Earlier this year I attended an event called 'Consciousness and the Biosphere'. The colloquium was chaired by Dr David Lukeand speakers were cosmologist Bernard Carr, Biosphere 2 creator John Allen, consciousness research pioneer Ralph Metzner (he was one of Tim Leary's Harvard colleagues and partner in the exploration of psychedelics) and Beckley Foundation founder and directorAmanda Feilding. Now that some of the content is out, I have the pleasure of sharing a bit of that wonderful experience with you (so far, only the video of Metzner's talk has been released. I'll update the post when more are out).
During a whole afternoon the guest speakers presented interesting facts and enlighting discussions on topics such as the origins and evolution of consciousness, mind altering substances, sustainability, environmental issues, spirituality, drug-policy reform and art. A summary of the lectures is available here.
The video can't be embedded so CLICK HERE to watch Metzner's talk
Our lovely hosts the October Gallery also presented us with a delicious dinner in the patio (a networking / socializing moment that resulted in my participation in the 'I am Braziliality' exhibition later on) and a closing party that included poetry, live music, dancing and drinks. The gallery has a liking for events of that nature, so if you're interested in themes such as consciousness expansion and ethnic art, keep an eye out for further talks and exhibitions ;)
I've attended several conferences and symposia before and after that, but for it's laid back vibe, interesting and interactive crowd, approachable speakers, cozy scenery, rich content and immersive experience, this is still the one I hold closest to my heart. May others like that follow...
* Como o conteúdo relacionado ao post é todo escrito e falado em inglês, dessa vez não vai rolar tradução
Hats off to the Lazarides Gallery team for curating one of the most exciting events of the year: The Minotaur exhibition (not to be confused with 'The King and the Minotaur", earlier this year). Set in the depths of the Old Vic Tunnels, the show displays works by artists such as Robert Del Naja (aka Massive Attack's 3D), Zevs, David Falconer, Stanley Donwood (Radiohead's official artist) and many many more. Parabéns ao time de curadores da Lazarides Gallery por um dos eventos mais interessantes do ano: a exposição O Minotauro (não confundir com "TheKing and the Minotaur" outra expo com o mesmo tema esse ano). Situada nos escuros tunneis do Old Vic, a mostra conta com obras de artistas como Robert Del Naja (o 3D do Massive Attack), Zevs, David Falconer e Stanley Donwood (artista oficial do Radiohead), entre muitos outros.
Zak Ové
Doug Foster's film reflected in water: trance //O filme de Doug Foster refletido na água: transe
Atma
Perfect (dim) lighting and sound effects (think screams in the distance, rattling chains and an ever beating drum) help transform the naturally eerie old tunnels into a morbid labyrinth, every turn leading to a beautiful and disturbing rendering of the ancient greek myth. While pieces like Falconer's 'Vermin Death Star' and Vhils' carved wall portrait seem like the work of desperate maze wanderers killing time while they wait for their death, others, like Atma's candlelit crucifix and Zac Ové's nightmarish tribal sculptures, act as a kind of fearful homage to the terrible creature, who seems to be lurking around the corner. Iluminação (baixa) e efeitos sonoros (gritos, correntes e um tambor incessante) perfeitos ajudam a transformar os tuneis em um assustador labirinto onde cada curva leva a um bela e perturbadora interpretação do antigo mito grego. Enquanto alguns trabalhos parecem obra de andarilhos perdidos no labirinto, passando o tempo enquanto aguardam a morte certa (como 'Vermin Death Star' de Falconer e o retrato esculpido na parede de Vhils), outros, como o crucifixo de Atma e as esculturas tribais bizarras de Zac Ové são como temerosas homenagens à terrível criatura, que parece estar sempre à espreita.
David Falconer: Rats!
Zak Ové
Zak Ové
Zak Ové
Vhils
To top it off, some drinks at the trendy pop up bar or, for those who got the money, the makers of Pret-a-Diner offer a fine dining experience with menus signed by Michelin star chefs (75 pound a head).
Pra fechar a noite, drinks no pop up bar super cool ou, pra quem tem grana, uma experiência gastronômica dos criadores do Pret-a-Diner, com menus elaborados por chefs estrelados do Guia Michelin (75 libras por cabeça).
Ian Francis
The Minotaur exhibition is a truly unmissable event and, seeing that it ends on the 25/10, my advice is: RUN! A expo O Minotauro é imperdível e, como termina dia 25/10, meu conselho é: CORRA!
Através do espelho e o que Alice encontrou // Through the looking-glass and what Alice found there - John Tenniel
A meia luz e o som de um teremin incessante bem no estilo abdução alienígena dão o tom da mostra, dividida em 6 temas: 'Mundos Futuros', 'Mundos Virtuais', 'Fim do Mundo', 'Mundos Paralelos', 'Mundos Alienígenas' e 'Mundo Perfeito?'. Cada um se desdobra em um guarda-chuva de sub-temas como Marte, cyborgs, viagem no tempo, civilizações perdidas, etc... Dim lighting and an incessant theremin sound in the best 'close encounter' style set the stage for the show, divided into 6 main themes: 'Future Worlds', 'Virtual Worlds', 'End of the World', 'Parallel Worlds', 'Alien Worlds' and 'Perfect World?'. Each one unfolds into an array of sub-themes like Mars, cyborgs, time travel, lost civilizations, etc...
A expo, como o nome sugere, vai além dos clichês e mostra que o assunto é muito mais rico e antigo do que muitos imaginam. Em cartaz estão preciosidades como trechos da Íliada de Homero falando de robôs, edições preservadíssimas de 'As Viagens de Guliver' (1726) e 'Micromegas' de Voltaire (1752), todas as edições da revista Amazing Stories e, meu preferido, uma carta de George Orwell ao seu editor dizendo que "o livro novo está ok. poderia estar melhor mas estou satisfeito (...) só não decidi um nome ainda. Estou entre 'O Último Homem da Europa' e '1984'". The exhibition, as the name sugests, goes past the cliches and shows that the subject is much richer and older than many imagine. On display, gems like experts of Homer's Iiliad mentioning robots, well preserved editions of Guliver's Travel's (1726) and Voltaire's 'Micromegas' (1752), all the issues of Amazing Stories mag and, my favourite, a letter from George Orwell to his editor saying "the new book is ok. It could be better, but I'm satisfied (...) I haven't decided on the title yet, I'm between 'The Last Man in Europe' and '1984'".
Olho // Eye - Frank R Paul
(essa edição cunhou o termo 'Cientificção' // this issue coined the term 'Scientificion')
De 'Guerra dos Mundos' (H.G Wells) a 'Guerra nas Estrelas' (George Lucas), '2001' (Kubrick) a 'Doctor Who' (BBC), 'Viagem à Lua' (Georges Méliès) a 'Matrix' (irmãos Wachowski), 'Admirável Mundo Novo' (Huxley) a 'Neuromancer' (William Gibson), passando por diversos autores e diretores Russos, Franceses, Japoneses e Chineses, está tudo lá. From War of the Worlds' (H.G. Wells) to 'Star Wars' (George Lucas), '2001' (Kubrick) to 'Doctor Who' (BBC), 'Journey to the Moon' (Georges Méliès) to 'Matrix' (Wachowski bros), Brave New World (Huxley) to Neuromancer (William Gibson), passing through several Russian, French, Japanese and Chinese authors and directors, it's all there.
Os Marcianos // The Martians - Alvim Correa
Mais do que uma aula de literatura e cinema, a expo é também uma aula de história onde podemos ver que em todas as épocas desenvolvimento científico/tecnológico e produção cultural caminham lado a lado e são diretamente influênciados um pelo outro. É super interessante ver como algumas das máquinas e situações presentes nas histórias e consideradas fantasiosas no seu tempo, acabaram, décadas depois, tornando-se realidade. More than a lesson in literature and film, the exhibition is also a history lesson where one can see that throughout time scientific/ technological development and culture have been walking side by side. It's extremely interesting noticing how some machines and situations described in these stories and considered far-fetched and fantasious in their present times, years later came to be true.
A viagem à Lua // The Moon Voyage - Emil Antoine Bayard
*A tip for those who go: get the catalog - much easier than writing down the names of 2983 books by hand ;)
Here I am, still taken aback by the emotional roller-coaster and visual masterpiece that is Pina, and along comes Mr Wim Wenders to blow me off my feet again...
'Places, Strange and Quiet', takes us on a trip and gives us a chance, at least for a couple of hours, to see the world through his eyes. And what eyes... Among the almost 40 photographs taken from 1983 - 2011 are beautifully contrasted black and white images, gigantic ultra graphic c-prints and even some tiny polaroids.
Despite being taken in so many different countries (from Japan to Brazil, Germany to Albania), there is a common element to all of his photographs - a sort of dystopic, ephemeral quality. They're constantly referencing a humanity that isn't there, bringing forth traces of a past which reinforce the present, making each captured moment both beautiful and melancholic.
It's interesting how the lack of people is exactly what makes his photographs so narrative - the director persona is present in every shot, setting the scenery and inviting our minds to fill in the blanks and create our own stories.
On the ground floor, Eve Sussman's videos and photographs subtly drag us into a timeless world where past and future come together in an everlasting, cyclic, present.
"The exhibition centers around whiteonwhite:algorithmicnoir a film that follows the observations and surveillance of a geophysicist code writer stuck in a futuristic city. The experimental fiction runs endlessly, editing live in real time, with no beginning, middle or end, never repeating the same way twice. " Below are some stills from the film.
"Queer jew socialist boy seeks a better world" said one of the signs in the 1978 anti racism rally-turned-concert that united punk and reggae, took east London's Victoria Park by storm and changed the course of music and politics in the UK.
This is the full story - a film for all the cynics and skeptics who think they can't change the world...
So glad I caught this at the EEFF. Although I wasn't even born at the time and am not a Londoner per say, I couldn't help but get goosebumps when I saw such a familiar scenery taken by the crowd, united for something they believed in.
More about the history and events that lead to the 1978 Carnival - including Eric Clapton's racist remarks - here
A mid-spring night’s dream. Cliché as it may be, that is the only way I can describe “The King and The Minotaur”. Located in an 1850’s barn near King’s Cross, the pop-up gallery features video installations, sculptures, illustrations, performance and live music – all scattered throughout a maze-like structure.
When asked by the owner if they were interested in the unused space, the two jumped at the opportunity to bring the beautiful architecture of the stable to life. According to Bradley, apart from the screens, everything else was pretty much already there – they just had to rearrange it.
The structure invites you to explore the scenery at your own will, bringing a factor of awe and adventure to the experience. The see-through screens allow visitors to view each other and interact as they try to figure out how to go from one chamber to the next, making each time around unique - you never know who you will bump into along the way.
The shadows of passersby are cast and multiplied on the screens and voiles, forming a sort of ongoing spontaneous “projection” that sometimes overlaps the videos.
As if this weren’t enough, some very peculiar “inhabitants” make the whole thing even more surreal. The entrance is guarded by a doll-faced pixie that opens the gate at the sound of a knock and greets the newcomers. Next to her, sits the minotaur, knitting away. Finally, a group of female “fauns” wonder around all night, occasionally stopping to deliver beautiful performances combining theatre and contemporary dance.
Music of the heavens: every night guest composers take their place on the hanging wooden platform where they perform the evening’s live score.
After making your way through the maze, you can grab a drink in the beautifully assembled “Liquid Room”, make yourself comfy on a hay block stool and chill out while watching other visitors try to figure out how to get there. The fact is, 5 minutes inside and you forget all about London – I felt like I was in someone’s cottage, ready to see meadows and lakes when the exit door opened. This was by far one of the most interesting, original and pleasurable experiences I’ve ever had here in London. Or anywhere else, for that matter…
Because of the theme, all the works displayed have a sort of mythical, storytelling quality. To learn more about them, use the mouse to explore the virtual maze on their website. More pictures here.
“The King and the Minotaur” is open from 7pm to 12am, Thursdays to Saturdays, until April 30th (it will be closed over the royal wedding weekend). Tickets cost £7.00 and can be bought here.
Como há um tempo atrás fui zuada por não fazer idéia do que era"pancake day", resolvi levar o troço a sério: panqueca de jantar e sobremesa!
Since a while ago I was picked on for not knowing what the hell "pancake day" was, I decided to take it seriously: pancakes for dinner and dessert!
* eu estava sem ovos em casa então improvisei... (para uma receita perfeita de panqueca, da uma olhada aqui) // I was out of eggs so had to improvise... (for a perfect pancake recipe, click here)
1) Jantar: Panqueca de cogumelos, espinafre, chutney e queijo de cabra Dinner: Mushroom, spinach, chutney and goat's cheese pancakes *eu tava morrendo de fome então a foto não ficou das melhores... (I was starving so couldn't really get a great shot...)
Massa (Batter) Ingredientes (everyone get this, right?):
- + ou - 2/3 xíc. farinha de trigo (about 2/3 cupflour)
- + ou - 1/2 xíc. leite (about 1/2 cup milk)
- nozes (1 ou 2, bem picadas) / walnuts (1 or 2, crushed)
- alecrim (uma pitada) / rosemary (pinch)
- sal epimenta a gosto (salt and pepper to taste)
Preparo:
numa tijela, despeje a farinha, o alecrim, as nozes picadas e sal e pimenta. misture. adicione o leite aos poucos, mexendo com um garfo sem parar até que a mistura fique homogenea. (obs: as medidas não são exatas então fique de olho ao adicionar o leite - o objetivo é uma consistência liquida grossa)
In a bowl, mix the flour, rosemary, crushed nuts, salt and pepper. Add the milk slowly, mixing constantly with a fork so the mix is homogeneous. (Obs: the quantities aren't exact so pay attention as you pour the milk - the goal is a think "liquidish" consistency)
aqueça uma frigideira untada com um pouquinho de manteiga ou azeite (bem pouquinho mesmo, só pra não grudar. eu normalmente esfrego a barra de manteiga direto na frigideira, tipo sabonete :p).
heat up a frying pan greased with a little butter or olive oil (very little, just so the batter won't stick. I usually just rub the butter bar straight onto the pan, like soap :p).
fogo médio. despeje a massa, mexendo a frigideira de um lado pro outro pra ela espalhar bem (a idéia é ficar fininha então, se sua frigideira for pequena, divida a massa entre mais de uma panqueca). depois de uns 3 minutos comece a descolar as bordas com a espátula. aí é feeling mesmo, comece devagarinho a passar a espátula na borda - se a massa for soltando facilmente é pq já pode virar. repita até que os dois lados fiquem dourados. retire do fogo e ponha de lado
medium heat. place the batter on the pan moving it around so it spreads evenly (they are supposed to be thin so if your frying pan is small, divide the batter into several smaller pancakes). After about 3 minutes start unsticking the pancake from the edges of the pan with a spatula - if it comes off easily it means its ready to turn. keep turning it until both sides are golden. put it aside.
Recheio (Filling) Ingredientes:
- um punhado de espinafre (a handful of baby spinach leaves)
- 3 cogumelos médios (3 medium sized closed cup mushrooms)
- queijo de cabra a gosto (goat's cheese to taste)
- 3 colh. chá chutney de tomate (3 tea spoons of Harrod's tomato and date chutney - my new addiction!)
- 1/4 tomate (1/4 tomato)
- 1/4 cebola (1/4 onion)
- 1 dente de alho (1 clove of garlic)
- sal epimenta a gosto (salt and pepper to taste)
Preparo:
Aqueca a frigideira e adicione um pouco de azeite. Pique o quarto de cebola e doure. Adicione o alho. Adicione os cogumelos fatiados, sal e pimenta, e deixe fritarem um pouquinho. Acrescente o chutney. Misture por alguns minutos. Coloque o recheio no meio da panqueca e espalhe.
Heat up the frying pan and add a splash of olive oil. Chop the onion quarter and heat it until golden. Add the chopped garlic. Add the chopped mushrooms, salt and pepper and let them fry for a bit. Add the chutney. Mix for a few minutes. Place the filling on the center of the pancake and spread evenly.
Acrescente o espinafre, o tomate picado e o queijo de cabra despedaçado (se vc preferir derretido, pode adicionar o queijo à mistura ainda na frigideira ou levar a panqueca fechada de volta ao fogo por alguns minutos). Feche a panqueca (enrolada ou apenas dobrada).
Add the spinach leaves, chopped tomato quarter and the crumbled goat's cheese (if you like molten cheese, feel free to add it to the mix while still on the frying pan or to place the closed pancake back on the pan for a few minutes). Close the pancake (you can roll it or just fold it).
2) Sobremesa: Panqueca de chocolate branco com geléia de framboesa
Dessert: White chocolate and raspberry jam pancakes
Massa (Batter)
Ingredientes:
- + ou - 2/3 xíc. farinha de trigo (about 2/3 cupflour)
- + ou - 1/2 xíc. leite (about 1/2 cup milk)
- amêndoas em flocos (punhado) / flakedalmonds (handful) - raspas de limão siciliano / lemon zest
O preparo é o mesmo da receita salgada, apenas trocando as nozes pelas amêndoas e adicionando as raspas de limão siciliano.
The preparation is the same as the dinner recipe, just substitute the walnuts for the almonds and add the lemon zest.
Recheio (Filling)
Ingredientes:
- 50g chocolate branco (50g white chocolate)
- 4 colh. chá geléia de framboesa (4 teaspoons raspberry jam)
derreta o chocolate em banho maria, espalhe na panqueca. adicione a geleia. enrole ou dobre a panqueca.
melt the chocolate in a bain-marie (never heard of it? click here), spread over pancake. add the jam. fold or roll the pancake.
A exposição High Society, na Wellcome Collection é parada obrigatória para qualquer um que faz uso de QUALQUER tipo de droga - illegal ou não.
The High Society exhibition at the Wellcome Collection is a must-see for anyone who makes use of ANY type of drug - illegal or not.
Partindo do princípio que a alteração do estado consciente é um impulso natural do homem, a exposição explora os diferentes tipos e usos de drogas ao longo da história da humanidade - das plantas usadas em remédios e rituais aos seus derivados sintéticos que hoje alimentam um mercado mundial de cerca de U$320 bilhões. *adaptação do texto do folheto da exposição
Beginning from the idea that the alteration of consciousness is a universal human impulse, the exhibition looks at the different types and uses of drugs across the history of mankind - from plants used in rituals or as medicine to their development into synthetic chemicals that feed an international market worth U$320 billions. * adapted texto from exhibition leaflet
Experimentos da NASA com aranhas: estudo sobre o efeito de drogas na formação de suas teias
NASA experiments on spiders: study on their web formation patterns under the effect of different drugs.
Still de 'Cannabis in the UK' - video arte genial de Mark Harris. Duas telas paralelas mostram o artista lendo Paraísos Artificiais, de Baudelaire, e Haxixe, de Walter Benjamin, para plantas de maconha ("Eu espero que não levem muito a sério...Eu pensei: 'se vc deve ler para elas crescerem, nada melhor do que ler para plantas de maconha algo sobre o efeito de sua droga' explica Harris). Mas a conexão com a droga não para por aí: o audio dos dois videos pode ser ouvido nos fones simultaneamente, nos deixando meio desorientados e sem condições de prestar atenção direito em nenhum dos dois.
Screen shot of Mark Harris' briliant 'Cannabis in the UK'. Two screens show the artist simultaneously reading Baudelaire's Les Paradis Artificiels and Walter Benjamin's Hashish in Marseilles to cannabis plants ("I hope it won't be taken too seriously...I just thought, 'If you're going to read to plants to make them grow, what better than to read to cannabis plants something about the effects of the drug?'" says Harris). But the connection with marijuana doesn't stop there: both audios can be heard on the headphones leaving us a bit disoriented and unable to focus on either one.
'Laudanum'. O título dessa série de Tracy Moffat faz referencia a um derivado do ópio muito comum no séc XIX. Duas mulheres sob influência da droga em uma espécie de jogo de poder onde a distinção entre mestre e serviçal é confusa. Hilário e perturbador ao mesmo tempo.
'Laudanum'. The title of the series by Tracy Moffatt makes reference to a commonly-used opiate during the 19th century. Under its influence, two women engage in a strange game blurring the distinction between master and servant. Hilarious and disturbing.
A exposição apresenta uma combinação impecável de informação e entretenimento trazendo não só objetos e obras de arte para o uso ou inspirados em drogas ( esses, em sua maioria produzidos sob o efeito das mesmas), como também dados atuais, publicações científicas e videos educacionais sobre o tema.
The ehibition provides an impecable combination of information and entertainment bringing forth not only objects and artwork for the use or inspired on drugs (most of them created while under the influence) but also current data, scientific texts and educational videos on the subject.
À direita, "porta charutos": disfarce para transportar alcool durante a Lei Seca americana
Prohibition era "cigar case": one of the many inventions for hiding liquor
Drugs World - David McCandless
Um grupo de doutores e suas esposas experimentando gás hilariante. 1823
T Rowlandson after W Combe, Doctor and Mrs Syntax with a party of friends, experimenting with laughing gas. 1823
Muito legal ver de onde vêm e como evoluíram ao longo dos anos, química e culturalmente, muitas das substâncias que usamos hoje. Um prato cheio pra quem gosta do assunto como eu, que, sem me dar conta, acabei passando mais de 3 horas por lá!
It was great seeing the origins of many of the substances we use today and their chemical and cultural evolution through time - a delight to those with an appetite for the subject like myself, who, without realizing, spent 3 hours in there!
Heroina da Bayer, aprox. 1900
Bayer Company Heroin, around 1900.
'Morfinomaníaco' no leito de morte. No início do seu uso, a injeção de morfina era aplicada de forma sub cutânea, podendo causar abcessos e feridas.
'Morphinomaniac' on his death bed. In its early days, morphine was injected just under the skin, sometimes leading to abscesses.
No final, um toque interessante: um computador pede para que você compartilhe alguma experiência sua com drogas (anonimamente, claro). Fiquei feliz da vida de ver um trabalho objetivo, consistente e extremamente divertido sobre um assunto tão controverso que é muitas vezes abordado de forma tão parcial e deturpada ou, pior, não vê a luz do dia por ser considerado tabú. A exposição obriga os visitantes a deixarem os preconceitos de lado apresentando informações diversificadas mostrando tanto o lado ruím das drogas (como a dependência e o tráfico) quanto o efeito criativo em usuários notórios como Baudelaire, Lewis Carroll e Aldous Huxley
At the end, an interesting touch: a computer where visitors are encouraged to share (anonymously, of course) any drug related experience. I was really glad to see such an objective, consistent and extremely amusing work on a controversial theme that, many times, is approached in such a biased, misleading manner or, worse, not talked about at all. The exhibition forces visitors to put aside any prejudices by presenting diverse material on subjects such as the bad side of drug use (like addiction and traffic) or their creative effects over known users such as Baudelaire, Lewis Carroll and Aldous Huxley.
Illustration by Mervyn Peake for Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'
Essa litografía super gráfica é de 1897, acredita? By Eugene Grasset
Can you believe this extremely graphic lithograph dates back to 1897? By Eugene Grasset
'High Society' fica em cartaz até o dia 27/02 e, por estar nas últimas semanas, tem ficado bem cheia. Ou seja, quem puder ir durante a semana certamente vai aproveitar com mais calma e ter a chance de assistir todos os videos.
'High Society' is on until 27/02 and, because its the final weeks, has been pretty busy. Those who can attend on weekdays might have a better experience and get the chance to watch all the videos calmly.
Video hilário de um experimento com mescalina liderado pelo Dr Humphrey Osmond. Exibido pela BBC em 1955.
A hilarious video of a mescaline experiment by Dr Humphrey Osmond, broadcast on the BBC in 1955.
Mustafa Hulusi, Afyon
Um dos curadores, Mike Joy, também escreveu um livro sobre o assunto 'High Society' curator Mike Jay who also wrote a book on the subject
Uma dica final aos adeptos: essa é uma que pede uma session em casa (ou no parque) antes de entrar ;)
Boa Viagem!!
A final tip for those who dig it : this is one that calls for a session at home (or the park) before entering ;)
