http://www.psfk.com Your Go-To Source For New Ideas And Inspiration Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:40:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.psfk.com/2009/10/the-everyday-art-of-domingos-totora.html Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:11:02 +0000 Domingos Tótora creates his designs from material such as used cardboard and kraft paper, bringing together beauty, form and function, with nature as his constant inspiration.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/09/bicycle-beats-helicopter.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:50:32 +0000 The São Paulo Intermodal Challenge was simple: get from point A to point B as quickly as possible – during rush hour – using the mode of transportation of your choice.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/09/soul-sampa-unique-custom-tours-of-sao-paulo.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:19:57 +0000 Soul Sampa creates fresh, customized “urban experiences” related to sustainability in terms of design, fashion, street art and music.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/08/asboasnovas-constructive-journalism-focused-on-good-news.html Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:45:27 +0000 It’s no secret that we are all suffering from information overload. How much of this information we can actually process effectively is a great question, yet another point worth noting is the negative impact that recurring bad news can have on mental well-being. Concerned with this phenomenon, a group of young entrepreneurs in Brazil decided to follow the steps of GNN (Good News Network) and many others worldwide and inject some positive vibes into the Brazilian digital news feed. And so AsBoasNovas (The Good News) came to life. AsBoasNovas goes beyond aggregating news from other channels – it has itsRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/08/transforming-sao-paulo-one-building-at-a-time.html Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:33:59 +0000 Probably the most prominent name among Brazilian architects today, Isay Weinfeld, is transforming São Paulo – one building at a time. A son of Polish immigrants, Weinfeld was born and raised in the city that now hosts most of his world-acclaimed projects, such as the Fasano Hotel and the 360o Building, which has recently received the MIPIM Architecture Review Future Project Award for best residential and overall project. Famous for his contemporary style, he believes that architecture must cause some emotion, whether it’s fear, comfort or even a big laugh. His projects are not about the monumental dimensions that madeRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/08/super-cool-market-cool-and-conscious-clothing-exchange.html Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:18:34 +0000 Where some people see crisis, others see opportunity. The three partners of Super Cool Market, a new clothing store in the Vila Madalena neighborhood in São Paulo, fall into the latter category . The business model (which drew inspiration from the Buffalo Exchange) may not be new, but makes a lot of sense: premium clothes at a reasonable price, which can get even more affordable if you’re willing to trade in some of your own clothes. For those interested in quick cash: they evaluate what you brought in and pay you immediately- if your clothes are in good condition and reasonablyRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/07/an-invitation-to-smile.html Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:23:31 +0000 Vila Madalena is a well-known neighborhood in São Paulo, Brasil,  famous for its artist studios, galleries, bars, restaurants, and cultural centers. A true panoply of humanity walks its buzzing streets every day. PSFK associate Mandalah, a behavioral trends and innovation boutique headquartered in Vila Madalena, wanted to contribute to this community spirit, and decided to turn its front gate into a canvas of words and phrases to inspire passers-by. These range from quotes from Mahatma Gandhi (“Be the change you want to see in the world.”), to words in Sanskrit (like sat nam, meaning “in search of true identity”, orRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/07/rest-relax-slow-down-art-or-uban-spam.html Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:25:03 +0000 On Monday, 13th of July, some landmarks of the city of São Paulo were decorated with giant letters that spelled words such as “Descanse” (Rest), “Relaxe” (Relax) and “Calma” (Slow Down). The purpose of this artistic intervention, created by the Coletivo BijaRi, was to encourage some reflection in the midst of the urban chaos that is São Paulo and offer a feeling of peace and tranquility to the population. But on the very next day, the Mayor of the city had the words removed alleging it was not an artistic intervention, but subliminal advertisement and therefore against the law. TheRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/07/clean-public-transport.html Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:22:35 +0000 At first sight, it looks like an ordinary bus. The difference is only noticed when it comes nearer and one hears no sound, and doesn´t see the usual black smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. Latin America´s first hydrogen powered public transport bus took the streets of São Paulo on July 1st. The project has been under development since 2004 and is the result of different partnerships, including with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and UNDP Brazil. The hydrogen bus will be tested during two months before being incorporated into the regular fleet. The goal is to have 4 hydrogenRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/06/geometry-of-ruins.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:10 +0000 Brazilian art continues to gain exposure throughout the world, and the latest example of this trend is in the exhibit “Geometry of Ruins”, by Andrezza Valentin and Guilherme Marcondes, currently being held at Flux Salon in Venice, California. Andrezza is a young artist who has already participated in more than 20 collective exhibitions in Australia, France, Germany, USA and Singapore – and was part of one of the most important and experimental art galleries in South America, Galeria Vermelho. Guilherme is considered one of Brazil’s most promising young filmmakers. His short film “Tyger” won more than 20 awards around theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/06/greenpeace-report-impacts-illegal-cattle-producers-in-the-amazon.html Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:45:59 +0000 Less than two weeks after the release of the Greenpeace report “Slaughtering the Amazon”, which analyzes the Amazon cattle industry, Brazil’s three largest supermarket chains, Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Pão de Açúcar, decided to suspend contracts with suppliers found to be involved with deforestation in the region. Furthermore, the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets (Abras) stated that guidelines will be developed to prevent that from happening again, and independent auditing will be allowed to ensure that cattle products are sourced only from legally explored Amazon lands. Following this trend, Adidas and Timberland stated that they too will ask their suppliers for guaranteesRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/06/movimento-canarinho.html Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:56:22 +0000 Switzerland: 1954. The now iconic yellow jersey of the Brazilian soccer team makes its debut in a major competition, the World Cup. As the Brazilian team enters the field all dressed in yellow, the radio broadcaster Geraldo José de Almeida spontaneously creates the nickname that would characterize the team from that day on: Canarinho (“Little Canary”), a yellow bird very common in Brazil. Inspired by Brazilian street art and street soccer, Movimento Canarinho is Nike’s first campaign to be developed 100% in (and for) Brazil. The initiative attempts to rescue the Canarinho sprit: the spirit of those who know theyRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/06/brazilian-summer-in-rotterdam.html Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:49:37 +0000 Brazilian art is experiencing a period of solid growth in the international scene, both in terms of presence and reputation. The best example of this recent exposure is in the street art world, where Brazil has been represented worldwide by names like osgemeos and Nunca. But to show that Brazilian art is more than that, the Dutch city of Rotterdam is currently hosting a series of events focused on different aspects of Brazilian contemporary art production. Three exhibitions in three different museums take the visitor on a journey across art, architecture, visual culture and design. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen exhibitsRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/05/public-living-room.html Wed, 27 May 2009 16:55:33 +0000 Formed in 1996 by architects and artists, BijaRi is a collective focused on visual arts and multimedia creation. Through the use of different resources and technologies, and both analog and digital media, they propose artistic experimentations that attempt to challenge the way we think about our surroundings and the relation between humans and the urban environment in which we live in. Urban interventions, video art, performances, design and web design are the mediums used to provoke such reflections. Their latest intervention took place on Paulista Avenue, one of the city´s busiest streets, which is often compared to New York’s 5thRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/05/the-native-green-project.html Tue, 26 May 2009 15:14:45 +0000 Pele Verde (Green Skin) is a branded content project developed by digital advertisement agency age./ISOBAR for Banco do Planeta (Bank of the Planet), an initiative that brings together all the socio-environmental actions of the bank Bradesco. The preservation of the Amazon is on everybody’s mind, but what does that mean to the peoples of the forest? Pele Verde is a native-generated documentary: ribeirinhos (people who live on the margins of rivers), caboclos (those with mixed Brazilian Indigenous and European descent who generally-speaking live in the forest) and other forest peoples were given the challenge of showing the rest of theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/05/slum-walls.html Tue, 19 May 2009 11:00:00 +0000 The government of Rio de Janeiro, has determined that walls be built around 13 slums located within the city. The building of the first one, surrounding the Dona Marta slum, has already begun. This is a theme that has been discussed in Rio de Janeiro since 2004, but what has changed since then is the reasoning behind the discussion. When announced in 2004, the walls were allegedly going to be an attempt to prevent the violence of the slums from spilling over to the rest of the city. The government´s proposal was considered a violation of human rights and aRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/05/sandal-architecture-melissa-x-zaha-hadid.html Wed, 06 May 2009 15:54:40 +0000 Brazilian shoe brand Melissa has recently released in Milan, Italy, its newest model: Melissa + Zaha Hadid, a collaborative effort between the brand and the famous architect. The design of the sandal captivated Carla Sozzani, 10 Corso Como’s creative mind and a passionate art and design collector. 10 Corso Como, a unique mix of selling spaces grouped around a beautiful courtyard, is one of the most renowned concept stores in Milan. The 13.000 square-foot complex gathers everything from books and clothing to art, design and luxury goods. For the launch of the sandal, the store’s interior was completely remodeled: aRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/the-future-of-environmental-responsibility-in-brazil.html Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:10:45 +0000 From the financial crisis to the environmental one, there is no doubt that the world is experiencing a period of drastic changes. While most of the countries are devising their policies based on green considerations, Brazil seems to be going in the opposite direction. The government has recently approved a 10-year plan for the Brazilian energy matrix that not only ignores renewable and clean energy sources where hydroelectric plants are not feasible, but also favors the increase of thermal plants based on coal and oil. In a speech made in the south of Brazil shortly after the approval of theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/henrique-oliveiras-urban-detritus-art.html Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:53:18 +0000 Brazilian artist Henrique Oliveira’s mind-bending artwork doesn’t fit into the genre of “street art” – yet the material he uses does come from the streets. From early on Oliveira experimented with the surfaces of his paintings: he began by gluing newspaper onto a canvas and scraping it as well as mixing sand with paint. He was looking for ways to bring more texture to paintings. A breakthrough occurred while he was a student at the University of São Paulo: for two straight years, the view from his studio window was a wooden construction fence (tapume, in Portuguese). Over time, OliveiraRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/03/sugarcane-bagasse-a-profitable-residue.html Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:08:00 +0000 Brazil continues to develop its “natural knowledge economy” by investing in opportunities for innovation based on the country’s natural resources. Sugarcane bagasse, once a worthless residue is now an important co-product used for the generation of energy and production of ethanol, among other things. The use of the bagasse for energy begins in the sugar cane processing plants, which have become self-sufficient by using the residue. Last year, over 140 million tons of the residue were used for power generation, as opposed to packing the plants’ courtyards waiting to be disposed of. Bagasse is also being used for the productionRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/ads-targeting-food-waste-in-brazil.html Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:21:47 +0000 According to the Akatu Institute for Conscious Consumption, one third of all that is consumed in Brazil goes straight to the trash. This means that 39,000 tons of food are thrown away everyday. In the meantime, a reported 14 million Brazilians are starving. In order to combat this waste of food, and various other issues directly related to it, the Akatu Institute has launched a campaign to promote conscious consumption. To encourage real change, the campaign focuses on what affects consumers more directly: their pockets. Using a non-aggressive tone, the campaign not only explains how consumption affects the planet butRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/toai-makes-offline-socializing-an-online-experience.html Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:59:36 +0000 New social network Toaí (Portuguese for “I’m Around”) goes beyond what is offered by well known networks such as Orkut, Facebook and MySpace by promoting not only virtual interactions, but also face-to-face meetings. At first glance, it is a social network like any other: you sign up; you fill out a profile. But it also goes a few steps further: it asks you for your mobile number and uses it to text you with relevant music, art, and stores near where you are (even when you’re on the go) that the system predicts you will like, based on your profileRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/campus-party-brazils-massive-technology-campout.html Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:30:15 +0000 The 11th edition of Campus Party, the biggest event in the world catered to people interested in technology, internet and innovation, was held in São Paulo, Brazil, during the last week of January. More than 6,000 people camped out in the pavilion where the conference was held with laptops and tents. Attendees participated in workshops and seminars, while exchanging knowledge and tips around topics such as open source software, games, music, robotics, blogs, modding, and even astronomy. Amongst the various stations at Campus Party, one stood out: the “Virtual Baptism” space consisting of 200 computers that allowed people who hadRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/discovering-the-unexpected-sides-of-sao-paulo.html Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:52:17 +0000 Look beyond the skyscrapers of Paulista Avenue, the upscale shops and the sophisticated restaurants that have made São Paulo famous worldwide. It’s in the narrow backstreets of the city, unknown to most visitors, that the true essence of this metropolis can be found. Recognizing the lack of true insider looks at Latin America’s largest city, journalist Phuong-Cac Nguyen created “Total São Paulo: A Guide to the Unexpected”, a guidebook introducing curious visitors to the truly hidden, unexpected, and often amazing aspects of the city. For the book, the author relied on his extensive experience living and breathing the underground cultureRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/the-new-standardized-portuguese.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:06:54 +0000 As of January 1st 2009, the Portuguese language follows new spelling rules determined by the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries. The goal behind these changes is to establish consistency in how the 8th most spoken language in the world is written in the different countries where it is spoken (Brazil, Portugal, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, and Guinea-Bissau). The changes, which will affect more than 230 million Portuguese-speakers, have led to some controversy: some people claim these rules are “Brazilianizing” the language or that the unification will remove the cultural particularities existent today, while othersRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/slum-makeover-in-sao-paulo-wins-deutsche-bank-urban-age-prize.html Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:37:49 +0000 What was initially designed to be a simple experience outside the classroom to give students a closer look at real life/world problems resulted in a prize winnings of US$ 100,000 from the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award 2008. The project, “Do Cortiço da Rua Solon ao Edifício União” (“From the Solon Street Slum to the Union Building”) is a partnership between University of  São Paulo’s students and professors of architecture and urbanism and the dwellers of a dilapidated building that served as residence for 72 families (despite the precarious conditions and constant risk of eviction and fire). The initial goalRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/brazil%e2%80%99s-once-private-past-becomes-available-on-the-internet.html Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:53:07 +0000 Brazil’s dictatorial government lasted for over two decades, from 1964 to 1985, and it still remains a cloaked part of the country’s history. Many of the disappearances that occurred during that period remain unsolved and most of the files and documents from that time have never been seen by the public. In an attempt to bring some clarity to that period in time, the Public Archive of São Paulo (in partnership with the Federal Government) launched the project “Revealed Memories – The Reference Center for Political Struggle, 1964-1985”. According to the organizers, the project has made available, through the internet,Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/pipe-light-mi-casas-interactive-public-art-in-sao-paulo.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:58:32 +0000 On the relatively calm United States Street, in a high end neighborhood in São Paulo, one house stands out amidst the myriad of office buildings and stores. Mixing shadow and light, translucency and opacity, Pipe Light invites passers-by to interact with the shapes and colors of what is, in reality, an art installation. Architecture studio Tryptique decorated the interior and exterior of this previously abandoned house with metal tubes and lights. The tubes surround and wrap the house, both inside and out, creating a cybernetic effect. The project was commissioned by Mi Casa, a design store adjacent to the house.Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/graffiti-artists-in-sao-paulo-reclaim-their-art.html Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:16:02 +0000 São Paulo is one of the most respected hubs of graffiti in the world. The urban chaos, together with the marginalization of a large sector of the population, has transformed this art in a form of protest. Graffiti flourishes in every conceivable place of the city’s streets. Choque Cultural art gallery in São Paulo is a gallery renowned for its street art exhibits, including graffiti. But in September the gallery was subject to an “intervention”: about 30 pixadores (graffiti artists) invaded the gallery with their paint buckets and brushes and in less than five minutes, painted graffiti over all wallsRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/revolutionary-bricks.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:28:54 +0000 While most modern houses in the Northern Hemisphere are built of wood, those in the Southern Hemisphere are mostly constructed with cement and bricks made of clay, a material that has a major impact on the environment. In an attempt to minimize this, researchers from the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) have developed a method of producing bricks from the residues of fruit trees. The “fruit tree bricks” result in a lower environmental impact throughout the construction process; because they originate from a renewable source, they can be recycled after their use. Moreover, their unique shape allows them toRead more...]]>