Tag: review

  • A tour by Wolfgang Tillmans at David Zwirner Hong Kong

    A tour by Wolfgang Tillmans at David Zwirner Hong Kong

    David Zwirner’s Hong Kong gallery put on a solo exhibition of Wolfgang Tillmans in The Point Is Matter from 25 March to 11 May, 2024.

    From soft atmospheric moments, intimate still lifes and portraits to abstract studio videos. Spanning two floors, the photographer and artist presents his work as if in conversation with each other, meticulously planned to get the most out of the white-walled space. Tillmans’ universal perspective comes through in new and old works originating from his travels to Addis Ababa, Berlin, Lagos, and Mongolia, alongside those rooted in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, forging a link to local sensibilities.

    “Hong Kong as a subject matter, is infinitely interesting, fascinating because it is such an international place with, obviously, Chinese culture and its own culture. I mean, I’ve felt moved here every time by the incredible energy, resilience, and joy,” says Tillmans. The pivotal figure of contemporary art took our photographers on a tour of the Hong Kong show, look on through their eyes and in his words…

    A man in a white t-shirt stands in an interior space with windows, softly lit in warm tones.
    Wolfgang Tilmans pictured.
    An art gallery featuring a photograph of a man lying on the floor, presented in a framed display on a white wall. The adjacent wall has a large opening leading to a softly lit orange space.

    “This installation is the result of a long evolving conversation or thinking about this space. Yesterday I saw [another] photography exhibition, which was very traditional, which showed one photograph next to the other frame. And it just reminded me of 1992, when I developed my style of installation, I mean, it was a natural reaction. For me, I couldn’t do anything else because why would I show everything in a line when I’m actually in the space? Since a young age, I have loved churches, I loved museums, I love the spatial experience of art. And that is the privilege that we have in these laboratories,” says Tillmans during the tour.

    Interior view of a modern office space featuring a large blackboard with colored sticky notes, framed by a white wall.
    Art gallery interior with visitors examining artworks and interacting, featuring large photographs on white walls.

    “This is not like a time-lapse. This is how fast the Earth rotates. And then the moon slips through the view of the camera and all the videos are set to songs that are part of an album that will be released next month. The piece is set to pictures that are filmed during the printing process of my book, abstract pictures in a giant printing press for colour offset printing press, and I like to go to the press to see the exact colours of the printing. And then, of course, when the run goes to the machine, you have nothing to do, and I just love the sound of the machines, just peeking through all the holes and different ways of where the ink is replenished on top. What was being printed were my abstract pictures. The subject matter was so well suited to this abstract composition. The whole thing with this kind of work is paint in liquid ink.”

    “These works in these spaces relate to my thinking about the world that surrounds me. Even though my thoughts are so often occupied with the past and the future, with thoughts, concepts, spirituality, and emotions, all of that is ultimately round and around matter. The very how things feel and how things work. And some could say what is he talking about? The most basic truism, everything matters. But I hope some people can sense this sense of being in the now, being respectful of your environment, trying to understand things. Also being constantly open to look at things from different perspectives and be open to change.” says Tillmans.

    All images were taken by Jennifer Tang and Shek Po Kwan.

    The Point Is Matter

    Wolfgang Tillmans Solo Exhibition
    March 25–May 11, 2024
    David Zwirner Hong Kong
    5–6/F, H Queen’s,
    80 Queen’s Road Central

    Find out more at David Zwirner.

  • Bloodz Boi on his Debut Australian Tour, raw and unfiltered

    Bloodz Boi on his Debut Australian Tour, raw and unfiltered

    The Beijing rapper brought to Melbourne a deep-cut show of emotion.

    In the world of cloud rap, few artists carve out a niche as distinctively as Bloodz Boi. The rapper debuted on Australian shores and played two intimate shows in Melbourne and Sydney. He is known for his lyricism, lo-fi beats, and a stage presence that commands attention. The Melbourne show provided a raw, unfiltered look into his heart. We met up with the artist in tow, so read on as Yang Fan sheds light on his introspective approach to music and performance, and a desire for authenticity over fame.

    Sarah Wei: Is this your first time in Australia?

    Bloodz Boi: Yeah, first time. 

    SW:What do you think motivates your music?

    My life, yeah, I think my life. Right now, it’s mostly from my life, and maybe just art in general influences me. As soon as I start fighting with my mind… It’s not a very serious thing.

    SW:Is it the same when you create a set for a performance?

    I don’t perform a lot. I don’t want people to see me because every time I perform, I have to reface every scene I created from my songs. 

    My music and songs are careful and are not from good memories. So, while singing them, I want to make them very legit, make myself be there, make myself very sad or something, to feel that. I want to give the people 100% of what I am thinking. It is the emotions that are way more important than anything else.

    It’s like revisiting your emotions… Once you make a song or once it goes out to the public, do you ever revisit it?

    No, I don’t listen to my music. I have taken down a lot of music. The feeling is right now. I always change.

    SW: Why were you drawn to cloud rap?

    Because I’m a soft person. I don’t have a hard style; I am living myself. I don’t like the high energy. 

    SW: And what about DJing? Do you still do that?

    DJ for radio is good enough [currently Bloodz Boi hosts for NTS Radio]. I don’t like to DJ offline. 

    You don’t enjoy it as much?

    Yes. Sometimes, I will. DJing is like karaoke to me. I am saying, you can’t go to karaoke every week, or you will lose your passion. I listen to a lot of music, so I like to listen to it on a club monitor.

    SW: Do you feel much impact from the nightlife in Beijing?

    Like before 2019. When Dada [a Beijing club] opened, the first day I was there. The very old, the old one. I was in high school at that time. My music was influenced a lot.

    SW: Did you find a sense of community there?

    Yes. I made a lot of friends in Dada. I have a very good friend in high school, we grew up to grow up together. I’m older than him, and after his final high school exams in China, I brought him there the same day. Now, he DJs there, every weekend, there or someplace else in Beijing. I have met a lot of interesting people, but I have lost them in the last four years because I don’t talk to people.

    SW: Would you want to reconnect with them?

    I don’t want to be here in any community now, I don’t want to socialise. I only have one or two friends in Beijing. My very close friends don’t listen to my music, they’re not about the music. Never listen to my music, please. Like, I want people to know me. So, my real name is Yang Fan, I want people to know me.

    On the internet, it’s really interesting. Like people, if they saw you making music, they saw you as an artist, and then saw your listing. They think you are very famous.

    When people see you making music, they recognise you as an artist and then notice your fame. But the truth is, anyone can make music these days, much like anyone can send an email. But why? Oh, [because you] got to do something, you know? So, there are not many people making music like ours. I don’t want to trade myself.

    SW: How about China’s underground music scene?

    If you are an underground artist, you are an underground artist; there is no crossover into the mainstream. If you are commercial, you are getting big. Rich and poor. There is no crossover.

    SW: Is your collaboration mostly from your online friends?

    From different countries, talking different languages. Music is not about the language or anything else. So it’s really good. We can meet through the music.

    SW: Is there any artist you really want to work with?

    I want everything just natural. You know? For some people I make music with, it wasn’t because I like their music; it was just because I like this guy. And it’s way more than music.

    Like, I am a fanboy of some people as well. But I don’t want to break the feeling. I just want to listen to them, I don’t want to make music with them.

    If we make music, I want it to be natural. We meet, get to know each other, and then make the music.

    SW: Then, does each new track become individual to the artist?

    Yes, right, right. I never make a song where it’s just half a song, and here you go, do the rest. No, I won’t do that. Every song is just for him or for her.

    SW: How much of your identity do you tie to your music?

    Yes, all of them. I mean, I want the people to like me, for me. The music is a part of me. In the music, I can express all of myself. It is more than the music. It is the real me. There are some people who tell me it’s too real. Like this is too much. They can’t take it. This is too heavy… Like last night [at the concert], I tried my best. But the set up was not good, and it might have made people misunderstand.

    [At his Melbourne show, Bloodz Boi reperformed songs multiple times]. 

    Some people really come for me. I have to do that. I have to do that for them. I want them to feel, to listen, to my set and receive the vibe.

    Find Bloodz Boi’s music, tours, and radio shows here.

    Live Concert Images Courtesy of Valerie Joy.