Textfiles of Desire @ Transmediale 2013 BWPWAP

Had the honor and the pleasure of contributing to this panel that took place today in Berlin's Haus der Kulturen der Welt. Was fabulous

Also it's a good excuse to feature this video here (again)

Independence Park Day - Video

Independence Park Day / documentation of performance 

a piece of Ariel Efraim Ashbel
Music: Santiago Blaum

Performed by Michal Oppenheim Landau and the 'Gayzmers' Choir members: Adir Even, Gilad Leshed, Nir Oren and Scott Piro

Performed and filmed live in Gan Ha'azmaut (independence park) Tel Aviv, September 2012
Cameras: Yoav Bezaleli, Yael Engelhart. Editing: Yifat Tadmor

Produced and presented in the frame of "Province", a project curated by Leah Abir as part of "Loving Art Making Art", Tel Aviv 2012

Independence park day - invite

Two people I think work well together

Both have what Rupaul would describe as Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent.


God Bless America

Charo

Egyptism

Egypt was always at the center of attention and an object of fascination for cultural orientalists. I'm sure there are many historical, mythological and imaginary reasons for that special occidental love, and I would leave it to the theoreticians to explain. I'm as usual fascinated with the fascination and the way it evolved into pop culture. So here are two amusing/disturbing 20th century performative moments that materialize this perversion:

Wilson Keppel and Betty doing their popular Sand Dance routine (c. 1933): And the gorgeous Kate Bush making her properly insane and absolutely not PC contribution to the discourse (1979):

LA LUPE

Here are two amazing TV performances by Cuban pop singer La Lupe. I don't know what she's saying but I'm sure her hand gestures are making atoms shake in a very unusual way. Sontag mentions her in a random list of "items which are part of the canon of Camp", featured in her wonderful 1964 classic, Notes on Camp.

The best theater I've seen in a while

Somehow when kids to it it looks so much better. I think this is one of my Youtube all-time favorites

I will always love Dolly

and her insane collection of wigs The woman is a walking work of art

I didn't even dream about something so

Unbelievably cool.

Performance (is not) Art, made in India

Jason Kottke twitted this video as "the craziest thing you'll ever see on the web". i'm not sure I agree (it depends on your definition of crazy), but I do think it's pretty amazing, and actually very cool if read through the prism of the performative context. It has elements of early classic 1970's performance work that focused on endurance and pain (Abramovic, Pane, Burden, Acconci, etc.), alongside a more contemporary dramaturgy we know from performance recent work, and the circus-like presentational strategy; And of course, we cannot look at it without at least a hint of orientalism. Anyway it's super entertaining. I especially like the Indian Paula Abdul and her reactions. Enjoy!

and you thought they didn't like gay guys in Jamaica

An adorable Yami Bolo in a 1984 heartbreaking performance:

Some more VHS quality imagery

Continuing the nostalgic wave, here is what YouTube claims to be Madonna's first performance. Whether it's true or not, it is quite cool. I'm not sure what i like best: the set, the choreography or the supporting gays. Actually, I am sure: the gays. Especially the tall one.



It also reminds me a little bit of this:

"You will see and agree everybody should be free 'cause if we ain't we're murderous"

Maybe it's the Palestinian drama starting today in the UN, or maybe just because every now and again I have to pay tribute to high priestess, who is still one of the most courageous, far-out, brilliant, provocative artists ever. This Montreux concert from 1976 is better than most "MA-in-performance" programs out there. Just watch and learn.
With only a drummer and a grand piano on stage, Nina's playing some of her classics ("little girl blue", "feelings", "Mr. Backlash"), showing off her new expensive necklace, looking for her dear friend David Bowie in the audience, exhibiting some dance moves she learned in Africa, screaming at some poor white person to sit down, and announcing she won't play any more jazz festivals, because after this gig she will ascend to a higher level. This is the shit. It is.







And while I'm at it I have to also put this one here. This is Maya beautifully homaging the queen in my last IntimaDance (2010):

Men Are Stupid

You gotta admire this lady. Thanx Iris!

Alona Rodeh - when you are here

a great video my dear friend Alona made. I think it's a beautiful example of how a specific gaze in the right context can give you a glimpse of a whole process. When you see this little moment in the car next to some of Alona's installations, her take on live art and kinetic, time-based sculpture becomes very clear. Nowadays, doing something so specific without making it literal and (pseudo-)intellectual is truly a blessing. Cheers babe! :-)



It also reminded me of this little one I made two years ago:




Here's another one of Alona's installations in Brener St. in Tel Aviv:




And continuing this very free stream of consciousness, here is a gorgeous piece by Brussels theatermaker Kris Verdonck:

On Psychoanalysis and revolution

Breakin in Tehran

I want them to perform my wedding. Thank you Romm!

Lauryn Hill age 13

cool

Go Roseanne!

A recent visit to one of the (boring) Based in Berlin exhibitions brought this video back to my mind. Israeli artist Asaf Koriat had a video there which was a split screen showing nine divas singing the American national anthem at the opening of the several super bowls. I found this as a good excuse to put one of my all time youtube favs here:



I'm still waiting for an opportunity to make the "Tikva" (Israel's anthem) version with Maya.