Alter Nature: We Can

Alter Nature: We Can at Z33 Hasselt (Belguim)
21.11.2010 to 13.03.2011



Alter Nature: We Can shows the work of 20 international contemporary artists and designers. The exhibition focuses on the different ways in which people have displaced, manipulated or designed nature: from small gardens to private islands, from carrots and bonsai trees to acoustic plants and orange pheasants.

In Alter Nature: We Can, Z33 looks at the sub-aspect of fauna and flora in nature. Through the works of some twenty international artists we explore how humankind manipulates nature and how the concept of ‘nature’ constantly changes as a result of this.

Alter Nature lounge


The works are not about using nature to meet basic needs (such as health, food, protection, etc.). Interesting projects in this context are legion, but grouped together they almost inevitably lead to simplified contradictions. On the one hand, one has projects that look ‘positively’ upon transforming nature: they find out what technology can do or they show solutions. These projects are often criticised because they seem to subscribe seamlessly to the scientific belief in progress. On the other hand, some projects show the negative side; they look at interventions in nature that have gone wrong. These projects are criticesed to bethe autonomous art corner’s wagging finger. They criticise but do not offer any solutions.

Alter Nature: We Can wants to go beyond this simplified pro-contra positioning. The works on display are therefore devoid of strict utilitarianism and the emphasis is on the historic context of intervention, the multiplicity of manipulations and our fluctuating understanding of the concept of nature.

Curator: Karen Verschooren (Z33)

Artists: Makoto Azuma (JP), BCL: Shiho Fukuhara (JP) and Georg Tremmel (AT), David Benqué (UK), Julien Berthier (FR), Merijn Bolink (NL), Center for PostNatural History, Mark Dion (US), Driessens & Verstappen (NL), Daisy Ginsberg (UK), Tue Greenfort (DK),Natalie Jeremijenko (US), Eduardo Kac (US), James King (UK), Allison Kudla (US), Reinier Lagendijk (NL), Antti Laitinen (FIN), Hans Op de Beeck (B), Michael Sailstorfer (D), Maarten Vanden Eynde (B), Adrian Woods (NL), Adam Zaretsky (US)

Alter Nature: We Can is part of Alter Nature, an overarching project by Z33, the Hasselt Fashion Museum and CIAP in collaboration with the MAD faculty, the University of Hasselt, the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), KULeuven University and bioSCENTer.

http://www.z33.be

I'm looking forward to exhibition at the Hasselt Fashion Museum " Alter Nature: The future that never was" (29.01.2011 - 05.06.2011)

'Mobile Wilderness Unit-Wolf' by Mark Dion


'Growth Pattern' Allison Kudla

Growth Pattern consists of a 2,5 x 2,5m grid in which 64 Petri dishes contain tobacco plant leaves cut in specific shapes. The work takes on the form of a pattern and shows a direct link with design and the history of nature as a motif and interior design element.

'Morphoteque #9' Driessens & Verstappen

A collection of 32 artificial carrots, the shapes of which are based on carrots that were rejected in distribution centres.

'Nature Sucks' by Merijn Bolink



‘Nature Sucks’ is a willow branch, the side branches of which have been processed to show a number of geometric patterns, as well as the words “Nature Sucks”. Through this work as well as through No Title (Mondriaan in Como), Bolink wants to test the possibilities of rebellion or revolt vis-à-vis nature. At one fell swoop he passes over (ignores) the amazing and obligatory beauty of nature to make a controversial statement: Down with nature! Nature is killing us! Nature Sucks!

'Untiteld' by Reinier Lagendijk

Reinier Lagendijk presents with this work a 140cm high yucca plant. Conscious of the techniques of plant manipulation and processes and capacities of plant growth, Lagendijk creates poetic images which often come across as humoristic in the almost human dimensions they have been given.

'Secret Garden' by Hans Op de Beeck

Secret Garden is a silent and poetic, but also rather absurd representation of a city garden. In this work, Op de Beeck refers to the humanization and domestication of nature; the urge to create a safe, little paradise for ourselves. Note that gardens can also be thought of as one of the earliest large-scale manipulations of nature for aesthetic reasons.

'Frozen Pine' by Makoto Azuma

In Frozen Pine, a Z33 commission, a bonsai pine tree is ‘freeze-sprayed’ and presented in an especially designed refrigerator. The icicles slowly extract the colour from the bonsai tree – the bonsai dies, but its beauty is preserved in optimum conditions.

You may also like: http://brankopopovic.blogspot.com/2010/10/toegepast-15.html

Marina Abramović and fashion

THE DRESS, Marina Abramović, Laos 2008 Photo: Attilio Maranzano, Dress: Riccardo Tisci for GIVENCHY, Courtesy Marina Abramović Archives

In recent years Marina Abramović has brought her practice closer to the fashion world through her collaborations with her close friend, Givenchy’s artistic director Riccardo Tisci.



Marina was interviewed by Donatien Grau Another Mag/ "An Intellectual Fashion/ Marina Abramović"

"In the 1970s I was never interested in fashion. I thought that to be fashionable was to be a less good artist. After I walked the Great Wall of China, which was a great achievement in my life that changed my career, I decided that I didn't need to prove anything to anyone anymore – not least whether or not I was a good artist. I had a secret desire to engage with fashion which I never admitted to myself, so the first time that I ever had serious money, I bought a Yamamoto suit. I felt so good in it, and without guilt! After that, I openly started being interested in fashion and tried to create my own style using different elements of what was fashionable at that moment. Since I met Riccardo Tisci, I have become a faithful admirer of his clothes and I really feel the best in them."

Marina Abramovic wears Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci



Riccardo Tisci, far left, with singer Ciara Harris, actress-singer Bambou, model Diego Fragoso Calheiros Lins, actress Liv Tyler, stylist Panos Yiapanis, models Jonathan Marquez and Mariacarla Boscono, and artist Marina Abramović.
Photographs by Willy Vanderperre


Jean-Baptiste Mondino

Marina Abramović for the January issue Elle Serbia

photographer: Dusan Reljin.

The cover of V Magazine's 67th issue , with supermodel Tyson Ballou. S
he is wearing Givenchy (by Riccardo Tisci)
Photography:Mario Testino
Styling: Nicola Formichetti


The Artist is Present a Homage to Marina Abramović in 125 Magazine

Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present (March 14–May 31, 2010)







Editorial image courtesy Fashion Copious


Marina Abramović and Ulay — Relation in Time, 1977

James Blake -Limit to your love

Brilliant cover of the beautiful Feist song.

http://www.jamesblakemusic.com/

Ponyclub, no Trojan women

Last night I had an entertaining evening in AINSI. Im glad my schedule allowed me go to the mime tragedy 'Ponyclub, no Trojan Women' (Ponyclub, geen Trojaanse vrouwen) by Boogaerdt / Vanderschoot.



"If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman" quote by Margaret Thatcher

The Ponyclub is an association of obscure, but well-dressed women wounded in the middle of a burning pile of rubble. In the distance, they make us think of the women of Troy, as described by Euripides, mourned in total disarray among the smoldering ruins of their devastated city. But the women of the Pony club are different, they live now, more than 2000 years later. Instead of succumbing to total despair, these women take matters into their own hands. No men or gods to whom they feel surrendered. No, they decide on their own future and destiny.

'Ponyclub, no Trojan women' is a amusing and recognizable contemporary mime tragedy with a feminine noise against and self-mocking jokes or excuses. Check their tour schedule: http://bvds.nu/speellijst/



Especially for 'Ponyclub, no Trojan women' Boogaerdt / Van der Schoot asked a number of contemporary opinion makers (including Hedy d'Ancona, Marlies Dekkers, Laura van Dolron and Fleur Jurgens) to write pamphlets about their vision of the power of women in the today's world.

Trailer


For more info:http://bvds.nu/


Cosy cultural factory space, AINSI , in Maastricht.





With special thanks to Theater aan het Vrijthof

Cage Against The Machine

Musicians like Pete Doherty, Crystal Fighters and Dan Le Sac gathered at the legendary Dean Street Studios in Soho to re-record John Cages’s celebrated piece, 4'33" as one supergroup. Recreating it in all its four minutes and thirty three seconds of silent glory, that is.



Cage Against The Machine was started by London-based artist Dave Hilliard in summer 2010 as a grassroots Facebook campaign to get John Cage's famous "silent" composition 4'33" to number one this Christmas. With last year's Rage Against The Machine’s anthem ‘Killing In The Name’ as Christmas number one - Jon Morter, one of their chief architects is hoping that "if any Christmas No.1 campaign is going to work... it'll be the John Cage 4'33" one." Now the Facebook community has reached over fifty thousand people committed to buying this single, once again to make a stand against bland, vacuous pop music.

All the proceeds from sales will go to five charities. These music-related charities were chosen by the Cage Against The Machine Facebook community's organisers as something they feel John Cage would have wholeheartedly approved of including The British Tinnitus Association (BTA), Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, Youth Music, and Sound And Music.

Source: http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/9169/1/cage-against-the-machine

http://www.facebook.com/cageagainstthemachine

Nanine Linning "Synthetic Twin"

Last Thursday, December 9, I paid a visit to Theater aan het Vrijthof, to see the performance "Synthetic Twin". After seeing "The Endless Songs of Silence" during the Nederlandse Dansdagen in October 2010 (Dutch Dance Days), I became a fan of Nanine Linning.


Photographer: Kalle Kuikkaniemi

This talented Dutch choreographer made with "Synthetic Twin" her debut as Artistic Director of Tanztheater Osnabrück.

Synthetic Twin reflects our daily life in the form of a Siamese twin. The extreme desire to tear apart from someone while the desire to merge is a recurring dilemma in our lives. These people who are actually two in one fascinate Linning. But are you one if you have two heads, and your body gives home to two worlds of thought?

For Synthetic Twin, Nanine Linning worked with fashion designer Iris van Herpen, with whom she also worked for “The Endless Song of Silence” and the opera “Madama Butterfly”. This young upcoming fashion talent in the international fashion scene won the Dutch Fashion Award 2010 last November.




Photographer: Kalle Kuikkaniemi

The stage set and the giant video projections are by stage designer Jan Boiten, with whom she previously created successful productions like “Bacon” and "Endless Song of Silence”.

Synthetic Twin is a conceptual performance where the era of Baroque is crossed by the hard and fast world of today. The whole thing is a visual and musical spectacle with some striking images. With her multidisciplinary signature Nanine Linning blends necessarily different art disciplines into a unique and new theatrical language in collaboration with prominent artists from visual art, video, design and fashion.


picture by Branko Popovic

See also this link: "The Endless Songs of Silence"

The show continues to play in several cities in the Netherlands.
TIP: April 7, the performance is scheduled in Theater Heerlen.

For more information: www.naninelinning.nl

Trailer:


The Dancers

picture by Branko Popovic
Meri Ahmaniemi, Emilie Assayag, Christina Bauer, Mallika Baumann, Francesca Imoda, Viviane Frehner, Tommaso Balbo, Gustavo Gomes, Jesse Hanse, Kyle Patrick, Erik Spruit, Niels Weijer

Lamija Suljevic s/s 2011 collection

Few weeks ago Stockholm based (born in Bosnia) fashion designer Lamija Suljevic presented her new collection for 2011. Stunning work again.







http://www.lamija.se/

Photography by Emma Jönsson Dysell

Check out her previous collection: http://brankopopovic.blogspot.com/2010/10/lamija-suljevic.html

She worked with illustrator, Annelie Carlström.







Take a look at Annelie's work: http://www.anneliecarlstrom.se

Antoine Peters - The world is flat

New collection and a pop song with an accompanying video clip, Antoine Peters showed in this way s / s 2011 collection last summer, The World Is Flat. He launched his collection with a pop song and a popvideo on Diane Pernet's blog "A Shaded View On Fashion".
Watch the great shoes by designer, Jeslke Peterson.

Most you have probably allready seen it but still I wanted to show it.


Looks like a Keith Haring artwork that comes to life.

The ins and outs of the hole in your head by Emke Idema

The ins and outs of the hole in your head
(De ins en outs van het gat in je hoofd)





Emke Idema finds eating weird.
We stop things in a hole in our heads and then they disappear.
That we do that every day and not find it strange. And we still sit down together as we do and we call it fun.
Emke also finds that eating people are moving.
To find out why exactly, the last two years she did small experiments and made movies, photos and drawings.
With the selection of images Emke shows us the weird from normal, the lonely of being togther, the dirty of tasty and tasty to dirty.
Together with the audience she tries to figure out what our eating habits say about how we live.
A quirky and sometimes intimate search for the ins and outs of the hole in our head.

Her way of being and playing in the combination of a topic that we all are really to familiar with makes this a very amusing performance.
She involves the audience in the story and takes you into her unique world. Very entertaining performance of a likeable theatermaker and once again a cosy evening in Het Huis van Bourgondië. After seeing the performance eating will never be the same again. If you have the opportunity to see it, go!

24 - 27 November Maastricht Huis van Bourgondië
30 Novmber, 1 & 2 December Arnhem
9 December Almelo
22 - 27 February 2011 Maastricht Festival CEMENT

concept & play: Emke Idema
production by Huis van Bourgondië

Check out some video's from the research: http://www.youtube.com/user/emkeidema



Het Huis van Bourgondië is the home of theatre and performance in Maastricht. At Het Huis van Bourgondië young promising theatre directors get the chance to make their first performances. http://www.huisvanbourgondie.nl/en/

Lucy McRae and Robyn

Robyn in collaboration with Lucy McRae for her latest video. Just great!

Check out Lucy's site:
http://lucymcrae.blogspot.com/



The making of

The Making of Robyn's 'Indestructible' Music Video with EXTRA FOOTAGE from Lucy McRae on Vimeo.

This 'Making Of' video showcases a project that started over two years ago generating dynamic textiles made from liquid, air and vapor. 1.2 kilometres of transparent plumbing tubing was knitted with fishing wire to skin Robyn's body. 40 litres of glycerol pumps through over a kilometre of tube, powered by drill pumps that connect to valves releasing air intermittently between the liquid. Gradient colors pulse through the tubes at different speeds, the effect is a living, breathing dynamic skin that traverses the landscape of the body.

Robyn album cover: http://lucymcrae.blogspot.com/2010/10/robyn-album-cover.html

Marina Abramović, Robert Wilson, Antony, Willem Dafoe starring in The Life and Death of Marina Abramović

I got a ticket for Sat 16 Jul - 19:30!!!!!!!!

Manchester International Festival and Teatro Real Madrid present the world premiere of a startling new piece for the stage: The Life and Death of Marina Abramović, a biography of the godmother of performance art, re-imagined by visionary director Robert Wilson.
The show features scenes from Abramović’s life and career, from her Serbian childhood to her work as a performance artist. Featuring original and traditional music, including songs written and performed by the incomparable Antony (Antony & The Johnsons), this ground-breaking show brings together the worlds of theatre, art and music to thrilling effect.
The Life and Death of Marina Abramović is a once in a generation cultural event, starring Marina Abramović, Willem Dafoe and an international cast of actors and performance artists.

for more INFO:
http://www.mif.co.uk/event/robert-wilson-marina-abramovic-antony-willem-dafoe-the-life-and-death-of-marina-abramovic/



Photo credit: Antony Crook

D-day, design auction in Maastricht

21 November 2010 Timmerfabriek Maastricht
http://www.d-daydesignveiling.nl

The star of 28th Belgrade Fashion Week: Ivana Pilja

Ivana Pilja, the rising star from Serbia, was awarded with two awards at the 28th Belgrade Fashion Week! The Elle award for the best collection, and the Boris Nikolic award which includes free participation at Belgrade Fashion Week in April 2011 and not the forget the 2000 euro's.

Congratulations Ivana!


Her new collection will premiere at the next Belgrade Fashion Week ( April 2011). I'm so looking forward to see the new work.