An Artist Talks with Dylan Bakker, 24.06.2011, Kunsthaus Tacheles, Berlin.

Dylan Bakker graduated from the University of arts of Wellington New Zealand, with a BA in film.  He does not take himself too seriously, and is trying though to structure his work more and more, since he has come to Berlin. 
He came to the Kunsthaus Tacheles after meeting a Japanese painter Kurihara, with whom he does performances called "Böse Bohnen", also Vj Chuu and Andreas.

And has developed many projects, such as the streaming event with the organization he created, Simultaneon.
He does performance, screen printing, installation, video, sound and film. He likes to work different medias all at the same time to keep the process of creating flowing from one to another.
He works often with a team, for films and sound. He likes to stay open to new opportunities and discovers he likes to direct. Recently he experienced directing for the stream event, done in the Kunsthaus Tacheles.

He will be showing his work in collaboration with two other artists, this coming september in Berlin at Gallery M. Please check out the links and the facebook events soon.


www.ustream.tv/channel/simultaneon-live-stream -

www.simultaneon.wordpress.com/

An Artist Talks with Victor Landeta, 26.05.2011, Kunsthaus Tacheles, Berlin.

Victor Landeta comes from a family of painters. His grand-father, his father and him are painters. He has studied in London graphic design and moved to Berlin a couple of years ago to  build experience.

He has developed his talent within the field of graphiti. He lived in Bilbao in Spain and has also travelled alot with his sister at first, then alone, and recently with his partner.

He finds his inspiration in foreign asian cultures and beliefs. He documents his research with photography and uses them to create his characters and portraits. His use of mixed media techniques are a mix of both painting and printing layered together, to create new effects inside the landscapes and portraits.

His family supports him to help him go through this period of creativity, until he finds a gallery and structures himself. Alike all young artists, it is a difficult choice to find a way to support your work and have a family life.

He also works on a organizational level and creates events with artists in Berlin, mostly musical events, often in the Kunsthaus Tacheles in the Goldener Saal Theater. The parties are called "Underground Society " check out the Kunsthaus program for up coming events.This organizational experience  has been very successfull. 

Victor Landeta has also started to work as a vj, through the graphic design study and has work with several djs and groups.. He has worked with Dj Trauko, A guy called Gerald and also vjed in a performance festival in the Werkstatt der Kulturen, last year called "Home sweet Home" with the group Egypt 77.

An Artist Talks with Toby Tam, Shanghai Special, 08.05.2011, Ailing Foundation, Shanghai.

 Toby Tam paints mostly and has produced a series of human figures approaching sometimes female gender such as series "Madeleine" a female character he created. And sometimes the figures he paints ressemble Chinese shadows, and you cannot always tell them a part from female or male.

He says "that does not mean so much" and "why would this be so important?"

His work is about identity and fitting into a space. He sinks into a moment, a woman holding a knife, or is it a man? The viewer is led into a story, he ignores the beggining and the end. Toby sets his characters into a wide white space, maybe they are lost, or searching for a new way to exist ? After seeing his works you are taken into his world. You cannot leave it.

 As I go further into the discussion, it is clear that this world, he describes though these tiny persons,  is his own world and experience. Toby shows how his life, his social background and his artistic views can be in confrontation with his environment.

 The miniature is a fabulous way to emphasize, as much as monumental, that many Chinese contemporary artists have explored. Toby concentrates on the essence and the detail. The subject becomes alive because of the viewer looking into it. 

This energy the spectator gives to the characters is important. Toby is like the puppeter, who plays with these figures.He likes to make us react and rethink our position and place in society.

 Toby is shy though, and remains very humble, as he  explains his motives. Being an artist is just being himself. Toby has recently participated the "In Between" event, and has performed in Studiorouge Gallery, in Mogashan lu, on the 21st of May 2011, and in the BM space Taopu, on the 27th of May 2011. He  experienced travelling from one character to another, using his own face to paint, over and over again, recognisable gender details. He will be showing his works in the coming year, in the Studiorouge Gallery space, in Shanghai, China.

 Both videos of performances will be accessible soon on the you tube. A short piece of the interview will also be available to watch.