ART: Station to Station, London
“It’s supposed to be about the nature of creativity. If you’ve never been to an art school or anything like that, I think you do actually get a flavour, going around, about what the process of making things is like.”
Jane Morris , editor of ‘The Art Newspaper’This weekend is the last chance to enjoy the Barbican’s standout summer season of events, Station to Station, created by US multimedia artist Doug Aitken. The events are based on his 2013 film of the same name in which he used train travel across the US to stage artistic events. This weekend’s events include dancers and acclaimed London band Savages who create a unique performance and also a drumming workshop – the latter being open to all – contradicting the old adage that nobody rides for free.
Listen now to this week’s art picks on ‘The Monocle Arts Review’
MUSIC: Black Flower, Abyssinia Afterlife
“I think they’re doing something really interesting. Black Flower is composing new material which sounds ever so Ethiopian – they’ll say it’s not Ethiopian music – but it’s got the vibe and I think has taken the inspiration.”
Sebastian Merrick, Promoter, KazumPromoter and worldly music aficionado Sebastian Merrick dropped by Midori House for The Monocle Arts Review this week to talk up one of the world’s best Ethio-jazz bands to ever come from Belgium. Black Flower’s Abyssinia Afterlife builds on the brooding yet distinctly funky jams found on collections such as the famous Ethiopiques series and adds its own twist of Brussels sprouting off in any direction in which the band sees fit.
Listen now to this week’s music picks on ‘The Monocle Arts Review’
TV: Verdades Secretas
“There are incredible scenes – amazing cinematography as well, I have to say”.
Fernando Augusto Pacheco, MonocleVerdades Secretas is the latest Brazilian TV show to match high glamour to high drama, telling the story of a modelling agency that unfortunately has a side interest in indulging in the world’s oldest profession. Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco praised the show’s sensitivity in dealing with a troubling storyline and also its impressive look on the screen.
Listen now to this week’s art picks on ‘The Monocle Arts Review’
BOOK: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
“It’s completely fascinating – I think anyone who’s interested in the creation of books and how books come into being would find it a fascinating read.”
Cathy Rentzenbrink, writer and books editor at ‘The Bookseller’For this week’s pick of new books, The Bookseller’s Cathy Rentzenbrink offered her take on the ongoing saga of Harper Lee’s follow-up (or first draft, depending on your view) of literary classic To Kill a Mockingbird. Rentzenbrink found the book worked as an artefact that shows the workings of an author to be perhaps a more important contribution to literature as a whole rather the story itself. But perhaps the biggest tale is the one behind the book’s release, which is still being told in the media with new snippets of information appearing nearly every day.
Listen now to this week’s literary picks on ‘The Monocle Arts Review’
