Absalome: 2011

SintaKLASS

Just got off the phone to my Dutch friend, Steph, she tells me it is Sintaklass Day today.

Grayson Perry Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman

Grayson Perry: Grayson Perry, You are here, 2011 at British Museum

Worth a visit!

Pipilotti Rist Eyeball Massage

I went to see the survey of Pipilotti Rist show at the Hayward gallery. It was really 'trippy' and does exactly what is says on the 'box'. Initially, I enjoyed the video installations and sculptural works but towards the end I got very bored. Too much of the same thing is never good. I wished they had selected fewer works instead of filling up the space. I believe the show would have been more dynamic that way.

on art

John Martin @ Tate Britain

I few weeks ago, I went to see the spectacular, awe-inspiring painting of John Martin. Martin depicted some of my favourite Bible scenes such as, Belshazzar’s Feast. I really enjoyed the Mezzotints, they were really precise, and I loved the ashen colour palette: Martin has such deft hands. All in all, my highlight had to be the light and sound show accompanying The Last Judgement triptych. Initially the giggles took me when I heard the booming voice and over-theatrical echoes, but I was eventually transfixed by the way in which these modern-day mediums animated the wonderful scenes by an old master. It really brought the message home that JUDGEMENT IS A COMING BE READY!

Ed Atkins@ Tate Britain

My new friend, Steve Nice, and I went to view Ed Atkins’ A Tumour in English. I thought this piece was amazing. I like the fact that my friend never shares his thoughts on the work, even though he is an artist, sometimes you need that type person. I say this because you don’t want someone to ‘kill it’ or to be over analytical rather. The first thoughts that popped into my head was

‘I appreciate this ‘rainbow-light-spectrum colour palette’ that Atkins is seemingly obsessed with. On a tacky sea-side trip I had purchased a sun catcher. It’s a really beautiful instrument that enables you to catch the light. I look forward to midday when the sun is at its peak and I spot the kaleidoscopic speckles that happen to fall anywhere, a different place each day.

I remember feeling the jerky, cut and paste effect from viewing this film-atic composition of images and blocky sound, like a DJ mixing up tunes on the decks.

I liked the strip of colour on the bottom, in place of a subtitle, my brain filling in the words.
The revolving head spoke to me and I followed its movements.

I was bugged by the jingle towards the end as I knew it was familiar and I sheepishly asked Steve where it was from as I couldn’t place the tune. He told me it was ‘You’ve been framed’.

[...]

A day or two later I had read the text: A tumour, that was part of the work presented. It was well written, performative with lovely use of lexicon and artistically formatted. I liked how recurrent, isolated phrases from the film where found in the text. I found it really rewarding to spot them; however, I felt that the text was too much for me...maybe I’m not intelligent enough to understand everything and I get lost easily when reading. I thought that the text directed your interpretation of the images a bit too much, which is not very good for a visual person like myself.

Mark Aerial Waller @ ICA

I attended the talk it was great. I didn’t know what to make of Mark when I first saw him. Mark didn’t look like the artist that would make his type of work. I know that later on in the talk, the interview spoke to Mark of his Englishness but I didn’t really see that in the image that the ICA used on their website, which featured the Simpsons.

I really enjoyed the performance at the beginning of the talk, which was like a group yoga activity. It added a different edge...perhaps a not just sitting there edge. This was really effective as it sensitised the movements of the characters in the film that followed...I was spooked. M.A.W is informed by the film which is disconcerting but hilarious at the same time...

Cyberham

Cyberham.

Is the title for a short story and illustrations that I am working on, informed by many things such as:

A nickname given to me because my name is largely mispronounced by English-speaking people
The effortless ability to be absorbed into someone else’s life; I attribute this with social utilities and their fact-file format
The Leviticus diet outlined in the Bible
Sexual fantasies and stereotypes

We will see where this goes!

Milano

Fleeting memories:

Staring up at the tall candy-coloured buildings; admiring the sense of unity; indulging in local cuisine ; the breath-taking, elaborate artworks...

Seeing works of great masters was really inspirational. It made me reflect on how I use my time and how I make art. I’m definitely not doing enough artwork, not pushing myself

The Italian people immediately assumed that I was an Italian speaking Senegalese which I thought was hilarious, but understandable. Senegalese men have a presence in Milan; they are like coal statues and are always selling some type of commodity on the streets. My favourite was the ‘Waka%Waka’, a thin rainbow coloured thread which is worn on the wrist. These threads were used to allure me and then I was asked if I wanted to go on a date!

All in all, Milano taught me to make the most of myself, on a daily basis, particularly the way in which I dress especially as I am getting on in years.

To be continued...

Degree Show 2011

Was awesome. Now to make some new work!

LIMBUS PATRUM

The Latin word limbus has various meanings in different contexts. It can mean the border or edge of an anatomical part, such as the inner border of the brain’s cortex. It also refers to the limbic system, the brain structures involved in regulating emotions, motivation and various autonomous functions.

1 The limbic system also builds connections between emotional responses and physical sensations stored in the long-term memory. The theological meaning of limbo is ‘purgatory’. In the theology of the Catholic Church, it has two meanings. Limbus patrum describes the temporary state of the souls excluded from the beatific vision until Christ’s triumphant ascension into Heaven. Limbus infantium in turn defines the permanent state of unbaptized children.

2 Metaphorically, limbus refers to a state of oblivion or permanent uncertainty—a prison-like state. The characters in Ekström’s works appear to be imprisoned in their bodies or gender-roles. The caged birds in The Last Branch can be interpreted as a commentary on the subjugation of freedom, or the taming of nature. (Leevi Haapala)