Friday, June 11, 2010

You are sort of there: Het Illuseum, Amsterdam *

* This post is courtesy of a tip from Bill Hsu
----



'Amsterdam's The Illuseum is hard to describe without turning to metaphors, because the place looks like the mutated offspring of an art gallery, secondhand store and a stalactite-filled cave.

'Visitors to the aptly-named Illuseum walk through more than 100 optical illusions; the objects, paintings and sculptures on display here are never what they appear. Is your perception really to be trusted? Give that clock you thought real the once-over and watch it become something else, and marvel as inanimate objects come to life. A visit here is a perfect outing for curious children, wannabe illusionists and hardcore sceptics.

'The ground floor is a gallery filled with spacey paintings, installations and art in all shapes and sizes, and the basement has a bubbling brook in a cave. A family of bizarre Egyptian Sphinx prowl around the place (and who sometimes need medical attention so badly, the Illuseum organizes a benefit for them). It’s hard to describe what happens regularly at the Illuseum as rigid organizational skills are not their forte, but they host film screenings from the Cateye Film Club, alternative musical performances and exhibitions, usually accompanied by vegan snacks and finger food.

'The Illuseum may not be an easy place to get to know about, get into or to get period, but it’s one of the last true bastions of the Amsterdam counterculture.' -- amsterdam.unlike


Sample interiors




















photo by Bill Hsu


photo by Bill Hsu


photo by Bill Hsu


photo by Bill Hsu



Agenda

Once Burroughs whispered to Clemente :

"… maybe artists are those people who dream for those who cannot dream to survive".

If he spoke the truth then may the iLLUSEUM be the night, brightly lit by many stars.






__________
The theater of memory is based on a long tradition - 'the art of memory' - an ancient method in which one tries to feed the memory and to structure it with the means of images. These images present themes in context, an order which stimulates the brain to create a simultaneous order.



__________
The iLLUSEUM wants to show work in such a context with a theatrical dimension, to compare with an idea found especially in the 18th and 19th century : ”The Cabinet of Wonder” or 'Wunderkammer’ in which unimaginable and exotic objects were to open the doors of our perception. The Theater of Memory gave us a system in which it is possible to use archetypal , sometimes absurd display to enter the inner realms of one's self.

__________
These realms are accessible for everyone and offer an interesting starting point for creativity .They offer the possibility to transform experiences into stardust or gold.
"Every man is an artist" said Joseph Beuys already long time ago.







__________
In our opinion happiness is a birthright. Money does not necessarily make one happy - the possibility to create does! Knowing this can lead one to inner treasures. In this world we need money to live & create though.

A very important goal of the foundation ‘La Quinta Essentia’ is to protect the space in which the artist acts as transmitter of the soul. This space we call the iLLUSEUM.
We see the soul as a representation of eternal values , which are not submitted to a temporary body, dependant on a fashion or commerce.


___________
Missionaries of the noble blood.
Blood is the carrier of the soul. It is noble as it is not corrupted.

ILLUSIONS ILLUMINéES

Many cultures on this planet build their perspective of realism around the belief that life and experience are an illusion.
Considering this , art is an attempt to create illusions consciously : “ The world as Theatre .”
We propose to increase enchantment and the use of art for this purpose in the legendary Land of Freedom of Opinion.


__________
The Laboratory of Redefinition

We have serious questions to the obvious direction of the contemporary art movement. It seems to be heading to an artificial island with the purpose to create a vacuum , that serves as a mask for a magnet that attracts the big money.
We build the iLLUSEUM as a lighthouse .To attract kindred spirits who want to contribute art for all those, drowning in the ocean of despair. Sometimes a lost raft with money bags washes ashore to keep the light on… ……







__________
Memento Mori

We get very tired of all the so called renewals within the arts. The human race seems to be more and more skillful in adjusting amnesia wherever possible, encouraged also by art.
For us it is alienating to see that all things undetachably connected to life , like getting older and dying are presented negatively, or even denied in our modern , western society.
The need for these 'renewals' seem to play a suspiciously major role in this denial. We are absolutely not bored by the constant movement between death and birth. For us this is the generator that forces to create.



__________
The increasing denial expressed by new building and the adoration for , or the need for identification by wearing, ‘trade mark’ clothing , is all very boring to us. We cherish cultural inheritance in these days and all other days,like the almost forgotten Vanitas movement for its reference to the temporarity of life. Without becoming the new moralists, we are not threatened by the the short amount of time life gives us. Instead we take this limitation as a challenge to use it in the most optimal and sensible way.


___________
Especially in these days in which problems as total nature exhaustion are so known to everybody, art seems to us a very useful medium to be presented outside of the musea and galleries, as a confrontation with its audience. To be open to discussion and to redefine its function and the function of its audience, without taking into consideration religious or political background .It should be possible within the arts by means of the arts to communicate as human beings.





The Artist as a Scientist
To observe and study the mystery without violating her.

Vita Brevis - Ars Longa
sincerely , Grace de la Luna
Amsterdam , april 2001







Some performances & exhibitions



A COSTUME SHOW/SALE OF EXCLUSIVE FASHION BY JAVIER MURUGARREN DECEMBER 19 2008 ILLUSEUM AMSTERDAM




the DEGENERATE ART ENSEMBLE did a music/dance performance in the ILLUSEUM. this is a piece of it. camera: SIR DARK GREEN. from the deep archives of the illuseum.




Evil Tango: Surrealistic Cabaret, Apocalyptic, Expressionist, Enchanting... Radikal Satan : half tango half noise two argentinian brothers and a french musician: Cesar Amarante plays contre bass,guitar and voice; Maurizio Amarante plays accordeon and synthe Jonathan Burgin is the drummer




A SELECTION OF THE SEXGOBLINS PAINTINGS AND THE HANDMADE BOOK #11 BY REVEREND STEVEN LEYBA. ALSO A SMALL FRAGMENT OF THE SPOKEN WORD CONCERT WITH JEROEN VISSER AND ERIK VAN PELT IN THE ILLUSEUM AMSTERDAM.




PREVIEW OF THE EXHIBITION "DIERBAAR BESTIARIUM" (BELOVED BESTIARY) IN THE ILLUSEUM AMSTERDAM.




Erotics-Subversives from the archive of Cinema Abattoir
Before our eyes some "others", even "strangers" will unveil themselves. It is the Necessity of the Perspective that we are just discovering, that we should consider the possibility of a Secret Society.
Here , like anywhere else, we can only make a sketch of the work & the reflection needed.
We know that our vision may seem crazy.
This is because we speak rapidly & brutally, as if we knock on a sleepers' door & the time is too short.





MAGIC IS KUNTMASTER played in the ILLUSEUM. camera SIR DARK GREEN.




COMPILATION OF THE PERFORMANCE "WELL OF WISDOM-WRITTEN IN WATER" BY ANTI DELUSION MECHANISM IN THE (NOW DEMOLISHED) SWIMMINGPOOL IN THE BAARSJES AMSTERDAM




FIRST PART OF PERFORMANCE / INTRODUCTION . RIINA HANNINEN WAS ACCUSED & ARRESTED AS A SCHOOLMURDERER BASED ON HER ARTWORK IN 2009.
FOR THAT REASON SHE LEFT FINLAND AND IS NOW LIVING IN AMSTERDAM.





THEY OPEN TREASURE BOXES OF TRIBAL SOUNDS AND FIELD RECORDINGS.
THEY REVEAL X-FILES AND LIFT YOU UP IN SPACE.
THEY RECITE LONG FORGOTTEN POETRY AND EPIC TALES.
THEY WHISPER MAGIC FORMULAS IN ANCIENT LANGUAGES AND INVENT WORDS.
THEY BURN SIBERIAN INCENSE TO CHASE AWAY EVIL SPIRITS.
THEY USE TRADITIONAL SIBERIAN GADGETS, COMPUTERS, IMAGE AND SOUND.
SNEAK INTO THE WORLD OF "PRIMITIVE" BELIEFS AND RITUALS WHERE MYTHS RULE
THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING....EVERYTHING!?...EVERYTHING ! IS POSSIBLE. X+Y=Z

----



*

p.s. Hey. What's up? ** David Ehrenstein, Wonderful Tilda Swinton interview, David! Her intelligence (and yours) shines. Everyone, the great and our own David Ehrenstein interviews the actor's actor Tilda Swinton for the LA Weekly here, and it's a beauty and a must for all Swinton and/or Ehrenstein fans. Seems like her and Lynne Ramsay should make for a really sharp combination. Thanks and kudos, D! Oh, and what a fantastic Elizabeth Montgomery anecdote. Is there a biography of her? Seems like it might be a terrific idea, if not. ** Bernard Welt, Very nice chandelier. Would definitely have made the cut had my searching far and wide unearthed it. Great sleep paralysis thoughts, add on, and clarification too. Wow, ha ha, 'Enter the Void' as Busby Berkeley-ish. I can't say no. Hm, that's a good one. I just do not get it at all when something like choreography is denounced fascist. I have a very smart friend who denounced Tati's 'Playtime' as a fascist film, and I've tried to figure out what he was talking about for years, and I simply can't. Does not compute. ** Oscar B, We'll just get a date somewhere post my Avignon stint (I get back here on the 16th) that's okay with your freedom. Shouldn't be too tricky. I didn't end up going to the PdT opening. It was raining, and ... eh, just wasn't in the mood. But, of all people, Mr. Mike went, and he'll have all the poop. You're back here tomorrow, right? ** Derek McCormack, Hi, Derek! Your 'Show That Smells' got coincidentally tagged as great by the estimable Tim-Jones Yelvington inside this blog yesterday, if you missed that. I'm pleased as punch that you liked my chandeliers. Love to you. ** Joseph, Well, post-application, it's about credit ratings and proven reliability and that kind of stuff, in my experience. I've been denied by landlords, but my credit rating is way sub-zero. Hope the deciders were fully and inextricably swayed. Yikes, that dream you had was ... not sexy. Maybe you're right about Diddy. Faux-out of his mind would be my call. He's no Lee 'Scratch' Perry or Britney with her head shaved or, uh, Joaquin Phoenix, you know what I mean? I guess I mostly don't like the whole suave, conventionally and expensively fashionable number. I don't know. Weird you got that email/spam. I get those all the time, but you? I guess you're just too reputable and business savvy to pass up. ** JW Veldhoen, I wonder if Deepak and 2Pac are related. I wish the moon was a chandelier, don't you? ** Stan_cz, Driving myself crazy with novel chiseling is how it always is. I forget how exhausting that is when I'm not doing it. Except for this new novel, which I'm typing on a computer as a formal experiment, I've always and only written by hand too. There's a stiffness or something, a loss of feeling or something, a kind of very slight numbness that comes with typing instead of handwriting. Wanting that stiffness is one of the reasons I'm computer bound for this baby, but never again. ** Sypha, Well, obviously, I hope the Adam Lambert concert pleases you no end. I wonder if the audience will scream. I wonder if the audience will be lots of girls, a sprinkle of gay guys, and parents. He didn't cross over into the French market, despite a concerted effort, so it's all a mystery to me. ** Christopher/ Mark, The only time I was in the Biltmore was for a Pen West award ceremony where John Rechy got a life achievement thing, but it was my parents' idea of classiness. They used Biltmore as a special adjective. I remember how cavernous and time-traveling it was. ** Jeff, Oh, thanks a lot, Jeff. Changeling and everyone, Jeff has kindly linked us to a tutorial on how to make working links in the comments section if anyone needs it. It's here. ** Frank Jaffe, Hey, Frank. Really glad you liked the chandelier stack. Let me pass along your Chihuly enthusiasm and link. Everyone, courtesy of Frank Jaffe, here's a supplementary trip for yesterday's chandelier post, in Frank's own words: 'I loved that you included some Chihuly pieces in your post. That man is ridiculously talented in blowing glass. I saw one his exhibits here in south florida where he takes over an entire garden museum and designed pieces that almost seemed to belong. Pictures of the South Florida Chihuly exhibit. That's the one I saw, but there are sooo many others. Great guy. Must make a ridiculous amount of money. I see his chandeliers in every casino it seems to me.' Give me another day on the LA tips. Yesterday scrambled my brains a bit. ** Justin, Well, if you feel like sharing/ sending me the Boynapped guy's story, that would be cool, or not too, if not. Being easily distracted works for writing poems. Maybe you could write a poem cycle about him. Re: the video: it looked like the Russian equivalent of backyard redneck wrestling to me. I forgot to show it to Yury, but I'll try to remember tonight. He might know the phenom or recognize the regional accents or something and be able to explain. ** David, Hey. ** Chris (British), Wow, Sabres of Paradise. I haven't thought of or listened to them in yonks. What a good track, that one you linked to. I miss the massive promise and excitement that electronic(a) and ravey contexts held in the early '90s. Such an incredible heyday. Corpses can be okay, depending on whose, sure. So odd that Ian Brown has that brief cameo appearance in that one Harry Potter film. I wonder what that was about? Very best of luck with the move, man. We'll be here as needed. ** Black_Acrylic, Welcome back to the world of internet handiness. I predict France isn't going to do so well either. Haven't read your review yet, but, oh, I will. Everyone, the multi-talented Ben Robinson, who wears a Black_Acrylic mask when he hangs around here, reviewed the Generator's graduate show -- I'll let the review explain the particulars -- at The Skinny, and you can find it here. Oh, so you'll get your chance to write a negative review then. With CoS, I mean. Cool. I've never read you 'negative'. I'm curious. Yeah, do photograph the heck out that launch, okay? ** Steevee, Oh, good, re: the label coming through. I haven't found it in a store here anywhere, so I may have to go through the ordering from them rigamarole myself unless I find a download. ** Kiddiepunk, Thank you. I want to hear what I missed at the old PdT hoo-hah last night. Talk to you shortly, no doubt. ** Kier, Hm, interesting. The sleep paralysis. I guess I don't have that sort of thing happen to me at all, or else, like my dreams, I don't remember if it happens. ** Tim Jones-Yelvington, Hey, Tim! Really nice to see you, and thanks re: my chandelier posse. And thanks much more for loving Derek's book and, even more still, for letting me (and him) know. You good? Getting any writing in, I hope? ** Chris, Hey. Due to circumstances beyond not my control but my capacities at the time, I, ugh, missed the Atlas Sound show. I did however get a nice email from Bradford, so the door is ajar. How's things? Any further progress on the August stuff that you've heard? ** Little foal, You simply must make a film journal of your 'Jerk' outing. Well, simply and must make it sound like I'm giving you an order, like I'm MasterDennis, which I'm not, for better or worse. A polite, tremulous request then. You live in Belfast. I've always wanted to see what it's like. I only really know it from all the IRA kind of trouble that used to happen there, and from a few bands that have been based there like, hm, Stiff Little Fingers, etc. and from the very pretty Orbital song of that title. Congrats on getting paid, man. I hope your day today is as awesome as my yesterday kind of wasn't. ** Alan, Ouch, my ears, man! Stop that right now! ** Inthemostpeculiarway, Hey. Oh, I'm pretty sure it's a jellyfish chandelier. I think it was billed as that. One of these late nights, 'Basic Instinct' will appear on my TV screen, hopefully not dubbed into French, and I'll give it the long awaited spin. I saw 'Showgirls'. Its charm evaded me, though. I'm one of those people who, when people try to convince me Verhoeven is a subversive genius or whatever, I go Bah! Yeah, 'Jerk' was a radio play before it was a theater piece. It got adapted. Our shower is a hose now. Like a Water Wiggle, if you know what that is. Really annoying. Oh, Jesse Hudson bought a hookah pipe not long ago. Maybe you guys can compare notes. One of my chandeliers inspired you to write? I'm happy. You should see my face. I never know any of these shows you watch, so I think the only thing that matters is their status as a source of your enjoyment. My Thursday: First and mostly, novel work. Slow, steady, needing my patience, and I'm trying. It basically stopped raining for most of the day. Gisele and Stephen invited me to go with them to see this show 'Dreamland' at the Centre Pompidou that I really want to check out, but Oscar and I made plans to see it together, and she doesn't get back to Paris until tomorrow, so I said no. I got the dates I'll be in Avignon, and it's longer than I'd guessed, from the 3rd to the 16th. I also found out I won't have internet where I'm staying, so fuck knows how I'm going to do the blog while I'm there, but there's undoubtedly a way, and I'll figure it out. When Yury got off work at 7 pm, I met up with him at the Galleries Lafayette, and he picked out a spring/summer coat he thought was best for me, and it looks like my current coat but lighter, and it seemed fine, so I bought it. Then we were maybe going to go to the Palais de Tokyo opening, but it was raining again, and we just decided to blow it off and go home. Kiddiepunk later texted me from the opening and said it was fun, so I probably made the wrong choice because all I did at home was what I always do -- work, do blog stuff, a little TV, eat, blah blah. Oh, well. And then fall asleep, which I did. Tell me all about Friday. ** 'Stoopid Slapped Puppies', Hey. No, I'm seeing Guyotat read tonight, not Goytisolo. Maybe an acid drop will be appropriate anyway? Guyotat's pretty trippy. Oh, fantastic about you posting the Paul Curran piece. Can't wait to check that. Everyone, the brilliant countercultural heroes and makers of cultural things Nick ('Stoopid Slapped Puppies') and Shane ('Memoirs of a Heroinhead') have this really great blog 'sometimes they don't come back' that you probably know about already, and today it gets even greater with the addition of a new short piece of writing by Paul Curran, one of my personal favorite scribes and a notable d.l., and you can ... no, you simply must go over there and read it. By doing this. Thank you. Another favor?! Ha ha, your command is my puppydog wish. Or something. Yes, yes, of course I'll look at your new piece on 'Stoopid Slapped Puppies', as should everyone else here as well, of course, via that link right back there, and I'll report back. I'd be honored, Nick. Love and bright but non-flammable skies to you. ** Bill, Oh, so there's my take on Het Illuseum, or the best I could do without actually having laid eyes on it. Thank you for your great help, and how well did I nail it? So, would you say 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida' is too long? Sometimes I think yes, sometimes I think no. (Oh, gosh, there really should be a smiley or winky face after that, but I refuse.) ** Bollo, Thanks. Totally, on the Soap Box album covers thing. Nice. Didn't make the PdT opening, so I'll check out the show soon, and I'll let you know. Based on the law of averages concerning the PdT, I'd guess it's probably not all that good. The rain has gone away from here at the moment. It's sunnier than shit. In the good way. ** Schlix, Very nice line-up of recent concerts indeed. I wonder if Merzbow's coming here if he's all the way up here in Europe anyway. If so, I probably missed it. I'm seeing Brigitte Fontaine tonight, which should be great. Speaking of aged mad geniuses, Phil Niblock, wow. Very cool. ** The Dreadful Flying Glove, Ooh, Polvo, thank you for that. Love Polvo. Yeah, that chandelier you picked out had a certain something special, I agree. I'd say a Lynchian vibe, but yawn. Yesterday gave you ideas for Days? Awesome. I need Days badly right now, and yours especially, Thank you, kind sire. ** Hedi, Hey. Wish you were here to see Guyotat with me too, and not just because you could help me figure what in the world he was saying. I think it's a reading and onstage conversation, but we'll see, Incredible if he could come do events in the States! Wow! ** Misanthrope, Well, just imagine the Death Star was a humongous chandelier, and maybe that will help? ** Changeling, Hey. Pink, yeah, duh, it's true, and so much better. I think I was so burnt yesterday that I opted for red rather than type a word containing one extra letter. I love photos of feet and guitar effects pedals. I don't know why. A David and Goliath thing or something. Way back in 1976, I saw The Stranglers play in London, and I didn't really like them that much, and I was right against the stage and right below the bass player, and I guess I was bored and stoned, and I was looking at his shoes, tennis shoes, and one of them had a big hole right over the toes, and I guess that fascinated me for some reason, and suddenly his toes rose up through the hole and wiggled, and I looked up at him, and he was watching me stare at his holey shoe, and he yelled or mouthed -- I couldn't tell 'cos the music was loud -- 'Fuck you', and pretended to kick me in the face, and then I started to like the show more. I'll read your latest piece today. Yesterday I was too fried to read anything for some reason. Oh, maybe I'll pass along your question to those who might have been paralyzed at the time you posted it. Everyone, a question from Changeling: 'Are any of you completely immune to ecstasy and MDMA? and - um - if you are, have you found any way of overcoming this?' Answers, anyone? Good day to you, man. ** I think that's the entire deal for today. Visit Het Illuseum during visiting hours today, and say stuff, and I'll hit you back tomorrow in the late morning to early afternoon my time.

No comments:

Post a Comment