(((Scarcely describable Raj-steampunk gothic alterglobalista weirdness here...))))
http://www.fuk.co.uk/art/exhibition_preview_gavin_fernandes_empire_line_monarchs_of_the_east_end
Head over to Rich Mix, the cultural centre in Bethnal Green for two exhibitions by one of the UK's most innovative photographers, Gavin Fernandes.
In Empire Line Gavin explores the politics of clothing and its relationship with class and caste in 19th century India ruled by the British Raj.
For Monarchs of The East End the photographer inspired by classic East End imagery, creates a series of characters which, although invented, are almost believable. There are Asian skinheads, a homage to the hackneyed Jewish East End tailor and, one of my favourite portraits of recent times, the Council Estate Pearly King and Queen. Gavin's fans include musician Dave Stewart, who says: "I cite Gavin as one of the new visionary photographers who are creating new art forms which will stay around from now." Absolutely bang-on Mr Stewart.
(((I didn't find this myself, for I was led to it by no less a man than Austin futurist
Derek Woodgate. They broke the mold, folks.)))
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=40201469
"I am probably summed up by my favorite Nietzsche quote "You must have chaos within you to create a dancing star", but I spend most of my life exploring DJ Spooky's rhythm in between spaces. I am more nomadic than my thinking, having lived in eleven countries. I speak seven languages fluently and I am lucky to still use most of them frequently. I was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, but spent most of my adult life in Croatia, which along with Italy is still my favorite country. My early years were influenced by Fluxus, The Velvet Underground, The Beats, 60's London and 70's New York, ultra left-wing politics, campus debate, anything Slav, French and Russian literature, my Dad, travel, fashion, soccer, ny band and music, and I suppose girls played a major role. Subsequently, it has been a rollercoaster of fun, craziness, relationships (friends, wives and lovers), habitats, cool professions (I run The Futures Lab - www.futures-lab.com), my inspirational kids Andrei and Tessie, my wife Charla and step-daughter Holly, more of everything, happiness, communication, multiple fads, fashions, styles, dances more soccer, spoken word performing, music, music, music, the arts, off-beat cinema and theater, Bataille, Deleuze and Guattari, Derrida, Kristeva's revolt, cultural anthropology, editing a mag, running a record label, managing bands and events (www.Fringecore.com), authoring books (my first major work was published last year - "Future Frequencies", new one "Future Flow" in progress), mysticism, alchemy, long sentences and more craziness - the only constant is that I am still wearing black. I'll probably rewrite this tomorrow."
