Takeshi murata makes short animations that reference the psychedelic in a manner that seems very specific to providence noise scene. A risd alumni, murata uses digital video technologies in a n aesthetic approach that either belies the digital basis, or combines the now classic glitch with a painterly quality that can be breath taking. I'm interested in the intersection of phenomenalogical art and conceptual art, As they have moved in parallel for so long and seem to relate only remotely.

I had a conversation with Melissa about the basis for pheno-art, and we came to the conclusion that because at one point it was new as an idea to strip all concept away from the art object and just strictly look at it for it's power to make a literal phyiscal impression, This was considered avant garde and thus folded into the cannon once people understood it was safe.

Which leaves the question about how pheno art relates to whats happening now. There seems to be a whole psych thing coming back and it definitely seems emphasized here in providence, but is coming out in other parts of the world too. Perhaps, between murata's beautiful movies and e40's command to 'get dumb', we are trying to put ourselves to sleep, given the dystopic state of things. A good question would be whether people feel that things are fucked up or not. And it would interesting to find a good way to gather this information, Outside of a gallup poll or something.

After seeing Murata's work, I became inspired to start doing animations that where phenomenologically driven and had some wierd conceptual basis myself. I came up with the movie below. It's a snapshot from a little mining town outside of my home town and i feel like it's completely indicative of the way things are around where i grew up.

Posted by peterflat at 2:01 PM | Permalink

http://flatflat.org/ao/tellme.mp3

Tell me when to go is a song about "going dumb", a behavior that's a part of E40 and other Oakland rapper's self proclaimed Hyphy movement. Going dumb often consists of ghost riding (the process of dancing next to your moving car while no one is driving, very slowly). And turning tight ones (doing donuts.) along spastic dancing and other activities. I like the video and this song because of the wierd mixture of pop senselessness (literally "go dumb") and an attempt to ratify and commodify a local culture. E40 uses the term "movement" specifically in the song.

It's funny that we are media aware enough that rappers are consciously crafting their own movements as another form of branding and personality cult. Maybe to counter act the near instant commodification that would happen in the media otherwise.

"Bohemias. Alternative subcultures. They were a crucial aspect of industrial civilization in the two previous centuries. They were where industrial civilization went to dream. A sort of unconscious r&d, exploring alternate societal strategies. Each one would have a dress code, characteristic forms of artistic expression, a substance or substances of choice, and a set of sexual values at odds with those of the culture at large. And they did, frequently, have locales with which they became associated. But they became extinct." ... "we started picking them before they could ripen. A certain crucial growing period was lost, as marketing evolved and the mechanisms of recommodification became quicker, more rapacious. Authentic subcultures required backwaters, and time, and there are no more backwaters. They went the way of geography in general.

All tomorrow's parties, William Gibson pg 173.

Posted by peterflat at 1:43 PM | Permalink

Condon's work contends with the way video games can seep into reality. This work is a rendition of the original wireframe model of a 1985 lamborghini used in the game need for speed. The wireframe is recreated here with abs injected plastic versions of real tree branches.

This work is attractive mainly because of the string of translations. A digital representation of an iconic and expensive object is stripped of it's virtual skin and then remade as a new physical object through the artificial representations of completely unrelated natural objects. The real and natural becoming real and plastic to emulate the non-real and completely ephemeral.

Posted by peterflat at 1:42 PM | Permalink

Jordi Colomer, Anarchitekton Brasilia, 2004

Colomer's work is interesting in the way that Gondry's work is interesting. It references a digital facet to reality with out overtly being about digital junk. In this case the photo is about urbanity and maybe the way that individuals relate to utopian or dystopian images and places. Having the same object in one's hand on a stick is a stab at literally objectifying a place. Holding it and having an individual relationship with it. It's a catharsis. "it's mine" "i can take it home with me." Playing with perspective is really trippy too.

Posted by peterflat at 1:35 PM | Permalink

RIAA goes after actual pirates; dead grandmothers everywhere breathe sigh of relief

providence gets put up there with miami!

no but seriously, elsewhere in ars technica there's an article about how clear channel will actually steal your music. amazing.

Posted by peterflat at 1:59 PM | Permalink