Last Words – a group exhibition that explores language, knowledge and communication #australia #asia

Split over two exhibition periods and featuring artists from Australia and the Asia region, Last Words is a group exhibition that explores language, knowledge and communication in an age of cultural diversity and globalisation. It is the culmination of a series of mid-career solo exhibitions and performances, which 4A has undertaken throughout 2010 that tackle ideas of communication.

When we talk about our contemporary locations, they are increasingly defined by the interaction of local, national and global references. It is a world that is undergoing constant change and expansion, where culture, geography and traditional forms of identification are neither consistent or certain. What happens when our boundaries – geographical, psychological, physical and cultural – dissolve? How, then do we articulate history, politics, where and how we live?

Last Words aims to set up a discourse around the ways in which meaning is constructed in a time of uncertainty, through artworks which act as a catalyst for reflection on the contemporary world.

A publication documenting the Last Words project will be available later in the year.

Artists in this exhibition include: Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, Eric Bridgeman, Zhang Ding, Hikaru Fujii, Archie Moore, Shen Shaomin.

Teleportation Device Request for _Game of War Weekend_?

Consider this official: I totally *need* one of you luverly Geekgirlers to create a Teleportation Machine so I can get to this bangin’ event:

“On Saturday the 26th, Class Wargames presents ‘Marcel Duchamp meets Blue Peter’, a day of making and playing Guy Debord’s The Game of War.

Sunday is the World Premier launch of the Class Wargames’ film – The Game of War. Directed by Ilze Black; script writers Richard Barbrook and Fabian Tompsett; xenography by Alex Veness, voice over by Hayley Newman and Alex Veness.

For more information about Class Wargames and players:
http://www.classwargames.net.”

[All teleportation device donations gratefully accepted. K-thx-bai;)]

Kurt Vonnegut Explains Drama

I always knew Kurt Vonnegut produced incredibly awesome fiction: turns out he’s also a truly pragmatic behaviouralist/visionary [+ yup the two *can* go together]. Take, for instance, his reasoning on how the average joe [+ jane] may just form a slightly whackjob set of perceptions centred around interactions with others + associated notions of “drama”:

“People have been hearing fantastic stories since time began. The problem is, they think life is supposed to be like the stories…because we grew up surrounded by big dramatic story arcs in books and movies, we think are lives are supposed to be filled with huge ups and downs! So people pretend there is drama where there is none.”

Read more [with spiffo graphs] @ Derek Sivers’ blog.

Interspecies: Artists Collaborating With Animals

If there was ever an event after my own heart, it’s one that marries concern for animals with creativity:

“Interspecies asks: Can artists work with animals as equals? If not, what is the current state of the human-animal relationship? It has recently been shown that humans are closer to the higher primates than previously thought, with chimpanzee and gorilla behaviour reflecting politics, deception and even possibly creativity. What does this mean to the way we see ourselves as one species inhabiting a planet in crisis? Interspecies uses artistic and participatory strategies to stimulate dialogue and debate, showing artists in contact with real animals and negotiating a new power relationship, questioning the way we view our interactions with animals during Darwin’s anniversary year.”

Interspecies has a whole shebang of London-based events planned for early October including: exhibitions, symposia, workshops and outings. Artists include: Nicolas Primat, Antony Hall, Kira O’Reilly, Ruth Maclennan, Beatriz da Costa, Rachel Mayeri + Snæbjörnsdóttir/Wilson.

Take Off Your Skin (TOYS)

Take Off Your Skin (TOYS): A Replication Project
Produced by Melbourne Fringe + WELL Theatre + FULL TILT

Japanese dance artist Yasuko Kurono is a replication artist: she uses “clones” of herself to stage public-oriented dance performances [sounds quite trippy, huh]. Kurono, who has been engaged in events like these since 1999, wants Melbournites to join in one such viral performance event during the week prior to Friday 2 October:

“Be a part of TOYS – a large public art performance. Join 100 performers and 20 assistants as we take over the streets of inner city Melbourne for one afternoon. We’ll even dress and preen you for the occasion. All you need to bring is enthusiasm.

To join us:

1. Read the information here about the different performer and assistant roles.
2. Fill in the form to let us know which part you want to play.

Then we’ll let you know all the details shortly.

If you have any queries, contact Producer Kath Papas at Melbourne Fringe before you register phone 9660 9600 email kath@melbournefringe.com.au.”

Call: The Cafe Poet Program

If:

1. You like a decent cuppa
2. You’re a dab-hand with a writing implement
3. You like to throw around words with reckless [and/or possibly formalized] abandon

…then have a squizz at this puppy:

“We are looking to expand the [The Cafe Poet] program so if you are a poet and wish to participate in the program by connecting with a cafe near you and being its CAFE POET IN RESIDENCE, please contact the Australian Centre by emailing paul@australianpoetrycentre.org.au.

We are taking applications until September 30 and will announce the new cafe poets by the end of October. And check out the cafe poet facebook page.”

The Vertical Garden @ The Athenaeum

As a rule, the human race aint so spiffy at greening up surfaces of vertical buildings. Green bits + looming walls just don’t seem that ecologically compatible. One green-thumber who is a mind numbing expert at this very “art” is Patrick Blanc, who is:

“…on a mission to transform concrete walls into beautiful havens of biodiversity. His famous Vertical Gardens hang all over the world, from Bangkok to Paris, New York to Tokyo… and now London.”

One lovely example of his handiwork can be found at The Athenaeum in London [see the above link]. More examples can be ferreted out of his Flash site here.

Building Online Games To Save Nature

Geekgirlers: meet Pawan Maulik. Maulik is a game developer who actually cares about the state of the natural world. As a fresh 2008 Toy and Game Design graduate from the Ahmedabad National Institute of Design, Maulik found:

“…that people did not like to read pamphlets or literature about social messages on environment. I was looking for some way to make these things interesting for the younger generation. It was then that I started exploring the medium of online games and spreading social messages through them…The games that are under development right now are on global warming, tree plantation, power consumption, renewable energy and water conservation. The games would go into the public forum and be accessible in a couple of months. I am waiting for funding and as soon as it is through, these games will be available on already existing online gaming websites.”

Read more about Maulik and his projects here.

Critical Path: Choreographic Research Centre

“Critical Path is a choreographic research and development centre for dance artists in New South Wales, Australia. Based at The Drill, a large rehearsal space on the harbour in central Sydney, Critical Path’s program offers:

• Space and support for artists undertaking their own research

• Intensive laboratories and workshops facilitated by national and international artists

• Masterclasses with artists from dance and other disciplines

• Mentoring projects for choreographers to build new relationships with peers

• Discussion events and opportunities for artists to share practice and ideas.”

Primitive: A New Multi-Platform Media Artwork

Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s new multi-platform media artwork Primitive was commissioned by FACT in partnership with Haus der Kunst, Munich and Animate Projects, London. The work is a combination of:

• a multiple- screen video installation
• a music video
• a short film for cinema
• an online film
• an artist’s book.

“This will be the first solo exhibition in the UK by the Thai artist, which forms part of the AND Festival, Primitive is set in Nabua in the Renu Nakhon district of Thailand, which suffered violent clashes between communist communities and the Thai military in the 1960s. Communist suspects were brutally tortured during attacks and those who managed to escape fled to the jungle where they disappeared forever. Nabua’s story undeniably has echoes with the current political turmoil in Thailand, as freedom of expression is still restricted and Thai security forces continue to engage in extrajudicial killings, torture and arbitrary arrests, with new cases of ‘enforced disappearances’ emerging during 2008.”

Read more about Primitive at FACT.