Created by the artist LeHo, this vibrant piece captures the essence of African wildlife in a style that is both mystical and skillful. Let’s dive into the inspiration and story behind this captivating work.
The Vision Behind the Mural: LeHo was given a unique opportunity to paint this mural in a private home, with complete creative freedom. When asked what the homeowner wanted, the response was simple yet profound: “You are the artist, you decide.” Inspired by this open-ended request and later learning that the homeowner’s wife had a love for African wildlife, LeHo set out to create the scene.
A Tribute to Africa’s Spirit Animals: Drawing on the theme of African fauna, LeHo’s mural features a spirit leopard, a butterfly forest elephant, a kudu, and a long-tailed finch, all depicted in an ethereal style that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. The mural is painted in vivid colors that dance across the wall, highlighting each animal’s unique beauty and symbolism.
The Artistic Journey: LeHo’s journey into mural art began with his very first project in a client’s home, much like this one in Sydney. Over time, as he painted more walls and took on public art commissions, the uncertainties and self-doubt faded, leaving only the pure joy of creating.
More by LeHo: The Red Cat Mural: A Street Art Piece by LeHo Artwork in Taipei
While hammering nails isn't difficult for those of us with average dexterity, it can be tricky for others. And junky though these nail-holding pliers look, they actually hew to form-follows-function admirably.
The two cylinders on the butt end of the handle, along with the flat back of the jaws, allow the user to hold the tool flat against the wall while still leaving clearance for fingers. It can grasp multiple gauges of nail, and offers two different starting depths, better accommodating those with grip issues or clumsiness.
I love the engraving on the hammer.
I've never heard of the company that makes these, Jelanry, and their copy is hilarious:
"Usage scenario guide: Christmas tree or Christmas decorations, shower curtain or curtains installation." I'd love to see the Christmas tree at the copywriter's house.
Belgian filmmaker Vincent Bal refers to his work as "Shadowology." The artist uses found objects and light to complete doodled illustrations:
Bal has posted more fun videos here, and sells his work as both prints and postcards here.
GE Appliances sells this Access Kit, which contains over 450 transparent stickers featuring Braille and raised symbols. The idea is to make it easier to retrofit existing appliances for households with blind or low-vision members.
"Designed to represent the 80 most common settings across thousands of appliances, the durable stickers are placed directly over existing controls, allowing appliance buttons, knobs and other functions to be identifiable by touch. They are created to be easy to feel and differentiate with a thin and angular tactile design. They are also transparent so the original text can still be viewed."
GE uncovered the need for the kit while conducting customer research, which shows the importance of studying what end users actually need: "Our research showed that a lot of blind and low-vision consumers are devising their own complex systems just to navigate the settings on their appliances, making simple household tasks incredibly difficult," said GE industrial designer Chris Bissig, who leads a team of both industrial and user interface designers in the Concept & Brand studio.
GE produced the kit in partnership with the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). They retail for $20.