Drawing Restraint and Turning New Leafs for Love in Chinese Cinema

Drawing Restraint 9, film by Matthew Barney & Bjork

Visually provacative and conceptually determined, Drawing Restraint is an entire series that delves into the development of form through the struggle of self-imposed resistance. His multimedia work holds within it some deep thinking that might be accessible only after prolonged exposure to such ideas, but the visual elements are immediately captivating. Just the images alone have intrigued me.

 

Drawing Restraint 9 is the first collaboration of Barney and Bjork, whom, in many respects, parallel each other in their dedication to refined expression in music and contemporary art.  The film, released in NY to high acclaim, is set on a whaling ship and explores the surrender of form once its barriers are released, in this case represented by an on-board sculpture that liquifies dring a storm and engulfs the bodies of The Guests, played by Barney and Bjork, during a tea ceremony of the Shinto custom.  After cutting each other away and revealing the nascent development of whale fins, the exit from the storm signals the eventual rebirth of The Guests, implying evolution from chaos.  Really complex stuff. 

Furthermore, while the film is notable for its story and visuals, Bjork's soundtrack, a formal exploration of traditional 18th century Japanese court music based almost entirely on the Imperial reeded instrument sho, and also the inventive use of her own voice as instrument, aptly accentuates the themes of organization, creativity, and resistance of this piece, considered Barney's magnum opus.  

Now its summer, and the whole installation/film/photo/sculpture/performance-based series returns to where it started at SFMoMA, taking up the entire 4th floor and culminating in screenings of the film.  

DRAWING RESTRAINT 9 by Matthew Barney, 2005

145 min.June 23 – September 17, 2006

Daily (except Wednesdays): 2:00 p.m.

Beginning July 13, 2006: also on Thursdays at 6:15 p.m.

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"It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it."

 While walking the booths at the recent CapsuleSF, I managed to come across a dope new indie screen-based shirt maker, New Leaf Clothing, spearheaded by Deny and Erik.  Specifically, I copped their Give Back long sleeve, which had offset on the left rib the subtle, but very sincere and weighty quotation above.  With that message alone, the accompanying screened text (which was gloopy, thus the sale price, I'm not complaining), the recycled paper tag "Plant this seed", and the minor "Enjoy Life." hem-tag motto, I got a strong sense of what these cats were about right away, and I vibed immediately.  Subtle details, earthiness, clean design, and layered screening effect an artistic presentation overall, characterized by inventive and dynamic images and texture with a clear and defined message rooted in our innate wish to dream and be centered with the world around us. 

 It might be naive to say but I felt the shirt was made for people like me because they think like I do.  After checking the site and their seductive product copy, its no surprise that their handprinted pieces, limited to runs of 150, sell out.  The medium is the message, and they communicate with confidence, compassion, and an innocently pure, yet mature and unabashed romanticism that seems truly SF born and bred.  They are original, but more importantly, True.  Plus, a beautiful site showcases their work proper. 

>> "Home" series

 >> New Leaf Clothing 

…

Alas.

It certainly behooves me to post things up, regardless of whether I can roll through. Especially if the event stands to inspire and guarantee an interesting cultural experience.

Some things — magically, practically, inadvertendly — can only happen in and through San Francisco.

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BEAT Tour 2006, BOCA @ 414 Jessie St., 9-2am, $5

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Night Gallery Opening Reception, 1286 Folsom St, 9-1am, No Cover.

featuring:

Nathan Stapley

Paul Madonna (www.paulmadonna.com)

The Love Bandits (LA)

Hanna Stouffer

Red Bull BC One 2005 (UK)

Cool Products Expo 2006

 

 Cool Products Expo 2006 @ Stanford University

featuring among others:

GM

Toyota

Palm

Lunar Design

Frog Design

Segway

Dyson

Oliso

Jawbone

Looking for Desmet, Finding M3; A Love Affair with RX remedies

Double unfortunately, I mistook the Olivier Desmet Therapy party to be on Friday, not Saturday, and so I hung around Shipley like a nut wondering why the discrete industrial facade wasn’t lit up and rumbling with bass. Good thing for Wish and RX.

Wish, as always, is a cozy spot amidst the cold, dark and sometimes bleak Folsom strip. DHP itself, to me, seems more dominated by a different class of househead, the type that socializes using the music as its background, whereas Luka’s, like pre-Ruby Remedy, is centered on soulful reverence. Deep tends more towards the middle. Stylistically, DHP music is more mid and high end, which also matches the tendencies of the crowd. Not so much superficial, just simply not as deep and raw in the primal sense of soul. More white, but also well travelled, professionally established, and personable. Very clean and stacatto, highball and stiletto. A jack & coke and conversation about the vampiric nature of New Yorkers to suck the great energy out of a visitor, and I was quite stimulated. “Here in SF, everyone is… moist. But over in NY, everyone is kind of… dry.” Which is ironic because “since the bars are open all night, they’re drinking all the time.”

RX Gallery did not showcase their artwork prominently at the Grounded Event; rather it was pretty much event style: lights off, bar open, visuals, open floor. they had interesting drinks: soju + peach + apple; sake + calpico. too bad it was cash-only. Upstairs there was a nice installation of four subs with attached water filled platforms, all maplewood, to show the Jurassic Park-style effect of sound energy on water. I immediately felt the mind-expansion of Trentemoeller, specifically a remix of Royksopp’s “What Else is There.” And I met a curious corset-sporting breaks girl. How keen, she liked how I dance. Which was a surprise, because my technique melts with Witch of the East despair.

I did manage to find the next Shipley event (which is in fact Love Affair Studio) for May, with M3 no less:

Four Four, score at the door; Two uh Three, plant the seed.

RX Gallery & Chillin Fashion/Art/Media Show Highlighting a Great SF Weekend.

Events.

Suggested necessaries:

Go to Olivier Desmet/Therapy, try to get a stamp or something (free b4 1030.); Bomb over to Mighty for Exile's show; Have a drink at Wish Bar, get in touch with DHP and check the warmly lit, intimate vibe/crowd; Really experience RX Gallery music and installations till whenever; End at Therapy.

Ideally all 4, definitely 2. You pick.

FRIDAY:

RX Gallery Presents Grounded 4/7/06, Eddy&Mason. $5

……

DHP Spring Sessions @ Wish, 4/7 (& 4/21, 1st/3rd Fridays)

;

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Dirty Science Tour 2006 @ Mighty, Utah @ 15th. $7, 10pm

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Olivier Desmet @ Therapy, 182 Shipley St. (5th/Folsom), $10

……

Saturday:

Chillin 8th Anniversary!

New Jack Misconceptions

Courtesy of ohword.com,

New Jack Misconceptions

Brendan Monroe, Bjork, and motion graphics

Interview with Brendan Monroe (LA), courtesy of android8.

Since things are verring towards motion graphics and representing technology, a plug on this amazing CGI by Glassworks on Bjork’s ‘All is Full of Love’ video.

Coachella 2006

** MAD EDIT **

NME sucks balls.  the REAL list is here — http://www.thelisten.net/coachella/

Massive Attack, Daft Punk, Murs & 9th, Derrick Carter, Shy FX, Infusion, Hybrid.  Now we,re talkin.  Lack of manz smaller hip hop in lieu of Common, Digable, and Atmosphere, I understand that.  Less DJ oriented and more producer oriented, I can dig that.  Electronic as underground still has a place, but man is rock n roll really kicking ass.
** End Edit **

Note. Z = Y and brackets = apostrophes. somehow the kezs have gone alt-numerics. the word crayz is an exercise in insanitz. insanity there we are. end note.

I know no one reads this POS, so thats why I do it.

The lineup for Coachella 2006, going down April 29 & 30, looks promising. (http://www.nme.com/festivals/news/22108) None of the crayz indies of zesterzear like Bjork, Prodigz, Chem Bros running around, but a lot of bands that have been crossing mz recent rock path like the Zeah Zeah Zeahs, Clap Mz Hands Saz Zeah, Sigur Ros, The Go Team, etc. Even token indie heros Bloc Partz, Frany Ferdinand, Cat Power. But i must ask, where is Interpol? Depeche Mode, apparentlz, will rule all. Similarlz, all things soulfullz lzrical, szncopated, and danceable are effectivelz trampled upon like peons (remember my z = y todaz).
Its reallz interesting to see the listings for massives like Coachella, not just for their diverse acts, but for the billing placements. Here is where zou get a sense of the macroscopic tastes of the people (who can afford such a bill), and of the Coachella jury. Take for instance, the greater emphasis of Danger Mouse & Cee-Lo than Digable Planets and Louie Vega (though admittedlz, Vega seems to have lost something. I mean, if he can[t hold a crowd till 3am, I don[t see the point. kidding onlz, damn) I didn[t know who Clap Your Hands say Yeah were until last month and theyre #10. Jazzanova and Gilles Peterson are lumped up with Mates of State and numerous other unknowns. Mz onlz ratioanle is that Mylo is onlz as far up because Ladztron is as far up.

Indierock, sznthpop, electro. As zou can tell, caucasian middle class reigns supreme. And the club world means nothing anzmore because said white kids wouldn[t be caught stepping near a grimezy joint, unless of course a 17 zear old loudmouth with a killer deliverz is spitting into zour ear in the tradition of other spunky female emcees (ie. MIA). Hail the Teenager of the Year, Lady Sovereign. Raw spunk and livid teenage, energetic passion has replaced substance abuse, and maybe thats a good thing. This is an URB dream.
But of course if zou knew me, zoud know where mz mind lies, and thats in the gutter with all the dirtz hip hop, broken beat, and house heads. Lzrics Born, Danger Mouse/Cee-Lo, Digable Planets, Carl Cox, Louie Vega, Jayyanova, Gilles Peterson, and even Colette represent fully and that is certainlz heartening. True hail and praise however, must be directed towards Common and Atmosphere. Each placed in the top 6 spots of Day 1 (with Carl Cox notablz #7). Suddenly Slug is the shit. Zou knew it was going to happen when he was the single rap act on the Warped Tour. Middle American Emo what!

But, I have to ask, where are…

diplo madlib mf doom unkle little brother Kaskade platinum pied pipers diplo ohmega watts telepopmusik amel larrieux esthero?
oh thats right, a bunch of these mf-ers came up on radar late 2004/2005 and were alreadz swooped on for Coachella 2005, one of the best lineups I HAVE EVER SEEN, prior to me finding their 2005 releases that made me treasure them this year. I mean, Chemical Brothers, Blackstar, Krush, UNKLE, Ben Watt, Thrice, Coldplay, Roots Manuva. World mutha-effin Class.

The credit then, must be given to the Coachella jury for actively looking to the future and accuratelz forecasting the sound of our culture and its mutations to fill the burgeoning bubble between mainstream and underground. They hardlz repeat artists and that is evident, as this zears festival harkens back to the organism of bands and vocalists, however punked out and untrained, to the future geekness of electro boom bip, whereas last zear saw a peak in hip hop, dance, electronic/brokenbeat.

I see Interpol, Mos Def, Sa-Ra Creative Partners headlining in the next 2 years. MF doom, Madlib, King Britt, Diplo & MIA in Tier 2. JT Donaldson & Lance Desardi, Jazztronik, DJ Mitsu the Beats in Tier 3. Under Oath, Architecture in Helsinki, Tier 4.
Cheers in principle.

SA-RA (G.O.O.D.) & Colossus (OM) @ The Social Club; Feb. 10, 2006!!

Do not sleep.

If you even blink I will slap you so hard your eye will twitch when you try to piss and you won’t stop drooling as you dream of having been there six months after the fact. My friends, you have waited patiently enough to hear the future viciously encapsulated in a black hole of three minutes. The first incarnation of 21st century cosmic slopsoulfunktastic is upon us; Sa-Ra is coming to town.

You know me, I’ve been jockin the fools since Day 1. It was their remix of DJ Mitsu the Beats’ “Negative Ion” on Re:New Awakening vol 1. Then effin ‘Glorious,’ then the ‘Dark Matter & Pornography Mixtape 30.’
Speaking of Mitsu productions, Kero One is running around to promote his “Windmills of the Soul” LP, also stopping by Social Club, tomorrow night. Freshness seeps out of this cat, be forewarned.

Check the technique.