we are glad of having being included in the book about the exhibition published by Electa and Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo.

If you happen to be in Rome, you still have time to see the actual exhibition, which runs at MAXXI until the 26th of april, so if you are close, don´t miss it.

the book is all about drawings, photographs, writings and other materials composing a contemporary map of recycling, devoted to exemplary projects that involve the recycling of architecture, cities and landscapes together with works by artists, photographers and media producers, we´ve once again been featured in the container architecture section, although you all know that’s not the only thing we do.

however the use of the containers really has been lifted to a higher level, the containers persists in contemporary experimentation as an itinerant object, as a global nomadic space, they are turned into a component that can be assembled and adapted as a single space or a series of spaces, its manufacture, transportation and assembly fulfills the demand of a market searching for low cost solutions. examples listed in the book are testimony on how containers set a whole new architectural rules, as a mobile and advantageous and economical object.other examples of container architecture mentioned in the catalogue are: sky is the limit, sjakket youth centre ,Container House ( Killer House ) , Freitag Flagship Store Zurich, Cruise Centre , Sanlitun South and Qubic Amsterdam.

 we also enjoyed very much other projects escaping the container theme, for instance the series of workshops and urban interventions led by Raumlabor Berlin, a Berllin based architectual and urban planning collective, which definitely left an impact behind. one of the workshops is Officina roma, an experimental building practice made all out of trash and recycled materials, build within an one week long workshop with 24 high school students from all over italy.

the building is composed as a collage, a  kitchen entirely build out of old bottles, the sleeping room with walls from used car doors, the workshop using wooden windows and old furniture and the main roof set from old oil barrels and used dry wall profiles... wicked !

also check and get daily updates on the exhibition here

BERLIN · What a night! Last Thursday we presented Cut&Paste Berlin, the live digital design battle at Volksbühne Berlin. We were very excited about the event and it totally exceeded all expectations in terms of the amazing talent and confidence of the designers and the expertise of the judges.

Cut&Paste was founded by John Fiorelli #4002 in 2006 to shine a light on the design process and give designers the recognition they deserve by bringing the work they do to an enthusiastic audience who can witness firsthand the kind of savvy talent and compromises that go into every good design.

During the 15 - 20 minute heat, both 2D and 3D competitors battled on stage to complete their pre-planned design based on a theme, given them a few days before the event. As John explained to the designers backstage before they took their places in front of their public, once they're on stage, any feelings of being nervous or insecure vanish once the clock starts. And it was certainly true. As the designers began constructing, drawing and designing their 2D or 3D image, they were all pros. The result was an impressive mix of graphic, illustration and urbanized art that presented a brilliant array of stellar designs. Luckily our judges were professionals themselves because I would be at a loss to determine who should win the crown and go to NYC to compete at the Cut&Paste Final later this year.

Meanwhile the PLATOON network really came together to give each other the support to execute a perfect evening. There was STAGE BROTHERS (Marc Brinkmeier #331 and Manuel Reinartz #5977) who documented the night spectacularly and an equipped camera crew (Jonny Brooking #5943, Sahar Lone #5944, Julia Kloiber #3291and Mata #340) conducting interviews with competitors, judges, and collecting footage for the PLATOON archive. Everyone helped out with running the Adobe audience contest, rounding up the lost competitors and judges, and making sure the afterparty with PFADFINDEREI and NOTIC NASTIC rocked!

Honza, KRSN and Skate made a killer audio/visual show!

And the girls from NOTIC NASTIC were simply breathtaking...we sweated off till the end, even getting up on the stage to dance around. Check out the NOTIC NASTIC video to get a good feeling from the event.

So a special congratulations goes out to our winners Acci Baba in 2D, Armin Keplinger in 3D, & Leo Marthaler in Motion Design, and our runner up in 2D AARGH, who walked away with a new sense of self and a gold crown. And the judges offered the best critiques and compliments and many stuck around afterwards to join in at the afterparty. Special thanks to the competitors and judges who put so much passion and enthusiasm into the evening.

If you missed out this time don't worry, we´ll be doing it again!

For more, check out Cut&Paste being featured on rbb and our radio spot on dradio (German only). Or the old-fashion way: pictures on flickr!

report about Cut&Paste Helsinki coming soooon....

so, stay tuned!

now MPA-B is gearing up for another successful month of May, but first they need your help! the latest crowdfunding project from INKUBATO is to support performance artists and keep the thriving artist community in Berlin alive, creative, and an autonomous cultural player. 

PLATOON friend and member Francesca Romana Ciardi #3292 (among our many performance artists involved in the project) tipped us off for the crowdfunding campaign and teamed up with INKUBATO founder Konrad Lauten #5302 to lay out their campaign to seek the minimum nessecary sponsorship to cover the logistical and production costs ahead for the next addition of MONTH OF PERFORMACE ART in Berlin during MAY 2012.

in 2011, MPA-B saw its first year with 40 curated events, 100 participating artists, curators and producers, 25 hosting venues/locations and thousands of both on-site and online visitors. it was almost entirely an artist funded project, relying on crowdfunding and fundraising conducted by the performance art community.

come out and support Berlin's performers and get the program rolling!

equally, if you're a performer yourself there is still time to apply to participate in the MAY festivities. see here for more info on getting involved. the deadline is MARCH 1.

-facilitating connections and developing actions of cooperation amongst hosting venues, curators and other independent players working in the field of Performance Art;

-promoting and drawing attention to a thriving but often overlooked community of artists and Performance Art practitioners whose work challenges, explores and embodies a multiplicity of artistic forms and languages;

-fostering innovative critical discourses and practice-based exchanges and interactions between Performance Art makers and audiences;

-documenting and therefore tracing, as well as enriching, the contemporary history of Performance Art practices existing in the city through the annual Berlin Performance Art Report.'

and if you don't have money to give because you're a struggling artist yourself, help by spreading the word and coming out in MAY to watch some of Berlin's best performers do what they do best!

read our pervious report about MPA-B and Francesca here.

they did they amazing shoulder jacket for EXO teaser video featuring KAI, who is sporting the stylish jacket. now STARSTYLING is making its way to South Korea to take on a country known for is alternative approach to everyday fashion. best of luck, and we look forward to more STARSTYLING creations!

check out the STARSTYLING website for some of Kai's more interesting creations.