Painting of Bedouin wearing Louis Vuitton

David Pescovitz 2:01 pm Wed Jan 2, 2013

My friend Nishat Kurwa of Turnstyle News is traveling in the Middle East right now where she spotted this striking painting by Eric Esmail Parnes in the UAE's Maraya Art Centre. It's titled "Neo Orientalist TM." Parnes writes, "The underlying concept of this series is based on appropriating original "Orientalist" paintings from the 19th and early 20th century, and modifying them while incorporating the brands that have now become heavily embedded within the contemporary world of the Levant and its periphery." More of Parnes's work here. Follow Nishat on Instagram @nishatjaan

Performance artist with Pfizer tattoo on head ate a live bat outside of European Parliament as an act of protest

Russian artist/activist Petr Davydtchenko ate a live bat outside of European Parliament on Wednesday. He was protesting what he feels is an unequal distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. Davydtchenko had hyped up the event but ate the creature before the announced time so police wouldn't be there stop him. He returned later to issue a… READ THE REST
Taiwan CDC personifies diseases as cartoon characters

Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control produced a series of covers featuring characters that personify common diseases and such. [via Cassandra Khaw] Except for our dashing hero, Quarantine, they're idealized as attractive villains. Everything is wonderfully-illustrated yet moist with problematic vibes. READ THE REST
What happened to the nerdy girl from Rock and Roll High School?

[The following is from the free version of my newsletter, The Magnet. Sign up here to subscribe. — Mark] The two most memorable 1979 movies about teenagers are Over the Edge and Rock and Roll High School. If you're in the mood for realism, watch Over the Edge, which was inspired by a true story of disaffected teens going… READ THE REST
The Ecoegg is an affordable, eco-friendly way to wash your clothes

We would all like to do everything we can to sustain our environment, but have you ever thought about the waste that comes from doing laundry? We hate to break it to you, but your favorite detergent doesn't break down in the wash entirely, seeping toxic metals like cadmium and arsenic into the water supply. … READ THE REST
This warming, soothing fireplace burns cleanly and smoke-free on your coffee table

If you live in a home without a fireplace, you probably aren't in the minority anymore. In fact, more and more residents don't have that home feature that used to be a central source of warmth, light, and food preparation for centuries. Just this century, the percentage of new single-family homes built including a fireplace… READ THE REST
This laptop cooler is not only an Amazon bestseller, it's also 25% off

By the time you feel the burn coming from the bottom of your dangerously overheated laptop, it might already be too late. Airflow is hugely important in making sure the hard-charging components inside your laptop stay cool so they can keep functioning properly. But, without adequate airflow, your processor and battery can build up tremendous… READ THE REST