It is a wonder how can a straight man handle so much pressure, so much uncertainty. Did she liked it? did she really liked it? did she like it to much? what if does she is thinking already about marriage now? and kids?... or did she faked it? did I play enough with the nipples? did she mind I brought a friend? what about that thing with the tongue? did she she liked it? was all that screaming faked?
I would go crazy!!!

It so much more easier with guys. If he comes, smiles and then he is asking for my name and my phone number than its clear. He likes me!

I will die

Biennale 2007
Yang Zherzhong




For this multi-screen video installation shown at 2007 Venice Biennale the artist asked people in various cities around the world to say the words 'I will die'.

BAGHDAD - Much more then a holiday

I found a flyer in my room that I picked up at the Biennale of a project called

MUCH MORE THAN A HOLIDAY
BAGHDAD

Upon finding the flyer I was smiling kindly, remembering how much I liked the project, the surprise of it all. The flyer it is a clisee traveling brochure with direction and advises, routes for sight seeings, recommended hotels, restaurants and so on. I mean, you look at it also a bit in wonder cause your thinking: "Isn't it like war over there?". Well the whole thinking process it only takes 5 seconds and then the surprise kicks in. And then you start reading. And stop smiling.

Welcome to Baghdad

Travel info

dear Tourist!
When visiting Baghdad, please remember the following safety instructions:

Traveling by plane: (NOT RECOMMENDED)

1 - There are direct flights to Baghdad only from Jordan and Syria.
2 - Flights are expensive.
3 - Some residue of atomic radiation might still be a problem in the area around the Baghdad airport, but only if you are susceptible to various types of cancer.
4 - All aircrafts flying over the airports are targeted either by Fundamentalist Muslims or the National Forces. Or both.
5 - The road from the airport to the centre of Baghdad is heavily mined.
....

Sightseeign
....
DO NOT WALK on sidewalks, they are filled with mind. MIND THE TANKS
DO NOT imagine you are in Europe, you cannot go jogging in the morning. That is the most dangerous time in Baghdad, since that's when the suicide bombers are most active.
....
If there is an explosion in your vicinity, DO NOT remain an onlooker. Above all, DO NOT run or you will be targeted as a terrorist. It is suggested that you hurt yourself in some way so that you will look like a victim and be taken to hospital.

Where to eat
If you want to go for breakfast somewhere, try to avoid the popular or crowded places. Go to the hidden cafes. We believe the best place to have breakfast is your hotel room.
...


Contact:
For more information, please visit the web site:
www.abiditravels.com
www.adelabidin.com

Biennale di Venice, French Pavillion

It took me a long time to decide how Im gonna start my little art wander, and every time I was decide to start with that piece, or the other one I was thinking that is only so trivial. As, there is no way to start I will begin with something that hanged in my mind mostly after Giardini di Biennale. And thats the woman that only knew how to started but knew to start from the end.

Sophie Calle with "Take care of yourself"
French pavilion

“I received an email telling me it was over. I didn’t know how to answer. It was as if it wasn’t meant for me. It ended with the words: Take care of yourself. I took this recommendation literally. I asked hundred and two women, chosen for their profession, to interpret the letter in their professional capacity. To analyze it, provide a commentary on it, act it, dance it, sing it. Dissect it. Squeeze it dry. Understand for me. Answer for me. It was a way to take the time to break up. At my own pace. A way to take care of myself.”

Upon the entrance of the french pavilion your eyes fall upon a wall of portraits, all reading a piece of printed paper. Lovely pictures, the surprise still didn't kick in. Then you read somewhere, or u start figuring yourself that the piece of paper must be the same. As you enter the next room you see the piece of paper, letter enormously printed and corrected, or translated in chinese, or arabic. Some monitors with women (107 woman of different profession) reading the letter, in a kitchen, on a terrace, in a bed, on a stage, singing it, dancing it, playing it, eating it. Actually the one eating was a parrot. You get the idea.
The letter was send it by her former lover. Actually the email. And, as we all feel to come to a closure to make us understand and let go, she also did. And just brought it to the next possible step. Moving by its simplicity. And wit. And pointless satisfactory revenge. Oh, la passion française...

Besides that it felt a bit feministic.

Art Europe

I am planning for a long time to start posting about the different art fairs, festivals, forums, interface events that took place around Europe this year, and that I had the chance to visit. I covered a bit Basel, and in an ironical way, Basel Art was the only one I saw to little off, even if it takes place in the city I live in. Now the other ones that I will try at least to cover during this time will be: La Biennale di Venezia, Documenta 12 and ArsElectronica. The last one will take place beginning of september.









Now, the first thing which one might observe about those events are the differences between them. ArtBasel is a contemporary art fair with the needed satellites. Now, that means that during one week Basel its invaded by artzy fartzy galleries selling from Picasso to Warhol, art-deco furniture to minimal retro, from art-brut to tachism. Several labyrinth halls stuck with galleries and so much art that you just want go and sit on a green field with a hay straw in your mouth. Now, the little part I kinda covered was Art Unlimited, which is it still based on the fair concept but its contemporary art as in videos, installation, performances and so on. But, honestly, at the end its about the customer, the american lady that say's: "I like that blue!!! I will buy this painting!".



Now, Biennale has a much noble cause as it is an International Art Exhibition, bringing the different cultures together under one claim. This year was "think with the senses - feel with the mind". It turns out that the thinking is global but the feel political.




But as got to political, well there Bienalle di Venice "competed" with Documenta12. An art forum, by roots destined to be politically endorsed and involved. Documenta12 started as one time exhibition after the Third Reich, with the purpose of exhibiting the "forbidden art" and "o reconcile German public life with international modernity and also confront it with its own failed Enlightenment". But, naturally, had such a success that even today... But then again, even if I can not remember of the artist exhibited, or her work, I remember the small mention on the exhibition card: "Madam Xartist stopped creating in the moment she realized art doesn't impact or reach as far as politics." So if it doesn't actually make any difference, why all the fuss!?!


Today I am looking forward to Ars Electronica and its theme "Goodbye privacy". Yes, as being a Festival of Art, Technology and Society, with the emphasize on the second word please, it mirrors our fears of becoming to public personas through 0 1 lines. But I am all about digital transparency!!!

Look, I must be boring you already. Fine. Next post will have colourfull pictures and... shit! Promise!?!

I wanted to post about a friend that has the warmest hug in the world, hug which reminds me of Didi's imaginary friend that had a big heart on his belly and when he was hugged the heart would light up and be warm.
But I am not gonna do it.

Was reading today in a morning newspaper that in 100 years there will be no redhair people left. That makes me feel special. And even more lonely.

what women want

Sometimes last week, at school, in a normal afternoon while I was just trying to find creatively ways to procrastinate away from my diploma documentation, a blond head pops around my "office" door. And there is was, my meaning perfect procrastination reason, in the middle of my diploma space. Ena, a guest lecturer which I loved for her witty comments, meaningful insights and high heels was visiting Basel for a couple of days and she though of paying a visit to the school. Delight as we smoked chatted and I showed her around commenting at how little anything actually changed. After an hour as I was showing her out I was thinking to invite her for a dinner and a glass of wine. but at the "red glass of wine" though I remember something which stopped the invitation on the tip of my tongue.
I remember once of the last times I saw her was at a teachers party, were we were sitting at the same table, but having other conversation partners. Nice evening, nice atmosphere, everybody was cheerful, enjoying a glass of wine. As was I, only that my glasses of wine were to fast getting empty without feeling much of the effect till I realized that dear E. sitting next to me was drinking from my glass as hers was empty. With a laugh, i mentioned this to her and she turn and half ironically, half serious, replied:
" Yeah, women always getz whatz theyz wantz!"
Mine only logical reply was: "So, they wanna get drunk?"

As I was waving frantically goodbye to Ena I was thinking that I am glad to be a man that doesn't get always what he wants.

the inner beauty

I found a couple of days something really cool on the net on the www.simpsonsmovie.com. The cool thing was that you could create an avatar of yourself in the simpsons cartoon style. Now I played with the tool quite a lot as, doing ma' mini me simpsons avatar I started to also do my friends. And around that time the idea came to ask some of my friends do an avatar for me. Just for fun.... ahem... and here are the results.

This was the avatar I did for me. Not 100% realistic (the broad back...) but hey, its a cartoon!!!




Well, this projection was done by "me" dear friend Lulu. Also a blogger at theivydreams.
Probably she was carring in mind that when I did a "which simpson carather are you?" test I came out as... BURNS... So she created a younger version of him...


The next one was from one of my occasional spoon climbing partener Ana. Yeah, she also has a blog: schyssdraeggzuegli. I hope she had Wolverine in her mind... well, a geeky version at least.





And the final (cause I don't dare to ask anybody else) is my dear Lady Annette, my british accent instructor. No, she doesn't have a blog but she is the coolest cause she has an animated GIFF on her last.fm account... http://www.last.fm/user/ooenzoo/





Well, I asked for it, didn't I?