I have long been a fan of the artist collective 9eme Concept – a great group of artists who for years have found a way to work together and support each others work. Artists include Stéphane Carricondo, Veenom, Mambo, Ankhone, Jerk 45 and in previous years Alexone.
My introduction to them started with a visit to their studios in Paris in around 2003 when I first produced a reportage for Creative Review about them and more recently around one year ago I made a quick visit to their new space. They also now have a gallery space where they have been producing some great experimental shows.
A recent show called ‘Infinity’ at their L’ Arriere-boutique space really caught my attention. ‘Infini’ was a collaboration between painter Stéphane Carricondo and musician Orlando Diaz Corvalan. The idea was to bring two people together – one musician interested in fine arts and one artist passionate about music and see how they could interact.
Orchestrated by a metronome and the artists’s pen together they created a body of work set to rhythm. The exhibition displayed the resulting images side by side and the final result was a beautiful book of poetry and drawings created by this collaboration.
Here’s a book that gets two thumbs up from me and that’s before I’ve even read it – which I’m planning to this weekend. The reason I like it already is not because I am featured in it! – but I admire the work that has gone into it. At least two years of almost constant research I believe, particularly from Patrick Nguyen who as I understand it took a career break to work on this book full-time. He went the extra mile, putting his own funds into travels around the globe to meet artists and being persistent to get the interviews and materials needed for the book.
The book has been made with the same care that I’ve tried to put into my own books. All of my publications have taken two years to produce and where I can I travel to meet artists all over the world in person to really understand the work. But enough about me… it’s just that I believe this is the only way to do it. There are too many lazy books put together by people who have not met artists in person or experienced the art first hand – and this, I’m glad to say, is not one of them.
Although I haven’t delved fully into the book I’m already familiar with the line up of characters involved – many of whom I have had the pleasure of working with and have had adventures with in the past. These chosen artists tend to be people who push themselves, innovate and have something special about them. Many of them I’ve featured in books and know very well but I am still looking forward to reading their interviews.
Finally my own interview – yikes! I wish I had taken more care with my answers – I didn’t even proof read them. So my own answers are delivered as relaxed e.mail written replies – rather than anything too profound. But I think its okay and I’m happy to be included in this stellar list. I don’t really see myself as a “leading figure” – the books I have produced are about the artists I think are doing something interesting not about myself – but if someone wants my thoughts or experience, it was a pleasure to be included in this historical review.
For a number of years I have been in communication with the writer and journalist Chris Parkinson. During a number of visits to East Timor, Chris began to document the walls which reflected the turbulent times this country has been through. His idea was to turn this into a book, and during our correspondence I did my best to offer support in this area.
Finally the Peace of Wall book is printed and I have a copy in my hands.
It doesn’t disappoint – with admirable dedication Chris Parkinson has produced an evocative piece of photojournalism – capturing an important moment in East Timor’s history through its walls. His timely photographs uncover the memories of these walls, supported by excellent research and personal anecdotes. This book alerts us to the cultural value of graffiti and street art for public expression, rehabilitation and community building.
This is not a typical “Graffiti” book – it is more focused toward understanding the community and the way it expresses its concerns and dreams. The president of East Timor was so impressed with the book that he has found funds to have the book translated into either Portuguese (East Timor’s official language) or a native language. How many graffiti books can make the same claim!
