Year Archive for 2008
M'ERA LUNA ALTERNATIVE DARK MUSIC FESTIVAL: GERMAN GOTH CONCERT PORTRAITS.
If I could teleport myself anywhere next weekend, it would be Flugplatz Hildesheim-Drispenstedt, a former British Army airbase near Hanover, Germany. Am I yearning for quiet time in the middle of nowhere? Quite the opposite – every year, 20-25,000 Goths of all stripes (cyber, Lolita, spooky, fetish) stomp their leather buckle boots over to the M’era Luna alternative/dark music festival. With two stages and camping facilities, it’s one of the biggest events in the country that spawned the original Goths (Visi and Ostro, ahaha) and remains a hubbub of dark culture.
Last year, Holland-based photographer Jan Blok was among the attendees. I found his portraits of female concert-goers on Flickr; Jan has a knack for capturing candid expressions, and you can tell that he makes his subjects feel at ease. He kindly gave me permission to share some of his M’era Luna portraits with you.
The summer festival is a sea of Goth fashion inspiration. The confidence and individuality of these women caught Jan’s eye (and mine).
Neon beacons in an ocean of blackness! Check out the fingerless skeleton glove and two layers of torn fishnets worn by the pink-haired girl on the top left. Both the bottom two wear cyberdreads and goggles on their heads, but each has created a look that is her very own.
Looks like fun in the sun. This year, the band lineup includes: Apocalyptica, Fields of the Nephilim, New Model Army, Moonspell, VNV Nation, Front 242, and Combichrist.
I leave you with some fine rear views. What a composition of Goth textures: fishnets, leather, velvet, PVC, leopard prints, polka dots, skull and crossbones… and of course, black set against anemic flesh.
Jan has photographed many more female Goth beauties – you can see them on his Flickr. If you’re going to M’era Luna on August 9-10, look for him there.
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MODERN MARIE ANTOINETTE FURNITURE: NEWTONS FRENCH ROCOCO ROYAL LOUIS BEDS.
Quick – what’s the most decadent bed you can think of? Canopy and sleigh beds come to mind, as do leopard-print disks that rotate or vibrate at the switch of a button. (They exist… don’t ask me how I know.)
And then there’s Neo Rococo bedroom decor, which is curlicued to the limit by Newtons Furniture Company. The UK-based retailer specializes in modern recreations of royal French splendor. Can’t you picture Marie Antoinette lounging in the “Chateau” bed (above) and reaching over to her carved nightstand for a piece of pink cake?
In the next room, Louis XVI is fast asleep, exhausted by the day’s hunt. Handmade from mahogany, the “Louis Padded” is luxuriously upholstered with deep buttoning and delicate carving.
You’d find Madame Du Barry romping away in the dark and mysterious “Antoinette Noir.” I prefer this sleek design to the flourishes of the “Petit Chateau.”
This elegant collection is inspired by Napoleon’s beloved Josephine. “The headboard is crowned by an exquisite bowl of tumbling roses chosen for Josephine’s love of these simple and yet timeless blooms. “
And for the Vegas-minded among us, Newtons offers the imposing “Versailles” and the gilded metal “Chateau d’Argent.” These kitschy beds must weigh a thousand pounds…
…or at least as much as their pricetags; these furniture pieces range from £450 to £900 ($800-$1800). You can browse and order Newton’s opulent French collections from their website.
Which brings us to the end of Interior Design Week. I could use a good night’s sleep… recently, my life’s been an absolute whirlwind. I’m excited to share several major announcements with you next week. Wish me luck – I’ll really need it!
LA CARMINA
