COMUNA - Rio de Janeiro

The Carioca’s cultural scene and nightlife have been profoundly renewed with the development of Comuna space.

What is Comuna exactly ?

Comuna is a Bar. But not only. Comuna is a Nightclub. But not really. Comuna is a narrow corridor where stylish people share a drink. Pretty much, but it is more than that.

In fact, Comuna is a multidimensional Social and Cultural space. You can find a Bar indeed, you can even eat some of the bests burgers in town. You have a narrow corridor full of hipster chatting, gathering, mixing and exchanging. And you have a Room upstairs where depending the night you can find some particular events.

The space changes and modifies itself depending the mood of the evening, between yoga classes, workshops, lectures, private-sales but also concerts or DJ sets you can find a series of events all marked with a certain research.

In a country where the MPB « Musica Popular Brasileira », is a link between all generations, and where the « Funky » typical carioca sound with rough rhythm, extremely sexual lyrics and awfully high volume is under the spotlights, an alternative scene have emerged. And Comuna is at its centre. Thus, it is a very good spot to encounter some of Brazilian new shining artists like Manara, a 22 years old musician who makes music an experimentation.

Manara's new album

So the entire place is really attached with an idea of creation and experimentation. And it is why it is very interesting to experiment some nights in Comuna. 

And the other good thing about it is that it is not crowded with « gringos » or foreigners, you have an interesting melting pot of Brazilians and foreigners.

A mix which is very in the mood of the place.

Comuna, Rua Sorocaba, 585, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro

http://comuna.cc/

https://www.facebook.com/comunacc/info

The tribal art: the quintessence of a new luxe promoted by Mad Lords

Nowadays, our world has begun a process of standardization: standardization of our way of life, of our economy, of our exchanges and of course standardization of fashion. All around the world, we are able to find the same brand, to see people wearing the same clothes or accessories. And the luxury is not spared… From New York to Beijing, the process of homogenization is on.

As an answer to this lost of proper personality, a new form of luxury is rising: the tribal luxury. Inspired by the authentic and ancestral tribal art, this kind of luxury seems to be nowadays one of the only way to affirm itself as an elegant, civilized but also marginal dandy and gentleman.

Mad Lords saw in the reborn of this abandoned style a real way for all the dandy to reaffirm their singular personality.

Because of this, Mad Lords adopted a tribal way of seeing fashion and choose its designers according to their originality and their tribal inspirations.

To become a real contemporary dandy, the best way is to take a look at the Mad Lords’ products and to find the tribe that inspired you.

Tobias Wistisen, a danish creator, will make you travel through the dark and brutal Viking s’ land with his authentic silver bracelet forged by the stories of its ancestors.

You might be also a dandy from the original Americas and being captivated by the tribal art of the Navaro, who the ancestral art is perpetrated and renewed by Harpo.

If your are more an African soul, the Mad Lords’ Tuaregs jewels will immersed you in the arid and beautiful universe of the tuaregs’ tribe from Niger.

So, why don’t you just relax and let you get invaded by your tribal soul.

Oscar Niemeyer: « Inspiring awe ».

As a lot of “gringos" are flying to Brazil for the Football Worldcup, it is interesting to show them that there are others sources of interest than football, caïpirinhas, beaches and women. The inspiration of the great Oscar Niemeyer was essentially the curves of Brazilian women, though.

Oscar Niemeyer in France, 1977 (AFP)

With Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright, Oscar Niemeyer, was one of the most influent architects of the XX^th century.

Former student at the « beaux-arts » in Rio de Janeiro, Niemeyer quickly opposed himself to the unique vision and to the classicism taught there. His first project, a church for the new Belo Horizonte district, Pampulha, all in curves, faced a hard rejection from the members of the clergy which will postpone the construction by three years.

Pampulha’s Church, 1956, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Niemeyer was very influenced by Le Corbusier and the ideas of Modern Architecture, most of all the purity of shapes and the use of reinforced concrete as a principle material. However, his architecture distinguishes itself by the place granted for curves. Curves which are often seen as a Latin touch inspired by samba or tango, recalls, for Niemeyer the shapes of a perfect woman. “I am not attracted to straight angles or to the straight line, hard and inflexible, created by man. I am attracted to free-flowing, sensual curves. The curves that I find in the mountains of my country, in the sinuousness of its rivers, in the waves of the ocean, and on the body of the beloved woman. Curves make up the entire Universe, the curved Universe of Einstein”.

Shaping curves in concrete soften this raw material. Niemeyer’s work on the medium engraves poetry into reinforced concrete.

  

Niemeyer brought a new vision of architecture. He broke with the standardization of lines and design of his time. “We wanted to do a different architecture that creates surprise. ” said Niemeyer about his work at Brasilia.

National Congress, 1960, Brasilia, Brazil

 According to him, reducing the supports make the shape more audacious, spaces more generous. This new architecture provokes astonishment and can, thus be considered as a true work of art. Niemeyer once said: “When I make a building, I’m not satisfied until I know that it inspires awe, that it inspires feeling”.

           

Palacio do Planalto, 1960, Brasilia, Brazil

Niemeyer died at the age of 104. Up to then, he was still drawing and working on new forms for his buildings. Smart philosopher, Niemeyer used to say that men should not believe they have some importance, men are small elements of the universe. Men have to try to be more useful.

Philosopher but also epicurean, he loved to say: “Once, somebody asked me my feelings about life. I responded: as long that I have a woman by my side, come what may!”

                       

Niemeyer's Drawing