Main Tabs

12.2.13

Ton Sai, TH

Care to guess what was asked to me the most when I mentioned I was going to Thailand?
"You're gonna go climbing right?"
Ummm, yeah?  How could I not?!  While I haven't exactly climbed regularly in a while, that climbing bug was still nestled within my bones (at least to top rope that is!)  So off to Ton Sai we went.

Upon arrival you could see why many climbers decide to spend months in the area, there are many many many many gorgeous limestone walls/crags within the Tonsai/Railay/Phra Nang beach/bays area, and very accessible by foot.  The above image was taken right from the beach.  Also visible in the above shot is a lookout platform, see that yellow arrow? Yeah right there.  Accessible by one giant bamboo ladder and one sketchy rusted out metal one.  Admission: I'm kind of scared of ladders.  But I'm a sucker for a great photo op, so up I went.

looking down from the platform, stalactites galore

While I was up there and slightly fearful of the platform's stability, Mikel came scampering up like a billy goat-no problem.  We chatted for a bit and I admired his tattoos.  I exclaimed "It's Guernica!" to which he replied- "Yes, I am Basque." Mikel told me he got his piece done during travels in Edinburgh, Germany and Indonesia.  I said the art recalled to mind a French tattoo artist and he completed my sentence saying: "your meat is mine? Yes, I'd like to get a tattoo by him as well."  Small world.

I leave you with images of  the dramatic tide coming in at Ton Sai bay


3.2.13

Koh Lanta, TH


A view from Rasta Baby bar in Koh Lanta, Thailand, where I will be hiding out for the next few days.  An old friend has made Klong Nin beach home for the past few years and a promise to visit has finally been fulfilled. 

ALLKIN:Jason Botkin, LNDMRK

Jason Botkin, Galerie Yves Laroche, LNDMRK ( some members formally of Safewalls), and Station16 have come together to throw down ALLKIN, the second show to take place at Projet Beaumont after the inaugural INSA show in August of last year. Phew! That's a lot of links yo.  I asked Botkin how this exhibit came to fruition with the the many minds invovled:

"I've had the pleasure to work with the guys of LNDMRK many times in the past through the EN MASSE project. [...] They are very active members of Montreal's artistic community, from an underground arts perspective. I was thrilled when they approached me to take part in this new initiative with them...a rare opportunity for me to settle down for a bit and focus on my own shit!! "

Yeah! Lots of love here. Let's get to the art now!



As a highly anticipated show, the opening was packed with parka covered art goers checking out the large scale masks, prints, and one giant-all in brilliant technicolour. The show veered away from Botkin's signature black and white palette which has characterized not only his work for the past ten years but also recalls his work as one of the founders of En Masse.

Being greeted by a gaping mouth

installation view, Botkin's wild oversized masks

While whimsical and slightly creepy upon first glance, when I learned that the large faces on the walls were indeed "masks" I was curious about what these figures represented. A few words from the artist:

"Masks, marionettes, and puppets intrigue me enormously. I've always been drawn to these theatrical artifacts. They are interesting ways of addressing identity, acting as ‘second skins’. [...]  Masks are tools which enable us to change identities and assume new personalities. I think we all feel a deep need to change ourselves and the environment around us. I guess these works allow me a chance to offer up a different sense of my ‘self’. Not necessarly a 'truer' sense, but one that is at least often hidden away from sight. "


yeah, even the floor is awesome

Adam from station16 giving me the EV (edition variant) print tour-thanks!
the colourful and sinewy giant
paint on wood detail
party bonus! pop on those 3D glasses and watch the colours closest to magenta and cyan come out at you!
Want to know more? Lots of love here and here.
Get your art on! Until the 29th of March (so no excuses!)