Tania Candiani – Habita Intervention Part 2
Rafael Micha and his team at Hotel Habita showed that they are ahead of the game in terms of what is happening and supporting new artists when they commissioned this intervention by Tania Candiani and her team of street artists. It raised a storm of protests in Mexico City. All the arguments that resurfaced this year (3 years later) when Deitch launched MOCA’s “Art in the Streets” were raised.
Looking back on this project and how I made feel from the moment I got out of the taxi and looked up, to sitting in my room and looking through my personal see through part of the piece one thing seems clear to me: Street Art is art, like it or not!
Rainer
Tania Candiani – Intervention Habita Part 1
In June of 2008 I traveled to Mexico City for an assignment and as usual I stayed at the Hotel Habita. When I got out of the taxi I could not believe my eyes: the whole outside glass front of the building was covered in Graffiti. Upon entering I was informed that this was an art intervention by Mexican Artist Tania Candiani and during my week long stay I photographed the work intensively. I was fortunate to be introduced to the artist and also took portraits of her on the site. Tania is currently working on a book about the intervention to be published later this year, here some of her thoughts about the project:
Habita Intervenido. Like a metaphor of appropriation, a group of taggers were the temporal inhabitants of this exclusive hotel in Mexico City. During the process we discussed concepts and definitions about identity, personal history and city barriers. This project aims to bring attention to the potential beauty of graffiti and to create a discussion about how certain forms of visual expression are prioritized over others. From the inside, the hotel guests had a layer of street in their rooms. It lasted 4 months.
Gonkar Gyatso – Studio Visit
Gonkar Gyatso is a Tibetan artist who is based between NY and London. Being neighbors in Chelsea (the one in New York) I was lucky to be invited to his studio to document some of his process. Gonkar’s work, which is represented in many galleries and museums, explores his fascination with material and pop culture and most of the times seems to incorporate the image of Buddha. When I peaked through the open door of his studio I was mesmerized by a large sitting Buddha statue covered with little fragments of pop culture references. Upon entry I found collections of cut outs and stickers everywhere, tables are filled, boxes full of materials, and the leftovers on the floor tell the story of a long and meticulous process. Watching him at work reminded me of a conductor that pieces together the perfect harmony. Although unconventional, his images of Buddha represent a spiritual approach that is mirrored in his personality. Enjoy this little window into his world!
Rainer
Regina Silveira – Octopus (Track Series)
The new extension of the Highline Park is open and looking down on to 26th street I saw that Alexander Gray Gallery is featuring a new exhibition by Regina Silveira, a key influencer in the development of Latin American contemporary art.
Back in 2009 I was invited to document the installation of her first exhibition with the gallery. The exhibition featured one of Silveira’s signature cut-vinyl installations. In Octopus, the gallery’s walls, windows, floor and ceiling were covered with graphic tire tracks, creating an illusion of race cars that have driven into the gallery. Playing with ideas of velocity, perspective, and trace remains, Silveira’s installation questioned the viewer’s relationship to architecture and public space, and the passage of time.
Since this reportage was pre blog life of mine, I decided to it share now and inspire you to come to Chelsea and look at her amazing work.
Rainer
Good Bye India!
Before we knew it the last day in India had arrived and we all were splitting up to go back home. But not before one last excursion into the country side with one of our favorite chairs, the Orbit. We arrived at a riverbed that is used by many locals to do their laundry and set a beautiful backdrop for our last images. After meeting two camels, their guides and many kids we headed back to Devigarh were we set up a groupshot of the Tour Du Monde team at the pool, enjoy!
Rainer
The Boys of Delwara – A Perfect World
The arrival at the Palace was spectacular, but my heart was lost with the boys of Delwara. I had promised them to come back with one of our chairs to bring it around the village and have people take a seat, just like we did in Udaipur. They took me around for a tour of the breathtaking little streets that speak of times gone by in a quiet and graceful way and I was thinking that mother earth was showing her most beautiful face. A family invited us into their house to get a view form the roof and when daylight set over the palace I was standing there humbled, happy and thankful.
Rainer
Arriving in Devigarh
Our next destination was the palace of Devi Garh which is nestled in the Aravalli hills, 28 km northeast of Udaipur. It is surrounded by the village of Delwara, which is a place where time seemed to stand still. We walked down the main road which is lined with different kind of stores and people hanging out in front of them, doing business or just waiting for customers. The tiny side streets were more quiet but you could look into open doors and see people working and smiling.
After running into a cow, meeting a tailor and a potter and his wife, we came by a temple where a service was going on. To my total surprise everybody gestured to come inside and made me feel comfortable to take pictures of their prayer session. It was a welcome that is hard to find in our part of the world and it made me wish the speed of our western world would start to revert. On my way back I encountered a stand off between the cow I met earlier and a boar… just my kind of place!
Rainer
Hermann Nitsch 60. Malaktion Part 2
I want to give the colors of India a break and return to the canvases of Mr. Nitsch. The second part of the day picked up where Team Nitsch had left off earlier, two huge canvases that had been splashed with red color and walked on, were now lifted on to stands and Mr. Nitsch started to apply more paint with his hands. He was also showing some of his many assistants how to do it and then decided to turn the action into group therapy, the whole team smearing at the same time. After a while he decided the piece was finished and the whole entourage moved to a smaller room in the front.
He picked one of the robes that the assistants were wearing to be part of the next artwork. When the lucky winner, a handsome guy, decided to take it of on the spot and hold it in place in his underwear Mr. Nitsch was clearly pleased and also amused about the reactions of the female bystanders. He then continued to work on the canvas by applying brown paint and instructing others how he wanted it done. At this point the gallery was bursting with people watching and recording, so I decided it was time to give some other people the front row and call it a day. On the way out I saw gallery owner Mike Weiss working his cellphone and with even that last cliche fulfilled I stepped back into reality with a big smile on my face. Thank you Hermann!
Rainer
Faces of Udaipur Part 2
Here comes part 2 of my portrait series in Udaipur and it includes some of my favorite faces ever. Meeting the holy men and being invited to share their energy was uplifting and rewarding. Of course at the end some of the guys insisted to have their picture taken with our model Alex and she was happy to comply!
Rainer
Faces of Udaipur
After our tour I decided to set up a white backdrop in a corner of the royal courtyard and take portraits of our cast, a wonderful mix of locals young and old. Everybody wanted in, so here part 1 but more to come…
Rainer
