The Detail it takes to Disappear

Below are a few images of Liu Bolin, a new contemporary artist to keep an eye out for. Bolin views his work as a protest against the dark side of a society that lets people disappear. He works with assistants and his project can involve standing still for hours on end. Despite previously having his studio closed by the Chinese government, he is currently working in Beijing.

Triangle Walks

Photo Source

View slide show here

I knew that I could get my hopes up for last nights Fever Ray gig in Kentish Town, when her music video made its way onto The Moment last week. Like the video suggests, the performance was haunting and unique. When I heard the album, I did not know what to expect, but I found the show fascinating.

The stage was speckled with old fashioned lamp shades which blinked with the music while lasers and mirrors attempted to take away from the headdresses adorning every member of the band. The entire space smelled of incense, the haze of smoke never lifted and the music is hugely sensational in its own right.

I will admit that my primary reason for going to see Fever Ray was because I am terrified The Knife will never tour again, but that is not giving Fever Ray enough credit, if you have an opportunity see them live, don't miss it.

Fever Ray - If I had a Heart [mp3]

Fever Ray- Triangle Walks (Tiga remix) [mp3]

The Knife- Hearbeats [zshare]

Please note: If anyone does not own the song hearbeats, it is a must download.

The Power of Portraits

Ever since I first studied art history, I have had a certain fascination with portraiture. The attempts and the successes produced when an artist captures a person in an image is always interesting to pick apart.

Richard Avedon spent five days in the UN photographing some the most powerful people in the world and the slide show of their images is not be missed. The article appears in this weeks New Yorker and slide show is available on the New Yorker Website.

Can you imagine if John Singer Sargent had the opportunity to paint Muammar Qaddafi? Maybe I should keep my portrait dreams to myself..

5 Years 2 Minutes 20 Seconds

Serge Gainsbourg - animation des graffitis sur 5 ans du mur rue de Verneuil

from Arnaud Jourdain on Vimeo

A short film of the layers of graffiti outside Serge Gainsbourg former home in Paris.

Dirty Songs for Sad Lovers

I bought the new The National album the week it came out, and I highly recommended it for anyone who is a fan of the indie group and/or Matt Berninger beautiful voice. While it is more dynamic than their previous albums, I still do not love Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers the way I love Boxer. However it should noted, that it may be my favorite album title of all time.

Start with this track and see it goes:

90 Mile Water Wall - The National [zshare]

So Long SHUNT

Its a sad day when the only club-art instillation hybrid in an abandoned train station closes. That day is today. With different artists and performers every evening, SHUNT was always an interesting place for a drink and was packed this past Thursday with the end so near.

In a city obsessed with guest lists and members clubs, the queue for SHUNT speaks to it's egalitarian door policy; it doesn't matter who you are, you have to be here before 11:00 and you have to wait to get in. Apparently the minds behind the magic are looking for a new venue, but its hard to say where another cavernous space exists that is just waiting to be filled with surprises around every dark corners.

SHUNT's front entrance in London Bridge train station

So long SHUNT

364 Days

"Once again they gave the worst job to a black man..."

One year tomorrow since the election, and the critiques are rolling in from all corners of the media. While Obama has managed some passing grades with expectations like his, there should have never have been a recession, right? Seeing as he has not actually been in office for one year, waiting until January for another round of report cards seems fair. And remember six years ago this time, the US had not 'occupied' Iraq for one year yet, and the only war Obama has started is on Fox News.