Nobuyoshi Araki is one of the best living photographers. He has published over 350 books and is considered one of the most productive artists around the world. Many of his photos are erotic. He is best known for his pictures of bondage, with young women tied and often suspended and entangled in rope.

Now, a young French artist, Benjamin Deroche, has made a series of photos in honour of the master: Tribute to Araki. He has tried to reproduce with a dead chicken the pictures of bondage, with odd, but also disturbing, effects. In a interview given to Liberation’s blog Zoum Zoum, Deroche says Araki is one of his favourite photographers. Goodness knows what Araki thinks about it.

One of the main works in the exhibition “Design and the Elastic Mind” at the MoMA of New York (until 12 May), Victimless Leather, a small jacket made of embryonic stem cells extracted from mice, has died. The artists, Oron Catts and Ionat Zurr, say the work, that was nourished with nutrients by tube, expanded too quickly and occluded its incubation system five weeks after the show opened. So, the poor, little jacket has been killed. It was one of the works created as part of their Tissue Culture & Art Project, promoted by the University of Western Australia in Perth, that unites art and scientific research.

This story reminds me of a scientist who considered himself all-powerful and created a modern Prometheus: both of them met a sticky end.

Photo by wallyg

In parallel with his official site, the French fashion designer (Dior Homme) Hedi Slimane has a photo diary: Hedi Slimane Diary. The stylist is a rock fan, with many connections to British indie scene and these photos incarnate perfectly his rock temperament. The site collects more than 800 untitled and exclusively black-and-white works. It features photos of Slimane’s books about contemporary rock like the famous Stage, reportages on the New York musical scene and portraits of scandalous stars like Pete Doherty, Kate Moss, Amy Winehouse and Courtney Love. In short, it’s the cool, good, old triad: sex, drugs and rock and roll.

For celebrating the fortieth anniversary of May ‘68, the English fashion designer Paul Smith launches a book regrouping forty reproductions of the most representative posters of that mythic event. It’s a limited edition of 68 copies, which are not really cheap, indeed every copy costs £1392. The book comes out in parallel with the first UK exhibition of posters produced by students and workers in Paris during the risings of May 1968. You can see these iconographies at The Hayaward Project Space in London throughout the current and unmythic May.

You can also buy some “revolutionary” May ‘68 gadget in Paul Smith boutiques, like candles, key cases, pocket notebooks, et cetera. According to me, this is the negation of the spirit of a season that, for better or worse, changed the world. But this is the spirit of ours times, where often the rebels eat caviar and drink champagne.

The German artist Gregor Schneider is seeking volunteers for his last performance-art piece, a work in which terminal patients will die as part of the exhibition. A private clinic in Düsseldorf has agreed to help him find volunteers for the project.

At the Wellcome Collection in London there is an exhibition of photos of ordinary people pictured before and after death by the German photographers Walter Schels and Beate Lakotta.

25 million people have seen Ghunter von Hagen’s Body World’s exhibition, in which real cadavers are conserved in various states of dissection.

Man, you must die, and art reminds you about it. Maybe von Hagen’s cadavers are interesting, maybe Schels and Lakotta’s portraits are touching, but I think Schneider is overstepping the line. Perhaps I’m wrong, I often don’t understand contemporary art. I’m only sure of one thing: Germans should enjoy life a little more.

Photo by Cayusa

A survey by Abbey Banking shows that British parents spend about 45 hours over the name of their newborn child. One in three parents believes the right name can give a child confidence, while up to 2 million think it could help their baby’s future career. Children’s names reflect people’s aspirations.

I’m not surprised by the results of this survey. In effect, the name Jack is right for a surgeon, but also for a drummer, but also for a trucker..But, there are names that, for their oddity or ugliness, can only ruin a person’s life. For example, what did Cher smoke when she called her daughter Chastity? The Latins was used to say “Nomen Omen”: your destiny is in your name. The meaning of my name is “lame”. No comments, please.

Adieu, dear London black cab! We’ll miss you very much. Join the unforgettable Routemaster bus and Gilbert Scott’s red telephone box. Rest in Peace. Amen.

Photo by Patrick Mayon

Many blogs are talking about Charles Manson’s record released under Creative Commons. It’s well-known Manson not only had a sympathy for the Devil but also for the rock stars. He has finally realized his dreams. I presume many people will download this record, evil is always fascinating. But I advise you against doing it. How will you feel when your notebook throws up and does somersaults? What will you do when your iPod starts “frying” every time you pass by a church or a crucifix? Follow my advice. Nowadays, it’s hard to find an exorcist. Now, I hope Evil doesn’t pick on me because I have spiked his guns. I feel a bit strange.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy All work and no play makes jack a dull boy All work and no play makes Ja 

Photo by mondopanno

If Ernesto Che Guevara was still alive, he would be an old man of eighty years, but he died young (in 1967) and has become immortal. He is even sanctified by some Bolivian campesinos as Saint Ernesto. Actually, he had the perfect physique du rôle of a martyr. In the famous Alberto Korda portrait, he has the proud expression of a modern Saint George fighting against the Dragon of Capitalism and Oppression. The photo of his corpse calls to mind a Renaissance deposition of Christ.

Now, the Argentine sculptor Andrés Zerneri is making a tangible statue of Guevara. The peculiarity of this work is that it is made of bronze objects sent by Che fans from the world over. It will be unveiled in Rosario, his birthplace, on the next June 14 th. I think it’s a very good idea. This statue is a collective work which has a symbolic and almost religious mean: the faithful offer their “possessions” to build the monument of their hero/divinity. Ok, maybe I’m overdoing it. Certainly, if an afterlife exists, there is a furious Guevara who is waiting for those who make big money with his face.

Photo by Fortimbras

APRIL77 is a very cool French brand of clothing. After associating with Gibson guitars, now it renders homage to one of the best independent labels, Domino Records.

Domino Records is in my heart because I love the music that it churns out. I like the Arctic Monkeys, the Kills, the Pavement..I am waiting with trepidation Franz Ferdinand’s new record. Well, after this musical soliloquy, I go back to the partnership between APRIL77 and Domino that has produced a limited edition box set containing a deluxe vinyl record with a compilation of the very best from Domino and April77’s polo shirt named “Manchester”, in honour of one of the most prolific cities in the British musical scene. There are only 440 copies, but you can win one in an internet competition at VoxPop (in French). You must be fast, you have until tomorrow at midnight.

I’m not a fashion addict nor a fan who collects stars “relics”, my teen room didn’t even see one poster, but I woo fortune. Tomorrow, a fashion addict or a collector could cough up a pot of money for my box set. I would be a rock star, but an accountant lives in me.

Photo by BrittneyBush