rodchenko & popova: defining constructivism

rodchenko & popova: defining constructivism 12.02.2009 - 17.05.2009 tate modern london uk the russian revolution was accompanied by a remarkable period of artistic experiment known as constructivism, which questioned the fundamental properties of art and asked what its place should be in a new society. the constructivists challenged the idea of the work of art as a unique commodity, explored more collective ways of working, and looked at how they could contribute to everyday life through design, architecture, industrial production, theatre and film. liubov popova (1889-1924) and aleksandr rodchenko (1891-1956) were pivotal figures in the debates and discussions that defined constructivism. rodchenko, whose wife varvara stepanova was a major artist in her own right, energetically embraced almost all of its manifestations, from advertising to photography and film. popova's achievements in painting, theatre, and graphic and textile design took place in spite of ill health and tragedy: her husband died of typhoid in 1919, and she spent a year recuperating from the illness herself. in 1924 she and her son both died of scarlet fever. the constructivists compared the artist to an engineer, arranging materials scientifically and objectively, and producing art works as rationally as any other manufactured object. This was, in theory, an art that transcended gender differences. the equality of the sexes was an important communist principle, and this was one of the first periods in history when female artists were valued as highly as their male counterparts.

le corbusier: the art of architecture

le corbusier: the art of architecture 19.02.2009 - 24.05.2009 barbican art gallery london uk le corbusier (1887-1965), widely acclaimed as the most influential architect of the 20th century, was also a celebrated thinker, writer and artist - a multi-faceted ‘renaissance man’. His architecture and radical ideas for reinventing modern living, from private villas to large scale social housing to utopian urban plans, still resonate today. le corbusier — the art of architecture is the first major survey in london of the internationally renowned architect in more than 20 years. this timely reassessment presents a wealth of original architectural models, interior reconstructions, drawings, furniture, vintage photographs, films, tapestries, paintings, sculpture and books by le corbusier himself. it also features important works by his collaborators and artistic contemporaries such as charlotte perriand, jean prouvé, fernand léger and amédée ozenfant. the exhibition charts how le corbusier’s work changed dramatically over the years; from his early houses inspired by the regional vernacular of his native switzerland, the iconic purist architecture and interiors for which he is best known, his master plan for Paris in the 1920s, the shift to organic forms in the 1930s, and the dynamic synthesis achieved between his art and architecture as exemplified by his chapel at Ronchamp (1950-55), and his civic buildings in chandigarh, india (1952-64). highlights include a monumental mural painting, femme et coquillage IV (1948) from his own office at rues de sèvres, paris; a reconstruction of his plan voisin for paris (1925); a complete original kitchen by le corbusier and charlotte perriand from his famous Unité d’habitation, marseille (1947-50); original models of ronchamp (1950-55), unité d’habitation (1945-52), parliament building chandigarh (1951-64) amongst others; and the film version of le corbusier and edgard varèse’s poème electronique (1958). as europe’s leading arts centre, barbican’s celebration of le corbusier highlights this connection between the arts with a full programme of concerts, films and talks to accompany the exhibition, including a day presented by the bbc symphony orchestra dedicated to the composer iannis xenakis who worked as an architect in le corbusier’s studio. the exhibition also offers a unique opportunity to see the influence of le corbusier’s architecture and ideas on the barbican complex, designed by chamberlin, powell and bonn in the late 1950s.

eclipse: art in a dark age

eclipse: art in a dark age moderna museet stockholm sweden eclipse, a darkening of the sun, describes both a situation in society where many of the ideals of the enlightenment appear to be abandoned – and an artistic approach. the artists in this exhibition of international contemporary art share a lack of faith in a didactically enlightening culture; hence the metaphor in the title. the artists in eclipse work with installation, sculpture, performance, video projection and painting, exploring and portraying fields that are irrational, dark or politically incorrect. several of them have a fascination for the absurd sides of life, resulting in refreshingly humorous works. Existential issues concerning the conditions of mankind are the starting-point. magnus af petersens, curator, moderna museet: “eclipse is both a statement and a question about art today. if artists in the 90s were preoccupied with reality, a stance that could be expressed, for instance, in documentary strategies and relational aesthetics, many artists today are more interested in speculation, in reflecting the incomprehensible. it may sound drastic to say that we are living in a dark age. but after 11 september, in an era of political upheaval, we are seeing a rise in intolerance. the exhibition highlights art that is not political in a simplistic way, but asserts its right to say the wrong thing, art that uses the license of fiction to experiment.” in conjunction with the exhibition, a catalogue will be published, with essays by magnus af petersens, ins – international necronautical society, and others. the ins essay, written by the group’s general secretary tom mccarthy, will also form part of their work shown in eclipse.

julian schnabel

julian schnabel: the conscious gaze of frightened young nuns museum of contemporary art kiasma helsinki finland the debut exhibition by julian schnabel (b. 1951) at the mary boone gallery in new york in 1979 was a sensation which overnight transformed him from an unknown restaurant chef to one of the most sought-after stars of the art world. he became a controversial icon of 1980s american art; a bad boy and ‘enfant terrible' of the new york art scene, maligned by critics and loved by collectors, who was renowned as much for the huge size of his works as for his eccentric personality. exhibited in the contemporary art museum kiasma is a retrospective of the works from 1980s to this day from the productive artist. julian schnabel created his early works of unusual materials, filling vast water-tight tarpaulins with objects added into thick paint layers: with broken dishes or hand-picked, aged "things" with their own history. the calm and even ascetic visual language of his newer works is a complete opposite to these "plate paintings". julian schnabel considers himself to be a painter, irrespective of what technique he is using. also a successful film director, he has said that he will use any tools in order to be able to express his own desires. In 1995, schnabel wrote and directed the film Basquiat, and, after this success, two more films, before night falls (1999) and the diving bell and the butterfly (2007). for the latter, he has won the award for best director at the 2007 cannes film festival and the golden globe award for best director in 2008. The film has also been nominated for four oscars in 2008!

krazy baldhead 'the b-suite'

krazy baldhead

'the b-suite' album
release : april 29, 2009
label : ed banger records





01: 1st movement part 1
02: 1st movement part 2
03: 1st movement part 3
04: 1st movement part 4
05: 2nd movement part 1
06: 2nd movement part 2 (aka "time" feat. tes)
07: 2nd movement part 3
08: 2nd movement part 4
09: 3rd movement part 1 (aka "katana powa" feat. big-o & yulia)
10: 3rd movement part 2
11: 3rd movement part 3 (aka "sweet night" feat. outlines)
12: 4th movement part 1
13: 4th movement part 2 (aka "saturnication")
14: 4th movement part 3
15: 4th movement part 4
16: 4th movement part 5 (aka "the end" feat. beat assaillant)