Yesterday, I walked in the pooring rain at ten thirty with two people through Chinatown. We were hungry and we figured it should be possible to get something in this exiting part of New York at this time of the day. However, while walking through the narrow streets, the only thing we saw was the closing of one rolling shutter after the other and Chinese men cleaning their steps. The rain made it all even more desolate. Then, we saw a light and seven waiters who just cleaned the place, sitting together after a hard days work. When we asked them if it would be possible to get some food, they quickly talked in Chinese and then gave us a short nod. Enter. While seven waiters, and the five cooks that were also free now, sat on the table next to us, we ate our Foe jong hai. Back in the rain we talked about the Chinese work ethics: if there's a chance to make money, you have to take it.
Today, I saw a documentary about the The Chinese bubble, in which a cab driver concludes that he has to work for two hundred years to be able to buy a house and a real estate magnate decides to buy a piece of land in, of course, New York to built an Asian city. "I will call it Asian Star or New Asia." They are all so positive, those Chinese. Or at least, the wealthy ones. they have big dreams, want to reach the skies. The cab driver just hopes the economy won't collapse, because less people will take a cab when it does. The builder longs for the past in which everything was better than it is now. He works way up high and "even in my dreams I'm in the air".
The documentary reminded me of the Go West Project, by journalist Michiel Hulshof and architect Daan Roggeveen. They are researching the development of the new Chinese cities, which, due to the stagnant growth of the metropolises in the East, increasingly extends westward. In a presentation of their project, which ultimately results in a book, they showed how China is slowly filling up with empty cities, with empty apartments, empty roads and huge empty shopping malls, where no one walks yet, but that are waiting for millions of people who are about to leave the countryside.
According to the economist in The Chinese Bubble, real estate is the only way of investing in a country where you can't invest abroad and where the stock market is too weak. On the website of the GWP, the deserted cities are on every photo you see.
lastly, this reminded me of Highrise, out of my window, in which Tainan (once founded by the Dutch) is the only 'Chinese' city in this project. You'd think there are plenty of other cities that can show you a beautiful view out of their windows.
Check those sites! They are great!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Duke and Battersby
This evening, Union Docs, a small non profit in Brooklyn that wants to show special projects to a bigger audience but also brings people together to develop new film projects, hosted a film night. Three films, all around fifteen minutes, made by the Canadian artists Emily Vey Duke and Cooper Battersby.
In the talk after the screening, they told about their relationship "Only work with people that you fuck, or have fucked for a ong time," as Duke put it. Once, they met, not in person but on paper. They both were putting up provocative posters in a small Canadian town, and recognized themselves in the other persons art. When they finally really met, collaboration was the only option. After seeing their films, I understand that when this is your art and you meet someone that understands it, you cannot let them go. I actually was surprised that there are actually two people who make films like these, and it's extremely special that they actually met.
What I liked about their films is that they combine different art forms: drawings, film, music, collages, weird stories. They don't make documentaries, they don't make films in it's pure form (a story that is being told by images that follow eachother). They are little art pieces, collages of thoughts, images, fragments and sounds, that are being put together. And, like with other art, you shouldn't think of it too much. Instead, just enjoy what you see.
See more films.
In the talk after the screening, they told about their relationship "Only work with people that you fuck, or have fucked for a ong time," as Duke put it. Once, they met, not in person but on paper. They both were putting up provocative posters in a small Canadian town, and recognized themselves in the other persons art. When they finally really met, collaboration was the only option. After seeing their films, I understand that when this is your art and you meet someone that understands it, you cannot let them go. I actually was surprised that there are actually two people who make films like these, and it's extremely special that they actually met.
What I liked about their films is that they combine different art forms: drawings, film, music, collages, weird stories. They don't make documentaries, they don't make films in it's pure form (a story that is being told by images that follow eachother). They are little art pieces, collages of thoughts, images, fragments and sounds, that are being put together. And, like with other art, you shouldn't think of it too much. Instead, just enjoy what you see.
The Beauty is Relentless from cooper battersby on Vimeo.
See more films.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Hunger
I'm always hungry. Or I always long for something. For a grand and glorious life, let that be clear.
The last few days, that hunger is really present. That's partly because of the airplane food, which is actually not that bad, but which is rarely the vegetarian option that I chose when I booked my flight. So often, I have to give back half of the microwaved food in little plastic containers to the steward that just gave it to me. Or I share it with the person sitting next to me, if I need to be friends of them because of a lack of space.
It's also partly because the trip from the airport to my new home was slightly difficult because of the huge suitcase I brought with me. I normally always try to travel as light as possible, which means a small backpack that can easily be lifted. This time, I thought I needed to bring more shoes, so it seems appropriate to bring a suitcase. Shoes. Because of shoes, I had to drag this heavy thing off the stairs at home, through the cobbled streets of Amsterdam. through train stations and airports and the New York subway, where it was impossible to go through the gates. Then, I had to walk several blocks more than expected, and at that time, my hands couldn't pull or push anything, let alone this heavy monster. So when I finally arrived in my new home, I collapsed and couldn't get my body up to eat something before falling in a deep sleep.
So in the morning, I was hungry. Unbelievable hungry.To the city, the people, food, coffee, stuff, experience, and a lot of grand and gloriousness. Luckily, this city is perfect if you're on a quest for all of this, and it will be the last one to tell you to stop. Contrary, it encourages you to consume. The Not For Tourist guidebook that I bought - to satisfy my hunger - is filled with restaurants, cafes, shops, theatres and film venues where one can spend ones money. I noticed quickly that after buying - in chronological order - bagels and tea for breakfast, a very sexy laptop, coffee and soup and beautiful books to write in, my hunger was still not satisfied. I hadn't had enough.
In a capitalistic world, it's normal to buy stuff to satisfy the hunger. And of course, I participate in that too. After spending money for a day, I want to use all the stuff that I just bought to satisfy that other hunger: for people, experiences. But I Know the hunger will last. Whatever happens.
Buddah sais that longing is the cause of suffering and can only be solved by accepting the reality for what it is. I will try to surrender to reality, hoping that the hunger will disappear over time. But I will also try to discover as many restaurants as possible in New York. A (wo)man gotta eat.
The last few days, that hunger is really present. That's partly because of the airplane food, which is actually not that bad, but which is rarely the vegetarian option that I chose when I booked my flight. So often, I have to give back half of the microwaved food in little plastic containers to the steward that just gave it to me. Or I share it with the person sitting next to me, if I need to be friends of them because of a lack of space.
It's also partly because the trip from the airport to my new home was slightly difficult because of the huge suitcase I brought with me. I normally always try to travel as light as possible, which means a small backpack that can easily be lifted. This time, I thought I needed to bring more shoes, so it seems appropriate to bring a suitcase. Shoes. Because of shoes, I had to drag this heavy thing off the stairs at home, through the cobbled streets of Amsterdam. through train stations and airports and the New York subway, where it was impossible to go through the gates. Then, I had to walk several blocks more than expected, and at that time, my hands couldn't pull or push anything, let alone this heavy monster. So when I finally arrived in my new home, I collapsed and couldn't get my body up to eat something before falling in a deep sleep.
So in the morning, I was hungry. Unbelievable hungry.To the city, the people, food, coffee, stuff, experience, and a lot of grand and gloriousness. Luckily, this city is perfect if you're on a quest for all of this, and it will be the last one to tell you to stop. Contrary, it encourages you to consume. The Not For Tourist guidebook that I bought - to satisfy my hunger - is filled with restaurants, cafes, shops, theatres and film venues where one can spend ones money. I noticed quickly that after buying - in chronological order - bagels and tea for breakfast, a very sexy laptop, coffee and soup and beautiful books to write in, my hunger was still not satisfied. I hadn't had enough.
In a capitalistic world, it's normal to buy stuff to satisfy the hunger. And of course, I participate in that too. After spending money for a day, I want to use all the stuff that I just bought to satisfy that other hunger: for people, experiences. But I Know the hunger will last. Whatever happens.
Buddah sais that longing is the cause of suffering and can only be solved by accepting the reality for what it is. I will try to surrender to reality, hoping that the hunger will disappear over time. But I will also try to discover as many restaurants as possible in New York. A (wo)man gotta eat.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Train
When I opened the door to the compartment and entered, I saw that there were two seats left opposite a young woman. I thought I recognized her, but in the bustle that comes along while entering a train, I figured I could better put my stuff and myself down first before I checked again. If it were her, we could talk. I put my bags on the seat, my coffee on the table and my sandwich next to it. Only after I removed the bags from my shoulder and was getting out of my coat, I saw it.
She was crying.
Shit.
I didn't know her that well. But since I was in the middle of this process, I could not stop and leave. I decided to sit down. Organizing my stuff, flipping through my agenda, drinking my coffee and once in a while peeking at the girl in the mirroring window. It was her. And she was still crying. Softly. Did she recognize me? Would she even know who I was? And more important: would she want me to recognize her?
The voice inside of me yelled: Talk To Her! Ask her how she is doing! Ask if you can help! Because she's not doing ok!
But, what if she didn't want me to say anything to her? What if me saying something would force her into talking to this person she vaguely knew, to share her sorrow with? Would she feel uncomfortable? I would have asked any unknown person I would meet in this situation if I could help, if they wanted to talk about it. But now, I was afraid.
Still flipping through my agenda, I would once in a while look up, choosing a direction that wouldn't involve her in my sight, only to dive into my bok again afterwards.
Though the tears had stopped, she was still sniffing. The problem was that it felt impossible to me to turn the situation around, I couldn't just look up and suddenly recognize her now. And if she had recognized me, she'd know I'd seen her too. So now we were keeping up the appearances and we wouldn't change that anymore. At least, I had no idea how to. I tried to think of things that could have happened for her to sit here like this. But most things didn't seem adequate. It must be something really bad, like a death or someone who got really sick, or some other terrible thing that you wouldn't want to share with an almost stranger.
The sniffing turned into crying again. In the meantime, I'd accepted the situation and I just kept hoping she would get out of the train at the next station, so she could blend in with the crowd and just feel sad without being confronted with my presence.
So I kept silent, and didn't look up when she left the train. But from the moment she disappeared until now, I've been hoping that she knows that my silence was a sign of respect and sympathy, instead of disinterest. And I hope that she's feeling better. Looking back at it, I think I should have said something.
I'm so sorry, vaguely familiar woman! I wish I could have comforted you!
She was crying.
Shit.
I didn't know her that well. But since I was in the middle of this process, I could not stop and leave. I decided to sit down. Organizing my stuff, flipping through my agenda, drinking my coffee and once in a while peeking at the girl in the mirroring window. It was her. And she was still crying. Softly. Did she recognize me? Would she even know who I was? And more important: would she want me to recognize her?
The voice inside of me yelled: Talk To Her! Ask her how she is doing! Ask if you can help! Because she's not doing ok!
But, what if she didn't want me to say anything to her? What if me saying something would force her into talking to this person she vaguely knew, to share her sorrow with? Would she feel uncomfortable? I would have asked any unknown person I would meet in this situation if I could help, if they wanted to talk about it. But now, I was afraid.
Still flipping through my agenda, I would once in a while look up, choosing a direction that wouldn't involve her in my sight, only to dive into my bok again afterwards.
Though the tears had stopped, she was still sniffing. The problem was that it felt impossible to me to turn the situation around, I couldn't just look up and suddenly recognize her now. And if she had recognized me, she'd know I'd seen her too. So now we were keeping up the appearances and we wouldn't change that anymore. At least, I had no idea how to. I tried to think of things that could have happened for her to sit here like this. But most things didn't seem adequate. It must be something really bad, like a death or someone who got really sick, or some other terrible thing that you wouldn't want to share with an almost stranger.
The sniffing turned into crying again. In the meantime, I'd accepted the situation and I just kept hoping she would get out of the train at the next station, so she could blend in with the crowd and just feel sad without being confronted with my presence.
So I kept silent, and didn't look up when she left the train. But from the moment she disappeared until now, I've been hoping that she knows that my silence was a sign of respect and sympathy, instead of disinterest. And I hope that she's feeling better. Looking back at it, I think I should have said something.
I'm so sorry, vaguely familiar woman! I wish I could have comforted you!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Big Apple
It's easy to dwell in beautiful fantasies about adventures, important events or other future and maybe one day completed projects. But to actually start them, is something completely different.
So it was fairly easy for me, two years ago, to decide to live in New York a year later (2010). I imagined myself drinking coffee with friends in one of the thousand coffee shops, working in a place with a view on Manhattan, and being bored in the subway in the morning, just like all the other commuters on their way to work. After I made this decision, I floated from happiness because I was there again. Half a year earlier, I arrived for the first time, fell in love, and decided to return. On my second visit, I would become emotional every time I realized what decision I just made. This city was about to become my home!
When I returned in Amsterdam, it all wasn't as easy as I hoped. Even trying to figure out all options, cost a lot of time and effort and actually was discouraging. Although, in my mind, I still could see myself drinking coffee with new friends, I found myself biking through Amsterdam, that suddenly looked more beautiful and sunnier than ever. Over the last two years, my love for the city blossomed again, for the cafes and theatres where I drink coffee with friends, for the fact that I can go anywhere by bike, for my work and work location. Well, for the life that I'm living.
Which is always a good time to step back for a while. Not for always, not that long, but long enough to really be away and try other things. Without a job, without a goal. I'm going to drink coffee in New York. I'm going to write, film and live. And if the writing and filming won't actually happen, I'm just going to be there. Because I can. Because my fantasies have become reality, though in a smaller version, and thanks to a lot of people.
The most important lesson? keep fantasizing, but also act! Because who knows, dreams can come true.
Talking Big Apple '75
So it was fairly easy for me, two years ago, to decide to live in New York a year later (2010). I imagined myself drinking coffee with friends in one of the thousand coffee shops, working in a place with a view on Manhattan, and being bored in the subway in the morning, just like all the other commuters on their way to work. After I made this decision, I floated from happiness because I was there again. Half a year earlier, I arrived for the first time, fell in love, and decided to return. On my second visit, I would become emotional every time I realized what decision I just made. This city was about to become my home!
When I returned in Amsterdam, it all wasn't as easy as I hoped. Even trying to figure out all options, cost a lot of time and effort and actually was discouraging. Although, in my mind, I still could see myself drinking coffee with new friends, I found myself biking through Amsterdam, that suddenly looked more beautiful and sunnier than ever. Over the last two years, my love for the city blossomed again, for the cafes and theatres where I drink coffee with friends, for the fact that I can go anywhere by bike, for my work and work location. Well, for the life that I'm living.
Which is always a good time to step back for a while. Not for always, not that long, but long enough to really be away and try other things. Without a job, without a goal. I'm going to drink coffee in New York. I'm going to write, film and live. And if the writing and filming won't actually happen, I'm just going to be there. Because I can. Because my fantasies have become reality, though in a smaller version, and thanks to a lot of people.
The most important lesson? keep fantasizing, but also act! Because who knows, dreams can come true.
Talking Big Apple '75
Monday, February 14, 2011
Jacob tv
Jacob ter Veldhuis is a Dutch composer who doesn't only composes beautiful modern music, but who uses projections, sound bites and other visuals. His last project is called The News, in which he uses and cuts the latest news into an unique music experience. I first heard about him through Grab it, a piece for the electrical guitar that was composed with the sound of the voices of people that were on death row.
It's no relaxing music, not while listening at home and I'm guessing it must be even more intense when you're in a concert hall, hearing their voices, listening to the guitar, and watching these huge projections.
But I really like these combinations, where music and images create a new experience, and therefor are so different from all other concerts where you can just sit back and close your eyes.
And I also like it that he expects something from his audience. Why should a pleasant evening just be easy and relaxing? What I like about evenings that might be a little tiring, is that you probably won't ever forget them. That might be just the only reason why it's actually good that not every concert is so intense. That would eventually create one big pile of unforgettable evenings, and then it'll be hard to find the difference again. So, let's cherish those exceptions and work once in a while during a pleasant evening.
It's no relaxing music, not while listening at home and I'm guessing it must be even more intense when you're in a concert hall, hearing their voices, listening to the guitar, and watching these huge projections.
But I really like these combinations, where music and images create a new experience, and therefor are so different from all other concerts where you can just sit back and close your eyes.
And I also like it that he expects something from his audience. Why should a pleasant evening just be easy and relaxing? What I like about evenings that might be a little tiring, is that you probably won't ever forget them. That might be just the only reason why it's actually good that not every concert is so intense. That would eventually create one big pile of unforgettable evenings, and then it'll be hard to find the difference again. So, let's cherish those exceptions and work once in a while during a pleasant evening.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Daily
I am a huge fan of the The Daily Show. For those who don't watch it daily, or on a regular base, on their computer or television: The Daily show, an American talk-show, is hosted by Jon Stewart and his crew, who discuss the - mostly Amercian - news from a left point of view with a lot of humor. The show started in 1996, Stewart hosts it since 1999. One of his reporters, part of The best F#@king News Team Ever, is Stephen Colbert, who nowadays has his own show, that is just as funny, but looks at the news from the right winged point of view in The Colbert Report. Together, both Stewart and Colbert give a funny but also critical view on the things that happen in American politics.
In the beginning, I suspected some creative editors had put together funny clips to create heir own story, but after having seen American television myself, I realized that the news that both The Daily Show and the Colbert Report show, isn't made up at all. One could conclude that a lot of (or maybe all?) the American news channels are much more creative in presenting the truth than the two late-night comedy talk shows.
One of The Daily Shows favorite subjects is FOX News, the main and most right winged news network of the States. After Fox host Glenn Beck organized the Restoring Honor Rally, Stewart and Colbert replied with the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Keep Fear Alive, held last October, with which they tried to reason both the nations media and politicians, to, well, restore sanity. About 215,000 people attended the event.
And now, there's a Dutch edition of The Daily Show that is host by Jan-Jaap van der Wal, who cannot read from autocue and who misses Stewart's timing. His reporters are Daniel Arends and Bas Hoeflaak, who pretend to be 'on location' to talk about something news worthy.
I was looking forward to it.
I've been waiting for a Dutch equivalent for a long time. A show that has a critical view, that isn't afraid and that puts certain things together to give the viewer a new perspective.
But so far - I admit, I've only seen four shows: you have to give it time to grow, all beginnings are hard, it's not fair to compare this show to it's American big brother - their jokes aren't working for me. Why not? Because Dutch news is clumsy. Because I don't want to see pieces of De Wereld Draait Door (another Dutch talk show). Because I can't help searching for Peter van de Witte, when I see his partner Bas. Because it feels like the Dutch comedy world needed a new project and look at how much fun they're having.
I'll wait and see. Maybe it will change. Or maybe mt opinion will change. It could be so great. A Dutch Daily Show.
In the beginning, I suspected some creative editors had put together funny clips to create heir own story, but after having seen American television myself, I realized that the news that both The Daily Show and the Colbert Report show, isn't made up at all. One could conclude that a lot of (or maybe all?) the American news channels are much more creative in presenting the truth than the two late-night comedy talk shows.
One of The Daily Shows favorite subjects is FOX News, the main and most right winged news network of the States. After Fox host Glenn Beck organized the Restoring Honor Rally, Stewart and Colbert replied with the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Keep Fear Alive, held last October, with which they tried to reason both the nations media and politicians, to, well, restore sanity. About 215,000 people attended the event.
And now, there's a Dutch edition of The Daily Show that is host by Jan-Jaap van der Wal, who cannot read from autocue and who misses Stewart's timing. His reporters are Daniel Arends and Bas Hoeflaak, who pretend to be 'on location' to talk about something news worthy.
I was looking forward to it.
I've been waiting for a Dutch equivalent for a long time. A show that has a critical view, that isn't afraid and that puts certain things together to give the viewer a new perspective.
But so far - I admit, I've only seen four shows: you have to give it time to grow, all beginnings are hard, it's not fair to compare this show to it's American big brother - their jokes aren't working for me. Why not? Because Dutch news is clumsy. Because I don't want to see pieces of De Wereld Draait Door (another Dutch talk show). Because I can't help searching for Peter van de Witte, when I see his partner Bas. Because it feels like the Dutch comedy world needed a new project and look at how much fun they're having.
I'll wait and see. Maybe it will change. Or maybe mt opinion will change. It could be so great. A Dutch Daily Show.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Bill O'Reilly Defends His Nazi Analogies | ||||
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