Not my finest ever shot, but I do like the way that this might, at first glance, be mistaken for a landscape shot across a tree-covered valley. I’ve made sure the colours are a little over saturated, and deepened the shadows, trying to create a sense of unease, of something out of place and slightly unnatural.
I’ve been reading Lovecraft, lately.
And a return to something more conventional – a shot of my Dad. This is the first decent photo I’ve managed to get of him, because he has the same gift I do for looking bloody awful in photos. This one’s not perfect, either but it’s the closest I’ve ever manage to get to him looking like he actually looks.
On a slightly-related note, I ought to take a moment to thank ![[info]](http://stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
ewa for the new default icon for this journal, based on one of her photos of me and my camera.
So, the Turner prize this year goes to Tomma Abts. Personally, I preferred Mark Titchner‘s work – his themes and his general approach are things I have a lot of personal sympathy with, but hers were a close second favourite. I thought Phil Collins (not that one) documentary was interesting, but I think I’d rather just have watched the documentary of telly, rather than get presented with it as “Art”. Rebecca Warren, well, think I see what she’s trying to do, but it’s a fairly old hat idea.
I do wonder if Abts won in part because her painting are closer to most people’s idea of conventional “Art”, and if the Turner Prize committee are trying to balance the scales a little, after least years Shedboatshed, and Jeremey Deller’s documentary the year before that.
So, the Turner prize this year goes to Tomma Abts. Personally, I preferred Mark Titchner’s work – his themes and his general approach are things I have a lot of personal sympathy with, but hers were a close second favourite. I thought Phil Collins (not that one) documentary was interesting, but I think I’d rather just have watched the documentary of telly, rather than get presented with it as “Art”. Rebecca Warren, well, think I see what she’s trying to do, but it’s a fairly old hat idea.
I do wonder if Abts won in part because her painting are closer to most people’s idea of conventional “Art”, and if the Turner Prize committee are trying to balance the scales a little, after least years Shedboatshed, and Jeremey Deller’s documentary the year before that.
So, I won’t be in Edinburgh before Christmas. Bollocks. There’s just no way to do it in an affordable manner that doesn’t involve hellish travel, a much shorter stay than I’d like, or risking my mother never speaking to me again if I miss the family Christmas in Belfast because a ferry gets cancelled, or anything like that. I’d rather try and come up for a decent length of time early next year.
So, instead I shall spend the week before Christmas kicking about London, camera in hand.
Weather permitting, I quite fancy doing at least one straight derivé – pick somewhere around say zone 2, plonk a glass on a map at random, draw round it, and follow the line as best as the roads/public spaces permit, something like that. Apart from that, and the the Slides at the Tate, what else should I go take pictures of? And does anyone fancy coming with me?
The second of these abstract pieces. I spent quite a while talking about them last night, so I have less to say about this one. I think that is is perhaps a little more immediately accessible, though. What do you think?
Christmas is coming, and frankly, anyone who doesn’t want at least half the items on this list is a bit suspect.
Christmas is coming, and frankly, anyone who doesn’t want at least half the items on this list is a bit suspect.
You have all failed me.
Specifically, why did no-one ever hand me a copy if Italo Calvino’s “Invisible Cities” and say “You must read this book, otherwise you’re just wasting your life”?
Still, I’ve read it now, having picked it up on a whim when I was buying a book on psychogeography. And you can all redeem yourselves, anyway. I’ve just now ordered a copy of “If On A Winter’s Night A Traveller”, for reading when I’m done with aforesaid psychogeography book, but I need to know: what else of his stuff should I read? Or at least, what else do I need to read urgently?
“I mean, if you want to believe in psychics, fine. You’re a dangerous idiot and I wouldn’t trust you to operate a spoon without putting an eye out … but fine.” – Charlie Brooker, from the article “When it comes to psychics, my stance is hardcore: they must die alone in windowless cells“.
And I strongly urge you to click through and read the piece on Creationism at the bottom of the article. It’s not going to tell you anything you don’t know, but it’s bloody funny. Say what you like, the man has a gift for the bile-filled phrase…