'Infectious Flowers' at the Roundhouse (or, my obsession for skin disease...)

Depois de alguns meses afastada, estou de volta. Normal, acontece...

After a few months away, I'm back. No biggie, it happens...

Então, não sei se mencionei em algum outro post, mas eu sou obcecada por problemas de pele. Eu amo ver imagens (fotográficas ou feitas à mão) de doenças de pele - quanto mais sérias melhor. Há algo fascinante nas texturas, aqueles acumulos alienígenas tomando conta de um corpo humano, a prova visível de uma imperfeição no processo evolutivo... ah...os simples prazeres da vida...
So, not sure I mentioned it in any other post, but I have an obsession for skin conditions. I absolutely love seeing images (photographic or hand-made) of skin diseases - the nastier the better. Something about the texture, all those clusters taking over a human body like an alien life form, seeing this "gap" in evolutionist perfection...ahhh the simple pleasures in life...

Eu fico sempre feliz em encontrar outras pessoas que compartilham esse hábito aparentemente estranho (sério, ninguém mais a-do-ra-va ver àquelas fotos de vítimas de varíola nos livros de história?!), então imaginem como fiquei ao me deparar com o trabalho de Mat Collishaw.

I'm always glad to find someone who shares this apparently weird habit (really, didn't anyone else l-o-v-e seeing those pictures of smallpox victims in history books?), so imagine how happy I was to find out about Mat Collishaw's work.

Na série 'Infectious Flowers' (Flores Infecciosas), petálas decoradas com imagens de ferimentos (graças ao photoshop) formam uma fauna tóxica esquisitíssima, como algo saído diretamente de um futuro distópico.

In the photography series Infectious Flowers, petals adorned with real skin diseases thanks to photoshop give life to some weird toxic fauna apparently right out of a dystopian future.

Agora a boa notícia pra quem vai estar em Londres nessa quarta, 24 de Agosto: o filme Sordid Earth, uma experiência audio-visu-sensorial criada em parceria com o arquiteto Ron Arad, vai ser exibidido no Roundhouse. A trilha ficará a cargo de 20 percussionistas Brasileiros.
The good news for those in London on Wed, August 24th, is that Sordid Earth, Matt's site-specific audio-visual-sensorial instalation created in partnership with architect Ron Arad, will be showing at the Roundhouse accompanied by 20 Brazilian drummers. Full info here

"It's all fun and games...

...until someone gets killed"

Wel...the new Is Tropical video begs to differ...



'The Greeks' was directed by french collective Megaforce (part of the El Niño Crew, mentioned here a while ago)


via my brother :)

Double bill at the Haunch of Venison - Wim Wenders and Eve Sussman

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.

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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.

Both exhibitions are on until May 14th

Haunch of Venison Gallery
6 Burlington Gardens
London W1S 3ET
020 7495 5050

who shot the sheriff?

"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...

Who Shot The Sheriff? PART 1 from Alan Miles on Vimeo.

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

Control - Spoek Mathambo

A "darkwave township house" cover of Joy Division. Need I say more?


SPOEK MATHAMBO - CONTROL from spoek mathambo on Vimeo.

Well, actually, I do - the BEAUTIFUL video was directed by photographer Pieter Hugo (he's the one responsible for the amazing hyena men series) and cinematographer Michael Cleary.

Cortina de Fumaça (Smokescreen)

O documentário Cortina de Fumaça, de Rodrigo MacNiven, aborda de maneira objetiva e nada moralista um assunto MUITO importante que raramente é discutido de maneira clara: a atual política de repressão às drogas.
Rodrigo MacNiven's documentary Smokescreen approaches in an objective and non-judgemental way a  VERY important subject that is rarely discussed in a clear manner: our current drug policy.



Através de inúmeros depoimentos de cientistas, médicos, políticos e sociólogos, o filme consegue trazer à tona fatos esclarecedores e incontestáveis sobre os reais interesses por trás da repressão às drogas. Sem qualquer opinião pessoal sobre consumo, o doc consegue afastar qualquer chance de algum moralista de meia tijela levantar a bandeira da apologia (pausa pro bocejo).
Statements collected from doctors, scientists, politicians and sociologists clarify and bring to the surface incontestable facts regarding the real interests behind drug repression and anti drug laws. With no personal opinions regarding drug use, the film is able to keep away moralists who might be tempted to raise the apology flag (yawn)

 Ou seja, mesmo que você seja radicalmente contra o uso de drogas (alô dona leilane neubarth, mãe de dois filhos), vale assistir pois o filme se vale do assunto para, na verdade, discutir algo bem maior: a caça às liberdades individuais em prol de interesses sócio-político-econômicos bem questionáveis.
This means even if you're radically agains drug use (the link above is in reference to a crazy brazilian reporter's verbal attack on an interviewee who used facts that went against the reporter's personal opinion on the subject) you should watch it because the film uses the topic to discuss something much bigger and important: the persecution of individual freedom in the name of questionable social-political and economical interests.



Para assistir na íntegra, clique aqui
To watch the complete film, click here (sorry, no subtitles for the portuguese spoken parts, but most of it is in english)

The King and the Minotaur

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.

The project is the brainchild of architects James Wignall and Bradley Moore, whose studio is right next door (part of Babel Studios complex, where the barn is located). 

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 30^th (it will be closed over the royal wedding weekend). Tickets cost £7.00 and can be bought here.

projeto stills/stills project #3 - amelié poulain (jeunet)

Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
diretor / director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
fotografia / cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel
sinopse aqui / sinopsis here