Walking in my Mind

The Hayward Gallery's summer exhibition was entitled Walking in My Mind, and it included the works of ten artists given a space to turn into their imagination. From polka dots to porn every room was completely different, but entertaining none the less.

Jason Rhoade's imagination almost smelled like a boys room, but I appreciated how straightforward him and Thomas Hirschhorn were about the amount of junk that piles up. My surprise favorite was Charles Avery, a young Scottish artist whose work I will continue to look for.

I loved the nature of the exhibition because it directly required the artists to indulge in their inner monologue. Unfortunately, the exhibition was an instillation and all the pieces of the different creative processes have been taken down, but here are a few picture that I was not allowed to take.

A man in a suite in Chiharu Shiota's web

Yayoi Kusama's expression of her hallucinations

Charle's Avery's infinity chamber

Yayoi Kusama

Vampire Weekend and a Penguin

At the Lock Tavern this past Tuesday, I happened upon Chris the bass player from Vampire weekend performing a free DJ set, and an Australian man in a penguin costume. Chris played Discovery's So Insane, which I requested (and blogged about before); he pleasantly responded to my request with 'I'm the bass player.'

Americana: Indians Abroad

There are few minorities who have fought the politically correct battle as well as the Native Americans. Teachers across the US will correct their students when they refer to the many individual tribes as Indians. Sports teams have changed mascots in order not to offend misrepresented descendants in their fan base. And the stories of cowboys and Indians are mostly left to twentieth century Hollywood.

However apparently in the interest of selling CDs, not just one group but multiple groups of buskers at the Edinburgh fringe embraced all of the classic stereotypes. There were tomahawks, huge headdresses, dream catchers and plenty of flute dominated music, when these musicians clad in animal skins took to the streets.

Apparently the PC battle is yet to go global, but it might have to if the Scottish children keep crying out, "look Mummy, red indians."

Old School for September

Both Pretty Much Amazing and Pitchfork published their best songs of the decade in August, a little prematurely, but its a lazy month and reading best of lists is always surprisingly satisfying. These rankings were primarily a reminder of old friends but also ideal for discovering a few tracks from years past.

My new (old) favorites for fall:

Roisin Murphy – Ramalama (Bang Bang) [mp3]

Sufjan Stevens - Chicago [mp3]

Poseidon Outshines in the Return of Ulysses

Image Source guardian.co.uk

The Royal Ballet of Flanders's production of the Return of Ulysses in Edinburgh not only managed to beautifully balance contemporary choreography with classical ballet, but did so without taking itself it to seriously. Poseidon graces the stage in a tutu and flippers, while Athena acts as mistress of ceremonies in gold, and Penelope resists her suitors constant attention while awaiting for Odysseus to return. A familiar story in an entertaining light, not be missed.

A few from the Edinburgh Festival

Looking up the royal Mile

Upside-down on Princes Street

Bubblegum busking: Jakil [MySpace]

When I moved to Scotland, it was in September and Edinburgh was just coming down from its festival high. I have been meaning to go the festival for the last five years, and it did not disappoint. Although it had been described to me many times, the magnitude of the event was still a surprise.

Anyone who is interested in the performing arts or counts the Avant-garde amongst their guilty pleasures, should make an effort to experience the festival.

Official Sites: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival

My Mecca

I have never seen so much cheese in one place.