Olympics: Mirror Of Globalization

(Drivebycuriosity) - If you want a picture of the globalization you might take a look on the medal table of the Rio Olympics that ended today (bbc).

78 countries managed to earn a medal in Rio, 54 national teams went home with one gold medal at least. The USA is on the top with a medal count of 121 (46 gold), as you can expect from such a big & rich country with a very competitive tradition. Great Britain (with the help of Northern Ireland) collected 26 gold (67 all together). Place 3 went to China (26/70). Russia, handicapped by the ban of their huge Track & Field team, got place 4. Germany ranked 5th (17/42).

The host Brazil earned 7 gold medals (place 13), including one for a very lucky win against Germany´s soccer youth. Kenya & Jamaica each collected 6 gold medals, the Iran earned 3 times gold, Thailand & North Korea (!) each gained 2 times gold, Indonesia, Bahrain & Fiji each got one gold medal.

The list reflects size & economic power (elite sports is extremely expensive) but also ambition. I expect that in the future Olympics the emerging markets will earn more medals and might even challenge mighty USA.

Congratulations to all.

Contemporary Art: Density, Saturation & Energy @ Galerie Richard, New York

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - New York City is a global magnet for people, capital and art. No wonder that international galleries want to be present here. Galerie Richard, an ambitious French art dealer, is one of them. They chose New York`s trendy Lower East Side (121 Orchard Street galerierichard ).

I have seen already a row of interesting exhibitions there. Now they display abstracts by the New York based artist Jordan Broadworth. The exhibition is called "Terra Incognita" (through August 28, 2016).


Broadworth`s "paintings convey the density, saturation and energy that one can only experience when living and working in New York City", claims the press release.

The press release further explains: the artist  "constructs his paintings with a tight pixel-like grid. The grid accompanied by a screen-like smoothness and back-lit glow positions the work within a our time of digital distraction. These works are created working “wet into wet” within tight parameters of production that include working blind, opening the work to spontaneity and chance" (presse).

But let the pictures speak for themselves

Enjoy!

Economy: Brexit? What Brexit?

(Drivebycuriosity) -  There is a lot ado about Brexit. Pundits & media claim that Great Britain will dive into a deep recession because of her departure from the European Union. I doubt that.

This morning we learned that the British retail surged 1.4% in best July performance since 2002 ( bloomberg). This is the first real (fundamental) economic data since the Brexit vote. Before we got just polls (PMI indices) which reflected the sentiment of pundits & media. It seems that the British care don`t care about Brexit and all the noise around it. And they don´t allow the pundits to scare them.

I reckon that the Brexit hysteria is unjustified. The British economy will be better off. Brussels has been gaining more and more power over the years - developing the EU Union into something like the defunct Soviet Union, a bundle of states ruled by a central government. The European Parliament and the EU committee, especially Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, treat the EU increasingly like a kingdom. Even after the Brexit decision they want to expand the power of the EU and demand more integration, meaning more power for Brussels ( spiegel.de).

UK will benefit from the exit because the country will be less regulated. A liberal (less regulated) England could attract companies and investors from all over the world. The economy blogger Scott Grannis writes "one of the very good things that could come of a Brexit: shaking off the Eurosklerosis  that has held back growth in the Eurozone for many years" ( scottgrannis ).

There will be no British recession - the solid retail numbers are the first proof.

Movies: Jason Bourne

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - Can you trust your government? Hollywood says: No way! For years the dream factory has been making movies about people who`s life is threatened by their own government.  Take for instance  "Three Days of the Condor " (wikipedia) from 1975. This famous movie tells the story of a CIA employee who has to fight against his murderous colleagues.

The "Bourne" movies follow this tradition. The newest incarnation of this franchise (number five), just named "Jason Bourne",  is now running in the US cinemas. Again the leading character, a former assassin for the CIA,  has to survive the pursuit of his former employers and their hired professional killers. Director Paul Greengrass, who also made "Bourne Supremacy" & "Bourne Ultimatum",  and his co-script writers created again a staccato of furious action scenes. It`s fascinating how they intermingled the fast speed action with local activities like social unrest in the Greek capital Athens.

I enjoyed watching Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones  & Vincent Cassel,  but the star of film was Alicia Vikander.  The  Swedish actress, who got an Oscar for "The Danish Girl" and impressed in "Ex Machina", convinced as a strong woman who is capable to join the power play of her colleagues and antagonists. 

"Bourne" is still cutting edge action cinema and fun to watch.

Movies: The Model

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - The life of a young fashion model is challenging. This is the message of the movie "The Model" (imdb). Danish director Mads Matthiesen and his co-script writers tell the story of a teenage girl from Denmark who wants to start a modelling career in Paris (this is a spoiler free blog).

The film furnishes the clichés about naive girls, predatory men and the fashion business in general, but there are also some original ideas & twists that make the movie interesting and entertaining. I cared about the fate of the protagonist, even that her story got challenging over the time. Maria Palm, who incarnated the model, has a remarkable face and is a convincing actor as well. And you can see beautiful girls in a beautiful city.


"The Model" is an easy & esthetic summer entertainment. 

Contemporary Art: Elegant Compositions By Michael Lam @ Gallery Artifact, New York

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - New York´s Lower East Side has about 130 art dealers. Gallery Artifact on 84 Orchard Street (artifactnyc) belongs to my favorites. The art dealer has frequently interesting shows, often with 3 artists.

Yesterday I admired some abstracts by Michael Lam. I indulge into his elegant compositions. According to this website (agora-gallery) the artist was influenced by a hand-illustrated Chines herbal medicine book he saw as a child.

But let the pictures speak for themselves.

Enjoy!

Street Art New York: A Documentary - Summer 2016 Edition

(Drivebycuriosity) - It`s summer in New York. The air is hot & humid. But street artists don`t take a break. Since my latest street art report (June 2016 driveby) I spotted a lot new murals, stickers & graffiti @ Lower East Side, East Village, Soho and other Manhattan neighborhoods. As usual I document the newest street art in this area.

Above you can see the newest mural on the wall of rag & bone at the corner of Elizabeth & Houston. This fashion shop impresses with frequently changing art work.

Above the newest murals on East Houston Street & Second Avenue at the subway exit for the M Train (across Whole Foods). They are parts of a frequently changing series as well.

The mural above,  on Crosby Street, also can be spotted from East Houston Street.

This mural is on Allen Street, near Stanton Street, at the now defunct Epstein`s.

Above a mural by the Irish illustrator Laura Callaghan found on Orchard Street.

These huge murals are in Soho & Tribeca.

Above a mural spotted on Broome Street.

Above some new shutter door murals found on the Lower East Side.

The building on Delancey & Orchard Street is waiting for the wrecking ball

The spreaders of stickers & stencils stayed active as well.


To be continued!