Just a sneak peek at our upcoming artist for April Mathias Kryger, also from Copenhagen. His work is performance based and we are thinking he is somewhat rock n roll! He is flying out for his show with us which opens Friday 5th April. Here is an article from the latest Danish Elle Magazine in which he talks about his work and his upcoming show at RAYGUN. Splendid!
This morning we put Thorgej on a bus for his flight home back to Copenhagen via a few days checking out Brisbane.
Here are some photos of his time he had with us. Of course they are just a few, but we have really enjoyed having him amongst our creative community in Toowoomba. We learnt so much about his work and culture and in turn have gained new perspectives on our own practices. We shared meals every night and took it in turns to be the host. He was a star for a night being the DJ with David Usher at Phat Burgers Vinyl Sunday session, he checked out kangaroos and saw a bit of our landscape (even though it was raining most of the time) and gave a talk to art students and lecturers about his practice out at the University. Great fun thanks Thorgej and we look forward to seeing you in your own home town soon.
Thorgej is staying with us for a week in Toowoomba and we are enjoying having conversations about art, our art, his art, our culture, his culture etc. It’s interesting the ideas embedded within his practice such as historical movements associated with Modernist artists/movements, and how he is interested in placing different ideas in a particular setting, and how he uses his record collection as a point of departure, like a kind of engine from which new ideas emerge. Here are some images from his most recent exhibition in Copenhagen. Check out more of his work at http://kunstdk.dk/kunstner/thorgej_steen_hansen/vaerker/non-shop-records
Last night was Thorgej’s opening night in the RAYGUN space and he was kept busy with lots of new people to meet and conversations. Kyle Jenkins played some fantastic songs while Thorgej did a video and sound recording. Here are some images of the works after install and some music clips and photos from the night are on their way.
Last night the short film attached below about Brizilian artist Helio Oiticica’s work by Ivan Candose, showed at the IMA (Institute of Modern Art, in Brisbane). Writer and critic Susan Best spoke, introducing the film; Best has recently published a book called ‘Vizualising Feeling, affect and the feminine avant-garde’ which looks great.
Best is a wonderful speaker who outlined Oiticia’s work and also spoke about Lygia Clark, who, also a Brazilian artist, worked closely with Oiticica. Best described Oiticica as deconstructing the elements of painting, and creating huge abstract paintings for the body called parangoles, that are featured in the following film. Best compared Clark with Oiticica explaining that Clark’s work was not meant for an audience, but for the participant, where as Oiticicas work was intended for an audience to both watch, and participate within. The following short film is often shown with Oicicicas parangoles, which demonstrate that they are meant to be danced in, and activated, becoming one with the body.
Edi Rama artist turned politician uses paint to create a better world. Edi talks at TEDx
image is from sustainableideas.it
Last night’s Wine Tasting with Michael Pleming was the second event connected to Harrell Fletcher’s exhibition ‘Michael Pleming’. Michael chose wine sourced locally at aroung the 20 dollar mark. The point was to speak about wine (which is one of Michael’s passions) while educating the everyday punter in buying good wines, for not much money, from local stores.
We started with a Sparkling, then moved to a Pinot Gris/Grigo, Riesling, Semillon, Chardonnay, Rose, Pino Noir, Cabanet, and ended with a Shiraz/Syrah.
The sweet Libby Kelly donated a 2004 Reisling which was divine!! so we could compare and contrast… Thanks Libby! x
Gosh what an incredible learning curve. Michael favours grapes grown in cool climates, and explained that the same grapes make red and white blends, and all grape juice is clear!!! ( but red wine is left to soak with the grape skins for a longer period of time, rose is left for just an hour or two (too long is when rose becomes sickly sweet). We spoke about Terrawa, which is the condition of the place the wine is grown in, and how the combination of Terrawa and wine maker is key.
It was an incredibly wonderful evening, each wine was so delicious, Michael’s explanations were delightful and dinner afterwards was delicious.
Next we will have a dinner party which will couple wine with food (Michael and Richard team up). Email us at raygunlab@gmail.com if you’d like more information when the time comes close!!
Thanks Michael!
This morning was the first event linked to Harrell Fletcher’s exhibition ‘Michael Pleming’.
Five super excited bike riders met at the cornet of Margaret and Lindsay streets in Toowoomba at 10am. Michael did a few quick seat adjustments and we set off!! We cycled along trying to sort out gear changes, and laughing hysterically for about a half hour, until we reached the water bird habitat… Michael produced a loaf of bread from his back basket (I want one) and we fed the ducks, and Richard stood on a park bench and read us this crazy cycling poem, Mulga Bill (below) which his Dad knows by heart!! It was a wonderful time! and I think we’re all slightly more confident on our bikes, and the path was so pretty! Thanks Michael (and Harrell) for such a lovely morning!
(thanks Rich for the photos) I was way too wobbly to manage the documentation and ride at the same time!!
Rich’s poem!!!
'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze; He turned away the good old horse that served him many days; He dressed himself in cycling clothes, resplendent to be seen; He hurried off to town and bought a shining new machine; And as he wheeled it through the door, with air of lordly pride, The grinning shop assistant said, "Excuse me, can you ride?" "See here, young man," said Mulga Bill, "from Walgett to the sea, From Conroy's Gap to Castlereagh, there's none can ride like me. I'm good all round at everything as everybody knows, Although I'm not the one to talk - I hate a man that blows. But riding is my special gift, my chiefest, sole delight; Just ask a wild duck can it swim, a wildcat can it fight. There's nothing clothed in hair or hide, or built of flesh or steel, There's nothing walks or jumps, or runs, on axle, hoof, or wheel, But what I'll sit, while hide will hold and girths and straps are tight: I'll ride this here two-wheeled concern right straight away at sight." 'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that sought his own abode, That perched above Dead Man's Creek, beside the mountain road. He turned the cycle down the hill and mounted for the fray, But 'ere he'd gone a dozen yards it bolted clean away. It left the track, and through the trees, just like a silver steak, It whistled down the awful slope towards the Dead Man's Creek. It shaved a stump by half an inch, it dodged a big white-box: The very wallaroos in fright went scrambling up the rocks, The wombats hiding in their caves dug deeper underground, As Mulga Bill, as white as chalk, sat tight to every bound. It struck a stone and gave a spring that cleared a fallen tree, It raced beside a precipice as close as close could be; And then as Mulga Bill let out one last despairing shriek It made a leap of twenty feet into the Dean Man's Creek. 'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that slowly swam ashore: He said, "I've had some narrer shaves and lively rides before; I've rode a wild bull round a yard to win a five-pound bet, But this was the most awful ride that I've encountered yet. I'll give that two-wheeled outlaw best; it's shaken all my nerve To feel it whistle through the air and plunge and buck and swerve. It's safe at rest in Dead Man's Creek, we'll leave it lying still; A horse's back is good enough henceforth for Mulga Bill."
RAYGUN 
