2010-07-08

Acts of Interstellar Lollipop Torture







FanzinEra / Back to Human Nature

I've had a very busy but enjoyable week in Sundsvall together with Carl Abrahamsson, curating his FanzinEra exhibition. It contains photographs taken between 1985-1988 for his zines Lollipop & Acts of Interstellar Torture. They capture sensational moments of the eighties underground movement that otherwise are condemned to fall into oblivion or fade as stapled xeroxed paper in a closet... the historic value of these photographs can't be denied. FanzinEra contains photographs of legendary underground personalities such as Richard Kern, Genesis P-Orridge, Leathernun, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Thurston Moore, Freddie Wadling, Joe Coleman, Lux Interior, Lydia Lunch etc. All issues of his old zines are also on display in a glass cage. Great reading while killing time in the gallery!

For those unable to visit the exhibition, I can reveal that a book is in the making, featuring a large amount of live & backstage photos, quotes, trivia and texts dealing with the sleaziest aspects of the eighties underground. Keep yourself updated on his activities through http://www.carlabrahamsson.com

Yesterday we held a screening of the film program "Back to Human Nature". I was completely carried away by the stunning "Taiwaskivi" by Halo Manash from Finland. This alone makes it a must-have in your collection!

“Back to human nature!” contains new cinematic work by four Swedish artists and one Finnish audiovisual group. Dynamic, consciousness-expanding and awareness-raising, these films range from minimalistic meditations, animated analyses, over ritualistic reverence and psychic soulsearching, to primordial possession. With minimal means, these artists have created unique multidimensional visions of an inner state of mind and, more importantly, of experimental magical attempts to overcome the frustrations we all experience in contemporary culture, urbanized globalisation and technological stress. Their results are colourful cinematic talismans, beamed from five highly creative mind-entities to the world outside.

”Intermediate” (Fetish 23, Sweden, 2009, 12 min)
An ever fluctuating diptych with images of urban and natural landscapes in interaction. With a stunning soundtrack by Moljebka Pvlse, the impact is one of serene beauty and transformative power.

”Taiwaskivi” (Halo Manash, Finland, 2009, 50 min)
Halo Manash’s audiovisual shamanism spellbinds our apprehensions and breaks open our heads. With an archaic and atavistic animism straight from our primordial psyche, these groundbreaking Finnish artists seduce and impregnate the viewer with a stern sense of ritual force.

”Stress call of the stinging nettle” (Christine Ödlund, Sweden, 2009, 8 min)
A potently poetic display of organic beings gearing up for survival. The intricate defense- and intercommunication-systems of plants take us on a journey within ourselves. What can we learn?

”Decennial Celebratory Solidarity Ritual” (Nadine Byrne, Sweden, 2009, 17 min)
Five priestesses/goddesses congregate in a deserted quarry to perform a ritual of sacrifice. Intuitive, beautiful and thought-provoking actions take place. We may not be able to change history’s twists and turns, but (sub)conscious magic can certainly help heal emotional wounds.

”Where is here?” (Gustaf Broms, Sweden, 2009, 42 min)
In this incredibly ambitious psychedelic epic, we follow a protagonist on his magical trip from despair to hope. With an overflowing visual texture, Broms weaves a truly multidimensional web of strong impressions. Where are we heading? Is there a direction at all?

More information can be found here: http://www.njutafilms.com/film-backtohumannature.html

Vertige Vision



Anne van den Linden



Joko