Dear all,
Happy new year and best wishes for 2009. Spent some time in Germany and Poland over the holidays and have much to say about both countries (impressive cultural scenes - both historical and recent). This is to come soon.
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Outside of UK Destination - Germany
Dear all,
Happy new year and best wishes for 2009. Spent some time in Germany and Poland over the holidays and have much to say about both countries (impressive cultural scenes - both historical and recent). This is to come soon.
Happy new year and best wishes for 2009. Spent some time in Germany and Poland over the holidays and have much to say about both countries (impressive cultural scenes - both historical and recent). This is to come soon.
Film / Movie - Gomorrah
Title: Gomorrah
Rating (out of 100): 90
Mood: contemplative, sad, tragic
Website: http://www.gomorrahmovie.co.uk/
Timeout / Culture Critic: http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/85793/Gomorrah.html / http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/cinema/gomorrah/
(Italian, with subtitles): Sort of reminds me of an Italian version of Boyz n the Hood showing the difficulties of growing up and living in a society where corruption and crime are so intrinsically tied to every aspect of life. This movie examines how life is in a society, where people are forced to make compromises yet struggle with the same emotions of all humans (the desire for self-preservation, family honour, and the ambition of youth). A fascinating, if scary and harrowing, study of several intertwined stories of various people in Italy and the choices they make when faced with such rules. Aside from the story line, which is dramatic and compelling, tragic and occasionally uplifting, the film is visually stunning. From the beginning sequence in the tanning booth to the sequence that is shot from above of a man walking through corpses, the film’s muted colours work. An overall depressing movie, but one that is very enlightening (especially the end of the movie that gives some statistics on organized crime in Italy as context).
Rating (out of 100): 90
Mood: contemplative, sad, tragic
Website: http://www.gomorrahmovie.co.uk/
Timeout / Culture Critic: http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/85793/Gomorrah.html / http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/cinema/gomorrah/
(Italian, with subtitles): Sort of reminds me of an Italian version of Boyz n the Hood showing the difficulties of growing up and living in a society where corruption and crime are so intrinsically tied to every aspect of life. This movie examines how life is in a society, where people are forced to make compromises yet struggle with the same emotions of all humans (the desire for self-preservation, family honour, and the ambition of youth). A fascinating, if scary and harrowing, study of several intertwined stories of various people in Italy and the choices they make when faced with such rules. Aside from the story line, which is dramatic and compelling, tragic and occasionally uplifting, the film is visually stunning. From the beginning sequence in the tanning booth to the sequence that is shot from above of a man walking through corpses, the film’s muted colours work. An overall depressing movie, but one that is very enlightening (especially the end of the movie that gives some statistics on organized crime in Italy as context).
Friday, 19 December 2008
Performance - Monkey Journey to the West
Title: Monkey Journey to the West
Rating (out of 100): 100
Mood: happy
Website: http://www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com/the-opera/
Timeout / Culture Critic: http://www.timeout.com/london/classical/event/121232/monkey-journey-to-the-west.html%20/ / http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/performance/monkey-journey-to-the-west-o2-london/
I saw this show during the summer in London’s Royal Opera House as part of the special performances related to the Beijing Olympics. I was blown away. It is one of these shows that is difficult to classify as it includes various acrobatics, martial arts, rope dancing as well as incorporating a wide range of music – from Chinese opera to modern house / funk and visuals (animation, video projection). The show is quite a spectacular example of the old cliché of East meeting West and it is funny and interesting and engaging. It is based on one of the old Chinese tails about the Monkey King and his journeys as well as the characters that he meets along the way. Completely sung in Chinese (Mandarin), there are surtitles in English that help the English speakers in the audience follow the story. The show combines the efforts of some heavy hitters in their own fields and geographies and it shows – it is a great collaboration of talent. Overall a very entertaining and incredibly unique show that is a must see. Having been popularly received, it is now enjoying an extended run in the O2.
Rating (out of 100): 100
Mood: happy
Website: http://www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com/the-opera/
Timeout / Culture Critic: http://www.timeout.com/london/classical/event/121232/monkey-journey-to-the-west.html%20/ / http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/performance/monkey-journey-to-the-west-o2-london/
I saw this show during the summer in London’s Royal Opera House as part of the special performances related to the Beijing Olympics. I was blown away. It is one of these shows that is difficult to classify as it includes various acrobatics, martial arts, rope dancing as well as incorporating a wide range of music – from Chinese opera to modern house / funk and visuals (animation, video projection). The show is quite a spectacular example of the old cliché of East meeting West and it is funny and interesting and engaging. It is based on one of the old Chinese tails about the Monkey King and his journeys as well as the characters that he meets along the way. Completely sung in Chinese (Mandarin), there are surtitles in English that help the English speakers in the audience follow the story. The show combines the efforts of some heavy hitters in their own fields and geographies and it shows – it is a great collaboration of talent. Overall a very entertaining and incredibly unique show that is a must see. Having been popularly received, it is now enjoying an extended run in the O2.
Film / Movie - Nordwand (North Face)
Title: Nordwand (North Face)
Rating (out of 100): 60
Mood: contemplative, sad, introspective
Website: http://www.odeon.co.uk/fanatic/film_info/s117/Panton_St/m11883/North_Face/
Timeout / Culture Critic: http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/86376/north-face.html / http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/cinema/north-face/
(German, with subtitles): Set in the historical context of a Germany ruled by Hitler, and based on real-life events, the movie focuses on the attempts of several climbers to conquer the north face of the Eiger - one of the most difficult (and previously unclimbed) parts of the mountain. The movie also examines the sacrifices (personal, professional) that people make in the fight for glory, whether it is the climbers, or a journalist or a photojournalist in the making. Overall, the movie is beautiful showing vast expansive mountain ranges that take your breath away. There are even some comedic moments in the early part, but the movie really takes off with the start of the actual climb. That is where you see the personal struggle within each person about what they want to achieve in life and what sacrifices they are willing to make. Overall, the movie was relatively interesting and engaging. I thought the additional element of the film (the journalist and photojournalist in the making) added to the story, rather than detracted from it. But for some reason, I couldn’t get so emotionally invested in the film. Somehow, I felt as if the audience was being kept at a distance. Without giving too much away, the movie was a bit of a downer despite the attempt to create a happy ending. All in all a decent movie, but not one of the best I’ve seen of this genre. For a mountain-type movie, some of the other movies that have been release in the past were much more beautiful.
Rating (out of 100): 60
Mood: contemplative, sad, introspective
Website: http://www.odeon.co.uk/fanatic/film_info/s117/Panton_St/m11883/North_Face/
Timeout / Culture Critic: http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/86376/north-face.html / http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/cinema/north-face/
(German, with subtitles): Set in the historical context of a Germany ruled by Hitler, and based on real-life events, the movie focuses on the attempts of several climbers to conquer the north face of the Eiger - one of the most difficult (and previously unclimbed) parts of the mountain. The movie also examines the sacrifices (personal, professional) that people make in the fight for glory, whether it is the climbers, or a journalist or a photojournalist in the making. Overall, the movie is beautiful showing vast expansive mountain ranges that take your breath away. There are even some comedic moments in the early part, but the movie really takes off with the start of the actual climb. That is where you see the personal struggle within each person about what they want to achieve in life and what sacrifices they are willing to make. Overall, the movie was relatively interesting and engaging. I thought the additional element of the film (the journalist and photojournalist in the making) added to the story, rather than detracted from it. But for some reason, I couldn’t get so emotionally invested in the film. Somehow, I felt as if the audience was being kept at a distance. Without giving too much away, the movie was a bit of a downer despite the attempt to create a happy ending. All in all a decent movie, but not one of the best I’ve seen of this genre. For a mountain-type movie, some of the other movies that have been release in the past were much more beautiful.
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Art - Museums - Barbican - Frequency and Volume (Rafael Lozano-Hemmer)
Title: Barbican – Frequency and Volume (Rafael Lozano-Hemmer)
Rating (out of 100): 80
Mood: childlike, exploratory, curious
Website: http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?id=7879
Timeout / Culture Critic: http://www.timeout.com/london/art/event/9218/robert-capa.html / na
Barbican (Curve Gallery) - Frequency and Volume: The Curve gallery is a unique space in the Barbican, which is in the shape of a giant curve. By its very nature, it often is the place for some rather unique installations. The current multimedia installation by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is no exception. Using his education background in Physical Chemistry, Lozano-Hemmer focuses on how technology surrounds us (even when it is invisible) in modern day and how often we are giving up our privacy as a result. I have to admit, at first, I was a bit prejudiced against the show. I saw a bunch of projections and a huge long leaflet explaining the show and the artist’s background and thought to myself, “Here we go again, another set of so called art that takes longer to explain than appreciate.” I often find that the longer something is explained, the more its energy and interest is sucked out of it. But I was wrong. Upon walking in, you realize that you hear multiple sounds simultaneously from various broadcasts and radio stations and other frequencies (some with good reception and some not). What is unique is how the artist engages the audience to not just be a passive viewer in the exhibition but to create their own visual and auditory experience. Each viewer is able to create various shadows (which correspond to different sounds captured on the frequencies) as he/she walks around the exhibition. While the “wow” factor wears off after a few minutes, it is an interesting idea and a novel way to urge the viewer to participate in the show. Overall, some very interesting work.
Rating (out of 100): 80
Mood: childlike, exploratory, curious
Website: http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?id=7879
Timeout / Culture Critic: http://www.timeout.com/london/art/event/9218/robert-capa.html / na
Barbican (Curve Gallery) - Frequency and Volume: The Curve gallery is a unique space in the Barbican, which is in the shape of a giant curve. By its very nature, it often is the place for some rather unique installations. The current multimedia installation by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is no exception. Using his education background in Physical Chemistry, Lozano-Hemmer focuses on how technology surrounds us (even when it is invisible) in modern day and how often we are giving up our privacy as a result. I have to admit, at first, I was a bit prejudiced against the show. I saw a bunch of projections and a huge long leaflet explaining the show and the artist’s background and thought to myself, “Here we go again, another set of so called art that takes longer to explain than appreciate.” I often find that the longer something is explained, the more its energy and interest is sucked out of it. But I was wrong. Upon walking in, you realize that you hear multiple sounds simultaneously from various broadcasts and radio stations and other frequencies (some with good reception and some not). What is unique is how the artist engages the audience to not just be a passive viewer in the exhibition but to create their own visual and auditory experience. Each viewer is able to create various shadows (which correspond to different sounds captured on the frequencies) as he/she walks around the exhibition. While the “wow” factor wears off after a few minutes, it is an interesting idea and a novel way to urge the viewer to participate in the show. Overall, some very interesting work.
Art - Museums - Barbican - Robert Capa & Gerda Taro
Title: Barbican - This is War! (Robert Capa at work) & Gerda Taro (a retrospective)
Rating (out of 100): 60
Mood: depressing, sad, introspective, weighed down by history and war
Website: http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?ID=8029
Timeout / Culture Critic: http://www.timeout.com/london/art/event/9218/robert-capa.html / na
Barbican: This is War! (Robert Capa at work) & Gerda Taro a retrospective (Gallery Level 3): The show presents black and white photographs of wartime and conflicts from Robert Capa (one of the pre-eminent wartime photojournalists) and Gerda Taro (the first female photographer working on the frontline, who was unfortunately killed in action). Covering various conflicts, from Spain, to China and Germany from 1936 – 1945, the photos are probably more interesting for a true student of history. Or somebody who is perhaps older and may have a personal connection with some of these events. Otherwise, from strictly an aesthetic viewpoint, the photos get old really quickly (how many relatively small military photos can you look at). And of course, some of the shots are impressive in terms of how close the photographers must have been to the action to take them, but still, aside from that, strictly as a visual medium, I didn’t find them all that fascinating. The ones that I did find the most interesting were Capa’s Refugees from Barcelona, showing the suffering of the aftermath of conflict (no guns, no blood, just a lot of emotional and physical pain). At the Capa show, there are several quotes (presumably his) painted on the walls to provide some insight into the photojournalist’s mind. The one that struck me the most is not the most often quoted one about how you have to get closer to the action, but rather the one about the range of emotions in war – “In a war, you must hate somebody or love somebody; you must have a position or you cannot stand what goes on.” Some of Gerda Taro’s photos showing close-ups of civilians in war-time (children eating, etc.) were also interesting although her work only takes up a couple of rooms. Overall, not the most interesting of shows and definitely you must be really into war-time photography and perhaps know the full context of history for this to be very interesting. For the average viewer, probably not worth the visit.
Rating (out of 100): 60
Mood: depressing, sad, introspective, weighed down by history and war
Website: http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?ID=8029
Timeout / Culture Critic: http://www.timeout.com/london/art/event/9218/robert-capa.html / na
Barbican: This is War! (Robert Capa at work) & Gerda Taro a retrospective (Gallery Level 3): The show presents black and white photographs of wartime and conflicts from Robert Capa (one of the pre-eminent wartime photojournalists) and Gerda Taro (the first female photographer working on the frontline, who was unfortunately killed in action). Covering various conflicts, from Spain, to China and Germany from 1936 – 1945, the photos are probably more interesting for a true student of history. Or somebody who is perhaps older and may have a personal connection with some of these events. Otherwise, from strictly an aesthetic viewpoint, the photos get old really quickly (how many relatively small military photos can you look at). And of course, some of the shots are impressive in terms of how close the photographers must have been to the action to take them, but still, aside from that, strictly as a visual medium, I didn’t find them all that fascinating. The ones that I did find the most interesting were Capa’s Refugees from Barcelona, showing the suffering of the aftermath of conflict (no guns, no blood, just a lot of emotional and physical pain). At the Capa show, there are several quotes (presumably his) painted on the walls to provide some insight into the photojournalist’s mind. The one that struck me the most is not the most often quoted one about how you have to get closer to the action, but rather the one about the range of emotions in war – “In a war, you must hate somebody or love somebody; you must have a position or you cannot stand what goes on.” Some of Gerda Taro’s photos showing close-ups of civilians in war-time (children eating, etc.) were also interesting although her work only takes up a couple of rooms. Overall, not the most interesting of shows and definitely you must be really into war-time photography and perhaps know the full context of history for this to be very interesting. For the average viewer, probably not worth the visit.
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