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Alexandra Murcott Alexandra Murcott

𝓩𝓪𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓼𝓲 | 𝓜𝓸𝓮𝓷𝓪 𝓜𝓸𝔁𝓱𝓪𝓶 𝓢𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓿𝓮𝓼

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I am absolutely delighted to announce that from Monday, Moena Moxham Scarves are available for purchase in New Zealand at the drop dead gorgeous Zambesi boutiques in Wellington and Auckland.

In addition to their own brand, Zambesi also stocks international labels such as Rick Owens, A. F. Vandevorst, Bernhard Willhelm, Maison Margeila, J. W. Anderson, Adidas Y3, Simone Rocha and Vetements.

Zambesi Locations :

**JUST OPENED** ZAMBESI PARNELL - 287 Parnell Road, Parnell 1052, Auckland

ZAMBESI BRITOMART - 56 Tyler Street, Britomart 1010, Auckland

t. +64 9 303 1701 e. tyler@zambesi.co.nz

ZAMBESI PONSONBY - 169 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby 1011, Auckland

t. +64 9 360 7391 e. ponsonby@zambesi.co.nz

ZAMBESI WELLINGTON - 103 Customhouse Quay, CBD 6011, Wellington

t. +64 4 472 3638 e. wellington@zambesi.co.nz

The Zambesi stores and fashion label are iconic in Australsia and synonymous with luxury, quality and all things chic. It is an honour to be sold through New Zealand’s premier fashion boutique.

“Founded by Elisabeth and Neville Findlay in 1979, Zambesi possesses a consistent and unique signature and is proudly made in New Zealand.

Zambesi epitomizes individual spirit, redefining convention with an ironic practicality, confirming its reputation in the global market for strength, beauty and independence.

Designer Elisabeth Findlay works instinctively, taking carefully chosen cloth in unexpected directions. History and memory contribute strongly to Elisabeth’s attitude toward design. The clothes reflect both realism and imagination.

Designer Dayne Johnston takes a disciplined hand to Zambesi Menswear. His work results in extremely well cut, wearable garments that capture attention with their clever detailing. Those unique details sit alongside precisely tailored nods to traditional and utilitarian menswear, resulting in a refined masculine style.

Zambesi believes in creating pieces that endure. One collection evolves into the next, building a timeless wardrobe for its faithful customers.Zambesi garments are proudly made in New Zealand at their dedicated Auckland workroom, with the exception of hand-crafted artisanal beaded and sequin items, and select accessories which are produced offshore.

Zambesi has flagship stores in Auckland, Wellington and Melbourne, and supplies selected stores across Australasia. Online store www.zambesistore.com ships worldwide.”
— www.zambesistore.com

Liz Findlay in Zambesi Parnell

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Alexandra Murcott Alexandra Murcott

'Tall White Poppy'

'Tall White Poppy', Staedtler pigment liner, hanko & wax signature, 800 x 1120mm, 2016

'Tall White Poppy', Staedtler pigment liner, hanko & wax signature, 800 x 1120mm, 2016

Pwwwoaahahhh! Finally! I am very happy to share my latest creation- 'Tall White Poppy'.

Click here if you would like to learn more about the artwork.

=^+^=

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Alexandra Murcott Alexandra Murcott

EXEMPLARY: Teshima, Inujima, Naoshima and orbit changing art

The islands of Teshima, Inujima and Naoshima have changed my orbit. It's an experience that in no ways can be given justice in any other expression than just being here. Get on a plane and come; if it's the only thing you do; the only 'galleries' you ever visit.. do these- especially Teshima Art Museum.

For 16 years I have been searching for the pieces I have found here.  

The photos below are such a fraction of the happenings- the feeling, the presence and the pace can't be captured and shared, but I can enthusiastically encourage you to come by sharing some of the background on these works by clicking the pictures. Naoshima was my base and then I travelled around from there. Inujima is the lesser known of the islands, but I implore you to strike your own path and make the trip ;)

Teshima Art Museum is the creative visions of Artist Rei Naito and architect Ryue Nishizawa and has slotted in by far clearing the line as my ultimo favourite artwork and masterpiece. NUMBER 1. It is the most exquisite execution of Art...

Teshima Art Museum

"Les Archives du Cœur", by Christian Boltanski needs special mention as well. 'The Heart Room' is an installation of a collection of heartbeats. Boltanski has collected these from around the world. You can even add your own to the artwork. Incredibly moving, and sensationally evocative, it is situated in the most idilic of environments in a picture perfect beach and bay. 

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NAOSHIMA ISLAND

Below: Yayoi Kusama's infamous spotted pumpkins

Dormitory Kowloon, Naoshima- this accommodation is SUPERB- cheap, kitted out with the basics, but comfy and attracts a super duper cool crowd. Just head straight ahead next to the karaoke bar from the ferry terminal toooo ^^

Miyanoura Wharf, Naoshima Island

Chichu Art Museum.. and below

Chichu Art Museum.. and below

There is a wonderful page about Lee Ufan and his work at the Artsy page HERE

Benesse House Museum

Bruce Nauman, '100 Live and Die', 1984- Benesse House, Naoshima

Below: I♥湯 - Naoshima Bath, ohhh soooo gooood!

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INUJIMA

Inujima Seirensho Art Museum is a museum that preserves and reuses the remains of a copper refinery on the island. Based on the concept of using the existing to create the yet-to-be, the project brings together architecture by Hiroshi Sambuichi, which makes use of the existing smokestacks and karami bricks from the refinery and uses solar, geothermal, and other natural energies to reduce the burden on the environment, and art by Yukinori Yanagi, which uses Yukio Mishima, who sounded warnings over aspects of Japan's modernization, as a motif. The building also employs a sophisticated water purification system that makes use of the power of plants. The project truly embraces the concept of a recycling-based society as a model for a new type of regional revitalization through industrial heritage, architecture, art, and the environment.

In combination with this are other installations and Art House projects around the island.

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Check out these incredible stories (below) from other adventurous souls. A phenomenal Indian Babette surfer changing the way women are doing things in India. Creativity and how it all works though the eyes of creative people themselves, a motorcyclist and adventurer on a path to discover the new, unusual and challenging with soul and class, and just some hilarious and well funny outrageousness from the boys who brought us This Is The End and Pineapple Express.. 

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Alexandra Murcott Alexandra Murcott

二次会+ .. .: - " . + ** ; ' ' ' : +- " . + **

Let's Paar-tayyy!!! 

So failing mime, sound effects and interpretive dance- here's day-night-day photo party action Tokyo Moxie style. Partying in Tokyo is n.e.x.t l.e.v.e.l… and boy, can I tell some stories.. but for now, here’s the visuals on what happens when you leave the house Saturday morning (Mega thanks to Kengo Kojima & Rental819 (more coming on them next post eeeiiioow!) too)::::

Zigzaggin Tokyo covering epic distance, my transport Tokyo styling, sorting out Ducati at Rental819 Hatogaya, Harajuku/ Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingu Inner Garden shrine, Rene Magritte @ The Contemporary Art Gallery Tokyo (WOOOO!!!!), Roppongi Midtown- Toraya Karyo Japanese sweets & afternoon tea, Pink Cow Cali/Mex dinner and Art, What the Dickens for the Mootekkis, NoMad for recharge, EPIC electro/house with Bulgarian maestro Kink at Air, WOOOO hell yeees!! (Deep breath and omg wtf?! Clean shoes after all that?! God Bless Japan)… Zigzaggin Tokyo covering mad milage, feed/ change/ screw on new legs, Ghibli Museum Mitaka, ANNNNNND…..Magic Mushrooms in Koenji. And like that we have popped a new seal onto Tokyo- & expanded brain and body in 15 directions and moved and grooved through 36hrs of non-stop awesomeness ^=^

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Alexandra Murcott Alexandra Murcott

Today SNOW, Tomorrow cherry blossom...

Down to one Freitag for 2 & 1/2 months travel. Thank you motorbiking for teaching me the art of ruck-sacking!

Down to one Freitag for 2 & 1/2 months travel. Thank you motorbiking for teaching me the art of ruck-sacking!

I am learning fast the Art of backpacking and really finding the craft in living off next to nothing, but having maximum fun! Actually so much fun, I can't figure out why the hell I haven't been doing this the whole time.. The house in which I stayed after the yogies- in a room I affectionately nicknamed "The Chopstick", plonked me within a diverse group of travellers who were mega cool. Named Australia House- ironically there wasn't an Aussie in sight, but one of every other jelly bean. 

Hirafu, Kutchan, The three snow resorts: An'nupuri, Grand Hirafu and Hanazono, and snow life :)

I had a blast learning from other travellers; watching anime, snowboarding, finding the hidden gem foodies and bars and getting the ins and outs of 'how to's with $0 output' + nifty life hacks... oh and doing design work for one of Niseko's biggest entrepreneurs- check out the designs in DIGITAL

Working and relaxing with others, some who speak English, some who don't; some who speak Japanese, some who don't, really makes you up your game of interesting techniques for communication ;P You are all there because you want to be which brings an infectious energy to the environment- I feel like I have slipped out of orbit into a track that runs at whole different organic interesting flow. My new friends have similar backgrounds, interesting stories and are all curious, adventurous intriguing souls.

"The Chopstick"

"The Chopstick"

...but the VIEW! Yotei in the morning ^+^

An interesting conversation developed the other night about how you reach a point where you have grown up within yourself to travel with no fixed plan and no tight bookings. You realise you have collected the skills and tools to work with, and have got to a point where the anxiety about using them to effect has toned back a notch to just trust in your instincts and decisions. It followed on to thoughts about positivity and why the opposite is more prevalent in society today. Here's me delivering a bit of tongue in cheek logic lol..

Lance, Rebecca and Nigel and Barbara were cave-men and ladies back a few hundred thousand years. They decided to go out on a group date one night as ya do. Take-outs were closed, the nectar bars run dry and they had missed the boat a bit with dinner so got their hunt on. They had wandered into unfamiliar territory but Lance and Rebecca being the 'cow hide up' kinda peps went charging into a cave looking for a tiger to hunt. It was all good- they had their tiger catching skills down pat from hunting back in their neck of the woods. Nigel and Barbara weren’t so sure, they hid outside the cave- there were too many obstacles, it was dark, there was a hike to get in there, there were all sorts of other creepies and crawlies!

Unfortunately for Lance and Rebecca, they hadn’t expected the Brown Bear that had made the cave his home, and who unfortunately wasn’t too keen on being woken up. He didn’t mean to eat them, mornings and surprises weren’t his forte. Nigel and Barbara freaked, flipped and ran. “Of CORSE the others were going to get eaten they said!”. The story became a fable to the next generations- passed down from Nigel and Barabara’s children, an on to the children who followed.

Who was that dude who ate the poisonous berry so we know not to? -Lance’s Grandpa eh?! Makes you think of all the different components that make each individual experience so different and varied too... thoughts?

 

Yesterday I decided it was time to get on the road again and make my way down the island. Robert and Dan from Aussie House were road tripping around Hokkaido, and it worked out that I joined them with a friend to hit some amazing spots before hitch-hiking on further around the coast of Hokkaido. Starting off in Kutchan at the ¥100 Shop ($1 for ya'll in Kiwi) to dress up the car: "The Dominator- Delica" we then travelled on Route 66 (yeehhaaaa!) to Lake Toya- an incredibly idillic spot with an active volcano and an island in the middle of the lake. We visited a mental institution that collapsed in an eruption and stopped for a pic-nic/ snooze in the sun with homemade quiche (GO SAM!!) on the lakefront.  

Phenominal stone sculpture at Toyakochoakebono Park- each stone was individually numbered

I parted ways at Date and hitchhiked around the coast to Tomakomai, where I was shown exceptional kindness & Japanese hospitality and taken for sushi train express for dinner. Domo Arigato Gozaimasu! Today was a travelling adventure to the Ferry Terminal to catch an overnight MOL Sunflower Ferry from Tomakomai to Oarai outside Tokyo.

Today Hokkaido, tomorrow Honshu! Looking forwards to sea legs for 12 hours and to what I come across next!

My hitchhiking companions  ^=^

Lake Toya, Tomakomai...

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𝒞𝓊𝓇𝓇𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓁𝓎 𝓁𝑜𝒸𝒶𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓃:

 

𝓙𝓪𝓹𝓪𝓷 | 2014

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