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WWW.DORIVARGA.COM
Dearest followers! This blog is shutting down. From now on, you can follow my work through my website: www.dorivarga.com and a new tumblr for only pictures from artists I discover and follow: peachykool.tumblr.com You can find me on Facebook where you can follow me on a daily basis: https://www.facebook.com/DoriVargaCollection?ref=hl Also on Instagram @dori_vrg l o v e • d o r i
Pictures from the past are so sweet to look at! The one with me was taken at the vernissage of "Rock Alive in Budapest | Behind the Scenes Retrospective", an exhibition I organized for photographer, Enikő Balla in 2011. Enikő and I for a few months were following 6 bands of the Hungarian alternative rock scene to finally show their best moments through her photos. The event was opened by one of the most cardinal members of thi scene in Budapest: Zoltan Jakab, founder of Ascension 46 management company. The purpose of the event was to reach the audience that would most likely not happen to be at a concert like any of there presented, and with that, bringing the message of alternative thinking into a mainstream venue. The presented photos were part of the exhibition - are Enikő's works.
KUNSTBLITZ people: How have you been?
It has been a bit over two months now that I left Berlin. Almost as long as KUNSTBLITZ existed on Wiener Strasse by the popular Görlitzer Park.
We can look at time in many ways. We can perceive time differently according to our current emotional and mental state. When I think of Berlin and KUNSTBLITZ, I feel like it’s been way too long ago when I was there last. I miss the energies of our artist community, the vibe of our events, the power we had when we belonged with each other. There’s not a day passing by without me thinking of at least one of those sweet creative minds, while looking through works and interviews. To some of them KUNSTBLITZ meant the starting point of their career, having their very first solo show in that space. These artists I met in Berlin this year are intelligent, sensitive, have great sense of humor, but most importantly: talented. And I want the whole world to know! So getting one step closer to world fame (!) this time I did a little research on what happened to these lovely creatures during the past ten weeks…
Artists interviewed:
Ana Bathe • Serbian-Canadian photographer
Santiago Cruz • painter from Panama
Sofie Engström von Alten • American fine artist
Adela Holmes • German photographer
Marc Hönninger • Peruvian musician
Cris Koch • German mixed-media and performance artist
Kajsa Lorentzon • Swedish photographer
Danielle Malka • photographer from Israel
•• CURRENT PROJECTS •• Ana Bathe • My latest project is titled ‘Recognize Me’ and it deals with the current homophobic wave that has taken over Russia. Androgynous in nature, it will feature a mix of self-portraits as well as portraits of people from various backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations.
Adela Holmes • So you know I always collect new photography for my project 'Hattie's Capricious World'. That's an ongoing thing. But as I landed in Miami in September, and met with my favorite artists and friends Barry Gross and Anja Marais, we decited to work on a project together and exhibit it at the Barry Gross Gallery in March. This project is at a very early stage, but it will be another narrative work with text and images.
Santiago Cruz • I can't help but work in themes and variations. At KUNSTBLITZ the three main pieces were Pegasus, Jacob Battles Angel, and Portobello. I knew that if this were a piano, I'd been hitting the high notes - saturated in high chromatic pitches and some ethereal spaces. So it felt inevitable that the three paintings I'm working on at the moment are color-wise on the other end of that piano - heavier notes. They each echo the themes and motifs in Pegasus, Jacob, and Portobello but also their compositions are pulled inside-out, inversed, imploded. With all I try to keep them as luscious as oils can be. Beside of them I've been doing many drawings on paper that takes charcoal like butter. Also have my eye on six off-kilter portraits.
'Neptune' in progress Kajsa Lorentzon • After one and a half amazing years in Berlin I decided to move back home to Stockholm for a while. I need to study photography now, and decide if photography really is my future. Been back since a month now and I’m happy to tell you that I'm getting closer to an answer. Right now I study full time at Berghs School of Communication. It´s very intensive: I’m taking shitload of pictures and building amazing contacts. There’s this one big project I’m taking part of during the whole semester. It’s called ‘Stockholm Stad’ (Stockholm City). We basically have to present the city through our pictures. Im both excited and stressed about this one. I’ve never done anything like this before. In the end of the course we are going to show these pictures in an exhibition. This is our final project. Besides that we have many smaller project for example taking photos in the dark - that is so fucking hard! So basically I’m focusing on learning the secrets of photography, finding my own style, and in the process of all this I also keep bumping into questions to myself about who I am and where I’m going. Exciting times!
Cris Koch • The Army of my project ‘Kunstschutz – Army for Art + Shelter’ kept growing the last months. Especially last weekend during the exhibition "WOMÖGLICH" (more about see below) I shot around 20 artist in front of their works.
Sofie Engström von Alten • I have started many new projects. I am currently working at Platoon Kunsthalle as a photography intern. You can see some of my photos on my Flickr blog! I am also painting a LOT! I have a few photos on my Tumblr. More to come! Unfortunately though, most of the paintings are murals and so they cannot travel anywhere, forever locked in Berlin...
Marc Hönninger • I'm proud to announce that my last album 'Little Choir' was released just a week ago! Very exciting! Other than that, I have been working a lot on designing my own programs for designing sounds, composing music with numbers, and designing devices for visuals. I plan to use one of the programs for my next live show, which consist of a webcam pointing at the audience and through some interactive effects the colors change as well as some freezing effects, columns and a bit of zoom, all depending on the loudness of the music, the crowd, and projecting this onto the wall. •• EXHIBITIONS SINCE KUNSTBLITZ AND IN THE FUTURE •• Sofie Engström von Alten • I will be exhibiting soon, in the Pop-Up Gallery Berlin, in Schöneberg! And hopefully many more after that! Adela Holmes • A few of my works are at the DiNello Gallery in Charleston (South Carolina, USA). It's a new gallery run by my long time friends Laura and Caleigh DiNello (mother and daughter). It's pretty cool because Charleston (being such a southern small town) has an abundance of very typical southern artwork such as landscapes and marshes. The DiNello Gallery has very different art though, which is fresh to the audience. I spent almost two weeks working with Caleigh, and noticed how many compliments the gallery receives, and how much excitement this gallery has stirred in Charleston. It's only been open for 6 months, but it's already a huge success. Laura is forever a rocking lady. Danielle Malka • I take part in a group exhibition in New York called ‘FEMME - Worldwide yearbook for feminist photography’, organized by The Collective & the Collection, opening on the 7th of December. The Collective & the Collection is a project born in 2006 in Madrid, Spain. Its central idea and development scheme are based in horizontal exchange of works (especially photography) between artists from all over the world who wish to participate. In the same way, it involves the creation of communication bridges between various artists who pass to be united by a dialogue and a reality, embodied in their works. Most artists are from the internet community of flickr. Until October/2011 the collection has near 400 works from countries like China, Iran, Slovakia, Iceland and Cuba. Cris Koch • Beginning September Roger Waters from Pink Floyd came to the East Side Gallery. He held a speech there for keeping the Berlin Wall up. For this occasion I repeated my performance 'Mauerschutz'.
I also continue with my spoken-word performance I started at KUNSTBLITZ. So far I repeated it on two occasions: Mid-September I performed at Tiger im Fenster, a studiospace run by three photographers who opened their space during Nacht der Bilder.
Photo taken by me at Cris' first performance at KUNSTBLITZ.
I also performed at the opening of the exhibiton 'WOMÖGLICH' (Possibly) in the basement bar. More perfomances will follow in the near future.
The exhibiton 'WOMÖGLICH' I take part of, takes place between Nürnberg and Fürth, in an old abandoned house. Reiner Bergmann, a sculptor and lyrical artist lives and works in the ground floor. The three upper floors are empty since about two years. Bergmann uses the whole ground floor, more than a dozen rooms including studio, meeting room, cinema, bar, private rooms and show rooms filled with objects he made in several decades. 65 artists got invited to show on 3 floors in 18 appartements, dozens of rooms like former kitchens, living and bedrooms, bathrooms and so on. Many are still originally furnitured, mostly in 80's style. My installation will remain there, along with a lot of other artists works (wall paintings, installed pieces). The whole building is a growing art complex while it's future is still uncertain. Ana Bathe • I’ve had two exhibitions at Pop-up Art Gallery Berlin, as well as another group show in the same area. There’s also a lot to look forward to: the Pop-Up Art Gallery Berlin will show my works through two other shows. One on the 18th of this month, and another one on the 8th of November where my friend, Cris Koch will also show some of his pieces.
•• ARE YOU STILL IN BERLIN? •• Adela Holmes • Not quite. I’m back in the States for a while. I'm in Berlin periodically. My parents live there and are getting older so I am trying to help out as much as I can. While I'm in Berlin I get involved with art projects. I am so happy to have been part of KUNSTBITZ this summer.
Danielle Malka • After the show I came back home to Israel to spend time with my family and friends. This is where I work now. I will be back in Berlin from December.
•• COLLABORATIONS •• Kajsa Lorentzon • My latest works are on my blog. Series of my friends in different situations – I love shooting with models in cool environments! Between them you find the one we already had an interview on, the ‘Internal Combustion’ series I did for Hermione Flynn Design. Ana Bathe • I have been lucky enough to meet heaps of wonderful artists through the gallery in Schöneberg and some collaborations are in the works. I also met a great artist John A Lowther through deviantArt who painted one of my photographs. He is a great artist and a wonderful human being.
Sofie Engström von Alten • I recently collaborated with Oliver Ajkovick, photographer. Editing is in progress, but some photos you can already see on Oliver's Facebook!
Oliver Ajkovic by Sofie
Sofie by Oliver Ajkovic
Cris Koch • Parachute-Helmet – Photoshoot by Ana Bathe
For the 'WOMÖGLICH' exhibit, I constructed a new helmet. Firstly it is colored in "Security Camouflage" to be more safe, secondly it has two handles - so in case of an emergency you can hold onto your helmet. The helmet basically is dressed up in a kind of parachute. We did a photo-series with Ana Bathe in an old abandoned factory in Kreuzberg for celebrating this new invention.
•• PUBLICATIONS ••
Ana Bathe • I had a little interview published by an Astrum People. I have previously been interviewed by them and they offered to keep publishing my work on their website, which is amazing. Thank you, Astrum People!
Adela Holmes • Every year so far I have been part of this really cool publication from London Day Four. Fiona, the publisher is just finishing up this year's issue and it will be printed very soon. Right now it still has last years issue on the website which I am also part of. Check it out! •• PLANS FOR THE FUTURE ••
Ana Bathe • I have so many plans! My main goal is to continue on with the current ‘Recognize me ‘ series, and to have these works exhibited some time next year. Hopefully as a part of a solo show!
Adela Holmes • To be happy, to work really hard, and to find solace.
Santiago Cruz • Painting is alchemy, after the academy in Florence, experiments/travels, and the labyrinths of Berlin I keep building the pace, but my space is getting full! So I'm looking forward to a larger studio space in December to drop bombs in for Berlin and Panama in the spring. We’ll see!
’Bohém Jam Nights' in Budapest
With last week, a strong and passionate initiative was born in Budapest at Retox Bar: the ’Bohém Jam Night’. From now on, musicians have a day on each week, dedicated for jamming together on a small stage in front of an audience. The idea came from Antonia Vai and the young Hungarian gypsy-punk band the Bohemian Betyars, who are working closely together in the past few months. This time I asked Antonia and Levente Szűcs (singer of the Bohemian Betyars) about the past, the future, but mainly this interesting international musician-community they are building together in Budapest. DV: How and when did you meet each other? LSZ: Well, as I remember, the story started with a Bohemian gig. We were on the stage, Antonia was on the dancefloor, then we talked, got drunk and jammed together. AV: Yes! So I moved to Budapest in April, but was a huge fan of the Bohemian Betyars before this. I had seen them play on A38 a half-year before, and got completely blown away. I fell in love with their music and everything they do live. Their endless energy, charisma and brilliant madness. I had seen nothing like it. So when I moved to Hungary, I celebrated my birthday by going on one of their gigs again, and since we also have a lot of mutual friends, we ended up after-partying together. LSZ: A few weeks later SHE was on the stage, and we were on the dancefloor, amazed by her incredible talent and the mood she created. As it turns out, both of us became a fan of each other’s music. So we got drunk and jammed much more often.
AV: Oh my! When I was playing that one time at Szimpla Kert, and the Betyars came to see my show, and they told me how much they liked it... You can imagine how flattered I was! The cover idea of my song 'Don't let the bedbugs bite' was like a little dream coming true to me. I've always seen the potential in that song, and had a secret wish to be accompanied by a gypsy-punk band like them, and really act out all the drama and passion that this song means to me. I was overly excited. One rehearsal later, we played it together for the first time at Volt Festival. Realizing the great response and how fun it was, we kept on playing it live. The guys also recorded their third album this summer, live at Tilos Radio. I was there, so we recorded my song too. It's now featured on the album. I am very thankful that I met them. They are not only brilliant musicians, but the most adorable, warm-hearted people. So the collaborations will not stop here... There are exciting things coming up, so keep your eyes and ears open. DV: What is the 'Bohém Jam Night'? How did you come up with the idea? LSZ: We just wanted a place, where we are not disturbed by the neighbours. AV: Well it has a more interesting story to it than just making it this easy! In July, the Bohemian Betyars did a street music tour around Europe. When they played at Iboga Festival in Javea, they met a Spanish band called "Swingdigentes”. So a few weeks after, these guys came to Budapest for a few gigs, and we decided to all meet up for a huge jam. But we thought: what about doing it in a public space? This could actually be something spectacular and interesting for people. You know, a jam is all about energies and vibes.
Levente and Antonia at the first Bohém Jam Night LSZ: The wish developed, and settled in the Retox Bar, where we can play on a stage in a friendly atmosphere. Moreover, due to the audience we got a kind of „concert pressure” what makes the feeling much better than a rehearsal room. AV: It was epic! Imagine fifteen really talented musicians playing together in a room… After this night, the managers of the place suggested we could do this every second Tuesday. Always inviting different musicians, or sometimes just ourselves, and see what happens. It's a little experiment that everybody can join in on. I also believe it's interesting for an audience to see musicians play without putting on a show. If you go on an Antonia Vai concert, or a Bohemian Betyars concert, you get full songs and ready, rehearsed material. The bigger the show, the bigger the alter egos. But on a night like this, there's no show. You will hear music that happens in the moment, that no one will ever hear again. Spontaneous and unplanned. I think that's very liberating. DV: Why do you think happenings like this are important? LSZ: Because it is not a show. No playlists or time schedule . Somebody just starts playing something and hits or misses. It’s so important not to loose the joy of free music! AV: Exactly! To get together and play, without any expectations, just for the sake of playing and experimenting. I also encourage anyone to join in; clap, scream, request, react. Give us ideas on what to jam about, or what style to go. It's all about forgetting "do's and dont's", where the vibe is created together with everyone in the room. It's all about listening and interacting, and not worrying about where or how it will end up. DV: Is there similar programs in the Budapest-scene? AV: I know Szimpla Kert does jam nights on Sundays, but I've never managed to go on one... I'm sure there are nights like this every here and there. What I've taken part of personally, is open mic nights. That's a lot of fun too, but it's different. That means you sign up for a song and get on, one person or one band at a time. What we do at Retox, is the same thing we do when we meet in someone's flat on a random night and play. If you're always surrounded by musicians, these nights happen a lot. But there's rarely other people there to hear it, besides from us. This is like sneaking "behind the scenes". These jam nights are free for anyone who wants to join as a musician or just listening and enjoying the sound of creativity. Every second Tuesday from 7pm at Retox Bar, Budapest!
Internal Combustion
I feel like I always become the biggest fan of particular creations - especially when they’re coming from the artists I’m supporting..: A couple of months ago a magical collaborative piece‘INTERNAL COMBUSTION’ was born in Berlin between Swedish photographer Kajsa Lorentzon, and one of my latest interviewee Hermione Flynn, designer and performance artist from New Zaeland. If you’ve been following me you saw that I’ve been posting hints of this photo series on my Facebook page, mostly admiring the beauty of the muse, and Kajsa’s fabulous talent of the way of capturing. Since then I set one of these pictures as the background picture of my phone, This time I asked both of the girls about the experience. DV: How did you two meet each other? KL: We met through my best friend, Olga Grönvall Lund, who began interning with Hermione months before. HF: I was on the hunt for a photographer to shoot my SS14 lookbook at the time, and Olga recommended Kajsa. Of course I already knew her work because I had seen all the glorious photographs she had taken of Olga - an obvious muse of Kajsa's. A muse we now share!
DV: What do you think of each other's creative work? KL: I was so impressed when I saw Hermonie’s collection the first time. Every single piece is amazing! I want them all! It’s clear that she puts a lot of work, thoughts and love to her creations. I also admire her as a performance artist. How she can mix beautiful movements and high fashion together. Very inspiring! HF: Kajsa is very organic in her creative process - which I admire. I'm more likely to over-think or intellectualize what I'm creating, but Kajsa calmly rides the creative wave, capturing moments as they naturally arise and fall. Her work is very un-forced, which is ideal for a photographer. She has an air about her, which exudes patience and acceptance, so her subject can naturally unfold before her with no pressure or judgment. This installs faith in me as a collaborator, as I have every confidence that she will not only capture the moment, but will do so with honesty.
DV: How did the idea of the collaboration born? HF: I think the collaboration came about very naturally. KL: Yes… We were drunk! HaHa!
HF: Well yes... We were socializing together a lot at the time, and we both had something to offer one another creatively, so it seemed totally natural (and a fun idea) to create a piece of work together. KL: It was obvious that we should do something together. The whole project was Hermonie’s idea and I was certainly up to it!
DV: What is 'INTERNAL COMBUSTION'? HF: INTERNAL COMBUSTION is about contained energy. We wanted to almost turn the concept of "energy" into something you could physically see - hence the use of exploding glitter and confetti. Yet the work was also about containing that chaos within the four walls of a room, or even within the body. When we began I had a very specific vision of the model: opening her lips and exposing a mouthful of glitter - like her body was containing all this intensely shiney, busy, loud, chaos. It's a physicalization of that feeling where you have so much emotional energy inside of your body that you just want to explode!
DV: Why do you think collaborations are important? KL: Everyone thinks differently about everything. Together we can create so much more. It’s all about different perspectives! Personally I definitely have much more fun working together with other creatives. When you have fun it shows in the work you are doing. HF: Yes. Also, collaborations are important because they force you out of your comfort zone. Although discovering your independent artistic voice is important, as soon as your process becomes too formulaic or reliable it is the precise moment to introduce a collaborator. Someone who forces you to reconsider your work or process in a new light. My Mum used to always say "Necessity is the mother of invention" – meaning: as soon as you are faced with a limitation, it is creativity that enables you to survive. Not saying that collaborators are limitations, more that when facing an opposing vision, your ability for creative thinking is challenged, often producing work, which is more surprising and unique.
Click to see more of the series: On Kajsa's blog. On the Hermione Flynn Design website. Follow the girls on Instagram @kegen @hermione_flynn
The Art of Brooke
As I got to know my last interviewee, Sebastian Nováky, he introduced me to an American painter, Brooke, who used one of his tracks to be the song for the video she made for her works.
Brooke lives in Colorado and in the past ten years has been doing graphic design. Only a few years ago she turned to painting as a new tool of expression. As she told me, around the time she turned 26 something changed about expressing the feelings and thoughts she had. A few years later, Brooke went through a life-changing moment. The emotional journey she’s been travelling inspired her to choose “Tears” as her main focus of attention. Using painting as therapy, Brooke says creating each and every piece was a way of processing her thoughts. The red and blue palette represents choices, the logical-mind and the heart-mind, and other things. It is also about duality. That everything in life has two sides. “Tears aren’t always sad. Pleasure and pain are complementing each other all the time. One doesn’t exist without the other. The human experience is a weave of both.” - says Brooke.
'Compulsive Impulses'
'Compassion'
'Resistance Surrender'
Follow Brooke on Instagram @theartofbrooke
Sebastian Nováky
As I travel the world and meet new and interesting people, somehow I keep bumping into artists with Hungarian roots. So it happened with Sebastian Nováky, a Finnish composer I got to interview the other day through the magical power of the Internet.
Sebastian’s interest in music started with getting into 90’s rock around the age of 10. As he was listening to for example Rage Against The Machine, he thought: “Why couldn’t I play the guitar just like they do?”. When he turned 14, he started a hardcore band in his hometown Heinola. After having quite a few gigs, Sebastian had to go and take his compulsory 9 months military service. During this time his musical preferences had changed: he started being interested in popular music. He realized he wanted to become a composer when he watched Amélie and became fascinated by its soundtrack written by Yann Tiersen. He instantly began to learn playing the piano. After showing some of his finished works to his friends, the positive feedback gave him the inspiration to start sharing his talent through Sound Cloud. He says it’s building his confidence. By now, Sebastian Nováky has around 21 thousand followers, and his track ‘The Balcony is full of Skeletons that don’t smile’ succeded in being the most listened indie-pop-track on Sound Cloud four days in a row. DV: Do you have favorites of all the songs you've written so far? SV: Oh definitely! The first one I’d point out is the one called ‘I am the sea and its water, the sun and its warmth’. When I wrote it, I just felt the urge to play something. This track just sort of came out of me: started playing and that’s it. I put it together in about 15 minutes – maybe you can tell. It's a very easy track. I guess I was already feeling a bit blue when I made this - that's why the melancholy. Don't ask me about the name. I just thought it might be fitting. All I thought while making that was the sea. Another one I really like is called ‘Endings and Beginnings’. After I was done writing I was like "WOAH! I did that?!". I've done a lot of only instrumental piano pieces, and still enjoy making them. The title "Endings and Beginnings" came from a break up back then. I decided to let someone go, and keep going forward in my life. Not to be pretentious, but when I listen to it, it makes me think it’s the sound of a rock coming out of my heart. I enjoy exploring music and making sounds. Seeing if there are any limits to composing, only to realize that there is none. ‘The balcony is full of Skeletons that don’t smile’ is played originally on piano, just after I recorded it, I cut it into pieces, and added drums. I really like the outcome! And apparently people like it also since it was most listened indie-pop-track on Sound Cloud 4 days in a row. Could also mention the ‘Dead Waltz’. Interesting piece, with only real instruments. I guess I wanted to do a waltz. DV: Have you already done movie soundtracks? SN: Yes. Earlier this year had a chance to collaborate with New York City based fashion photographer and filmmaker Bell Soto, writing music for his Versace promotional video. He asked me to do music to his new film, which he shot for Hunger TV UK. I pretty much send him an e-mail earlier this year asking him if he’d be interested in working together. I've been in touch with some fashion photographers. In my opinion fashion movies are a good starting point for getting into the world of composing soundtracks. Building contacts and working on small quality projects could be a bridge to bigger works in the future. Another example could be the work I did during this summer for Israeli filmmaker, Ran Bradinsky’s short film called ‘Selcric’. It turned out pretty well. I enjoyed working with him. I think we are going to work together more in the future. DV: Do you also collaborate with singers? SN: Definitely. I've been working with Alicia Khoshdel Scotland based singer-songwriter, who lives in Edinburgh. Funny thing is that we have never actually met. I spotted her out on Sound Cloud. Luckily she also wanted to work with me! Alicia is truly a gem: beautiful girl, with a beautiful voice. Listen to the track called ‘Sex’, and you’ll understand what I’m talking about! I've also collaborated with New York City based singer-songwriter, Kate Bass. We also met via Sound Cloud. She actually was one of the first people I’ve ever collaborated with through the Internet. My favorite song we made together is 'Kate’s song'. I had so much fun making it! Sebastian's style and knowledge of music is overwhelming. The way he's able to translate thoughts into melodies proves his innate skill for composing soundtracks. Even though most of his tracks are melancholic, it's obvious that he is completely aware of moods, and is able to match any sounds and rythm perfectly. Listening to his tunes we get a chance to travel through oceans of emotions, only to find ourselves deep in the old forests of Sebastian's honest and pure soul. I highly recommend to listen to more tracks on his Sound Cloud. Follow him on Instagram @sebastiansound
Hermione Flynn Design - Fashion is Philosophy
While I was in Berlin and was building KUNSTBLITZ, I met this gorgeous girl named Hermione Flynn: a designer, a performance artist, a thinker. Originally from New Zealand, Hermione started her career with achieving to belong to New Zealand’s Top 10 Young Fashion Designers in the Westpac Young Fashion Designer Competition, in 2010. Two years later she moved to Berlin.
Photo by Sarah Burton DV: How and when did you decide that you want to become a fashion designer? HF: From a teeny-tiny age I always knew I was going to be an artist. It's funny, I actually met someone recently who was too shy, or felt too undeserving, to grant themselves the title "artist" - I think I began pronouncing myself as an artist at 8 years old! So, this career choice was inevitable. Just to clarify, HERMIONE FLYNN is not only a fashion brand - I could never restrict myself in that way. As a trained performance artist, I am essentially preoccupied with the adorned body in space... How those three elements - the body, the clothes, and the space - all inform one another to create a message. So whether this is communicated through fashion, film, live performance, photography, or whatever: it is this concept that drives most of my work, rather than the medium. My understanding of successful visual art is that it has the ability to communicate to the masses, by-passing any cultural or intellectual boundaries. I chose to work with clothing because it is a medium, which the entire population is conditioned to interpret. Every single one of us must dress ourselves in the morning with an understanding of the social significance of the choices we make. Dress is the most immediate form of communication between one another, long before words are even spoken. To be able to use a tool that is so universally understood, and to juxtapose this with the body and space, is a powerful and thrilling challenge!
DV: When was Hermione Flynn Design born? What are the ideas behind the brand? HF: The brand was born in 2010 when I finally produced my first fashion collection, after creating an incessant number of sketches and drawings. Fortunately, shortly after I was announced as one of New Zealand’s Top 10 Young Fashion Designers in the Westpac Young Fashion Designer Competition. During this influx of sudden publicity, I decided to produce my second collection (I had already designed it, you see) and haven't quite been able to stop. My goal in my approach to fashion design is to produce designs with intellectual and artistic integrity. The fashion industry is renowned for it's preoccupation with beauty, wealth and sex. Although I do believe these areas are worthy of exploration, I also believe clothing design has the ability to communicate a more in-depth and thorough understanding of a social climate - which is what I aim to do.
Out-fit from Hermione's ENCLOS(TH)ED collection. DV: When and why did you move to Berlin? HF: My husband and I moved to Berlin in April 2012. Having never been here before, we arrived after a four-month-stint through South-East Asia, the USA and Europe, with every intention of settling. Berlin was on my radar for its reputation as a particularly rebellious and avant-garde city, in regards to creativity. I felt like this would suit my brand well, and would provide the perfect platform for me to explore fashion, performance and art without battling against engrained industry traditions - as I hear can be an issue in places such as Paris. But speaking of Paris - and London - it certainly was a bonus for me, having come from New Zealand, to be living in such close proximity to these fashion hubs, yet sparing myself the over-whelming living costs.
DV: What do you think about the fashion world in Berlin? HF: Everyday Berlin is a city dedicated to "practical fashion". This translates to a very relaxed and casual aesthetic - sneakers, jeans and a Parker jacket. I see this as neither particularly positive, nor negative. On one hand, I do feel over-dressed when wearing heels (possibly one of the most beloved items in fashion!) Yet on the other hand, this devotion to the "practical" suggests that Berliners are (perhaps) preoccupied with more meaningful or important matters, rather then their physical appearance. On a personal perspective, I do have admiration for this. From a design perspective, I'm intrigued by the challenge of combining practicality and wear-ability with the avant-garde.
Photo by Kajsa Lorentzon In saying all this, however, Berlin does have one giant, sparkling, booming saving grace - and that is the infamous nightlife. It is at Berlin's most renowned clubs that fashion is brought to life. Although there is still a dedication to practicality - stilettos and a cocktail dress will get you know-where - there is also active admiration and acceptance of anything visually extreme - silver hair, head-to-toe tats, bondage... This makes for a phenomenal people watching experience and encourages serious personal creativity. So obviously, it is this environment, which is most inspiring. Yet, because it is placed against a backdrop of such visual indifference, both Berlin-day and Berlin-night becomes equally as intriguing. DV: What are your plans for the future? HF: We are currently working on some special side-projects inspired by the concepts and techniques we discovered during the creation of our SS14 collection, ENCLOS(TH)ED. This includes some new accessories and menswear - which has been under quite some demand! I am also in the design-development process for AW14 which continues to elaborate on the concepts explored in SS14, as well as an idea for a performance-art piece inspired by "super-women" - which I'm particularly fixated on at the moment.
Out-fit from the ENCLOS(TH)ED collection. My long-term plan is to continue producing commercial ranges supported by intellectual and artistic integrity, as well as live performance installation, video art, and creative collaborations. I hope to create a business model, which can financially support both my own creative freedom and that of my employees and collaborators.
See more on the Hermione Flynn Design Facebook or the webpage. Follow Hermione on Instagram @hermione_flynn
The Infusion Project - Modern pioneers of Art-love
Not long after my arrival back to San Diego, yesterday I've attended 'Future Metro', an art event organized by The Infusion Project on the rooftop of the Stingaree club.
The Infusion Project is a San Diego based company that has been organizing creative events for about 6 years. As Hillary Young, curator of the show told me yesterday, TIP was one of the first ones who encouraged artists to create live. At Future Metro, we were able to watch all of the chosen twelve artists paint right by a stand of their carefully selected works. TIP is concentrating on giving the opportunity to ambitious creatives to show what they have to offer, in order to entertain those who have an infinite love of life. The open mindedness of the project is also revealed by the choice of location for their events: Once a month they come together on the rooftop of the Stingaree night club, and once at the Hard Rock Hotel, both downtown San Diego. Stingaree, with its style and choice of music could basically be at any other city centers around the world. It's a popular party spot, where young people go out to. Placing an art event like Future Metro in the middle of a party on a Friday night is daring. Not only because of the artists' lifestyle is far off from the club's regulars - making it challenging to be able to get into the mood of creating - but also because of the concerns surrounding the arworks being presented. Against all odds TIP did a great job. Somehow the painting artists and the dancing girls in short skirts managed to have the best time without disturbing each other... Even better... Moreover, the evening was quite inspirational from my personal perspective. Throughout my journey I started this year, one of my main goals is to bring art closer to everyday life. To reach the people who didn't get the chance to get involved in the art world before. To show the middle finger to all of those who made art be a thing of the rich and highly intellectual. In my opinion: art is for telling stories, entertaining, while also being a tool for changing the world to be a better place. Art is not a privilege. Art is for everyone. The Infusion Project clearly aims to send the message of all of the above. Their mission is truly something to look up to if you are an active supporter of the art world.
Dora Földes - A true Hungarian Babe
It's such an amazing moment when I discover a fresh and new artist from home: Dora Földes has just started to seriously get into painting a few months ago, but found her own style and recognition quickly. Dora has already been invited to take part in group shows and also to show her art in a solo exhibition. She's from my hometown, Budapest, currently lives and works in Innsbruck (Austria).
Dora is bringing us figurative images colored with black and white, or soft, pasthel shades matched with sharp, black outlines - almost reminding us of pretty fashion illustrations. Each and every one of her pictures is telling a new story, while putting them all together could aslo work as a whole. Her girly-style truly reflects on Dora's sweet fashionable personality. Looking through her paintings I'm honestly proud to be able to tell that I'm from the same country as her. She's such a babe! Go to her Facebook page to see more! You can also follow Dora on Instagram @poszaata
Briana Sargent & her BUJU
In the end of August I got the chance to get tattooed by Briana Sargent, owner of Buju Tattoo shop located in Mission Hills, San Diego (CA). Briana has an exciting and eventful background story: Originally from Boston, she planned to become an illustrator for children's books and finished a Fine Arts degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Her interest in tattooing came in the meantime. She has studied and worked in Savannah, Groton, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Honolulu, and now in San Diego. It's important to mention that she was apprenticed by Steve Tefft, latest winner of the TV show Ink Master.
As many tattoo artists, Briana also works on other materials besides skin. She paints mixed-media on wood, exploring her wonderful and particular style through human and animal figures, creating clean and decorative pieces which fits perfectly in basically any sort of home design. Her colors and shapes (wether it's a painting or tattoo) are in perfect harmony. Looking at a piece of her's brings peace into one's heart and mind.
Briana opened Buju Tattoo a few years ago, not long after she moved to San Diego. After trying different things, the shop has anchoraged and became a place where only girls work. This idea makes Briana's a remarkable spot on the map of tattoo shops. The salon's style just cannot hide this fact either: the walls are covered with art the girls like and with photos of their pets. Even when she's away, Briana's presence in the shop can be constantly felt with the plants she consciously placed all over. Her love for nature makes one truly feel like home, and once again, relaxed.
Fun fact: Buju Tattoo was named after Briana's dog, Buju, who has her own booth in the shop, right next to Briana's. If you're around San Diego, I highly recommend to either take home a life-long souvenir from one of the ladies, or if not, at least stop by, say hi to Briana and Buju, and take in the energies of this awesome tattoo-oasis!
Read more about Briana on their website. Click, and look at the girls' works: Kristy Jill Trilling Meg Jasmine Follow Briana on Instagram @briana_buju
Babes At The Museum - A quick chat with Xavier Aaronson
Last week when I was in New York, I got the chance to meet Xavier Aaronson, founder of Babes At The Museum. We met up in Williamsburg (Brooklyn), and while having an amazing lemonade he explained to me how he wanted to create something new between fashion and the art world. In his way of thinking he says there are too many fashion blogs on the Internet already that focuses on streetwear and underground style, but there's none exploring this idea inside an art space. Xavier is a frequent exhibition visitior. While looking at artists works he also notices the fancy-fellow-guests around him. These are the people he's interested in, taking pictures of them and their beautiful dressed-up-selves, asking them about their interests, while giving them the chance to be in the spotlight during they enjoy their everydays. Xavier spends his weekdays working for Vice magazine in the video production department. He's truly a fan of culture in all it's ways. He told me there's too much talk going on about celebrities, and not enough of remote cultural happenings or it's people. His goal is to bring news on these parts of the planet, educate his readers about hidden art-jewellery.
Read his posts on his website: http://www.babesatthemuseum.com/ Follow him on Instagram @museumbabes
Closing KUNSTBLITZ, Berlin
In the end of July I've moved on from Berlin to the United States. I'm in California at the moment, based in Laguna Beach I travel around, this weekend also taking a little trip to New York City. I'm taking this time to relax a bit with family, but also to discover some American art. Before I left Berlin, the pop-up gallery I've organized with artist friends had it's final show, a group exhibition we titled 'Dori Varga Collection | Berlin' as a closing ceremony of the two months we were keeping our block busy on Wiener strasse.
This was a special occasion, where I asked Miren Oller, a set designer from Barcelona (aka AskManuela) to design the space with the artworks. It turned out fabulous in my opinion and as I heard in the guests opinion as well. Miren: ‘For me to see an exhibition is like reading a book or watching a film. It is history hanging on the wall: my eyes can follow the story going through one artwork to another, making imaginary connections between them while the white space slowly disappears. It is very interesting for me to work with putting together different artists. Each artwork has a new meaning, naturally depending on where it is placed. At KUNSTBLITZ I tried to conserve each personality in relation with the others. As if the artists were standing there themselves explaining their own story with different languages and voices, each connecting to one another creating a new world in the space.’ The exhibition showcased twelve artists originally from eleven different countries, all based in Berlin: Main artists of KUNSTBLITZ: Adela Holmes | Photographer from Germany Santiago Cruz | Painter from Panama Cris Koch | Mixed-media artist from Germany Kajsa Lorentzon | Photographer from Sweden Guest artists: Ana Bathe | Serbian-Canadian photographer Sofie Engström von Alten | Fine artist from USA Olga Grönvall Lund | Fashion designer from Sweden Cyrus Smith | Graffiti artist from Canada Pablo Peñalba | Fine artist from Argentina Danielle Malka | Photographer from Israel Vinicius Vallorani | Fine artist from Italy Christopher Bartolmäs | Fine artist from Germany I would like to take this oportunity to thank these artists for believing in me, for letting me into their lives and supporting me with their talent, love and passion for art. This post is for You! Fresh work from..: Adela Holmes
Kajsa Lorentzon
Cris Koch - KUNSTSCHUTZ
Pablo Peñalba
Ana Bathe
Works from before, from..: Danielle Malka
Santiago Cruz
Olga Grönvall Lund
Christopher Bartolmäs
Awesome pictures as the outcome of a collaboration between Kajsa Lorentzon (photographer from Stockholm) and The Corderfields graphic design duo from Mallorca - shown at one night exhibit we titled 'Blitz Series'. The pictures were taken of our five main artists at KUNSTBLITZ: Adela Holmes, Cris Koch, Kajsa Lorentzon, Santiago Cruz, and Fender Dickinson (from top to bottom) Each image reflects on the artist presented on it.
About the The Corderfields: Alba and Alicia met at the Mallorca Design School, where they both studied graphic design and became inseparable. After graduating, Alba went to Granada where she studied illustration. She learnt new techniques to represent concepts. In the meantime Alicia studied photography, combining with a grade of layout. Learning many concepts of typography, letters, composition and how to apply it to the design.
They work in design and illustration, completing each other with what they have learnt while studying together, with the specializations of each, Alba in illustration and Alicia in typography and layout. Always putting things in common and both participating in all their works. I always thought that communication is one of the most important things we, as humans should concentrate on throughout our lives. We can be from different generations, countries or religions; if we all know the corner stones of good communication we will understand each other better. Listening to another person and sharing our own thoughts can also help us grow as a person, getting one step closer to our incredible and wonderful selves, who we plan to become. It is also my belief that this idea concerns artists in their careers as well. Sharing ideas about life, art, thoughts about history, politics, or whatever the artist is interested in could help with new ideas regarding content or technique, leading the creation of something new and extraordinary. I am supporting collaborations between artists with all that I can give. Sometimes it just needs organizing and introducing artists to each other, and there are other times when artists need one good idea to start working from. Either ways: the outcome is a celebration of art. What could be more exciting than this?
Short film screening at KUNSTBLITZ
Exactly a week ago (16.07.) we held a movie screening for short films at KUNSTBLITZ for four young talents: Nadine Poulain (Germany) showed a preview of documentary ‘U-977 – 66 Days Under Water’ followed by her art film on the same subject. ‘U-977 – 66 Days Under Water’ is a cinematic feature length documentary about the deeply human quest for freedom and self-determination. Set at the end of WW2, it is the story of Heinz Schäffer, former u-boat commander of U-977, and his crew. Arata Mori's (Japan) 'Camino Negro’ is based on key concepts such as Body and Image, Repetition and Nomadism. Inspired by French modern philosophers such as Gilles Deleuze and Georges Bataille and indigenous traditions and mythologies from all over the world, Arata has created a number of multimedia artwork including photography, video, sculpture and dance performance. Camino Negro, written and directed by Arata Mori was selected for Short Film Corner at 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Anja Marais' (South Africa) 'Cathedral' is a tale about acceptance. Shot entirely in Russia, it is a visual and audio poem inspired by the poet Anna Akhmatova. Instead of fighting suffering our female protagonist decided through admission of her burden to achieve union with herself and nature. Anja's previous film 'Shift' is in a permanent collection of MOCA and was also selected for the Cannes Film Festival Short Corner in 2013. Irene Moray's (Spain) 'Bernarda Rodríguez' is a mokumentary about an artist. Irene usually works for different producer companies as a still photographer but she also experiments with video and directed a couple of video art pieces. Usually her recurrent issues are dance, female body, and underwater scenes, but in this short film Irene is just having fun as she said, directed and starred about a Berlin artist. The night was curated by my right hand, and of KUNSTBLITZ's artists: Adela Holmes, photographer. After the show, I set down with Adela and asked her about experiences with this project.
DV: How did you choose between works while picking out the final pieces? AH: We received a lot of film submission for the KUNSTBLITZ Short Film selection but the four films I chose for the viewing were the ones, which kept me wondering. I wanted to see more and had the urge to find out what will happen. There was not a moment where I wanted to skip any of the scenes and to me that was the crucial aspect in choosing these films. While watching the submissions I learned that you really have to give a film a chance, which means to watch the whole thing. Sometimes, it is clear in the very beginning that this is crap but you don’t know yet if this crap is intentional which could result in pretty good. Its also tricky with the really slow art films where in that case beautiful imagery keeps you captivated. Other times its other things, but captivation I’d say is the number one interest grabber. Be it the story, the music, the expression but something has to grab you and evoke curiosity. The quality of the film does not matter, but to me the quality of an actor is a very crucial choice.
Photo by Adela Holmes - From left: Douglas Allsop, Nadine Poulain, and Arata Mori DV: What made you like the showed movies? AH: Nadine Poulain’s film puts you in a mood of meditation while gorgeous imagery slowly interchanges, enforcing a feeling. It is important to feel a film otherwise why even bother. Arata Mori’s strangeness in combination of incredible sounds on the subject of repetition was loaded with symbolism I still don’t quite understand, but that’s OK. There is always time to dissect a film. Most impotently, the fifteen minutes felt like so much longer (in a good way) because of the amount and variety of impressions, captivating. The Anja Marais film I could watch forever. The character’s body language, mainly her walk, keeps you wondering where she might be going and what is her intend. I could follow this character thought the world wondering forever. Irene Moray’s film was interesting to watch. It was one of those where you didn’t know if this is intentionally bad and yes, a few minutes into the film the realization that it is, makes you burst out in a loud laughter. The other submissions didn’t catch my interest in that intensity as the four selections and so the decision-making was easy. It might be on a personal level but curating a show means you show what you believe in and these four filmmakers I can’t wait to follow and see what else they will do.
Photo by Adela Holmes - Shot of screening 'Bernarda Rodríguez' DV: This was your first film-related curatorial work. Was everything like you imagined at the screening? AH: I can say I’ve learned al lot from curating my first films show. Firstly that film is a really tough nut. And that whoever dares this endeavor is valiant. Showing it is also a challenge. I was lucky to have picked filmmakers who were patient with me. Overall it went really well but hard is what I am on myself. What I should have done is not to trust the fact that it will look fantastic on a textured wall projected with a projector never tested on the wall. Some films did all right, not all.
Even though I have curated many shows, the difference between curating a short films viewing and a show with still images has become apparent. It has to be quiet and dark during the viewing that sets a mood, which is hard to break once the film is over and that it sometimes results in an awkward silence. Breaking that silence means taking things in charge in a very different way then usual. Not my expertise, but thankfully the KUNSTBLITZ crew managed to save the situation, as usual.
What anamzing Saturday we had at KUNSTBLITZ! It was an evening we called "SchwedischBlitz" (Swedish Lightning): The main attraction was the exhibition titled 'Retrospective' for our photographer from Stockholm, Kajsa Lorentzon. This was her very first solo show, where she presented pictures from her travels and portraits, latter mostly in the theme of fashion. Kajsa, her friends and I were hanging out by the gallery the whole day before. I was watching them taking over the space, filling it up with awesome art and their very self. It was so nice to see Kajsa getting all excited, installing the exhibit with her young enthusiasm, and her tipical chilled-hippie mode. If anyone would ask me, she pulled off quite an interesting and unique experience for us to look at. Inviting her designer friends (Olga Grönvall Lund, Susanna Young Håkansson, Katherine Shanahan and Maya Ben Natan) to be part of the whole with showing their clothes and accessories was an exciting touch to the show, making the space once again a studio of diversity. The evening was even more special since we had musicians this time performing for us. I invited singer-songwriter Antonia Vai, my sweet Swedish-Hungarian friend for a concert. She lives in Budapest since February with her guitarist Felix Gröndahl, where they are pulling off quite a busy schedule ever since then: doing gigs at different clubs and festivals (like Volt Festival) in the Hungarian scene. At KUNSTBLITZ this Saturday we made a street-stage for them (by the help of the greatest handy-man and artist Cris Koch). Quite a lot of people came and also stopped while passing by. I'm not surprised: Antonia is a wonder! Watching and listening her one cannot stop himself of wanting to take it all in. Her voice, her stories, her smile and the way she moves barefoot makes her such a particular character, one instantly gets addicted. So did our audience. Berlin fell in love with Antonia Vai. The night didn't end here: Kajsa's DJ friends Jonathan Kavander, Emil and Linus Nyström were making sick techno for us all night long. I think I left around 4 am, but there were still poeple dancing and talking. Knowing how Berlin works, I would guess these three DJs were a warm-up, a pre-party for a long day to come afterwards. Overall if some of you may not know yet, let me tell you here and now: Sweeds know how to make the party and do the party. Energy and happiness never ends when it comes to enjoying drinks, nice music and each other. So thank you all of you who helped with the night, and all of you who came to see and listen! /Black and white pictures by Adela Holmes
At KUNSTBLITZ (Berlin) we are organizing all sorts of happenings. Yesterday the opening of CRIS KOCH took place, with his latest project called Kunst + Sicherheit. Cris is truly a wonder: professional all the way with everything he touches around the space. It took him two days to install his exhibition, working day and night. His maximalism moves all of us. It was nice to see something new at KUNSTBLITZ. With every event we organize I realize it more and more how lucky I am to be able to be a part of a project like this. I still can’t believe that I’m running a space. Even if it’s only for two months, there are great things happening every day, every evening. The gallery just grabs the attention of artists passing by, and they want to be a part of it. There are a lot more happening here than only exhibitions, parties and screenings. We are somehow building a community for artists in the area. It’s heartwarming to watch them become friends, work together, inspire each other. It would be a dream to be able to do this in other cities. Maybe I’m naive… In Berlin everything seems easy: finding a space, renting a space, finding artists, organizing shows, getting attention. These kind of places somehow maintain themselves in this city. You just need a good idea, that fits the surroundings. We had a good idea. I’m so proud!