Friday, February 10, 2012

Super 8: A Quick Review

It supposed to be an amazing movie! But it wasn't! The big problem was the story. wasn't that strong and rational to accept it. Actings were really cool. kids were great! and special effects are so amazing! so many visual references to the all-time sci-fi masterpiece "Close Encounter of Third Kind" and some of "E.T.". after all it wasn't that jaw-dropping, wow kinda movie! I expected so much more!

7/10

Friday, October 29, 2010

This Is Iranian!

AKSbazi.com is proud to present:
Our last game specially opened for the opening of teh new Centre for Iranian Studies at the School Of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. In this game we have tried to show what we feel is Iranian in one photograph. In this slide show you will be able to see the first 132 photographs which were submitted within the deadline of the game. 132 views of Iran by 132 Iranians, an insider view at ourselves. We invite you to see this photo-movie and to pass it to your friends.

You can see the full game with more photos on aksbazi.com/​home/​show_user_artwork/​39/​1642

One of my photos is part of this project.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The Illusionist by Sylvain Chomet



Details the story of a dying breed of stage entertainer whose thunder is being stolen by emerging rock stars. Forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theaters, garden parties and bars, he meets a young fan who changes his life forever.
"The Illusionist is one of a dying breed of stage entertainers. With emerging rock stars stealing his thunder, he is forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theatres, at garden parties and in bars and cafés. However, whilst performing in a village pub off the west coast of Scotland, he encounters Alice, an innocent young girl, who will change his life forever.

Watching his performance to the excited villagers who are celebrating the arrival of electricity to their remote island, Alice becomes awestruck by our hero and believes his tricks are real magic. Following him to Edinburgh, she keeps his home while he goes to work in a small local theatre. Enchanted by her enthusiasm for his act, he rewards her with increasingly lavish gifts he has 'conjured' into existence. Desperate not to disappoint her, he cannot bring himself to reveal that magic does not exist and that buying these gifts is driving him to ruin.

But as Alice comes of age, she finds love and moves on. The Illusionist no longer has to pretend and, untangled from his own web of deceit, resumes his life as a travelling entertainer, a much wiser man."

Official site: L'illusionniste | imdb

Friday, November 20, 2009

URBAN JEALOUSY | Sound & Performance Artists from Roaming Biennial of Tehran @ herbstradio

URBAN JEALOUSY | Sound & Performance Artists from Roaming Biennial of Tehran

* Gözel Radio - Kıskanıyorum
* Kost J Picunda - Schlesi Ambulance
* Klimek - in Katamon
* Arash Khosronejad - G Street Drama
* FatMoon - Bagdad Dub
* Martin Shamoon Pour - New World Full of Jealousy
* Nasir Al Mazam - ToBeOrNotToBe
* Bethanien NewYorck - Mieten Stop
* Sena Çevik - Ağac Tree
* D2GG - Radio Guitar
* Bijan Moosavi - Shahr-e Siah
* Ballgard - Ghahere
* Gudubik - Draadspanner
* Paul Devens - Treppenhaut
* Nicolas Wiese [-hyph-] - Realness Notorious Big
* Utku Tavil - The Person You Have Called Can Not Be Reached At The Moment
* K.O.F.Y - Slow ( Live on Tehran Roaming Biennial in Belgrade )

http://herbstradio.org/plan/sendung/8736.html#Radio_Spezial-G_zelradio-_11

interview 10.06.2008 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnGklBRd_RQ
............................................................................


International Roaming Biennial of Tehran, curated and organized by Amirali Ghasemi and Serhat Koksal,chose Istanbul as its first station .The idea of this independent, low-budget exhibition started out both as a critique of the situation in Tehran, and of the international "biennialization" and '' gentrification '' process .

Featured works by artists from different countries from all around the world, selected from an open submission call, which has had an overwhelming response.Berlin is it's 2nd station ,Belgrade is it's 3th station .

Urban Jealousy Roaming Biennial of Tehran interview / Bant Magazine MAY 2008

Serhat Köksal and Amirali Ghasemi, two artists being frustrated about globalised, institutional (and therefore), shallow Biennials have decided to launch their own roaming, indipendent biennial named “Biennial Tehran”. First stop will be Karaköy Hafriyat in Istanbul, with contribution of various artists from all around the world, between May 30- 06 July. We asked them, about the name “Biennial Tehran”despite the different Biennial location, Karaköy-Istanbul and about the motives behind the concept “Urban Jealousy”.

How did everything start, what was the initial Idea and how did you meet Amirali?
S.K. – I first visited Tehran 12 years ago. Afterwards I made the musical score for a documentary named “Tehran 1380” which had been shown on Iran and some European TV channels. I already knew some people from the Tehran art scene. I first met Amirali about 3 years ago. Before that we had heard about eachother until he came to Istanbul for an exhibiton where I first saw his posters and stickers, which I thought was somehow similar to my works. In 2006 he invited met o his exhibition “Deeper depressions” which I contributed with a video. The year after, he invited me again for another Project which was related with Tehran and Berlin. I joined thisevent with an audio-visual performance called “NO Goethe, NO Hafız NO Bridge NO Biennial”. Since that time, the idea of a collaboration was brewing in our heads. He gave me some works of Iranian artists. They were very successful but I did not have the aim to exhibit any works of modern new Iranian artists anywhere. Indeed, I did not want this to happen because that Idea reminded me of previously organized European exhibitons with inadequate concepts of Istanbul, with Turkish artists as contributors.
We tried to define a concept about our common problems in order to start a collaboration. One day, when I was in Tehran I heard some ıranian artists, sitting next to me and chatting. One of them said “Maybe we should feel lucky that we do not have an International Biennial” and everybody laughed at this joke. At that very moment it flashed in my mind and said to Amirali: ” I found it! Our topic will be a Tehran Biennial and the first stage will be in Istanbul under the name Biennial Tehran”. Further, I found the concept “Jealousy”. Amirali finished it by adding “urban” and wrote a very nice article about the exhibiton. We planned no limitation of contributions from Iranian artists only. Because good works do not have a nationality.

The concept of this Exhibiton is defined as “Urban Jealouise”. What were the reasons of focusing on it?
S.K. - Actually the concept was titled in English, however, the word “Jealousy” has another meaning in French which is window shade. We identified this “jealouise” with the situation of Iranian artists as described in Amirali’s presentation article: “ A jalousie is some kind of a shade; through which you have a view to the outside, but you can’t see anything inside when you look from the outside.”

Another mission of this exhibiton is to stay dissident against these global&corporate biennials which, somehow restrict themselves and their contributing artists. What would you say about this perspective?

S.K. – For a pretty long time, I’ve been performing in many countries about the relation between Global Energy pipelines and the compelling “Cultural Dialogue” attempts, the involvement of global capitalism in building bridges, branding cities and major art events. And naturally it is normal that these events which are voluntarily participating, tend to be more sterile and the same. Since beginnig of the millenium, I have been performing some Works with partially humorous content about this “Curators Hegemony” and Biennialism. I even wrote some articles about this subject for some magazines. So yes; one of the major questions we are asking is, “Why are these Biennials are organized onyl by Ministries of Culture, big Art Foundations and modern Holding companies?”. Another purpose is to question the status differences in the Art scene. Do people with limited skills not have the right to launch a Biennial? But the main purpose will be the attitude of the contributors and the places to be exhibited.

Amirali, you are a co-founder of the independent Art Gallery “Parkingallery” in Tehran. We intend to talk to you about this in details in future issues, until then, could you introduce Parkingallery in in a few words?

A.G. – Parkingallery has been esatablished in 1998 as an independent design sudio, Project event and art gallery. In 2002, we launched our online gallery and until today, we have been organizing exhibitons, panels and events. We also are in contact with various rock groups. Our main ambition is to concentrate on new medias, designs and photography and support young and promising artists by these exhibitons.

Frankly speaking, we do not have any idea about the Iranian Art scene. Of course, one major reason is this sheet of fear spred over us by the Western World. Can you talk about this briefly?

A.G. – The Tehran Art scene consists of different Island, actually. And they are not communicating with eachother, so much. It looks as if they were in some kind of competition. Metaphorically, we consider ourselves some kind of a boat! There are some internationally known young Iranian artists; however, unfortunately most of them are creating Works according to the demands of the market: either cheap and shallow political art-work or lush, exotic shit…

And indeed; the propaganda machine is working regular as usual, and blocks any information unless it is based on a political topic or against any typical persona. Means, despite that we have received applications even from countries which I had never heard of, we do not expect any miracle or any change with this Biennial. This Bieannial is more about travel, speaking, reshaping estates, exploring new frontiers and curiosity. The concepts or aims of corporate Biennials are too”old”, “slow” and “serious” to desire and gain. We only borrowed the format of a Biennial and chose moving instead of stuck in one geographical territory.


There was a sentence in one of the answers which had not been published in Bant Magazine:

S.K. – For example, last year 3 different opening ceremonies have been held in Istanbul Biennial. At the first one, very close persons froma very tight circle of the Sponsor company had been invited. The second one was for the VIP and the third was for the general public. If necessary, we can organize 4 opening ceremonies for our Biennial. But we have decided only for one. In the evening there will be a party which is called “Gözel Geceler” with VJs and DJs .

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Hammock's Mono no Aware

I just watched the music video for Hammock's "Mono no Aware" from their album "Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow". This music video is amazing! Totally it's a great work of art. The soul-touching song with beautiful frozen landscapes and misty fields and abandoned places made this music video something really special! This music video is directed by David Altobelli.

Click here to watch it!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Review : About Elly

"About Elly", the latest Asghar Farhadi's movie is something different for today's Iranian movie. In "About Elly" Farhadi is at his best. After directing "Chaharshanbe-soori" (his another amazing movie) and having some amazing works such as writing a screenplay for his wife's "Dayereh-e zangi" and Mani Haghighi's "Canaan", he returned with "Darbareye Elly", not a different movie, but his best!




"About Elly" is not just a drama movie. It's a great psychological thriller. It's a great journey throuth the layers of human's morality. The bitterness of movie's story and that shocking ending never leave you, hours after when you finished the movie. All actors/actresses actings are phenomenal. They are all at their best. Specially Peiman Moaadi (as Peyman) at his debut movie as an actor, is so brilliant. "About Elly" has no soundtrack but ambient sounds and the great usage of sea tides sounds. Movie recieved so many positive reviews along with some negative ones. This movie won 4 Major awards and 1 nomination.

With this movie, Asghar Farhadi fixed his position as one of the best Iranian directors of all time. also "About Elly" is one of (if not the best) Iranian best movie to date. Farhadi and his brand new movie brought a new breath, and started a new wave of filmmaking in Iranian's film industry.

rate: 9.5/10

P.S.: look to the sea through the movie carefully. after one hour it becomes such a nightmare to look and stand by the sea!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

MJ:13:13

5 days after Michael Jackson's tragic death (I thought why I didn't mentioned something on my blog about it :-?), me and my friend Fouad Amiri decided to run a memorial service for Michael. We decided to run it as a virtual party. So after 3 days of working hard on this idea, MJ:13:13 virtual memorial party launched for all Michael's fans all around the world.
Why we name this memorial party MJ:13:13? you should check out the official page.
I designed poster and wallpaper for this event and Fouad designed web page for it.

to know more about this event check out: MJ:13:13 official page
or join us on: Facebook page

RIP Michael!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Dedicated to Christine

Beside "The Ghost" photography project, I'm designing a poster as a side-project dedicated to "Christine Chubbuck" a reporter who committed suicide during a live TV program. This poster is based on some figure drawings I did for this one combined with some vector elements, typographies and hand-made textures.

It will be published in very limited edition.
To know who was Christine Chubbuck, click here.

All Contents Copyright © 2013 Sketchspace | Arash Khosronejad. All rights reserved.