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If you thought Baby Yoda was adorable, wait until you see how cute these Star Wars-themed kitchen gadgets are. Whether you want a pressure cooker or just a fun apron, there’s a nifty Star Wars version available—check out this BB-8 Instant Pot and Chewbacca apron. The best part is you won’t have to travel to a galaxy far, far away to grab these gadgets for yourself. All of these Star Wars kitchenware and cookware items are available to purchase online. Williams Sonoma even has an exclusive Star Wars collection to “fulfill your destiny and restore order to your kitchen!”

Whether you’re a Jedi through and through or your allegiance lies with the Dark Side, there’s an endless selection of devices, tools, and handy items for the kitchen that can easily show you’re a Star Wars fan. You could use lightsaber chopsticks (that actually light up) to support your soba, or a Darth Vader toaster to brand your bread, and set a Death Star kitchen timer while you relax with your favorite drink in a wine glass inspired by Princess Lea and Han Solo’s comedically romantic banter. The possibilities are truly endless!

Scroll down to check out some of the best Star Wars kitchen gadgets available to purchase right now.

Darth Vader Toaster

Uncanny Brands | $44.99

Han Solo in Carbonite Signature Roaster

Le Creuset | $1,690

R2-D2 Coffee Press

TEENKON | $15.97

Darth Vader Mug

Star Wars | $29.99

Death Star Kitchen Timer

Star Wars | $59.95

BB-8 Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot | $73.33

Millennium Falcon Waffle Maker

Williams Sonoma | $59.95

R2-D2 Popcorn Maker

Williams Sonoma | $99.95

Death Star Cheese Board

TOSCANA | $39.95

R2-D2 and C-3PO Spice Shakers

Star Wars | $39.99

“May the Fork Be With You” Fork

LAIX | $11.99

Baby Yoda Ramen Noodle Bowl and Chopsticks

Star Wars | $29.99

Star Wars Helmet Tumblers

JoyJolt | $29.95

BB-8 Beer Stein

Star Wars | $24.99

Stormtrooper Whiskey Decanter + 2 Glasses

PYPIBAWLI | $34.99

8-Piece R2-D2 Measuring Cups

ThinkGeek | $90.80

4-Piece Star Wars Cookie Cutters

LOLIROCK | $11.98

Death Star Cookie Jar

Star Wars | $49.99

Mandalorian Chip Clips

Star Wars | $17.99

Millennium Falcon Cutting Board

PromiDesign | $59.99

Lightsaber Chopsticks

Kotobukiya | $24.99

Chewbacca Apron

Williams-Sonoma | $39.95

Millennium Falcon Spatula

Star Wars | $26.99

Boba Fett Mandalorian Dinnerware Dining Set

Star Wars | $55.99

Storm Trooper Mug

Vandor | $17.85

I Love You and I Know You Stemless Wine Glasses

Star Wars Saga | $27.99

Death Star Ice Molds

Star Wars | $9.95

Lightsaber Salt & Pepper Shakers

Pangea Brands | $39.99

This article has been edited and updated.

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The world we live in is filled with exotic wildlife, and that means more than just lions and giraffes. There are a multitude of species that are lesser known to the general public and fascinating to learn more about. Redditor preggit decided to introduce a whole batch of these real animals that look like they've been Photoshopped. They come in all shapes and sizes and we couldn't help but share them.

One animal that preggit features is the maned wolf, which looks like it's a red fox that mated with a deer. But, that's not the case at all—it's actually its own type of mammal that just so happens to have a furry, lovable face with long, slender legs. Similarly, many of the weird animals below look like hybrid creatures from fantasy or folklore, making it hard to believe that they're out there in different parts of the world right now. Their appearances range from the adorable (see Raccoon Dog, below) to the absolutely terrifying (see Lamprey, below).

Whether you're familiar with most of these creatures or not, one thing is clear: there's great diversity in the animal kingdom that should be celebrated and preserved.

These weird animals are all real. How many of them did you already know?

Maned Wolf

Photo: wrangel/Depositphotos

The maned wolf is the largest canid in South America, resembling a large fox with reddish fur. This mammal is found in open and semi-open habitats, especially grasslands with scattered bushes and trees throughout South America. The maned wolf is the tallest of the wild canids and its long legs are most likely an adaptation to the tall grasslands of its native habitat.

Fossa

Photo: Chad Teer via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

The fossa is cat-like, carnivorous mammal that is endemic to Madagascar. The fossa is the largest mammalian carnivore on the island of Madagascar and has been compared to a small cougar. It has semi-retractable claws and flexible ankles that allow it to climb up and down trees head-first, and also support jumping from tree to tree.

Babirusa

Photo: Vitaly.R/Depositphotos

Babirusa, meaning “Hog-deer,” are members of the pig family found in Wallacea, or specifically the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Togian, Sula, and Buru. If a babirusa does not grind its tusks (achievable through regular activity), they will eventually keep growing so as to penetrate the animal's own skull.

Okapi

Photo: slowmotiongli/123RF

Okapi, which are endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are animals that sort of look like a Photoshop mashup. While they have the markings of a zebra, their chocolate-brown body looks more like a horse, and their faces look like a giraffe. The giraffe is actually closely related as okapi are the only other living member of the Giraffidae family. These solitary animals only come together to breed; and like giraffes, they are herbivores. Unfortunately, due to logging, hunting, and human settlement, okapi are currently listed as an endangered species.

Zebra Duiker

Photo: Kispál Attila via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The zebra duiker is a small antelope found in the Ivory Coast and other parts of Africa. They have gold or red-brown coats with distinctive zebra-like stripes (hence the name) Their prong-like horns are about 4.5 cm long in males, and half that in females. They live in lowland rainforests and mostly eat leaves and fruit.

Pink Fairy Armadillo

Photo: Cliff via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

The pink fairy armadillo is approximately 3.5-4.5 inches long, excluding the tail, and is pale rose or pink in color. It has the ability to bury itself completely in a matter of seconds if frightened. It is a nocturnal animal and it burrows small holes near ant colonies in dry soil, and feeds mainly on ants and ant larvae near its burrow. It uses large front claws to agitate the sand, allowing it to almost swim through the ground like it is water. It is torpedo-shaped and has a shielded head and back.

Platypus

Photo: phototrip/Depositphotos

While you may have heard of a platypus, have you ever seen one? It's likely that you have, as these semiaquatic mammals live in eastern Australia and Tasmania. As the only member of its family and genus, the platypus is an unusual animal that mixes many features from other mammals. It has a duck-like bill, a broad, flat tail like a beaver, waterproof fur, and skin the texture of a mole. The platypus lays eggs, making it one of five mammal species to do so. If you do happen to come across one, be careful, as the males are also venomous. They have a spur on their hind foot that releases a venom that is quite painful, even to humans.

Amazonian Royal Flycatcher

Photo: invisionphotos/123RF

The Amazonian Royal Flycatcher is found in forests and woodlands throughout most of the Amazon basin. They are about 6 1/2 inches in length and like to dart out from branches to catch flying insects or pluck them from leaves. They build very large nests (sometimes up to 6 feet long) on branches near water. The nest hangs over the water which makes it hard for predators to reach.

Pangolin

Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters – Manis pentadactyla via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Pangolins are sometimes referred to as scaly anteaters, but they actually aren't related at all. The four species of pangolins live in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. These nocturnal animals are covered in scales made of keratin—the same substance found in fingernails and toenails. They curl up into tight balls when sleeping or in a defensive position and can either live in hollow trees or burrow into deep tunnels. Their diet consists of ants and termites and they're voracious eaters. A single pangolin can eat 5 to 7 ounces of insects a day. Unfortunately, all species of pangolin are at risk due to poaching, as they are used in traditional medicine.

Gerenuk

Photo: martinpel/123RF

The gerenuk, also known as the Waller's gazelle, is a long-necked species of antelope found in dry thorn bush scrub and desert in Eastern Africa. The word gerenuk comes from the Somali language, meaning “giraffe-necked”. Gerenuks have relatively small heads for their body, but their eyes and ears are proportionately large. Gerenuks seldom graze but browse on prickly bushes and trees, such as acacias. They can reach higher branches and twigs than other gazelles and antelope by standing erect on their rear legs and stretching their elongated necks.

Patagonian Mara

Photo: Postdlf via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Patagonian Mara is a relatively large rodent found in parts of Argentina. This herbivorous, somewhat rabbit-like animal has distinctive long ears and long limbs, and its hind limbs are longer and more muscular than its forelimbs.

Aye-Aye

Photo: 25ehaag6/123RF

This long-fingered lemur (aka the aye-aye) is the world's largest nocturnal primate. Native to Madagascar, the aye-aye has incredible anatomy adapted to its way to forage for food. Much like a woodpecker uses its beak to extract food from within wood, the aye-aye effectively uses its long fingers and rodent-like teeth to do the same. It has a very thin third finger that it uses to tap wood in order to find grubs. It then uses its slanted teeth to gnaw a small hole in the wood. The aye-aye then uses its middle finger, which is its longest, to reach in and extract the grubs.

Snub-Nosed Monkey

Photo: sameashk.yahoo.com.hk/Depositphotos

Snub-nosed monkeys live in various parts of Asia and get their name from the short stump of a nose on their round face. Snub-nosed monkeys inhabit mountain forests, in the winter moving into deeply secluded regions. They spend the majority of their life in the trees and live together in very large groups of up to 600 members. They have a large vocal repertoire, calling sometimes solo while at other times together in choir-like fashion.

Tufted Deer

Photo: Heush via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Tufted Deer is a small species of deer characterized by the prominent tuft of black hair on its forehead. It is a close relative of the muntjac, living somewhat further north over a wide area of central China. It is a timid animal, mainly solitary or found in pairs and prefers places with good cover, where it is well camouflaged.

Southern Red Muntjac

Photo: Bernard Dupont via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Found in south Asia, it has soft, short, brownish or greyish hair and is omnivorous, feeding on grass, fruits, shoots, seeds, birds' eggs as well as small animals. It sometimes even displays scavenging behavior, feeding on carrion. It gives calls similar to barking, usually upon sensing a predator. Males are extremely territorial and–despite their diminutive size–can be quite fierce. They will fight each other for territory using their antlers or their tusk-like upper canine teeth, and can even defend themselves against certain predators such as dogs.

Red-Lipped Batfish

Photo: Rein Ketelaars via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

This strange fish is found off the coast of Peru and the Galapagos Islands. Looking like its wearing lipstick, the red-lipped batfish actually isn't a strong swimmer. Instead, it has developed pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins that help it “walk” across the ocean floor.

Glass Frog

Photo: macropixel/Depositphotos

Glass frogs are amphibians that belong to the Centrolenidae family. These frogs live in trees throughout the tropics in Central and South America. What makes them unusual is that some species have translucent skin that make it possible to see their inner organs. While this might not seem like effective camouflage, they have less translucent legs that can change in brightness according to the foliage they are resting on. This makes it harder to detect their outline, thus making them less vulnerable to predators. They can also hide their red blood cells inside their livers, increasing their transparency, when vulnerable. This discovery is intriguing for medical professionals, as this would cause a large clot in most animals.

Markhor

Photo: mikhail1980/123RF

The markhor is a large species of wild goat that is found in northeastern Afghanistan and Pakistan. The species is classed by the IUCN as Endangered, as there are fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. The markhor is the national animal of Pakistan. While chewing the cud, a foam-like substance comes out of its mouth which drops on the ground and dries. This foam-like substance is sought after by the local people, who believe it is useful in extracting snake poison from snake bite wounds.

Dhole

Photo: Rakeshkdogra via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The dhole is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia. The dhole is a highly social animal, living in large clans which occasionally split up into small packs to hunt. It primarily preys on medium-sized ungulates, which it hunts by tiring them out in long chases, and kills by disemboweling them. Though fearful of humans, dhole packs are bold enough to attack large and dangerous animals such as wild boar, water buffalo, and even tigers.

Irrawaddy Dolphin

Photo: chatchai/Depositphotos

The Irrawaddy dolphin is a species of oceanic dolphin found near sea coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia. Genetically, the Irrawaddy dolphin is closely related to the killer whale.

Raccoon Dog

Photo: infinityyy/123RF

The Raccoon Dog, or Tanuki, is a canid indigenous to East Asia. The raccoon dog is named for its resemblance to the raccoon, to which it is not closely related. They are very good climbers and regularly climb trees. Mainly nocturnal, they groan and growl in a pitch that resembles a housecat. And, like cats, they also arch their backs when in a defensive situation.

Cyphonia Clavata

Photo: vinisouza128/123RF

The Cyphonia Clavata is a species of treehopper that has an ant-like appendage growing out of its head that hides the treehopper's actual body from predators.

Goblin Shark

Photo: Dianne Bray / Museum Victoria via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0 AU)

Given its scary appearance, it's no surprise why the Goblin shark was given its name. This deep-sea shark is sometimes called a living fossil and is the only living member of its Family. The shark has pink skin, a long snout, and a protruding jaw filled with small, needle-like teeth. Don't worry about running into this weird marine creature, they're rarely spotted. Just a small number have unintentionally been caught by fisheries, including one measuring twenty feet long.

Sunda Colugo

Photo: thawats/123RF

Also known as the Sunda flying lemur, it is not actually a lemur and does not fly. Instead, it glides as it leaps among trees. It is strictly arboreal, is active at night, and feeds on soft plant parts such as young leaves, shoots, flowers, and fruits. The Sunda Coluga can be found throughout Southeast Asia in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Yeti Crab

Photo: Andrew Thurber, Oregon State University via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Also known as the Kiwaidae, this crab is a type of marine decapod living at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. The animals are commonly referred to as “yeti crabs” because of their claws and legs, which are white and appear to be furry like the mythical yeti.

Star-Nosed Mole

Photo: US National Parks Service via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

The star-nosed mole is a small mole found in wet low areas of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. It is easily identified by the 11 pairs of pink fleshy appendages ringing its snout, which is used as a touch organ with more than 25,000 tiny sensory receptors, known as Eimer's organs, with which this hamster-sized mole feels its way around.

Lamprey

Photo: alexeykonovalenko/123RF

The lamprey is a type of jawless fish that live mostly in coastal and fresh waters whose adults are characterized by a toothed, funnel-like sucking mouth. They attach themselves to fish and suck their blood. Lampreys have been around for nearly 300 million years and their body structure has remained relatively unchanged.

Naked Mole Rat

Photo: Jedimentat44 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Naked mole rats have a lot of characteristics that make them very important to human beings. For one they are resistant to cancer. They also live up to 28 years, which is unheard of in mammals of their size. The naked mole rat seemingly does not age much in those 28 years either. It remains “young, healthy and fully fertile for almost all its days, which for an elderly animal is equivalent to an 80-year-old woman having the biological make-up of someone 50 years younger.” The naked mole rat is used in both cancer research and the study of aging. Not only making it a bizarre creature but an incredibly important creature as well.

This article has been edited and updated.

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READ: 28 Strange Animals You Didn’t Know Existed

 

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The fashion world lost a beloved titan this week. Fashion editor, journalist, stylist, and all-around icon André Leon Talley has died at the age of 73 on January 18, 2022. He had a series of health struggles lately including a heart attack due to complications with COVID-19. He passed away at a hospital in White Plains, NY.

There’s an outpouring of love and memories being shared of the legend from the fashion and entertainment industries, since his death has been announced. There’s no denying that Talley’s impact reached far and wide and his larger-than-life appearance has left a lasting impression. He had a signature style that transcended generations. Known for his fashionably loud caftans that draped over his 6-foot 6-inch frame, Talley was a true fashion giant that will be greatly missed.

Who was André Leon Talley?

 

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To simply summarize Talley as a fashion editor or even as the editor-at-large of U.S. Vogue would be a great disservice to his memory and his impact. André Leon Talley, often referred to as ALT, was a pioneering icon in the fashion world who shattered glass ceilings. He has earned his “legend” status by not only helping to shape fashion for decades, but also by paving the way for other Black people to enter a primarily white industry at the top. His presence and determination has been an inspiration to many over the years.

Being a sexually fluid Black man, ALT had endured his fair share of homophobia and racism. In his memoir—The Chiffon Trenches, published in 2020—he wrote: “To my 12-year-old self, raised in the segregated South, the idea of a Black man playing any kind of role in this world seemed an impossibility. To think of where I’ve come from, where we’ve come from, in my lifetime, and where we are today, is amazing. And, yet, of course, we still have so far to go.”

Legacy

Talley’s long and accomplished résumé can easily be found on Google—Ivy League grad, editor, journalist, stylist, creative director, TV personality, author, etc.—but it’s what he’s done in his positions of power that has made the most significant impact on an often elitist industry. For instance, in 1996, ALT cast Naomi Campbell as Scarlett O’Hara in a reimagining of Gone With the Wind for a Vanity Fair photo shoot. This was clearly making a huge statement on racism.

 

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In addition to his creative direction on photo shoots, he’s helped launch careers for other people of color who may otherwise not have been given a chance. He introduced First Lady Michelle Obama to a then-fairly unknown Taiwanese Canadian fashion designer named Jason Wu, who has dressed the first lady many times since and has grown to make a name for himself.

To learn more about Talley, there’s a documentary about his remarkable life called The Gospel According to André; and his memoir The Chiffon Trenches.

 

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André Leon Talley: Instagram

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

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Clint Eastwood

Jeans have a long history in fashion, but they weren’t always seen as trendy or even an acceptable article of clothing to wear as a respectable member of society. Originally, denim was used in outfits made for working-class people, which is evidenced in 17th-century paintings from Northern Italy. So how did jeans become so mainstream and even fashionable? London-based artist Ian Berry attributes this to style icons over the last century. In an aptly titled series—Denim Legends—the artist explores who these fashion-forward figures are and even plainly asks, Who is your Denim Legend?

“A denim legend for me personally,” Berry tells My Modern Met, “is someone who by wearing denim—or by wearing it a different way—made a movement for many thousands and millions to ‘copy.’ It’s hard for many of us to imagine a time when jeans were not the go-to item in their wardrobe, but people like James Dean, Marlon Brando, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe, by wearing it, set off a spark that meant we all would today. That is quite something.”

As a sturdy material, denim proved to be the preferred textile for hard laborers—such as farmhands and railway workers—but as Berry says, people like James Dean in the 1950s changed the narrative of the material. He turned jeans into a fashion statement. Wearing jeans was now equated with “being cool” or even a “bad boy.” By the 1970s, bellbottom jeans were all the rage; in the 80s, denim was a staple of the punk and hip hop revolutions; and in the 90s, ripped jeans led the grunge aesthetic.

“There may be many people today known for wearing jeans, or for having a specific denim look,” Berry elaborates. “While they may inspire some people to copy them, the majority were already wearing jeans. Yeah, they can be legends and perhaps time may judge them as such, but I’m interested in the people that made this rural workwear the material of the urban street.”

Madonna

For Denim Legends, Berry is presenting approximately 60 portraits made entirely of denim. Each creation is an expertly crafted amalgamation of various denim hues, resulting in a realistic—albeit blue filtered—depiction of a pop culture denim influencer. Berry is unveiling each piece, one by one, and even asking the public for its input. The final icon will be determined by a democratic process—aka online voting. The only catch is that he’s taken four icons out of the running because they are “obvious and always documented”—Dean, Brando, Monroe, and Elvis—and he’s seeking to get a wider range of names.

If you have a denim legend—or a few icons—in mind, you can submit your selection(s) via this online form. The series will continue to be unveiled online, but the public will also be able to see Denim Legends in person. The series will be featured as part of Berry’s Material World exhibit at Textil Museet in Sweden opening October 23, 2021 and running through May 1, 2022.

If you’d like to learn more about Berry’s creative process and the way he transforms denim, take a listen to his episode on the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast.

Artist Ian Berry is known for working exclusively in denim, transforming the sturdy material into artistic portraits.

Bob Marley

In his latest series, titled Denim Legends, the artist explores the fashion icons that made denim what it is today—a mainstream material that almost everyone owns and wears.

Brooke Shields

John Wayne

From cowboys to supermodels, there have been many stylish influencers who helped to make jeans fashionable.

Steve McQueen

So now Berry is now asking the public: Who is your Denim Legend?

Miles Davis

Gene Autry

You can submit your answer online.

Gina Lollobrigida

Gary Cooper

Ian Berry: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Ian Berry.

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READ: Artist Hand-Makes Portraits of “Denim Legends” Entirely Out of Jeans

Street art comes in many forms, but none are nearly as explosive as the work of Alexandre Farto, aka Vhils. The Portuguese visual artist has captivated art enthusiasts around the world over the last 15 years with his unique techniques. Instead of adding paint or Wheatpaste posters to urban edifices, Vhils opts to subtract from the buildings themselves. For years, he’s been using everything from scalpels and chisels to drills, jackhammers, and even explosives to tear away at crumbling walls, revealing realistically etched faces of locals and often marginalized people.

His latest project, called The End of the Industrial Era, explores the dilapidated buildings of Barreiro, a massive rust-belt area in Portugal where Vhils was born and raised. Once again, the artist uses explosives to instantaneously reveal the face of a local person. The image, which is based on an archived photo of a local factory worker, flashes in a split-second, quickly followed by the demolition of the entire structure it appears on.

This whole unveiling and undoing took place within about two seconds, but Vhils was able to capture it all from multiple angles with the use of a lens of a ballistic camera that films at 2,000 frames per second. Through video, Vhils is able to immortalize his impermanent work. And now he’s eternalizing his ephemeral art further with NFTs. The explosion and implosion video will be released by Nifty Gateway—a digital art auction platform for non-fungible tokens that began a partnership with the auction house Sotheby’s—on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. It will include one open edition and three limited editions.

In addition to the Rust Belt video, there were be several Detritus NFTs featuring stone fragments from the explosion. The debris from the spectacle were “collected, laser and hand carved with several images that represent us all in small fragments as fossils of our life today, testifying the impact that all these transformations have in our suspended life as we all wait for what the future will bring us.” This sale will also include a physical piece given for free.

Keep an eye on Nifty Gateway on June 23 for Vhils’ explosive NFTs. Want to hear more from this incredible artist? Listen to our exclusive chat with Vhils on My Modern Met's Top Artist Podcast.

World-renowned street artist Vhils used demolition explosives to turn an old building into an ephemeral work of art.

“The End of the Industrial Era” (Explosion)

Once his desired image of a local factory worker was blasted onto the façade, it was almost immediately demolished.

“The End of the Industrial Era” (Implosion)

Now, both the video of the explosion/implosion and digitized chunks of debris from the wreckage are being auctioned off as NFTs.

Detritus #1

Detritus #4

Detritus #8

Watch the explosion and implosion in slow motion:

Vhils: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Nifty Gateway: Website | Instagram | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to feature media by Vhils.

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The year 2020 was a challenging one for everyone around the world and it presented a unique set of obstacles for artists to overcome. For London-based Ian Berry, who has masterfully worked exclusively in denim for the last 15 years, the COVID-19 pandemic put an unexpected halt to his creative schedule. As a professional artist whose workflow includes photo shoots for him to capture original images to recreate in denim, all of his sessions had to be canceled. And with a number of upcoming museum exhibits expecting new work, Berry had to take quick action and inspiration from his limited surroundings.

Berry, who had been exploring themes of isolation for many years, found yet another opportunity to expound on this universal state of solitariness and loneliness being felt all across the globe at the same time. Just before the lockdown, he was working on a mid-career retrospective show that featured a number of photorealistic denim pieces that displayed lonely scenes in public and private places—a woman having a drink by herself at a bar, a single person at the laundromat, someone sitting by themselves on a staircase in a big, empty home. Quarantine proved to be the perfect continuation of this theme that many more people could relate to, now more than ever.

“I was building on Behind Closed Doors for the show,” Berry tells My Modern Met, “but all the shoots were canceled. They were to be at some quite well-known people’s homes. But it dawned on me, when I lived in Sweden, I would fly to London to take photos to work from. When I moved to London, I would go to LA. I think I suddenly realized a lot more of what was around me—be it a little forced by lockdowns. And then life imitated art.”

Rather than focusing on other people’s homes or public social grounds, Berry narrowed his scope to his very own quarters. Thus, Lockdown Living Room was born. Again working exclusively with jeans, the brilliant artist went about recreating his entire living room in denim. Everything from the rug, couch, and lounge chair to the wall paintings, plants, and records are made of varying shades of the durable textile. There is indescribable depth and texture to each creation, gained through skillfully shaping and layering old jeans. Every piece is a three-dimensional work of art on its own.

As with any of Berry’s installations, photos do not do his work justice. Arnoud van Aalst, director of Museum Rijswijk, says, “Once we got to his gallery and saw the show, our jaws just dropped. The social engagement was clear as day, but when you zoom into the details of each piece you realize that they are all built up with layers and layers of denim—something that is not clear on a photograph.”

Berry’s show, titled Splendid Isolation, is currently on display at Museum Rijswijk in The Netherlands. Despite taking a pause earlier in the year, you can now purchase timed tickets via the museum’s website. Later in the year, he will be showing at Textil Museet in Sweden.

While stuck in lockdown, UK-based artist Ian Berry took creative inspiration from his immediate surroundings.

The brilliant artist recreated his entire living room in denim.

Ian Berry: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Ian Berry.

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Artist Ian Berry is no stranger to working with denim. His vast portfolio of art is a testament to how skilled he is at transforming the rugged fabric into a multitude of multi-layered visual scenes—from a laundromat lined with machines to a poolside view of a Californian hotel to a “secret garden” installation filled with denim foliage. Amidst the global pandemic, however, he has opted for a simpler image with an arguably deeper meaning—a pair of clapping hands.

Inspired by the way fellow Londoners and others in the UK have clapped for frontline workers every night at 8pm, Berry decided to create a powerful show of solidarity with essential workers in the form of hands, while using his signature medium of choice. This piece was particularly special because he collaborated with his six-year-old son, Elliott. The boy took photos of his father’s hands, which were then translated in denim. It started off as a way for the duo to send a message of gratitude and spread love to family and friends via printed cards, but it evolved into much more.

London

More than a single work of art, Berry turned this collaborative piece into a campaign titled I Clap For, with an intent to share his heartfelt sentiment across the world. “It began with an idea between father and son,” Berry explains. “Now the aim for ‘I Clap For’ is to create a platform to create a community and message of thanks during the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing on past this moment in time to remember all of those who risked their lives on the frontlines.”

Berry has managed to involve the entire world in his artistic show of gratitude, thanks to Elliott’s idea of using a projector. The two began by beaming the image of clapping hands from their balcony in London. From there, it took off and has now been projected all across the UK—from Edinburgh to Manchester to Plymouth—and beyond, including the U.S., Mexico, Italy, Sweden, and Brazil. To make it even more collaborative, I Clap For has launched a website where people around the world can submit who they clap for. This interactive element manifests through digital projections or simply by living on the inspiring project’s website.

Angel of the North

In addition to I Clap For, Berry has now included his clapping hands in an initiative called #PinYourThanks. This is another way for people to show their gratitude to frontline workers, especially those in the UK. #PinYourThanks has asked a number of artists and celebrities to design pins (being called “The People’s Medal”) that are now being sold to the public in an effort to show thanks and raise funds for charities like NHS Charities Together. Berry’s clapping hands pin is joined by designs from the likes of Keira Knightley, Ringo Starr, David James, and more.

To purchase your own pin, head over to the #PinYouThanks website. And even though the clapping at 8pm has ended in the UK, I Clap For still has more gratitude to promote. The project is set to have an encore on July 5. If you have a projector and a safe spot to project, you can download the file to project on I Clap For’s website.

Ian Berry and his 6-year-old son Elliott created a brilliant way to say “Thanks” to frontline works amid the global pandemic.

 

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A post shared by Ian Berry (@ianberry.art) on May 28, 2020 at 11:30am PDT

They turned Berry's clapping hands into a beautiful symbol of gratitude that's now been projected all over the world.

Brixton

Cardiff

London

Edinburgh

Angel of the North

Angel of the North

Boston, USA

Brazil

Bristol

Greenwich

Loch Ness

Manchester

Blackpool

This symbolic gesture is also a pin now in an effort to raise funds for charities benefitting frontline workers.

 

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A post shared by Pin Your Thanks (@pinyourthanks) on Jun 3, 2020 at 3:06am PDT

Other contributors include, music icon Ringo Starr…

 

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A post shared by Pin Your Thanks (@pinyourthanks) on Jun 5, 2020 at 11:44am PDT

Footballer David James…

 

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A post shared by Pin Your Thanks (@pinyourthanks) on Jun 4, 2020 at 3:59am PDT

…and actor Keira Knightley

 

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A post shared by Pin Your Thanks (@pinyourthanks) on Jun 4, 2020 at 12:01pm PDT

Ian Berry: Website | Facebook | Instagram
I Clap For: Website
Pin Your Thanks: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Ian Berry.

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I Had To Stop For The Night // Denim on Denim | 61 x 122 cm | 2019

The Golden State of California is getting a reimagining in a wave of blue hues thanks to denim artist Ian Berry. The London-based artist was in sunny San Francisco putting up a large installation, when a trip down to LA made him recognize and truly appreciate the atmosphere and energy of his surroundings. “There is something about the brightness there, the ambition, the positive vibes,” Berry tells My Modern Met, “and in some ways it was a break from Brexit Britain for me.” This is where his concept for his next artistic series, aptly titled Hotel California, began.

“As an ‘80s child I also love California, and LA,” Berry admits. “You think of the films, the positivity for the future. It was upbeat. I started there but then declined, so, a little like Hotel California…” This dichotomy of feelings about a single location is perfectly exemplified by the cobalt, sapphire, navy tones of his art, made entirely of jeans. It’s as though you’re looking at hotels with pools and resort lounge chairs, palm trees in the distance—all under a blue filter. They’re quintessential images of that proverbial “Cali life”…but completely submerged.

Much like the Eagles song “Hotel California,” there is a duality to these seemingly relaxing scenes. As the song states, “This could be heaven or this could be Hell,” such is the case for Berry’s blue locales. Is it a silent oasis or a lonely abyss?

The Roosevelt, LA // Denim on Denim | 90 x 122 cm | 2019

Shimmering Light // Denim on Denim | 70×70 | 2019

Regardless of how one interprets each piece, there’s one common conclusion: Berry is a master of his craft. It’s hard to believe that every inch of each creation is made entirely of jeans. Having sourced his denim from various people, places, brands, and mills all around the world, he manages to manipulate the sturdy fabric to mimic depth, shadow, light, shape, tone, texture, and everything in between.

“With my work I'm always challenging myself with the way light hits things,” Berry tells us, “and I try to be like a photorealistic painter, just with denim not paint.” We’ve seen this gifted artist recreate the sheen of metal on a train, the intricate patterns of parquet flooring, and the typography of a traditional diner’s fluorescent signage, but his latest challenge may be the most impressive of all—water reflections.

When asked about this new aspect of his series, Berry gushes, “The ripples of the water and the reflections were actually really enjoyable to make, labor intensive and slow, but I love the way I can get the denim to work for me with the gradients.” The biggest challenge, he laments, is when he takes creative liberties with his images (for which he uses photographic references). “For instance, if you put something in, you should have a reflection, or even worse, ripples connected to it, so that is a big challenge.” In the end, his skill, patience, and keen eye for all shades of blue have resulted in a remarkable series.

Hotel California is currently on view in London at Catto Gallery through July 28, 2019.

Artist Ian Berry works exclusively in denim to reimagine California completely in blue.

Pool Study 1 | Tiles // Denim on Denim | 70×70 | 2019

Pool Study 2 | Donut // Denim on Denim | 2019

Pool Study 2 | Donut (detail)

He layers all different shades of jeans to create his remarkably photorealistic images.

And Still The Voices Are Calling From Far Away // Denim on Denim | 120 x 120 | 2019

And Still The Voices Are Calling From Far Away (detail)

My Head Grew Heavy And My Sight Grew Dim // Denim on Denim | 180 x 90 | 2019

My Head Grew Heavy And My Sight Grew Dim (detail)

To The Place I Was Before // Denim on Denim | 61 x 122 | 2019

To The Place I Was Before (detail)

Such A Lovely Place // Denim on Denim | 63.2 x 122 | 2019

Hotel California // Denim on Denim | 70 x 70 cm | 2019

Ian Berry: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Ian Berry.

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When we last spoke with Vainius Kubilius, the gifted artist was embarking on a new creative career as a sculptor and lighting designer with his incredible Nymphs lamps, made out of coconut shells. Now, nearly three years later, he has not only successfully been running his business this whole time, but also refining his skills and expanding his team. “After your article,” Kubilius tells My Modern Met in an email, “I’ve been featured on many different news outlets, found thousands of people who appreciate handcrafted lamps as much as I do, and delivered over 2,000 light pieces worldwide, helping me raise enough funds to gather a team of highly talented people and start re-designing my creations into something truly astonishing.”

More than your typical sort of home decor, Kubilius’ lamps provide a unique escape through light design. It’s like a spectacular light show in your living room, bedroom, whatever room you chose to display it in. Much like his first series, the artist’s new series of lamps offer a feast for the eyes. But before we dive into his newest work, it’s important to revisit Kubilius’ older series to fully appreciate his growth. Initially, the sculptor worked exclusively with coconut shells, taking a few days to complete each one. Realizing this process was far too time-consuming—making it more expensive for clients—he made quick changes to his techniques and materials, without sacrificing quality or aesthetic. “We left the essential design and body form but changed every component of the lamp for the better,” he says.

Now, instead of coconut shells, Kubilius and his team use dried gourds. “There are a few reasons why we did this,” he tells us. “Firstly, since we create about a hundred lamps a month, it became a nightmare trying to find beautiful, round, large coconuts. Most of them are weird shaped and small. We started using dried gourds because all of them are completely round and larger than coconut shells, which gives us more space to create more elaborate patterns. The second reason is that we wanted to include engravings into our lamps (half drilled parts that glow red when lit). We find it an extremely beautiful detail.”

The light artist explains further: “The lampshades are made from gourds with more detail and precision than before, when they were made from coconuts. We started using higher quality faux suede and improved techniques for preparing it. We started using magnets to hold the lampshades instead of corks, which were not very durable. Not only does it improve durability but putting the lampshade on and off is just such a cool feeling. We rethought all of the creating processes to speed it up; so after all these upgrades and improvements, the lamp price did not rise but actually dropped and it became more affordable for many.” And to top it all off, what once took several days to complete is now done in 6-8 hours.

Kubilius owes a huge debt of gratitude to world famous gourd artist Calabarte. “He lives in Poland and we are based in Lithuania—the distance between us is not large so we started meeting up and became good friends,” Kubilius enthuses. “He has shared his 8-year experience in creating complex patterns in a simple but precise way, gave us tips on how to avoid and solve problems that we had to face during the creative process. Without him, this collection would not be as high quality as it is now.”

Kubilius is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to help fund his handcrafted pieces. Though the project has already exceeded its goal by more than three times, you can still get your own set of Nymphs lamps through the campaign’s perks. As an added bonus, you can help light up this map the artist’s team has created, marking every place their lamps have shipped to.

Sculptor Vainius Kubilius handcrafts beautifully detailed lamps made out of gourds.

The Nymphs collection gourd lamps are hand-carved and drilled to allow light to flourish on the adjacent walls and ceiling.

Each exquisite lamp design carved into the dried gourds turn an ordinary room into a relaxing oasis.

Kubilius has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help raise funds for his latest collection.

The gourd lamps come in a variety of designs and will be shipping internationally.

“We even made a map where we dotted each lamp sold worldwide to see how our lights create a global light pattern and make the world a brighter place.”

Nymphs: Website | Facebook | Kickstarter
Calabarte: Website | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Vainius Kubilius.

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Animated gifs seem to be everywhere these days, but some gif creators are taking the visual experience of viewing quick clips of silent motion to another level. By carefully adding a couple of solid-colored (typically white), vertical lines to the moving images, an incredible three-dimensional effect is created. As characters and objects move into the foreground, they seemingly extend beyond the barrier of the image.

The solid, dividing strips serve as visual markers for the foreground. Once anything breaks out in font of them, blocking the view of the white dividers, the viewer's brain immediately translates this as a three-dimensional scene. The best 3D gif creators take note of this effect and tend to choose scenes from movies and clips from videos in which something is initially in the background and makes its way into the foreground—whether it be a person, animal, monster, or projectile object.

With the addition of simple vertical lines, ordinary animated images are transformed into amazing 3d gifs.

h/t: [ViralNova, Tumblr]

This post has been updated.

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