Culture in the EU (8): Estonia
Posted: June 21, 2016 Filed under: Architecture, Art, Culture, Dance, European Union, Film, Music - General, New Music, Theatre, Videos | Tags: ando keskküla, ank-64, Arvo Kruusement, arvo pärt, bernard kangro, between three plagues, Ene-Liis Semper, ensemble u, estonia, European Union, fine 5 dance theatre, Hardi Volmer, helen harjak, Helena Tulve, ilmar laaban, jaan kross, jaan toomik, jann kaplinski, jüri arrak, Jüri Reinvere, Kaljo Kiisk, Kaljo Põllu, kristiina kaasik, kuldar sink, Leida Laius, Leonhard Lapin, lepo sumera, Liis Viira, linnahall, maarja kangro, marju musu, Mati Unt, no99, paul-eerik rummo, Priit Pärn, raine karp, raoul kurvitz, Rühm T, Riina Altmäe, soup-69, Tõnu Õnnepalu, tulimuld, united dancers of zuga, vilen künnapu, visarid 2 Comments
[Because of other commitments, it has not been possible to post more in this series for a little while, but I am endeavouring to complete as many as possible before the referendum on Thursday. For now, I will mostly give links and text without so much commentary, which may follow later]
As a solid supporter of the Remain campaign, in the 18 days from June 5th until the European Union Referendum on June 23rd, I am posting a selection of links and other information about music, literature, film, visual art, dance, architecture, etc., from each of the EU nations.
I make no claims to be comprehensive in any case, and my choices undoubtedly will reflect my own aesthetic interests – but I believe that may be more interesting than a rather anonymous selection of simply the most prominent artists or art. All work comes from the post-1945 era, the period during which the EU has come to fruition, but may (and often will) include work which dates from before the nations in question joined the EU. As I am writing in English, where translations exist I will use these. Time does not allow for detailed commentaries, I just throw these selections out there in the hope others will be interested in the extraordinary range of culture which has emerged from citizens of the EU.
Estonia
[With profound thanks to Helen Harjak for various suggestions of Estonian culture to investigate]
A major figure in the post-war Estonian literary scene was the writer and poet Bernard Kangro (1910-1994), who founded the cultural journal Tulimuld, which ran from 1950 to 1993. A selection of his quasi-surrealist poems is available in English translation, called Earthbound.
Here is Kangro’s poem, ‘Late Flowers, Wind, Sea, Sand and Fish’, translated Ivar Ivask.
Wind wilts
late flowers,
tiny blossoms
at edge of bay.
Don’t blame the breeze!
The sea’s there
thundering
upon the sand.
Wave above,
sand blow.
Fish laugh
and skip away.
Another poem can be read here.
Another surrealist Estonian writer was the poet and sound poet Ilmar Laaban (1921-2000), who lived in Sweden from 1944. Here is Laaban’s poem ‘Silence and Violence’, as translated by Richard Adang and Andres Ehin
Silence and Violence
Long ago on a windy hunt
a horrible happiness abruptly bloomed in me
and the landscape congealed only its pungent
blood rustling through my veins the gun smoked
incessantly the hound did not bark
as it gazed at the clouds tightening
into meat and skinning over with fur
streaming tangled by despair
Because on the horizon a stout tower appeared
which swayed slowly between emptiness
and the overflowing clamor of hideous joy
like a gigantic latrine
the sweaty sun mottled Earth and Welkin
until suddenly it was eclipsed by cold
ravens of freedom who carried my eyes
and fresh images like flags in their bills
At twilight which was only flashes
as the sea is but the triumph of the drowned
my hunting jacket was freed of its heavy
web of lust I simply ran forward
along the mute moor coming across
animals with shining coals for hearts
I shot them so many that the road home
was finally choked with grass
Long ago I seized the empty beaker
and faced its inflexible challenge
and ever since this endless draught rinses –
my gun-barrel mouth which sparkles
in the starry sky and when it sees
some too-warm nebula defiling cosmic night
it proclaims ponderously and clearly
I DENY DEATH BUT AFFIRM ICE
Here is Laaban’s sound-text composition Ciel Inamputable (1969)
Amongst the most renowned Estonian writers of the post-war era are Jann Kaplinski (b. 1941), who drew widely upon mythology and Asian thought, and Jaan Kross (1920-2007), who spent an eight-year period as a prisoner in Soviet labour camps. Here is an obituary of Kross in The Guardian. Kross’s novels often had historical settings, but served as allegories of the contemporary situation under Soviet communism. His four volume sequence of novels Kolme katku vahel/Between Three Plagues (1970-1976) told the story of the sixteenth-century chronicler Balthasar Russow, who wrote the chronicle of the Livovian War, detailing his experience of the effects upon the peasantry from which he came.
A sparse form of poetry, reflecting post-1968 disillusionment and disenchantment, can be found in the work of Paul-Eerik Rummo (b. 1942), who also went on to become an Estonian politician. A selection of his poems can be read in translation here; here is one, ‘Crooning’.
Crooning
I am so fleeting
sighed the girl to the sea
oh, what can I do
you are eternal
I am transparent like you
sighed the girl to the window
oh, what can I do
my heart’s in full view
I open like you
sighed the girl to the door
oh, what can I do
the sun steps in
I am so small
sighed the girl to the sun
oh, what can I do
you are so large
I am so foolish
sighed the girl to the wise man
oh, what can I do
everyone is so wise
More on Rummo can be read here.
Poet and author Tõnu Õnnepalu (b. 1962), who has also published under the names Emil Tode and Anton Nigov. His novel Piiririik/Border State (1993), a short novel about the overwhelming and sometimes destructive effect of Western culture upon a Baltic citizen, comes highly recommended; more can be read about it here.
Also, do check out the poet, short story writer and librettist Maarja Kangro (b. 1973). Here is her poem ‘The Butterfly of No Return’, as translated by Ilmar Lehtpere. A further selection of poems, with various translations, can be read here.
THE BUTTERFLY OF NO RETURN
‘again’ is a big word.
slowly and quickly
again
again men rejoice on the radio
that they are on the right road
and talk of the cyclical nature of time
a proper road goes in circles, even I
recognize young skin on the beach and
”et si tu n’existais pas,” is sung loudly
men on the radio speak of the connection
of everything to everything else: ringingly
one says butterfly effect – I lift my wings
a good sleep gives you cyclical time
for after such a sleep you think you’re revived
and again
I flutter my wing
the good men on the radio start coughing
I flap my wings more amply and a wind comes up
the men cough wheezing, the airwaves revolt
ships sink and swimmers drown, the final sleep
comes stormy and grey
let’s think of a word that never was before
was just now
and now isn’t anymore
***
There’s a whining and ringing in the air.
You talk of a lout.
I’m the very one. Through me you’ll never
reach the deeper levels or the heights,
the flash of pure being that you believe
you see in the village drunkard
or the poet gone mad.
When he drinks, secrets come to light.
When I get legless, I attack.
Or I drift off, stinking. My gaze is dark.
I give off my exhaust in your face.
I want lovely meat that won‘t shame me. I’m afraid of losing.
Words anger me. I bellow.
I watch the telly, don’t read, can’t write properly.
Rubbish is left behind me.
I am rubbish. I’m the one you’re talking about.
– Ah no, what are you going on about, it’s me.
– Ah no, it’s me.
– No, I’m the one.
– No, I am. Forgive me.
The whole road is full of us, and our fragile souls
are ringing. Listen, how quietly, dear girls and boys.
One of the first major groups of Estonian artists to look beyond Soviet orthodoxy was ANK-64, who were responsible for resurrecting cubist and constructivist work from earlier in the century. One of the leading figures in this movement was Jüri Arrak (b. 1936), whose work employs cartoon-like imagery and surrealist ideas; other important artists who were involved with this movement include Kristiina Kaasik (b. 1943) and Marju Musu (1941-1980)
Jüri Arrak, Lennuk 6/20 (1972)
Kristiina Kaasik, Vaade trepilt (1974)
Marju Mutsu, Early in the Morning (1970)
In 1967, artist Kaljo Põllu (1934-2010) created another group called the Visarid, which disseminated much information on Western artistic movements and ideas, not least relating to pop art and graphic design.
Kaljo Põllu, Mängutuba (1967)
Kaljo Põllu, Kuulataja (Vaikus) (1968)
Kaljo Põllu, Keegi (1987)
A starker type of art came from the SOUP-69 group, also inspired by pop art and other movements. Amongst the leading figures here were Leonhard Lapin (b. 1947) and Ando Keskküla (b. 1950).
Leonhard Lapin, Woman-Machine X (1974)
Ando Keskküla, Finish (1979).
Also part of this movement was the architect Vilen Künnapu (b. 1948), who would later engage with post-modern architectural ideas.
Vilen Künnapu, Snail Tower, Tartu (2008)
Other notable modern Estonian architects include Raine Karp (b. 1939) and Riina Altmäe (b. 1949), whose best known work is the brutalist Tallinn City Concert Hall (Linnahall) (1976-1980), shown here from various angles.
The Estonian painter Raoul Kurvitz (b. 1961) formed a group called Rühm T in 1986, whose work (which included performance art as much as painting) was described by them as ‘Cold Expressionism’. Here is Kurvitz’s painting Chapelle (1999):
And here is a picture of Kurvitz’s ‘Reconstructed Environment’ Maelstrom (1999/2013):
An interview with Kurvitz can be read here, while more information on his work can be read here.
One artist inhabiting the wilder realms of video and performance art is Jaan Toomik (b. 1961), some of whose work was inspired by the Viennese Actionists, and involves various types of degradation to the body, use of bodily fluids, and so on, but also clear political themes, as well as a recurrent concert with the nature of communication. An interview with Toomik can be read here, and here are some videos of his work.
Another is Ene-Liis Semper (b. 1969), whose work focuses on the body, and especially the mouth and tongue. More can be read on her work here, not least her notorious Licked Room (2000), in which she literally licked a room clean with her tongue.
Here are some samples of Semper’s work:
Semper also formed the theatre group NO99 together with Tiit Ojasoo. Here is a video about their work:
This is one of NO99’s best-known works, NO83 How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare, inspired by Joseph Beuys.
Another important figure in radical contemporary Estonian theatre (about which more can be read here) is writer and director Mati Unt (b. 1944). Here is a video of his production Hot (2002).
Best-known of Estonian composers is undoubtedly Arvo Pärt (b. 1935), whose works such as Fratres (1977), Tabula Rasa (1977), Spiegel im Spiegel (1978), and St John Passion (1982) appealed to certain Western ideals of ‘spiritualism’ and won world renown as a result. But not all of Pärt’s work is like this; the cello concerto Pro et contra (1966) is clearly indebted to aspects of a Western avant-garde language, including collage-like techniques, whilst in Credo (1968) for choir, piano and orchestra, Pärt distorts and defamiliarises Bach’s C major Prelude from Das wohltempierte Klavier, Book 1.
Here are two examples of Pärt’s later work:
Another composer of the same generation whose work Kuldar Sink (1942-1995), who began engaging with some modernist traditions, including the neo-classicism, the Second Viennese School, aleatoric composition, and even happenings (Sink, like Pärt, and ANK-64, was linked to an Estonian Fluxus movement in the late 1960s).
In later work, before his death in a house fire, Sink turned to Central Asian folk musics and drastic simplification.
A younger composer who also traversed a path from the avant-garde to modalism and postminimalism (from the early 1980s onwards) was Lepo Sumera (1950-2000)
Lepo Sumera, Pantomiim/Pantomime (1981)
Lepo Sumera, Senza metro (1986)
Lepo Sumera, Tähed / Stars for soprano and piano (2000)
In the fascinating work of Jüri Reinvere (b. 1971), however, one finds a particular type of fusion or interplay of modernist, aleatoric, and romantic elements to varying degrees.
Jüri Reinvere, t.i.m.e. (2005)
Jüri Reinvere, Requiem (2009), excerpt.
Helena Tulve (b. 1972) combines modal elements with a wider musical language influenced in part by musique spectrale, and in some ways reminiscent of the work of Kaija Saariaho.
A much more pared-down music can be found in the work of composer and harpist Liis Viira (b. 1983), notorious for her Reverbeebi/Baby Symphony (2015), in which babies’ voices were combined with instruments.
The group Ensemble U have garnered attention through their creation of an ‘audience orchestra’ in which the audience members control much of the musical decision making.
Estonian cinema is generally thought to have come into its own in the 1960s. One of film which generated a fair degree of international interest was Arvo Kruusement’s Kevade/Spring (1969), based on a popular novel by Oskar Luts, a coming-of-age story set at the end of the 19th century. Here is a section of it, alas without subtitles, but which enables one to sample the visual qualities.
(the rest of the film can be viewed on the same YouTube channel)
Here is a film from the previous year, Kaljo Kiisk’s Hullumeelsus/Madness (1968)
And here is Leida Laius’s Kõrboja peremees (1979)
Of post-independence Estonian cinema, required viewing includes Hardi Volmer’s parody of the Russian Revolution, Minu Leninid/All My Lenins (1997), here available with English subtitles.
There is also an important tradition of Estonian animated film, in which the leading figure is Priit Pärn (b. 1946). Here is his Ein murual/Breakfast on the Grass (1983, released 1986)
Here is a clip from Pärn’s 1992 film Hotel E:
Many other of Pärn’s animations can be viewed online.
An article on the evolution of Estonian contemporary dance post-independence can be read here. Here is a clip of the work of Fine 5 Dance Theatre, founded in 1992:
One can read about the United Dancers of Zuga here (unfortunately I have not found a good clip of their work).
Culture in the EU (4): Croatia
Posted: June 7, 2016 Filed under: Architecture, Art, Dance, European Union, Film, Literature, Music - General, New Music, Theatre | Tags: Aleksander Srnec, Alfred Albini, croatia, Croatian Institute for Movement and Dance, don kihot, Družina mladih, Dubravka Ugrešić, Dusan Vukotic, Edo Murtić, EXAT 51, glorija, gorgona group, Group of Six Authors, Grupa šestorice autora, h-8, Igor Kuljerić, Ivo Brešan, Ivo Malec, julije knifer, Maj 75, Marko Ruz̆djak, Milko Kelemen, Miroslav Šutej, Natko Devc̆ić, Nikola Tanhofer, quorum, Ranko Marinković, Slavenka Drakulić, Vatroslav Mimica, Vinko Brešan, Vlado Kristl, vlado martek, Zagreb Puppet Theatre, Zoran Ferić, Zoran Tadić 2 CommentsAs a solid supporter of the Remain campaign, in the 18 days from June 5th until the European Union Referendum on June 23rd, I am posting a selection of links and other information about music, literature, film, visual art, dance, architecture, etc., from each of the EU nations.
I make no claims to be comprehensive in any case, and my choices undoubtedly will reflect my own aesthetic interests – but I believe that may be more interesting than a rather anonymous selection of simply the most prominent artists or art. All work comes from the post-1945 era, the period during which the EU has come to fruition, but may (and often will) include work which dates from before the nations in question joined the EU. As I am writing in English, where translations exist I will use these. Time does not allow for detailed commentaries, I just throw these selections out there in the hope others will be interested in the extraordinary range of culture which has emerged from citizens of the EU.
Croatia
First, here is an article on the Grupa šestorice autora/Group of Six Authors who came to prominence in Croatia in the mid-1970s, especially around the journal Maj 75, published 1978-1984.
And here is a detailed article on Vlado Martek (b. 1951), Croatian conceptual poet who was part of the Group of Six.
The following is a documentary film about the Group of Six, though has no subtitles:
http://www.mojnet.com/video-g6-grupa-sestorice-autora-dokumetarni-film-a/8b1625fc9f87e7491ae0
and http://www.mojnet.com/video-g6-grupa-sestorice-autora-dokumetarni-film-b/50704adf139d994d5472
Here is the website for writer Dubravka Ugrešić (b. 1947)
I greatly enjoyed reading this somewhat existential journey through post-Cold War Eastern Europe by Slavenka Drakulić (b. 1949):
Drakulić is perhaps best known however for her 1999 novel S: A Novel about the Balkans, dealing with the horrors of the Balkan wars and especially atrocities against women (Drakulić had been denounced together with other women by an advisor to Franjo Tudjman for not accepting the nationalistic line on the war, and later received threats, leading her to leave her country).
Another response to the Yugoslav war, drawing upon myth and fairytale, is the 2002 novel Smrt djevojčice sa žigicama (Death of the Little Match Girl), by Zoran Ferić (b. 1961).
On of the most important movements for Croatian poetry was Quorum, the name of a library formed in 1984 and magazine in 1985. A short piece on this movement, with a text which can be purchased, is here.
Here is some music by Milko Kelemen (b. 1924), whose work was known and respected by the Western European avant-garde.
And here is some more mainstream (with some audible relation to that of Prokofiev, Shostakovich and others) Eastern European contemporary music by Natko Devc̆ić (1914-1997):
But most remarkable of all is Ivo Malec (b. 1925), who spent much of his professional life in France:
Then, from Marko Ruz̆djak (1946-2012), after the work of Alfred Jarry, a little in the manner of the pitchless music of Carl Orff such as Astutuli:
And some very strange music by Igor Kuljerić (1938-2006) making extensive use of quotation:
The Croatian film director Nikola Tanhofer (1926-1998) had a major impact with his films from the 1950s onwards, not least with H-8 (1958), based upon a true story of a fatal traffic accident between Zagreb and Belgrade (this version has subtitles):
Here are two animated films (of many) from the 1960s: Surogat/Ersatz (1961) by Dusan Vukotic (1927-1998):
and Don Kihot (1961) by Vlado Kristl (1923-2004):
Here is Zoran Tadić’s 1981 Ritam zločina/Rhythm of a Crime:
And Vatroslav Mimica’s 1981 Banović Strahinj/The Falcon:
And here is an interview with director Vinko Brešan (b. 1964) on his 2013 film Svećenikova djeca/The Priest’s Children:
Puppet theatre is an important part of the cultural landscape of Zagreb, drawing upon guignol and Javanese stick-puppet traditions, especially through the work of the company Družina mladih/Company of the Young, established soon after World War Two. Here is a video of some work for children from the Zagreb Puppet Theatre:
I have not been able to find much in the way of films of contemporary Croatian theatre which would be comprehensible to non-Croat speakers (like myself!), but here is a trailer for a London performance of a modern classic, Glorija (1955), by Ranko Marinković (1913-2001):
And here one can read an article on the theatrical work of Ivo Brešan (b. 1936).
A site here gives some detail and examples of the work of painters and architects who were part of the movement EXAT 51/Experimental Studio, active from 1946 to 1968.
Aleksander Srnec, KA-5 (1956)
A slightly later movement was the Gorgona Group, founded in the late 1950s in Zagreb, which can be read about in detail here.
Julije Knifer, Gorgona no. 2 (1961).
And here is a website about Croatian painter and graphic artist Miroslav Šutej (1936-2005):
The following is a documentary on the painter Edo Murtić (1921-2005):
And here is some information on Croatian architect Alfred Albini (1896-1978):
Finally, here is a site about a Croatian Institute for contemporary dance and mine.
Culture in the EU (3): Bulgaria
Posted: June 7, 2016 Filed under: Architecture, Art, Culture, Dance, European Union, Film, Literature, Music - General, New Music, Theatre, Videos | Tags: alexis weissenberg, andrey lekarski, atanas dalchev, boryana rossa, bulgarian national ensemble, christo javacheff, donyo donev, eduard zahariev, georgi gospodinov, georgi stanishev, georgi tutev, ivan minekov, ivan shopov, ivan spassov, jeanne-claude javacheff, julia kristeva, konstantin iliev, krasimir kyurkchiyski, mila iskenova, nikolai rainov, peter koutev, trying to fly, vulo radev, yordan radichkov 3 CommentsAs a solid supporter of the Remain campaign, in the 18 days from June 5th until the European Union Referendum on June 23rd, I am posting a selection of links and other information about music, literature, film, visual art, dance, architecture, etc., from each of the EU nations.
I make no claims to be comprehensive in any case, and my choices undoubtedly will reflect my own aesthetic interests – but I believe that may be more interesting than a rather anonymous selection of simply the most prominent artists or art. All work comes from the post-1945 era, the period during which the EU has come to fruition, but may (and often will) include work which dates from before the nations in question joined the EU. As I am writing in English, where translations exist I will use these. Time does not allow for detailed commentaries, I just throw these selections out there in the hope others will be interested in the extraordinary range of culture which has emerged from citizens of the EU.
Bulgaria
I will begin with a section from the the 1964 film Крадецът на праскови/The Peach-Garden Trespasser, directed by Vulo Radev (1923-2001):
And this is the 1973 film, Преброяване на дивите зайци/The Hare Census, directed by Eduard Zahariev (1938-1996). I can’t find a version with subtitles, but it is interesting to watch visually anyhow.
Here is some more information on this film.
And here is one of the many animations on the ‘Three Fools’ by Donyo Donev (1929-2007):
The writer Nikolai Rainov (1889-1954) lived into the post-war era, but his work did not receive widespread distribution in Bulgaria until after the fall of communism. Here is an article on his writing.
Here is one set of translations from the Bulgarian poet Atanas Dalchev (1904-1978); another is here.
This article gives plenty of information on a more recent Bulgarian writer, Georgi Gospodinov (b. 1968); I am especially looking forward to reading the following 1999 novel, which has been widely translated:
Here is the website for Bulgarian sculptor Ivan Minekov (b. 1947).
Whilst here is the site for the couple Christo (b. 1935) and Jeanne-Claude Javacheff (1935-2009), installation artists about who there is much information on the web.
Here is some of the work of painter and sculptor Andrey Lekarski (b. 1940), representing in part an extension of some devices and aesthetics derived from surrealism and pop art.
Here is the website for feminist performance artist Boryana Rossa (b. 1972).
And here is an interview with Rossa on art and politics:
Here are a selection of diverse works by contemporary Bulgarian composers:
And here is the amazing and idiosyncratic Bulgarian-born pianist Alexis Weissenberg (1929-2012):
The work of this ensemble, playing a music with roots in traditional Bulgarian folk music, was much admired by Frank Zappa.
And for another genre, here is some electronica from Ivan Shopov:
One of the most renowned public intellectuals anywhere is the Bulgarian-born Julia Kristeva (b. 1941); here is her official site, and here is an extended interview:
The following is a film about Bulgarian choreographer Mila Iskenova (b. 1960):
More on Iskrenova can be seen here.
This volume made a good deal of contemporary Bulgarian theatre available to English speakers for the first time in the 1990s:
And here is a biography of leading theatre practitioner Yordan Radichkov (1929-2004). Radichkov was notorious for his 1978 drama Opit za letene/Trying to Fly, about which one can read more here.
Finally, here is the website for architect Georgi Stanishev (b. 1952).
Culture in the EU (2): Belgium
Posted: June 7, 2016 Filed under: Art, Culture, Dance, European Union, Film, Literature, Music - General, New Music, Theatre, Videos | Tags: absynthe minded, andré laporte, Anne teresa de Keersmaeker, antwerp six, arne quinze, belgium, Benoît Poelvoorde, chantal akerman, christian dotremont, club moral, collegium vocale, dirk braeckman, European Union, Françoise Mallet-Joris, Frédéric Baal, henri pousseur, hooverphonic, hugo claus, jacques izoard, jan fabre, karel goeyvaerts, kristen hemmerechts, lisa de boeck, logos foundation, luc brewaeys, man bites dog, marcel broodthaers, Marilène Coolens, marthe donas, memymom, Michel Dezoteux, monika van paemel, ovil bianca, philippe herreweghe, raoul servais, rosas, serge verstockt, wim mertens 3 CommentsAs a solid supporter of the Remain campaign, in the 18 days from June 5th until the European Union Referendum on June 23rd, I am posting a selection of links and other information about music, literature, film, visual art, dance, architecture, etc., from each of the EU nations.
I make no claims to be comprehensive in any case, and my choices undoubtedly will reflect my own aesthetic interests – but I believe that may be more interesting than a rather anonymous selection of simply the most prominent artists or art. All work comes from the post-1945 era, the period during which the EU has come to fruition, but may (and often will) include work which dates from before the nations in question joined the EU. As I am writing in English, where translations exist I will use these. Time does not allow for detailed commentaries, I just throw these selections out there in the hope others will be interested in the extraordinary range of culture which has emerged from citizens of the EU.
Belgium
I will begin with one of the most important of all artists of the twentieth century, poet, post-Duchamp artist and filmmaker Marcel Broodthaers (1924-1976). Here is a site with lots of information on his work and illustrations.
Citron-Citroen 1974 Marcel Broodthaers 1924-1976 Purchased 1977 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/P07211
Marcel Broodthaers, Citron-Citroen, réclame pour la Mer du Nord (Advertisement for the North Sea) (1974).
And here one can listen to his ‘Interview with a Cat’.
Furthermore, here is Broodthaers’ 1968 film Le Corbeau et le Renard.
Here is a discussion of his work at the time of a 2016 retrospective at MOMA.
And here is a reading of Broodthaers’ poetry:
This site gives information on the experimental Belgian poet Hugo Claus (1929-2008), including some important links. Furthermore, at this site one can read and listen to a variety of Claus’s work.
Amongst other important Belgian writers are Françoise Mallet-Joris (b. 1930), about whom one can watch a feature here (only an excerpt available to those who have not subscribed). A biography and list of works (in French) is here. And some information on translations of highly-regarded writer Monika van Paemel (b. 1945) can be found here. Here are details of a translation of her story ‘The Accursed Fathers’. Some information on writer Kristien Hemmerechts (b. 1955) can be found here.
A useful page on Christian Dotremont (1922-1979), who brought together poetry and painting, is here.
And here is a poem by Jacques Izoard (1936-2008). A wider range can be viewed here.
This site gives much detail on the work of Gent artist Marthe Donas (1887-1967).
Marthe Donas, Intuition No. 19 (1958).
The website of multi-faceted artist Jan Fabre (b. 1958) is here, whilst that of conceptual artist Arne Quinze (b. 1971) is here.
Pictures related to my Brussels Photo Blog dedicated to anyone that wish to know more about the major or less known attractions of the city of Brussels.
Arno Quinze, Cityscape Wooden Sculpture.
Here is a site on the fantastic photography of Dirk Braeckman (b. 1958).
The senior figures of post-war Belgian music were Henri Pousseur (1929-2009) and Karol Goeyvaerts (1923-1993), both of seminal importance in the history of serial music.
Another figure who is a prominent and generous presence in Belgian musical life is André Laporte (b. 1931):
A very different type of music can be found in the minimalist work of Wim Mertens (b. 1953), known in particular for his music for the film The Belly of an Architect by Peter Greenaway, and for an extremely important book on American minimal music.
Amongst numerous younger figures, one should listen to the music of Serge Verstockt (b. 1957):
And also the remarkably fluent and effortless composer Luc Brewaeys (1959-2015), who was tragically lost to cancer last year.
An important institution for the promotion of new music in Belgium is the Logos Foundation, which is currently threatened with closure.
Amongst the numerous early music groups in Belgian, one of the most important is Collegium vocale, under the general direction of Philippe Herreweghe. Here they are singing Jean Langlais:
Here is a range of significant Belgian popular music, ranging from noise music to trip-hop.
Here is the 1966 animation Chromophobia by Raoul Servais (b. 1928):
A hugely important feminist work is Chantal Akerman’s 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975):
Whilst the disturbing 1992 film Man bites Dog, directed by Rémy Belvaux, André Nobzel and Benoît Poelvoorde (the latter in the main role), received some international attention upon release:
One of the most significant post-war theatre directors in Belgium is Michel Dezoteux (b. 1949). Here is is Le Revizor (2008), based on the work of Nikolai Gogol:
And here is an interview with another hugely important figure in contemporary Belgian theatre, Frédéric Baal (b. 1940):
The choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker (b. 1960), created the dance company Rosas, who were resident at La Monnaie from 1992 to 2007. Here is a video of their work:
Finally, an article on the fashion collective, the Antwerp Six.
Culture in the EU (1): Austria
Posted: June 6, 2016 Filed under: Architecture, Art, Culture, Dance, European Union, Film, Literature, Music - General, New Music, Videos | Tags: austria, beat furrer, elfriede jelinek, ernst jandl, gerhard rühm, hans c. artmann, János Kárász, karlheinz essl, klaus lang, konrad bayer, kurt kren, Maria Auböck, michael haneke, peter handke, peter kubelka, peter tscherkassky, thomas bernhard, valie export, wolfgang bauer, wolfgang mitterer, xenia hausner 9 CommentsAs a solid supporter of the Remain campaign, in the 18 days from June 5th until the European Union Referendum on June 23rd, I am posting a selection of links and other information about music, literature, film, visual art, dance, architecture, etc., from each of the EU nations (I use the term EU to refer to all stages of the project, from the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, then the European Economic Community in 1957, through to the European Community in 1993, until final subsumation in the European Union in 2009) . These selections are initially posted on Facebook, then blogged afterwards (including some suggestions from others). The eight nations with the largest populations (in descending order: Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Poland, Rumania, the Netherlands) will get a whole day each, all others will get two days. Otherwise these will be in alphabetical order, as follows:
5/6 Austria, Belgium
6/6 Bulgaria, Croatia
7/6 Cyprus, Czech Republic
8/6 Denmark, Estonia
9/6 Finland, Greece
10/6 France
11/6 Germany
12/6 Hungary, Ireland
13/6 Italy
14/6 Latvia, Lithuania
15/6 Luxembourg, Malta
16/6 Netherlands
17/6 Portugal, Slovakia
18/6 Poland
19/6 Romania
20/6 Slovenia, Sweden
21/6 Spain
22/6 UK
I make no claims to be comprehensive in any case, and my choices undoubtedly will reflect my own aesthetic interests – but I believe that may be more interesting than a rather anonymous selection of simply the most prominent artists or art. All work comes from the post-1945 era, the period during which the EU has come to fruition, but may (and often will) include work which dates from before the nations in question joined the EU. As I am writing in English, where translations exist I will use these. Time does not allow for detailed commentaries, I just throw these selections out there in the hope others will be interested in the extraordinary range of culture which has emerged from citizens of the EU.
Austria
I will open with a site devoted to the work of writer Thomas Bernhard (1939-1989).
This novel in particular is a big personal favourite.
Another major Austrian writer (and equally misanthropic!) is the Nobel Prize winning Elfriede Jelinek (b. 1946), a site devoted to whom can be found here. Here is one of her most notorious books.
Anyone interested in experimental writing needs to look into the work of the Wiener Gruppe, not least this anthology.
Here is a short article about the group and in particular leading figure Konrad Bayer (1932-1964). Also, here is an interesting article about Gerhard Rühm (b. 1930), whilst a range of his poetry can be read and listened to here.
Another vital, but distinct, experimental Austrian poet was the Dada-ist Ernst Jandl (1925-2000), a site devoted to whom can be found here.
Here is an informative doctoral dissertation on the Austrian avant-garde in general. And here is an interesting article on concrete poetry in Austria.
A very different type of Austrian writer is Peter Handke (b. 1942), whose more lyrical and expressive, though highly refined, work is known in part after having been filmed by the German director Wim Wenders.
Few movements in the arts can be considered as extreme, violent, and politically motivated as Wiener Aktionismus . A range of films from leading figures in the movement can be found here, and an important article (in German) here. Here are a selection of key videos by leading figures. First by Otto Muehl (1925-2013):
Then by Günter Brus:
Then, by the figure arguably with the most lasting impact, feminist performance artist Valie Export (b. 1940) (see her site here):
While not directly part of this movement, the work of film-maker Kurt Kren (1929-1998) shares a related sensibility:
Many more videos can be located online of these figures, all of which I strongly recommend.
A different type of radical film can be found in the work of Peter Kubelka (b. 1934):
Another type of avant-garde cinema can be found here in the work of Peter Tscherkassky (b. 1958):
More familiar to international audiences is the director Michael Haneke (b. 1942). Here is his 1992 film Benny’s Video:
And here is his 2001 film La Pianiste/The Piano Teacher based upon Jelinek’s 1983 book Die Klavierspielerin:
To my mind, no other film has captured the terrifying potential for harm and abuse in the world of the conservatoire, when inhabited by disturbed people, as this.
I could choose any amount of interesting Austrian new music (and might perhaps have done so on another day); for now, first here is a moderately early work by leading composer Beat Furrer (b. 1954):
Somewhat linked to the movement known as ‘new complexity’ is the composer Wolfram Schurig (b. 1967):
A wholly different world is found in the work of Klaus Lang (b. 1971):
The work of Karlheinz Essl (b. 1960), moves between composition, sound art, performance art, and improvisation.
Whilst Wolfgang Mitterer (b. 1958) is involved with both composition and improvisation:
And here are the Vienna Improvisers’ Orchestra:
Not to mention the Vegetable Orchestra, who play only on fresh vegetables:
Amongst many interesting Austrian contemporary painters, I am drawn to the work of Xenia Hausner (b. 1951) (various of whose work can be seen here) :
Xenia Hausner, Indigo (Yao) (2013)
Here is an example of the work of writer and theatre practitioner Wolfgang Bauer (1941-2005):
Whilst I also find captivating the landscape architecture of Maria Auböck (b. 1951) and János Kárász, the website for whose firm is here.
Next post will be on Belgium.
