Idlebeats

IdleBeats sticker in New York subway

2009-12-07T01:22:43Z

IdleBeats sticker in New York subway

Monday, 07 December 2009 | Posted by IdleBeats | 0 Comments >

Nini put some IdleBeats stickers around NYC when she was there to attend Cut&Paste design contest global championship. Yeah, even the stickers are hand-printed and cut by ourselves!

BBC China Creativity series

2010-07-15T07:53:26Z

BBC China Creativity series

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 | Posted by IdleBeats | 0 Comments >

Nini Sum and IdleBeats recently did an interview with BBC for China Creativity series on the BBC World Service’s World Today programme. There are several other Chinese creatives participated in this program as well - B6, Bigger Bang, NeochaEDGE, Ai Weiwei and more. You can listen to the live broadcasting by click 'Listen Live' button on the top right corner on BBC website during July 13, 14, 15.

RADIO OUTPUT:
0000 - 0100 BST (0700 – 0800 Beijing Time)
0300 – 0500 BST (1000 – 1200 Beijing Time)
0600 – 0830 BST (1300 – 1530 Beijing Time)

You can also hear the programme after broadcast by going to the page for the ‘World Today’ programme.

Nini also created an illustration for the series called 'A Masterpiece', click the image below to view the web page. IdleBeats will also make this one into art prints in a limited edition of 100, now pre-ordering is available.

Schedule is as follows:

DAY ONE - Tues 13th July
Branding and youth culture - Lisa Li interview by Lawrence Pollard
32 year-old head of the consultancy China Youthology. Interview looks at Chinese youth and how Western brands need to market to them, what influences Chinese youth and the effects of internet censorship on this group.

- Interview from BBC Beijing bureau
www.chinayouthology.com

Being an artist in China then and now – Illustrated discussion between Maleonn and his parents Tong Zhengwei and Ma Ke
Maleonn is a successful photographer aged 38, here he discusses his work with his parents Tong Zhengwei (former theatre actress) and Ma Ke (former Beijing Opera director). They also talk about the Cultural Revolution and its effects on Maleonn’s generation of Chinese born in the 1970s.

- Recorded Maleonn's exhibition in Shanghai
www.maleonn.com

Being a music fan and musician in China and changes over the past 15 years – discussion between B6 and Abe (Bigger Bang and the band) hosted by Lawrence Pollard
Disco between a 28 year-old electronic musician B6 and indie rock guitar player Abe (29 years old), talking about how they got hold of Western music when teenagers, their influences and the effect the internet has had on the them as both fans and makers of music. The discussion includes their music.

- Discussion with B6 in the BBC Shanghai bureau and Abe in the BBC Beijing bureau
www.myspace.com/b6music
www.myspace.com/biggerbangtheband

DAY TWO - Weds 14th July
Social networking, creative influences and youth culture - Sean Leow interview by Lawrence Pollard
29 year-old Chinese American is from Silicon Valley and is founder of social networking site Neocha.com, and the consultancy and creative agency NeochaEDGE. He tells Lawrence about internet use by the young in China, whether China has the infrastructure to become a soft power, the influences on young creatives and linkages between global brands and local emerging artists.

- Interview from BBC Shanghai bureau
www.edge.neocha.com
www.neocha.com

Surviving as an artist, setting up a studio/arts business and influences – illustrated feature with Nini Sum
Up and coming 23 year-old artist and printmaker who the Idle Beats screen printing studio. She tells us about what it's like surviving as an artist in China, why she set up her screen printing studio, her influences and what younger and older Chinese artists think about each others work. She also describes a piece created especially for the BBC.

- Recorded at her studio in Shanghai
http://www.ninisum.com/
http://idlebeats.com/

The future of China and the US – discussion between Zixi Jin and Arton Gjonbalaj
Zixi Jin is Chinese and has just completed her first year at university in New York. Arton Gjonbalaj is a young New Yorker who will be going to China for the first time this summer. They discuss expectations from each other’s countries, how they feel about the growing influences of China on the world stage and America’s continued cultural influence around the world.

- Recorded in a restaurant in New York

DAY THREE - Thursday 15th July

Overview on China's contemporary and future cultural potential - Ai Weiwei interviewed by Lawrence Pollard China's most famous contemporary artist and cultural critic tells us whether he thinks China will be a soft power in the near future, the potential of creative activity under China’s political system and what he thinks of the work being created by China's youth.

- Interview from his studio in Beijing

Design overview from Hong Kong to Shenzhen - illustrated feature by Javin Mo
Award winning graphic designer Javin Mo is 33 and runs the Milkxhake design studio in Hong Kong. He takes us around 'Frontier City' and 'Design City' Shenzhen and details the close link between Shenzhen’s status as the First Economic Zone and it’s design scene. Also talks about how growth in China is affecting designers in Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

- Recorded by Javin as he travels from his studio in Hong Kong to design centres in Shenzhen
www.milkxhake.org

Nini Sum's artwork in Enciclopedia

2009-12-17T04:33:29Z

Nini Sum's artwork in Enciclopedia

Monday, 16 November 2009 | Posted by IdleBeats | 3 Comments >

ENCICLOPEDIA is a "100% screen-printed, 100% hand-bound, 96 pages,26 authors,7 colors,4 hands, 2 operators,1brain and a half" awesome illustration magazine made by Stranedizioni from Barcelona.

Nini Sum from IdleBeats happily accepted the invitation of contributing one of her illustrations to the book. After a year she received this publication with the limited number '211' of 500. It's kinda touching while holding this purely hand-made art book which has traveled all away from Spain to China.

Hand-printed Handsome Furs gig posters found in Shanghai Streets!

2010-08-03T03:36:15Z

Hand-printed Handsome Furs gig posters found in Shanghai Streets!

Tuesday, 03 August 2010 | Posted by IdleBeats | 0 Comments >

We ve recently discovered these posters in streets around Shanghai, the neighbors said that several aliens pasted them on one night while people and dogs are all sleeping! The aliens moved fast and refused to chat with the folks, very strange!

this dude was too afraid to look at it, he thought it s a tunnel to the outer space

Here..

There...

Everywhere!

The neighbors are still chitchatting about it.

Screen-Printed Slipmats for A Nice Set Exhibition

2009-12-17T04:35:49Z

Screen-Printed Slipmats for A Nice Set Exhibition

Thursday, 17 December 2009 | Posted by IdleBeats | 0 Comments >

A Nice Set is a touring exhibition of sets of slip mats (the mats that DJ uses on turntables) created by artists from all over the world.

Check out below for the slip mats that created by Nini Sum X IdleBeats.

Thanks to Neocha and Jellymon for bringing the exhibition to Shanghai!

Work in Progress on the new David Lynch print

2010-01-18T05:06:09Z

Work in Progress on the new David Lynch print

Monday, 18 January 2010 | Posted by IdleBeats | 0 Comments >

Worked in the studio on a new David Lynch portrait print last weekend. Made several screens with the new exposure machine, got the first layer printed when it's dark outside.

one of the failed screens, wrong exposing time.

yeah, this one too..

our printing table.

Woo, here they are!

Crazy dinosaur in a mad printing mode.

To be continued...

David Lynch print done!

2010-02-09T20:59:49Z

David Lynch print done!

Tuesday, 09 February 2010 | Posted by IdleBeats | 0 Comments >

Finally put the 2nd layer on of the David Lynch print, now it's AVAILABLE!

Also printed the 1/99 CCTV tree T-shirt for our lovely customer Amanda who dropped by at the studio last weekend. Thank you Amanda!

NeochaEDGE x IDLE BEATS Screen Printing Workshop

2010-03-08T01:10:53Z

NeochaEDGE x IDLE BEATS Screen Printing Workshop

Monday, 08 March 2010 | Posted by IdleBeats | 2 Comments >

First ever NeochaEDGE x IDLE BEATS Screen Printing Workshop in Shanghai!

We are so excited to announce this (maybe) First Ever live screen printing workshop in Shanghai! Under JUE festival, held by NeochaEDGE and IdleBeats.

Intro:
In this high-tech, digital age, we could all use a low-tech, analog way to express our creativity. Come to Neocha's studio on March 13 to learn the basics of screen printing from Nini Sum, founder of IDLE BEATS, a screen printing studio that creates original, handmade prints & t-shirts in limited editions. In this free, introductory workshop, you will learn about the history of screen printing, the process from start to finish as well as how to produce your own designs for print or T-shirts.

Time:
Mar 13th 2010 15:00-17:00

Venue:
Neocha Studio

Please RSVP to workshop@idlebeats.com to sign up for the workshop as spaces are limited, look forward to seeing you there!

Gig Poster for 'Sub-Culture present: Shackleton' @Shelter Shanghai

2010-04-01T01:03:25Z

Gig Poster for 'Sub-Culture present: Shackleton' @Shelter Shanghai

Wednesday, 31 March 2010 | Posted by IdleBeats | 1 Comment >

Check out the posters(originally designed by Zeke Clough) we printed recently for Shackleton's gig at The Shelter (Shanghai) this Saturday, we are so exicited to work with Sub-Culture creating such well-designed and high quality posters, hand-pulled gig poster art finally arrives in Shanghai!

Let's see what SmartShanghai says as well:

"Aces of bass, Sub-Culture have a big show on their hands this Saturday when they welcome in Skull Disco co-founder, and one of dubstep's most original voices, Shackleton in to Shanghai for his first show ever at The Shelter. It's going to be a huge deal, and they're doing it right, bringing in extra speakers and sub-woofers for this thing. It's the biggest one they've done so far -- it's excessive. I think they're just trying to show that they haven’t gone soft.

Every month, the Sub-Culture crew is inviting locally-based and international artists and graphic designers to design their event posters, and in collaboration with Nini Sum and IdleBeats, they're silk screening them up and making them available for purchase on the night. It's a really great idea -- hand-done, silk-screened images by unique graphic designers that you can buy for cheap, go get framed, and use to spruce up your living room. We've got some pictures of Idle Beats silk screening these Shackelton posters. Scroll all the way down for those.

For their first go with the concept, they've got artwork from Zeke Clough, a UK-based artist who designed all the sleeves for all the Skull Disco releases. His own distinctive style has been incorporated as "the look" of Skull Disco these past few years, but he's also done stuff for Mordant Music and Warp Records. Last but not least, his art work has also been featured in Wire, which we all know, is the Greatest Music Magazine in the World.

Speaking as someone with absolutely no real background in illustration (I checked out of comics sometime during the Bronze Age), I would describe Clough's style as The Misfits reading Zap Comics whilst high on hot knives. Possibly also listening to Cannibal Corpse. Maybe a documentary on Norwegian Black Metal is on in the background. Check out Zeke Clough on the web right here, and don't forget to check out his comic strips."

See below for the printing process, thanks much to Gregor for the help!

5 of the 33 are available to purchase via our online store, you can also pick one up at "Sub-Culture pres. Shackleton" this Saturday @ The Shelter. Support is from the Sub-Culture crew. Cover is only 50rmb.

Pictures from NeochaEDGE x IDLEBEATS Screen Printing Workshop

2010-03-18T04:32:35Z

Pictures from NeochaEDGE x IDLEBEATS Screen Printing Workshop

Wednesday, 17 March 2010 | Posted by IdleBeats | 0 Comments >

NeochaEDGE x IdleBeats Screen Printing Workshop last Saturday was really fun. Thanks everyone for coming, hope you all enjoyed your very-own hand-printed mini prints. :)

Nini and Sean explaining screen printing process.

Nini showing the hand movements.

Xiaolonghua preparing his screen.

One of everyone's favorites - Smooth Ride (limited Edition size:49)

Start pulling!

Sharing beer and printing experience.

Sandy explaining the magic behind the screens.

Sneak peak of our new release "Universal Girl"

Seagull looks handsome in the frame.

Another newly released Tshirt - "David Lynch"

Also thanks to:
NeochaEDGE for co-organizing and their great studio space, Split Works for hosting JUE music&art festival, Flying Turtle Coffee for beverage sponsoring, Maxime(Ekohe) for taking excellent pictures above, and Nini Sum, Xiaolonghua, Sandy Ley for contributing their original designs to exposure into screens. Let's all look forward to the next one!

Live printing for Volcom at SOURCE's fashion show

2010-04-15T03:11:32Z

Live printing for Volcom at SOURCE's fashion show

Tuesday, 06 April 2010 | Posted by IdleBeats | 0 Comments >

IdleBeats got invited to live screen-print for Volcom at SOURCE's fashion show at Central Studio(Shanghai) last Friday night. We were very happy to be part of the show cause the party's fun and the crowd's really cool as well.

Two artwork creations for the live printing with Volcom's logos blended together, originally illustrated by Nini Sum:

Icecubes

Seagull

A video of the night.

Nini and Gregor are working hard.

Rockbilly band Angry Jerks from Nanjing playing on the runway.

The 'fruits' of our labor!

Feel free to Contact Us for live screen-printing service, definitely a cool way to make your event one to remember!

"Spongies" Charity Art Auction

2010-04-21T11:15:22Z

"Spongies" Charity Art Auction

Wednesday, 21 April 2010 | Posted by IdleBeats | 0 Comments >

“This Friday, we’re bringing together a group of our favorite Chinese creatives and teaming up Qrazy to raise money for Western China. At the event, called “Spongies,” creative works will be auctioned off from local fashion designers, photographers, illustrators, product designers and other leading-edge Chinese creatives, including Kim Kiroic, Nini Sum, Xixi, Yan Wei, Liu Yiqing, Tang Ting, Tyakasha, Sop2099. All proceeds from the auctioned works will be donated to the One Foundation to provide disaster relief for Western China, an area severely affected by water shortage and most recently, the Yushu earthquake.

The fund-raising party is taking place April 23 at 10:pm at the DDM warehouse (750 West Huaihai Lu, Shanghai).

For more information on Spongies, call the hotline at 021-61416500.”

- by NeochaEDGE

We are glad and honored to take part in this charity auction that hosted by Qrazy and NeochaEDGE, hope the 3 framed, signed and numbered art prints(also our favs) will help out －at least a little bit with the disaster area.

Hope to see you at DDM warehouse this Friday night!

IdleBeats in CNNgo and CityWeekend

2010-05-18T23:39:14Z

IdleBeats in CNNgo and CityWeekend

Tuesday, 27 April 2010 | Posted by IdleBeats | 0 Comments >

2 interviews we recently did with CNNgo and CityWeekend, nice ones! click image to read the whole coverage.

"In the studio with Nini Sum, struggling trailblazer" by Ric Stockfis - CNNgo.com

"Is Shanghai Creative?" by Nick Taylor -CityWeekend

IdleBeats July Events

2010-07-12T08:09:34Z

IdleBeats July Events

Saturday, 26 June 2010 | Posted by IdleBeats | 0 Comments >

Here's a list of our upcoming events in July, hope to see you there! :)

Pop-Up Market (Give Sell Buy Swap -a share of proceeds will be donated to ROOTS AND SHOOTS million tree project)
When: July 3rd 10AM - 4PM
Where: Central Studios -1 F, BLDG 1, 751 Huangpi Nan Rd (Near Jianguo Rd), Shanghai

Volcom x Emerging Chinese Creatives Summer Screen-printing & Backyard BBQ
-Shanghai-
When: July 17th
Where: SOURCE Shanghai -158 Xinle Rd (Near Donghu Rd)

-Beijing-
When: August 7th
Where: SOURCE Beijing -Suite E128, World City High Street, 8-9 Jin Hui Road (North of The Place), Chaoyang District

Creative market at New Pants + Go Chic Shanghai Gig - Presented by S.T.D × Nengmao
When: July 23 9PM
Where: MAO LIVEHOUSE Bldg 32, 570 Huaihai Xi lu near Hongqiao Lu, Shanghai

Sub-Culture x IdleBeats July Poster Release & Sell
When: July 24th 12AM - 5AM
Where: The Shelter -5 Yongfu Rd (Near Fuxing Xi Rd), Shanghai

Volcom x Young Emerging Chinese Artists Summer Screen Printing & Backyard BBQ

2010-07-12T08:08:46Z

Volcom x Young Emerging Chinese Artists Summer Screen Printing & Backyard BBQ

Monday, 12 July 2010 | Posted by IdleBeats | 0 Comments >

This summer American clothing brand Volcom will be supporting a two month screen printing project in Shanghai and Beijing, titled Volcom x Young Emerging Chinese Artists Screen Printing Workshop. The event, presented by NeochaEDGE, IdleBeats and SOURCE, will bring together some of the best young Chinese and Western creatives in China to give workshops on screen printing methods, as well to launch the first Volcom t-shirt collaboration project in China. The workshops will take place at the source Shanghai store on July 17th and the source Beijing store on August 7th, 2010.

NeochaEDGE teamed up with screen printing studio IdleBeats to identify and work with a range of China's best young artists for the Volcom Screen Printing Workshop. IdleBeats founder Nini Sum quotes "It's a great pleasure to work with Volcom on the first live screen printing tour event in China. It has allowed IdleBeats to branch out and work with a group of talented and creative people from around the country. I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to getting my hands dirty at the events."

Below are the selected artists who represent various backgrounds and approaches to art and design:

· Nini Sum
· Jellymon
· Elephant
· Dora.S
· Chairman Ca

Each artist has created a library of Volcom inspired imagery to be used as screen prints during the workshop. Also, the Volcom Art Department in Costa Mesa, California will be reviewing these designs and choosing one from each artist to be printed on limited edition t-shirts.

NeochaEDGE co-founder Sean Leow explains “among a youth generation that is increasingly connected by digital means, screen printing is a cool, low-tech way for kids to meet up, roll up their sleeves, get inspired and interact with artists to create a unique piece of artwork.” The Volcom Screen Printing Workshop will be open to the public, where guests can talk with the five attending artists, learn the basics of screen printing, and choose a Volcom design to screen print themselves.

The vibe of the Volcom Screen Printing Workshop will be "backyard barbeque." For those missing that backyard feeling and for those who like the smell of a traditional bbq, this will be THE summer event. Source will be bringing the backyard indoors, with live acoustic music, bbq area, beers on tap and grass under foot. In the midst of an urban backyard environment, screen printers will be set up in the middle getting messy. To all guests, be prepared for some painting fun!

-Shanghai-
When: July 17th Starts from 4PM
Where: SOURCE Shanghai -158 Xinle Rd (Near Donghu Rd)
Cover: Free

-Beijing-
When: August 7th Starts from 4PM
Where: SOURCE Beijing -Suite E128, World City High Street, 8-9 Jin Hui Road (North of The Place), Chaoyang District
Cover: Free