This month, i’ve been reading…
Evan Roth, T.S.A. Communication, 2009
I recently discovered that Aksioma (the Ljubljana-based Institute for Contemporary Art exploring projects that utilize new technologies in order to investigate and discuss the structures of modern society) was publishing brochures about the work of some of my favourite artists and activists: Jill Magid, SOCIÉTÉ RÉALISTE, monochrom, Trevor Paglen, UBERMORGEN.COM, Frederik De Wilde, etc. The last issue is dedicated to the work of Evan Roth, with a special focus on the selection of works displayed in his show Flight Mode. I wrote that one. This will probably sound ridiculous but i usually avoid mentioning any extra-wmmna activity at all costs. However, i had so much fun writing this text, i don’t even feel embarrassed sharing it with you. Here it it in all its PDF glory.
In connection with the publication, Evan has released a new web piece: flight-mode.net. And i really really liked the related video For Your Safety:
One of the best surprises of recent months was receiving a parcel containing the latest issue of FACTA, the magazine of Gambiologia, the Brazilian art and science of kludging. It’s punk, it’s upbeat and incredibly smart. The first issue addressed the ‘science of Apocalypse’ and this one is all about accumulating, collecting and re-purposing.
The publication explores the theme under various angles. I loved the text on ‘scrap artists’, from the Dadaists to Chinese farmer Wu Yulu and Brazilian eccentric Farnese de Andrade. Tutorials will teach you how to make lamps and ‘alarms’ to protect your collection. An essay on fast fashion explains why ‘to collect is quite different from collecting’. And i need to mention the story of the ultimate compulsive ‘hoarders’: the Collyer brothers. They died among their garbage. The police had to dig for 5 hours until they uncovered the body of Homer Collyer behind an accumulation of books and debris. The decomposing corpse of his younger brother was found 2 weeks later, ten feet from where his elder had died.
To buy a copy of FACTA, send an email to euquero at facta.art.br. And because they are that nice and generous, the Gambiologia team also uploaded the magazine on ISSUU.
I still need to wrap my head around the fact that the award-winning magazine Neural has just turned 20. That’s 20 years championing new media art, electronic music and hacktivism! To celebrate the achievement, Alessandro Ludovico and his team have recently published a bigger than ever issue (#46), “Unearthed: The 20th Anniversary Issue.” It contains ‘visionary’ interviews (from William Gibson to Jodi!) and articles published in its first decade and available for the first time in English. And if you’re a subscriber, you will also get the “First 20 years” poster.
You can also subscribe to the magazine Digital Edition accessing all issues since #29. It’s only £16.50 for one year. That’s such a reasonable price, it would be rude not to jump on the offer.
Neural #46, “Unearthed: The 20th Anniversary Issue”