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Cosmophobia in Berlin

Gabrielle Berlin — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:06:49 +0000

by Gabrielle Berlin

www.latelierkunst.com

L’Atelier – kunst(spiel)raum appoints for the first time an independent curator, Tom Trevatt, for it’s upcoming exhibition, Cosmophobia that showcases works of International Artists Adam Thompson, Justin Gainan, Iris Touliatou, Lilah Fowler, Mikko Canini, Olve Sande.

What is an end? One shudders perhaps. An end? Are there more than one? Is not the very question a vio- lation of sorts? A ruthless denuding? Should death be pushed so harshly into my awareness? Can she not wait? Is it not permissible to sleep? (Thirst for Annihilation, Nick Land)

Cosmophobia is characterised by an irrational fear of the cosmos and our place within it, that the universe will impose its malicious will against us in the form of some astronomical catastrophe or other. A meteor or stray planet will crash into the earth killing all life, or the sun will die, engulfing us in it’s fiery death-throws. Hoaxes abound; this year will supposedly see the dawn of the apocalypse at the winter solstice predicted by the Mayan calendar. Despite being provably untrue, hoaxes of planetary death still have hold over us in popular culture, internet forums and right-wing fundamental Christian circles. Ecological disaster has recently been the focus of much of our fear; however, worryingly, the scenarios of the movie cinema are increasingly likely.

In fact, despite the ridiculousness of many of the hoaxes we don’t believe (or do, depending on your naivete), the death of the planet is not just likely, it is inevitable. Earth will die, and us with it, or more than likely many millennia before. The extinction of the human race is our ultimate horizon. With that in mind, cosmophobia is certainly not an irrational fear; it is an inevitability. Yet, this pessimistic prognosis is not cause for intense melancholia, but is the ultimate nihilist speculative opportunity.

Politics must abandon hope. Not to give up, but for the very purpose of carrying on. Two crises are upon us. Ecological and economic. The responses to the latter will have profound affects on the former. The passivity involved in the conservative critique of the economic and ecological crises and the equally conservative res- ponses to them will not measure up to the radical demands the new future will make on us. Neoliberalism has allowed the promise of individual freedoms, the hope of future prosperity, to overshadow the pressing crisis of our ecological future. To believe in hopelessness instead of hope, demands then that we do something to change the otherwise dire situation. Hope, perhaps, has no place in a contemporary ecological politics that must force the hand of power.What this exhibition attempts, is to think through the opportunity of hopelessness. The curatorial proposition is that these six young artists are best placed to respond to or be affected by the political, economic and eco- logical territories that neoliberalism has bequeathed to us. Starting from a zero point of nihilist speculation art must think beyond the contemporary towards a realm of collected objectiveness divorced from the humanist promise of individual freedom. Upon the death of such ideology and the dawning of an age in which politics must transform into a category capable of making the move beyond its previous neoliberal dominion, art has a renewed mandate to engender a new political imaginary.

Interview with Shadowbox

Gabrielle Berlin — Sun, 13 May 2012 15:49:47 +0000

by Tom Curry

Stateside songstress ShadowBox is the latest artists to have been signed to London based label Pictures Music, clearing a space for herself in a genre swarming with crackling electronica with her trademark eerie, scratch-wave. Her haunting vocals cut through dark stretches of bass, whilst a heavy mix of degraded snares, sharp bleeps and blurred synths form a chaotic backdrop to each track. Blending Laurel Halo’s precise baselines with soft melodies that echo Jeff Buckley’s supernatural delivery, ShadowBox’s productions are as powerful as they are poised. We caught up with her to talk UFOs, bananas and the perils of learning to drive.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where have you come from? Where are you now? How did you get started making music? How would you describe your sound?

Came from a small town outside of NY. Now living in Brooklyn. I was exposed to a lot of music as a child. Instead of hiring a babysitter my mother would drag me to festivals or karaoke bars with her. Mom and dad played both sang and played guitar, mom sang in an experimental rock band with a drummer and extremely talented autistic bassist and one day she showed me how to overdub cassette tapes. I would take hip hop/R&B instrumentals and write/sing vocal melodies over them to create my own jams until I got myself a guitar and started creating my own instrumentations as well. These days I use a lot more drum machines, synthesizers and effects pedals. ShadowBox’s sound is electronic, ambient, deep bass arpeggiators mixed with dry or hazy tape delayed vocal melodies and loops, decayed drums, loud distorted guitars.

What’s the story behind your name?

ShadowBox stems from me being in a room with countless buttons, knobs, pads and circuits it all begins to look and feel like the human nervous system. Experimentations can begin to feel like an extension of yourself, moods transcribed into sound, that sort of thing. The machine (box) in a sense is an extension of me or my (shadow).

What inspires you?

Sleep, night, early AM, dreams, people, subway stations, books, sound sculptures from the 1960s …

What projects are you working on this year?

Collaborations with UK producers such as DjRUM and Lapalux. A few other collabs in the pipeline as well. Also working on the next ShadowBox EP and expanding the live show.

What’s …

… good for breakfast?

If nothing else a fresh banana … not too ripe.

… your worst habit?

Constantly looking up into the sky for UFO’s

… your secret talent?

I can be in more than one place at one time. With enough concentration, I can be in a total of 3 places

… your biggest regret?

For your own sanity, never regret.

… your greatest achievement?

Hmm … well … I started driving, deeply fearful of it. Now I just have to get a license.

… the best thing about where you’re from?

In NYC you have access to pretty much anything and everything. The strangest things can be found in NYC.

And now that you’re done reading, visit her Bandcamp (www.picturesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/a-m) to download the EP for free.

The artist in suit Davide Allieri

IM — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:02:03 +0000

By Ingrid Melano

Davide Allieri is a young Italian talent. Today his new exhibition A Protective Suit Project for the Blind Hero opens at 27 AD Gallery, Bergamo, Italy. A Protective Suit Project for the Blind Hero is the 8th chapter of a collection that encompasses different works, exploring various techniques, materials, shared concepts.

In his early works, Precision Impression I, II, III, Davide Allieri put a mixture of powdered graphite and natural fats directly into his mouth, the attention was focused on a single gesture, in order to create a universe populated by charismatic figures. Afterwards he started to to incorporate the fashion element, creating the final look of his alter ego.

In A Protective Suit for the Blind Hero the artist analysis changed: the new ego became a warrior. The performance of Precision Impression VIII is The Tailor’s Armour, will be open to the public on the 2nd of June at 27 AD Gallery and it will stage the metamorphosis from novice to warrior.

Saatchi Online

Davide Allieri

ANTON ZARKO WENZEL

Jo — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:25:21 +0000

by Johanna Moers

Who are you?

Anton Zarko Wenzel

Where are you from?

Cologne, Germany

What do you do?

Make movies.

Your style in 3 words?

Distinct, Precise, Artful

What is your weakness?

When it comes up to my work I have a real hard time compromising.

What is your strength?

I know what I want.

What makes you different?

My work.

A few words about your work?

I think the way I understand cinema is distinct from most contemporary movie makers. I don’t want my movies understood like they were some kind of true reality. I want them to communicate openly the basic understanding that it is an artifial construct made up of the different components of film making, because it indeed is a MOVIE. The audience should understand that. I don’t want to make it too easy for them. The spectador should always have the chance to make up his mind and explore on his own without being too influenced by the film maker/ the movie. I think that reflects in all of my work so far.

What inspires you?

Stories and things that seem to be casual or insignifant, but really mean the world!

Any new project coming up, you want to tell us about?

1000 stories on my mind ..….must…..get……money!

http://vimeo.com/matumatik

humpty dumpty publishing

Gabrielle Berlin — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:08:57 +0000

by Gabrielle Berlin

Who are you?

People call me Humpty Dumpty

Where are you from?

From the bizarre land of randomness, dreams and fairy tales where eggs can speak, wear top hats and suffer from poor vision.

What do you do?

I sit on a wall and tell stories. In any shape or form. Sometimes little quirky films. And now a small book…Topsy Turvy Tales which should be out in September.

What is your weakness?

Clumsiness.

What is your strength?

My complexion.

What makes you different?

I am an egg. A good egg.

Tell us more about humpty dumpty publishing. Why the name?

I named it after myself and after all the broken stories that make us all be who we are.

What is it for?

Hopefully to tell stories and make lovely books that you’d want to read out loud by a cosy fire.

Who are you willing to address?

Everyone. All lovers of stories. Admittedly perhaps ones with slightly odd, dark and twisted minds.

Do you think it will be difficult to be in competition with the severe digitization?

Fingers crossed.

Why do you believe in books?

Because they smell nice.

Are you planning an accompanying app?

Good idea. Will look into it.

Topsy Turvy Tales is going to be your first book:

Topsy Turvy Tales is a beautifully produced book of quirky illustrated tales. A collaboration between screenwriter and photographer Charlotte Boulay-Goldsmith and illustrator Laura Hyde. Surreal, slightly macabre and eerie, the four short stories follow an array of odd characters on journeys of love, self-discovery, affirmation and despair.

Anything coming up soon?

Lots! Topsy Turvy Tales will be available for Christmas and we have lots of fun books lined up for the new year.

Follow my activities on updates on

Twitter

Facebook

Tumblr

and of course on my new website:

www.humptydumptypublishing.com

info@humptydumptypublishing.com

Paula and Pedro: Conosco

BUC — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:28:54 +0000

By Cosima Bucarelli/ Images © Carolina Pimenta

Paula and Pedro Rezende are two super stylish siblings living in New York. We met them a couple of months ago in Manhattan’s lower east side on a sunny roof terrace. Back then they captured our attention with big smiles and positive energy while today they speak about their latest common art project Conosco.

“Conosco is the calm and the storm. An initiative that challenges its audience to look at the art world differently, and challenges itself in the same way.We aim to make you feel, smell, taste, see differently, all in its own time, or perhaps, all at once.”

Where are you from? Born in Brazil but we grew up in Portugal.

What do you do? I am a Curator and Pedro is a performing artist.

What do you find most fascinating about the creative process? To build strong relationships with the people we work with in order to create an experience that feels authentic and distinctive.

On May 6th you launched the project Conosco, tell us something more about it… Conosco was born to bring a new life to the art world. We aim to take the spotlight to new forms of expressions by placing them in a context out of where they are usually presented in.

How did you come up with the concept? We saw a great need for a project that would help the art world come out of the business oriented bubble it has been put in. Art should be a form of relaxation that helps the public transcend from their normal lives and this is what Conosco is here to offer.

Some words about the first and current Conosco group show? Conosco group show serves to show that an art exhibition can go beyond sitting in a perfect room with perfect white walls. The show features works of thirteen emerging artists that invite the public to see differently through their art using a large range of mediums. The space was curated from head to toe to enhance an experience that feels unique and unexpected.

What plans do you have for the future? Conosco is an international project—we look forwards to finding new and raw spaces in Europe and Brazil where to organize more events that will be re-invented as we evolve. On a more recent not however, on May 20th we will have a closing for the show featuring performances directed and acted by Pedro to make a stage out of a space pushing it beyong a mere art exhibit.

www.conoscoproject.org – www.conoscoproject.tumblr.com

Lost Kids

JJ — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:17:25 +0000

Ohm Phanphiroj (Bangkok): „Underage Prostitution” & Göran Gnaudschun (Potsdam): „Berlin Alexanderplatz”

Von/by Juergen Jehle

Berlin Alexanderplatz: Der Potsdamer Fotograf Göran Gnaudschun macht seit April 2010 Fotos der dortigen Szene. Behutsam fängt er Bilder von jungen „Outcasts” – mit ihrem Leben weit entfernt vom allgemeinen Alltag – ein. Eine noch hoffnungslosere Welt von verlorenen Leben zeigen die Aufnahmen des thailändischen Fotografen Ohm Phanphiroj. Auf seinen nächtlichen Streifzügen durch Bangkok fotografiert und interviewt er minderjährige, männliche Sexarbeiter. Die Vorstellung dieser Seiten des Lebens macht sprachlos. Aber genau diese Sprachlosigkeit wollen die Künstler verhindern. Beide Fotografen geben Randgruppen unserer menschlichen Gesellschaft ein Gesicht und damit eine Stimme.

Eröffnung: Freitag, 11. Mai 2012 um 19 Uhr, 68elf e.V. – Kunstverein im Mediapark, Mediapark 8A (achter Stock), Tel. 0163-69 96 811, E-Mail 68elf@gmx.net

Informationen zur Ausstellung unter: http://68elf.wordpress.com/category/ausstellungen-2012/
Informationen zum Sommerblut-Festival unter www.sommerblut.net
Informationen zuOhm Phanphiroj unter: http://ohmphotography.com/
Informationen zu Göran Gnaudschun unter: http://gnaudschun.de/

celeste melisande sloman

Gabrielle Berlin — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:41:21 +0000

by Gabrielle Berlin

Who are you?

I am Celeste…clearly more expressive with photos than with words!

Where are you from?

I grew up in the east village (NYC) but I am now at university in Scotland studying Art History… final destination unknown!

What do you do?

Right now I am getting my degree and trying to travel as much as possible to take photographs

What is your weakness?

Ebay, film, abandoned buildings, carrot juice

What is your strength?

Independence

What makes you different?

I’ve been told I have a unique eye. I guess I am also a photo purist? I don’t like digital photography (even though I do use it sometimes) or Photoshop. I focus on the strength of the image itself, rather than the images’ potential after editing. Set me loose in a grungy place with some film and I’m happy.

When did you discover photography?

Pretty much in utero. My father was a professional commercial photographer when i was growing up, so i have always been surrounded by cameras. I probably started shooting for myself around age 13 or 14

Which camera do you use?

For myself : Leica M6

For others: Canon 5D Mark II

What are your favourite motives?

I usually tend to shoot old, decrepit, and broken things. Also off-centre compositions…

We noticed you are interested in landscapes, what is it you are trying to capture?

I definitely wouldn’t say landscapes are a priority for me. I usually try for tight compositions. If I do shoot a landscape however it means that I was really taken with the weird idiosyncracies of the place.

How do you think about black and white photography?

I love black and white. Full stop. I feel like I even see in black and white when I’m shooting. Color has its place as well, however I would only use color if color was, in itself, my focus. Otherwise I find color too messy…it distracts from the composition itself. Also the grain of black and white has a kind of texture and moodiness that is lacking with color film

Anything coming up soon?

It is difficult living in St Andrews because there is literally nothing to shoot here! However my flatmate, Toby Marsh, and I are in the process of a collaboration; designing a set of tarot cards (using my photographs and his illustrations)! Aside from that I will be heading back to NYC to intern this summer so will hopefully find something interesting to shoot there until I can travel again!

http://celestesloman.tumblr.com/

Snowdon Blue

IM — Sun, 06 May 2012 01:56:20 +0000

By Ingrid Melano

Did you know that the color blue can cause allergic reactions? Snowdon Blue is the first travelling exhibition curated in ACNE Studios. The exhibition chronicles Antony Armstrong-Jones, better known as Snowdon, lifelong fondness for the color Blue. Opened in London last week, it will then be in ACNE Studios in Paris and finally in Stockholm.

ACNE began working with Snowdon in 2007, when the photographer shot a host of then-emerging designers – including Richard Nicoll and Jonathan Saunders – for Acne Paper. It was, however, the photographer’s youngest daughter - Frances von Hofmannsthal – who approached Jonny Johansson, creative director, to work on this latest project.

“I have always admired his work, so when his daughter approached us with the idea it was a very easy decision to make,” explained Johansson. “His work has a real honest energy to it – each portrait reveals something about the subject. Royals, playwrights, actors and pop stars alike, each has a human and intimate aspect that I admire.”

Snowdon Blue is also printed in limited edition of 700 numbered copies, with cloth-bound hardcover. The publication retails at £80, and portraits features names including David Bowie, Serge Gainsbourg and Ian McKellen. Coherent in their marketing strategy ACNE designers have created at the same time a collection of 8 shirts in various fabric and shades of blue, inspired by those worn by Snowdon’s subjects.

ACNE

Vogue.uk

Photo-diary: 1.05 by Timor Kodal

BUC — Sat, 05 May 2012 17:06:06 +0000

Photographer Timor Kodal just sent us some amazing shots of this year’s May 1st in the streets of Berlin!

©Timor Kodal

www.photo.kodal.de

Where were you? Send us pictures of your 1st of May to action@horstundedeltraut.com