IT’S WORLD CUP TIME! LET’S CELEBRATE WITH POSTERS!

Above: Sweden 1958

I’ll be the first to admit that, when it comes to any kind of sport, I pretty much know next to nothing. I know that most of them involve running and balls and cute little spandex outfits, but that’s about it. Still, as little as I know about the intricacies of baseball, basketball, hockey, football (American), and football (European), I love me some sports culture. Baseball hats, basketball shoes, vintage trophies, varsity sweatshirts, Cracker Jacks? I am SO DOWN (seriously, though, any excuse to accessorize—I’m there). 

This year I saw the first of my friends put up their World Cup ticket and tagged a million people on it, talk about being subtle ! Followed by a whole bunch of my Brazilian friends going ga ga over their favourite venues . Followed by friends from other Latin American countries trying to connect with those travelling to Brazil. JEALOUS MUCH ! I hate Facebook for many such reasons. 

This year, the twentieth FIFA World Cup is taking place in Brazil and, as such, all of my significantly more sports-savvy friends are all abuzz with it. Never one to miss out on such a huge cultural event, I’m appreciating the occasion in my own way—through World Cup posters! Since its establishment in 1930, each FIFA World Cup has had its own poster and advertising campaign—and most of them are pretty dern awesome, fabulous examples of modern graphic design. I’ve chosen a few of my favorites, so come join me for this fun trip down World Cup memory lane! 

Above: Italy, 1934

Above: Uruguay, 1930

Above: France, 1938

Above: Brazil, 1950

Above: Chile, 1962

Above: Mexico, 1970

Above: Germany, 1974

Above: Argentina, 1978

Above: Spain, 1982

Above: South Africa, 2010

Isabelle Tuchband in Wonderland

 this week the selby features the amazingly colorful home of artist isabelle tuchband from são paulo, brazil. isabelle is the daughter of a french painter, and grew up among paints, canvas and paintbrushes from her father’s studio, learning since her early age how to see the world with the colors of art. her home is an eclectic and kitschy collection, almost a little bit madcap, but i like it that way! and the selby captures her colorful world perfectly.

Graphite pencil tip carvings

I imagine that Brazilian artist Dalton Ghetti started his artwork in primary school, while listening to boring grammar lectures...

Aren't these pencil tip carvings incredible?!
People are just so darn creative!

To do Capoeria or not to do is the question !

“Take the lane opposite Fab india on khar danda road and go till the end. You will see S S Sahney School. And then follow the loud Brazilian beats.” I hung up the phone. It was Saunna giving me directors to the Capoeria Class. Trust me for being inquisitive enough to actually go and see a class just because I heard it was cool. But “Cool” is an understatement.

When she said Loud – I didn’t think she meant "really Loud". I was walking upto the 4th floor. And the nearer I got to the class, the louder the drum beats became. It sounded like some voodoo tribal ritual dance. I finally landed on the 4th floor – I was breathing heavily ! This is lack of physical excercise I said to myself.
I entered the class. If there is a Brazilian community living outside of Brazil – it is here. People of all shapes and sizes – mostly thin and very acrobatic – were warming up for the class dressed in shades of green and yellow - the Brazilian colours. Legs and hands were flying here and there. It didn’t take a minute for someone to get on their hands with their feet in the air. WOW ! That man then started walking on his hands... Something I will never be able to pull off – I said to myself.

Capoeira (Portuguese pronunciation: [kapuˈejɾɐ]) is an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, music, and dance. It was created in Brazil by slaves from Africa, especially from Angola, Mozambique and Congo sometime after the sixteenth century. Participants form a roda, or circle, and take turns either playing musical instruments (such as the Berimbau), singing, or ritually sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The sparring is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, takedowns, and with extensive use of leg sweeps, kicks, and headbutts.

After a quick round of some fun warm-up participants started with the ginga – It is basically rocking back and forth; to swing seemed like the fundamental movement in Capoeira. And later, they started doing more complex versions – i couldn’t really capture the names. It ended with the class forming the circle – And in pairs they fought/danced/martial arts displayed and above everything enjoyed the class.

The drum beats got louder, people started hooting and cheering, dancing, singing, jumping up and down – and smiled from cheek to cheek ... laughed. I am in awe of this energy that was flowing in that room.

I left the class thinking – WOW ! This could be a challenge. But is it for me ? i would never be able to do this. A quick call to the teacher – who calls himself Monitor BABA for some reason... he convinced me Capoeira is tough, but it is really for people with a tough mind. So here I am, feeling like a complete looser for having written off Capoeira as not for me ! But I know someday I want to be able to do a cartwheel and walk on my hands. It’s a physical challenge which involved prepping the mind up first.

So while I decide to prep my mind – if you think Capoeira is for you – I say, go for it.

Monitor Baba - 98690 55371