Takashi Murakami: In the studio

I'm always fascinated by the processes that artists employ to come up with their creations, especially when they are produced at the frequency with which Takashi Murakami churns his out. It's more a production line than an artist's studio. But the art remains compelling, which is the point, really. 

H&M for Brick Lane Bikes: for wheel

Never, in all my days, would I have expected this. A collaboration between that monster of fashion retail, H&M, and a tiny little bike shop down Brick Lane.

But the message from all this can only be positive. For someone like H&M to release a clothing collection specifically tailored to cycling is something else. This could feasibly lead to a load of high street fashion luvvies rushing out and buying bikes with no brakes! Imagine!

In all seriousness anything that promotes cycling gets a massive thumbs up and there's no better way to introduce it to the mainstream than this.

Common Projects A/W12: the right foot

Common Projects has come a long way in a relatively short amount of time. The Italian brand has stuck to what it knows - classic trainer styles, expertly manufactured from premium leather and sometimes canvas - and gradually built up the collection. It has now expanded into other shoe and boot styles, mainly with crepe or gum soles.

Decent footwear which, other than a gold-printed serial number on the heel cap, eschews any form of external branding. Find them at Coggles, among other places, but don't sleep, they tend to sell out.

Murakami: skulls and flowers

Takashi Murakami's exhibition at the Gagosian Gallery in Hong Kong opens today. Don't worry if you can't get there straight away - it's on until February 9. It's called Flowers & Skulls, and features skulls and flowers.  Darkness and light. Yin and Yang. That sort of thing of you want to get all deep about it. 

Gagosian Gallery
7/F, Pedder Building | Map
12 Pedder Street
Central, Hong Kong

Mercedes-Benz G63 Brabus Widestar: Fat

At the other end of the motoring spectrum to the Abarth 500c is the Mercedes G63 Brabus Widestar. A monster of an SUV, based on the now legendary G Series and featuring all of Brabus' renowned refinements, including a finely-tuned 5.5 litre twin turbo V8, giving you 620hp. In short this means you'll be spending more time in the filling station than on the road but hey - think of the Nectar points!

Fiat 500c Abarth 2013: More sting

This is the 2013 Fiat 500c Abarth, which looks much like the previous ones, only better, somehow. There's a bit of tweaking under the bonnet, too.

Via Freshness

Rhianna in GQ: moody

Here's a behind the scenes look at Rhianna during her shoot for US GQ. Nice lighting.