Letters from Pocket Embassy

This months cover by Aleksandar Ares,
layout by K.K.W. Cover image is
from the project Rise Of The Young Ones.

Experimental video art @ []Nothing Space. Photos & article by K.K.W

Curators Cristin Anne Hughes (right) & Cylixe

As the world becomes more connected, shared experiences becomes more common, either direct or indirect. However the ability to relate to some else's experience through art, is a matter of the viewer and creator being able to connect.

And while didn't connect with all of the videos screened, they were all creatively well done & interesting none the less.

Scene from "Staedtchen" by Mandy Kerbs.

There was something haunting about "Staedtchen" in its still images, the erie sense of peacefulness to the area, closed off and inaccessible save for certain kind of permit. The work deals with the structures and demarcation of accessibility in public spaces. With the seemingly over-blown security rituals in a place does not need it, you sense the need for this, to give greater meaning something ordinary.      

Scene from "Staedtchen" by Mandy Kerbs.

Scene from "Staedtchen" by Mandy Kerbs.

Scene from "Back street" by Annemarie Blohm

Scene from "PETER IST TOT" (PETER IS DEAD)
by Clemens Wilhelm

"Peter Ist Tot" was probably the best of all the videos screened. Heartfelt in its curiosity, a story simply told consisting of found photographs of a strangers life. A moving, fictive biography is formed making one ask, why does the life of a stranger interest us a times? Can the life of seemingly ordinary person become extraordinary?      

Scene from "PETER IST TOT" (PETER IS DEAD)
by Clemens Wilhelm

Scene from "KEYSTONE"
By Constantin Hartenstein

Scene from "The Plentifulness Paradox"
by Deborah Uhde

Scene from "The Plentifulness Paradox"
by Deborah Uhde

Scene from "Too Much"
By Jochen Isensee

"Too Much" was a hypnotic visual spectacle of media-grotesqueness leading the viewer to a sensation of fearful over-load. You become bound to battlefield of violent suggestions, where the subtitles begin to form a strange textual chain of information. The video is an experimental animation-collage freely adapted from Nietzsche, how he was read by Foucault. 

Scene from "Too Much"
By Jochen Isensee

Scene from "Trip To The Soon"
by Kalle von Karl

Scene from "Mustang Jeans"
by Marko Shiefelbein

"Mustang Jeans" was amazing in that its impact is matched only by the simplicity of the video, and the sublime nature of the idea behind it. The power of the content coming from the woman telling a story that seems unbelievable, yet so real. In a way its almost whimsical when you realize what she's  talking about.

Scene from "Hach Blitzstrudel Hey" by
Kalle Von Karl

Scene from "Army of Bollo - There will be
Mannerchore" by Marius Roth

Scene from "Blue Distortion"
by Frank Bubenzer. 

Scene from "Learning to Fly"
by Julia Richter

Scene from "Florilegiae - a rhapsody in 3 parts"
by Cylixe

Cylixe's video is a visual delight bordering on a lucid dream. The viewer moves from one thing to the next with little time to consider, only a quick-fix of constant changing scenes with a perfect voice-over narration, about the chemical make-up of the human body. One can see a frightening interpretation of high intensity urban life, fueled by caffeine and possibly other kinds of drugs. Its visually arresting, drawing you into an extended moment thats real, and a dream.     

Scene from "THE OVO (Ovo - the Video)
by Michael Brynntrup

Scene from "THE OVO (Ovo - the Video)
by Michael Brynntrup

Curators Cristin Anne Hughes (right) & Cylixe

If you would like to know more, go to:www.mandykrebs.de, www.clemenswilhelm.com, www.fruehfeuer.com, www.duhde.de, www.jooki.de, www.kallekarl.org, https://vimeo.com/52149611, www.frankbubenzer.de, www.juliacharlotterichter.com, www.cylixe.net, www.brynntrup.de, www.nothingspace.org "Art is the reason, art is the way"

Istanbul: Dark days ahead for Turkey?

This months cover by Aleksandar Ares,
with layout by K.K.W.
Cover image is from the project
Rise Of The Young Ones.

"Diren Gezi" - Turkey; dark days ahead? By K.K.W

"...big things have small beginnings..." (David - "Prometheus" Directed by Ridley Scott)

Biking up 3rd Ave in Manhattan last week, I saw a small but boisterous group of people, signs held high, protesting for solidarity with Turkey.

Prime minster  Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia 

Along with Istanbul, demonstrations spread to 67 provinces within the country. The initial protest held by about 50 environmentalists opposing the replacement of Taksim Gezi Park with a reconstruction of the historic Taksim Military Barracks (demolished in 1940).

One of the logo's of some protesters. 

For a brief while the they halted the bulldozing of the park. However on the morning of May 28, the protesters, camping out in Gezi park (along with others) were routed by the Zabita municipal police with tear-gas, water hoses with their tents then burned. Like many other countries Turkey has a history of police brutality.  

Photo courtesy of Media-center/smugmug.com

The park is one of the few remaining green spaces left in the European side of Istanbul. Despite the anger sparked by the Gezi incident, the current government leadership under Prime Minister Erdogan (AKP - Justice & development party) has increased restrictions on freedom of speech, the press, internet use, television content and the right to free assembly (1).   

Photo courtesy of www.ibtimes.com

At the same time, especially since 2011, the AKP party have pushed forward an Islamist agenda, aimed @ a more "pious generation". 

The party has developed and increased its links with Turkish media groups to help further its agenda. It has used administrative and legal measures (in one case a 2.5 billion tax fine) against critical media groups and journalists (2).  

Photo credits unknown

Restrictions on alcohol consumption have been pushed through Parliament, many have been given jail sentences for blasphemy. The government have also tried to make abortion virtually unobtainable and opposed extension of LGBT rights in the country (3). 

The main thing to note is that the AKP has govern since 2002, then won elections in 2007 & 2011 by large margins.

Under its rule the economy of Turkey has recovered from the 2001 financial crisis, driven in part by a construction boom.
And while construction has been a major drive, this has involved little local consultation, being opposed by widespread coalitions of diverse interests. Despite this fact the government has turned a deaf ear & blind eye to most if not all opponents to these projects (4). 

The construction boom has even spread to Macedonia - with Cevahir Holding investing some 300 million euros to build four 4-storey skyscrapers in the capital, Skopje (5). This has raised numerous concerns within Skopje given Turkeys political problems, and its past historical dealings with the Balkans.

While economic gains are something quite positive for a nation, and the stability that comes with it, this is not enough to blind those with open eyes. Democracy and the secular gains via leaders like Mustafa Kemal Ataturk are under siege, in a nation where some wish to exist in the modern world, with stern elements of its non-secular past.

Nothing lasts forever, all protests come to an end, either with both sides satisfied or not. Though for the time being, its a dark time for Turkey, with the protesters one of the only lights urging the country back towards Democracy.     

Image courtesy of AP Photos - Kostas Tsironis

One of the more peaceful demonstrations:
a Sufi dancer wearing a gas-mask.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

If you would like to know more go to :http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/01/istanbul-protests_n_3372059.html, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_protests_in_Turkey, http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/06/11/how_the_war_in_syria_has_helped_to_inspire_turkeys_protests

(1) "Charges against journalists dim the democratic glow in Turkey" - New York Times Jan 4th 2013,  

"In Erdogans Turkey, Censorship Finds Fertile Ground" - Al Monitor Jan 2013, 

"Erdogans Visit to Berlin Betrays Tensions", Der Spiegel 2013 

(2) "How Democratic Is Turkey", Foreign Policy - June 2nd 2013, 

(3) "Main opposition urges protection of LBGT's, ruling party calls them immoral", Hurriyet Daily News May 29th 2013. 

(4) "How Democratic Is Turkey", Foreign Policy - June 2nd 2013, 

(5) Sinisa Jakov Marusic - Balkan Insight 2013.

"Art is the reason, art is the way"  

Satya Hinduja

This months cover by Aleksandar Ares,
with layout by K.K.W.
Cover image is from the project
Rise Of The Young Ones.

Music now: From Bombay, with love. By K.K.W

If your not listening on SoundCloud, log-on, sign-up & wake up. Because your missing something great, starting with Satya Hinduja. 

Cover for her current album. Image
courtesy of the artist. 

Composer, sound designer & engineer, Satya Hinduja has been exploring possibilities in music ranging from upbeat dance floor fare to enigmatic ambient, which is in fact her inspiration behind "Tabula Rasha Music". Operating out of Bombay (Present day Mumbai. According to her Soundcloud profile) she earned her stripes as a film composer, but was compelled by her creative side to other artistic mediums and collaborations. And thank the Gods for that.

Satya Hinduja.  Image courtesy of the artist.
Color augmentation by K.K.W

Working for Blue Productions from December 2004 to June 2009 as a producer, recording engineer, orchestral copyist and arranger certainly shows in her personal music. The sound, pacing, tempo, beats and general feel of her tracks surge with technical talent and creative joy.

"Sunrise" is 6:06 min's of near perfection; the beginning like its namesake, rising steadily with an amazing pick-up. The first time I heard the track, it really made my day.

"Bright lights and Shadows" is soothing, haunting, with a little bit of trip-tech vocals in the beginning, stretching out into a deep resonating vibe.

"D Flawless #001" is a journey of sound that eases you into a beautiful trance. The wicked beat and tempo ascends to a peak, then decreases gently. All this while Playful ambient sounds creep in gracefully, tempting you, bringing you along. 

 

Satya Hinduja. Image courtesy of the artist.

If you would like to know more, or listen, go to:https://soundcloud.com/tabularasha. "Art is the reason, art is the way"

B.O.S [highlights]

This months cover by Aleksandar Ares,
with layout by K.K.W.
The design is for a current project
Rise Of The Young Ones.

Bushwick Open Studios [B.O.S].

Photos & text by K.K.W

Despite the fact that I don't live, or as an artist operate in Bushwick(or Williamsburg), I still look forward to B.O.S & other events there. And though I didn't get to see all of it this year, what I did see,  was amazing.

The Modernism of Curiosity
@ Fuchs Project

Entitled "The Modernism Of Curiosity" Fuchs Project (Raphael Fuchs) had a stunning display of photographs. Not just beautiful or skillful, but moments captured that convey something wonderful. 

@ Fuchs Project

@ Fuchs Project. Noah Xifr - visual artist -
 helping out for the day.

@ Fuchs Project

Juan Miguel Palacios' work is truly amazing, and was arguably one of the best this year, as last year. His large-scale 3 dimensional pieces are beautiful as they are disturbing. They surge with the power of frozen energy.  

Juan Miguel Palacios

@ Juan Miguel Palacios'

@ Juan Miguel Palacios'

Juan Miguel Palacios

Seung Mo Park

Seung Mo Park's creations are outstanding for there realism, the passion they evoke & exude, not to mention the level of detail. His portraits display a depth of feeling unlike others, while his sculptures are bold and delicately composed - they resonate life. All of this made fascinating by his choice of medium (wire-mesh & aluminum).  

Seung Mo Park

Seung Mo Park. This was a large screen
visitors went behind to look at a sculpture,
& themselves became part of his artwork.

Seung Mo Park

At Slag contemporary Gallery Paul McLeans 

"Dim Tim" showed the viewer something striking, provocative and odd all at the same time. He first created his cyclops figure in 1984 into the wet black ink on a silkscreen support board. And with this he became, in his own right, a "4D artist" long before it achieved the aesthetic currency it enjoys today.     

Paul McLean

Paul McLean - "Dim Tim"

@ Slag contemporary gallery

@ Slag contemporary gallery,
operated by Irina Protopopescu 

Young Min Choi's creativity certainly stood apart from the rest, with his bold line work, powerful simplicity and excellent use of color. Part of me wants to say his work is "Pop-Art", but that would be to small a category for Choi's art.    

Young Min Choi

Young Min Choi

Mike Schreiber is one of the best artists around, immersing himself in the world of Hip-Hop, photographing saw greats as Mos-Def. His work is powerful in its composition, beauty and intensity.  

Mike Schreiber

Mike Schreiber

@ []Nothing Space there was definitely something. An interesting group of avant-garde artists fairly new to the area, but eagerly working to make a serious impact on the Bushwick art scene.   

@ []Nothing Space

@ []Nothing Space

@ []Nothing Space

Cair Crawford's artwork seems simple at first glance, until you really look at it, and suddenly your hypnotized. The subtle lines are almost blurred creating a slight distortion thats playful and intense.    

Cair Crawford,
next to the gentleman in blue.

@ Cair Crawford

Cair Crawford

@ Cair Crawford

@ Cair Crawford

Jung Ah Kim (stripe shirt)

Jung Ah Kim is one of those artists whose work runs more on emotion & abstract thought (at least to me), which produces eye-catching patterns. There's an individual quality to her work making it stand apart from most others. 

Jung Ah Kim 

@ the shared studio of Jung Ah Kim, Chika Yoshii
& Chioma Ebinama.

When I first saw Chika Yoshii's work, I thought of the "engineers" from Sir Ridley Scott's "Prometheus", which evoked wonder & fear (although I'm sure thats not what the artist intended). Her creations have a sublime warmth and appeal thats haunting. It exits somewhere between illustration and impressionism. The muted colors and delicate blending of conveys almost too much. 

Chika Yoshii

Chika Yoshii

Chioma Ebinama (left)

Chioma Ebinama has a really playful, surrealist, and at times erotic theme to her art. Her illustrative style is matched only by her vivid imagination and obvious skill. The image below is from a series called "Ways to exit a vagina".   

From the series
"Ways to exit a vagina"

Chioma Ebinama

Kaz Ooka work isn't just paintings but an intense form of social & political commentary, at times adding himself (if I'm not mistaken) in his artwork. It has the feeling of the impressionists with a slight illustrative look. Most of his paintings had the theme of war, religion and aspects of pop-culture although often with a vivid sense of fantasy.    

Kaz Ooka

Kaz Ooka

Kaz Ooka

Orianne Cosentino seems to exist in two world; abstract-expression & a moody realism. In her landscapes there's a rich sense of emotions lingers amongst the light and shadows. Its as if you want to walk into them. Her abstract work gives a strong sense of sustained moments of impulse, with creative control. Her pieces incorporating parking tickets is as stunning as it is clever. 

Orianne Cosentino

Orianne Cosentino

Orianne Cosentino

@ Orianne Cosentino's

Orianne Cosentino

A good screen-print studio is hard to find, so I'm guessing Bushwick should count its blessings that the "Polluted Eyeball" is there. Covering a fair amount of the wall-space were examples of amazing work you don't come across too often. One could place an order, or be apart of a workshop. At this studio if they can't do it, odds are no one else can. 

@ Polluted Eyeball

@ Polluted Eyeball

@ Polluted Eyeball

If you would like to know more, go to:www.artsinbushwick.com, www.fuchsprojects.com, www.juanmiguelpalacios.com, www.seungmopark.com, www.slaggallery.com, www.youngminchoi.com, www.mikeschreiber.com, www.nothingspace.org, www.caircrawford.com, www.jungahkimm.com, www.chikayoshii.com, www.thevirgindress.com, www.soymonk.com, www.ocosentino.com, www.pollutedeyeball.com "Art is the reason, art is the way"