Iranian-American artist Siah Armajani, whose work across media bridged architecture, democracy, mathematics, and the commons, has died of heart failure in Minneapolis.
See a Dragon Chair sold for 28 Millions by Eileen Gray.
The unique and remarkable ‘Dragons’ armchair was acquired from Miss Gray by Suzanne Talbot, the first patron to provide her with an opportunity to create a complete environment. The exotic, symbolist character of the piece situates it conceptually within the first phase of Miss Gray’s creative cycle. The Mad Tea Party (previous post)
Italian director discusses global politics, failure of capitalism, monastic orders
John Maynard Keynes would turn over in his grave at the “austerity” actions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), particularly the Greek transfers of assets depicted in this film.
For an in depth first person account of what it was actually like dealing with the IMF during the period of the film, see the experience of Greece’s Finance Minister.
By stretching linen over curved stretcher bars, Gorchov achieves unique, concave surfaces which recall Bronze Age shields or sarcophagus masks. “I fell in love with Matisse’s way of using very little paint. I liked the elegance of using thin paint,” he explained.
Linda, the teenage girl, is the heart of the film. She was a sort of street child we had discovered in a laundromat. For the role, she should have been younger, but as soon as I spoke to her, I found in her the maturity of a forty-year old woman. Non-judgmental and left to her own imagination, she had her own ideas [for the role] giving the impression of having actually lived this life instead of having to invent and play within another.
At first it was a bit frustrating to work with her. She couldn’t remember her lines, couldn’t be interrupted, and was difficult to photograph. Despite this, I started to love her and I believed in her more than anything else. She transformed the role. I am glad that she’s the narrator. Her personality shines through the film’s objectivity. Every time I gave her new lines, she interpreted it in her own way; when she refers to heaven and hell, she says that everyone is bursting into flames. It was her response to the film on the day when she saw the rushes. That comment was included in the final version. Linda said so many things that I despaired being unable to keep them… I feel like I have not been able to grasp a fraction of who she really is.
“Anyone with that kind of brilliance, you just give them space . . . She was a kind of unique, extraordinary, eccentric wild animal. And some jewels came out of her mouth.”
Richard Gere Criterion, The Streetwise voice of Linad Manz
Kishi Keiko is an actress, writer, UNESCO Ambassader and a recipient of legion d’honneur from the French gov’t. She was in “Early Spring” directed by Ozu with Ryo Ikebe. Masaki Kobayashi directed Kishi in 3 films, Inheritance,I will Buy You, Kwaidan, she co-starred again with Ryo Ikebe in “Snow Country.”
She made more than four films with Ichikawa Kon, including “Sasame Yuki – Makioka Sisters” “Younger Brother” … Sydney Pollack directed her in Yakuza with Robert Mitchum and Takakura Ken.
Ryo Ikebe and Keiko Kishi in “Snow Country”
Author of Snow Countray Kawabata Yasunari was at her wedding when she married Yves Ciampi in Paris.
Makioka Sisters
Sasame Yuki -(Makioka Sisters – adapted from a novel by Junichiro Tanizaki)
(Keiko Kishi with Jean Cocteau – 1960)
From Kishi’s autobiography “Ma Vie A La Carte”, Kishi wrote that as a teenager she saw Cocteau’s “Beauty and the Beast” 5 times, never imagined that she would in 10 0r 12 years later be directed by Cocteau for his last play at the theater. (Shadow Picture – the Wife of Wet Coat).
(Unable to find any information about this production).
A cat can draw
the blinds
behind her eyes
whenever she
decides. Nothing
alters in the stare
itself but she’s
not there. Likewise
a future can occlude:
still sitting there,
doing nothing rude.
In memory of the wonderful Isabelle Weingarten. She was „Anna“ in the lost film crew in THE STATE OF THINGS (1982) and she played herself in REVERSE ANGLE (1982).
In memory of the wonderful Isabelle Weingarten. She was „Anna“ in the lost film crew in THE STATE OF THINGS (1982) and she played herself in REVERSE ANGLE (1982).(via Wim Wenders foundation on FB)
Miriam Mazibuko waters the garden of her RDP house for which she waited eight years. It consists of one room. Her four children live with her in-laws. Extension 8, Far East Alexandra Township, 12 September 2006
David Goldblatt was South African photographer known for his uncompromising images of his country during apartheid and afterward. “I was very interested in the events that were taking place in the country as a citizen but, as a photographer, I’m not particularly interested, and I wasn’t then, in photographing the moment that something happens. I’m interested in the conditions that give rise to events,” he once explained. Born on November 29, 1930 in Randfontein, South Africa, he began photographing at an early age but his father’s illness required Goldblatt to run his family business while studying at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg. After selling the company in 1963, Goldblatt focused entirely on a career in photography. His involvement with various artistic circles in Johannesburg granted him access to a broad range of ethnic and socioeconomic groups.