elia.dk/english/index.html

PRADA Spring/Summer 2013 Collection - Flower-Power Glasses & Geisha Shoes

PRADA Spring/Summer 2013 fashion collection is a surprisingly consistent and somewhat visionary project. Inspired with the fusion of 60s flower patterns and Japanese minimalism, it comes up with a little bohemian, but definitely posh concept of a postmodern geisha. Narrowing down the colour range to red, black and white has created very simplistic, eye-catching and extremely elegant aesthetics for the entire range of clothes. Focused on gadgets - handbags, shoes and flower glasses - the collection brings fun into the world of classics.

Although geisha shoes are not very practical in the real life, they look good, original and have been a part of a consequent vision. All other PRADA clothes and accessories for this season are wearable and on the whole they just look good. If you don't like everything, getting one top or a handbag will be enough to mix and match with other clothes in your wardrobe and create a unique style with a bit of a posh element to it all. Most of the designs will look presentable at a business meeting, party or a lunch. Their usability and elegance is a big plus.

Quirky gadgets are the strength of this collection, because we all love the way they help us stand out and  how we can play around with them. We spend quite a lot of money on them, too. And the flower glasses look like they will sell pretty well this year.

The woman behind this unique collection is Miuccia Prada - the company's owner and the daughter of the brand's legendary pioneer. Being not only a successful business woman, but also a very original fashion designer, she has delivered elegance and fun this season.

CHANEL HULA BAGS

CHANEL hula beach bags for 2013 Spring/Summer season definitely make every accessories lover stand out from the crowd. Designed in a maxi and mini version, they will add originality and quirkiness to anything anybody on this planet will ever wear.

As for the big version - finally you would be able to put all of your stuff in one place and take it with you wherever you go. That is a huge advantage. I am a huge fan of large handbags, because they solve lots of problems for me. I really like all of my things being in one place.

As for the mini version - it's more practical, but less glamorous.

On the whole it is up to you which size you choose. It is such a wonderful design that it kind of doesn't matter, because both versions are fantastic. They are a statement of originality and wealth. If you want to show off, go the whole way! Get the large one, carry it around proudly and shine like a star!

CHANEL - Peculiar 2013 Marketing Campaign

CHANEL marketing gurus decided to advertise 2013 Spring/Summer Collection in the most peculiar way. The main visual motif chosen for this campaign doesn't depict any female or male characters, no humans at all, only gadgets abandoned in a bright changing room with a bit of a theatrical and dramatic feeling to it.

Other photos from the same promotional session present rather bored models basically vegging out on a minimalistic 60s sofa, with equally minimalistic and rather sad lamp to accompany their lack of enjoyment.

Although I wouldn't promote one of the best fashion brands in the world in this sorry way, I kind of like it, because there is a bit of a sense of humor to it. It seems that CHANEL is trying to aim its' products at a younger market and teenagers with an attitude.

DJANGO - Entertaining History Of Slavery

After just having seen 'Django Unchained' this evening I am back from the picture house, on my sofa, with the dog at my feet. I have only had as little as a tuna sandwich since I have came back home. Having saved myself from starvation, with hands on my laptop, I am about to answer the question which you are all surely asking: 'Was it a good film at all?'.

It was a brilliant film indeed. Brutal and violent at times, it depicts a story of Django - a black slave (Jamie Foxx, famous for his leading role in Oscar nominated 'Ray') who helps a very charismatic and eccentric Dr. Schultz (Christoph Waltz, previousely in 'Inglourious Basterds') catch criminals and collect bounty for them. Dr. Schultz trains Django and offers him a job as a killer.

Like in all Tarantino's films we have a clash of music styles, witty conversations, gun fights, blood and dark humor. It is a bit of an irony that it is up to this particular director to reconnect us to the difficult chapters of human history in a way that is somewhat entertaining.

'Django Unchained' is a remake of 1966 film. Original 'Django' earned a reputation as being one of the most violent movies ever made up to that point and was subsequently refused a certificate in Britain until 1993.