Monday, December 31, 2001

22:28 Oh and a happy new year!
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Sunday, December 30, 2001

20:34


Say hello to the Euro coins - here sporting the Dutch back side. Since mid-December every Dutch resident over six years old could pick his-her free Euro kit ("a gesture they had to make", as G. sees it). I learned yesterday that even the Vatican has their own pope-headed version. I am all for the Euro and find really cool to be here now, as this happens – but it's going to be a mess. Oh and they're ugly ( ITALIC CAPITALS? said F. the other day in typographic disgust). But fine. I am all for it just the same.



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18:20 View from the Binnen Bantammerbrug (just behind my place) this morning. That's my bike, by the way.



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13:58 Done: the wood at home. I sanded it all, applied a thin layer of matt varnish, sanded again, another layer of varnish, sanded again, thin layer of beewax. It looks good and feels even better. Surprise: the place now faintly smells the same way my memories of Wat Suan Mokkh do.



While one of the layers dried up I went for a double movie session. First (on my own) to The Others, a cozy, old-fashioned ghost story with Nicole Kidman (made into a replica of Grace Kelly) living in a candle-lit mansion with her two photoallergic children and three strangely reticent servants. They all go about the house closing curtains and locking doors, fighting the light in a painful, obsessive way. Stuck. That was for me the real creepy part.
The film is not really thrilling but it is enjoyable, yes, especially afterwards. It lingers good – something I do appreciate in a movie.


No door is to be opened before the previous one is closed

Next (with Sebastian): Tarkowsky's Solaris. It's been on my list for some fifteen years, and now... it's not. While it was definitely fun seeing a Russian production from the seventies, it sort of suffers under the inevitable comparison with Kubrik's 2001 (released four years earlier) - or does it? There's something refreshing about the shabby sets and the casual clothing of the men living at the space station. The scruffiness of the main character is definitely remarkable (apparently not only for me; George Clooney is likely to be the one playing the role of Kris Kelvin in Soderbergh's upcoming Solaris remake).



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13:48 Anti-Xmas treat clarified (see previous post): a generous bowl of non-heavy, non-excessive, non-xmas food (veggies, chevre chaud); banana bread; jamaican lamsbread; Kurosawa's Ran; tea + conversation (throughout) and a blanket. Sleepover. Eggs. Home videos from cities stuffed with nature (Rio, Vancouver). Snow.
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Thursday, December 27, 2001

10:20 I was treated. yesterday. to the ultimate anti-Xmas treat. in Rotterdam. thank you. and remember. I am still waiting. for the banana bread recipe.
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Tuesday, December 25, 2001

12:28 Personally
Via Sylloge I came to the End-Year Google Zeitgeist, an interesting reviewthislife tool if only it wouldn't be so... American. It's funny, as I read the top search queries in all categories I notice myself thinking that this is them; it's the year's end and I then I notice that something happened to my view of America and the Americans.

I see now how I used to feel that American culture was a synonym to the west, to human culture, to technology, to our path as a species. Now: that seamless whole has a glowing border, a contour. A subtle shift made it isolated and much more visible.

I know that this seems obvious (and not subtle at all) after the 11/9 attacks and all that followed – but still... it took me something else (probably my Dutch naturalization and my recent trip to ultra-colonized Brazil) to turn the news into something personal, to be able to see with my own eyes.

relate:
Culture Island – Solimões meets Negro – Immunity – Gibraltar – The American He Never Was – Seeds – Big family
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Monday, December 24, 2001

13:20 Great snowy weekend, full of nature and natural phenomena. Our visit to the Fontana Nieuweschans thermal baths yesterday was way better than expected with lots of snow covering the fields and the area around the outside thermal pool.





The place has also some six or seven sauna and steam baths including an outside finnish log cabin sauna. It seems all humans get happy when they're naked in the snow and so did I.

Our next stop – and the main reason for the trip – was Paul's opening at the Groninger Museum. His work features lots of animals in different after-life states. I had a very cozy moment with the pelican hanging upside down from the ceiling by one of its feet. Its neck and beak point perfectly down in one smooth straight line; one wing is spread out in a beautiful gesture. You can look forever into his lifeless half-open eyes.

The car ride back home became a bit of a snowstorm epic. Zero visibililty and a hypnotic starburst-like layer of snow hitting the windshield made the trip last some four monotonous, sleepy hours. AV declared seeing 'buildings and beasts' appear in the snow in front of her as she drove. Wow.
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Saturday, December 22, 2001

09:17 Yesterday evening I had a quite unexpected talk with Thomas AP van Leeuwen, the author of The Springboard in the Pond: an intimate story of the swimming pool. I had called to ask if he would write a small review for an imaginary pool to serve as the basis for a short online video I am preparing for NPS television. A short while later we were sitting at his office talking about pools, fire and destruction and the strangeness of our own cultures. Mr. van Leeuwen is now too busy with his new book but we shall keep in contact. Nice fellow.
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08:56 Getting up sort of early for the first time in days. I have no business being jet-lagged anymore but the fact is that throughout the last week I haven't been able to sleep before 2:00-3:00 or wake up before 10:00. Who knows why.

AV is picking me up in about an hour and we'll go together to the opening of Paul's exhibition at the Groninger Museum. On our way we'll be checking the Nieuweschans thermal baths. Eeee.
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Thursday, December 20, 2001

17:26 Disinformation, back as the start page of my browser, knows all about christmas and trash.
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17:18 Sebastian, who calls me palmito, is looking for a cocktail bar in Amsterdam and thanks to that I got this e-mail message:




I woudn't know! I am a pretty radical beer drinker. I find it sexy, to start with, and at the bars where I hang out ordering cocktails is a no-no. Still, if I think a bit I'd probably try Club Inez IPSC. It's sort of pricey but satisfying, and it has no music - a big bonus.
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15:33 Okay, so I posted a disguised M.C.A.H.N.Y. but that's as far as it goes: I feel more immune to Christmas than ever. Call me a grumpy party-pooper if you will and I'll call you compulsive mindless shopper, traditionalist, maria-vai-com-as-outras. There!



And I do not own a couch.
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00:57

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all...and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2002, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make Canada great (not to imply that Canada is necessarily greater than any other country), and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual orientation of the wishee.

This wish is limited to the customary and usual good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first. "Holiday" is not intended to, nor shall it be considered, limited to the usual Judeo-Christian celebrations or observances, or to such activities of any organized or ad hoc religious community, group, individual or belief (or lack thereof).

Note: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason or for no reason at all. This greeting is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. This greeting implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for the wishee her/himself or others, or responsibility for the consequences which may arise from the implementation or non-implementation of same. This greeting is void where prohibited by law.

Best personal (or if I've insulted you during the past year and/or we're not speaking, impersonal) regards,

Rog
(via Richie, as you may have guessed)
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Monday, December 17, 2001

00:01 What I am not telling you is that the things I started to learn about Brasil in the sixties have hit me in such a way that I am now sort of dumbfounded.
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Saturday, December 15, 2001

12:30 one part was: I couldn't access geegaw, and worried a lot about it. later I realized that geegaw warned us all about being off-air for a while. the other part was: driving around in this car with Teike (I think) and a gun; we were going to do some art and for that we – I – had to shoot with the gun. couln't find a quiet spot, ended up shooting uncontrolably at the street, bullets going everywhere, people looking or running, man, what have I done now, this is no art no more, this is me shooting around in broad daylight from a car and I'm in deep trouble now. woke up all tired, annoyed.
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Friday, December 14, 2001

13:43 BJ got himself a christmas tree in the middle of the night.
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13:10 Back to Amsterdam. It's -6ºC. I spent my last day in Rio under some 34-36ºC. I feel my mind trying to adjust to all the changes. A fucking radical contrast, let me tell you. I enjoy it.

I arrived Wednesday much later than expected: my plane was delayed and that made me spend four extra hours at Charles de Gaulle Airport, which made the trip some 20 hours long. My minihome was waiting all warm and cozy (R!). Lovely. I slept like a rock and had to wake up early for a teaching day (discussion of ten 'taboo' projects that included some commotion about students suggesting other students were gay). When I finally got home again I was fully spent. Unpacked in a chaotic way and the objects are now being absorbed slowly by the system. Some sand on the floor.

This is my first morning at the studio and at my own computer, hmm, what a luxury. Digesting the messages and the post from the last two weeks, and then the video and photos from the trip. Mind and body are rested.

What a wonderful trip it was.
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Tuesday, December 11, 2001

15:48 There's 430 km separating Rio and São Paulo. Tonight I'll be flying some 9570 km on my way back to Amsterdam. That couldn't possibly explain anything. There's just so much going on in my head right now. What did I write before leaving (checking...) oh yes, wishing the twelve days will stretch into a long time of skin, air, water, weather, tongue...
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15:23 O Brasil de antes acabou em calmaria. O Brasil de antes ainda começou agora, todo misturado na minha cabeça, pronto para o futuro. Eu estou no Rio de Janeiro e hoje é o último dia. É dia quente de chorar de alegria.
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14:58 Rio, cidade sensorial

e nós
nenhuma vergonha
nenhuma vergonha
(Zezão do Buraco Quente)

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Friday, December 07, 2001

13:54 The natives are friendly e suas vergonhas tão altas e tão saradinhas...
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Thursday, December 06, 2001

05:48 I feast on the age of people.
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05:43 I miss my amazing colossal Perry friend.
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05:43 Yesterday morning I had a phone conversation with Suely Rolnik, the Brazilian psychologist who may well be the most knowledgeable person on the work of Lygia Clark. She invited me for a class this afternoon but I could not attend (a real pity). She also said she will give me a few texts that may be interesting for my research and seemed to think that my first assumptions do make sense: that LC's work is an eloquent, particularly good translation of the soft, tactile, watery,sensual, bodily, associative character of Brazilian culture to the Europeans; that LC was working on 'a bridge between thought and the body'.
Nice beginning, I say.
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Wednesday, December 05, 2001

23:57 Many more family hours yesterday and today. I've seen very few friends so far, and a good bit of the city. It is far more rotten than it used, but it feels sort of ok - or maybe I just don't feel much for it anymore. It's all nice and detached, all far away now. This may sound gloomy but it isn't! No, no!
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23:47 (pics have moved from the memory sticks to my sister's pc; big progress, wow)
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Monday, December 03, 2001

16:27 Hi there - just a quickie now that I am finally settled in SP and able to post again.

So far I had an amazing two days in Rio with two old friends. The city is in remarkable shape. I had also a long and interesting talk with Lygia Clark's son and granddaughter (very kind and helpful), followed by a visit to the Museu de Arte Moderna which has a huge section dedicated to her work, including two very intense and clarifying videos. Jaw-dropping stuff.

At the museum store I found a book with letters exchanged by LC and Helio Oiticica between 1964 and 1974. It´s all very touching and mind-opening and I am glad I did not get exposed to any of this before. This is the right time.

I arrived in Sao Paulo last night after spending the weekend with my family at the coast for my mom's 70th birthday celebration. Since I barely ever meet them in person it gets sort of shocking to remember how we're all variations of the same body, operating under the same communication chaos, developing the same tits and bellies, revealing same (strange) circulatory patterns. Our veins are the same. It's beautiful.

Very interesting pics coming next.
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