A trip to the moon is becoming within reach for everyday people, with a space tourism study suggesting that 140 private citizens could reach orbit by 2020.

A Virginia-based firm, Space Adventures, is promoting a 17-day excursion that includes orbiting the moon. There is just one seat left on this trip around the moon and back, but it will cost you $150 million.

The voyage is due to take place in 2015, and includes a stop at the International Space Station, before orbiting the moon and then travelling back to Earth. Space Adventures has emerged as the world’s first true space-travel agency and has been working with Russia’s Space Agency to devise this once in a life time opportunity.

The trip is an example of how Space Adventures expects space tourism to take off (literally!) in the next 10 years.

It’s been a decade since investment manager Dennis Tito travelled to the International Space Station in April 2001 for $20 million. Only 8 private citizens have made this trip before, but the firm expects that number to significantly increase by 2020.

Read full post

Ahead of Chanel’s resort show in the South of France last month, Lagerfeld unveiled his latest offering as a director…

Chanel’s Creative Director, Karl Lagerfeld has released a short 30-minute film to showcase his 2011/12 Cruise Collection, which was shown at the Hotel du Cap in Antibes at the beginning of May.

Lagerfeld states that the movie shows the kind of world that the collection is made for, revealing his imagination and influences behind the collection. He also describes the film as a “movie about an ill-advised use of money which begins with violence and ends with feeling.”

The Tale of a Fairy features French actress Anna Mouglalis, American Model Kristen McMenamy, Chanel muse Amanda Harlech, and models Freja Beha Erichsen, Bianca Balti and Baptiste Giabiconi.

Read full post

A new concept, which could improve the functionality of the iPad, and encourage users to make the most of the applications on their gadget.

This idea was developed by Cliff Thier, who is aiming to get funding from Kickstarter – a funding platform for designers, artists and inventors.

The iKeyboard is the latest addition to a string of accessories that have become available for the iPad, following its rise to “must-have” status.

The iKeyboard acts as a physical keyboard, and an alternative to the small, touch-screen version on the iPad. It can often be difficult and time-consuming to type properly on the iPad, unless you have had plenty of practice.

The iKeyboard generously fits over the iPad, slotting over the bottom half where the touch-screen keyboard would be situated. It also  has cut outs where each key should be, which helps it to fit over the iPads actual keyboard.

Each cut out has a thin layer of film inside it so that when a key is pressed, it also presses the touch-screen key underneath.

Read full post

The British Sculptor invites visitors to take a look inside an enormous PVC sculpture at the Grand Palais in Paris.

With his largest ever artwork and his first exhibit in Paris in 30 years, Kapoor has created a huge Sci-Fi themed structure that he has dedicated to missing Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei.

Ai, whose sunflower seeds work closed recently at the Tate Modern, hasn’t been seen in over a month. He was arrested as he tried to board a flight to Hong Kong from Beijing on 3^rd April for “economic crimes” and has been missing ever since.

Despite never meeting him, Kapoor considers Weiwei as his colleague and feels that his disappearance is a true tragedy, stating; “Accuse him of something. Give him a lawyer. Let him defend himself…The state is not threatened by artists.”

He has also called for a worldwide day of action where museums and galleries close for a day in sympathy for Ai Weiwei.

Anish is no stranger to creating larger than life artworks after previously filling the Turbine Hall at the Tate in 2002 with his trumpet-like sculpture, Marsyas.

He is also currently working on a 140ft tower for the Olympics stadium next year. However, Leviathan has proved to be a harder task than filling the Turbine, as it is three times the size, both horizontally and vertically.

Read full post

A major exhibition of Da Vinci’s work at the National Gallery aims to improve viewing experience by preventing large crowds.

The Gallery is offering visitors a once in a life time opportunity to see half of Leonardo’s paintings together at one exhibition.

The show will examine the artist’s years as a painter at the court of the ruler of Milan. It also promises to be one of the most popular art exhibitions ever. Luke Syson, the curator of the show, has expressed his delight at being able to loan even one, let alone seven, of Da Vinci’s 14 masterpieces.

The gallery’s director, Nicholas Penny has also described the show as “a great triumph in diplomacy”.

With the paintings leaving galleries in Italy and France for the first time, the National Gallery are anticipating an overwhelming demand in tickets, and are taking precautions to ensure that people aren’t too disappointed.

Penny urges visitors that it is important for them to study their website before attending the exhibition. They are able to download all of the information that people can stand and read at the exhibition, so that they can read this beforehand and prepare for the experience.

The Gallery is also reducing the number of people allowed at the show at one time. The usual health and safety limit is 230, but only 180 visitors will be admitted each half hour.

Read full post