#11

Noé: not just the looks of an artist

With its paintings and sculptures, Noé Klabin carries its fantasy mutation ark, through men and animals, towards Z.BRA Hostel, where will be exposed from the 01/10. 

“Mermaid with squid arms, winged horse, man with a snake body & saw arms, and some other artistic mutations, literally steal the scene in the fantasy "ark" of Noé Klabin. Through drawings, paintings, and sculptures  the "carioca" artist unites some of its curious works to put together the exhibit “Os Bichos”, which will be presented from the 01/10, at Z.Bra Hostel. Actually, the house is open for those who are interested in having a closer look.

“The title was the last thing to be defined. When I realized, the series was: animals, colorful, like the mermaid with squid arms, winged horse, man with a snake body & saw arms, etc.. Then the name came: "Os Bichos" (animals). Its a fantasy world inside my head, that I expose, through art", states the artist, who carries that influence to other work spheres: music. "The name of my first album it's also "O bicho" and it has a picture of me with mermaid tail and wings", completes Noé Klabin.

Nature comes has a common theme on Noé Klabin work spheres,not an adventurer, but embraces the risk, to put in practice ideas from its unconscious. "What you call "adventurer", I see as need to be in contact with nature and with strong emotions. That indeed, influences my art, and it can be easily seen in my work. If I am at the studio I will be the artist, if for example, Im in the top of a mountain, I'm the adventurer. The deal is to dive deeply into what you are living at that moment" shoots.

By influence of its grandfather, Chico Calmon, also an artist, Klabin started early drawing and painting. But only later, he started "expressing with the intention of giving the world a little bit more emotion"  Not satisfied, Noé also started sculpting. " The sculptures came no long ago, I felt a need to make my drawings come out of the paper" justifies. The sculptures presented by Noé surprise us for its proximity with the artist's fantasy world. On the 05/10, at Araka party, for example, Noé will present its work of  wood sculptures.

“The exbihit will last until the 28th of October, for those who can't go to the vernissage, pass by at  Z.Bra Hostel later". In the debut day (01/10), its worth going just to have a drink and to cheer for someone to get excited enough to do a  "pole-dancing" at the "pole" in the foyer”, invites Noé Klabin.

“Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans!!!”

Serviço: Z.Bra Hostel (Av. General San Martin, 1212. Leblon)

(21) 3596-2386 http://www.zbrahostel.com/

To know more about  Noé Klabin, check its  MySpace 

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#10

Araka: a "party" for artists

For five years connecting and gathering countless artists from different influences, Michel “Araka” Mendes turns art into a agitated collective of content. Boom!

Imagine a party, whose objective is uniting different artistic manifestations, ideas and ideals, without leaving aside good music and a frozen beer at a high cost.Certainly, it´s not difficult and you might have already imagined 5 years ago, a time where the artist Michel Mendes put its "connection power” to gather different works and  projects spread around Rio de Janeiro. This is project Araka – Who's afraid of Aracy? , that will have its next edition wednesday 05/10, at 00, in Gávea.  

Even though it sounds strange, the name Araka, in reality, is the nickname of a inconvenient jury of a freshmen talent show, (a Brazilian old school version of Simon) from the 80s (Vish!). Side by side to Pedro de Lara, Aracy de Almeida stood herself for being extremely severe will the freshmen, especially with beginners. The woman was really a evil snake. Because the "party with a content" debuts opportunities to new artists in each edition, the name Araka came in hand, to joke and mesmerize this true wild beast of  Brazilian Tv. However, at Michel's Araka, the freshmen don't need to fear, the objective is far away of being (dis)approved or not. Fair enough, don't you think? 

“I exchanged my past job to do Fine Arts at UFRJ. Althought the fear of the uncertain artist career, every time I met someone that lived from art, I believed it was possible. Also, the contact with  creative people fed even more my desire for art" states Michel, who fulfilled its dream project after being part of “Hospedaria Carioca”, a similar project. “I missed a lot those moments and I decided to organize myself meetings.  That's how I created ARAKA,adapting some stuff”, concludes Michel Mendes.

ARAKA has become so important for my life that is very common, to be introduced to a new friend by: "this is Michel Araka", it turned into a nickname. I don't care and I even have fun!

Five years after, Michel seems to have made the right choice and it even jokes with the success of its initiative, which took him to Island Caras. "Before Araka I was very limited, I worked with visual arts, after I started working with culture. At Araka, for example I met my wife Juliana, a movie director, reveals the artist. “Araka taught me to interpret the culture of my age and human behaviour,making it easier to comprehend and anticipate new trends- and even needs - that no one suspected or hoped for. We motivate people to adopt those inovations and bring them to our daily life", completes.

Between paintings, graffitis, poetry, theatre, photography, visual performances, fashion, toy-art and music, the next Araka edition, which happens monthly, will have a very well humored subject that promises to explode this art folie. The works will focus on an episode that scared the hell out of the residents of Rio: the explosions of the electric pavement covers. “It was driving me insane, so I decide to make a well humored protest. The artists would make their own artistic intervention and would send us pictures. With this, all sorts of different projects appeared sculptures etc, the idea for this new Araka showed up”, finalizes Michel “Araka” Mendes.

To those interested, Michel leaves an open invite: “If anyone wants to expose its art with us we are always open to new artists, just send us an email with images of your art to artearaka@gmail.com”.

Follow Araka at Twitter,  Facebook and its site.

Service:
Araka: 05/10, no 00 (Av. Padre Leonel Franca, 240. Planetário)

Tel: (21) 2540-8041/ 2540-8042
http://www.00site.com.br/

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#9

LoMo: the old fashioned photos

From workshops to photographic strolls , the Lomography store in Rio makes its cameras a fever between the adventurous.  Fish Eye, Color Splash, Action Sampler, Diana and La Sardina, what is your favorite model?

It looks less likely that during the "digital era", where even cell phones, are smart and take perfect pictures, that the analogic world would find its space again. However, in the opposite direction of the  megapixel, the Lomographic cameras are  turning the more alternative crew crazy, or just the passionate about traditional pictures. Offering several models, the “LoMo(s)” can be specific to a need, although they all open space to a personal signature.

It all began in the early 90s, when two students in Vienna, Austria tumbled across a small and enigmatic Russian camera: the Lomo Kompakt Automat, this camera took pictures with profound saturation of colors and vibrant effects. To please its friends, who also wanted a little gadget to play with, these two friends developed the concept of Lomography! Soon the initiative transformed into a "global community  passionate by creativity and for free experimentalism of the analogic photography world".

Nowadays, there are plenty of fun and uncommon Lomo to play with, they have proven to be a success  in different countries around the world, becoming a true icon of resistance in the old fashioned 35mm cameras. In Brazil, until now, there is only one store, located at: Ipanema (Rua: Visconde de Pirajá, 365 – sobreloja), in Rio de Janeiro. Its not only a store but also a meeting point for Lomo lovers. Besides selling cameras and accessories, now you can do workshops and organize group photographic strolls, the famous  “roles Lomográficos”.

From October, the Lomographic store will present an agenda full of activities to those interested in learning and sharing a unique subject: LoMo cameras. Until the 20/10,  there will be a “Pop Up Store” of LoMo inside Farm's store, also in Ipanema. After learning a little about the concept, checking out the available models and coming to a final decision .... you just need to start X!!!  (“clique”)...  However, to see if the pictures are good,we will have to  wait. Tell us how it went!!

To know more about Lomographic, access its site, or facebook. 

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#8

Iran: tough fist, precise clique

Far away from the conflictual political context, the photograhy exhibit Pulso Iraniano reveals an unknown and surprisingly Iran. Until the 30th October at Oi Futuro Flamengo.

Despite the immense distance, either physical or cultural, that separates Rio from Teheran, the capital of Iran, the exhibit Pulso Iraniano (Iranian Pulse) reveals an unknown side to the Iranian republic, nonetheless, still incredibly magic and surprising. Gathering inedit images and videos of contemporary artists, the exhibit, which debut on the 13/09, will have its doors open until the 20/10 at Oi Futuro Flamengo. Detail: free entry for Ctrl+Alt+Rio followers. (laughs)

Located at a strategic part of the Middle East, with control over several valuable oil reserves, Iran has the image and the complicated "posture" internationally. Independently from the ultraconservative Mahmud Ahmadinejad and the famous "exis of evil," that's not the Iranian picture we are after (at least for now). Even though it's hard to escape from the influence or the conflictual context, our focus is basically at the cultural scene, to read between the lines: in pictures, never revelead before.

Signed by Marc Pottier, the exhibit Pulso Iraniano, brings pictures and unique videos of contemporary artists, with the objective of showing the strength of new works created not only in Iran, but as well as, places where artists look for refugee, leaving behind a very intense political environment. The projects are divided by theme: Poetry, Spirit of Celebration, Women, War and Traditions. 

“The iranian people are the spiritual brother of the Brazilian people. Beyond working hard against all adversities, they also celebrate, like to dance and sing", explains Marc Pottier.

The contemporary art scene is carefully being traced, fearless. The worry is only with the visitor, that obviously is unaware of the country being visited. To ease that comprehension and also to learn a little bit of the rich culture of the Persian People, the movie: Iran revealed, it´s a very good sugestion. In fact, the audience can consider the movie an introduction to the pictures of Bahman Jalali, one of the most important photographers of the country, lived in Tearan and died in January 2010.

Besides the black and white pictures of the photo jornalist Abbas, from the Iran Diary, the spotlight is definitely Poetry, a artist manifestation very common in the iranian culture, and for that reason is even presented in a specific room. "The poetry is so present in the daily life of Iran, that you can even hear it during street manifestation in the middle of yells, complaints and government critics" reveals Pottier, that side by side with the movie director Seifollah Samadian, the poet  Sanam Emami, beyond artists Shadi Ghadirian and Amirali Ghasemi, supports more than 80 artists, between25 and 40 years old.

Several poetries are hanged on the wall, picturing the themes of the exhibit. In the end, the guests also receive a souvenir, a copy of one of the poems of the artist Hafez (Century XIV), whose work Divan is a success in sales, as big as, the Quran, in Iran. The dive into the iranian culture is on the surface, but very deep. To those willing to break the existing barrier between prejudices, will understand that there is a lot of similarities between the two people (the spiritual brother, as defined by Marc Pottier.) After fancy the exhibit Punho Iraniano, please tell us a little about the Iran that you discovered. Ctrl+Alt+Teheran! 

Pulso Iraniano (service)
until the 30th de october
Oi Futuro Flamengo (Street: Dois de Dezembro, 63)
from tuesday to sundays, from 11h to 20h
Free entry/ Age requirements: 12 years old

#7

ArtRua: um tapa at Gamboa

After four days, the successful exhibit ArtRua comes to an end, but it's not really over, even for those who didn't attend. The example remains and the works now "hanged" on the walls, give color to the deserted port area.

Parallel to the International Fair of Contemporary Art in Rio de Janeiro (ArtRio), which happened from the 7th to the 11/09, the exhibit "street art" ArtRua shacked the port area with a installation in a old warehouse in Gamboa (Rua Pedro Ernesto, 29). In four days of event, the exhibit revealed to be a success, countless number of visitors and it even left a precious legacy to the local dwellers. In other words, ArtRua is over, but the good example, memories and the innumerable works (graffiti) spread around the evolving area, color the forsaken and neglecting port area (now "with a new face").

The idea ArtRua came from the Institute R.U.A, with the support of the Rio de Janeiro´s Cultural Secretary. The institute was founded last year, by André Bretas, Pedro Villela e Wagner Nascimento, in order to promote a urban  revitalization through its own art, the example at the Wall of Bambas of Lapa; project a View over the Stones (a graffiti with portuguese pavement); Project Romero Brito and Santa Crew; Painting of the Sapucai cabin, project Graffiti Fence; Project of the Pole light at Arpoador and decorative paintings at the Conservation Secretary. 

The installation at Warehouse Gamboa was just an example of how graffiti occupies such an important role on society. Now it's not only, praised on the streets, but in fact it's being valued in art galleries and auctions. However the street art role goes beyond this exhibit. "Much more then a art exhibit, ArtRua wants to become a nucleus of cultural incentive to artistic exchange and after that work is done, we will leave this city even more wondrous.” explains André Bretas, one of the founders of the Institute Rua ,  from Human Gallery and who has done more than 10 years research in urban art trends. 

Gathering some of the most famous artists of the scene Rio-São Paulo and, also worldwide, ArtRua took not only the concept of street art but also the feeling of inclusion to a extremely needy area. At the event, besides the most modern techniques of graffiti, stencil, poster art, sticker art, the visitors could still see specific installations, projections, circus performances, DJ’s, VJ’s and some bands, all united around the new meaning of the concept street art brought (in all aspects) ). It even included a van service, that linked the two events (ArtRio and ArtRua).

Contrasting with a horror movie set, the sort of ghost city image of the port region, the colored works  of the famous graffiti artists marked the well chosen spot for the event. Now, if you walk in the streets of    Gamboa (which is not that easy, let's say), you will able to see graffittis from the artists (Choque Cultural (SP), Babel, Galeria Movimento, HUMA, Instituto R.U.A): Akuma, Acme, Eco, Ment, SWK, Combone, Jou, Leo Uzai, Marinho, Tinho, TM1, Mateus Velasco, Zezão, Rafo Castro, Coletivo Gráfico, Big, Mack, Chivitz, Minhau, Muda, Piá, Gais, who recently had a work sold at the famous Philips de Pury auction in London.

The brand has been registered..... with a lot of dedication and work, the success came. The exhibit looked amazing and everything went very well. This gives us a reason to think and even pop a question: why not give a purpose to this warehouse? Or when will we have cultural warehouses spread around different regions in Rio de Janeiro? Maybe the solution is a UPP? ("Uh People's Power")

For those who want to see exclusive pictures of the event, the advice is to take a sneak peak at the photographer Henrique Madeira  blog!!!

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#6

Warpaint: carioca excitement

After another succesful mobilization of the project Queremos, the californian quartet, will show up, on stage, at Circo Voador on the 07/10. Tickets on sale!

Annoyed with the lack of music events in Rio de Janeiro and tired of demanding a change, the project Queremos presented another intelligent alternative, highlighting a completely distinct format: dividing the cost of the events with the public, to guarantee its realization. The money invested will be returned after the sale of the tickets for the show. After unforgettable concerts, Queremos just confirmed the band Warpaint, the band will show at Circo Voador (07/10). Attention: tickets on sale already!

This time, the piggy bank gang, known as "enthusiastic cariocas", raised R$ 42 thousand to cover the costs of Warpaint's Show in Rio. Until, last Thursday (08/09), 220 reimbursable tickets were sold at a premium price of R$ 200. With the show's confirmation, these tickets converted into 1.040 regular tickets (R$ 60). With a full house, or the target exceeded, the value of the ticket is reimbursed to those who contributed for the initial investment. A fair trade, I would say. The poster for the show, that, was designed by Carol Santos, was just released and it looks beautiful!!! (as you can see above).

Gathering four women, Emily Kokal (vocals and guitar), Theresa Wayman (vocals and guitar), Jenny Lee Lindberg (vocals and bass) and Stella Mozgawa (drums), the band Warpaint appears as the big bet of the international music industry scenery. It has been recently nominated by BBC as one of the "top 15 promises of 2011". Los Angeles offspring, was born in 2004, the group has already included members such as: actress Shannyn Sossamon and guitarist Jojsh Klinghoffer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, however without being successful.

After a curious debut EP - Exquisite Corpse, released in 2009 - Warpaint presented its first album, just in, October 2010. The wait was well justified with The Fool, which already received several compliments from the critics and ours too. From there to there, the quartet has been on the road for more than a year and half. Now the group unships at Rio, to close its international first album tour, right here at Circo Voador, convenient no?

With remarkable songs such as: Stars, Elephant Undertow among others, the group reveals a unique   sonority by presenting intrinsic lines of guitar and hypnotic vocals. With a strong influence of rhythms post-punk,Warpaint brings us "songs that vary from the psychedelic to the intimacy". The lightness of the melodies seems to seek something beyond the sound, as if it was channeling some sort of mystic mantra.  For those who don't know the band, it's worth checking the sound of these 4. They, literally,  rock! See you there.

To feel a little Warpaint's sense, we leave you a very interesting video. Check it Alt!! 

More about this "art-rock group":
http://www.warpaintwarpaint.com/
http://www.myspace.com/worldwartour

Circo Voador - R. dos Arcos, s/n. Lapa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ. Tel: (21) 2533-5873 | 25330354
Site: http://www.circovoador.com.br/

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#5

Emma: a “japaustralioca” in Rio

Passionate about Rio de Janeiro, designer Emma Tamaoki, discusses her work before enthusiastically disembarking in this wondrous city

What attracts so many tourists to Rio de Janeiro? The fame of this wonder city lies besides the contrasting image  of the continuing insecurity. It’s of our civil war that we know, very well. The “gringos” manage to ubiquitously portray this through cinema with the likes of Elite Squad, City of God, Last Stop 174 and worse still, the list continues. What would make a graphic designer, sort-of-Japanese looking, living in Australia, from Portuguese descendants decide to move to Brazil, anyhow?

Before she packed her bags, Rio was just a blur of image and thoughts. “I knew of the famous stereotypical cultural icons such as havaianas, ipanema, bossa nova, samba and Corcovado, to name a few. I also knew of the dangers of the socio economic problems with the favelas”, she says. Besides her own, she could count on the wise opinion of others. “What made me nervous was the fact that every visitor who I'd spoken to before my departure looked at me discerningly with furrowing brows, and disbelief that I was traveling with just one female friend, who spoke no Portuguese either. Everyone had a story about being mugged. I tried not to worry but I heard that even caipirinhas were dangerous because they make babies”, jokes Emma.

Despite all the risks, already predicted, the trip seems to have been very worthy, and literally changed Emma’s life. Rio de Janeiro started influencing her conduct, her work, and ultimately, her way of life. “Animal! (Meaning awesomely perfect in Brazilian) The breathtaking scenery of the rolling mountains framing the urban landscape, with bursts of tropical vegetation spilling onto the pavement.  The alluring yet powerful force of the shore break at Ipanema. The exotic, foreign, wild, raw energy of Rio is extremely powerful and highly addictive. These clashing juxtapositions of the classes and colours, gives this cocktail of life enough layers to keep you guessing, and craving for more of the unknown”, justifies Emma very excited.

“I've wanted to move to a new continent with a new language for quite sometime, but wasn't sure where to go. It was a no-brainer as soon as soon as I caught a glimpse of that landscape as I flew into Rio. I felt something shift. An overwhelming sense of nostalgia washed over me. Whether I was Brazilian in my last life, I don't know? Basically my gut is telling me I need to be there, for one reason or another.”

After a road trip through Transcos - Búzios adding a few more weeks in Rio, Emma could already visualize her life very well, thanks to these inexplicable reasons. Carnival (the best party in the world), Larger than life personalities, deliciously quaint Joatinga beach, endlessly flowing music everywhere, ridiculously thirst quenching caipinrinhas, irresistibly hot Brazilieros, enticing fresh sucos de maracuja, mace, abacaxi” completes the artist, who illustrated our blog with all her expertise, creativity and kindness. Modesty aside, it looks pretty awesome! 

The plan is for Emma to arrive in Rio, in the beginning of 2012. In her muse and inspirational city, she doesn’t hide her confidence in find her space in the marketplace, “I think Brazilians will understand me as, I myself am of mixed descent and have been influenced by many cultures as well.  I will also be able to translate that roller coaster ride of culture shock I am no doubt, bound to experience. I am very sensitive to all my senses and try to explore all those avenues when creating my work. Hopefully I will be able to translate all of that into something cohesive!”

Before she packs her bag definitely and makes her dream become true, this Aussie insists that she will give priority to her work, as soon as , she feels a carioca, and no longer a tourist. “Would love to work with charities and perhaps children in the slum as I've always adored kids. In general, I'd love to interact with the people and collaborate on joint projects where my interests lie, whether its about the children/fashion/music/language/travel”.

To those who are curious about knowing a little bit more about Emma’s Tamaoki creations, please visit her website. “Feedback is always welcomed”, she clearly announces (here too). http://www.emmatamaoki.com/