joaoflux / digital / analog / culture

For the group show “New York, New York, New York - So nice we named it thrice” at Flux Factory in Queens artists had been invited to contribute works that were to be placed on a map of new york that is scaled to fit the exhibition space. When entering the space one could think that the installation was the work of one artist. Despite quite different approaches and aesthetic choices of each artists involved (who did not know what their “neighbors” would come up with) the individual works grow together in a way one rarely sees in group shows. This is of course due to the tight placement and because the map provides a formal frame. The result is quite inspiring and seems to be an appropriate way of dealing with a city.
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This morning I received a mail from Literaturwerkstatt containing a statement in which the Berlin literature hosts protest against all major town magazines and publications outsourcing their event calendars to one one company that will thus acquire a monopoly position. The publishers obviously don’t even feel that it is necessary to wait with using the newly formed cartel to put pressure on cultural organizers. Until now all of the publications (Zitty, Tip, Tagesspiegel, Berliner Zeitung, [030]) offered event notifications free, whereas now the are planning to charge a “service fee” starting at €400 per year.
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On the opening night of the international documentary festival in Amsterdam (idfa) I saw “Substitute” by Fred Poulet and Vikash Dhorasoo. The Film starts with Poulet explaining to Dhorasoo, a player of France’s 2006 national football team, how to operate a super 8 camera. During the world cup in Germany Dhorasoo gets little playtime and is getting quite frustrated. More than once in the film he sais “at least I making a movie”. The beautiful super 8 images along with almost shy self reflection of the protagonist make a great documentary. It contains more footage of hotel rooms, corridors and smuggling of film roles in and out of the hotel as well as discussing problems related to the making of the film itself via mobile phones during, than images of football matches or training.
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