Monthly Archives: April 2014

Italian Futurism at the Guggenheim: Historical Context
To learn more, visit http://exhibitions.guggenheim.org/futurism Guggenheim curator Vivien Greene describes the historical context of the Italian Futurism movement, from its inception with...

By: Guggenheim Museum

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Italian Futurism at the Guggenheim: Historical Context - Video

Roxy Music, Roxy Music (Island)

Roxy Musics debut-album caught most people off balance. The music was a burlesque and eccentric brew of nostalgia and futurism. Wrapped in a glossy, striking cover that flirted with the pin-up girls and glamour of the 40s and 50s.

In 1972 that didnt go down well among the politically correct, they found it provocative and uncomfortably decadent. The sight of the snarling cover-girl Kari-Ann Muller (who later married Chris Jagger, Micks brother) made me drool. Now what was this all about?

The inner spread of the gatefold sleeve gave me another shock. Were these guys for real? It was glam pushed completely over the top with an androgynous Brian Eno as the absolute eye-catcher. Many bought the disc without even bothering to listen to it first. Thats what I call a strong wrapping.

The music sure lived up to it, though, even if it didnt exactly take you to the places that the come-on expression of the cover-girl suggested. It was prog rock, it was pastiche, it was lyrics seasoned with quotes from classic movies, it was way out synth, a wizard on guitar, a saxophone player that wouldve gone down a storm in the circus ring, and there was Bryan Ferry, the crooner from the abyss. All nailed to your brain by a thunderous and precise rhythm section. What a treat! And they didnt even bother to include the wonderful, staccato hit single Virginia Plain.

The American edition did include it though, so when the imports arrived I bought the album yet again. I kept both versions, thats how much I loved the beast.

It was recorded in a single week, and was produced by Peter Sinfield of King Crimson fame. At the time Roxy Music didnt even have a record contract and their managers financed the recording.

On its arrival it sounded fresh as an ocean breeze.

Released: June 16, 1972

Excerpt from:
Pattaya Mail

Presented at the 1986 Paris Motor Show, the Proxima concept was the ultimate vision of '80s futurism, both in terms of its design and engineering. To assert its blue-sky vision, Peugeot named its creation after Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the sun.

The exterior design was directed by Grard Welter, and featured a long wheelbase, mid-mounted engine and very small overhangs, putting the accent on power and performance.

While the front looked like a 405 on steroids, the rear was a very dramatic piece of design. The body was made of stratified Kevlar, and included a rear dorsal fin that sat on top of the engine compartment, between two solar panels. These provided the power to regulate the temperature inside the cabin.

A thin horizontal LED strip stretched over the full width of the truncated tail to create a strong Peugeot signature. The body only covered some vital elements, leaving the fat rear tires and parts of its engine unprotected.

Looking below the car, you could see the two large turbos hanging from its exposed guts. These were coupled with two air-to-liquid intercoolers to bring the power of the 2.8-liter V6 to 600bhp. The engine also made use of ceramic-coated mechanical components to reduce power losses due to friction.

To get in, the passengers had to open the polycarbonate canopy, which is split in half. The front half rotated forward at its base while the rear half slid rearwards.

The bright red cockpit was designed by Paul Bracq, and capable of accommodating up to four passengers. It contrasted traditional handcrafted leather and quilting with high technology. Satellite navigation, an electronic key card, rear-view cameras, anti-collision radar and a visualization system that combined the input from five external cameras into a unique image of the vehicle's surroundings all featured.

The Proxima also included electronic assistance technologies that aimed to provide comfort, speed and safety. The transmission was a non permanent four-wheel drive, which transferred power to the front axle if a skid was detected, while the gearbox and clutch were electronically controlled. The future is now.

First seen Paris Motor Show 1986 Length 4,420mm Width 2,110mm Height 1,150mm Wheelbase 2,750mm Engine 2.8-liter V6, twin-turbocharged, mid mounted Power 441.6kW/600bhp Weight 1,080kg

Your author, Flavien Dachet, is a UK-based, French-born car designer. You may know him as the purveyor ofKarzNshit, a photo blog that if it isn't already in your bookmarks, it certainly should be.

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by Flavien Dachet