Author: Igor

Arista

Arista is a project by mother and daughter duo Milagros Matos and Valentina Alvarado Matos. From Venezuela and Barcelona, Milagros and Valentina run this online store stocking unique creations by artisans from around the globe. We chat with them to find out more about how this interesting project started.

Could you please introduce yourselves and tell us about your backgrounds?

Milagros: I live in Venezuela and have always been surrounded by art and design in some kind of way. In the 60s, I lived in Europe for 10 years and worked in cinema and arts.

Valentina: I currently live in Barcelona and work in visual arts.

Tell us a little bit more about Arista. How did it all start?

Valentina: We, as a family, thought it would be a beautiful and intimate idea to start a project where objects and crafts were involved. It’s quite normal for me to think about my childhood and remember the African masks, huipil tunics from Guatemala and other traditional objects that my mom and dad had at home.

Milagros: As the name indicates, Arista seeks the intersection of different levels and in this particular case, disciplines. We love travelling and we consume culture and reflect this through the objects that we collect: handmade, unique editions of accessories, decorative objects and homeware.

How do you choose the artisans and products you sell in your store?

Valentina: We started with Venezuelan artisans for an obvious reason – it’s our land. We have always been in contact with wayuu artisans and are truly admirers of their hard work, colour palettes and ways of weaving, patterning and working. We also have a long research list for another destinations we’d like feature in our store in the future.

What are your favourite souvenirs from your trips?

Valentina: Definitely spices to cook – they are a must to take back with you when travelling. The fresh and carefully picked ras el hanout you can buy from a local market Morrocco, you’ll never find it in Barcelona. We also like to bring textiles with us from our trips.

What are Arista’s plans for the upcoming months?

Milagros: Keep on travelling in order to keep collecting folk treasures. We have like an anthropological object fetish: we travel, explore, talk and do research about certain cultures and their objects and we start thinking about including them in our catalogue. Also and most importantly, partnering with local artisans in order to make foundation projects for their communities. In this first case, with La Goajira in Venezuela.

May 23, 2016
Salone del Mobile 2016

Our contributing photographer Teresa Enhiak Nanni, who recently photographed Fridabike for our Stories, takes us around Milan during the last edition of Salone del Mobile, which took place last month. Teresa captured some of the exhibits and displays, as well as buildings that are rarely open to the public and everyday moments happening during this international design fair.

www.cargocollective.com/teresaenhiaknanni

“The photos above were taken in the area known as ‘5vie’ in the heart and historical centre of Milan. The project ‘5VIE Art + Design’ wants to develop history, culture and innovation in this area”.

“Ventura is the name of a quiet street in the Lambrate district. It is a street lined with rusty garages, an old radio station, white-painted galleries and gigantic factory halls once used for building snowploughs. The area was a rough diamond, which hardly anyone would have noticed a few years ago.”

“The Porta Genova district is the most popular area during the Fuori Salone – a mix between historical buildings and modern art.”

“The Albergo Diurno di Porta Venezia is an elegant and functional service centre for travellers built between 1923 and 1925, and designed by Piero Portaluppi. It was open during the week of Fuori Salone.”

“The Chiostri di San Simpliciano is an oasis in the middle of the city, ideal for resting between walks around the fair.”

May 17, 2016
8 Reasons To Consider Hiring A Personal Trainer
Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash

If you’re considering hiring a personal trainer but you’re not sure, you have definitely come to the right place. As it’s not a decision to be taken lightly, you need to be a personal trainer is the right step for you and your fitness journey. Whether you’re struggling to lose weight or you’re trying to recover from an injury, you need to find your ‘WHY’ before you begin. With that in mind, here are 8 reasons to consider hiring a personal trainer:

What is A Personal Trainer?

Before we get started, you may be asking, what exactly is a personal trainer? Well, a personal trainer is an individual that is certified when it comes to fitness. They will have a varying degree of knowledge when it comes to general fitness, putting them in the best position to motivate you by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability. Whilst every personal trainer is different, their ultimate goal is to ensure your fitness levels improve during your time with them.

How Can You Hire One?

When it comes to hiring a personal trainer, there are a number of different ways you can do so. One of the most common, of course, is hiring a personal trainer through your gym. As they’ll have trained PTs ready to work with you immediately, this is often the most popular choice with people that already have a gym membership. If you don’t have a gym membership, you can hire a personal trainer privately. For a guide to hiring a personal trainer, you can visit this site here.

Reasons To Consider Hiring A Personal Trainer (personal trainer course)
- You’re Struggling To Make Progress At The Gym
If you’re struggling to make progress at the gym and you can’t seem to pinpoint why, then a personal trainer may be the best option. They will be able to take a look at the exercises you’re currently doing, advising you as to whether or not they’re right for you. They’ll give a detailed plan of what you should be doing, giving you the opportunity to results within weeks.
- You’re Training For A Specific Event
If you’re training for an event and don’t think you’re going to be ready in time, hiring a personal trainer could ensure you’re at the level you need to be in order to take part. If you give them details about the event you’re doing and the skills you need to have in order to complete it, they will be able to get you to the level you need to be within your time limit. Whilst you need more than a few weeks notice, this can often be done in record time.
- You’re Trying To Recover From An Injury
If you have experienced an injury and you want to build your strength, a personal trainer will be able to help you through your rehabilitation process. Ensure you’re giving them all of the details the doctors gave you in terms of your ability to move, as otherwise, they may push you further than you can handle. Whilst that may be a good thing, some people find it hinders them rather than helps them.
- You’re Looking To Lose Weight Fast
For those that want to lose weight fast, a personal trainer is a great option. If you give them a good idea about your goals and how much you want to lose, they will be able to put you on a meal and exercise plan that ensure you hit your goals well before you’ve planned. If you need extra support, they’ll most likely be at hand for you to message whenever you need them.
- You’re After One-One-One Training At The Gym
Although you may have been going to the gym for years, some one-on-one training may benefit you more than you realise. As it’s really easy to get stuck in your ways, having a personal trainer there to switch things up could change your routine for the better. For tips and tricks when it comes to switching up your routine, you can visit this site here.
- You’re Unsure What The Best Programme For You Is
If you have been attending the gym for a while and you still don’t know what exercise and diet programme is best for you, working with a personal trainer for a couple of months can really help. Looking at your current routine, your goals and your fitness levels will allow them to create a tailored programme for you to follow.
- You’re Thinking Of Becoming A Personal Trainer Too
If you’re thinking of becoming a personal trainer and you’re looking at personal trainer course costs, hiring a personal trainer to give you extra advice could really help. Whether you’ve hired one before or you want to work with someone who is widely successful in the industry, you need to ensure you’re learning from the best. They’ll be able to give you tips and tricks when it comes to being a personal trainer, advising you of the best possible route to take once you pass your course. If you’re lucky, they may even be able to offer you a chance to do work-experience or shadow them as they work.
- You’re After Long-Term Results
Finally, if you’re after long term results when it comes to your fitness, a personal trainer is definitely the best route to take. They will be able to create the best possible programme, ensuring you have results that last for years to come. Whilst you can’t carry out the programme and stop after a couple of months, the aim is to instil the values and practices within you so that it no longer feels you’re on a strict diet and exercise plan. Instead, it becomes a part of your life that you love and enjoy which will improve your overall quality of life even as you get older.

Are you thinking of hiring a personal trainer? What made you make that decision? Let us know in the comments section below.
May 11, 2016
Small Bodies of the Solar System

We’ve talked about the work of Antwerp-based designer Stephanie Specht before here on our blog. She has now collaborated with artist and designer Lilit Asiryan and potter Thomas Salzer to create Small Bodies of the Solar System, a capsule collection of tableware and graphics inspired by fluid shapes and everyday functionality.

The pieces reflect the creative clash of ideas between the three of them, mingling timeless craft with free artistry drawing inspiration from space and nature. All pieces are made using clay from Swedish soil, taking inspiration from the the shape of moons and asteroids present in the solar system.

The mix of craft, art, graphics and illustration reflect the three artists’ creative heritage. The collection includes jugs, cups, coffee pots, letter holders and posters, and every piece is one of a kind and produced in a very limited edition.

Small Bodies of the Solar System will be presented at Studio Specht in Antwerp on June the 17th and the collection will be available to purchase on the website below.

‪www.asiryan.com

May 3, 2016
Estefania Clotti

Estefania Clotti is an Argentinian artist creating colourful drawings and paintings filled with different characters and inspired by social reality and her own platonic universe. We chatted with Estefania to find out more about her work, background and future plans.

www.facebook.com/DibujosdeEcloT

Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background and education.

My name is Estefania Clotti and I was born in Rosario, Argentina. I studied Cinema and Animation, but I think my ‘big education’ took place at high school where I learned about the different languages of art. I also find important the education I received from the workshops, drawing and painting classes – they had a great influence on my work.

When did you become interested in drawing?

I started drawing when I was studying cinema. Back then, I started to do the storyboards and concepts for shots and I realised that it was the thing I liked the most about my course. After that, I attended animation school and never stopped drawing and creating animated short films.

How would you describe your work?

I consider my work ‘free’ and with no prejudices or, at least, that’s what I try to communicate with it. Lines, points… everything comes from experimentation. I like to play with it and change the pencils and paints; use different materials such as wood, cardboard and paper; try different formats from big to tiny; experiment with fanzines, animations, comics.. everything in the graphic world inspires me and allows me to constantly develop my work.

What inspires your illustrations?

I have two sources of inspiration that sometimes merge, but typically I get inspired by social reality, which I associate with cleaner lines with very little colour and the second inspiration is more introspective and related to my platonic, ideal world, with lots of colour and invented characters.

Is there any project you’re working on at the moment? What are your future plans?

I’m currently working on an animation and a series of large format paintings and drawings. The idea is to display them in different locations across the city. In the future I’d like to publish a book with all my works.

April 26, 2016