While you're not looking » Current Affairs

A tragic end to 2009

Wendy Cooper — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:18:32 +0000

It was a shock to discover that Rowland S. Howard died today. This is the man who shook the world with the song Shivers and it is what echoed in my head when I read about his lost battle with liver cancer at aged 50. It will be a sad end for the year, particularly hash for the local Melbourne music scene to loose such an inspiring talent. May Melbourne cried at the top of its lungs in his rememberance that “sends a permanent shivers down my spine”.

Source: Herald Sun

Nick Cave & Rowland S. Howard by Bleddyn Butcher

Bowlingual

Wendy Cooper — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:49:12 +0000

The international infant and children toy manufacturer, Takara Tomy, have released their improved version of Bowlingual. Believe it or not, it’s a device that translate the bow-wows of your dog into human language, so far only in Japanese. One part is strapped around like a dog collar to detect the vibrations of the dog’s larynx and the other, a hand held device, displays and vocalises the translated barks. My sceptical opinions remains only because there’s no chance of knowing the accuracy of this translator. Is that why it doesn’t translate Japanese back into the bow-wows? It would be an undemanding task for it already has the lexicon database. We could carefully annunciate our message into the hand held device, select the correct variants on the screen if there are any and it plays back the barking to the dog. Woof, Bob’s your uncle. And how would this product rate in Korea? Would we want to speak to our meal? And once Meowlingual, Oinklingual, Baalingual and Moolingual is out there, would we all become vegetarians?

The Bowlingual TVC

THE FLOATING WORLD: UKIYO-E

Wendy Cooper — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:30:29 +0000

John Warwicker of Tomato, a god of 90s graphic design, is launching his book at The Narrows this Thursday 26 November, 6-8pm. Floating World: Ukiyo-e (ISBN: 3–86521–030–9) is already a winner of the TDC judge’s special prize at the 2010 Tokyo Type Directors Club. Surprisingly, the typography is not as refine as the photography in my eyes. Check it out and judge it for yourself.

Polly van der Glas

Wendy Cooper — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:59:05 +0000

Speaking of Christmas and shopping for Jesus, I am in an ongoing annual annoyance (sorry, quest) of wracking my brain for unusual gifts for loved ones. Melbourne’s very own jolly jewellery Polly van der Glas comes to mind, an oldie but a goodie. Her pièce de résistance are the ones incorporating human artefact, opening up and replacing the glass cabinet with the human body. It conjures the same intrigue as taxidermy for me, bring life into inanimate objects, a modern alchemist.

The Tortured Brain

Wendy Cooper — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:36:56 +0000

A lucid article by Sharon Begley explaining why torture is not an effective way of retrieving information with a conclusion where the facts speak louder.

In what is probably a futile effort to avert a flood of pro-torture comments and e-mails, let me point out that whenever science learns something about the brain, it is always possible that the generalization fails to apply to some particular brains. Maybe the brains of Abu Zubaydah, who was waterboarded 83 times, and of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who was waterboarded 183 times, are different, and their torture elicited truthful information. Neuroscientists would very much like to see the evidence of that.

Source: Newsweek

Chinese retaliate by hacking

Wendy Cooper — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:27:49 +0000

It’s a busy time in Melbourne when MIFF hits the calendar. From here onwards the rest of the year is jammed pack with the arts. Someone whose also busy is the Chinese Government when they demanded the banning of the documentary made about exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer, The 10 Conditions of Love, from this year’s MIFF programme. This year’s Asian selection has suffered tremendously by the several last minute withdrawals. It is only understandable when you are part of the regime and there is no way of retaliating. But in the western world, we are not part of that hold and to remove a film for no just reason is simply not on. When the Chinese government did not get the response they desired they childishly sabotage the website early yesterday. What sort of statement are they making with all this trouble? This tantrum fit would only bring prominence to the film they so wish to dampen and forget.

Source: The Age

No Win Sitch

Wendy Cooper — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:54:09 +0000

Anthony Lister, a Sydney based artist, has taken his works out of the galleries and into the vibrant, red light district of Sydney with No Win Sitch. It features his finesse style that is reminiscent of early Bill Sienkiewicz’s flair such as my much loved Stray Toasters. Indeed, the venue is fitting to his subject matter and style — dirty, controversial and revealing.

Cepezed’s Colosseum

Wendy Cooper — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:31:33 +0000

A 10 hectares temporary theatre has been planned at the entrance of The Hague by Cepezed Architects. The structure is a clear vision of the Flavian amphitheatre/the Colosseum in Rome. It is to accommodate about 5,000 people and comprises of scaffolding enveloped in a renown local artist and mathematician M.C. Escher’s Metamorphosis.

Freitag Limited Art Edition 2009

Wendy Cooper — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:42:47 +0000

Freitag is offering a limited edition of their recycled bags made from art exhibition banners. At CHF 120 each, they are available from:
06.08.2009 TATE Modern, London
13.08.2009 MORI ART Museum, Tokyo
20.08.2009 PALAZZO GRASSI, Venice
27.08.2009 MoCA, Los Angeles

What an awesome idea and great to see the new range of laptop cases… but why on earth did you cancel your backpack range!

Colors of Money

Wendy Cooper — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:52:38 +0000

Colors of Money may not be the most innovative or imaginative curated exhibition but the global recession is a prevalent topic. Inspired by a recent issue of Colours, this Colours/Fabrica collaboration is a current exhibition at well-located EXPO_CarréRotondes of the wealthy capital Luxemburg.

Source: Fabrica