Monthly Archives: August 2012
Off The Wall
This Tuesday, 4th September Off The Wall is hosted by Workshop. This ensemble of underground graffiti artists and their work begins with a live graffiti session on the opening night. Be sure to get down between 6pm and 9pm to sample the action (and a few nice brews). INFX recently checked a show by curator and exhibitor Hayley ‘Sketch‘ Walker -whose styles will cushion the event. It promises to be a winner: unique talents will be on display; showcasing works that are just a little bit different to what you‘d expect from contemporary graffers. Need I say more? Come on down.
Off The Wall: Tuesday, 4th September 6pm – 9pm at Workshop -upstairs off the corner of Elizabeth & A‘Beckett
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
What‘s in a name? I fail to comprehend the intent of this one. That said; TEED (Orando Higginbottom) has sprung up from the bowels of contemporary pop with a release that is, in many regards, the epitome of the music of these times. In what could be the 90s dance version of Two Door Cinema Club, their Trouble release ticks the all the right boxes. The album begins with a sound that somewhat mirrors early Hot Chip‘s recordings with French label Kitsuné and then progressively slides into a charade of dubstep-electronica mellow. Confusing? Not really; this band certainly holds your attention and one can only anticipate a tour on the back of Trouble that takes in an Australian summer.
Perhaps simply check this stand-out track Tapes And Money and see if you like them?
Kodo
Kodo performs the ancient and engrossing taiko art. Their form derives from the traditional music of regional Japan; expelling a drumming session that will leave you flawed. Kodo (meaning ‘children of the drum‘ or ‘the heartbeat‘) has been touring extensively since their debut in 1981. Over the years they have continued to refine a style that now incorporates traditional instruments including the Shamisen and Fue. They have released some 25 recordings; with their line-up constantly changing and evolving their contemporary interpretation of taiko.
Kado performs on the 24th of September at Hamer Hall with TaikOz; offering a superb chance to experience the venue‘s newly-refurbished acoustics (if you have not done so already).
Below is featured a compelling performance from their 2011 show in Paris.
Stéphanie Martin Petit
Stéphanie was kind enough to offer INFX these words on her online photography exhibition that centres on Barcelona‘s graffiti scene:
“I began taking pictures of graffiti painted on the shutters of Barcelona ten years ago and walk after walk grew this collection.”
“To date, with almost 1200 images, I have the evidence… that the drawings do not foul shutters or devalue the city but give colour, life and uniqueness. Day life is going to sleep and get up the pictures of the night, giving light and personality to our streets. Showing these photos around the world is a tribute to Barcelona‘s great artists and their talent. It is also a pacific scream towards the Barcelona administration; hoping that the law regarding the graffiti will be removed.”
You can view the online exhibition here: https://stephaniemartinpetit.virtualgallery.com/
Chris Burden (Metropolis II)
The sheer magnitude of road infrastructure and its‘ authoritative aesthetics captivate me to a point where I often find myself tracing huge arterials on satellite maps all over the world. And from this perspective I was quite pleased indeed to view the works of Chris Burden. His Metropolis II installation is particularly appeasing: in not just scale and aesthetic, but that it also holds sway to a political bent. Burden was initially a performance-based artist, but post-1992 he continues to work principally with sculpture, assembly, and installation. The clip below, from Metropolis II features his latest piece -which took 4 years to complete and was finally exhibited this year at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; where it is on permanent display.
SPOK
From the massive Spanish crew TBC and hailing from Madrid, this is one writer that has continued to evolve epic styles. SPOK found his feet on the rail lines during the ‘90s and was burning hard, up until around ‘05 when he muscled in on the Fine Arts set. Ever since, SPOK has made inroads onto the international scene with varied forms and magnificent aerosol algorithyms. See for yo‘ self:
