This winter might be the hardest and longest I’ve ever experienced in Berlin – I’ve also been feeling particularly tired for the past couple of months, wondering whether it’s the continuous cold draining energy from the reserves… But it turns out it’s all due to the lack of sunlight, apparently, which has a direct relation to your levels of Serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for your over-all mood. It can even lead to the appropriately named SAD syndrome – the Seasonal Affective Disorder. Apart from investing in ludicrously expensive special lights, I still haven’t found a reasonable answer to what one can do about it, but particularly helpful was one blog’s suggestion to make sure to get some sunlight every day… You don’t live in Berlin, we assume.
iPad. OK, might be cool, but the new wheel it certainly is not – at all. Although neither will be the rumoured Google Tablet PC, but it is hinted (alas, in German only) to be much more versatile than Apple’s iPad which is being bashed for being no more than an ultra-cool remote control for you growing fat and the AppStore growing even fatter .
Google in contrast only wants your darkest secrets: your soul aka your data, but not really your money. In return, they give you a product with which you could even work. Choose for yourself what hurts less. Does it really make difference these days if you publish your photos either on a MySpace account or save them into you drop-box? Maybe Google knows..
The Best Documentary Feature category is one of the few redeeming elements of the commercial publicity machine that is the Academy Awards. Unlike the rest of the circus, this category usually gives due attention to deserving talent, and helps draw attention to burning issues.
Last week, the nominations for this year’s prize were announced. They included Burma VJ, a stunning piece of film-making about the undercover video reporters who helped bring attention to the monk riots of 2007.
Anyone who calls themselves a journalist should watch Burma VJ for a humbling. It reminds us of what real journalism is all about, and unmasks as lazy and irrelevant the majority of reporting that goes on in more comfortable societies. The daring and anonymous video journalists featured in this film continue to do their incredible work. Follow their work at the Democratic Voice of Burma site.
The film has already won a slew of awards, but one more can’t hurt.
Fashion prankster Henrik Vibskov will be showing some graphic works tomorrow at Pool Gallery in Berlin. If you don’t know what to make of Vibskov, neither do we. Some adore him, others can’t take him seriously, while we’re just puzzled. But our guess is, this is exactly the way he likes it.
Nonetheless, let the facts speak for themselves: Henrik Vibskov has been highly successful with his fashion, presenting his collections in Paris, but also exhibiting his artwork in places such as PS1 or the Palais de Tokyo, whilst collaborating on musical projects with the likes of Anders Trentemøller and Mikael Simpson. But don’t let the facts fool you – come and see for yourselves tomorrow night. Let us know what you think.
Made up like an auction catalogue that features personal belongings of two normal people, it’s a work of fiction but seems like a voyeuristic documentary. Much more than just an index of items, letters and photographs, you feel the real pain of the author who wants to appear just as the storyteller. It somehow reminds me of two projects by conceptual artist Sophie Calle, Douleur Exquise and Take Care of Yourself that deal with relationship break-ups as well. By making everything that happened and finally led to the separation extremely public, then deal with the time after the break-up with a daily interview of another person who experienced something terrible and making it part of a vast collection of stories, the artist manages to come to terms and finally move on with her life.
Besides various events of #SMW, Transmediale kicks off the 2010 theme “Futurity now!” with the European premiere of Yvette Mattern’s stunning laser rainbow projection “From One To Many” from 7.15-11pm tonight at HKW.
On Friday and Saturday (7-11pm) the show will be repeated.
It’s become a trend among fashion companies and others aspiring to being considered hip to launch their own magazine – alas, they’re rarely worth the paper they’re printed on, copying and pasting what’s already out there. There’s one noble exception, though, which goes by the name of ANP Quarterly and is entirely sponsored by American streetwear label RVCA. I suppose the difference lies in their admirably brave and modest approach: outsource the project to people who are actually forward-thinking rather than backward-looking; gather an excellent editing team around Aaron Rose, Brendan Fowler and Ed Templeton, and give them carte blanche to do whatever they see fit.
The outcome is an oversized publication full of excellent interviews with the likes of Miranda July or Will Oldham; a great mix of street and skate culture, fine art and music; great photography and just a general feeling of being spot-on. Weirdly enough, it feels fiercely independent, more so than a lot of other titles. Oh, and it also avoids fashion editorials – there’s not a single item of RVCA in the current issue. ANPQ is distributed for free across the US, but you can also find it in some select bookstores across Europe or simply just subscribe.
Let’s start the week with a laugh - the designated EU commissioner Günther Oettinger tries to speak english in a press conference… a little embarassing, but SOOO funny!!!
As a recent The New York Times Magazinearticle makes clear, the constructed situations of Tino Sehgal are not to be missed. Because they leave no physical trace (not even bills of sale), you only have small windows of opportunity in which to interact with his works. If only for this reason, be sure to visit his just-opened exhibition at the Guggenheim, where you’ll engage in surprising conversations with 12 year-old docents.
Tino Sehgal January 29th - March 10th, 2010
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street)
New York
For everyone who cannot be asked to come down to Kreuzberg during these Siberian weather conditions, Motto will now come to you.
This winter might be the hardest and longest I’ve ever experienced in Berlin – I’ve also been feeling particularly tired for the past couple of months, wondering whether it’s the continuous cold draining energy from the reserves… But it 
iPad. OK, might be cool, but the new wheel it certainly is not – at all. Although neither will be the rumoured Google Tablet PC, but it is 
Fashion prankster 
