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Dire Straits (Walk of Life)
Dire Straits is the most iconoclast 80s band; particularly in regard to a Pommy cock-rockin‘ new wave genre. The founding members, Knopler brothers Mark & Dave, musically constructed their claim to the advent of the 80s -perhaps contenders as the continental mirror of a pre-pubescent Talking Heads. Walk Of Life first appeared on the UK Single for So Far Away; the acclaimed seminal track from the Brothers In Arms album. However, the track‘s upbeat pop-blues appeal was such that Walk Of Life is itself became so renowned as to warrant its‘ own music video; partly shot in the London Underground:
The introduction to this track dispels, though, the inferiority of the musical production values employed by Dire Straits. Although we must, authentically, evaluate the Straits as a fantastic pop music achievement: it must be said that their simplistic and characteristic 1-4-5 arrangements epotimise their drab rhythmic endeavours.
Angelica Mesiti
You have but one day to visit Mesiti‘s most recent work Citizens Band at the ACCA New 12 show before it finishes tomorrow. Her installation consists of 4 single channel video art works, and a 5th compositional piece. It features 4 people of non-European heritage composing traditional song. An Asian man outside a convenience store playing the erhu, an African cabbie whistling a traditional tune, another African (female) composing music using the splashing of water and, finally, an Arabic (or North African) immigrant singing a tune from his homeland, with the aid of a basic keyboard. 3 of these were filmed in Sydney, with the final piece featuring the Arabic male shot on the Paris Metro.
At once, you are inclined to reflect upon the situation these immigrants find themselves; inflected is a longing for their homeland and traditional values/ environment. I found the song absolutely lovely, and the scenes well shot. However, I can‘t help but feel the over-riding theme was patronising and all too melancholic for my liking. But I guess that‘s one for you to judge yourself: the works in themselves worth the visit to ACCA.
Otherwise, you can also view parts of the work during this ACCA Artist interview:
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Solvent Libel (Bivouac)
A big thank-you to all those that attended the Bivouac group show we organised at Long Play.
For those that missed out; here is a composite of two videos screened at the exhibition:
Seditious Libel (Vox by Unkown c.1930)
Solvent (Vox by King Burraga, 1933)
Dedicated: Henry Seekamp
HD Video [2012]
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Rodrigo Prieto
Today we visit the cinematography of Rodrigo Prieto. In the 2009 Pedro Almodovar film Broken Embraces; the audience is mesmerised and flawed by Prieto’s fascinating imagery. His camera work and visual motivations, I believe, make it the most influential and admired film that I have ever seen. A major compulsion for Prieto is that of portraiture in the moving image: Broken Embraces contains endless character inquisitions using this method (portraiture in film). It is thus imperative to note Prieto’s previous work on Spike Lee’s 2002 film 25th Hour –a film I also count as highly regarded. The visual stylisation of this film is epitomised by locked-down video shots and ultra colour saturation (or over exposure). Prieto pioneered this aesthetic to an extent; in his portraiture of the characters surrounding Edward Norton (as Monty Brogan; our protagonist in the film). Prieto also shot the 2002, politically-charged Frida, and also the series of Alejandro González Iñárritu films –comprising the 2010 Biuitiful, 2006’s Babel, 2003’s 21 Grams and 2000’s Amores Perros. Amores Perros is also a film whose visual style has profoundly informed my visual dynamic or perspective of the moving image.
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BIVOUAC
A nightly ensemble of Video Art featuring:
MATTHEW BERKA | ANDREW TURLAND | M T WALKER
Screenings in the theatrette between 6pm - 9pm
at LONG PLAY 318 St Georges Rd, Nth Fitzroy.
BIVOUAC ONE: Tues 1st, Wed 2nd and Thur 3rd MAY
BIVOUAC TWO: Mon 7th, Tue 8th and Wed 9th MAY
These visually stunning works explore cultural & socio-political philosophies, the built environment, and the singular protest.
Please come down and enjoy yourself in comfortable surrounds.
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Phibs ~&~ Beastman
Billed as “two separate and intrinsically connected exhibitions“, this show brings together the organic and superflous styles of Melbourne and Sydney graff artist elite. Phibs is arguably the most well-known graff artist in Melbourne today -you‘d have seen his works gripping the walls of, particularly, the inner-Northside of Melbourne throughout the last decade. No doubt about it.
By comparison, Beastman is a heavy-hitting Sydneysider that has a C.V. boasting shows in London, N.Z., Berlin and across Australia. His works take a more organic approach than Phibs: the artist fascinated by the molecular structures and patterns found in the natural environment.
Together their blockbuster show includes a fasinating mêlée of found objects, canvas, drawing, and works from the Beastman Natural Progression project and Phibs‘ Perfectly Imperfect suite.
It all begins this Friday 27th April from 6pm
Backwoods Gallery: 25 Easey St, Collingwood.
House of Bricks: 40 Budd St, Collingwood.
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Hayley Walker (Sketch)
Sketch has just returned to Melbourne after a prolonged stint in the UK and Brisbane. She is quite an accomplished artist; having held shows in both London and Melbourne. Also having her shit together in a big way; the minute Hayley is back in town she‘s already got her works up on the walls at The Lounge on Swanston. I went down there the other night to meet this artistic upstart, and check out her works. And they‘re very fine indeed (as you‘ll see below). Hayley was also nice enough to provide us with a few wise words:
INFX: What‘s been happening for the last few years?
Hayley: I‘ve spent a good part of that time working on the body of my International show Ego (or Alter Ego) which was what I called it when I took it to London.
INFX: How was the London scene -does it still inspire your work?
Hayley: The networks that I made there [are] a very important asset in this field of work. In terms of inspiration, I left feeling more inspired towards the graffiti art I do, as I spent a lot of time with street artists including close friends of Banksy.
INFX: I see. Well, you‘re back in Melbourne and have hit the ground running -what else is in store for us?
Hayley: I am currently organising a collaborative Melbourne based graffiti show with local talent here, which will hopefully be showing in August.
INFX: And what have you been up to in the Studio?
Hayley: I am currently working on one large piece, in more of my linear, black and white busy composition style, which I am aiming to exhibit around November this year.
The Ego works will don The Lounge walls until 8th May; so be sure to check ‘em out next time you‘re having a drink or three up there.
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www.wetpaintfinearts.com
Secret Walls: Melbourne 2012
That‘s right, now is the time for all you arts and graff heads to get up in it. The gates are open to field your blockbuster creative nuances to the Secret Walls team. Don‘t sweat the name change: you will know Secret Wars from the sell-out crowds that rocked this live art battle series in 2011. It‘s the same crew, the same rules and quality competition showdown: but with a new name comin‘ back to rock ya. Submissions are open for the next week only -see all the details below:
Espionage vs. Racket: Clark
Faithful trouper of the Warp Records stable Clark hits Revolt Artspace in Kensington on Tuesday, 24th April. Clark headlines an electronica event that promises to deliver the goods. Bear witness also to Sarah Phelan dropping a producer/ dj showcase, Chiara Kickdrum performing a Live set, and spills & thrills by a chorus of other electro heart-stoppers including JPS, Matt Radovich, Fugitive, Xian, Pselodux, and Jacob Silver.
Clark is also on site to launch his new album Iradelphic and offers an impressive Audio-Visual show too. The Iradelphic release is one smooth record: delivering a minacious electro sound that Clark describes as “looming, ambiguous, radiant …whole, invincible, complete“. Doors open at 6pm -so get on down early as it‘s going to be a fully-rounded evening of aural enjoyment. Enjoy this video clip of Black Stone from the forthcoming album:
U.D.L. BOYZ – Gang
ULD BOYZ EZCAYP FROHM SPAYC PRIZUN
The UDL Boyz have transmogrified through the vast expanse of the 1994 parallax to bring you the best in future primitive new music from the past. In ‘Gang‘ the boys have had themselves a mischief once again. Our two mustard-stained goofball anti-heroes have smashed out the space prison and are seeking solace and shelter from the solar winds. Yes, you guessed it cuz: another earth-shattering club hit doth reign. Good uld boise indeed.
Video: Nathan Ceddia
Harvest Festival 2012
This Saturday the Collingwood housing estate is staging the 2012 Collingwood Harvest Festival, located adjacent the housing commission towers in Harmsworth Park, rear of 229-253 Hoddle Street. The festival is free and there are some great bands lined up, with free bbq and many activities to check out.
The festival marks the harvesting of the vegtables that are grown in the Harmsworth Gardens, by the local community. It has been running since 2001 and attracts crowds of up to 2000 people, annually. The festival offers an array of multicultural activities and foods that span all 5 continents. The festival culminates in dancing and theatrical processions, and ends with an enormous fire sculpture spectacle. Join the event on Facebook and share it around!
2012 Collingwood Harvest Festival: This Saturday, 31st March 3pm-7pm. All welcome.
http://collingwoodharvestfest.weebly.com/
Dogme ’95
The Dogme Manifesto was an avant-garde filmmaking movement created, intitially, by Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg. These 2 filmmakers were soon thereafter joined by Kristian Levring, Jean-Marc Barr, and Søren Kragh-Jacobsen; comprising the original 5 members of the group to take a vow of chastity to the manifesto (outlined below). The manifesto was drafted to produce films that adhere to the earliest and most basic conventions of filmmaking. The basic nature of the agreement (signed by the initial 5 members in 1995) is to use location sound, natural lighting and original sets –basically; no manipulation of the location, with no foreign items to be brought onto the set and no ‘special effects‘. The manifesto also bans genre movies and superficial action, and limits the temporal conventions of the film: that is to say that the action must take place in the ‘here and now’ and must avoid embellishing the turn of events: such as an actual visual portrayal of a stabbing, car accident or such. Some of the most notable Dogme films include personal favourites Festen (The Celebration), Mifune, and Open Hearts. Dogme ‘95: The Vow of Chastity (abridged):
“I swear to the following set of rules drawn up and confirmed by Dogme 95:”
• Shooting must be done on location. Props and sets must not be brought in.
• The sound must never be produced apart from the image or vice-versa.
• The camera must be handheld. Any movement or mobility attainable in the hand is permitted.
• The film must be in colour. Special lighting is not acceptable.
• Optical work and filters are forbidden.
• The film must not contain superficial action.
• Temporal and geographical alienation are forbidden.
• Genre movies are not acceptable.
• The film format must be Academy 35mm.
• The director must not be credited.
The Dogme was annulled in 2005 -however, many filmmakers (such as Susanne Bier) continue to inform their work with the manifesto.
FruitJam (Narcoze)
Narcoze is a European street artist from Holland. His techniques ranges from illustrative to aersol-based endeavours. Much of his work references escapism and “works inspired by the way people try to escape their own reality“. We recently hit Narcoze up on the FruitJam production he formulated and participated in; alongside fellow Euro street artists and graffers including Edo Rath, Simian Switch, Klik, Ominous, 524, Amik, CES53, Bust, and Sivanksi among others.
INFX: What got the FruitJam project started?
Narcoze: Mutual friends just got together to paint at this place called LerenDoen which literally means learning, doing. So it‘s a place where teenagers learn skills, when otherwise they might not have a chance to learn these things. Keeps ‘em off the streets and not turn into thugs and graffiti writers [ 
]
INFX: How did the artists relate to each other?
Narcoze: Most of us know each other from the graffiti or street art scene, even though they are very different from each other there‘s still a bond which will bring us together to paint at spots like these.
INFX: Do you have any future collabs on the horizon?
Narcoze: Not anything big planned at the moment but we try to get together in the weekends and just paint as often as we can. Good to get the juices flowing.
INFX: What‘s special about the graff scene in Europe?
Narcoze: I think the most important thing that stands out in European graff is that people from all over europe can easily meet up with each other and learn from each other‘s style.
Thanks to Narcoze for allowing time to give us the word-up on the FruitJam project. Check the video:
www.narcoze.com
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The Table (Karbido)
Polish 6-piece Karbido has for the past week presented an interesting array of sounds as part of their season at The Spiegeltent. The Table is a live performance piece that takes an everyday object, literally the kitchen table, and turns it into a musical instrument. The sounds range from the indigenous to the mainstream; something of a journey through 24 hours of music, experienced simultaneously around the planet. The men that comprise the performance part of the group trounce their fists through the sublime and bombastic; using various sound manipulation devices: effects pedals, strings, microphones, a couple of wine glasses and a coin. Another 2 poles are behind the scenes, orchestrating this aural curiosity from behind the expanse of a 96-channel mixer.
The show is one of the best of the Spiegel season, culminating in a final performance tonightat 9pm -don‘t miss it!
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Audible Deterrence (Byron Dean)
Byron Dean is at once a contradiction of the personal and the emotive: he presents himself as an endearing, thoughtful and attentive fellow. However, the sounds you will absorb at his behest are something far more brazen. Although this Fine Arts (Sound) student can in fact cushion you with lovingly crafted (and soothing) rhythms; more often than not you‘re in for a demolition of the dulcet. You may have been wise enough to check out Circle Jerk late last year; wherein Byron joined his Wrong Room cohorts in melding the soundform to profound extremities of manipulation.
In Audible Deterrence Byron exhibits a ‘subjective experience‘ that promises to confront the somewhat subliminal and often insidious use of sound and music in the commercial environment. Deterrence presents you with “sounds that repel, invite, mask and discomfort” -making you at once aware of the intent; but all the while leaving you, the spectator, to absorb and decipher -cypher- at your leisure!
Audible Deterrence: Until 31st March at Bus Projects (Wed-Sat), Basement 673 Bourke St. City.
soundcloud.com/byrondean
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The Discipline of Loving You (Diego Ramirez)
Hurry -there is but 3 days left to check out Discipline at the RMIT School of Art Gallery.
Video and Mixed Media artist Diego Ramirez (Mexico) presents a titillating account of the physical and emotional construct pertaining to the female form in contemporary society. This ultra-stylish and mesmerising video also invites the discerning viewer into the realm of fantasy. It offers a reflection on what you might agree is a stiletto tableau of appearance, love, and dependence in a world where the superficial reigns over that of the intellectual. The video is an almost pornographic exploit; displayed on 2 channel projections almost 10 feet high. Recommended for over-18s only.
The Discipline of Loving You until 16th March: Building 2, Level 2 RMIT, Bowen St. City.
www.diego-ramirez.net
