The Israeli Committee Against House Demolition in the Occupied Territory
http://www.icahd.org/eng/
Posted by Luiz Teixeira de Freitas on Facebook 28/06/09 - Great Documentary, specially for all of us who are in the confort of our homes on this Sunday afternoon!!!
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Cattelan on Creed
Martin Creed's WORK NO. 227: THE LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF
We all have our bad days, when you just can’t get it right, like moments of loss and surrender. And we all have our good days, when everything seems to run smoothly, just perfect for no apparent reason. I can see clearly now the rain has gone. You wake up, things are okay, and the sun is shining. And then out of the blue, there you go again, down into the dark pit of depression. It’s not just a matter of mood swings. Its something more basic and perverse: the inability to preserve joy. The need to measure it against a black background. Art is no different. It’s a ride on the roller coaster of emotions. Sometimes I feel so happy, sometimes I feel so sad. I always thought Martin Creed’s Work No. 227: The lights going on and off had something to do with this simple truth. It has the ability to compress happiness and anxiety within one single gesture. Lights go on, lights go off – sunshine and rain, and then back to beginning to repeat endlessly. I do not know what Creed was thinking about when he made it but to me it always looked like a swing, a mood swing. That’s why I never found it funny but frightening in its simplicity, it’s a sculpture for our lithium oriented, Prozac enhanced reality. Are we afraid of the dark or just blinded by the light? I see a rainbow and I want to paint it black.
Maurizio Cattelan, 2004
We all have our bad days, when you just can’t get it right, like moments of loss and surrender. And we all have our good days, when everything seems to run smoothly, just perfect for no apparent reason. I can see clearly now the rain has gone. You wake up, things are okay, and the sun is shining. And then out of the blue, there you go again, down into the dark pit of depression. It’s not just a matter of mood swings. Its something more basic and perverse: the inability to preserve joy. The need to measure it against a black background. Art is no different. It’s a ride on the roller coaster of emotions. Sometimes I feel so happy, sometimes I feel so sad. I always thought Martin Creed’s Work No. 227: The lights going on and off had something to do with this simple truth. It has the ability to compress happiness and anxiety within one single gesture. Lights go on, lights go off – sunshine and rain, and then back to beginning to repeat endlessly. I do not know what Creed was thinking about when he made it but to me it always looked like a swing, a mood swing. That’s why I never found it funny but frightening in its simplicity, it’s a sculpture for our lithium oriented, Prozac enhanced reality. Are we afraid of the dark or just blinded by the light? I see a rainbow and I want to paint it black.
Maurizio Cattelan, 2004
Friday, 26 June 2009
In memory of Michael Jackson... a great artist !
My favorite music of his...! When I was 12 my mom gave me the cassette with this music... I think I heard it more than 100 times on my walkman... I completely remember it was during a Summer trip to London! I used to perform in front of the mirror and produce fake tears... I was preparing for Hollywood!!! duh!
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Friday, 19 June 2009
Research Quotes II
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying.
Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Rio de Janeiro Childhood memories: Part I - Balão Mágico!
Duas músicas inesqueciveis! Com participacoes de Djavan e Fábio Junior!
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Research Quotes I
Ay, but to die, and go we know not where,
To lie in cold obstruction and to rot;
This sensible warm motion to become
A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit
To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside
In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice,
To be imprisoned in the viewless winds
And blown with restless violence round about
The pendant world; or to be worse than worst
Of those that lawless and incertain thoughts
Imagine howling: ‘tis too horrible!
The weariest and most loathed worldly life
That age, ache, penury, and imprisonment
Can lay on nature is a paradise
To what we fear of death.
William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure
To lie in cold obstruction and to rot;
This sensible warm motion to become
A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit
To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside
In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice,
To be imprisoned in the viewless winds
And blown with restless violence round about
The pendant world; or to be worse than worst
Of those that lawless and incertain thoughts
Imagine howling: ‘tis too horrible!
The weariest and most loathed worldly life
That age, ache, penury, and imprisonment
Can lay on nature is a paradise
To what we fear of death.
William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Getulio Bittencourt
Domingo passado dia 7, faleceu em São Paulo (SP), o jornalista e amigo Getúlio Bittencourt, 57 anos.
O Getúlio e a Ana Cristina sempre foram muito amigos da minha família. Meus pais eram muito próximos deles desde da época em qua moravamos todos em NY em 89/90.
Para mim ele sempre foi uma daquelas pessoas que eu achava um máximo porque meus pais sempre falavam dele com muita admiração. Uma pessoa que lia muito e sabia muito. Lembro sempre de uma história que a mamãe contava - que o Getúlio andava sempre com um livro debaixo do braço, nao interessava o lugar para onde eles estavam indo, ele sempre levava o livro. Um dia indo para um jantar, ela perguntou: mas Getúlio, para que o livro? Voce acha que o jantar pode ficar chato? e ele respondeu - nunca se sabe, e a luz do restaurante pode acabar, é melhor andar previnido.
Tive a sorte de jantar com ele da última vez que estive em SP em Agosto de 2008. Digo sorte, porque sendo mais "adulta" soube apreciar ainda mais a pessoa que meus pais tanto admiravam - Interessante, inteligente e interessado. Fomos a uma ópera e depois a um restaurante especializado em Azeites.
Fica uma pequena biografia e uma fotografia do nosso último encontro.
O mundo ficou com certeza mais pobre sem ele.
Nascido em Governador Valadares (MG). Trabalhou na revista Veja e nos jornais Folha de S. Paulo e na Gazeta Mercantil, onde foi editor de política. Em 1978, recebeu o Prêmio Esso. Era autodidata e apaixonado por astrologia, tendo escrito o livro “À luz do céu profundo – Astrologia e Política no Brasil” (Editora Record), em que tentou explicar o poder em Brasília pela mecânica celeste. Tinha uma memória invejável e uma escrita das mais brilhantes da imprensa brasileira contemporânea. Pai de seis filhos, vivia há cerca de vinte anos com a jornalista Ana Cristina Magalhães Bittencourt.
Optimo artigo por Luiz Antonio Magalhães:
http://observatorio.ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/artigos.asp?cod=541IMQ002
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Sunday the 7th of June, the journalist Getúlio Bittencourt, 57 years old died in São Paulo (SP).
Getúlio and Ana Cristina have always been close friends to my family. My parents were very close when we all lived in NY in 89/90.
For me he always was one of those people that I really looked up to, because my parents admired him so much. He was a person that read a lot and knew a lot. I remember a story my mother always told – Getúlio would always be carrying a book under his arm, it didn’t matter where he was headed, the book would always come as well. One day whilst going out for dinner she asked him: - But Getúlio, why are you bringing the book? Do you think dinner can get boring? – to which he replied – you never now, it can be that, or the restaurant’s light can go down, it’s always better to be ready.
I was lucky to have dinner with him the last time I was in São Paulo in August 2008. I say this, because in being more of an “adult” I could appreciate even more this person that my parents admired so much – Interesting, intelligent and interested. We went to na opera and afterwards to a restaurant specialized in Olive Oils.
Below is a small biography and a photograph of the dinner.
The world is without any doubt poorer without him.
Born in Governador Valadares (MG). Worked for the Veja magazine and for the Folha de S. Paulo and Gazeta Mercantil, where he was editor in politics In 1978 he won the Esso Prize. He was an autodidact and passionate for astrology. He wrote the book: “À luz do céu profundo – Astrologia e Política no Brasil” (Editora Record), where he tried explaining the power in Brasília through celestial mechanics. He had amazing memory and was a brilliant writer. Father to six sons, he had live for the past twenty years with the journalist Ana Cristina Magalhães Bittencourt.
Great article by Luiz Antonio Magalhães:
http://observatorio.ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/artigos.asp?cod=541IMQ002
Photo/Foto: Bia, Getúlio, Ana Cristina, Luly
O Getúlio e a Ana Cristina sempre foram muito amigos da minha família. Meus pais eram muito próximos deles desde da época em qua moravamos todos em NY em 89/90.
Para mim ele sempre foi uma daquelas pessoas que eu achava um máximo porque meus pais sempre falavam dele com muita admiração. Uma pessoa que lia muito e sabia muito. Lembro sempre de uma história que a mamãe contava - que o Getúlio andava sempre com um livro debaixo do braço, nao interessava o lugar para onde eles estavam indo, ele sempre levava o livro. Um dia indo para um jantar, ela perguntou: mas Getúlio, para que o livro? Voce acha que o jantar pode ficar chato? e ele respondeu - nunca se sabe, e a luz do restaurante pode acabar, é melhor andar previnido.
Tive a sorte de jantar com ele da última vez que estive em SP em Agosto de 2008. Digo sorte, porque sendo mais "adulta" soube apreciar ainda mais a pessoa que meus pais tanto admiravam - Interessante, inteligente e interessado. Fomos a uma ópera e depois a um restaurante especializado em Azeites.
Fica uma pequena biografia e uma fotografia do nosso último encontro.
O mundo ficou com certeza mais pobre sem ele.
Nascido em Governador Valadares (MG). Trabalhou na revista Veja e nos jornais Folha de S. Paulo e na Gazeta Mercantil, onde foi editor de política. Em 1978, recebeu o Prêmio Esso. Era autodidata e apaixonado por astrologia, tendo escrito o livro “À luz do céu profundo – Astrologia e Política no Brasil” (Editora Record), em que tentou explicar o poder em Brasília pela mecânica celeste. Tinha uma memória invejável e uma escrita das mais brilhantes da imprensa brasileira contemporânea. Pai de seis filhos, vivia há cerca de vinte anos com a jornalista Ana Cristina Magalhães Bittencourt.
Optimo artigo por Luiz Antonio Magalhães:
http://observatorio.ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/artigos.asp?cod=541IMQ002
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Sunday the 7th of June, the journalist Getúlio Bittencourt, 57 years old died in São Paulo (SP).
Getúlio and Ana Cristina have always been close friends to my family. My parents were very close when we all lived in NY in 89/90.
For me he always was one of those people that I really looked up to, because my parents admired him so much. He was a person that read a lot and knew a lot. I remember a story my mother always told – Getúlio would always be carrying a book under his arm, it didn’t matter where he was headed, the book would always come as well. One day whilst going out for dinner she asked him: - But Getúlio, why are you bringing the book? Do you think dinner can get boring? – to which he replied – you never now, it can be that, or the restaurant’s light can go down, it’s always better to be ready.
I was lucky to have dinner with him the last time I was in São Paulo in August 2008. I say this, because in being more of an “adult” I could appreciate even more this person that my parents admired so much – Interesting, intelligent and interested. We went to na opera and afterwards to a restaurant specialized in Olive Oils.
Below is a small biography and a photograph of the dinner.
The world is without any doubt poorer without him.
Born in Governador Valadares (MG). Worked for the Veja magazine and for the Folha de S. Paulo and Gazeta Mercantil, where he was editor in politics In 1978 he won the Esso Prize. He was an autodidact and passionate for astrology. He wrote the book: “À luz do céu profundo – Astrologia e Política no Brasil” (Editora Record), where he tried explaining the power in Brasília through celestial mechanics. He had amazing memory and was a brilliant writer. Father to six sons, he had live for the past twenty years with the journalist Ana Cristina Magalhães Bittencourt.
Great article by Luiz Antonio Magalhães:
http://observatorio.ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/artigos.asp?cod=541IMQ002
Photo/Foto: Bia, Getúlio, Ana Cristina, Luly
Saturday, 13 June 2009
53rd Venice Biennial – Making Worlds// Fare Mondi
Photo: Installation shot - Renata Lucas at the Giardini
About the 53rd Venice Biennial – Making Worlds// Fare Mondi:
Overall I think it was a strong Biennial. Daniel Birbaum did a good job! One could definitely see the amount of research behind the project. The Arsenale and the Palazzo delle Esposizioni at the Giardini were representing the times we are going through. Nothing was too flashy or following trends. It was art – just pure and simple art, coming from all over the world and showing all different ways of viewing the world.
Below is my selection of what to see apart from the Arsenale and the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, however in the end I probably only saw 20% of the whole Biennial – you know the pit stops for lunch at nice fish restaurants are always a must!
Don’t miss:
- The Collectors, by Elmgreen and Dragset. Curators of Denmark and Nordic Countries (Finland, Norway, Sweden) – to see it with the Performance was definitely one of the best things in the whole Biennial.
- Palestinian Pavillion at Giudecca.
- Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, Loop by Roman Ondák – Amazing!
- Mexican Pavilion: Teresa Margolles.
- Portuguese Pavilion: João Maria Gusmão + Pedro Paiva.
- USA – Bruce Nauman, Topological Gardens: I didn’t see the exhibition at the Giardini, but the one at Universitá Ca’Focari was one of the best things of the Biennial.
- Mona Hatoum, Interior Landscape at Fondazione Querini Stampalia – Beautiful. A note for the works that were hiden throughout the foundation’s collection.
- Pavilion Italo-Latino Americano: Carlos Garaicoa, Sandra Gamarra, Mariano Gastón Ugalde, Alberto Baraya, Luis Roldán, Ramsés Larzábal, Fernando Falconi, Nils Nova, Darío Escobar, Paul Ramírez Jonas, Raquel Paiewonsky, Federico Herrero
- The Fear Society. Pabellón de la Urgencia. A project from the region of Murcia
- Distortion at Fondazione Gervasuti - Oliver Clegg, Janet Cardiff & George Bures Miller, Mat Collishaw, John Isaacs, Alastair Mackie, Tim Noble & Sue Webster, Jamie Shovlin, Gavin Turk
Go if you can:
- Australia, MADDESTMAXIMVS – Planet & Stars Sequence 2009. Shaun Gladwell
- Germany – Liam Gillick
- Republic of Korea, Haegue Yang
- ADACH Platform for Venice, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage
Don’t even bother:
- Brazil: Luiz Braga + Delson Uchôa – I actually don’t dislike Luiz Braga’s work , but the whole thing was just a big question mark for me.
- Italy – Oh my! Just horrible.
- United Arab Emirates – Lamya Gargash
I could not see many of the pavilions because of the huge lines! USA, France, UK etc.
The prizes were all well deserved I think, apart from the Silver Lion for a Promising Young Artist that went to Nathalie Djurberg from Sweden. I really didn’t like her work at all! With so many great artists at the Arsenale they picked this artist that had a very bad surreal installation piece in the Palazzo delle Espozioni in the Giardini. I can even say it was one of my least favorite pieces in the whole exhibition.
Golden Lion for best National Participation went to the United States of America with Bruce Nauman’s Topological Gardens. Commisioned by: Carlos Basualdo, Michael R. Taylor
Golden Lion for the Best Artist of the exhibition Fare Mondi // Making Worlds went to Tobias Rehberger from Germany at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in the Giardini
Special Mention to Lygia Pape (Brazil, 1927 – 2004; Corderie in the Arsenale)
Special Mention to Michael Elmgreen & Ingar Dragset - Curators of Denmark and Nordic Countries (Finland, Norway, Sweden)
Special Mention to Roberto Cuoghi - (Italy, Palazzo delle Esposizioni in the Giardini, giardino Scarpa)
Special Mention to the artist Ming Wong, exhibiting in the Singapore Pavilion
Monday, 8 June 2009
Venice June 2009 - Is it Sinking?
I was in Venice for the weekend of the 53rd Venice Bienniale.
Whilst there the island was visited by the famous sirocco - the hot strikes of wind that blow in from the North of Africa. It provoked the rise of sea levels and a rapid inundation of many parts of the city. As a reference Thomas Mann in Death in Venice described it well.
It was fun to see everyone playing around in the water and all the collectors of art trying to leave their 5 star hotels and having to take off their fancy shoes and step into the filthy sewer smelling water, that in some cases went up to their knees.
Also fun was the maze that the city became, many streets were transformed into dead end alleys and trying to escape them was an adventurous task!
Maybe, Venice is Sinking after all!? I prefer to think otherwise...
(image from www.bikehike.com)
Whilst there the island was visited by the famous sirocco - the hot strikes of wind that blow in from the North of Africa. It provoked the rise of sea levels and a rapid inundation of many parts of the city. As a reference Thomas Mann in Death in Venice described it well.
It was fun to see everyone playing around in the water and all the collectors of art trying to leave their 5 star hotels and having to take off their fancy shoes and step into the filthy sewer smelling water, that in some cases went up to their knees.
Also fun was the maze that the city became, many streets were transformed into dead end alleys and trying to escape them was an adventurous task!
Maybe, Venice is Sinking after all!? I prefer to think otherwise...
(image from www.bikehike.com)
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