quint magazine | issue 8 by quint

quint magazine | issue 8 | September - October 2011 | complimentary

4 Our Note 5 Contributor Highlights 6 News & Products

10 11 12 20 34 46 54

Design On Ranting and Design Magazines Starving Artists Competition Winner Featured Studio: Zim & Zou Featured Illustrator: Oliver Barrett Featured Illustrator: Orlando Aquije Abarca Tom Young & Transcendence Featured Artist: Joe De Lorenzo

Photography 60 Andre De Freitas 74 Karim Hobeika Film 92 Where Did The Lighter Fluid Come From - Meet the Bluths 95 Hollywood 101 and Why it Sucks

96 114 122 124

Fashion And There is Time Polaroids Sneakers of the Month My Ex Wardrobe

132 134 136 138 140 141

Music Aaliyah Beofre the Dawn - Deathstar Rising Orchestra Baobab - Specialist in All Styles Sziget Festival 2011 Jazz Series - Colin Stetson Mixtape

142 144 145 146 147 148 150

Literature Bryson And Mayle Hinc Illae Lacrimae Angel in Disguise The Haiku Poet Untitled The Kitchen Slave - Day 2 Reading List

Events 152 quint @ The Fridge - The Soapbox Society 154 The New Virgin in Town 156 Event Listings Last Call 158 On Flying, etc

OUR NOTE THE PAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN A TUMULTUOUS BUT QUITE EXCITING - TIME FOR US. AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE RECENTLY LAUNCHED THE QUINT ARTS PROGRAMME, IN ASSOCIATION WITH OUR FRIENDS AT THE FRIDGE. THE FIRST EVENT TOOK PLACE IN JULY AND WE RECENTLY HAD THE PLEASURE TO HOST THE SECOND EVENT, THE SOAPBOX SOCIETY WITH SOME OF THE CITY’S MOST RIVETING TALENT GRACING THE STAGE. WE HOPE TO CATCH YOU AT OUR MONTHLY EVENTS. SO STAY TUNED ON ALL YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA SITES AND WE’LL BE SURE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED. AFTER A SUMMER ALTERNATING BETWEEN VACATIONS AND LONG NIGHTS AT THE OFFICE WE ARE REFRESHED AND EXCITED TO BRING YOU MORE AND MORE IN THE COMING MONTHS. WE HAVE SOME EXCITING PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE AND WE CAN’T WAIT TO SHARE THEM ALL WITH YOU. NEW PROJECTS, NEW EVENTS, AND NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BE HEADING YOUR WAY SOON. AND AS ALWAYS, KEEP THOSE BRILLIANT CONTRIBUTIONS COMING AND LET US KNOW IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY WAY. WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW AND FUN PEOPLE TO JOIN OUR MERRY TROUPE. ZAINA SHREIDI & GYULA DEAK EDITOR IN CHIEF

quint magazine | issue 8 | September-October 2011 Editor in Chief Zaina Shreidi zaina@quintdubai.com Creative Director Gyula Deák gyula@quintdubai.com Business Development Manager Shashank Parekh shashank@quintdubai.com Designers Ritu Arya, Eszter Laki Fashion Editor: Pratha Samyrajah Photographers: Saty+Pratha, Sara Orme, Karim Hobeika, Andre De Freitas, Aya Atoui, Gyula Deák, Zaina Shreidi Contributors Prank Moody, Trevor Bundus, Mohamed El Amin,Fares BouNassif, Wael X, Siham Salloum, Trainer Timmy, Gayathri, Huda Yaqub, Adam Erdesz, John Smeddle, Ashis Banerjee, Zaid Alwan, Joe DeLorenzo, Ryan Bryle, Ashley Cadzow, Samar Alkhudhairi, Donna Don This production and its entire contents are protected by copyright. No use or reprint (including disclosure) may be made of all or any part of this publication in any manner or form whatsoever without the prior written consent of quint. Views expressed in quint magazine do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editors or parent company. quint is published by and a trademark of quint FZ LLC. Circulation: 10,000 Printed by: GALADARI PRINTING & PUBLISHING LLC Distribution by

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CONTRIBUTOR HIGHLIGHTS

DONNA DON

ASHLEY CADZOW

GAYATHRI

Donna has lived in Dubai for longer than she cares to admit. Her favourite pastime is thinking. When she’s not thinking she’s filming, or writing for film or about film. After a hectic 2010, when her short film Homework screened at Cannes and where she conducted relentless research for Woman with a Movie Camera, she is now under selfimposed house arrest, thinking again, of how to get some money to finish her wee animation The Happy Planet Project and working on a screenplay for Woman with a Movie Camera. She is a staunch believer in independent film

For what Ashley lacks in age, he makes up for in passion and soul. Boasting over 2000 films in his collection, he has a soft spot for Tarintino films and anything with blood and guts. He is a ghost blogger for the Editor in Chief of a global magazine (though he can’t say whom) and spends his days reading up on the latest fashion trends, music and art. His life has been a whirlwind of chaos and he’s finally planting his feet in the ground.

The lovechild of Radiohead, Nitin Sawhney & Bjork, singer, songwriter, Gayathri is a recognized name and personality in local music circuits.

RYAN BRYLE

WAEL X

SARA ORME

Indecisive by nature, Ryan dabbles on everything that has artsy-fartsy written on it. If he finds the time between gorging on books, penning ambiguous bizarr-o proselike things and tinkering with music, he will surely be somewhere without thirst. He really needs to sort his life out. Fact.

Obsessed. That’s the best word to describe the 26-year-old Lebanese fashionista and music enthusiast. Wael’s love for music, fashion, arts and beauty is his primary drive in life and for all of his accomplishments. Being heavily involved in media, Wael also co-produced radio show segments in both Lebanon and New York and did representation for various artists. His fan website for the late Aaliyah, was used by MTV as an official fan site and ranked at number 3 in the UK website listing at the time.

A New Zealander living in Auckland, Sara Orme starting making pictures 15 years ago. Today she is a leading photographer, creating refreshingly energetic fashion photography and in depth documentary work.

JOHN SMEDDLE

ASHISH BANERJEE

SAMAR ALKHUDHAIRI

John Smeddle is an old South African git who’s managed to fool employers on four continents that he’s good at advertising. He’s written the world’s funniest book on the rise of the only black advertising agency in South Africa and even penned the lyrics to a song that is so putridly saccharine that it rocketed to no. 1 in South Africa three weeks after it entered the charts! The masses, eh? No taste at all.

Ash looks after the brand at du, is a percussionist, poet and author in his spare time, and an armchair philosopher when with friends. He’s 47, has lived and worked around the world, and is still soaking it in. He writes mainly to amuse himself, and partly to share his life experience with those who can be bothered to listen or read. It pleases him immensely that his daughter writes better poetry at 14 than he ever will.

Imported intern. Working on a degree that specifies in studying humans and their consciousness. she also studies art and holds a long term serious relationship with her nikon. Soon to graduate she came for some experiential education on this side of the world to broaden her horizons.

Still fresh out of the exam halls, with all his textbook knowledge and mighty student swag intact, Ryan Bryle is hell bent to conquer! Sadly he is still trying.

Her music effortlessly melds cultures, underpinning them all with her rich, soulful vocals and heartfelt lyricism. Raised in Dubai, a nexus of cultures, ideas and sounds, Gayathri also contributes to dailies and magazines in the region as a Writer/Editor. For more on her creative projects check out www.behindthepopfilter.blogspot.com

Currently, Sara is working on several personal projects, which will culminate in future books and exhibitions. Check out more of her work at www.saraorme.com

news&products Adidas Stormtrooper Helmet The Star Wars x Adidas Originals collection has produced some interesting marketing efforts and even better kicks over the past few years. One standout released this past February is a curious take on the Stormtroopers helmet. The Star Wars x Adidas Originals Superskate Mid ‘Stormtrooper’ is cast in white leather plus a neon camo print that was applied to the sockliner and the familiar helmet on their tongues. This release was like much of the series in that it provided a breath of fresh air to a classic image, and as it turns out, the world hadn’t seen the last of the famous white helmet with a twist. http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/wearable-adidasstormtrooper-helmet

Eye-fi The Eye-fi is a tiny orange card that does it all! It can store up to 8GB of photos and videos, and then it will wirelessly upload the files to your computer and online to sites such as Facebook, Flickr and YouTube. This little guy looks like a normal memory card and works with nearly any camera that takes SD memory. There are no antennas, no protrusions, no subscription fees, and no cables. All you have to do is slip the card into the camera, wirelessly connect to your computer and hey-presto! The files will .automatically load onto your PC/laptop http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/eye-fi-wifi-memory/

Everything But The Dress : Kurt Geiger unveils new accessories collection in the Middle East Everything but the Dress launches a toe to top collection of accessories with Kurt Geiger’s signature chic urban glamour. Specially sourced accessories designers now join the in-house design team, led by Creative Director Rebecca Farrar-Hockley. Shoes, once the sole stars of Kurt Geiger, shine alongside an irresistible array of handbags, small leather goods, chic technology accessories, scarves, gloves, jewellery and hair accessories with attitude. www.kurtgeiger.com

Nubrella With its sleek futuristic oval design, Nubrella is the new “must have” accessory around the world. Nubrella has removed the pole from the middle so now you can be in the best position for maximum coverage. Simply strap on the shoulder support and walk completely hands free even in significant winds. Again, with this new revolutionary sleek design, say goodbye to the “bobbing” effect on the busy sidewalks of metropolitan cities. With Nubrella’s clear transparent material there’s no more need to tilt your umbrella down and quickly back up to see while fighting the elements. In rain, hail and shine see where you are walking all of the time. http://www.nubrella.com/

Keyboard Shortcut skins for Macs We all have that friend who whizzes through Photoshop. The one that plays his keyboard like Mozart - hypnotically weaving his way through the keys, making his way to photographic perfection. That could be you. Be the mystical composer on Photoshop (or Aperture, Final Cut Pro, Pro Tools, After Effects, or Logic Pro) with these keyboard shortcut stickers! http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/photo-app-keyboards/

Minecraft Socks Swedish feet-glove purveyors Happy Socks have teamed up with Minecraft developers Mojang to offer a range of socks based on the hit world-building game. And as lame as that sounds, they’re actually pretty damn cool. Not only do they come in a box shaped like a brick of Minecraft’s world, but the three pairs you get are based on the game as well. There’s a pink pair for the game’s pigs, a green pair for the monstrous Creepers and another with a “world” design on it, featuring clouds, terrain and blue sky. You can buy the box set for $40 US.

Joystick Ipad Arcade Stick Bring your tablet-based gaming to the next level with the JOYSTICK-IT Tablet Arcade Stick. The JOYSTICKIT gives you a real physical joystick for increased precision with touchscreen games. Simply press down to attach the JOYSTICK-IT to your tablet’s screen for improved gaming. No wires or batteries needed! http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/e75a/

http://kotaku.com/5834666/ minecraft-socks-are-way-coolerthan-you-think

Diana + Instant Back

The Animal Chair collection constitutes a diverse range of species, from mammals to reptiles, and even insects. Each creation retains the animal’s natural vitality whilst being totally biological accurate in their appearance. This collection pays homage to these animals and the whole animal kingdom which inhabits our planet, .as an attempt to reflect and capture the beauty of nature in each living thing

Create the distinctive Diana effect in just a moment, then watch it develop instantly in front of your very eyes! The Diana Instant Back+ is definitely the primitive-alternative photographers’ accessory by combining the Diana F+ creative possibilities with the satisfaction of immediate Polaroid-style photography! With the Diana F+’s experimental features and evergrowing collection of accessories, whether you’re into Fisheye, close-up, the Splitzer, Colorsplashing or even Pinhole… you can shoot them instantly!

http://www.maximoriera.com/html/projects.php

http://microsites.lomography.com/diana/products/instant

Animal Chair Collection

news&products find them in

H1 Zoom Recorder The H1Zoom Recorder›s built-in directional microphones focus only on the sound you want. Unlike omnidirectional microphones, which pick up sound all around indiscriminately, the H1 mics ignore the unwanted noise behind them.

UGLYDOLL Pocket Hammock Get a feel of being on a desert island paradise in the confines of your own home with this pocket hammock. Tie it up in your bedroom for an afternoon nap or place it in your backyard to laze around in the evening. The hammock is made of a strong and sturdy nylon cord mesh ensuring that it will securely carry your weight or even the weight of two.It is simple to put up, can be used indoors or out and is small enough for easy mobility.

Skull Candy Aviator Headphones In order to get the job done, we had to bring in the top gun, the Aviator. Engineered optics for your ears. Tactical precision and design...Stay fly.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Despite the name, these cuddly creatures are sort of adorable. From the creative minds of two love-struck artists emerge the UGLYDOLL family! The award-winning UGLYDOLL plush characters are available exclusively at Virgin Megastore in a variety of sizes and styles, each with their own quirky and amusing personality. UGLYDOLL characters inspire creativity while reminding us that we are all unique in our own special way. UGLYDOLL plush are hip, huggable and adored by children of all ages!

KaRavan to perform at Virgin After the success of last year’s KaRavan Soul Liberation, Pierre Ravan debuts his new KaRavan for 2011, entitled: Evolution. Pierre will be performing live at the Virgin Megastore Fest ‘ 11 in-store at The Dubai Mall on Saturday, October 1st between 6-8pm. Drop by the store to check him out and pick up a copy of his latest KaRavan, available exclusively at Virgin Megastores.

DESIGN

If you’ve followed my writings before you would have found two constants, or trends: I tend to rant quite a bit about the state of Graphic Design in the Middle East, and worldwide, and I like the Design Observer publications, particularly the writings of Rick Poynor and Michael Bierut.

It probably also doesn’t help that today’s global communities prefer consumption over absorption (if the latter term applies; they no longer wish to study, choosing instead the less tiresome act of reading). And so a communicator’s task becomes to simplify and eliminate complexity.

In that tradition, if we can call it that, I was browsing some of the more recent columns and stumbled across one of particular interest: Poynor called his piece “The House That Design Journalism Built”. It is an interesting piece lamenting the death of quality print magazines on our favourite subject, and the general degenerate quality of most of contemporary writing and criticism. It brings into discussion the particular efforts of the SVA, LCC, and RCA programs focussed on the subject, with special attention to the unavoidable destruction of inspired, accurate, and detailed journalism, analysis, and reporting akin to the texts of previous decades.

At the time that I.D. became huge, when Design Week had an attentive readership, designers had the propensity and time to analyse and contemplate. Today, they skim through texts and visuals on a screen between breaks at the office, and then rush out for a drink anytime they can push a client’s work to the next day. Much like every other form of writing, design journalism has been forced to step down from its intellectualisations to appeal to a faster paced community, leaving more serious writing to academic journals - much like any other mature discipline.

I appreciate Poynor’s work since he has consistently, much like Steven Heller, brought to light forgotten feats in Design Thinking and Visual Innovation (yes, capitalised pronouns) and positioned them in accordance with modern creation. He one ups himself this time; in discussing the magazine by a recent Sandberg Institute graduate, he mentions her work as such: “she has also composed a witty illustration — we used to say deconstruction — of the language”. Focus on the term Deconstruction. I am no fan of Derrida or his theory of deconstruction, although I am aware of how useful it has turned out to be in practice. But to claim that we used to say deconstruction implies that we are now oblivious of the concept, which I find largely untrue. The reason why much neo-deconstruction is no long referred to in typical terms is because these activities are no longer simply deconstructive. We have become a group of obfsucators, of post-structuralists, and of anti-isms. Today’s theories on visual communication and applications thereof attempt to incorporate so much into a work that we end up disconnecting with any singular mode of thought; to design and communicate to a wider audience of wider comprehensions, we are essentially forced to generalise and expand our structural processes to avoid miscommunication. Deconstruction, alone, is not a language that can clearly commune with every reader, viewer, or consumer.

Still, Poynor’s lamentation is not misguided, or at least I don’t see it as such. My graduate studies are directed towards the same end as Poynor’s writings, with a relentless desire to advocate thorough design thinking and writing to better educate and guide a new generation of fledging designers - to supplement and enhance. The problem is most creatives don’t have time to read long articles and their subtleties. So I rant, hoping that one or two of the sentences I ‘put to paper’ might prove useful. So let the academic journals take over the seriousness of old I.D., of Design magazine, of Design Week. Let Print and That New Design Smell (along with quint) bring us at least a sufficient level of intellectual thinking. Then let the rest just shower us with news and non-analytical reporting in short form. We can do the sifting ourselves, figuring out what needs figuring and tapping into our Twitters and weblogs for more in-the-moment debates. The old forms might be fading, but the flow of information has not and should not. At least that should be the stance of the hopeful among us. My experience has shown only a handful of dedicated designers will find time to understand design, while others only apply the tools according to how their clients conceive the design to be most appropriate - clients that understand almost nothing about the creative process.

Congratulations on winning our “Starving Artists” competition! Where did you hear about it? With the ever increasing popularity and advancing capabilities of the internet and social networking sites, relevant information quite literally lands on your virtual doorstep. Being subscribed to some of the major art forums in Dubai, the Starving Artists brochure was sent to my email one day and I also happened to see an ad for it on facebook so I decided to enter. Tell us about your winning artwork. What does Ramadan mean to you? My artwork is a regionally inspired fruit market scene reflecting the more traditional culture and heritage of the Middle East. I chose this piece to represent the contest because of it’s relevance to food, it’s eastern influence and the vibrancy of the colour pallette.

A Ramadan design competition from

and the winner is... Sara Japanwalla is a Dubai based artist and fashion illustrator. Born and educated in Scotland for over 20 years, she has attended the prestigious Leith School of Art with courses specialising in textiles, fine arts, sculptures and instalations. Sara went on to gain a degree majoring in Fashion Design and Textiles to become a textile designer at one of the leading fashion boutiques on Jumeriah Beach Road. She regularly displays her artworks in exhibitions, online galleries and art cafes in Dubai and has been a finalist for the Young Designer Award at the Swarovski Bridal Show in 2007. Sara was also shortlisted and was one of six artists in Mercato’s Community Art competition held at Mercato mall.

and

To me, as well as fasting, Ramadan is a time of making a concious effort to purify your soul and cleanse yourself morally. However, I feel it’s also quite a social time too as families always reconnect during this time and enjoy iftar together. There are always more dinner parties and restraunts stay open till late at night so I find that there’s a buzz and excitment in the air in Dubai during Ramadan. You are based in Dubai now, but you used to live in Scotland. Can you tell us about the two art scenes? Which one do you like more? Scotland is a very culturally rich country full of history and that is apparent in their already well established art scene. As well as having more classic galleries full of historically significant oil paintings, tapestries,traditional sculpture etc... they also have many modern art galleries which constantly have new exhibitions. These feature more non conventional art like installations, innovative mixed media textiles, interactive non conventional art and pieces which are more generally controversial and thought provoking. With many art colleges in Scotland such as Edinburgh College of Art and Glasgow School of Art, there is a very strong and large community of artists prevalent there. Dubai is very new and fresh in comparison and the art scene here is at a premature stage and still growing compared to countries with more of an experience and exposure to it, however I find with events such as Art Dubai happening every year its shown that there’s still a strong demand for it and an active participation in the arts. There is so much cultural and diversity in Dubai so that in itself is very apparent and an interesting feature in the artwork, for example I’ve seen some beautiful islamic inspired calligraphy paintings here but what is lacking compared to other countries are more edgy controversial artwork and figurative art that is not very dominant here either. Although the art in Dubai is exciting and new and has alot of potential, I still find I prefer Scotland’s very well rounded art scene. Fashion plays a big role in your work. Where did the passion for it come from? After I completed my foundation arts course in Scotland, I decided to specialise in fashion and textiles. That is where I discovered my passion for fashion illustration. It was there that I began to really “know” myself in terms of experimenting with different media and developing a trademark style in my illustrations. I love fashion and the excitment of putting new collections and fabrics together, doing market research, studying catwalk trends and appropriate colours for the season, and I found having a strong background in art was very useful to studying fashion as art and creativity go hand in hand with fashion. As an artist in Dubai, do you find it hard to make a living out of it? Granted, it is not always a dependable and reliable job such as an accountant or software engineer, and the disadvantage is you do not always know when you are going to get your next assignment but I do feel theres a big niche for illustration as it can be used for many modern relevant things in today’s world. For example I’ve done jobs for beauty stylists who need fashion illustrations to make their websites more attractive, for photographers who need illustrations to present to their clients for storyboards, bakeries who need cute illustrations for their brochures, merchandise and buisiness card designs, artwork for fashion blogs as well as individual painting commissions. There are many ways of using art commercially so thankfully, I’m not quite literally a “Starving” artist yet :) Can you tell us about your exhibitions? Where can we see your work? I have exhibited in the past through the organisation ARTE which is usually held in Festival City every first friday of the month. Currently I am doing more illustration work and am concentrating more on that rather than exhibitions however some of my paintings are still on sale through online boutiquesm such as Aura-b.com which are available in the art section. You can see all of my work, both paintings and illustrations on my website which is www.sarajapanwalla.com. I also have a facebook and twitter group too which I update quite regularly.

DESIGN

Zim & Zou is a french graphic design studio based in Nancy (France). Composed of Lucie Thomas and Thibault Zimmermann who studied graphic design in an artschool, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re now working together to offer their services. The studio proposes a contemporary approach of design thanks to a mix of different fields such as paper sculpture, installation, graphic design, illustration, webdesign... Zim&Zouâ&#x20AC;şs strength is to be a complementary and polyvalent duo.

DESIGN

Thibault Zimmermann:

We’ve made those papercrafts for several reasons. We tried not to influence people too much by giving keys to this project. Back to basics has different aspects, at first sight it’s a tribute to vintage technologies which marked the technological evolution of the last years, and all the nostalgia of the memories that each have with them. By getting those “dead” objects back to life, we tried to highlight the very fast evolution of our everyday objects. The devices we use nowadays will be in a few years considered as relics too. We wanted to ask a question too : where will this evolution lead us to? We decided to use paper because more than the fact that it’s a basic material, accessible for everyone, it’s a way to show the balance of power between digital and paper production. When today you can read a book on a screen, we needed to create “real” things. The aspect of craftmanship is really important for us. We wanted to turn an industrial object into a unique handmade craft. And the fact that the objects are not working places the user into a spectator position, a way to see the object out of its function. Finally we’ve made a “Behind the Scene” making of video with closeup shots on the creation process to make the promotion of our way to work and our particular skills. As we did all the object to their real sizes, we were forced to be really precise and patient.

DESIGN

DESIGN - TOM YOUNG

DESIGN

JOEDeLORENZO

WHEN AND HOW DID YOU GET INTO PAINTING? I got into painting back in high school in my art class while trying to develop an artistic style. Looking at masters like Caravaggio, Sargent, and Velaquez were very inspiring to me personally and artisically. It blew my mind to see how they made each brush stroke on each painting look so effortless and elegant. I was hooked and wanted to learn everything I could about painting in that moment. YOU HAVE COUNTLESS PAINTED IMAGES OF SNEAKERS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR FASCINATION FOR THEM? My fascination for sneakers came during a project I was doing back in college. I was trying to explore different ways to do portraiture and other ways of portraying someone’s personality. It didn’t take long to discover everyone’s personality was laced on their feet. I became obsessed with the different styles, shapes, and colors. I tried to immerse myself in the sneaker culture and study all the different facets of the sneaker world. YOU ALSO HAVE A LOT OF URBAN/POP CULTURE INSPIRED WORKS. WHAT MADE YOU GRAVITATE TOWARDS IT IN GENERAL? I have always enjoyed doing portraits. I naturally decided to concentrate on subjects that interested me and expressed my personal interest. Urban and Pop culture subjects have always grabbed my attention. There is always an aspect of fashion or personal style when dealing with urban and pop culture subjects. These subjects I feel expresses someone’s personality in a unique glimmer that the typical eye might not catch at first and I like to be the one to showcase in a larger format. I normally look at icons like Travis Barker, Biggie Smalls, Kanye West, and Bob Dylan not only as musicians, but as trend setters in the fashion world. Even when I am painting landscapes I always try to pull some element of fashion and style with the space I am trying to portray to my viewer. ARE THERE ANY OTHER THINGS THAT PEAKS YOUR INTEREST AS MUCH? Music is a huge part of my everyday life. Being from Philadelphia, I am able to experience all the diverse music scenes the city has to offer. Typography is another passion that has consumed me on a daily basis. I am a novice to it and have great respect for people who are

in that industry. When I am not painting, I am working with type, manipulating it, and trying to understand it better. I hope to fuse the two together in future pieces. HOW LONG DOES IT USUALLY TAKE YOU TO FINISH A PAINTING? Anywhere from five hours to a few months. When I have a fresh idea all flushed out, I’ll use that excitement and energy to attack the painting for a solid 5-10 hours. I’ll then spend a few days or weeks picking it apart, glazing, and fine tuning the piece. I will step back from the painting and work on it for a few hours here and there throughout the course of the week depending on my schedule. I will work at it until the painting finally has the feel I am striving to accomplish. WHAT ARE YOUR MATERIALS OF CHOICE TO WORK WITH AND WHY? Oil paints and canvas. The act of putting a brush to canvas and mixing colors never gets old to me. You get your whole body’s energy involved, and in a good painting, that comes through. The choice to paint came while I was in high school where I was being exposed to great painters by my art teachers and peers. I also remember gravitating towards painting because the computers felt impersonal to use for the art that I was trying to conceive. So when it was time to do a project it was just natural for me to pick up the paints. Now, I am finding myself more captured by computers where I can manipulate a new different kind of art. I recently purchased a tablet to get my artistic flare with my hands onto the screen and I am actually taking some classes this fall for design. ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE TO PAINT FOOTWEAR OR ARE WE GOING TO SEE FUTURE ARTISTIC ENDEARS FROM YOU HIGHLIGHTING A DIFFERENT ARTICLE OF CLOTHING PERHAPS? I will always continue to paint sneakers because I feel that I have finally tapped into my niche and I am letting the paintbrush tell the story of the person I am portraying. Recently, I have a bunch of sneaker paintings in progress and will be showcasing them soon this upcoming season. To be honest, I am not sure what may start to spark my next interest in the future but for right now the sneaker art seems to flow through my veins and it feels just right at this moment.

DESIGN

JOEDeLORENZO

DESIGN

JOEDeLORENZO

PHOTOGRAPHY

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER | ILLUSTRATOR

YOU ARE A PHOTOGRAPHER AND AN ILLUSTRATOR. DO YOU THINK THEY GO HAND IN HAND? I don’t know if they go hand in hand, but at least I think they are very similar. Both are all about creating or capturing an interesting image. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BALANCE BOTH MEDIUMS? Well, both mediums feel very natural to me. Almost like they are the same. Also, they both allow me entertain people, which is really important to me. WHAT DID YOU START OFF WITH? AND WAS IT EASY TO BRANCH OUT AFTERWARDS? Actually, I started off with animation. Then I focused more on illustration, since I enjoyed conceptualizing ideas a lot more. My insertion into the world of photography was very casual. Someone very important to me was very interested in photography, and one day, I decided to try my luck with a camera. That was roughly about a year and a half ago. And like I said, photography felt as natural as illustration. ONE CONCEPT THAT STANDS OUT THE MOST WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS IS YOUR USE OF A PERSON‘S IMAGE AGAINST OR AMALGAMATED WITH DRASTIC AND BEAUTIFUL BACKDROPS OF SCENERIES. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT AND THE MESSAGE YOU INTENDED TO PUT ACROSS WITH THIS? My double exposures are the result of me experimenting with photography. There was no real meaning at the beginning. But, after a couple more experiments, I saw that most of them started to look similar, the concept was similar at least. They looked very calm, and almost lonely. After that, I tried to infuse my photos with silence, and a little bit of melancholy. IS THIS EFFECT ACHIEVED THROUGH INTRICATE CAMERA TECHNIQUES OR ARE THE PHOTOGRAPHS POST PROCESSED? Since I have just started with photography, I really don’t have any preference between film and digital. So, I used both methods for my double exposures. YOUR DIGITAL ILLUSTRATIONS THAT ARE GRIM AND MACABRE VERSIONS OF VARIOUS CARTOONS HAVE A LARGE CONTRAST FROM YOUR PRETTY PHOTOS. WHY IS THIS SO? Haha. Those illustrations were the result of a conversation with a close friend of mine. He asked me to draw Batman as a zombie, and I loved the result. After that I asked other friends about their beloved cartoons and well, I had to zombify them as well, haha. DID YOU PLAN FOR THIS TO BE YOUR ARTISTIC OUTLET FOR EXPLORING DARKER SUBJECTS? I didn’t plan that, but now it’s definitely a possibility, haha. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU WERE MADE TO CHOOSE; PHOTOGRAPHY OR ILLUSTRATIONS, WHICH ONE WILL YOU FAVOR? Oh, I don’t know if I can answer that at this point. I enjoy both worlds, and I really don’t see myself doing just one.

PHOTOGRAPHY - ANDRE DE FREITAS

PHOTOGRAPHY

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER

KARIM HOBEIKA 74

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY IS BRILLIANT! WHERE DOES YOUR PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY STEM FROM? My parents offered me my first camera when I was 13, that’s when I started taking all sorts of random pictures in the streets. I like to contemplate cities and observe people’s behaviors and I always enjoyed immortalizing places and situations. Throughout the years it became an obsession and I quickly started stacking up thousands of pictures in my drawers… YOU SHOOT A LOT OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS IN NEW YORK CITY AND PARIS, WHAT’S YOUR CONNECTION TO THESE HISTORICAL CITIES? These are my two favorite cities. Before moving to Dubai I was living in Paris, I still have family there and I consider it home. It’s simply the most fascinating city I’ve ever been to. I go back there several times a year to see my family and to shoot as well. The first time I went to New York was in 1991, I was captivated by the way the city was built and I always knew I would go back. This city truly never sleeps; there’s a lot of energy in the streets of New York… IT SEEMS YOUR SHOTS ARE ALL TAKEN AT QUITE ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVES, GIVING THE VIEWER A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE WORLD, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SHOOT THIS WAY? I don’t think a photographer chooses the way he shoots. The approach, the style and the trademark is something that comes naturally over time. MANY OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE A GRUNGY FLARE, OLD BRICK BUILDINGS, ROUGH COBBLESTONE WALKS, UNDERGROUND SUBWAYS... WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO PORTRAY SUCH A DISCRETE SIDE OF THE CITY? It’s one of the aspects of the City that I find eye-catching. Maybe the fact that I am a discrete person myself influences the kind of pictures I take. However I also like to shoot places which are colorful and crowded with people. When you walk in the streets of Paris or New York the inspiration comes naturally, you don’t need to look for situations to shoot, things come to you. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO FOCUS MORE ON THE CITY, RATHER THAN THE PEOPLE? We live in a society where people have less time for themselves and consequently less time to stop and observe simple things around them. There are many places and elements in a city that people might not notice anymore simply because they walk by them every day; these are the places and moments I like to capture. It’s true that I tend to focus more on city shots but I enjoy taking pictures of people as well. IS THERE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD YOU HAVEN’T SHOT YET THAT YOU’D REALLY LIKE TO? There are a lot of places I haven’t visited yet and that I plan on exploring whether it’s Bosnia, Italy, Singapore, Japan… DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR AN UP-ANDCOMING PHOTOGRAPHER? You can observe what other’s do but don’t copy. Develop your own style through your own vision, this is what will differentiate you from others.

PHOTOGRAPHY - KARIM HOBEIKA

FILM

This month in quint, Prank was struggling to identify the content for his next article for the magazine and with the deadline looming panic was beginning to set in. He had hoped that a Sunday spent drinking pitchers in Soho with his much cleverer friends would have provided some valuable ideas that he could steal and pass off as his own. However whenever Prank and his friends unearthed ideas with any kind of potential, the inebriation arrested any further development. As Prank struggled to recall some of the topics of conversation from that night, the other contributors had already submitted their articles. This intensified his worrying and Prank tried harder to find something to write about but the ideas he was coming up were about as fashionable as denim cut offs. Prank toyed with the idea of surveying the history of tricks in cinema but quickly dismissed that as he didn’t want to whore himself out. Illusions and their relationship with the cinema of George Melies was another option but it felt safe and he wanted to engage with content that was edgier, similar to that dangerous cousin every family has who is in the military or in prison. Dysfunctional families and their portrayal on screen, homosexuality and cross dressing, self-reflexivity and its application in popular culture, the mockumentary and voice overs as a narrative device were some of the multiple ideas that he considered writing, but none of them seemed exciting enough. At this point Prank was ready to douse himself with lighter fluid, set himself on fire and jump off the first floor balcony onto the coffee table but in the end he decided that he shan’t be doing that and instead he would have to settle, swallow a mouthful of manly pride and write about Arrested Development (cue Arrested Development theme).

Every year for the past three years I

re-watch the entire series of Arrested Development. It is the only tradition that I have successfully maintained and intend to maintain. To be honest it is not really a struggle to maintain it. Every time I watch the series I laugh out loud, even when I know what the punch line will be and more impressively I notice something new that I had not noticed before. The only thing that comes close to being as good as watching the show is discussing the show with people. This Sunday I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by some very brilliant people such as quint’s very own Saty and Pratha, the lovely Nazy Hashemi, fellow film student and cinephile Harriet Warman, her phenomenally talented boyfriend Jon Adams, who is the drummer for the very cool band Vasquez (identify the film reference), and Ross Foley, an Irish prince amongst men. Very different people from different backgrounds, but all united in their mutual devotion to Arrested Development. We spent pitchers and pitchers discussing, recounting, reenacting and generally gushing over the shows’ genius. Even in film school when us film nerds were sitting around at a pub or someone’s flat discussing the self-reflexivity of Nouvelle Vague somehow the conversation would veer off in the direction of Arrested Development and then the talking points for the next forty five minutes were established. Everyone participated and the atmosphere was saturated with hysterical laughter. It’s just that good, no Bob Loblaw law blog (say it quickly). So what is it about this show that has cultivated such die-hard loyalty? Simply put: it is pure genius. It was undoubtedly the smartest show on television, I would go as far to say that it was and still is the smartest American comedy of all time. The show’s biggest strengths were its writing and the performances of its actors.

The Writing – “Has anyone ever even seen a chicken?”

From the very first episode Mitchell Hurwitz and his writers set the tone of the show. They do not miss a beat. Every joke or humorous trope is revisited in later episodes. Jokes that were used in season 1 episode 3 are used again season 3 episode 1 when a similar or different situations arises where that joke would be applicable. The writing created a multi layered, self–referential text that could be analysed for years on end after multiple viewings. The self-referentiality to pop culture is an important element of the show because it adds another layer of interactivity and engagement with the audience. For example there are homages paid to characters of other shows that actors on screen played. Henry Winkler who plays the Bluths’ hapless lawyer Barry has many Fonze moments in Arrested Development show which you will miss if you have not watched Happy Days, or if you blink. They expertly spin a myriad of stories of the various characters in each episode that feed into the metanarrative but that are specific to the absurdity of that particular episode. What really adds verve and zest to the writing is the mockumentary format that has been adapted to tell the story of the Bluths. It adds a sense of the absurd, rooted in reality. This dialectic tension just makes Arrested Development laugh out loud funny and the Bluths a dysfunctional family that Wes Anderson could not imagine in his worst, whimsical nightmare. The mockumentary format is treated aesthetically with the use of hand held camera and on numerous occasions you will see boom mikes invade the frame which pervades this idea that we are watching a real family. It is important to note however that at no point does Arrested Development try to pass itself off as reality. The mockumentary format is simply the narrative device employed to portray the misadventures of this family. You will have noticed that I haven’t given any specific examples because a) I would have set up the scenario which would be very time consuming but b) more importantly I would never be able to do it justice. Those of you who have been fortunate enough to see the show are already trawling through your thoughtcicles and laughing at your favourite Arrested Development moments. For those less fortunate go out and get your hands on it.

FILM

Meet the Bluths

The second aspect that really defines this show is the Bluths themselves. Each actor on the show has immortalized their character in the hall of celluloid awesomeness (it’s a real place). The interaction between this high dysfunctional family is hilarious as the over the top characters engage, disengage and make life as difficult for each other as humanly possible. These characters have been fleshed out so thoroughly and comprehensively in terms of their psychological make up that you understand why they behave the way they do. There are many moments where you can actually see their thought process in their arrival to certain conclusions and decisions. It truly is a phenomenal achievement to foster such a deep and intimate understanding of characters on a screen. Michael Bluth - He is the sensible son trying to keep his family and family business together after his father was arrested for embezzlement and fraud. Jason Bateman’s deadpan portrayal of Michael sets up beautiful interaction between some of his more over the top family members. He is always trying to manage and clean up after the trail of destruction left behind by his family but fails continuously. Ironically, Michael is just as dysfunctional but in comparison to the rest he comes across as “normal”. Gob – Will Arnett will never be able to shake off the larger than life persona of Gob that he cultivated. His portrayal of Michael’s older brother will probably be the greatest performance of his career. Gob’s is an over the top Magician whose jealousy of his brother Michael, and his constant need for his Father’s approval, lead him down some dubious paths. Arnett’s gravelly voice is used pitch perfectly in conjunction with Gob’s wannabe magician act. He constant attempts to one up his brother Michael are a constant source of hilarity as we get to taste the happy thanks to him. Gob always has something up his sleeve; in most cases it’s lighter fluid. Lindsay – Drug addicted, alcoholic, vain, “rebellious”, shallow, trapped in a loveless sexless marriage, insecure due to severe psychological damage inflicted by her mother and in constant need of reassurance. Portia De Rossi can do no wrong: her Lindsay is all those things and so much more but not really more, pretty much as I described her. She is a mess and it is brilliant to watch. Buster – A molly coddled mama’s boy who is the perfect example of what happens when Mother does not let go of Baby Buster. The Freudian overtones that punctuate Buster’s fundamental

character take Oedipus to another level. If Freud has been alive now he would have renamed the Oedipus complex to the Buster Complex. Tony Hale’s soft-spoken portrayal of Buster who simultaneously manages not to be seen or heard but makes his presence felt in an understated manner with occasional bouts of explosive emotional outbursts. Does that sound confusing and contradictory? Can you see the potential for comedy gold? George Michael – Michael Cera will always be George Michael (important point to note, he is not named after the singer/songwriter). George Micheal is Scott Pilgrim, George Michael has an infinite playlist and likes Nora. George Micheal is a Youth in Revolt. He is smart, hard-working, shy, fumbles his way through conversations and is a good kid. Sound lovely does he not? Oh yeah I forgot, he is in love with his cousin. Maeby Fünke – Lindsay’s daughter, smart, sassy, intelligent will always do the exact opposite of what her mother expects her to do. George Michael’s cousin who falls through the cracks due to the dysfunction of her family so she is given the luxury of time and freedom to con her way into a film studio job as a high powered executive. Oh and she is played by Alia Shawkat who is an Arab, so Arab world watch this show so you can see one of your own being part of comic history. (Middle East plug done, that should get people to watch it… Right?) George Sr. – The patriarch of the family, the reason this family is such a mess but we do not hold that against him. After Jeffrey Tambor’s brilliant performance as Hank Kingsley in The Larry Sanders Show, he has managed to achieve something that most actors struggle to after an iconic performance, a follow up iconic performance. Actually two follow up iconic performances because Jeffrey Tambor also plays George Senior’s pot smoking apathetic brother whose only achievement in life is a magnificent head of hair, oh that hair! Lucille Bluth, Mother, Gangee – Terror has a new name and that is Lucille Bluth. This matriarch has really done a number on this family. She is the true power in this family as she skillfully manipulates and pits her children against one another in an effort to maintain control. Her claims that family comes first and she loves all her children (well, except Gob - she doesn’t care for him much), get harder to believe as she inflicts her own form of psychological torture with drink in one hand and pills in another. Narrator – Ron Howard’s best work. He is the guiding voice that helps us navigate the insanity of the Bluths and his constant contradictions, information and descriptions of what is said and seen on screen is the driving force of the humour and narrative. I’ve left the weirdest, best, worst and cringe-inducing for last.

Dr. Tobais Fünke – Analrapist (I know what you are thinking but it is pronounced an-al-rap-ist, it’s a hybrid profession of Analyst and Therapist. See nothing sordid about that). David Cross is a cult legend. His absolutely mesmeric portrayal of the absolutely insane Tobias is one of the most inspired and brilliantly written characters in the history of television. From his denim cut offs to his dream of being and Ac-tore. His ridiculous Shakespearean speech patterns and overt closeted homosexuality and asexuality just make for spell binding television. You can’t look away even though you really want to. After all I am pretty certain that the main single headedly kick started the sales of denim cut-offs. I could go on, there are a whole host of guest characters that deserve a mention but I think you should really discover them on your own like a tasty cream filled centre of pastry or a banger in the mouth. Sorry, in the UAE you call them a sausage in the mouth. The more I write about Arrested Development, the more it saddens me that it only got three seasons and that more people have not seen it. It did not survive the ruthlessness of prime time television because it was too good, too clever and unfortunately most of the television viewing public is not. Arrested Development is another example of how quality programming and critical acclaim does not count for anything. This lack of universal acclaim however has fostered the championing of the show in more selective circles transforming it into an iconic cult text. I actively champion the show as does anyone else who has seen it and slowly its popularity is growing. It is interesting to note that the show is recommended to a certain kind of people so the legacy of this show will never be tainted by mainstream popularity. What kind of people? Oh intelligent, creative people - hence this piece in quint. Actually I know quint is starting a movie club… maybe a screening of Arrested Development is in order. Zaina? It’s time for me to bid thee farewell. I have some chicken bones, some potatoes and broth; I’m off to get my stew on.

very film begins with a script and it is from this first moment that the rot of mediocrity begins. Attend any screenwriting course and before you’ve even put your fingers on the keyboard you’ll be asked what genre your film belongs to. So if your concept doesn’t fit neatly into a box labeled romantic comedy, action, drama, horror, etc you will be strongly advised to take out the elements that don’t fit, most likely the things that make your work interesting, in an attempt to make it more ‘saleable’.

More often than not a producer’s involvement may be contingent on making changes to the script with the end result of “too many cooks spoiling the broth”. The production will also need a director and they also could have requirements for script changes or casting decisions that may ultimately be detrimental to the film. Some directors have pet actors that they prefer to work with. Think of Ridley Scott’s preference to work with Russell Crowe, who was adequate in The Gladiator but as a romantic lead in A Good Year, totally unconvincing.

The next thing that they’ll tell you is that there is a formula for screenplays often known as the Hollywood Paradigm. Basically, and it is basic, there is a protagonist, the only really important character, who has a goal or mission which the antagonist is an obstacle to achieving, whether they know it or not. Occasionally the protagonist may be their own obstacle and by going through a journey, either physically or psychologically, they change and win their goal in the end. There should also be a few supporting characters but not so many that it gets confusing. These guys aren’t really important to the story other than as foils to the protagonist or maybe as some eye candy.

Now that you have the money, a director and an international cast ensuring global interest, even if their accents are all wrong, you’d expect that the film would be “in the can” (good). But should you run into numerous glitches like Terry Guilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote your film can still be “canned” (bad). The disasters that befell that production, were so extraordinary that they made a documentary Lost in La Mancha about them and even having Johnny Depp in the cast failed to bring in more funds to keep the production going.

That sorted, your screenplay should conform to a beginning, middle and an end. Deep isn’t it? Now it gets even more prescribed. The first 30 pages should set the scene and establish the character. The next 60 will show the fight to reach the prize, the girl, world domination, whatever, and don’t make it too easy, there should be a few setbacks. The last 30 pages are left for the protagonist to succeed and more rarely, not. Sound familiar? Now that you’ve finished your script it’s time to get someone interested in it. Most scriptwriters go through an agent, as it is virtually impossible to get anything read by a producer as an individual unless you have “wasta”. To get a reputable agency to look at your script isn’t easy either but if you manage to do this and they manage to sell the “option” this still doesn’t even ensure that your film will be made. An “option” is when a producer pays the writer for the exclusive rights to develop their script within a specified time frame. Should you be fortunate enough for your script to be given a “green light”, the go ahead for production, you will have the cash but you will not have any further creative control over your work. So why would someone want to change your masterpiece? Filmmaking is big bucks and most feature films these days involve more than one producer or production house as they all contribute the large amounts of finance necessary for making a film. So many producers are involved in individual productions these days that the Academy Awards recently limited 5 producers maximum, for any one film up for an award.

If you have been fortunate enough to have a finished film that hasn’t been pre-screened on a target audience that didn’t like one of the most important scenes, forcing you to cut it and making your film pointless, you need to actually get people to see it… phew. Marketing and distribution are the next hurdles and regardless of artistic merit and viewer enthusiasm, it can still end up dead in the water without a great strategy and a lot of luck. Distribution is a minefield and again if your film doesn’t fit into those tick tacky, all constraining boxes it may never reach the audiences it deserves. Accidents Happen, directed by Andrew Lancaster, a great, quirky, dark film, failed to be successfully distributed and marketed because it was an Australian production (they couldn’t get the money in the US) but with a story set in the states and shot in Australia, go figure. Of course there are films that escape the modifications that the Hollywood machine demands, but these are unfortunately the exception rather than the rule. Director Julian Schnabel stood firm when his producers demanded he shoot The Diving Bell and the Butterfly in English, as they felt subtitles were too taxing for non-French speakers. Further from Hollywood it would be hard to get, with a main character virtually paralyzed, communicating by blinking his left eye. The cinematography is stunning, the acting peerless and the sound track perfect. It went on to win 47 awards and 34 nominations worldwide. Come on filmmakers show some cojones. We’re not all mindless viewers waiting for the next Pirates of the Caribbean. Although it does have Johnny…

FASHION

AND THERE IS TIME PHOTOGRAPHY & ART DIRECTION: SATY + PRATHA STYLING: HOLLY CHAVES HAIR & MAKE-UP: JESS SIDHU MODELS: JACK MANHOOD-FM AGENCY, JOSEPH-STORM MODEL MANAGEMENT

On Jack: Shirt, Vintage @Rokit Flowers – Stylists own Hat – Stylists own Trousers – James Small Shoes – Lacoste On Joseph: Denim Jacket- Levi’s Vintage @ Rokit Shirt – Wrangler Denim Shorts – Levi’s Vintage @ Rokit Shoes – J Shoes Flowers – Stylist’s own

Shirt, Vintage @Rokit Flowers – Stylists own Hat – Stylists own Trousers – James Small Shoes – Lacoste

FASHION - AND THERE IS TIME

On Jack: Shirt, Vintage @Rokit On Joseph: Denim Jacket- Levi’s Vintage @ Rokit Shirt – Wrangler

FASHION - AND THERE IS TIME

Denim Jacket- Levi’s Vintage @ Rokit Shirt – Wrangler Denim Shorts – Levi’s Vintage @ Rokit Shoes – J Shoes

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Shirt – Rokit Shorts – Fabric of life Shoes – Oliver Spencer Flowers – Stylist’s own

FASHION - AND THERE IS TIME

Denim Jacket- Levi’s Vintage @ Rokit Shirt – Wrangler Denim Shorts – Levi’s Vintage @ Rokit Shoes – J Shoes

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Shirt – Rokit Shorts – Fabric of life Shoes – J Shoes Flowers – Stylist’s own

FASHION - AND THERE IS TIME

Denim Jacket- Levi’s Vintage @ Rokit Shirt – Wrangler Denim Shorts – Levi’s Vintage @ Rokit Shoes – J Shoes

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Shirt – Rokit Shorts – Fabric of life Shoes – J Shoes Flowers – Stylist’s own

FASHION - AND THERE IS TIME

On Jack: Shirt – Plectrum by Ben Sherman Bottoms – Rokit Shoes – J Shoes Flowers – Stylist’s own On Joseph: Top – Desigual Bottoms – ONENINEZEROSIX Boots – Clarks Flowers – Stylist’s own

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Shirt – Rokit Shorts – Fabric of life Flowers – Stylist’s own

FASHION - AND THERE IS TIME

Top – Desigual Flowers – Stylist’s own

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Shirt – Plectrum by Ben Sherman Bottoms – Rokit Shoes – J Shoes Flowers Stylist’s own

FASHION - AND THERE IS TIME

On Jack: Shirt – Calvin Klein vintage Trousers – Whillas and Gunn Socks – Model’s own Boots – Clarks On Joseph: Shirt and trousers – James Small Shoes – Clarks

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Shirt and trousers – James Small Flowers – Stylist’s own

FASHION - AND THERE IS TIME

Shirt – Calvin Klein vintage Trousers – Whillas and Gunn

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FASHION

POLAROIDS

LIZA STOLEN GIRLFRIENDS CLUB jacket AREEZ KATKI sweater AMERICAN APPAREL underwear

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Photography: Sara Orme Stylist: Imogen Wilson Make up and hair: Miguel Llledo

ALEX KAREN WALKER sweatshirt LONELY HEARTS dress (worn as top) KSUBI shorts STYLISTS OWN choker (large) UNDERGROUND SUNDAE choker (small) ZORA BOYD at WUNDERKAMMER, MEDOWLARK, KAREN WALKER and MANIA MANIA rings

FASHION - POLAROIDS

KITTY RIDDELL LONELY HEARTS dress ZORA BOYD at WUNDERKAMMER and UNDERGROUND SUNDAE rings

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SEON LONELY HEARTS swimsuit STYLISTS OWN jacket JIMMY D X MEDOWLARK choker

FASHION - POLAROIDS

LOUISE YATES LONELY HEARTS cropped tshirt STOLEN GIRLFRIENDS CLUB jeans RUBY belt KAREN WALKER and WUNDERKAMMER necklaces MANIA MANIA, ZORA BOYD at WUNDERKAMMER and KAREN WALKER rings

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EMILY SMITH KAREN WALKER dress ZORA BOYD at WUNDERKAMMER ring MANIA MANIA ring

FASHION - POLAROIDS

ALYSSA KSUBI jacket and skirt LONELY by LONELY HEARTS bra

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IMOGEN AREEZ KATKI sweater LONELY by LONELY HEARTS body suit

FASHION

Converse Weapons The Weapons are the best shoe ever from Cons. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had a pair. In Dubai, you’ll find both the lo and hi-tops. Every collector should have a pair of these.

New Balance 574 I see more variations of New Balance colourways and designs here than I do in Europe. This, of course, is a lie, but I don’t know what to say about them, apart from the fact that this design has been the same since the dawn of New Balance. In Lamcy, they’ve got like every colour, ever.

Nike Cortez What a beautiful shoe. It made Forrest Gump run across America. They are a beautiful reminder that simple is so nice. Sun n Sands have a truck load of them – even in their outlet stores.

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Nike Air Rift Inspired by Kenyan barefoot runners, these have to be the single-most comfortable-eist shoes in the stratosphere. Cheap as chips in the Al Ain Outlet, but limited colours and sizes. Halle Berry even designed a pair!

Nike Air Epic Fresh as frogs. The originals are still absolutely beautiful to hold. Interestingly, the Epics were the last pair to be made in the US of A. They have been on sale in shops here for almost two years… and still we buy sneakers from fashion designers. Different strokes – it’s cool, people.

Vans Era You know, you can wear these at the beach, the gym, the disco, the shwarma place, the gig, the skate park, the Al Quoz industrial estate and the mall. They’re amazing. And they’re so cheap in S&S sports. They are a classic shoe.

Nike Vortex If you’re into 80’s films, you’ll love these. I prefer the originals, but they’re hard to find. Unlike these ones – you can find these in basically every mall in the UAE. They’re been re-issued and made to look even older than the ones I have (from 1996). Weird.

FASHION

Photography: Ugly Duckling Photography Styling: My Ex Wardrobe Clothes: My Ex Wardrobe Hair and Make-Up: Angelique Turner & Tera Twigg Jewellery & Accessories: Teagan Jewellery

giving clothes a second chance at happiness

My Ex Wardrobe was set up by three Dubaibased sisters with the aim to fill a gap in the ‹pre-loved› and second hand markets, focused primarily at mainstream fashion. With interests in all things ‹green› the idea worked well to help reduce consumerism and clothing wastage. Starting off as a series of monthly events that are held at a variety of accessible and adaptable venues throughout Dubai; the concept for which are to offer a social arena for ladies to shop for high street labels at reduced prices. All the clothes and accessories are pre-owned and the prices depend on whether they are never worn (with original tags intact), nearly new or well loved! A great way to benefit from retail therapy without straining the bank balance. Some ladies even choose to donate any unsold items to charity. In the near future My Ex Wardrobe will be heading online to offer everyone the opportunity to sell their unwanted apparel and to browse and bag some bargains! There will also be specialized sections for menswear, maternity clothes and children›s clothes; supported by relevant events. Keep an eye out for My Ex Wardrobe events where you can get amazing finds, awesome goodie bags, and delicious food! There are also some great designers and small companies with set ups showcasing their brilliant work. If you’re interested in any of the items featured here or would like more information (and to keep up-to-date) hop on to their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MyExWardrobe and follow them on twitter! @MyExWardrobe

Kelly

Dress originally from John Zac - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 200dhs (worn occasionally) Shoes originally from Jimmy Choo - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 400dhs (worn occasionally) Bag originally from Dune - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 100dhs (never used) Earrings by Teagan Jewellery - Silver Chevron Earrings - 450dhs Bracelets by Teagan Jewellery - selection of silver bangles, price available on request

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Jess

Shirt originally from Chanel - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 800dhs (worn once) Belt originally from Cintara in Elle - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 80dhs (worn occasionally) Mini-Skirt originally from H&M - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 50dhs (never worn) Trilby originally from Aldo Accessories - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 30dhs (never worn) Bag originally from Burberry - selling through My Ex Wardrobe - price available on request Shoes - stylistâ&#x20AC;şs own

FASHION - MY EX WARDROBE

Kelly

Playsuit originally from - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 65dhs (worn once) Jacket originally from Zara - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 100dhs (worn once) Shoes originally from Nine West - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 100dhs (never worn) Earrings by Teagan Jewellery -Double Silver Hoops with Agate Centre - 180dhs Fascinator - stylist›s own

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Jess

Skirt originally from H&M - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 40dhs (worn once) Top originally from Oasis - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 120dhs (never worn) Shoes originally from Accessorize - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 50dhs (well-loved) Belt - stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own Clear Snowflake Necklace by Teagan Jewellery - 200dhs Bracelets by Teagan Jewellery - selection of silver bangles, price available on request

FASHION - MY EX WARDROBE

Kelly

Dress originally from Topshop - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 150dhs (worn once) Shoes originally from Zara - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 50dhs (well-loved) Oval Necklace by Teagan Jewellery - 420dhs Oval Ring by Teagan Jewellery - 350dhs

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Lauren

Dress originally from Reiss - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 600dhs (never worn) Shoes originally from Kurt Geiger - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 175dhs (worn once) Belt - stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ownÂ White Binocular Necklace by Teagan Jewellery - 125dhs

FASHION - MY EX WARDROBE

Lauren&Jess

Lauren: Dress originally from Warehouse - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 150dhs (never worn) Shoes originally from Aldo - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 200dhs (worn once) Bag originally from Burberry - selling through My Ex Wardrobe - price available on request Jess: Top originally from Reiss - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 100dhs (worn once) Skirt originally from H&M - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 30dhs (never worn) Boots originally from Dune - selling through My Ex Wardrobe for 150dhs (worn once)

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in case you had enough of the salesmen sentiomedia.com

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IT IS QUIET SURREAL TO SEE MYSELF WRITING ABOUT MY ROLE MODEL TEN YEARS AFTER HER TRAGIC PASSING. BUT HERE I AM TODAY, REMEMBERING AALIYAH AND SHARING WITH QUINT READERS THE REASONS BEHIND MY INFATUATION WITH THIS INCREDIBLE YOUNG ARTIST. SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE KNOWN HER FOR A COUPLE OF HIT SINGLES AND A MOVIE, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN. Born in Brooklyn on January 16, 1979, Aaliyah (Ah-leeyah), which is Arabic for the “highest, most exalted one”, was a star from day one. Aaliyah began her journey to fame from the age of 9 when she performed alongside her aunt the legendary soul singer, Gladyss Knight. She then participated in the music show Star Search. She did not win but that did not stop her. At the age of 13, Aaliyah was introduced to R. Kelly. Her talent and charisma lead to him signing her to his record Label Jive and producing her first Album, Age ain’t nothin’ but a Number. Released in 1994, it included hit songs like Back and Forth and At Your Best (You Are Love) that became instant classics. Aaliyah was only 15 and already in the spotlight reaching double-platinum certification for her debut. Her young success paved the way for other artists of her age like Monica and Brandy. In 97, Aaliyah crossed path with the then unknown music duo Missy Elliott and Timothy Mosely (now known as the super producer, Timbaland). The trio formed a cohesive creative mélange that led to the release of her sophomore LP One in a Million. It hit multi-platinum status with huge hits like Hot Like Fire, If Your Girl Only Knew and 4 Page Letter. The album received high critical acclaim for its futuristic sound and solidity. A true perfectionist in all she did, Aaliyah took time off after One in a Million to focus on her studies; she graduated with a 4.0 GPA. However, during that period, she released songs for movie soundtracks such as Dr. Dolittle (Are You That Somebody) and Music of the Heart (Turn the page). In 2000, Aaliyah ventured into acting and starred next to Jet Li in the Martial Art thriller Romeo Must Die produced by Joel Silver of The Matrix. She also produced songs

for the movie’s soundtrack and contributed hits like Try Again that earned her an MTV award for best song and 2 Grammy Nominations. Her remarkable acting skills earned her amazing reviews. As a result, she landed the starring role in Anne Rice’s Queen of the Damned, and a starring role in The Matrix trilogy. In 2001, Aaliyah released a self-titled album which was her peak in music; for it had a collection of astonishing songs such as We Need a Resolution, More Than a Woman, and Rock the Boat. This album was so futuristic that critics claim it could be released at this very day and still be a hit. The album was also certified multi-platinum. Aaliyah’s multi-talent and grace positioned her in a league of her own. She was effortlessly sexy and classy. Her real beauty and attitude earned her the adjective Street-but-Sweet. At only 22, she was on the brink of becoming an icon. Sadly, her life was taken away. On August 25, 2001, Aaliyah wrapped up her video of her 3rd single at the time, Rock the Boat, in the Bahamas. She and eight others boarded a double engine propeller jet that was headed to Miami. The plane crashed shortly after take off, killing all that were on board. People think that I am obsessed with Aaliyah. I say, it is just love, in the purest of forms. Aaliyah was and always will be an awe-inspiring woman and her constant pursuit of success in all forms is what I feel aligned to, what draws me to her. Her aura is all encompassing and her legacy will always remain alive; through her family, myself and all her fans across the globe.

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Calm down, this isn’t an article about a new Star Wars movie, although that would be very cool to see. This article is about Finland! Yeah, the country we all forgot about until they pounded some very good music down our ears. I really actually belong in Scandinavia and as I think about it 50% of my blood does come from Denmark. I guess that also explains my love for beer and cheese as well, but more plausibly it accounts for my enduring love of Scandinavian bands. I’m going to try to shy away from my usual lyrical love fest, and talk a bit about style. Well, to be honest, there aren’t a whole lot of unbelievably unique and cool metal or alternative albums being released into the semi-mainstream these days. Or at least, I don’t know about them. One band I have been following for a long time that deserves mention for continuously producing unique and good music is Before the Dawn. I guess there is something about bands that have a drummer turned singer/ guitarist that gets me going. I was having this discussion on the topic of Phil Collins as well, and that got me thinking of Before the Dawn. Before the Dawn, is the brain child of yet another drummer and talented musician. No, don’t get confused, I’m not talking about Genesis or Phil Collins starting a metal band, I’m talking about a Fin named, Tuomas Saukkonen. This guy is certainly unforgettable due to his forehead tattoos, his usual giant goatee, and rocking tunes. Hardly a Phil Collins look-alike. It’s been a while since we’ve had a Before the Dawn release, and this one is in the big leagues on Nuclear Blast Records. Before I give you a rough overview of the album itself, I have to first speak about the problem that kiddies have these days with over “genre-alizing” bands. Oh, I can’t like this band because they’re death core and I’m into Ice Cream Emo Scream Indie, or some garbage incarnation therein. Why can’t kids just like music for its lyrics, or its individuality? Why does everything have to

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fit itself nicely into a little box so that they can digest it with a kiddie sized fork and wash it down with a super sized drink. Who cares if it’s cool or not? Music is for the soul. If it speaks to yours, then slurp it up! Well Before the Dawn fans are going to have a tough time putting the band into said box, because really that’s what makes them so good. They have two singers, two guitarists one of which plays and composes each instrument for numerous albums with a splash of keys tossed atop for atmosphere. The band really is a mix of melodic, death, goth and doom metal. Yeah, a lot for most people to swallow, but I just plain dig it. There is nothing like having a perfect harmony between a death singer and a very melodic singer. I have to say I haven’t seen the harmonization of those two styles set to dark gothic guitar riffs, and a ripping guitar solo here and there. Before the Dawn is a buffet for metal lovers. No need for a 2 for 1 coupon, this band is worth paying full price. Your metal gluttony shall be well satisfied. Now, I am going to rip them a little bit, but this is just my personal issue with Before the Dawn. Lyrically they aren’t really at my usual depth. They stick to the usual 80s power metal ballad motifs: motivational stuff that isn’t really laden with metaphors or political undertones. Blame the punk rock teenager still alive inside of me for whining about lyrical shortcomings. But hey, when singing in your second language, you’ve got to let the musical talent do the talking. Now, onto Tuomas and his notoriety: the guy just up and got sick of being a boring old drummer. So what did he decide to do? He decided to start his own solo project. Wrote the entire album, and then recruited musicians to perform. When those musicians didn’t cut motivationally, what did he do? He fired them like a bad assistant and decided to bring an entirely new line up on board. The music stayed roughly the same due to his

natural talent, but the sound changed slightly. This happened a few times might I add; yet, the current line up has been more or less the longest standing and by far the most talented. There have been minor comings and goings of drummers but the core three remain: Tuomas, Lars,and Juho. This album is absolutely stellar. I’ve given ‘er about 5 spins in the last 2 days and each time I hear it, it embeds itself deeper in my medulla. Of course as a guitar player I can’t help but get over the melodic and yet purely Scandinavian style. Long live the days of delay effect solos and hard driving rhythm guitar lines. When you seem to get sick of the death singing, you are treated to the angelic stylings of Norwegian Lars Eikind. His vocal tones are sad yet powerful. If you watch videos of them, you’d think the guy is almost crying he’s so serious with his style. They leave the head banging to the lead guitarist. How he plays such Scorpion-sque riffs while flipping his hair around in a circle is beyond me. The album starts and ends acoustically, which is basically the only time that you get to hear that style in the entire album. I do like the mix of both soft and hard guitars as it quite perfectly matches the two lyrical styles of the band. This is truly an album that both you and your girlfriend can listen to on the same car stereo. If she doesn’t like this, well then you best start considering another girl. It seems more or less inhumane to shun this Scandinavian gem of an album. Ok, ok, they did rip off the title, but I’d put this one up there with a Star Wars movie anyway and if you look closely at Juho the lead guitar player, his hair does bear a resemblance to our old friend Chewbacca. Who says Star Wars never influenced music?

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For fans of Buena Vista Social Club, Dizzy Gillipese (during his Afro-Cuban Jazz Impressions era), The Grateful Dead and the like. You cannot utter “world music” without mentioning West Africa and its captivating and rich musical scene. And you certainly can’t discuss West African music without tossing Senegal’s most famed band, Orchestra Baobab, into the mix. O.B.’s unique and enthralling fusion of African percussion, vocal techniques with classy and heartfelt groovy tones with a heavy Cuban influence shot them into worldwide superstardom in the early 80’s with the release of their well renowned record; Pirate’s Choice. O.B. took their name from Dakar’s Baobab club, where the house band played early on in their career. Pirate’s Choice was an unparalleled manifestation of musical influences, a perfect bridge uniting African background with its Cuban counterpart. And frankly, nothing comes even close to its enigmatic nature. The 11-piece orchestra took everything at their disposal at the time, from electric guitars, Wolof rhythms, saxophones, horns, xylophones, and mixed in all the mesmerizing elements that set Cuban music apart from other sounds. The record to this date is held in the highest of regard amongst world music enthusiasts, and rightfully so. The record inspired future Senegal musicians such Youssou N’Dour and Etoile de Dakar; whose music aided in the world taking notice once again of the Senegal music scene. Sadly though, N’Dour’s popularizing of mbalax actually lead the Orchestra’s fame to wither away till they broke up in the late 80’s. However, a re-issue of Pirate’s Choice resurrected captivation of the band’s music, and lead forth to this recording, which, ironically, N’Dour coproduced and is a guest vocalist in. Even though Pirate’s Choice holds such a critical historical significance in West African music (and world music in general) + the fact it’s a musical masterpiece; I still opted to pick Specialist In All Styles to highlight as it was the band’s first recording after a 17 year hiatus, mainly due to hard times and war erupting in Senegal. The title of the record sums it all really. It’s indeed a profound blend of ever-so-shifting styles (from African tunes to reggae, Latin to swing) achieved flawlessly. The record’s shape shifting variety is a most welcomed change from other Afro-Cuban recordings where the musicians tend to limit themselves at times. You need not speak their tongue to comprehend the beauty, strength and coolness of the recording. Vocally, it’s spectacular. What else would you expect from band consisting of 6 veteran and stellar vocalists, who are now joined by the great Ibrahim Ferrier and

O.B.’s fellow countryman Youssou N’Dour, (whose work I plan to feature in a future Senegal music collection) with his optionally powerful vocals that counter play so delightfully with the backup vocals. Instrumentally it’s not just as good as Afro-Cuban music gets, it surpasses it. Every musician is untouchable. But most notable are Issa Cissokho, with his sensual and Joe Henderson-sounding sax playing, and Thierno Koite, whose rhythmic support sets every single tune in an unprecedented direction, and I dare say is on equal footing with Max Roach. Now you might be wondering, what does this have to do with the Grateful Dead? Well, allow me to present the gem of the record: lead guitarist Barthelemy Atisso. He’s playing technique is most jaw dropping, switching ever so easily from delivering smooth and zesty chords to crunching a stream of chords while smacking his pedal - and he does it with such ease. Every solo he undertakes is a masterpiece in its own right. His playing is impressive and reminiscent of Jerry Garcia, but what’s even more stunning is the fact Atisso didn’t touch a guitar since he had to stop playing and began working as a lawyer to support his family 14 years ago. Orchestra Baobab portrays the pinnacle of shared musical passion. Name another band that would still manage to create a majestic record after years of down time (almost all the musicians in this record haven’t touched their instruments in over a decade) and still maintain an unmatched degree of chemistry as they did. Only one comes to mind, and that’s Buena Vista Social Club (which begs to ask, is Afro-Cuban music the style that focuses on and is most dependant on the connection of the individuals first rather than the notes being played?). In any case, O.B. manages to recapture the magical aspects that made their music so renowned. The band’s chemistry is heartwarming, celestial and captivating. It’s as if they fell from the history books, as if they were a mural of the Cuban scenery drawn by an unknown artist who never stepped foot in that region of the world. Specialist in All Styles revolves amidst a world of passion: shared memories, integrity, elegance, smiles around the face, brilliance and bliss brought forth by simply being in the same room with individuals that share the same interests as you do, and care about nothing in this life more than the humble notes their various instruments create. Isn’t this what music is all about?

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Sziget is a one of a kind festival. Taking place every summer since 1993 in Budapest, Hungary, it’s one of those events that transports you far far away from the real world and drops you in the middle of an island, in the Danube River, amongst over 200,000 people from all over the world. Walking, running and dancing amongst all these crazy festival goers makes you feel like you’re in a free society that the rest of the world hasn’t managed to get their grimy hands on just yet. Sure there’s lots of branding and commercials – but that doesn’t take precedence over the sheer awesomeness of being absolutely free to do whatever the hell you want. You can run around half naked with a pool floaty adorning your waist. You can wear a pink wig and torn up jeans and rock out at 2pm. You can munch on Wok in the Box with your hipster friends on benches under the sun. You can soak in the sights, sounds, and smells while strolling in a delirious daze. And best of all, you can do it all for a whole week while your peers are sitting in cubicles around the world, typing and clacking away, responding to email after boring email. The musicians on the main stage were incredible. Like batshit crazy incredible. They crowd-surfed, serenaded cameras, broke things, and ran around the stage. They called out to fans in the crowd, they called them up. They really got as intimate as humanly possible while on a massive stage with thousands of people hanging on every sound they uttered. The many bands that graced smaller tents and stages around the island were no less mind-blowing. Hungarian acts pleased their loyal fans immensely as they belted out tunes that kept us grooving and shaking the whole way through. And the performers that meandered through the crowds provided fresh surprises to the elated onlookers. Oh and the crowd. Surprisingly well behaved, hilarious, and very inventive, they were a sight to be seen in their own right. People were so friendly, always up for striking up conversations with strangers, and dancing the night and day away with anyone and everyone. And they also managed to wear the most insane things we’ve ever laid our eyes on. From bikinis to tracksuits, and superhero costumes to branches and leaves from the surrounding flora, we were regularly astounded with how, uh, creative people can get if left to their own devices. All in all Sziget is an event that has to be experienced by anyone with a desire to see how awesome life can be on an island, with a bunch of people who really just want to hug and chill, dance and strut, run and twirl, and lay around in the grass all day long while listening to beautiful song after beautiful song. Look out for a full festival feature in next issue!

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Colin Stetson is a man unstuck in time. Clearly the man should have rightfully existed in the 60s, somewhere in Blue Note recording studio, somehow collaborating with Eric Dolphy. An exceptional saxophonist, Colin gained his initial fame touring as a back up musician to the likes of Arcade Fire and Tom Waits, cumulating in Godspeed You! Black Emperor (only the greatest band of all time) handpicking him to open their reactivation tour after 10 long years. Colin’s bass saxophone is larger than life, as large as the man’s stature. It’s sonic qualities are so organic and rich that Stetson almost sounds inhuman. Recorded in one singular take, and showcasing a cardiovascular system only second to the great Rashaan Roland Kirk, who used to play 3 saxophones all at once, no looping or overdubs were performed, with merely 24 strategically placed microphones in a an vacant studio, cumulating in what is certainly the finest improv / avant-garde piece of jazz music recorded in the past 25 years. Starting with horn crescendo blasting in the distance, the music eerily hums into existence as it rises from an echo, a shattering ominous drone laced traveler pulsing through your ears, overtaking space as it sets out to explore themes of turmoil and sorrow. And yet, for its entire enormity, it’s so distinctly personal with shimmering minimalism, a perfect example of the concept of war VS solider, the crushing brutality and the dire search to maintain sanity by focusing on the most singular basic of emotions and thoughts. Stetson’s methodology of manipulating sound, playing several harmonies all at once using one instrument showcasing such a staggering display of both natural and polished talent. The manner in which the dynamics and harmonies switch and change so fluidly and drastically all at once while floating in a sea of drone and ambient. Through the vast myriad of textures and structure, you’re treated to open word pieces and narrations courtesy of My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden and avant-garde and spoken word legend Laurie Anderson, added deeper layers of isolation and fragile humanity to the continuously tormenting compositions, a radical contrast in sound that works perfectly in union. Colin Stetson is a musician unlike any other. His capacity for sound and imagery is certainly up with some of the finest jazz musicians of all time, and pairing his cascade walls of sound he manufactures with his mastery of circular breathing create an entire soundtrack drawing from the vaults of minimalists composters the likes of Arvo Part and Philip Glass. Meanwhile, the repetitive motifs achieved through Stetson’s circular breathing technique recall some of Philip Glass’s most hypnotic scores. New History Warfare Volume II: Judges is akin to surrendering to water and sinking deeply into, losing yourself the further down you go. A truly transcending record, and certainly a shoe in for one of the year’s very best.

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Ryan Bryle

mixtape When it starts to feel And emotions linger.. Don’t wait for an end But for what It calms down to

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

The Whip – Trash “I wanna be trash” The Knife – Heartbeats “One night of magic rush, the start - a simple touch” The Sound of Arrows – M.A.G.I.C. “For what we do, won’t matter that much” Sufjan Steven – Too Much “There’s too much, too much, too much love” Arms and Sleeper – Matador “Give me a reason to worry at night” Ef – Hello Scotland “`For being true, for being hurt” Woodpigeon – 7th Fret Over Andes “If I were a novelist, I’d write a book for the best seller list” Wave Machines – Keep the Lights On “Say your name and tell yourself that everything is okay”

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LITERATURE

Hinc illae lacrimae With Every Fall from Grace Man seems to forget that Each breathe will never be like the la The sheer beauty of each individual moment When women rises up to capture the desires of the eyes Can bring the beginning of the end But the dangerous fear lying deep within Is nothing but a refle ion of long ago Forsaking our fragile hearts Ignorance continues to forget that free will reigns Over an emotion so powerful it intoxicates Even the mo powerful of heroes

Written by Trevor Bundus Illu rated by Eszter Laki

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Never Again I’ve been fooled by an angel Got caught off guard Thought I was immune to danger Fell in love right from the start To heartbreak I was a stranger Never knew it was that hard But I still ask myself… How did you get in so fast? With one foot outside the door I thought we would last I thought I had finally reached the shore But we were a good play with a bad cast I guess….I was expecting more…

I was in this alone A soldier left behind A king without a throne A thinker without a mind A heart made of stone It took me a while to find But I did... And never again….

Angel in Disguise by Wael X

Then I realized…

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Morning shower Water-jet propels Clear dazzling insight

If you ever love me Again as you once did My monsoon will pass

HAIKUS ASHISH BANERJEE

Beware the man who Writes a haiku for you Vulnerable beyond expression

Tonight I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Write any more -- words Must percolate 146

Untitled By Zaid Alwan

When I think of you, I sometimes think of the shops You find in hotels. For those who live in the city Where the hotel happens to be, they are hopeless Purveyors of kitsch, pushing pulp fiction on shitty Revolving stands to people who’ll use them As eye-shades for sunbathing, or hawking plates With pictures of the Thames or Coliseum Or some garish likeness of the local despots. But for those just passing through, these stores Are essential. Toothpaste, deodorant, towels. The little things we can’t do without, a course In what truly separates us from the animals. I’m glad that we live miles apart. That we’re familiar Only here. I’m glad that I hardly know you at all.

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It was like a battle in my head.

‘OK YOU CAN DO IT SEE, YOU GOT IT – MERDE I WILL NEVER LEARN HOW TO DO THIS, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE – IN A COUPLE OF DAYS I’M GONNA RUN THIS PLACE – I WANT TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE BUT I’M STUCK. I’M STUCK’. All in all, it felt a little better today, but I’m not easily fooled. I had my doubts. I was certain that the somewhat painless moments were just that; moments that would soon vanish into the craziness of the kitchen heat. My conclusion: don’t judge today until tonight has passed. I know I only just started, but this feels like a 24 hour job. The only other thing I do is pass out from exhaustion (sleep seems too much like a choice to describe what happens at night) and have a double espresso with something sweet on the side, while preparing for my next shift. I mean, do the math. The night shift is when fatigue is at its peak, more so because it never ends. In hopes of easing the pain, I try to turn it into a challenge rather than the fear it has become. That seems to be a bigger challenge in itself. I get pulled aside and told to keep my shit together, keep my focus, watch, learn and ask questions. I’m told to do better than my mentor, who is still an intern himself. If I do better, I take his post, that’s how it works in the kitchen. I get a momentary pang of competitiveness, and I’m swayed by the dark nature of it all but then I think of my Obama look-alike mentor. He has a cool but strong demeanor just like Mr President, he’s firm and tries to help me as much as he can. Afterall, he’s only been an intern 1 week more than I have. I think he’s doing a fantastic job. No. I do not want his post, neither do I care to compete with him. Although my burden would be greatly lessened if a non-intern was the one mentoring me. That way he doesn’t run the risk of getting scolded every 2 minutes for something he was too caught up with to teach me. As cowardly as it may sound, I don’t want the responsibility. I seek no leadership roles or autonomy, I choose to follow where others tread. I want to learn by watching and repeating, not by continuously making mistakes and being reprimanded for them. Unfortunately, that’s how it seems to works here, one learns twice as much when scolded than when told gently. However, to give credit where credit is due, as much as you get scolded, you get praised for a job well done. Maybe not 50/50 but enough to keep your moral higher than suicidal. My mentor tells me to come a half hour before our shift starts, because we may not have enough time otherwise. I’m down for hard work and going the extra mile, but does a grueling 12 hour shift really need another half hour? It just seems so wrong, so unjust, so.. impossible. I want to tell him to stop joking around, but the conversation ended before my mind had time to translate. He’s bent over, sweat dripping down his face as he scribbles tonight’s tasks.

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FARES BOUNASSIF

READING LIST

IF ANYONE HERE READS MY BLOG (LATELY), THEN THEY’D KNOW THAT I RECENTLY RELOCATED - UPROOTED MYSELF TO THE NETHERLANDS. THOSE THAT DON’T JUST FOUND OUT. AS SUCH, READING WASN’T ON TOP OF MY LIST AND SWEET ZAINA WAS NICE ENOUGH TO GIVE ME THE TIME NEEDED TO COMPILE THIS COLLECTION. FIND BELOW FOUR BOOKS I FOUND IN A BOOKSTORE IN AMSTERDAM WHEN I WENT DIGGING FOR THIS ISSUE’S LIST, AND THE BOOK I READ ON MY FLIGHT OVER. NEVER A RANDOMER LIST, BUT DEFINITELY A SERIES OF ENGAGING BOOKS (THEY’RE NOT ALL READS, OR STORIES...).

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THE TERRIBLE PRIVACY OF MAXWELL SIM JONATHAN COE It’s very rare that I actually commit to reading a whole book in under 24 hours. This is most often because of things distract and preoccupy me. So it was with joyous satisfaction that I finished page 339 of the first person almost-monologue that was Max’s story, while also being so much more. Coe clearly tackles a myriad of subjects through the the simple, common, almost boring mind of a man who knows nothing of himself or his world (or the whole world). The clueless Max, likely a metaphor for how oblivious many in our midst are today, wanders about his life after all had finally been removed from it, eager to blissfully remain ignorant, until much happens to change his reality. An intriguing novel, if not much much more.

THE MELANCHOLY DEATH OF OYSTER BOY TIM BURTON The man behind some of the wildest on-screen creations in our collective memory, Tim Burton once (a while back) published a small book that was an active compilation of gruesomeness and love. We should have known then what he would do with Alice. A thin book full of witty verses and Burton’s own beautiful sketches and illustrations, this is an enjoyable exposé of art and a fun literary adventure, covering minute intricacies such as the robot baby, the boy with nails in his eyes, the girl that turned into a bed, and other outrageously outsider main characters that only want to be recognised as human beings, needing care and affection.

SUNSET PARK PAUL AUSTER His latest novel, and (as usual) not a tome to be completed in one sitting. If Auster is good at anything beyond postmodern literature, it would be his captivating ability to numb you into wanting to read more. Pulp fiction remodelled is why I got to love his work, particularly The New York Trilogy. Today I read him obsessively, but have learned that his stories are never a quick read. This one tells of a series of characters, most of whom have their particular secrets and ambiguities, adding intrigue to the already mysterious Miles Heller, written in the third person from a first person perspective. From start to finish, Auster is clearly at his best, giving us a tour de force of unimaginably real characters in his New York.

KALILA AND DIMNA: FABLES OF FRIENDSHIP AND BETRAYAL RAMSAY WOOD A series of short stories older than antiquity and present in almost every culture (in variant forms) across the globe, these little ‘fables’ of two thousand years ago have a charming effect, make for a simple read, and are good fun for when you just want to relax -- they also should belong in the compendium of things you must read before you die. Plausibly a more, according to Doris Lessing’s introduction, “widely travelled” book than the Bible, the few quirky anecdotes I’ve read through it so far are definitely pleasant and informative. This is not a challenging story. But Shakespeare might be one of the many literary greats who read this cover to cover, and it is the first comprehensive English translation since his time. All in all, a historically significant book about a few random stories that originated in ancient Indian and can be applied to and found in any folklore or culture.

PHILOSOPHERS ON ART FROM KANT TO THE POSTMODERNISTS ED. CHRISTOPHER KUL-WANT A collection of must-have-read essays and discourses for anyone in any capacity of the artistic field, especially those of us required to be regularly creative. Covering Kant, Neitzsche, Derrida, Deleuze, Adorno, and (my favourite) Barthes, among many others, this book gives a truly comprehensive overview on modernist and contemporary thinking about art and design in a direct, complex, and rightfully thought-provoking method that allows us to take more from the text each time we read it. Keep it in your library, and read it over the year. The introductions and overviews surrounding each essay and essayist are equally impressive and valuable, giving life and background to the immensely dense subjects on aesthetics and the repositioning of philosophy with regards to the arts.

EVENTS

The Soapbox Society Get A Rave!

Curator’s Notes Words by: Gayathri Krishnan Performers: Hala Ali Featuring Nada Dada & Aaron Kim Dana Dajani Noush Like Sploosh Featuring Aaron Kim Artists: Mohammed Hammad Laila Masri Curated by: Gayathri Krishnan (Singer/Songwriter/Performing Artist)

Waging a war of words, atop the stage that acted as their soapbox, the second edition of quint @The Fridge saw the house being brought down by powerful performances of spoken word artists Hala Ali featuring Nada Dada, Dana Dajani & Noush Like Sploosh featuring Aaron Kim. As the gates of the Fridge slid open, charmingly noisily at that, curious culture vultures and art lovers alike poured, in, immediately drawn to the art that populated the walls of the ground floor. Artists Mohammed Hammed & Laila Masri’s work set the stage for the rest of the night, serving as the creative primer, so every sight and sound thereafter, could etch itself in the minds of those observing. Hammad’s work, layered, introspective and arresting revelations, exploring the faces and nuances of the mind, fall under the category of the kind of art that has the beholder standing absolutely still for much longer than he usually would, as he feels his eyes and mind travel through the art. With faces peering through every nook, cranny and crevice, Hammad’s art evokes a deep and infinite sense of child-like discovery, with the onlooker counting the little victories with every face identified. Complimented gracefully by the feminine, individualistic style of up and coming artist Laila Masri, whose work explored individuality in the context of contemporary globalism and feminism with both paintings and video installation. Laila’s unique use of the drip style technique in her paintings reiterated her ability to combine thought with technique and texture. Masri’s video installation ‘A Silent Conversation’ touched upon the relationship of the modern Arab woman with the Hijab with a mature succinctness beyond her age. As the seats began to fill up on the top floor, the stage was set for a night of modern-day female poets and their brand of story-telling. After we gave all our beloved attendees and supporters the complete skinny on the Arts Programme, Hala Ali took the stage with visual artist/chanteuse Nada Dada & ace cellist & musician extraordinaire Aaron Kim. With her “performance cape” on, the words that fell out of her mouth put every other sentence ever uttered to shame, while satire, humour and the deepest, cruelest sincerity basked in the spotlight. Punctuated beautifully by the syncope created by Aaron Kim’s cello and the rhythm of Hala’s words, Nada Dada’s little melodious choral remarks proved just the trick before we braced ourselves for the next attack of words and

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laughter to befall us. As Hala braved the worlds of “postcoital bananas,” “mummy long legs” and “oil in the soil of backyards” we laughed, sighed and cheered with a sense of love one feels for a funny friend that always keeps everyone laughing with their peculiar observations or just their brilliant “takin’ the piss” skills. Next up, Dana Dajani took the stage with the graceful confidence of a seasoned actor, immediately pulling in the crowd into a conversation about the ancient Greek myth of Medusa & Perseus; with a Woody Allenesque comedic twist to the tale, she reenacted a whole scene where she played Medusa to her Perseus with so much conviction that at the end of it, so engrossed, the roaring applause came two seconds later than normal. Her next piece was a bittersweet nostalgic reminiscence of her beloved Grandfather that she delivered while she endearingly peeled oranges, almost as though sitting at one’s balcony pensively during tea-time. She pulled us into this world, and what then and even now, as I write this, seems like one of the most poignant moments of the evening, we smiled heartfelt smiles and teared up when she sweetly spoke the words “I loved him like something I had lost...” With every believable word, she brought us down to her last piece, which upon vote and much welcome, was a Shakespearean monologue delivered in the voice of Sean Connery. A myth, the man and the legend, all done justice and how?! The last performance of the night was by popular singer/ songwriter and creative powerhouse Noush Like Sploosh featuring Aaron Kim on cello. With a powerful combination of dark, moody and emotion-ridden string motifs created through looping layers of cello melodies, rhythmic, legatos and pizzicatos, and Noush’s engaging, story-telling with beautiful little moments of levity had all of us captivated in the kind of trance that was often induced when one was told a story as a child. From her beguiling mockery of hipsters to her quieter whisperings of heart break and desolation, Noush brought us to the end of the night with a comic little tale about a fish, a fly, a bear, a hunter, a sandwich, a cat and a rat. An absolute and true gem of a night. A special thank you to Yasmin Mebar from Red Panda Bakes for providing delicious cupcake treats that were collectively “yummm”-ed and “ummmm”-ed over pre, post, and during the show. A big shout out to our partners The Fridge, Dubai and their ever-helpful team. A huge thank you to Matrix Entertainment for hooking us up with great sound and tech equipment, and lastly to our little team of wonderful quinterns who helped run the night like pros! Many loud Highfives! For more information on the Arts Programme, quint @ the Fridge events and what’s next on the agenda, read our new and shiny blog, quintartsprogramme.tumblr.com and find out how you can get involved.

EVENTS

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The undeniable worldwide household name has recently made its presence even bigger in the region through the newly opened branch in Dubai Mall. At the opening ceremony, we had the chance to be graced by the Virgin Megastore ME President, Nisreen Shocair’s attendance. From her brief speech, we heard first hand the company’s aspiration for the new branch and also the future endeavors that are in store for the company and for the public alike. Such examples would be the recently commenced Virgin Fest - a live performance event that was made to foster local talents in the country. The best part: all the aural magic would happen right there and then, on a mini stage inside the snazzy new shop. Oh and has it been mentioned that the new flagship shop has a vinyl section? In the words of Mr. Tarek Moussawer, the regional marketing manager in the Middle East, ‘It is one of the corporate decisions that Virgin has made recently; diversifying the music selection so we can provide more choices for the consumers’. Clearly it was a spot on decision as sales have increased significantly; a huge feat in this day and age of easy online plundering. At the end of the day, it is refreshing to see that the brand is putting back emphasis on the thing that made it successful throughout the years – the music. In doing so, Virgin makes its shops not just another retail place for the newest high end cans or cheeky Angry Bird shirts and such (which I am guilty of loving) but also presenting themselves as a ‘destination’ for the real avid music fans amongst us.

Event Listings Until September 30 Middle Eastern Modern and Contemporary Art The exhibition will include works by Omar El-Nagdi, Alaa Ismail, Kamal Boullata, and Hussein Madi. Artspace The Gate Village Bldg. 3, Podium Level Dubai International Financial Center +971 4 323 0820 artspace-dubai.com August 17-Novemeber 30 Highness Sheikha Manal bint Maktoum Young Artist Awards This award aims to promote emerging artists in the UAE from ages 18-30. Gallery 2 youngartistaward.ae September 12 to October 27 10:00 a.m. - 08:00 p.m ASAAD ARABI - “NOSTALGIA” An exhibition of recent paintings by prominent Syrian painter Asaad Arabi. Ayyam Gallery Dubai (DIFC) +971 4 439 2395 ayyamgallery.com September 14 to September 22 07:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. GRAND GALA BALLET Performance with the music of P.I.Tchaikovsky and L. Minkus from the masterpieces of classical ballet and brilliant soloists and corps de ballet of Sofia Ballet. Madinat Theatre +971 4 366 6546 madinattheatre.com September 15 to October 30 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. SUBSTATIONS: SINISA VLAJKOVIC AND MOHAMED SOMJI An exhibition of photographs by Sinisa Vlajkovic and Mohamed Somji portraying the evolution an the remnants of the culture of Middle East. The Pavilion Downtown Dubai +971 50 644 1304 pavilion.ae September 19 – November 10 10:00 a.m. - 07:00 p.m. HIGH TENSION A first solo exhibition of artist Erwin Olaf ‘s work in the Middle East. Carbon 12 +971 50 464 43 92 carbon12dubai.com June 20 – September 19 11:00 am - 07:00 p.m. POSITION VELOCITY ACCELERATION Works by Loredana Mantello, Nelda Gilliam, Carolin Kropff, Sami Al Karim, Hussein Al Mohassen, Behrang Samadzadegan and Morteza Zahedi XVA Gallery +971 4 353 5383 xvagallery.com

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September 19 - November 12 10am – 8pm MIDDLE EAST, MIDDLE KINGDOM A first-of-its-kind event featuring 25 Chinese works of art - a diverse concoction of sculptures, charcoal drawings, paintings, paper cuts, digital artwork and political pop art. Etemad Gallery +971 4 346 8649 galleryetemad.com September 21 to October 20 10 am – 7 pm THE STATE: SOCIAL / ANTISOCIAL? The group show, comprising of works from The Third Line, Traffic Gallery and The Farook Collection attempts to question and tackle the current state of our contemporary environment as manifested through the featured artworks The Third Line +971 4 341 1367 thethirdline.com October 7 & 8 – October 13 & 15 7:30pm The Birthday Party Dubai Drama Group brings Harold Pinter’s modern classic to thejamjar. thejamjar +971 4 341 7303 thejamjardubai.com October 7 & 8 – October 13 & 15 7:30pm The Birthday Party Dubai Drama Group brings Harold Pinter’s modern classic to thejamjar. thejamjar +971 4 341 7303 thejamjardubai.com October 11 Creative Industry Night ‘Creative gatherings’ aimed to bring together those working within the creative and advertising industry to meet, network and showcase their talent. The Studio, The Courtyard +971 4 347 1745 thestudiodubai.com September 19 - October 20 7:30pm - 9:30pm vs. Him First solo exhibition in Dubai by Iraqi/Palestinian multimedia artist Sama Alshaibi. The display investigates Middle Eastern masculinities in relationship to, and in contrast with, a female protagonist. +971 4 346 9906 lawrieshabibi.com

LAST CALL

There used to be something sexy about it, walking into an airport, waiting for your flight at the duty free zone, or having a coffee and a smoke. I just went to get my coffee. Can’t smoke with it though. And this is Lebanon, the land of guidelines, not laws. Also the land of the first law school ever to be built in the whole of the Roman empire. Thank god for smoking... sections - the space around the ashtray, or bin, when there is one. I’m smoking Dunhill reds. Never had them before, but it was either that or Kents last night, and after fourteen shots and six whiskey doubles, I needed another smoke. There’s a pseudo-novel called Adverbs on an iOS app called Kobo that made it into last month’s quint reading list. I skimmed through it and wrote what I thought of it. Now I have time to go through the parts I don’t remember too well. Still can’t smoke with my coffee while typing or sitting down though. Or reading. Damn Californians (was it them that started it?). Punctuation is cool. At least I think so. Right. Airports. Flying. To Amsterdam. Through Prague. Delayed flights. Two hours. Missed visits. Boobs. Huh? What? No! So I shoulda left at 3:10, but now it’s at 5:00, so I can’t go down to Charles’ Bridge. Nothing to do with boobs though. Unless the dude flying the plane is late cause of a pair. Some guys really need to grow some. Not Adverbs (aka Daniel Handler) though. He’s got enough. No Bukowski though. Why does that Pole American keep popping up everywhere!?? I threw away a copy of Letters to Cars. Sorry, Musing Beirut. An agency in London knows it as Letters, and Telegram read as the latter. It didn’t fit in either list, and I knew it wouldn’t. It didn’t fit in my list either. I rushed it out of my printer just cause people suggested I should, and love made me do it. Love’s tricky like that. It makes you do things when it’s not time. Like that other thing. Reamonn knows about that. “reach for the love that’s all around”. Too around. But solid ground feels nice. Heels everywhere. And ugly toes. Toes smoking cigarillos and falling off the edges of outdated sandals with sticks (or floors) attached to their longness (and long toes). I smoke cigarettes. Just had three. Some women just ruin it.

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Damn plane won’t ever get here. Twenty one minutes and there might just be another delay. I’m moving, you see, so patience is key. Amsterdam is my new ‘place’. I get there in about ten hours, barring any further delays. Then I need to find an apartment in under a week, and move into it. Haven’t done that in a while. Should be different. But I refuse to buy a bicycle. They say I should be excited, but I don’t see it. I’m happy, but more melancholy than joyous. Typical emotionless bastard. I’ve left a lot behind. Starting fresh, or some such. I threw away the one novel that I cared enough to finish. I wrote it, and edited it (not much), then stopped denying it was barely half as good as my other stuff, so decided to kill it. It felt good dropping it in the bin at the airport. Apparently, it was adding too much weight for the flight I’m waiting for now to handle. So I left it behind. I’ve been doing that. Maybe it’s not always the right way to go, but I don’t always do the right thing. Nobody does. I wrote it in three sittings over a period of two months and a half. It really felt like an accomplishment, but it was speed, not quality, writing. The sort of thing where “I pushed the words, instead of letting myself be pulled by them”. I think Raymond Chandler said that. I think. And I was paraphrasing anyway. I’ll get there. I’m definitely redoing it now, although I think I’ll change it this time. Still going to call it Musing Beirut though. It fits. Not much of a love story anyway. I know love stories, and I still can’t write about them. Thought I could. She’ll be in there, but it won’t be just her. [ update: I decided that my other book, the one in its infancy, was much more plausible and that I really have no desire to write a love story yet. ] I’ll write about the amusement parks I’ve never visited. I’ll live a life I couldn’t live. It’ll be happy, not sad. Hopeful, not pessimistic. Something, not anything. And we’ll see what happens. Till then, I’ll smoke cigarettes next to bins as I escape from yet another catastrophe and broken life. On to Amster, says she!

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