From minimalist garden gnomes and cute concrete figurines to spotty Yayoi Kusama-designed skateboard decks and fun stitch-your-own passport covers, these are the top VISI picks of the week series – week 250. 

1. Modern Minimalist Garden Gnomes

“New York design studio New Affiliates has created a series of minimalist garden gnomes,” says Online Editor Lindi Brownell Meiring. “Made of powder-coated steel in a range of playful colourways, these modern-day gnomes would make a fun addition to your garden or windowsill.”

Image credit: Zach Helper via dezeen.com

2. Stitch Where You’ve Been Passport Cover

“This fun design by travel accessories brand Chasing Threads is perfect for any jet-setter,” says Art Director Lené Roux. “What a cool, creative way to document your travels.”

Image credit: wearechasingthreads.com

3. The Normies by Normann Copenhagen

“Look at this cute collection from Danish design brand Normann Copenhagen!” says Features Editor Amelia Brown. “These little concrete figures will add an element of humour and fun to any space.”

Norm

Norma

Normfred

NormNorm

Normus

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnRDwOJAg6w/?taken-by=normanncph

Image credit: normann-copenhagen.com / @normanncph on Instagram

4. Yayoi Kusama Skateboards at MoMA Design Store

“Although I can barely ollie myself, these beautiful skate decks by famed Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama would look amazing on my wall,” says Content Producer Michaela Stehr. “I’d love all four in the series!”

Image credit: dezeen.com

5. Research Unit Launches New Flagship Store

“I love the sleek, travel-inspired range by local brand Research Unit,” says Managing Editor Samantha Charles. “The brand has just launched its new flagship store at the Watershed at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront.”

Image credit: researchunitstudio.com

Browse more like VISI picks of the week series – week 250 on picks of the week 272.

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Eighty-year-old renowned South African artist Esther Mahlangu recently collaborated with BMW on an exciting project.

Image credit: Seagram Pearce

As we featured here, Esther transformed the interior trims of a BMW 7 Series into a colourful Ndebele-style work of art, 25 years after she painted the exterior of a BMW Art Car in 1991.

In this video, Esther describes how she started painting, and how her mother and grandmother taught her everything she knows. Forever inspiring, she also shares with us her purpose, to pass on her traditional techniques to the next generation and make sure the culture she holds dear doesn’t die out.

See more of Esther’s BMW 7 Series here.

The post WATCH: Esther Mahlangu X BMW appeared first on Visi.

Renowned South African Ndebele artist Esther Mahlangu has teamed up with BMW to transform one of the brand’s luxury 7 Series cars into a work of art.

Twenty-five years ago, in 1991, Esther collaborated with BMW to paint the exterior of a BMW 525i sedan in her signature bold Ndebele-inspired patterns. This year, she has embellished the interiors in a subtle, yet striking way, by adding the patterns to the wooden internal trims.

The vehicle was sold in a private online auction on 5 September 2016 with profits donated to the charity project The Art Room.

The car will be on show at the Frieze Art Fair in London from 5 to 9 October 2016.

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