Nemesis is a think tank and consultancy, founded by Emily Segal and Martti Kalliala and based in Berlin, with nodes in Helsinki and NYC. Nemesis produces self-initiated, multidisciplinary research on fashion, subculture, urbanism, technology, design, speed, language, and death. Since August 2017, Nemesis has been consulting with a variety of companies and organizations, in luxury, technology, media, and beyond. As a consultancy, Nemesis provides cultural insights, brand positioning, audience mapping, and design strategy.
1.
CRYPTORAVES
While the crypto markets tanked following the full blown insanity of 2017, cryptoraves went from test net to being deployed in actual lived reality. From Prague to Barcelona to Berlin to Shenzhen.
2.
COLIN SELF’S SIBLINGS
Colin Self’s sophomore album was everything one could wish for and more—from stadium ballad to rave banger to insanely beautiful vocal performances. We particularly love “Stay with the Trouble (For Donna)” and “Survival.”
3.
FUTURE / COUNTRYSIDE TALK WITH REM KOOLHAAS
AT ENGADIN ART TALKS
Emily gave a talk with Rem Koolhaas and others around the concept of recentering our ideas of the future from the city to the countryside. An essay version of her talk is available as part of the Architectural Association’s DUE publication.
4.
SEX RECESSION
Millennials and Gen Z stopped having sex. Turns out late capitalism is evolutionarily maladaptive.
5.
PAN’s 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
The most important label of the last ten years (biased opinion), the Berlin-based PAN run by Bill Kouligas, also coincidentally turned 10 years old.
6.
VIRGIL ABLOH’S FIRST SHOW AS MEN’S CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF LOUIS VUITTON
A radical shift in the history of luxury imagery, pop culture, and depiction of the male body in fashion. We chatted with him for Mousse Magazine.
7.
BUILDUP OF THE UMAMI VALUE BUBBLE
More about this in 2019!
8.
ARCHITECTURE EFFECTS AT GUGGENHEIM BILBAO
Nemesis made a rare public appearance as part of Architecture Effects, a hyperstitionally charged exhibition exploring the fallout of the Bilbao Effect (open ’til April 29). Our piece HEAVEN (LUXURY = DEATH) explored the concept of heaven as 100% design. It takes the form of a 10-minute audio piece (featuring Colin Self) and a sculptural installation of 1,200 roles of custom-printed Nemesis adhesive tape. The audio piece is available on the exhibition’s app.
9.
IPCC: GLOBAL WARMING OF 1.5°C REPORT
Hardly anyone noticed (except, for example, Harvard). No surprises here. We are still on the verge of extinction. The Cultures of Energy Podcast from the Center for Energy and Environmental Research in the Human Sciences at Rice approaches climate crisis through a cultural-anthropological lens, plus excellent dialogues with scholars, artists and activists.
10.
COLLAPSE OF CONSENSUS REALITY IS COMPLETE
Know what we mean?