In stores 27 March. Video by Defcon. Dope!
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Archive for March, 2009
29
Mar
09
Pixação
“Pixo & Confusion” The Changing Face of Brazil’s Pixação
“Emerging in the 1980s in São Paulo, Brazil pixação quickly became one of the most aggressive and controversial forms of expression to date, turning its artists, the pixadores, into one of the most marginalized social groups in the city,” writes photographer Choque Photos of Brazil.
“Constantly in search of adrenaline, social resistance and recognition, the pixadores enter the city center from the outskirts in order to assert their existence through bold nocturnal actions – nightly escapes from the social exclusion that weighs on their daily lives.”
We’re talking about pixação, the unique São Paulo-originated form of graffiti. As is true with all forms of unauthorized street art, to some the pixadores are outlaws; to others they are heroes, risking their lives to get up in some of the most dangerous of spaces and situations the world of graffiti has seen.
What happens though, when those pixadores (namely a group of about 40 organized by Rafael Pixobomb) once proud of and known for their anti-establishment/corporation/government beliefs, start attacking local galleries (famously, the Choque Cultural Gallery in São Paulo), universities, and fine arts events? Even worse, why would they travel to Porto Alegre (one of the most conservative cities in Brazil on the pixação issue) and ironically, be paid with government money to organize a project “made to discuss pixação in a higher level,” by writing on blank billboards voluntarily given up by a private organizations when the pixadores’ entire trajectory was to remain outside mainstream art, politics, and government?
Our friend and active member of the art community in Porto Alegre, Ana Ferraz, set us straight on the real story behind the growing scandal sweeping Porto Alegre, São Paulo, and all of Brazil regarding the new face of, and attitude surrounding, pixação.
“That’s what makes pixação different from all the other artistic forms,” states journalist Caru Albuquerque. “Nobody has to like or understand it.” But that’s just the very tip of the scandalous issue. Get the most in-depth story thus far on the entire issue surrounding pixação in Brazil today in a great editorial Ana Ferraz wrote for us below:
Pixo & Confusion
by Ana Ferraz
Pixo or pixo-reto (straight pixo) is the result of doing “pixação”, a kind of graffiti/tag originating from Sao Paulo, (the biggest city in Brazil) that has existed since the early 80s. From a text written by OSGEMEOS in the Graffiti Brasil book (Thames & Hudson, 2005), comes the theory that this style of calligraphy is rooted in the heavy metal band logotypes spray painted on the walls of the time. On the other hand, there’s the aesthetic connection with the Californian Chicano gang style of letters from the 70s.
In any case, pixo has a very peculiar style and it’s an illegal form of expression, made mostly by people from the marginalized areas that have nothing to loose and very little to expect. Their main goal is the “ibope” (the real IBOPE is the biggest statistics institute in the country, known for its TV audience reports). To achieve the pixo’s “ibope”, one must have their name written everywhere, in the highest and most difficult public spaces; it is the equivalent of “getting up” from wild style graffiti writers. When they’re successful, it hurts a society that sees it as a dirty thing; a nonsensical, angry crime. Very few people see it as a creative outlet, as a calligraphic expression coming, in general, from youngsters who have no study or familiarity with graphic design. Since the 80s pixação has taken over major spaces in many Brazilian cityscapes, especially in Sao Paulo. Now, it’s a style known worldwide and many Brazilian artists with roots in urban subcultures we love, like OSGEMEOS and Vitché, used pixo elements in their works.
In this complex context, on June 2008, a pixo writer called Rafael “Pixobomb” organized an attack to Belas Artes (fine arts) University as his graduation work. Fine art student himself, Pixobomb, and a group with about 50 other pixo writers, invaded the university claiming that art must be related to social issues, using pixação to prove his point. It wasn’t very clear if Rafael wanted to elevate pixo as an art form, or if was just used as a way of protest.
In September, the same group attacked Choque Cultural gallery, also in Sao Paulo (photos below.) This time claiming that the real urban art (the pixo) can’t be sold or domesticated, which in their point of view, the gallery was doing. Choque actually sell works with pixo (and graffiti, tattoo, etc) influences but in this violent attack, British pop artworks which have nothing to do with Brazilian urban art where painted over, together with all the walls and even some Juxtapoz magazines (now highly collectable!)
The next target was the most predictable one. In October, a group of 40 pixo writers, once again organized by Rafael Pixobomb, invaded the Sao Paulo Art Bienal (the most important Brazilian fine arts event) this year known as “Bienal of emptiness”, with an entire floor of the building left empty to create a reflection about the meaning of the Bienal. Some people say that the curators knew about the attack and, even more, wanted it. Once again the attacker’s speech was that pixo is the real art, mixed with some protest words. Anyway, they were applauded by the public while trying to escape from the police.
Now, with December comes the newest episode about this group of pixo writers. A cultural project involving pixação added Porto Alegre to the discussion, a city in the southern part of Brazil and home of artists like Bruno 9li, Carlos Dias, Trampo and many others. Organized by a producer known for her work with the hip-hop movement, the project was made to discuss pixação in a higher level and it was paid for with government money. It’s a discussion that pixadores, graffiti and urban artists, and people involved always want to have happen.
One of the project’s actions was the pixo writing on blank billboards, voluntarily given by a private organization, with participants like Rafael Pixobomb and the photographer known as “Choque Photos” (the one who shot the previous attacks. As a side note, he doesn’t have anything to do with Choque Cultural gallery). Of course the pixo writers didn’t paint only the billboards, putting their letters on walls around the city. As one of the most conservative cities on the pixação issue, Porto Alegre’s media made it a scandal, accusing that pixação (a crime, according to Brazilian laws) was being made with public money.
In the last issue of Vista Skateboard Art magazine, released before the Porto Alegre project, there’s the contradictory point of view of some of those pixo writers, involved in the attacks. In a long and great interview by Caru Albuquerque and Silvio Ayala, the pixo writers said that pixação will never be part of the system, government, advertising or fine arts. According to Djan (aka Cripta), “That’s what makes pixação different from all the other artistic forms. […] Nobody has to like or understand it.” Naldo (aka Os Bicho Vivo) said that it can happen to appear as a project from these institutions, but he doubts that the pixo writers would join it. “I don’t think the government and pixo writers can talk… The society won’t win the battle against pixação, and will never accept it,” said Juca (aka Teimosos). Djan even affirmed that these attacks were made to introduce pixação at the Art debate.
Maybe what’s happening now can be loosely related to what Tony Shafrazi did in the 70s. He first appeared to the world for his anti-war graffiti in Picasso’s Guernic and now, well, he’s Tony Shafrazi, the owner of one of the most important New York art galleries. Or perhaps Rafael Pixobomb and his crew are very confused– or they’re really, really smart.
If you happen to read Portuguese, and would like more info on the current pixação scandal, read further here:
http://zerohora.clicrbs.com.br
xarpiescritanoturna.blogspot.com
29
Mar
09
billy codpiece
please use the blog’s comment feature to add a caption for billy codpiece’s photo……i believe there is something mysteriously sexual at work here….
25
Mar
09
Final Product // ATTIGO TT
Is Technology Destroying The Art Of DJing? …..who knows…but it does give us new tools for the manipulation of sound & music.
The ATTIGO TT was created by Scott Hobbs, a student at Dundee University studying innovative product design. For his final year project he’s created a touch screen turntable that lets DJ’s loop, sample and scratch wave forms just as you would a record. The size of the touchtable is approximately the same as a standard turntable, making the physical interaction nearly the same. Where this takes off is in the flexibility and features included right at your fingertips, no longer locked up on a computer screen. The ATTIGO TT is currently a working prototype, and Scott is looking for manufacturers to partner with.
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23
Mar
09
pins&digits request an earcheck…
yes yes…it does
becomes this……………….madlib the maestro
As the countdown beings to the release of “DJ Hero,” Activision’s forthcoming turntablist counterpart to “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band,” a few details are beginnging to emerge, including a new website, Twitter account, and a SXSW appearance by DJ Shadow.
Gaming site Kotaku has been diligent about mapping out the hardware details recently, including the many iterations of the DJ controller, arguably the most important factor in the success of this new franchise. The big question, however, has still remained: which famous all-star DJ will be ‘the’ DJ Hero.
Z-Trip and DJ Shadow are two of the DJs who will appear as avatars in Activision’s forthcoming “DJ Hero” video game, according to a Daily Swarm source involved in the game’s development. Both have had a role in developing and testing the game’s controller as well as programming and licensing the music.
Daft Punk and Mixmaster Mike are rumored to be part of the game too, but their participation remains unconfirmed. Despite early reports of DJ Tiesto’s inclusion in the game, the Dutch trance merchant’s role has since been lessened or abandoned entirely.
Activision plans to ship 1.5 million units of the game when it hits the shelves this June, according to our sources. This shows a considerable amount of confidence that the music gaming market is compiled of more than standard-fare rock fans, and that there is a large audience of wanna-be DJs. Can MTV’s version be far behind?
Kool Keith – many forms, many incarnations. A founding member of the legendary Ultramagnetic MCs, the Black Elvis, also Dr. Octagon, even Dr. Dooom…not often Keith Thornton…responsible for such classic albums as Critical Beatdown, Funk Your Head Up, and the Four Horsemen. In addition to his many rap outings, Keith proved he was not averse to cross-genre experimentation and even collaborated with the electronica outfit Hardkiss on “Abandon Ship” (Sharks & Mermaids mix) on the Astralwerks imprint; in fact, Kool Keith appears on the Prodigy album Fat Of The Land as the voice of “Smack My Bitch Up” and on the track “Diesel Power.”
Keith says …”I’m not about nostalgia, I’m not about looking back. If I made a hit, I moved on and never looked back…. the future is what I should be dwelling on right now.”
…and hey i bet you think you have a great “street” name…..Uncle Keith rocks many a psuedonym….use some of these during your next telephone survey………..
KOOL KEITH
KEITH TURBO
KEITH TELEVASQUEZ
KEITH KORG
MATTHEW
DR. SPERM
DR. OCTAGON
DR. ULTRA
DR. DOOOM
BLACK ELVIS
POPPA LARGE
MR. GREEN
MR. GERBIK
MR. ORANGE
MC BALDYLOCKS
THE FOURTH HORSEMAN
BLONDE MAN
CLEAN MAN
SHARK MAN
ELEPHANT MAN
ALIEN MAN
JIMMY STEELE
WILLIE BIGGS
BIG WILLIE SMITH
WILLIE NATURAL
REVEREND TOM
MIKE STANLEY
LARRY LOPEZ
THE X
RHYTHM X
X-CALIBER
X-74
FLY RICKY THE WINE TASTER
RICO FROM PUERTO RICO
FUNK IGNITER PLUS
ROBBIE ANALOG
SINISTER 6000
CRAZY LOU
LONNIE HENDREX
LIGHT BLUE COP
THE KID IN THE COMMERCIAL
JOE KINGPIN
BLACK LINEN
ELVIN PRESLEY
DELI BOY
SK8 JOHNSON
PLATNINUM RICH
EXOTRON GEIGER COUNTER ONE PLUS MEGOTRON
ACTIVITY
EXXON
CAPTAIN KOOL
CAPTAIN BLACK
EXOTRON GEIGER COUNTER ONE GAMA PLUS SEQUENCER
ROBERT PERRY
JOHN CLAYBORNE COUSIN OF JIMMY HICKS
MR. NOGATCO
TASHAN DORRSETT
NAQUAN
UNDERWEAR PISSY
THE BEST MC IN THE WORLD
22
Mar
09
“Ghosts” by Comateens
1981 video for “Ghosts” by Comateens, from their self-titled debut album. Filmed in a garage in Paris on almost no budget, of course that is quite hard to tell….
One of the pioneering bands of the New York / New Wave scene from 1978 – 1986. Drum machines. Guitars. Strangeness. Awesome. Two brothers and a cool chick. Make the scene.
Record Label: Virgin
Band Members: Lyn Byrd, Nic North, Oliver North
City: New York, New York
Country: United States
“He found by experience the truth of that law, always unbelievable and always proclaimed, that an artist is invariably hated in exact proportion to his greatness, and that if his strength gives out, when the baying pack are hunting him, he won’t even find a plough-boy generous enough to refrain from stretching out his plough-share to trip him up. The Great Holiday of mankind is to see the death of whatever does not seem mortal.”
point3recurring 
speaketh