Random

One can never really assess the depth or the full consequences of having been a lonely child. If all ends well, at least three behaviors can be identified:

1. An adult with a richer inner world than a real life.
2. A person with an acute, self-based perception of others’ feelings.
3. One who sees proximity as a threat to one’s individuality.

These can be all present and intertwined, and procrastination is a common hint of the lonely-child syndrome.

 

That and an unshakeable taste for some time alone.

Embracing universes

Ever since CDs stopped being relevant, there are only two things in the world I like to purchase: clothes & books.

With clothes I get to express my moods, manifest ideas and cause immediate reactions. With books I absorb others’ impressions and feelings through their creative view of the world, and respond mentally to them.

I’m an avid yet inconstant reader, and I tend to read several novels at the same time – besides all the other readings I regularly do.

Sometimes it can take months before I finish one piece of work. This may be due to my reluctance to part from an enticing or surprising narrative – I get too attached to these universes which eventually help me build my own.

There are five books between which I’m presently dividing my attention, all I can but highly recommend:

1. Sagarana, by Guimarães Rosa;

2. Le Marin de Gibraltar, by Marguerite Duras;

3. Todos los fuegos el fuego, by Julio Cortázar;

4. The Line of Beauty, by Allan Hollinghurst and

5. The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath.

All of these are remarkable in their own right, but I am absolutely fascinated by Sylvia Plath’s only published novel.

Sylvia Plath

It is so relieving to enter someone else’s life, sharing their impressions, views, loves and fears, it is like one gets a singular chance of reinterpreting one’s own reality.

Something I most earnestly ought to do.

Redrawing Brazil

Some say that the true great artist is the one who can capture the essence of his/her time. I tend to agree with that idea.

Translating the Zeitgeist is not an easy task nor is it obvious for the most part, so what guided me in choosing my list of most representative contemporary artists from Brazil was my sheer feeling. Without further ado, here’s my Top 5:

1. Cildo Meireles. His choice and use of materials, creating layers, barriers and magically simple visual goals make him not only a very talented but also an expert in translating our current needs for empty novelty.

Fontes (1992)

2. Ernesto Neto. His glue-y, at first somewhat disgusting shapes and art pieces challenge our notions of aesthetics. Art can be bent and it can feel nice and comfortable after you get past the first shock. Ernesto is as clever as his is subtle.

Navedenga (1998)

3. Adriana Varejão. This outstanding painter and sculptor does something quite revolutionary for Brazilian standards: look into our own art history. Culturally dominant and salient Portuguese tiles are turned into enormous open wounds that help communicate how violent and forced the colonization was. Yet if one knows how to use it, the past can be used to enrich perspectives for the future.

Ruína de charque (2000)

4. Tunga. A virtuoso in the choice and treatment of hard materials, Tunga has always been able to create extreme and delicate beauty out of seemingly sterile matter. His work can be seen as an exploration of the interconnections between elements, shapes and ideas, always gracefully exposed in their contrast.

Laminated Souls (2004-2007)

5. Rivane Neuenschwander. trespassing the boundaries of the individual arts, Rivane uses simple and mostly tiny materials to construct a wider view of the abstract world we live in. Wishes, dreams, home, journeys, discoveries and interaction are always part of the artist’s work.

Continent/Cloud (2007)

Luckily for all of us, there is a place where you can see pieces from all of these artists, the one and only (and the very best of its kind in my opinion) Inhotim Museum of Contemporary Art.

Normality

I’m quite tired to post anything that is slightly relevant at this point. Inspiration has left me for the day, so here are the things that I’ve done today:

1. woke up late;
2. went all the way to the university campus to get something I should have gotten before;
3. met a friend for lunch at one of my favorite places on Earth (a Taiwanese vegetarian place);
4. had coffee in an incredibly cozy new café close to my home;
5. tried to solve my cell phone problem;
6. went to the gym;
7. grabbed a bite;
8. taught another class;
9. talked to another dear friend about Yom Kippur plans;
10. searched for easy but smart laughter online.

A productive day? I’m not so sure.

Musically, today was devoted to The Knife:

and The Gossip:

I love it when I go back to an album I’ve listened to a lot in the past and still find new aspects to like.

Novelty doesn’t always lie in the new.

Manifoldness for moving

Even though I honestly believe Brazil is the land of opportunity, creation and creativity, my personal growth requirements might lead me once more to go abroad. But mind you, I will not be choosing just anywhere to live.

Here are the Top 5 Things that most matter to me in a country:

1. Cultural openness. Even more important than awareness of other cultures, it is truly important to me that the people in the country I choose to live would be open to different cultures no matter how far they might seem from theirs. Culturally self-centered nations are as xenophobic as they are boring.
2. Ethnic diversity. From my experience, I reckon that the more ethnically diverse a land is, the more exciting it becomes in culture as well as in sociological ways.
3. City-life vibration. Although I cherish and value the lifestyles of the countryside, I consider a rich and enticing city life to be an absolute necessity. I need to have choice in order to be satisfied; entertainment, shopping and transportation options are a key aspect for my happiness.
4. Laid-backness. I know I probably invented this word, but I just love it when people are so laid-back they don’t waste time worrying too much about minor things. Life can be simpler if our heritage helps us keeping from being uptight.
5. Gender equality. Sexism and homophobia walk hand in hand and thus push me farther and farther away from the place where they thrive.

Quite obviously, as I person who’s avid for so many forms of cultural expression, these five points are undeniably connected to culture. I am not the kind of human being who can be locked away in a library/gallery because everyone outside is aggressive or unwelcoming.

To contribute that sense of multiplicity and openness, here’s Jónsi‘s new video:

Although I’m almost positive Iceland does not score so well in my requirement list due to its lack of diversity, people like Jónsi definitely help not only his countrymen but other people everywhere become a bit more open to multiplicity of ideas and lifestyles.

Teenage day

I know it’s shallow and I feel like the ultimate teenager to say this but I’m fascinated by male singers in bands I admire.

In my dreams I’ve hooked up with Justin Timberlake (after he’d left N’Sync), dated Thom Yorke and was chosen by Kurt Cobain as his boyfriend. How adolescent of me.

Still, since I’m entitled to daydream for I am a Pisces, here is the list of my most recent top 5 teenage-style wannabe boyfriends from an indie rock band:

1. Oliver Sim, The xx. The voice, the looks, the words. He’d have me in a minute.

I can't give you up

2. Erlend Øye. The style, the voice, the height and the talent. Someone I’d love to share my bed and ideas with.

No better place, no other time

3. Rostam Batmanglij, from Vampire Weekend. He plays so many instruments the melody for my love is already played. Plus, he’s got that exotic look and he’s openly gay.

I can feel it coming

Isn’t it relieving when one doesn’t feel afraid of souding ridiculous?

I’m off to New York.

The last list

Is the year over yet? No? So, there’s time for the last list of 2009.

As a music addict, I’ve listened to dozen of bands all along the year. Some of these artists have managed to touch me in one way or the other, for they were part of the soundtrack of my life in 2009 (sound memory forever). And some of those acts launched new albums this year. So, with no more delays, here’s my list of the top 5 albums of 2009:

1. The xx. The year’s best discovery. Melodic songs, sexy voices, strong bass and heart-warming lyrics. Unforgettable.
2. Fever Ray. The world’s most luxurious electronic music bathed in feeling, meaning and purpose. A masterpiece.
3. La Roux. How far can a beautiful voice and lovable synths go? Quite a long way, it seems. Deliciously good.
4. The Arctic Monkeys – Humbug. More mature, more guitars, more melody, more Alex Turner. For all times.
5. PJ Harvey & John Parish – A Man A Woman Walked By. Banjoes, organs, guitars and voice. A breath of fresh rock into one’s ears.

A universe of feelings:

A musical universe:

May all of us have an art-filled and creatively rich 2010, with lots of good music too.