Pe Lang and Zimoun

Ryan just put me on to this duo from Switzerland. Pe Lang is a media artist and Zimoun is a sound artist. Together, they make incredible installations. Watch the video here. Read more on them here.

From top to bottom: 100 Prepared DC-Motors and Chains in Wooden Type Cases (from Untitled Sound Objects series, 2008); 49 Prepared Vibration Motors (from Untitled Sound Objects series, 2008); 25 Prepared DC-Motors / Wire 0.8mm* (2009); and 216 Prepared DC-Motors / Filler Wire 1.0mm* (2009).

* Zimoun solo works.

The Exchange

Here's one the most interesting art projects in recent years. Started in 2005 by graffiti artist Rime from Staten Island (NY)—with six members to the program—The Exchange has become a worldwide collaboration where artists draw sketches using each other's names, and then those names are painted by their respective owners. For example, Rime would sketch a piece using Bates' name, then Bates would go out and paint it. The Exchange now counts more than 30 members spanning a great array of different graffiti styles. Follow The Exchange here through the project's blog. The main site can be found here.

From top to bottom: Host 18 sketch by Jurne; Host 18's piece; Poet sketch by Kaput; Poet's piece; Esteme sketch by Persue; Esteme's piece; Bates sketch by Rime; Bates' piece; Sirum sketch by Ruets; Sirum's piece. All photos from The Exchange blog.

The Berlin Reunion

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, France's Royal de Luxe street theater company orchestrated a 4-day performance staring two giant puppets. See loads of pics and read the whole story here.

Photos are from Boston.com

À l'écoute

Painter's Painting (1973) Emile de Antonio
A film shot roughly between 1940 and 1970 in New York and within the circles of the New York school of painters. Abstract Expressionists, Colour Field painters and Pop painters as well as the important collectors and art dealers of the time offer great interviews. More about that one here. See a short clip on YouTube here.

Art Safari (2004~) Ben Lewis, BBC
This is a great series by British art critic Ben Lewis released by BBC. Lewis follows the work and artists who are making some of the best international art today. Each series I believe has four half-hour episodes and there are two series to date. Find out all about them here. And see clips on YouTube here.

Above: Frank Stella interviewed in his New York studio; Sophie Calle interviewed by Ben Lewis.

Work In Progress v8.0

Back to the studio and painting. Here's a peek at what's coming out.

À l'écoute

Just came back from our third tour of the Western Balkans. Cindy and I drove from Belgrade (Serbia) to the further east border between Serbian and Bulgaria, then into Macedonia, through Kosovo and Albania, up the south-east coast of Croatia along the Bosnia and Herzegovina border, up to Zagreb, then north Croatia into Hungary, back down to Slavonski Brod (Croatia) and Bosanski Brod (Bosnia) and then back to Belgrade. Phew.

That's allot of driving—needless to say, but allot of time to catch up with old and recent additions to my music collection. Here are a few gems that stood out:

The Good, The Bad & The Queen (Honest Jon's/Parlophone)
This is proving to be a totally interesting album. What first began as a collaboration between Damon Albarn and Danger Mouse resulted in a very interesting band. The lax jams aside, it's a very good record. See them perform here.

PJ Harvey, Rid Of Me (Island)
A late entry into my collection, yes, but I'm making sure it catches up in play counts. May I add: super-duper?

Late Of The Pier, Fantasy Black Channel (Parlophone)
A super record. In and out (although I'm not sure what that means...) but it must mean good and on both sides. Great jams, guitar driven key-pop over a pavement of great song structure. Get it.

Mos Def, The Ecstatic (Downtown)
Mos Def! Who doesn't love Mos Def? His most broad record to date. Really, really great.

Rachel's, Systems/Layers (Quarterstick)
I previously only had a few tracks from this one. Completed it before we left—it proved to be a great soundtrack to the Western Balkans' ominous mountain ranges. No really.

Ween, Québec (Sanctuary)
A classic and must-have-if-you-don't-already. Killer production, great songs and not too far from one of the best records coming out of America in the last 20 years. Yes, really.

Neozoon

This is the work of the Berlin-based collective Neozoon. Animal silhouettes cut out of recycled fur coats and glued to city walls. Too dope. Loads more here and see them at work here.

From top to bottom: Rabbits (in Berlin), 2009; Flock of Sheep (in Paris), 2009; Bull for Huesca (in Berlin), 2009; Fox (in Berlin), 2008.

Western Balkans Typography (Redux)

More from Bosnia i Hercegovina, Croatia and Serbia.

Western Balkans Typography

Cindy and I are spending the next few weeks in the south of the Western Balkans (aka Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania) to work on The Culture Lobby. The first three places I mentioned were once part of Yugoslavia and typography in that area of the world is taken seriously. Here are a few examples of signage from Pirot, Serbia and Skopje, Macedonia. I'll post more over the next few weeks.

Go here and here for previous posts while we were in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Belgrade, Serbia, last year.

Paul Senyol

Above are the works of South African artist Paul Senyol. I'm not exactly sure how I bumped into these but damn happy I did. Versed in illustration, painting and typography, Senyol's work is also full of stories. Are they stories? Thought patterns maybe—an adventure awaits you in every piece. Tons more here.

From top to bottom: Ma Prière Au Dieu Qui (2009): The Language of Birds (2009); Dreamboat Tapping (2009); Stiek Hui (2009).