The subject of the role of the artist is one that has been thoroughly explored and it is a role that has constantly been evolving since man first set pigment to stone. Visiting the Basel art fair one again begins to think immediately of what the role of the artist is and how it is changing today in reaction to the over exagerated forums that are todays modern art fairs. Discussions about the role of artists have most always been looked at in terms of form and content and what strikes me looking through the fair is the over exaggeration of both form and content which is necessary to make an impact in todays world of massive exibition spaces and conference centres full of gallery booths.
dc 16th June 2006

This fantastic performance created an innovative mix of Cambodian apsara and western contemporary dance styles, disabled and non-disabled dancers, live traditional/ modern composed music, and well as story-telling and mime. It features Sathia Kim, a beautiful classical Khmer dancer disabled after an accident in 1997, now in a wheelchair (who we also were able to interview for our documentary). Kudos to Katie and Hannah from Epic Arts!

New Performance Dates
Vientienne, Laos 25th & 26th November
Saigon, Vietnam 2nd and 3rd December
Hong Kong 8th December
Siam Reap, Cambodia 16th & 17th December

This contemporary exhibition of visiting Vietnamese with local Cambodian artists was a great example what collaboration and exchange should be. Historically since before the 1970s war, these neighbouring countries have had little to do with eachother, so this is really the first art exchange of it's kind at a grassroots level . Some of the work was really powerful, especially the opening collaborative performance art piece that involved body shaving, sewing lips closed, and Buddhist chanting. Also of note were the bold acrylic paintings by Khanh Cong Bui that extended from canvas to wall. Vietnamese American media artist and researcher Rich Streitmatter-Tran's is doing fascinating work based in Saigon, including his project "Mediating the Mekong". See more at http://www.diacritic.org/

The working group for Visionz online (pdf) magazine, led by MC, has developed this fun working style that includes meeting, brainstorming, voting, eating and emailing... finally the result. This inaugural issue takes the theme of Freedom and incorporates images of the derelict Bassac Theatre - an architechtural gem of the 1960s that has housed many cultural and artistic groups in recent years. It's a hopeful start for continuing collaborations, dialogue and expressions of emerging contemporary Cambodian creativity. Download at www.saklapel.org

MC had the chance to direct a cool Cambodian cast and crew on this cheeky low-budget commercial that has prime time running on TV and the nation singing the Yellow Pages tune! Finally a chance to do a real Asian Karaoke video! Thanks to everyone including DOP Nana, and Omry from YP...

Domestic Archeology truly lives up its title. A collection a domestic ephemera compiled by the imfamous Light Surgeons. Contextually quite interesting as the Geffrye Museum's other showrooms display houses from decades past. One asks is this the contemporary domestic situation? An overloaded space filled with contrasting and conflicting objects. Go see for yourself. Till 28 August.

Black Mountian played the Coco Club, North of Euston in London, last night. Ears were drowned in a hazy sea of sonic vibration. Long live 1974.

We visited this makeshift orphanage at the edge of the Bassac slum area which houses and schools 80 or so lively kids, ranging from a couple babies to adults. It was started by a neighborhood noodle seller who used to give the homeless street kids food and shelter. Funded by private donations from local expats and tourists, the future of this place is trepidatious since it has been rumoured for the last couple years that the Bassac will be demolished (its basically a huge squat). For more information about the evictions and relocations from the Bassac and the activities of one great NGO - Mith Samlanh (Friends) - check out http://www.friends-international.org/...

MC has been giving lectures and workshops on Media art, design and interaction for local artists and college students. The response has been really good, with lots of students engaging in critical discussion and interested in learning more. Fine Arts education in Cambodia is still rather limited to traditional practices; these talks have inspired a group of us to start a new project that might bring people together from different disciplines to explore and collaborate on an online magazine. Many thanks to Linda Saphan from Saklapel and Socheathy Ouk from RUFA for hosting and organising.

MC VJ-ed at Gasolina for Chinese New Years eve. There was amazing Dragon dances and martial arts demos from a local Khmer Chinese crew before DJs Stef, Arno and guests filled the dance floor. Was good fun and had a good response from the PP crowd who were fascinated by the live mixing of video, photos, text and motion graphics. Apparently it was the 1st time a Vj came to Cambodia according to Jinja's Blog http://jinja.apsara.org/blog/2006_02_01_older.htm

CNY in Cambodia is a big deal - people in the the streets, homes and businesses all revere the promise of the new Lunar year. We've seen lot of fascinating ancestral rites, ghost feasts and interesting and spectacular Dragon dances. It's pretty fresh. Paper Lexus 4x4s and LV handbags for the dearly departed are all the rage this 4703 - while the staple whole roasted pigs, lots of paper money and choking amounts of incense are found everywhere. It should be a year of idealism, increased social awareness and interest in the ‘underdogs’ of society. Any tendencies to take, take, take will be replaced by a widespread sentiment of generosity and selflessness... Sounds Good hey?

Went to go check out KK and his crew of street kids in the Bassac projects area who get together every evening for a session of popping and lockin', headspinning and breakin'. As a "returnee" expatriated from the good ol' USA, KK found himself sharing his luv for hip-hop with local kids, which spawned a successful breakdance crew doing gigs all over PP and more importantly, building a strong community in this urban ghetto. Nana and I videoed and interviewed a few of them in hopes of developing an interesting youth piece for cultural TV.

Met the wonderful Linda Saphan - one of the VAO curators, artist and SunDew designer who is a Cambodian Canadian from Montreal and Paris. This festival was Phnom Penh's first artist-run initiative to encourage and showcase contemporary visual artists in Cambodia. While the traditional arts - music, handicrafts and performing arts - create a rich cultural tapestry to draw from, the post-war contemporary scene is just really starting. The website features some of the diverse artists' works...

Thousands of activists from all over Asia came together in Victoria Park to stage the most organised strategic protests HK has ever seen. From factory workers in Cambodia, to Filipino domestics, militant South Korean farmers and anti-Bush, anti-war demonstrators, the marches and activities intensified throughout the week bringing HK's busy commercial centres of Causeway Bay and Wanchai to a stand still. Of course the HK police were equally organised with 9000 men ready to deal with anything...

It's been almost a year in development, but finally we have launched the new Windle website - and it's hot. The sanctuary of the Windle Salon in Covent Garden is one place I will definitely miss in London. Good job to MC, Plugg Design and Windle Team. Check it out.

"Is there a graphic artist on the planet who hasn’t gazed at a static layout and wondered: What if I could make this move? For Mike Faulkner of the London design collective D-Fuse, that daydream has become part and parcel of his everyday life — and launched this former print designer’s career on a unique trajectory."
Big Up for Mike F, your on the apple website now.

Technology has engulfed us. We sleep no more. Sitting in front of our screens. Disabled from vision other than that which we create. It is 11:30am. Don't forget to switch out the lights tonight.

This get together of Media Art and New Media thinkers was inaugurated among the rocky mountains at the Banff Centre, Canada. It was an intense weekend, approaching histories and methodologies in and around the linked topics of contemporary media art, new technologies and science. We got the chance to hear and meet scholars, critics, practitioners, curators and emerging researchers in diverse areas, from all over the world. For me highlights included talks by Machiko Kusahara and Itsuo Sakane (IAMAS Japan), Timothy Druckey, Michael Naimark and Surat Maharaj. Also the poster session was particularly inspiring, especially work and discussions with County Tam from U of HK, Alice Ming Wai Jim from Centre A and Maureen Nappi's ontology of Media Art. Thanks to Chris Jones, Harvie Branscomb and Nahendra for a great experience...

After working intensely in London, always crouched over the computer, stressing about deadline and exhibitions - this is what every good media obsessed post-modern citizen needs - a roadtrip. Just me, the Jeep Cherokee, a cooler of organic munchies, and a dozen cassette tapes from the late 80s, early 90s. It was amazing! I've done the drive from Vancouver to Banff before, but in the autumn it is spectacular! Looking forward to seeing Banff Centre again...

Usman Haque's newest project takes yet a new approach, in his ongoing exploration of the ephemeral, transitory, hertzian and non-visual conceptualisation of soft space or interactive architechure. He has constructed an environment that simulates conditions (such as infrasound and/or magnetic fields) associated with haunted spaces. Currently in the research and testing phase, he is looking for participants to objectively experience Haunt. Hope I didn't give away too much info... If you want more info,check it out!