Art & CULTURE MAGAZINE

MARCH 11

ART  &  REALITY    How Art Saves Sniffy from Serpent Death What to do if your country`s government decides to quit…? Modern Art and its Exciting Deviations

Also in this issue… Art from

South Korea and Singapore:

Introducing the works of Nami Kim

and Speak Cryptic

 

  2    

  3    

YOMO  Art  Gallery    Support  your  local  hero.  Designed  by  Aminta  Rother  Cover  by  Nick  Lu    

  4    

  5    

09 12 19 23 26

The Romantic Encounter of Art and Reality Part 1: Art Saves Sniffy from Serpent Death By Jim Muir

YOMO March Exhibition: Introducing Nami Kim and Speak Cryptic

Explore the infamous world of Graffiti in one of Canada’s most pulsating cities: The Toronto Graffiti Walk By Monisha Sharma

Deviations in Contemporary Art By Maiteree Mann

What to do if your county’s government decides to quit? “Is there a Pilot in Belgium?” by Emmanuelle Lambert

  6    

07

  7    

HERE   IT   IS,   IT’S  FINALLY  DONE.  AFTER  COUNTLESS  SLEEPLESS  NIGHTS,  THE  VERY   FIRST   ISSUE   OF   YOMO   IS   OUT.   I’M   ALREADY   VERY   EXCITED   TO  

RECEIVE   FEEDBACK…POSITIVE   AND   NEGATIVE.   AS   MOST   OF   YOU   KNOW,  THE  YOMO  PROJECT  STARTED  IN  JANAUARY  OF  THIS  YEAR  WITH  A  BUNCH  

OF  VERY  INTERESTING  AND  TALENTED  ARTISTS.    I   DECIDED   TO   CREATE   A   BI-­‐MONTHLY  MAGAZINE   IN  ORDER   TO  NOT  ONLY  

INTRODUCE  SOME  OF  THE  ARTISTS  FEATURED  ON  THE  WEBSITE  BUT  ALSO  TO  

DISCUSS  CONTEMPORARY  ISSUES  IN  THE  ART  SCENE.    ONE   OF   MY   FAVORITE   ARTICLES   IN   THIS   ISSUE   IS   “THE   ROMANTIC  

ENCOUNTER  OF  ART   AND  REALITY.”   THIS   IS   THE   FIRST   PART  OF   A   SERIES  THAT  WILL   EXPLORE   THE   EXCITING   BUT   NOT   ALWAYS   EASY   RELATIONSHIP  

BETWEEN  CONTEMPORARY  ART  AND  REALITY.    ALSO  GET  ADVICE  ON  WHAT  TO  DO  WHEN  YOUR  GOVERNMENT  DECIDES  TO  

QUIT  AND  DISCOVER  HOW  THIS  COULD  RESULT  IN  AN  UNUSUALLY  ARTISTIC  

REVOLUTION.    WELL  I  HOPE  YOU  ENJOY  THIS  ISSUE  OF  YOMO…  

First things first.

Aminta

  8    

THE ROMANTIC ENCOUNTERS OF ART AND REALITY Part 1: Art Saves Sniffy from Serpent Death by Jim Muir

THROUGH  A  SERIES  OF  ARTICLES   I  AM  GOING  TO  TELL  YOU  THE  STORY  

OF   A   WILY   CHAMELEON   WHO   HAS   BEEN   COVERTLY   CREEPING   INTO  

YOUR  REALITY.  HIS  NAME   IS   ‘ARTHUR’,   ‘ART’  FOR  SHORT.  ART  HAS  A  WIFE  NAMED   'ELIZABETH',  WHOM  HE   AFFECTIONATELY   REFERS   TO   AS  

'ELI'.   THEIR   LAST   NAME,   OF   COURSE,   IS   'TIST'.   THEY   HAVE   BEEN  MARRIED  A   LONG,   LONG  TIME   -­‐  CENTURIES,  MAYBE  EVEN  MILLENNIA.  FOR   EONS   THEY   WENT   QUIETLY   ABOUT   THEIR   BUSINESS,   LIVING   IN  GALLERIES   AND  MUSEUMS,   SUPPORTED   IN   THEIR   ENDEAVORS   BY   THE  STATE   AND  WEALTHY   CONNOISSEURS.   THEY   NEVER   REALLY   GOT   INTO  ANYBODY   ELSE'S   BUSINESS,   SO   PEOPLE   PRETTY   MUCH   LEFT   THEM  

ALONE.  BUT  THEN  SOMETHING  HAPPENED.  SOMEWHERE  AROUND  THE  

MIDDLE   OF   THE   LAST   CENTURY   A  GERMAN   PROPHET   NAMED   JOSEPH  BEUYS   HAD   A   VISION.   HE   SAID   THAT   ART   SHOULD   GET   OUT   OF   HIS  CASTLE,   AND   CIRCULATE   AMONGST   THE   MASSES.   HE   SAID   THAT  EVERYONE  SHOULD  BE  MORE  LIKE  ART.  THE  PEOPLE,  FOR  THEIR  PART,  WERE   DUBIOUS.   EVEN   MANY   OF   ART'S   CLOSEST   FRIENDS   WERE  

SKEPTICAL,   BUT   ART   TOOK   BEUYS'   WORDS   TO   HEART.   HE   STARTED  DISGUISING   HIMSELF,   AND   GOING   OUT   INTO   REALITY,   WANDERING  

AMONGST  THE  PUBLIC.  ART  REDEFINED  HIMSELF  TO  SUCH  AN  EXTENT  

OVER  THE  YEARS  THAT  HE  EVENTUALLY  DEFIED  DEFINITION.  HE  BECAME  

UTTERLY   UNRECOGNIZABLE.   OFTEN  WHEN   HE   DID   IDENTIFY   HIMSELF,  UNBELIEVERS   WOULD   CRY   OUT,   "THAT'S   NOT   ART!"   TO   WHICH   HE  

WOULD  REPLY,  "YES,  MY  FRIEND,  IT  IS.  I  WALK  AMIDST  YOU  NOW.  I  AM  

A  PART  OF  YOU,  AND  YOU  ARE  A  PART  OF  ME."  …  

“Gibson advertised

that on a particular

day, at a particular

time and place, he was going

to set Sniffy between two

canvases and squash him

with a concrete block

to create a diptych.”

  9    

EVEN  MORE  SURREPTITIOUSLY,  ART  WOULD  OFTEN  

CLOAK  HIMSELF  AS  REALITY   ITSELF,   SO  THAT  WHEN  

THE   PEOPLE   THOUGHT   THEY   WERE   OBSERVING  

REALITY,   THEY   WERE   ACTUALLY   ABSORBING   ART  INTO   THEIR   LIVES.   LIKE   MEDICINE   SLIPPED   INTO   A  

CHILD'S  CUP  OF  HOT  COCOA.      ART   AND   ELI   WILL   ALWAYS   LOVE   AND   SUPPORT  

EACH   OTHER,   BUT   THEY   HAVE   BEEN   GROWING  

APART.  ART  HAS  BEEN  STEPPING  OUT  ON  HER.  THEY  ARE  CURRENTLY  UNDERGOING  A  TRIAL  SEPARATION,  AND   A   DIVORCE   MAY   BE   IN   THE   WORKS.   AS   ELI  SAID,  "IT'S  NOT  JUST  THAT  HE  HAS  MOVED  OUT  OF  

THE  GALLERY.  HE  IS  ACTUALLY  STARTING  TO  BELIEVE  THAT  HE   IS   PART  OF  REALITY!  HE   SEEMS   TO   THINK  

HE  HOLDS  SOME  SWAY  OVER  SOCIETY!"  WHEN  ELI  

SAID  THIS,  ART'S  EYES  LIT  UP.  IT  WAS  JUST  AS  THE  

PROPHET   HAD   ENVISIONED!   "ART,"   BEUYS   HAD  SAID,  "SHOULD  BE  A  REAL  MEANS,   IN  DAILY  LIFE,  TO  GO  IN  AND  TRANSFORM  THE  POWER  FIELDS  OF  

SOCIETY."  I  SUPPOSE  IT  ALL  STARTED  COMING  TO  

A   HEAD   IN   THE   MIDDLE   OF   THE   LAST   CENTURY,  WHEN   ART   STARTED   DOING   HIS   LITTLE  

PERFORMANCE   PIECES.   I   REMEMBER   THE   FIRST  

PUBLIC   PERFORMANCE   I   ENCOUNTERED.   IT  STOPPED  ME  IN  MY  TRACKS  AND  CHANGED  EVERY  

IDEA  I  HAD  ABOUT  WHAT  ART  WAS,  OR  WHAT  HE  

COULD  BE.   IT  WAS  THE  FIRST  TIME  I  PERSONALLY  WITNESSED  ART  AND  REALITY  KISS.      IT   WAS   IN   VANCOUVER   (CANADA)   IN   1990  WHEN   ART   TOOK   THE   PSEUDONYM   'RICK  

In  this  photo:  Jim  Muir  

 10    

GIBSON'.   GIBSON   ‘RENTED’   A   RAT   FROM   A  

LOCAL   PET   SHOP   AND   NAMED   HIM   ‘SNIFFY’.  SNIFFY’S   FATE   AT   THE   PET   SHOP   WAS   TO   BE  

SOLD   AS   SNAKE   FOOD.   GIBSON   ADVERTISED  

THAT  ON  A  PARTICULAR  DAY,  AT  A  PARTICULAR  TIME  AND  PLACE,  HE  WAS  GOING  TO  SET  SNIFFY  BETWEEN   TWO   CANVASES   AND   SQUASH   HIM  

WITH  A  CONCRETE  BLOCK  TO  CREATE  A  DIPTYCH.  THE   PUBLIC   OUTCRY  WAS   ENORMOUS.   IT  WAS  

ON   THE   LATE   NIGHT   NEWS,   AND   IN   THE  

NEWSPAPERS.   ANIMAL   RIGHTS   ACTIVISTS   GOT  

INVOLVED.   EVERYONE  WAS   TALKING   ABOUT   IT.  THEY   DIDN'T   KNOW   WHAT   IT   WAS,   BUT   THEY  WERE   SURE   IT   WASN'T   ART!   AT   THE  

DESIGNATED   TIME   AND   PLACE   HUNDREDS   OF  

ANGRY   PROTESTERS   SHOWED   UP.   THE   POLICE  WERE  CALLED  IN  AS  THE  MOB  ATTACKED  GIBSON  

SPECIFICALLY,   AND   ART   GENERALLY.   BOTH  WERE   GENUINELY   AFRAID   FOR   THEIR   LIFE.  SNIFFY  WAS   NOWHERE   TO   BE   FOUND.  GIBSON  

HAD   ALREADY   RETURNED   SNIFFY   TO   THE   PET  SHOP,  AND  ONE  OF  THE  ANIMAL  RIGHTS  GROUPS  

LATER   ADOPTED   HIM.   THE   ANIMAL   RIGHTS  

GROUP   TOOK   CREDIT   FOR   SAVING   SNIFFY,   BUT  REALLY  IT  WAS  ART  WHO  HAD  SNATCHED  SNIFFY  FROM   THE   JAWS   OF   SERPENT   DEATH!   GIBSON  

NEVER  ACTUALLY   INTENDED  TO  SQUISH  SNIFFY.  UNLIKE   HIS   COUSIN   CY   ANTS,   ART   WOULD  

NEVER   HARM   AN   ANIMAL   FOR   HIS   OWN  

PURPOSES.      THE   PERFORMANCE   WAS   OVER,   BUT   THE  

DIALOGUE  HAD  JUST  BEGUN.  FOR  A  COUPLE  OF  WEEKS   THOUSANDS   OF   PEOPLE   BECAME  MORE  

LIKE  ART.  THEIR  REALITY  WAS   JARRED  SLIGHTLY  

ASKEW   AS   THEY   PONDERED   WHAT   ART   WAS  

TRYING   TO   GET   ACROSS.   THOUSANDS   OF  

HUMANS   DIE   EVERY   DAY   FROM   WAR   AND  

STARVATION,  DISEASE  AND  NEGLECT.  RATS  ARE  SNAPPED   INTO   DEATH   BY   RATTRAPS   AND   PET  

REPTILES   ALL   THE   TIME,   LET   ALONE   CRAZY   CY  ANTS’   EXPERIMENTS.   WHERE   ARE   ALL   THE  

PROTESTERS   FOR   THESE   EVERYDAY  

OCCURRENCES?   HOW   CAN   ONE   RAT'S   DEMISE  

ATTRACT   SO   MUCH   MEDIA   ATTENTION   AND  

PUBLIC  INDIGNATION  IN  A  WORLD  SO  FULL  OF  

POINTLESS   DEATH   AND   DESTRUCTION?   ART  PENETRATED   REALITY   AND   GOT   PEOPLE  

THINKING.    THE   SNIFFY   CAPER   CROSSED   A   LINE  

SOMEWHERE.  WAS  IT  ABOUT  ART,  OR  WAS  IT  

ABOUT   REALITY?   IT   WAS   CERTAINLY   ABOUT  

HYPOCRISY,   AND   IT   WAS   ABOUT   LIFE   AND  

DEATH.  THERE  ISN'T  MUCH  MORE  REAL  THAN  

THAT.  IT  AFFECTED  ALMOST  EVERYONE  IN  THE  

CITY;   IT  WENT  WAY   BEYOND  ART'S   NORMAL  

CONFINES.   IT  WAS,   FOR  ME   AT   THE   TIME,   A  NEW   PARADIGM   OF   WHAT   ART   COULD   BE.  ART,   I   THOUGHT,   CAN   BE   A   PART   OF  

EVERYDAY   REALITY,   AND   A   MEANS   TO  

TRANSFORM   SOCIETY.   THE   SNIFFY   SAGA   IS  JUST  AN  INKLING  OF  WHAT  ART  HAS  BEEN  UP  TO   SINCE   HE   STARTED   MESSING   AROUND  

WITH   REALITY.   I   KNOW   ART   FEELS   SOME  

REMORSE  ABOUT  THE  DAMAGE  DONE  TO  HIS  

RELATIONSHIP  WITH  ELI,  BUT   I  REALLY  THINK  HE  IS  ON  THE  RIGHT  TRACK.  ART’S  ROMANTIC  

ENCOUNTERS   WITH   REALITY   ARE   BRINGING  

THEM   CLOSER   AND   CLOSER   TOGETHER   ALL  

THE  TIME.                                                                                                                              

Read Part 2 of this series in the

next issue of YOMO

 11    

YOMOartists  

 12    

NAMI KIM ARTIST.  PRINT  MAKER.  GRAPHIC  DESIGNER.  NAMI  WAS  BORN  IN  1979  IN  SOUTH  KOREA,  HOWEVER  SHE  HAS  LIVED  IN  SAN  FRANCISCO,  NEW  YORK,  THE  PHILLIPINES,  THE  MALDIVES,  AND  IN  CHICAGO.  THE  EVENTS  AND  OBJECTS  FROM  THESE  PLACES  AND  THEIR  RELATIONSHIP  

TO  HER  PERSONAL  HISTORY  FASCINATE  HER.  DURING  THE  PROCESS  OF  CREATING  NEW  ART  

PIECES,  SHE  RECONNECTS  WITH  THESE  PLACES  

AND  EXPERIENCES,  AND  SHE  CONTINUES  TO  HOLD  THE  MEMORY  AND  TANGIBLE  FEELINGS  

SHE  ENCOUNTERED  IN  THESE  VERY  MOMENTS.  HER  RECENT  WORKS,  INCLUDING  MAKING  

SILKSCREEN  PRINTS,  HAS  BEEN  A  REAL  TURNING  POINT  FOR  HER.  SHE  IS  INTERESTED  IN  IMAGES  

DERIVED  FROM  POP  CULTURES  AND  PERSONAL  

EXPERIENCES.  NAMI’S  WORKS  HAVE  RECENTLY  BEEN  SELECTED  

FOR  THE  KOREAN  AMERICAN  DAY  ART  EXHIBITION  AND  HAVE  BEEN  DISPLAYED  AT  THE  CHICAGO  DOWNTOWN  CENTER  IN  JANUARY  ’11  

Exclusive  Interview  with  Nami  Kim    People  always  wonder  of  how  others  grew  up  and  what  influenced  them  to  take  certain  paths  in  their  lives.  Could  you  tell  us  a  little  more  about  yourself?    I  grew  up  in  South  Korea  and  had  a  big  family.  I  lived  with  my  parents,  older  sister,  younger  sister,  grandmother,  aunts  and  a  dog.    I  was  a  middle  child  and  always  tried  to  get  attention,  so  I  acted  weird  sometimes.  For  example,  I  cut  my  hair  by  myself  looking  funny  or  took  my  sisters’  stuffed  animals  and  destroyed  them.  I  was  a  troublemaker,  but  I  loved  to  draw  and  paint.  I  got  lots  of  awards  when  I  was  in  elementary  school.  I  really  miss  my  childhood.  

 13    

So,  then  when  exactly  did  you  first  realize  you  wanted  to  become  an  artist?  When  I  turned  9,  I  won  the  first  prize  in  a  drawing  contest  in  my  elementary  school.  I  still  remember  the  feeling  when  people  clapped  their  hands  in  front  of  me…such  a  good  feeling.      Did  you  also  have  any  idols  when  growing  up?  YES,  I  do.  “New  kids  on  the  Block”  -­‐  They  are  my  idols  and  my  turning  point.  When  I  listened  to  their  music  at  age  13,  they  changed  my  life.      I  learned  English  really  hard.  I  sent  fan  letters  and  gifts  to  my  favorite  “New  Kids”  member,  Danny  Wood.    I  joined  a  fan  club  and  had  pen  pals  from  10  different  counties.  They  were  all  “New  Kids”  fans.  My  pure  American  dream  started.      The  works  you  create  are  very  unique,  interesting,  strange,  and  funny  at  the  same  time.  Where  do  you  get  the  inspiration  for  your  art?  I  traveled  a  lot  during  the  last  10  years  and  have  lived  in  four  different  countries.  New  people,  exotic  places,  food  and  culture  inspire  me.  I  am  fascinated  by  the  events  and  objects  from  these  places  and  their  connection  to  my  personal  history.    

Like  a  Virgin  by  Nami  Kim  

 14    

What  is  it  that  you  want  to  express  or  achieve  with  your  art?  Mainly,  I  want  to  make  viewer  laugh  and  smile.  At  the  same  time  however,  I  want  to  make  the  observers  think  and  let  them  try  to  figure  out  what  I  want  to  express,  like  a  puzzle.  I  hope  my  art  forces  discussion  and  reaction  from  the  viewer.  Whether  positive  or  negative,  love  or  hate,  a  conversation  emerges.      When  you  decided  to  me  part  of  the  YOMO  project,  you  also  decided  to  donate  part  of  your  profits  from  art  sales  to  a  charity  organization.  Why  did  you  choose  to  support  the  Betty  Wood  Breast  Cancer  Foundation?  Betty  wood  is  mom  of  Danny  Wood  from  “New  Kids  on  the  Block.”  She  died  of  breast  cancer  and  Danny  created  the  Betty  Wood  Breast  Cancer  foundation,  remembering  his  mom.  I  want  to  support  them,  because,  he  changed  my  life.  That  little  Asian  girl  who  lived  in  Korea  finally  came  to  America,  making  art  and  following  her  dream.  Danny  made  me  who  I  am  now.  I  really  appreciate  that.  Now,  it  is  my  turn  to  give  back.    

CHECK  OUT  SOME  OF  NAMI  KIM’S  ARTWORKS  IN  THE  CURRENT  YOMO  

EXHIBITION  AT  WWW.YOMOART.ORG/ARTWORKS    THE  PRNTS  ARE  NOW  UP  FOR  SALE  AND  10%  OF  THE  PROFITS  WILL  BE  

DONATED  TO  THE  BETTY  WOOD  BREAT  CANCER  FOUNDATION.    

 15    “Let  It  Be…”  by  Nami  Kim    -­‐  silkscreen  on  paper  

 16    

SPEAK CRYPTIC

“SPEAK  CRYPTIC”  IS  THE  MONIKER  OF  FARIZWAN  FAJARI,  AN  ARTIST  AND  ILLUSTRATOR  WORKING  AND  LIVING  IN  SINGAPORE.  HE  GRADUATED  FROM  THE  

LASALLE  COLLEGE  OF  THE  ARTS  IN  2007  WITH  A  BACHELORS  DEGREE  IN  FINE  ART,  MAJORING  IN  PAINTING.  EXCLUSIVELY  FOR  YOMO,  FARISWAN  CREATED  THREE  

ILLUSTRATIONS  THAT  ARE  UP  FOR  SALE  IN  THE  CURRENT  YOMO  EXHIBITION  

SUPPORTING  THE  GIRL  EFFECT  CHARITY  ORGANIZATION.    

 

"THESE  ILLUSTRATIONS  ARE  BASED  UPON  VARIOUS  REACTIONS  TOWARDS  DIFFERENT  

SITUATIONS  THAT  HAS  TRANSPIRED  WITHIN  MY  

IMMEDIATE  ENVIRONMENT.  IT  COULD  BE  BEST  DESCRIBED  AS  VISUAL  DIARY  OF  A  SINGLE  

INSTANCE.    

THE  NARRATIVE  HOWEVER,  IS  PERSONAL  TO  THE  ARTIST  BUT  HE  HOPES  THAT  CERTAIN  SIGNS  THAT  

EXISTS  WITHIN  THE  IMAGE  WILL  ACT  AS  A  

CATALYST  TO  TRIGGER  OFF  THE  VIEWER'S  OWN  

INTERPRETATION  OF  THAT  INSTANCE."  -­‐SPEAK  CRYPTIC    

 17    “The  Movie  Channel”  by  Speak  Cryptic  

 18    

 19    

IS THERE A PILOT IN BELGIUM? by Emmanuelle Lambert

RATIFY   A   STATE   BUDGET,   TO   NO   AVAIL.   SINCE  THEN,   THE   PREVIOUS   GOVERNMENT   THAT   HAD  

RESIGNED  THUS  CAUSING  THE  JUNE  ELECTIONS,  IS  ACTING  AS  CARETAKER  GOVERNMENT  TO  HANDLE  

CURRENT   AFFAIRS.   NOW   ADD   THE   SECRET  

INGREDIENT   TO   THE   ABOVE   RECIPE:   THE   SMALL  

COUNTRY   IS   A   FOUNDING   MEMBER   OF   THE  

EUROPEAN  UNION.    HARD   TO   IMAGINE,   RIGHT?   YOU   MIGHT   GO   AS  

FAR   AS   TO   SAY   THAT   SUCH   SITUATION   IS  

IMPOSSIBLE!    WELL,  WELCOME  TO  BELGIUM.      SURREALISM AT ITS BEST TENSIONS  BETWEEN  DUTCH-­‐SPEAKING  FLANDERS  IN   THE   NORTH   AND   FRENCH-­‐SPEAKING  WALLOOUNIA   IN   THE   SOUTH   HAVE   ALWAYS  

EXISTED,   MOSTLY   COMING   FROM   THEIR  

AUTHORITIES.   HOWEVER   THEY   HAVE   REACHED   A  

WHOLE   NEW   LEVEL   OVER   THE   LAST   FEW   YEARS,  

IMAGINE   A   SMALL   COUNTRY   IN   WESTERN  

EUROPE.  THIS  SMALL  COUNTRY  IS  DIVIDED  INTO  

THREE  REGIONS,  ONE  SOUTH,  ONE  NORTH,  AND  A   THIRD   REGION   IN   THE   MIDDLE,   WHICH  

HAPPENS   TO   BE   THE   CAPITAL.   NORTH   AND  

SOUTH   SPEAK   DIFFERENT   LANGUAGES,   AND  

MIDDLE  SPEAKS  A  BIT  OF  BOTH.    LET’S  TAKE  IT  FURTHER:  IMAGINE  THAT  GENERAL  

ELECTIONS  TOOK  PLACE  IN  THIS  SMALL  COUNTRY  

IN  JUNE  LAST  YEAR.  A  RIGHT-­‐WING  SEPARATIST  

PARTY   WON   IN   THE   NORTH,   THEREFORE  

CLAIMING   MORE   AUTONOMY.   A   LEFT-­‐WING  

SOCIALIST   PARTY  WON   IN   THE   SOUTH.   AND   IN  THE  MIDDLE,  BOTH  A  LIBERAL  RIGHT-­‐OF-­‐CENTER  PARTY   AND   THE   LEFT-­‐WING   SOCIALIST   PARTY  

WON.      IMAGINE   THAT   SINCE   THEN,  ALL   THESE   PARTIES  HAVE   BEEN   NEGOTIATING   TO   FORM   A  

GOVERNMENT   ABLE   TO   CARRY   OUT   THE  

NECESSARY   INSTITUTIONAL   REFORMS   AND  

 20    

MOSTLY  OVER  BRUSSELS,  THE  CAPITAL.    SURREALISM   IS   A   WELL-­‐KNOWN   BELGIAN   TRAIT,  TRANSPIRING   IN   THE   POLITICAL   ARENA   AT   THE  

MOMENT.      A PEOPLE ’S REACTION THE   BELGIANS   HAD   ACCEPTED   THE   SITUATION,  UNTIL   YET   ANOTHER   SERIES   OF   NEGOTIATIONS  

FAILED  MID-­‐JANUARY.  THEY  ARE  NOW  STARTING  TO  

REACT   IN   THEIR   PACIFIST   AND   SOMEWHAT   FUNNY  

WAY.    EVERYTHING   STARTED   WHEN   KRIS   JANSSENS,   A  YOUNG   FLEMISH   JOURNALIST,   POSTED   A   VIDEO  OF  HIMSELF   ON   YOUTUBE   VOICING   HIS   FRUSTRATION  AND  ANGER  AT  THE   INCAPACITY  OF  POLITICIANS  TO  

END   THE   DEADLOCK.   THIS   VIDEO   HAS   SINCE   THEN  SPARKED  A  WHOLE  RANGE  OF  INITIATIVES,  SUCH  AS  THE  “SHAME”  MARCH  SUPPORTED  BY    A  WEBSITE   (HTTP://WWW.230111.BE/)   IN  THREE  LANGUAGES,  LAUNCHED  BY  THREE  STUDENTS  FROM  

THE   VRIJE   UNIVERSITEIT   BRUSSEL.   THE   MARCH  

TOOK   PLACE   ON   JANUARY   23RD   AND   GATHERED  

OVER  34  000  PEOPLE.    LESS   CLASSICAL   INITIATIVES   INCLUDE   THE  

CAMPING16.BE  WEBSITE,  WHERE  YOU  CAN  PLANT  A  

VIRTUAL  TENT  IN  FRONT  OF  THE  PRIME  MINISTER’S  OFFICE  ON  16  RUE  DE  LA  LOI  IN  BRUSSELS,  UNTIL  A  GOVERNMENT  IS  FORMED.  THE  IDEA  SEEMS  CRAZY,  BUT  TO  THIS  DAY  AROUND  144  000  PEOPLE  HAVE  JOINED  THE  PROTEST  CAMP.    HOWEVER   THE   MOST   TYPICAL   BELGIAN   REACTION  CAME   FROM   BELGIUM’S   BEST-­‐KNOWN   ACTOR,  BENOIT   POELVOORDE   OF  MAN   BITES   DOG   FAME.  IN   AN   INTERVIEW   ON   JANUARY   12,   POELVOORDE  URGED   BELGIAN   CITIZENS   NOT   TO   SHAVE   UNTIL   A  

PROPER   GOVERNMENT   IS   IN   OFFICE.   AS  SURREALISTIC  AS   IT  MAY  SEEM,  THE  CALL  HAS  LED  TO  A  TREMENDOUS  RESPONSE  SO  FAR.    A   COMMUNICATION   AGENCY   HAS   FOLLOWED  

SUIT  WITH  A  WEBSITE,  FEATURING  PORTRAITS  OF   BEARDED   PEOPLE   (YES,   EVEN   VERY  

CREATIVE  WOMEN!).    WILL  THESE  INITIATIVES  HAVE  A  TRUE  IMPACT  

ON   THE   DECISION-­‐MAKING   PROCESS?   IT   IS  HARD  TO   TELL  AT   THIS   STAGE.   IF   IT  DOESN’T,  THE   BELGIANS   WILL   FIND   OTHER   WICKED  

WAYS   OF   EXPRESSING   THEMSELVES   AND  

GETTING   THEIR   POINT   ACROSS,   YOU   CAN   BET  YOUR  BEARD  ON  THAT!                                                                                

Watch  Kris  Janssens’  video  with  English  subtitles  at:  http://universalsubtitles.org/en/videos/mQMJiwWDtPAG/    Check  out  all  the  beards  at  WWW.BEARDFORBELGIUM.BE    

 21    

Does this mess with your eyes??

 22    

Photos  by  Monisha  Sharma  

 23    

THE TORONTO GRAFFITI WALK

by Monisha Sharma

OFF   THE   TORONTO   FASHION  DISTRICT   BY   CHINA   TOWN,   IS   A  KILOMETRE  OF  UNADULTERATED  ARTISTIC  EXPRESSION.  THERE,  I  FOUND  MYSELF  BATTLING  SNOW  ON  A  COLD,  WINTRY  SUNDAY  AFTERNOON,   IN   THE   MIDST   OF   A   SPECTACULAR   COLOUR  

EXPLOSION.   EVEN   IN   THE   SNOWSTORM   SEVERAL   OTHER  

GRAFFITI   ENTHUSIASTS   HAD   DRAGGED   THEMSELVES   OUT   OF  

THEIR   WARM   ABODES   TO   WITNESS   ART   TAKE   OVER   THE   CITY.  THEY   COULD   NOT   BE   FAULTED   FOR   THEIR   EAGERNESS.    THROUGH   LAYERS   OF   SYMBOLISM   OR   JUST   CAMPY   HUMOUR,  GRAFFITI   PAINTERS   OR   WRITERS   AS   THEY   LIKE   TO   BE   CALLED,  MAKE  THE  WALLS  OF  THE  CITY  COME  ALIVE.  I’M  DRAWN  IN  BY  A  

TREASURE  MAP   THAT   IN   TRUE  GRAF   STYLE   IS   PLACED  NEXT   TO  

AN   EXPLODING,   CRIMSON-­‐RED,   LARGER   THAN   LIFE   SCORPION  CREATURE.  FURTHER  ALONG  THE  ALLEY,  REFERENCES  TO  “STYLE  IN   PROGRESS”   –   AN   ANNUAL   LEGALIZED   GRAFFITI   EVENT,   OR  THE   UNPOPULAR   G20   SUMMIT   RECENTLY   HELD   IN   TORONTO  

COVER   THE   WALLS.   FROM   THE   WHIMSICAL   TO   THE  

STAUNCHLY   POLITICAL,   GRAFFITI   ARTISTS   SUCH   AS   SKAM,  KANE,  MIKE  GIANT   AND   REVOK   PRESENT   AN   OPINIONATED  COMMENTARY  ON  OUR  LIVES  IN  TORONTO.      THE   ART   OF   GRAFFITI   HAS   EXISTED   EVER   SINCE   MAN   HAS  

KNOWN   HOW   TO   EXPRESS   HIMSELF   ON   WALLS;   FROM  

CAVEMAN   ETCHINGS   MORE   THAN   THIRTY   THOUSAND   YEARS  

AGO   TO   EXTRAORDINARY   SPRAY   PAINT   CREATIONS   ON   CITY  

WALLS   TODAY.   THESE   SKETCHES   FIRST   ORIGINATED   AS   A  MEANS   OF   COMMUNICATION   OR   CENTREPIECES   FOR  

CEREMONIES  AND  PLAYED  A  BIG  PART  IN  RELIGION.  IN  MANY  

WAYS,  GRAFFITI  HAS  EVOLVED   INTO  A  CULT  OR  SUBCULTURE  OF   ITS   OWN   WITH   AN   INTRICATE   SET   OF   RULES.   MODERN  

GRAFFITI   BEGAN   AS   A   REBELLIOUS   OUTCRY   AND   HAS   BEEN  

CLOSELY  ALIGNED  WITH  PROPAGANDA,  REVOLUTIONARY  AND  

“GRAFFITI HAS EVOLVED INTO

A CULT OR

SUBCULTURE

OF ITS OWN

WITH AN

INTRICATE SET

OF RULES”

 24    

ANARCHIST   SLOGANS.   IT   BECAME   THE   VOICE   OF   ANTI   ESTABLISHMENT  

SENTIMENTS  OF  THE  COMMON  MAN,  MOST  FAMOUSLY  THROUGH  DEPICTIONS  

ON  THE  BERLIN  WALL  AND  THE  WEST  BANK  WALL.    GRAFFITI  CONTINUES  TO  BE  ILLEGAL  IN  MOST  COUNTRIES.  THE  LIFESTYLE  OF  A  GRAFFITI   WRITER   IS   PRECARIOUS   AND   THE   RISKS   FACED   ARE   FAR   GREATER  

THAN   THE   NON-­‐ATTAINMENT   OF   ARTISTIC   VISION.   GRAFFITI   ARTISTS   ARE  ALWAYS  ON  THE  RUN  FROM  THE  POLICE,  COMPETING  CREWS  OR  EVEN  GANGS.  HARSH  FINES  AND  EVEN  JAIL  TIME  IS  NOT  RARE.  THE  CHANCES  OF  YOUR  WORK  

REMAINING  ON  DISPLAY  FOREVER  ARE  MINISCULE  AS   IT   IS  BEING  PERFORMED  

ON  A  STOLEN  CANVAS.  SOME  HAVE  REFERRED  TO  GRAFFITI  AS  BEING  THE  FINE  

ART  EQUIVALENT  OF  IMPROVISATIONAL  THEATRE.  THE  JOY  OF  CREATION  IS  AT  THE  CORE  OF   THE  PROCESS  AND  THE  BIGGEST  PLEASURE   LIES   IN   THE  ACTUAL  

ACTIVITY  RATHER  THAN  THE  OUTCOME.  THIS  UNPREDICTABLE  QUALITY  MAKES  

THE  RESULTING  ARTWORK  MORE  BREATHTAKING,  AS   IT   IS  ONLY  THERE  TO  BE  CHERISHED  FOR  A  SHORT  WHILE.  THE  WALLS  OF  A  GRAFFITI  FILLED  ALLEY,  JUST  LIKE  LIFE,  ARE  DEFINED  BY  CHANGE.  TWO  BLOCKS  INTO  THE  ALLEY  LIES  AN  ENCHANTING  NATIVE  INDIAN  INSPIRED  GRAFFITI   PORTRAIT   OF   A   WOLF,   YOUNG   GIRL   AND   AN   EAGLE   AGAINST   THE  BACKDROP   OF   A   GRITTY,   INDUSTRIAL   CITY.   THE   CONTRAST   BETWEEN   THE  

POWERFUL   COOL   BLUES   AND   WHITES   OF   THE   WOLF   TO   THE   STOIC  

DETERMINATION  OF  THE  GIRL  IS  CAPTIVATING.  HOWEVER,  WHAT  DOMINATES  

THE   WALL   ON   THE   SIDE   IS   A   WARRING   CONVERSATION   BETWEEN   TWO  

COMPETING   GRAF   WRITERS.   IT   IS   APPARENT   THAT   THE   ORIGINAL   WOLF  

GRAFFITI   WAS   WIDER   ON   THE   LEFT   THAN   WHAT   REMAINS   ON   THE   WALL.  ANOTHER  ARTIST  HAD  STAKED  HIS  CLAIM  TO  THE  WALL  BY  PARTIALLY  PAINTING  

OVER  THE  ORIGINAL  ART  WORK.  NOT  TO  BE  OUTDONE,  THE  ORIGINAL  ARTIST  CAME  BACK  TO  PAINT  A  THIRD  IMAGE  ON  TOP  AND  LEFT  A  MESSAGE  FOR  THE  

OFFENDING   ENCROACHMENT:   “TIT   FOR   TAT...   JUST   LIKE   THAT...   TOY”.   THE  TERM   “TOY”   REFERS   TO   AN   INEXPERIENCED   OR   DISRESPECTFUL   GRAFFITI  WRITER.  GRAFFITI   TODAY   IS  MORE  MAINSTREAM   AND   COMMERCIALIZED,   EVEN   USED  EXTENSIVELY   IN   ADVERTISING   CAMPAIGNS   SUCH   AS   IBM,   SONY   AND  

MICROSOFT.  MANY  GRAFFITI  ARTISTS  HAVE  TAKEN  THE  LEAP  FROM  PAINTING  

ON  WALLS  TO  DESIGNING  SKATEBOARDS,  CLOTHING  APPAREL  AND  SHOES.    EVEN  SO,  THE  HEART  OF  GRAFFITI   IS  STILL  ABOUT  MAKING  STATEMENTS.  THE  HAUNTING   LOOK   UNDERNEATH   AN   “AUTHORIZED   PARKING  ONLY”   SIGN   OR  THE  CAREFREE  BLISSFUL   IMAGE  ACCOMPANIED  WITH  THE  DECLARATION  THAT  

“I’M  JUST  WALKING  MY  DOG,  SINGING  MY  SONG”  BOTH  DEMAND  ATTENTION  

AND  ELICIT  AWE.  THE  VIVID  COLOURS,  VISCERAL  AND  UNAPOLOGETIC  IMAGES  

IN   A   SNOWED   IN   DULL   GRAY   CITY,   TRANSFORMED   A   GENERIC   ALLEY   AND  

SHOWCASED  THE  NEED  FOR  MORE  GRAFFITI  IN  OUR  LIVES.                                                                        

 25    

Yup.

 26    Illustration  by  Elena  Asimar  

 27    

DEVIANT ART (don’t worry, this is not about the website)

by Maiteree Mann

IF  YOU  ARE  AN  ART  ENTHUSIAST  AND  GRAPPLING,  WITH  THE  HUGE  DIMENSIONS  OF  THE  CONTEMPORARY  

ART  WORLD  TODAY,   LET’S   TAKE  A   LOOK  AT   THE  VOLATILE  DIMENSIONS  OF  WHAT  WE  KNOW  AS  ART  AND  

HOW  THE  CONSTANT  DEVIATIONS  IN  ART  HAVE  CHANGED  THE  FACE  OF  CONTEMPORARY  ART.  IN  RECENT  TIMES  THE  ART  FRATERNITY  WORLD  WIDE  WAS  JOSTLED  BY  THIS  NEWS:  “ON  11  AUGUST  2010,  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMISSION  DECIDED  THAT  A  VIDEO  INSTALLATION  SHOULD  BE  

CLASSIFIED  AS  DVD  PLAYERS  AND  PROJECTORS,  AND  A  LIGHT  INSTALLATION  AS  LIGHT  FITTINGS.”  BASED  ON  THIS  NEWS,  AS  PER  EU  LEGISLATION,  WORKS  OF  ART  THAT  USE  LIGHT  AND  VIDEO  INSTALLATIONS  DO  NOT  

COME  UNDER  THE  PERIPHERY  OF  WHAT  CAN  BE  TERMED  AS  ART.  THEREFORE,  WORKS  SUCH  AS  THOSE  BILL  VIOLA'S   "ISOLDE'S   ASCENSION   (THE   SHAPE   OF   LIGHT   IN   SPACE   AFTER   DEATH)",   2005,   CANNOT   BE  CLASSIFIED  AS  ART  PER  SE.  WHILE  THE  DECISION  HAS  BEEN  WIDELY  COMMENTED  ON  AND  HEAVILY  CRITICIZED,   IT  BRINGS  US  TO  THE  QUESTION  OF  WHAT  REALLY  IS  THE  DEFINITION  OF  ART?  THERE  HAS  BEEN  MUCH  DEBATE  RECENTLY  ABOUT  

WHAT  WE   PERCEIVE   AS   ART.   THIS   IS   PRIMARILY   BECAUSE   ART   TODAY   IS   NO   LONGER   CONFINED   TO   THE  

CANVAS  OR  THE  OIL  PAINT  AND  WATER  COLORS.  GOING  THROUGH  HISTORY,  ONE  MIGHT  RECOLLECT  THAT  

THE  ERA  BEFORE  THE  1960’S  SAW  ART  AS  VERY  TRADITIONAL  FORM  OF  PAINTING.  DURING  THOSE  TIMES,  ART  WAS  MUCH  MORE  CATEGORIZED  AND  PERHAPS  EASIER  TO  LOOK  AT  AND  UNDERSTAND.  ART  WAS  THEN  

CLASSIFIED   INTO  MOVEMENTS  AND  STYLES  SUCH  AS  ABSTRACT  EXPRESSIONISM,  SURREALISM,  ETC.  IT  WAS  

DEFINED  BY  THE  USE  OF  MEDIUM,  BRUSH  STROKES,  COLORS,   TECHNIQUES,  AND  CANVAS  UPON  WHICH   IT  

WAS  PAINTED.  IN  STRIKING  CONTRAST,  TODAY’S  CONTEMPORARY  ART  MIGHT  NOT  HAVE  EITHER  THE  CANVAS  OR  A  BRUSH  

AND   YET   BE   A   VERY   CREATIVE   FORM   OF   ART   EXPRESSION.   THIS   HAS   IN   FACT   OPENED   BOUNDARIES   AND  GIVEN   RISE   TO   EXCITING   NEW  WAYS   WORKS   THAT   MIGHT   NEVER   EVEN   HAVE   BEEN   IMAGINED   POSSIBLE  

BEFORE.  BEGINNING  WITH  PROJECTS  LIKE  ‘9  EVENINGS:  THEATRE  &  ENGINEERING’.  EXPERIMENTS  IN  ART  AND   TECHNOLOGY   (E.A.T.),   WHERE   10   NEW   YORK   ARTISTS   COLLABORATED  WITH   30   ENGINEERS   AND  SCIENTISTS  FROM  BELL  TELEPHONE  LABORATORIES,  TO  CREATE  HISTORY,  CONTEMPORARY  ART  HAS  INDEED  

COME  A  LONG  WAY.    CONTEMPORARY  ART  OF  TODAY  CAN  BE  BEST  CATEGORIZED  AS  A  MIXED  MEDIA  COLLAGE  LIKE  FORM  THAT  IS  

OFTEN  BROUGHT  TOGETHER  THOUGH  PAPER,  EMBELLISHMENTS,  PAINT,  MUSIC,  COLOR,  VIDEOS,  GRAPHICS  AND  VARIOUS  OTHER  MEDIUMS  THAT  ONE  MIGHT  HAVE  NEVER  ASSOCIATED  WITH  ART  BEFORE.  THOUGH  SOMETIMES   MARKED   AS   MURKIER   AND   DIFFICULT   TO   UNDERSTAND,   CONTEMPORARY   ART   AIMS   AT  

BECOMING  MORE  ACCESSIBLE  AND   IN  TRYING  TO  DEFINE  TODAY’S  PSYCHE  MORE  THAN  TRADITIONAL  ART  

PERHAPS  EVER  HAS  

 28    

POST  MODERN  ART  IN  GENERAL  AND  CONTEMPORARY  ART  IN  PARTICULAR  SPEAK  OF  PLURALISM  AND  ECLECTICISM.  A  LACK  OF  A  UNIFORM  ORGANIZING  PRINCIPLE  OR  IDEOLOGY  IS  WHAT  CHARACTERIZES  THE  PRESENT  DAY  ART  FORM.      SOON  AFTER  THE  MULTIMEDIA  EXPERIMENTS  IN  THE  1970S,  ART  SAW  A  WIDESPREAD  USE  OF  TECHNOLOGY-­‐BASED  MEDIA:   AMALGAMATION   OF   SOUND,   LIVE   PERFORMANCES,   FILM   CLIPS,   PHOTOGRAPHS,   ETC.   THE   WORKS   OF  

ARTIST’S   LIKE   KRUGER,   WITH   HIS   WORDS   AND   PHOTOGRAPHIC   IMAGES,   AS   WELL   AS   KIEFER’S   PHOTOGRAPHIC  COLLAGES   ARE   EXAMPLES   OF   TODAY’S   ART   WORK.   CONTINUING   AND   DEFINING   THIS   VERY   TREND   IS   THE  DECLARATION   OF   SUSAN   PHILIPSZ   AS   THIS   YEAR'S  WINNER   FOR   THE   TURNER   PRIZE.  THE   TURNER   PRIZE   IS   THE  BIGGEST  ANNUAL  AWARD  GIVEN  FOR  AN  ARTIST  IN  BRITAIN.        THE  GUARDIAN  REPORTS:  “SHE  IS  THE  FIRST  PERSON  IN  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  AWARD  TO  HAVE  CREATED  NOTHING  YOU  CAN  SEE  OR  TOUCH."    THE  FACT  THAT  PHILIPSZ'S  ART  IS  DEVOID  OF  VISUALS  IS  PERHAPS  A  STATEMENT  THAT  ART  TODAY  IS  TRULY  MULTI  

DIMENSIONAL  AND  EVOLVING  IN  REGIONS  ONE  HAD  NEVER  DREAMT  OF.  MUCH  OF  THE  RECENT  PAST  AND  THE  COMING  YEARS  SHALL  PERHAPS  SEE  THE  AMALGAMATION  OF  ART  WITH  NEW  

TECHNOLOGY  AND   SOCIAL  NETWORKING   IN   THE  PROMOTION  OF   SUCH  ART,  ONE  MIGHT  ASK,  WHY  NOT?   IT  NOT  ONLY  HELPS  ARTISTS  EXPERIMENT  WITH  THEIR  CREATIVITY  BUT  ALSO  HELPS  MAKE  ART  MUCH  MORE  AFFORDABLE.    WHILE  THERE  ARE  MANY  WHO  PREFER  THEIR  ART  WORK  TO  BE  REMAIN  WITHIN  THE  FRAMES  OF  A  CANVAS,  ONE  HAS  THE  FEELING  THAT  ASSEMBLAGE  ART  IS  HERE  TO  STAY.  PERHAPS,  A  SUCCESS  FOR  ART  AND  ITS  FUTURE  WOULD  BE  

BRIDGING  THE  GAP  BETWEEN  THE  ADVENTUROUS  WITH  THAT  OF  THE  TRADITIONAL.  A  SPACE  WHERE  ART  GALLERIES  

WORLD  WIDE  ARE  NOT  FILLED  WITH  ONLY  EXPERIMENTAL  ART  AND  GIVE  AS  MUCH  CREDENCE  TO  THE  TRADITIONAL  

AS  THAT  OF  FLUID  CONTEMPORARY  ART.            

 29    

29

 30    

 31    

IMPRESSUM Aminta Rother 1-20-21-301 Tabata Kita-ku, Tokyo JP – 114-0014 E-Mail: aminta@yomoart.org www.yomoart.org