March 2011
Artists Showcase My current work is concerned with dichotomies and the relationship between signs. I use a variety of symbols to suggest themes of eroticism, mass conformity, hedonism and addictions. Within this framework, I bring together themes of excessiveness within our obsessive and consumerist culture. I invoke tension by employing a polarity of realism and formalism, which is further amplified by the use of complementary colours, geometric forms and image sizing. The artwork functions bycaptivating the immediate perception of the viewer through the recognition of massmedia images, ubiquitous forms and conflicts of colour. By a process of parody, appropriation and allusion, many possibilities begin to present themselves. The paintings become a ‘kaleidoscopic way of seeing’, which produces a dialogue of paradoxical and contradictory relationships that open up a myriad of associations. My references are taken from a wide selection of influences, from the spirit of Dada, Surrealism, Pop and Op art to the music and vibrancy of psychedelic culture. Artists such as Joseph Albers, Peter Halley, Patrick Caulfield, Rene Magritte, Ed Ruscha, Jeff Koons and Hieronymus Bosch remain key to my visual references. Also of interest are Deleuze’s philosophical ideas of the Baroque fold and the visible and invisible forces of Percepts, Affects and Concepts and Merleau-Ponty’s ideas concerning Phenomenology. I collect and synthesise these influences through drawing, photography, film and digital media, which I then finalise through the discipline of painting. Michael Stewart James
Cover - Cow Page 1 - Sheep Page 2 - Deciphering What It Is You Really Like Page 3 - Pussy Page 4 - Seen And Unseen, Study 2 Left - The Old Goat And The Screw
www.michaelstewartjames.com
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great one I must say one thing I must admit is I never considered writing the editors letter So yeah I really have no idea what to write here! So I’ll will keep this short and thank everyone who helped out with this month’s issue, with a special thanks to everyone who emailed me looking to lend a hand. The response has been great! And now I have officially ran out of things to say! Enjoy this month’s Melting Pot See you next time
March 2011
would be such a pain in the... ahem.
Content
TopHat Editor / Comic Artist
10 FACT LIverpool:
F. Boquera-Seifert Assistant Editor
We get cake, coffee and a light show
14
Hazy Wix Wonder
A Chat with Achilla: On their music and world records
18 Aliens Have Landed: Suede Hat meets Paul
20
PJ Arts Writer
Emma Bond Music Interviews
SuedeHat Movie Reviews
Creative Writing Nick Benson
Petite Berry Comic Artist
The North West boasts many impressive galleries meaning it can be hard to choose where to go. Most people stick to the galleries within their own city but can a short train ride be worth the effort? After a day out at Liverpool's FACT the answer would have to be yes. FACT is a Liverpool based cinema and art gallery which houses and recently renovated cafĂŠ, a small art shop and a bar. It is an impressive space perfect for a day out and a great shelter from the rainy weather. It is easy to make a day out this visit by taking in the art, drinking coffee and devouring cake and then taking in a film. It seems to have everything for a chilled out day but is the exhibition in the gallery space worth the effort? The current exhibition is of the work of Nam June Paik (1932-2006) who was a video and performance artist, a composer and visionary. The show is running up until 13th March and is a retrospective of this visionary artist.
He challenged the idea of what art was and tried to create something different. He used music, videos, sculpture, performance art and T.V which at the time were mediums not widely considered to be 'art' which could be displayed in a gallery. He developed new methods and used new techniques in order to challenge the way things were done.
The show at FACT is the final part of a two-venue exhibition stating at Tate Liverpool and ending at the FACT gallery. The innovative installation of Images of Nam June Paik ‘Laser Cone’ is the UK's première of this work. It is a tent like installation which allows viewers to lie down under the structure and experience an impressive laser show. In a mesmerising display the viewer is entranced by the lasers which create strange shapes and appear to be moving towards you.
can be researched with ease. Whilst world news is transmitted instantly at the touch of a button which shows how Paik's idea of technology making cultures more understandable has happened. Paik can also be seen as a visionary as now using new media and technology in art is nothing out of the ordinary. It is common place to see video art and new technologies in all galleries so Paik's work can be seen as revolutionary.
The artists believed the lasers were 'mystical' which is a word that definitely springs to mind when taking in the show. It is a hypnotic and strange sight where the lasers create beautiful patterns and makes the viewer feel like they are moving. It is also a refreshing change to have an interactive work as it provides a different experience to simply wandering around a gallery looking at paintings.
Whether you are interested in the legacy of a influential artist or just want to see the impressive laser show a visit to FACT gallery is definitely worth the journey.
FACT's gallery 2 provides an archive of Paik's video work but the laser cone is definitely a stand out piece. Paik believed that media could help create deeper communication between different countries and cultures and his work seems to have had impressive insight into the future. Nowadays the world is a smaller place with the influence of technology and cultures
© P.J Want to know more about FACT? Find them here
Nam June Paik 'Laser Cone'
In this issue of the Melting pot, we court up with Martamaria from the band Achilla for a chat about up and coming shows, music and her Guinness world record achievements. Achilla is a beautiful mesh from all over Europe with their Italian drummer and guitarist Vincenzo Infusino and aniele Panza, their Greek bassist Gus Macricostas, and of course their lead singer Martamaria being Hungarian. All wrapped up in a London base giving whoever is lucky enough a chance to see a truly Salvador Dali expectance.
EB) So why did you decide to play the Macmillan Cancer support gig in London? Achilla have a tradition playing charity gigs and would like to keep up with this good habit. About this particular London gig: having no close London date to the April 7, we were happy to say yes when DJ Mumin has asked us to headline the ‘Temper your Metal’ charity gig night at the Nambucca. We hope to see loads of people at the gig supporting the good cause whilst having a great night out. Address of the Nambucca: 596 Holloway Road, London. EB) What else have you guys got lined up for 2011? We are booked by booking agents for various UK tours until the end of summer 2011. Our first UK tour is due between the 20-30 March, the following other UK tour is between 9th and 15thMay, our first proper UK headline tour. In March we’ll have a London headline gig on March 27 arranged by Glasswerk. The venue is called the Underbelly (Hoxton Square) and it is an awesome venue to play. We are happy to announce to be supported by the fantastic ‘A New Tomorrow’, a truly outstanding rock band. This night is a ‘must come along’! EB) You’re getting a lot of support from the press for example you’re on this month “metal Hammer” CD, how does that feel? The Metal Hammer is the ‘king’ of the magazines in the metal world and being
featured on its Razor cover mount CD (edition 215, on the shelves now with Achilla’s ‘Mirrors’) is a professional acknowledgement and a huge honour. I hope it doesn’t sound a cliché but it really does feel like a dream to be on it again! We are working hard and getting help from the press helps so much. It’s truly appreciated. EB) When you Google “Achilla” your website comes up with the header Female fronted rock, why did you feel it was important to define yourself in that way? "I suppose what makes Achilla so interesting and good is that you are hard to put into one style. You have some prog rock, some symphonic metal and some psychedelia. I'd say you were Achilla Rock!" Says Malcolm Dome, legendary music journalist, but we aren’t yet big enough to name a genre after us (only joking). As a genre Rock defines Achilla the most and our band is female fronted so ‘female fronted rock’ made sense to be used. I must state here that ‘female fronted’ is not a genre classification. I totally agree with Jody Turner (ex-Rock Goddess) who said to me once: female fronted means nothing more than the front person of the given band happens to be a female. EB) Can you sum up your music in 3 words? Creative heavy rock EB) What’s the most important thing about being in a band? The bound!!! EB) If you could do a duet with anyone, who would it be and why? Myles Kennedy. We’d just fit perfectly… What an idea! Cheers;)
EB) Have you had any strange experience with fans? I had a few… EB) I was told you are a world record winner is that true? Yes, it is. I won the ‘Guinness vocal range world record’ title. EB) What did you win it for? For my broad vocal range extending: from the man’s bass beyond the highest coloratura. EB) Silly last question do you have any "famous" crushes? I don’t. EB) Thank you so much any last words for our readers? Just what I always say: Thank you so much for your interest, your feedback, and your energy at the gigs! You are shaping us too and that is way too important. So please stay in touch, write to us and feel free to talk to us after the shows! Thank you. Martamaria/Achilla
Be sure to check Achilla on the links below for their tour dates ect. You won’t be disappointed!!!
THE SHOE OF KNOWLEDGE will being you interesting music facts from around the world each month. The Band H.I.M stands for His Infernal Majesty. Berliner’s Gramophone Company went on to become EMI. AC/DC has never had a top 10 hit in the UK with any of its 29 singles. The first song recorded by rocker Jon Bon Jovi was actually a song called ‘R2-D2: We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ for an album called the Star Wars Christmas Album. Axl Rose form Guns ‘n’ Roses used to earn $8 an hour for smoking cigarettes, for a science experiment at UCLA.
w e i t v a e R H e Sued PAUL
I must admit I was in two minds about seeing this movie. On the one hand I greatly enjoyed Shaun of the Dead for both its gags and slap-stick humour, but on the other hand I wasn’t too keen on Hot Fuzz due to its gags and slap-stick humour. I should probably explain that a little more.
Initially I had planned to review True Grit this month but found it to be an almost impossible task; not because the movie was bad, quite the opposite in fact, but because it’s a Western. You see the problem with reviewing movies like True Grit is that it all boils down to a single question – do you like the western genre? If so you will like this movie. If not it will not convert you to them. So with the deadline closing in and the editor breathing down my back I took a quick trip to the cinema and watched the latest Frost/Pegg buddy flick Paul, a movie about two comic book geeks and an alien hitchhiker (voiced by Seth Rogan) being chased across America by secret agents.
Suckerpunch
r e l i a Tr
Now where’s that checklist I made? Insane Asylum – Check Nazi Super Zombies – Check Dragons – Check Giant Samurai & Chain Gun – Check Hot Girls with Peaked Cap – Check BEST. TRAILER. EVER.
You see comedy works best when it is able to flow naturally from the story, setting and characters. Because of this the best comedy movies are those that have a strong core story upon which to build any jokes. This was the case in Shaun of the Dead as the idea of a zombie apocalypse is laughable after one gets over the initial shock. Hot Fuzz always came off to me more as a series of jokes that had been written independently of each other around which a story had been created as an excuse to string the jokes together. I appreciate that this is a hard difference to really describe on paper but the end results is noticeable. So now I’m six paragraphs in and haven’t actually talked about the movie I’m reviewing. Some may call this a stall tactic so I can get away with writing less about the actual movie and more
Trashing
Scream 4
Justin Bieber - Never Say Never 3D
Really? We’re really doing this? Scream was so damn awful a movie that it had to reinvent itself as a parody of horror movies immediately after release. We are so much better than this.
Whahaha. Oh jeeze. I can’t feel my sides. Oh man you really had me going for a minute there. In 3D too? Man that’s rich. I mean who would actually sink money into something like this. Wait what? This is real?
Remember kids, say No to crappy budget slasher flicks.
I Quit.
about my random grievances with films in general. To disprove this theory I will now state that I am happy toannounce that Paul falls into the ‘story upon which jokes are built’ camp rather than the less funny ‘string of jokes held together by story’ camp. See I was going somewhere with my rant about Shaun and Hot Fuzz. Now I could go into an in-depth analysis of the various nuances of Paul’s humour so long and tedious that even a saint would curse my name, but since I would like to still have an article next month I will avoid doing that and simply say that this movie is funny. The jokes, while a little juvenile at some points, are well paced and expertly timed. Of course this isn’t exactly unexpected from Frost and Pegg since they have had three movies to get their comedic timing down to split-second precision. Normally at this point I would call out various actors for blatantly over the top performances and hammyness, but since this is a comedy movie that’s sort of the point. I would however like to make special mention to the special effects crew responsible for bringing Paul (the
character Paul that is, not the movie) to life. That’s fine work right there. I particularly liked the eyes. Now I like to consider myself a fair reviewer so I try to balance any praise I give with copious amounts of criticism and if nothing else I credit myself on my ability to find fault in anything. As I mentioned above some of the jokes were somewhat tasteless. Upon seeing Paul for the first time (the alien, not the movie) Frost preceded to faint and piss himself. Classy. This wouldn’t be so bad if about four more jokes weren’t directly related to this subpar piss joke, up to and including someone tasting the damn stuff. Okay that’s all the criticism I can muster. What do you want from me? It’s a comedy movie. So long as at least 2/3rds of the jokes are funny what else do you want from it? Even if you aren’t really a fan of the previous Frost/Pegg films you could do a lot worst the seeing Paul (alien) in Paul (movie). Also could filmmakers stop naming movies after the main character. It makes the reviews confusing to read okay? This has been a SuedeHat review. Until next time remember to watch the skies.
To An Original Prankster Oh to you, you thing of beauty How many must fall before thee A crash, a bang, a laugh, a clang The hospital ask “you rang?” We hear a thud There may be blood Laughter follows Pride is swallowed So many casualties you cause You deserve a round of applause You provide hours of laughter End happily ever after
Wha t to s name ee your here? show you us what can Email do! us!
You make many take it on the chin This one’s for you, oh banana skin
Nick Benson
P.B journal
Mother Nature’s Potion It’s as though I am invisible Walking through the world Surrounded by the trees as they scribble in the sky Looking to the river Walking through the grass Having the odd shiver As a cold wind does pass The white snow softly brushed over rooftops As though an artist has finished off his nature painting The ashen leaves fainting from the trees The stars begin to light the dim, dreary sky As a breeze allows the thistles to wry No sound but the roar of the river and the howl of the wind I reach the road and see the headlamps fly by My return to civilization My worries were washed away But will sadly return for the rest of the day
Nick Benson
LIFE UNDER THE TOP HAT