Darren Almond: Fire Under Snow

by Leonora Oppenheim

Time is of great importance to the British artist Darren Almond and the perception of its passing features in all his work—whether it be film, installation or photography. From an external perspective the time is certainly now for Almond who has started the year with concurrent shows in two very prestigious London galleries; undoubtedly this is not a happy coincidence, but perfect planned synchronicity. The first show at the White Cube in Hoxton finished last month, the second at the Parasol unit runs until the end of March.

During a talk in the Parasol unit last week the artist contextualized his current work by describing his childhood in Northern England, whiling away the hours trainspotting and being brought up by two parents whose jobs, father down the mine and mother in a factory, were ruled by clocking on and clocking off. Trains, mines, factories, work and of course time all play an important part in this show, but these themes have been transferred from rural England to more extreme climates.

The new railway line linking China and Tibet blasts its way on to the triptych of screens for the film "In The Between," (2006), with footage of chanting Buddhist monks in the Lhasa monastery caught in the middle. The sound of the rushing train clashes with the hypnotic chanting to symbolize the clash of cultures and the imperialist mechanism of the penetrating railway. The title of the show "Fire Under Snow" is a reference to the political situation in Tibet.

From Tibet we travel to the freezing wilderness of Siberia where the large format black and white photographs of "Night + Fog," (2007, pictured above) show the decimated forests surrounding the nickel-mining towns of Norilsk and Monchegorsk. The pollution from the industry has killed all the trees and made the landscape uninhabitable.

Two other works, a film of workers in a sulfur mine in Indonesia and an installation of clocks (one master and 600 slave clocks following time) only serve to reinforce the stark impression of the extremes of human toil and exploitation. While the subject matter is severe Almond injects a sensitivity and beauty into his work which almost redeems the brutality.

Fire Under Snow
Through 30 March 2008
Parasol unit
14 Wharf Road
London N1 7RW map
tel. + 44 (0) 207 490 7373

Schimmel/Colani Pegasus Grand Piano

by Evan Orensten

A collaboration between Italian designer Luigi "Allergic to Straight Lines" Colani and German piano-makers Schimmel in the late 1990s, the Pegasus grand piano looks like something you'd see on a Star Trek set.

Updates to the classic form include a slightly curved, ergonomic keyboard (eliminating any need for the player to move their body), an electrically-controlled hydraulic lid (to control projection) and a fully adjustable integrated leather stool. With over 200 strings under a total tension of 176,520 newtons and a key assembly with over 100 pieces (both standard to Schimmels), it's clearly a world-class instrument. In fact, only 14 were ever made (the likes of Eddie Murphy, Lenny Kravitz and Prince are all owners) and this one is up for a cool $110,000. Alas, the provenance is from a music store owner and not a celebrity, but that shouldn't prevent you from bidding or appreciating it.

You have until 15 March 2008 to bid by contacting sales [at] autoworldmobilia [dot] com. See more images after the jump.

via Gizmodo

Muzi Quawson: Pull Back the Shade

by Jonah Samson

British artist Muzi Quawson explores the social structures of American culture with color photographs that feel like movie stills. While in Manhattan in 2002, Quawson had a chance meeting with a young musician and mother named Amanda Jo Williams, and spent the next four years staying with Amanda and her family in Woodstock. The pictures document Amanda's relationship with her partner and young twin daughters, as well as focusing on their travels across the country.

These photographs were first shown at the Tate Britain as a slideshow, but for her first show in the U.S., the color negatives were developed as Duratran prints and displayed in lightboxes—so they're even more like frozen moments from a movie. (See another image after the jump.)

Pull Back the Shade
Through 29 March 2008
Yossi Milo Gallery
525 West 25th Street
New York, NY 10001 map
tel. +1 212 414 0370

Geoffrey Todd Smith

by Lost At E Minor

Get your wallets out and get in early: Geoffrey Todd Smith is featured in the April 2007 issue of Chicago Magazine as one of Chicago's "rising stars we should be collecting now." His trippy hand-made drawings are inspired by activities of his youth—stickers, jigsaws and doodling. All the designs are begun without a specific idea, which emphasizes a responsive approach to his drawing.

See more images at Western Exhibitions' site.

Boobs and Dinks Early Detection Kits

by Mike Frank

While testicular and breast cancer is something we might not want to think about, Shanon Gerdard uses humor to eliminate some of the fear surrounding that dreaded monthly self-exam. Her Boobs and Dinks Early Detection Kits include crocheted breasts or penises that contain small lumps that can be found by following instructions provided in the accompanying booklets. On top of everything else, she donates $5 from every sale to Cottage Dreams, a cancer recovery initiative in Haliburton, Ontario.

All seriousness aside, who won't love to receive some handcrafted boobies or a penis in the mail?!

via Craplinks