Review: Get to Kentridge at the JAG in Hillbrow
Robyn, a great fan of the KENTRIDGE RETROSPECTIVE at the Johannesburg Art Gallery in Hillbrow has been hustling us to go for ages… but we’re snowed under. So she did what we’d been hoping and sent us her own review: “Miss this at your peril- and the entrance is free.” “Because you have nought on your amazing site about this exhibition, I’ve drafted a ‘review’… for you to use, abuse and hopefully edit and place on the site. I need no credit, and would love to see you letting many know that it is on. Kentridge at JAG Not being one for writing reviews, but having experienced the amazement that constitutes the Kentridge exhibition at JAG, I am moved to proselytize. The entire entry level floor of JAG has been utilized to showcase his work. My first sensation was of an unreality, as I stood in one of the main central rooms. To my left on the far side of the gallery, the wall was alive with imagery. The same was happening to my right. The sounds of diffuse and diverse soundtracks ebbed and flowed as I moved from room to room. Sitting on one of the many couches, I was able to take in an entire moving story. Walking through the gallery I was assailed by his giant figures, his minute statues and both his art, as well as that of others who had influenced him. I’m not an art critic by any means, just an ordinary person who was well and truly moved by one of the most amazing exhibitions I have seen in years. Exhibition ends on 31 October 2005. The Johannesburg Art Gallery is in Joubert Park, corner Klein and King George Streets. It can be contacted at (011) 725-3130. Thanks to the CITY OF JOHANNESBURG WEBSITE for the picture (courtesy of JAG) and as usual topclass information. Click here for more info on the Gallery itself from Joburg.org....
We love the Ludacris video shot in Durban – siyabonga Luda
Wow wow wow. If you haven’t seen Luda’s latest music video Pimping All Over the World, do something to make sure you see it soon. It’s a pity that it takes an international artist to show off our rocking country and the exploitation in the video may be a little hard to swallow but it’s certainly put Durbs on the map and challenged the common perceptions of Africa – and hey we can deal wi… th it…. We particularly loved his ZULU that he spoke at the beginning – nice one mfowethu! The video takes the cheesy, cliched side of tourism and glams it up into a sexy, awesome tongue-in-cheek showcase for all those ignoramuses that still think Aaaaafricah is a backward hopeless continent. For the feminists out there and those easily offended you may battle with the typical hip hop portrayal of women as booty – well the song is pretty honest, it’s about “pimping all over the world”… and the fact is – there’s half-naked Zulu men in it too 🙂 Here’s some background on the gorgeous South African models used in the video from sohh.com: Desiree Phillips, a South African police officer, Mathapelo Maimane, a personal assistant and project manager from Johannesburg and Zulu Prince Maqhawe Biyela were all handpicked by Luda to take on leading roles in the “Pimping All Over the World” video. All three said they were shocked after learning of their new gig. This video marks The Red Light District’s third release and is slated to premiere on MTV in May. For the shoot, Luda stayed in Durban for three days and shot scenes on its beachfront, the Lion Park near Pietermaritzburg, the Zimbali Lodge and the Sibaya Casino on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. Desiree Phillips, 26, has never modeled, but was selected while on duty during the shoot at the beachfront. Have a look on the web for views on the video all from over the place, here’s a little enlightening quote from a blogger on SOHH – interesting logic: I felt a little ashamed that I didn’t realize there are beautiful women on that continent before. But hey, can you blame me for my ignorance? Every time I see African women on TV they’re either scrawny and topless with a basket on their head, or are starving and have flies buzzing around their face.So, props to Luda and his team for making a quantum leap in the way Black women are portrayed in the media. What do you think? Damned if you do Damned if you...
MOVEMENT at new club MOSCOW 282
How comes there’s a club in town and we don’t know about it yet? Apparently it’s been open since June and is EDGY! First 150 peeps get in for mahala… Check out the new venue MOSCOW 282 for rocking on Movement nights in downtown Joburg – it’s happening on Saturday: The launch of Movement Nights at Moscow 282, on Saturday 8th October will feature the finest house from… turntable masters Vinny Da Vinci, PIMP Squad, Clive and Teddy. Get there early for ‘Deeper Sounds of PIMP Squad’ giveaways. Movement Nights Moscow 282 – 282 Commissioner Street, Corner. Kruger Date: Saturday 8th October 2005 Doors Open: 21h00 first 150 people will receive V.I.P passes Entrance: R30 before 22h00, R50 thereafter Info Line: 072 299 6942 or TEXT...
Make sure to get the last of the What’sPhat Pussycat
If you’ve been at a Vinny Da Vinci party then you know that you need this CD – the latest in the sterling What’s Phat series, Vinny is behind the beats – Go and buy it – it’s the final one coming out! By the way – sexy cover guys – we’re looking forward to hearing Jon Curtis amngst other fab tracks…. We’re gonna miss you. Thanks for all the soul all these years. Since the …turn of the millennium, ‘What’s Phat Pussycat’ has been supplying annual breaths of fresh and sensual air into an often staid South African compilation scene with its classy selections. In addition to slinky sets from the most uncompromising names in local deep house (Vinny da Vinci, Tim White and Greg Maloka) the line also featured the first ever commercially available mix from Britain’s resident soulful beat genius, Charles Webster. Fittingly for this final addition, the series comes full circle and lands in the hands of the always dynamite Vinny da Vinci, who oversaw the first edition in 2000. He’s put together a sentimental tribute to the one-of-a-kind series. In other words, he’s ended it on a defiant high note& Included among the exquisite producers on a mix Vinny describes as “beautiful, sweet and sexy” are Dennis Ferrer, who’s remixed Fish Go Deep’s “The Cure & The Cause” (he tells Vinny that it’s “the track of the moment in New York – all the girls love it!”), eminent atmospheric funk experts Blaze (who shine on two cuts), French maestro Franck Roger and “Pussycat 4″‘s DJ, Charles Webster. While playing out these kinds of sublime sounds at spots like 115 (at his monthly Deep Soul Sessions), Vinny has recognized that “people love to sing along,” and to this end the tunes here are high on euphoric vocals. Dishing out the divine lyrics are some authentic legends, including Robert Owens (who graced some of house music’s earliest anthems), Michael Watford and Ultra Nate (of ‘Free’ fame). Currently working on his debut solo album (after three albums as part of DJs At Work, who just licensed a track to Om Records), Vinny has compiled another expert anthology of rhythmic elegance – one that’s probing the possibilities of the house genre. Asked about the sound’s potential future, he says, “I have a feeling there’s something out there waiting to explode – hopefully it comes from South Africa.” With this man at the helm, that’s a very real possibility& TRACKLIST: 1. Sam & Gigi – Bau Au (Patchworks Remix) 2. Rodney Hunter – Take A Ride (Andrý Lodemann Club Ride) 3. Diviniti – Love Will Stay 4. Eminence feat....
To be or not to be – Affirmative Action
Thanks to this budding young journalism student Giselle that got in touch with us from Cape Town, she has an itch and asked if she can scratch it on Represent – being the citizen journalism platform we are – we said BRING IT ON – here goes…. Please give Giselle your comments. To be or not to be… that is the question. To be black in the economic work force, recruited via aff… irmative action (AA), what questions does this invoke? To be white in the waiting room while waiting for a job interview, when you know that the final choice of the interviewer is bound to be a decision based on AA. The question here would most probably be: “what am I doing here?” I had a heated debate with four of my friends the other day. About, you may have figured already, the topic at hand. So there the five of us sat, in a small res room. Two on the couch, two on the bed and me, on the chair in the centre, near the door. I figured that if there was any violence involved, I could just make a swift exit. Shane, who sat on the couch with Shereen, was most passionate about his cause for AA. “How many years have blacks been denied resources that were rightfully theirs?” Apartheid began in the 1930’s. The black population was restricted to living all cramped up in Bantustans, while whites lived in posh houses. Their salaries allowed them luxuries that ‘native’ South Africans weren’t given the chance to dream about. At the moment the population’ sits at 75.2% being black, 13.6% are white, 8.6% are Colored and 2.6% are Indian. This may all seem very general, but it is the sad truth of our history. On the contrary, is it fair to outright exclude whites from most of the jobs that are offered? A third year, media student asked the graduate placement office whether she has any chance of getting a job through the agency. The woman in charge sent a reply saying that the best thing for her to do is flee, because “there’s no chance in hell” that they would even be able to get her an interview with any huge company because of AA. Emma White is an international student that has lived in England and Zimbabwe prior to coming to South Africa. Her argument is: how does being a foreign South African have anything to do with fixing the wrongs of apartheid, when her family played no role in South Africa’s history? So I put this question forward to my friends: is AA...
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