24/04/06

The second ever New Zealand Independent Comics Festival opens this Friday, April 28, 5pm at Wellington’s Ron Barber Gallery, 91 Aro St. The festival runs for the weekend of April 28-30 and features an exhibition of seminal New Zealand comic art since the 1960s, curated by NZ independent comics historian Dr Tim Bollinger. On the Saturday there will be talks by "Hicksville" author Dylan Horrocks and Darren Schroeder, head of Christchurch publishers Funtimes Comics, about the history and current state of comics in New Zealand. The talks begin at 4pm at the Aro Valley Community Hall.

18/04/06

"Protection", an exhibition by Wellington-based artist Daniel du Bern opens at the Capital’s Hirschfeld Gallery this Friday, April 21. An on-going project, Du Bern describes the work as an expression of the self and place told through the idiosyncratic collation and display of objects. The exhibition mixes in references and themes such as New Zealand tourism, nationalism, skateboard culture, Russian painter Kasmir Malevich and punk rock.

Du Bern and his brother Nicholas recently represented Wellington artist-run space Enjoy at Melbourne’s biennial Next Wave Festival, which was held during March this year. The brothers exhibited video work, "Sibling Rivalry", as part of the Festival’s Container Village Project whereby artists from different countries were asked to exhibit in shipping containers. To see images from the festival check out Enjoy’s web site: www.enjoy.org.nz

10/04/06

Film still from Kenneth Anger’s "Invocation of My Demon Brother" 1969

Currently showing at the New Zealand Film Archive is "Icons" a collection of still images from underground avant-garde filmmaker Kenneth Anger, one of the boldest and most influential artists in film history. The exhibition is curated by New Zealand curator and writer Alice Hutchison who struck up a friendship and working relationship with the famously acerbic director while in Los Angeles where she has been based until recently. Hutchison is the author of "Kenneth Anger: A Demonic Visionary", the first comprehensive and fully illustrated monograph on the filmmaker.

"Icons" presents a series of stills from Anger’s 1969 film "Invocation of My Demon Brother" which the filmmaker said he intended to be "an attack on the sensorium". The film features a soundtrack by Mick Jagger and a performance from Anger himself. It stars Bobby Beausoleil of the "Manson Family" who was convicted for first-degree murder a short time later. The exhibition also features a collection of original posters, photographs and ephemera of Hutchison’s, much of it given to her by Anger from his personal collection. Anger is hoping to make a personal visit in April or May.

The second part of Anger’s series of films "Magick Lantern Cycle" screens at the Film Archive this Thursday at 7pm. This includes the following films:

"Scorpio Rising", 1963
"Kustom Kar Kommandos", 1965
"Invocation of my Demon Brother", 1969
"Lucifer Rising", 1970-80

04/04/06

Into the Void performing at the Dux De Lux

Melbourne-based artist Ronnie van Hout was back in Christchurch last week for a series of reunion gigs with Into the Void, described by many as the elder statesman of Christchurch’s underground rock scene. The "space metal" group played three gigs including a concert at Christchurch City Gallery as part of its recently kicked-off paradigm shift. A large crowd turned out and dark chaotic sound reverberated throughout the gallery’s pristine new space. In a whirlwind effort, the band also played the Dux De Lux and the Media Club. Those who missed the shows should check out 1993 Flying Nun release, the self-titled "Into the Void".

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Also in Christchurch Ayse Erkmen’s solo show "Awesome" has just opened at contemporary art space the Physics Room. Erkmen, known for her subtle spatial interventions in galleries and outdoor spaces around the world, is in Christchurch as the Physics Room’s inaugural 2006 Artist in Resident. Erkmen’s recent international exhibitions include "Busy Colors" at the Sculpture Center in New York, 2005, and "Under the Roof" at Ikon Gallery, UK, 2004.