WALLY'S BLOG 2013
December 31
QUIET END
to a pretty quiet year at home tonight with dinner and drinks with Maya's mum. Drinks for Maya means non-alcoholic. More on that next Summer*.
(*Amendment, 2014. Didn't work out. Again.)
December 29
THE ATHEIST CHAPEL
or the Church of Atheism, or whatever it is, is coming on. To be unveiled in March. Here’s some info at the Facebook link. It grows rewarding as texts are added to the shop walls - until now, just in the smaller room. A drip of fabulousness in a stagnant ocean at the moment. Can’t wait to get our place back for a month when the fashion people move out end of February. (It appears we will not be invited to extend the contract again. Hope to know for sure in a week or two.)
I mentioned to Maya in passing that I shall begin writing proper when I’m 60.
December 26
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY PARTY
last night at Linus’s studio featured Humphrey Bogart, Annie Lennox, Isaac Newton, Kenny Everett, Cab Calloway, Quentin Crisp, Muhammad Anwar as-Sadat, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Rod Serling, Sissy Spacek, Louis Chevrolet and Shane MacGowan. A round 12. Mostly showed Bogart films on the beamer loaned from the Berta Bar. The concept was fine: "Bring music, film, food, whatever you like to celebrate birthday babies of enormous or dubious importance", and things went well enough. But it needs more welly if I ever do it again. A few more guests would have been lovely, but I suppose most were doing christmas.
August 18
SUNDAY FEELING
At the park, Maya speaks while PP writes on the laptop:
TO DO THIS WEEK
We gonna go to the Restaurant Verdi opening & brunch. With Andrew at 8am. (A fine time to party.)
Need a concept for March 2014, our last month in the gallery. (Talk to Jo Brauer, offer them just January for now.)
Apply for this and that.
The exhibition should still be THE CHURCH OF ATHEISM.
Look for short term jobs and more contracts.
Flyer the city. Advertise.
Advertise what?
The Summer Offer and the coming exhibition in Zurich.
Get access to Linus's studio to work on the show there. We don't have the space.
For the Berlin exhibition 10 days after that, send some flyers to Ken. Arrange to get keys.
Come to think of it, not much going on the next couple of weeks.
Start organizing the Berlin week.
Start looking for a small live-in shop or space or old pub or whatever in London. Spend more time in London and Berlin.
Chase up Karussell about the December exhibition. Must know soon if it's on.
Set up a screen-print workshop.
Buy a 3d printer with Simon's money. HA!
Get another barbecue on and invite co-conspirators, like Nikki's Ghost.
August 16
LET'S GET SECULAR
Filled out the form to become an affiliate of the people at www.besecular.com. It is not strictly clear from the website, which seems to be an on-line shop, what affiliation means, apart from hints at getting fifty percent of something, or fifty percent off something. But I do like the type-face.
August 15
YOUR SPIRIT IS THE RESIDUE OF YOUR LOVE
And your Hate.
Spirituality, separated from religion, is Love. Spirituality, corrupted by any means, breeds Hate.
August 14
WHEN YOU DIE
which starts with the stopping of your heart, but takes quite a bit longer than that, your brain is gasping for oxygen and goes into overdrive, causing hallucinations and the famous "light at the end of a tunnel". That is not heaven you see down the road or up in the sky. It is just the last activity of your over stressed mind. A very bad trip indeed. Commonly disguised as a very good one; God is looking after you so everything will be alright in the end. True, leaning heavily towards the understanding of dark ideas like DEATH IS INDEED THE END is really very scary. Instead you can free-fall towards spiritual mythology and eternal happiness, or eternal sexual bliss if that is what you are into, which all sounds very preferable. But the natural process of death, like life amongst us at its very worst, is unbearably scary. But that's how it is. This dark scenario, however, feels a whole lot better when compared to living our short and singular lives cowed by the meanest series of falsities and regulations to make it down the ages, rammed down our throats by equally terrified, and far less imaginative, overtly religious people who prefer to shut eyes and ears and spread a rather comfortable, rather childish, rather fucking stupid alternative version of what, in the end, happens with equal brutality, or very nearly equal brutality, to us all. Amen. One has no qualms with those who "quietly believe". Aggressive believers are the problem; those who achieve selfish pleasure in bullying other people, day in, day out, concerning how to live their lives.
I write obvious stuff like this so I don't forget what I know. Most of my friends and associates, strangely enough, feel exactly the same way. So I am usually preaching to the converted. At the other end of the scale, and if I were a bore, I could repeat my ideas every Sunday, sing them aloud, whisper them before eating and going to bed. I could go somewhere to hear them repeated to me and all my male friends, five times a day, or just drop to the floor where I am and do the same, twenty-four-seven, anywhere and everywhere, again and again, over and over. And brainwash my kids to believe the same, instead of teaching them how to love in the real world, and thus how not to kill people. Every killing is a crime against Humanity. No-one can claim authority over the infliction of any single person's death. The most fundamental advice, or law, found at the base of every religion is THOU SHALL'T NOT KILL(*).
Your death is your own. A unique occurrence in the universe. You were privileged to have lived, once, on our crowded planet, and we loved you. At least some of us did. When you close your eyes to die, nobody else is seeing what you are seeing. Nobody has foretold it. You are going through a unique transformation in the universe. While you are yet conscious you may consider the things you have done, whether you have loved, or killed, enjoyed, or suffered, or bullied. Drift away comfortably, or otherwise, in an event as great as birth, as fundamental as the stars, as unique as this One Life, on this One Earth - upon which you will remain for a very long while, in atoms and in spirit...
Doctor Dawkins: "Be thankful that you have a life, and forsake your vain and presumptuous desire for a second one".
(*) Later additions to many a "good book" will go on to condone killing under particular circumstances. This is because the books are written by Humans, and it's the Human way to meddle with good things. The books are always too long.
August 10
"DEAR MISS WINFREY
To some silly sales assistant who didn't recognise you as the rich celebrity you obviously are, you didn't look like a $35,000 handbag fitted your shopping agenda. It was her mistake. Prove her wrong and buy the stupid thing or accept the utter embarrassment and move on. The poor little shop boss and all the staff are so embarrassed they will never be racist again. It's bad for business, even if it's true. So let the world's news cover more pressing stories. Fucking christ. Two chicks fall out over a handbag. All over the news."
(It wouldn't happen to Tina. She's one of us.)
August 9
EMOTIVE AND SIMPLISTIC
But heck, let's be emotive and simplistic. Anything to protect even one child from psychologically damaging parents:
www.facebook.com/ReligiousFreeYouth
August 6
"DEAR KARUSSELL
Here is a preliminary outline of the exhibition concept I mentioned which you can consider for the Karussell space. Best time would be towards the end of the year. I have quickly outlined it here in English. If you wish to have this translated just let me know. For the exhibition, all literature will be available in German of course.
BE NICE TO BUILDINGS
and buildings will be nice to you
A group exhibition of ART-WORKS & POSTERS, curated by Paradox Paul & Karussell. You can decide if:
a. Anyone is invited to take part, or
b. Participants are limited by age.
General description:
With so many empty buildings in good condition in cities everywhere, why is it so hard for so many young businesses and projects to find spaces in which to set up and pursue their creative ideas? Why is there so little interaction between house-owners and those of limited financial means in need of temporary or longer term spaces?
Here in Zurich the problem is acute. The usual alternative way is to squat a building and hope not to be thrown out by force almost immediately. This option, by its nature, induces the persons involved to bend, if not break, the law. A side effect of being labelled "anti-social", as squatters mostly are, is that they are frustrated, feel uncared for, and their spaces are often thus neglected, even physically damaged; as much through lack of interest and interaction by the landlords as through their own inexperience of healthier systems. Yet buildings themselves are much better off inhabited, i.e., kept "warm". Landlords who allow their properties to fall into ruin, perhaps for dubious financial or even political reasons, are just as guilty of vandalism.
Along with many others, I have come to the conclusion that "Temporary Usage" ("Zwischennutzung") of a building or space, based on mutual agreements, is the best answer.
(Manifesto)
About me:
Studied fine art in London. Moved to Berlin in 1992 to become active in the underground arts & music scene. Founded and curated the off-gallery project "Wallywoods" (2004-2010). Semi-squatted East Berlin's Kulturhaus Weissensee (2007-2010), organizing demos and generally raising the profile of space closures by local and national government. In 2010 founded in Zurich the arts space "Paradox Zurich Projects" and later "Design-Partners", based now at Idaplatz in District 3. Has staged, as curator and conceptual artist, numerous solo and group exhibitions in London, Berlin, Hamburg, Prague and Zurich.
Let me know what you think...
P.P."
August 5
"DEAR DAN
I've organized an exhibition of the posters at a small gallery around the corner from our Zurich shop, opening event on 31 August, running for one week. If we have screen-printing set up by then it may include one or two new ones, but basically its what we presented at G511ERY. Point is to show people here what we've been up to, where we want to go, and generally keep the ball rolling. Directly after that we have the one week exhibit at Art House Waterloo (tiny place with Wallywoods roots) in Berlin, starting 9 September. That week includes various music & art events around town. If you are interested in coming over for either or both of those exhibitions, let us know and we can work out some arrangements..."
August 1
COMFORTS OF ZURICH, THREE YEARS ON
Yep. Been here three years. Unable now to conceal the frustration. Come to think of it, I barely managed to conceal the frustration after a few months. We certainly gave it a go. The art scene is a guarded staff-room I hardly want to enter anymore. It's all so standard. A high standard, much of it, but standard none-the-less. Our little shop ticks along, like the design partnership. Tick, tock, tick. We've rented out the main room now to a "vintage" clothes (second-hand) shop-in-shop run by chatty young girls. Based in the side room - one of the oddest and prettiest in town - we get unchallenging jobs here and there, enough to keep us alive in this infuriatingly expensive and claustrophobic village. The people are sophisticated, in an uninteresting way, politely arrogant, well-to-do, well turned out and dull. Our best friends (we don't have many) are mostly foreigners. They all quietly note the same thing - quietly so as not to rock this luxury boat - that Swiss folk aspire to being uninspiring. The fact that I've made no significant impact only shows further that I have failed. Not in my art, but in my method. I tried to blend in from the start. Have been intimidated and meek. Far too nice a bloke, I am; if prickly. (They don't like prickly.) And lazy. After endless talk, I never even finished the guillotine.
The day before yesterday we returned from ten days in London and ten on the Island. Back to real suspended life, inspired, tired, a little disappointed. But mainly inspired. We are looking at ways to return for longer periods, starting next year. Or soon as possible. Best would be to find a little shop. I just love starting over in little shops. (In the incessant absence of a nice big shop. In my dreams, almost all of them, and I dream a lot, I wander great abandoned buildings.) I confessed to Maya towards the end of our visit my latest ideal condition; four months in London, four in Berlin and four in Zurich, where of course we will keep the flat, letting it out, and perhaps the shop too if we still have it into next year. That triangle between the three capitals, as featured in previous posters and pondering, still grips me. Either way, after three years in Zurich we both long to move on. And poor Maya has been here a lot longer. Twenty-one years away from my unhappy home town and I begin to enjoy the thought of going home. I believe I've almost grown up.
In coming September it's Wallywoods Week in Berlin. Some stage events, one at KKK, one at T-room near the original Wallywoods in Kopisch Street. Based loosely at "the Loo" (Art House Waterloo) also in Kreuzberg, which Ken reluctantly still runs. When we passed by earlier this year it was covered in Alesh & co's graffiti (fine work though some of it is), windows broken, a tramp trying to enter through the rear. I asked him to move on, protecting my little stake I suppose, although nobody gave a damn. Ken neither, it sometimes seems. But it's a space we can use, and will use. On that last trip we saw Jon, Jason, Lee, Kristijan, Chris H., some old murals, more old friends - all without the driving urge to stay. Gosh it was fun though. And thanks to Hotel Helge. I don't speak of it much, but there - exactly and only there - sleeps fitfully my heart. In comparison, London is a prison sentence and Zurich banishment to the sticks.
Paradoxically, while business and whatever we earn and dish-out back to the state is all gripped in Zurich, the driving urge is now to get a foot-hold in South London. And if it works out it could be great fun. Our exhibition at Danny Flynn's fairly new "G511ERY" in grubby (let's not mince words, shitty) Seven Sisters Road was as North London as you want to go, a place I hardly ever knew, and upon completion of the exercise, feel not the slightest wish to. From the mosques at Shoreditch to the synagogues in Tottenham, I was as much an outsider as impressionable, bunny-eyed Maya. In contrast, a short and pictorial afternoon around Hercules Road with Liam Barnes and a pint of beer felt suburban, peaceful and most civilised (never thought I would say that); practically in the shadow of the London Eye. What more would you want? No need to travel for an hour and more to get anywhere. (London is so horribly BIG, and the travel costs...) At the Eye we met, too, Neil and three of his five wonderful kids, all happily Scandinavian and solid in the world. Wonderful to see them. And Maya does love children. (More about that elsewhere.) She was born in Paddington, oddly enough, though I've probably mentioned it. St Mary's was one of many places we briefly passed, tourists we happen to be, where Princess who-cares-what-her-name-is birthed an apparent baby king during our stay. So the news kept telling us. Endlessly. Indeed, almost to my shame I made a poster about it for the London exhibition ("I'm the bloody King of England") which is why we were there in the first place. Posters by Paradox Paul, produced with Maya and wordy old Dan, at his Metropolitan University full of old print machinery and no students, how handy, right in the middle of that hot and increasingly foreign north bit of the city. The one-off "private view" was a lot of work, involving no little stress with the eccentric curator as it turned out; but very much worthwhile. For my cv also, which is in urgent need of updating, whatever the hell I'll need that for one day, along with so much other stuff urgently in need of updating. Like this website, which I'm doing now. Far as the exhibit goes, a nice lady called Hilaire came along and summed it up thusly:
POSTERS AND COASTERS
"Biblical weather last night as we ventured far north, deep into zone 3 and along the Seven Sisters Road, to the private view of an exhibition of posters at G511ERY. A fabulously unlikely location for a gallery, next to a kebab shop in Tottenham, but just the spot to showcase some maverick printmaking. The work on display included short absurd texts by Paradox Paul and several posters for his fine-looking Flying Guillotine Piano Throne. Later in the evening an actor read one of the texts, Fish Fuck, with Paul prompting/interjecting/echoing phrases from the piece, which, as the title suggests, was of course a love story. There were further posters blutacked to the white gallery walls, based on some of Paul’s projects, and produced by him in collaboration with Danny Amos Flynn – striking, witty and subversive work. In the adjoining kitchen, a trestle table offered a marvelous collection of Danny’s letterpress printed coasters, bookmarks, postcards and bags. I particularly liked Occupy the gift shop in fluorescent pink – got the coaster. And This is not a postcard! in 72pt red playbill font on thick card – got the postcard. There were also a couple of impromptu (uninvited? but very welcome) poetry performances from a couple of passing locals. Where were we? Hoxton? Paris’s 10th arrondissement? No, rain-soaked gritty Tottenham. A fun, sociable and warm evening. Don’t tell the art establishment."
https://hilaireinlondon.wordpress.com
July 27
GILBERT & GEORGE COULDN'T MAKE IT
Next time perhaps.
July 25
THERE IS NO GOD
I know it like I know I have no wings. I will never have wings. I will not live forever. I am here, now, making the most of my limited, fascinating life. "He" is ancient fantasy. I am comfortable in that knowledge. I love myself, my family, my friends. I love reality. Feet firm on this wonderful Earth. I am complete, untainted; privileged to be a clear-headed, reasonable, peaceful Human person - filled with love and fear, yes, like my ancestors. Before the Brainwashing began. I am happy in my corner of the universe. Nature, all around us, is our heaven.
Never-the-less, Danny invited Gilbert & George to our private view this Saturday, after they got on our bus. If they make it to dilapidated Seven Sisters my faith in earthly existence will peak for a while. If they don't, they missed what's looking like a slightly nutty one-off event; a thrown together show of ideas as much as half finished posters. So of course we didn't have any flyers to give to the very well dressed couple. But they were kind enough to give Dan their address, and he went by the other day to drop a hastily produced hand-written invitation through the apparently very narrow letter-box, together with a lovely picture of the guillotine. Gosh how exciting. PP's guillotine throne on G&G's hallway floor.
July 9
ARRIVE IN LONDON TONIGHT
Maya and I will be based first at Danny's gallery in Seven Sisters to work on the exhibition. Visitors welcome. Then down to the Island for ten days, where it would be great to find somewhere to screen-print. Then up to the Smoke again to present the exhibition, my very first in London.
June 24
START PAINTING
for a week or so at Restaurant Verde in Zurich's Expo Center (Messezentrum). Thanks to architects Andrin Schweizer for the opportunity. Hoping a very late ball is at last rolling.
June 21
LIST OF POSTERS
so far, for Paradox Paul's curious projects exhibition taking place at "G511ERY" in North London next month. They are currently being produced by hand, through virtual instructions from Zurich, by Danny at his famous print gallery. Most will then be shown at Ken Shakin's Waterloo in Berlin in September, and for sale at our Zurich studio, and hopefully elsewhere.
QUIET END
to a pretty quiet year at home tonight with dinner and drinks with Maya's mum. Drinks for Maya means non-alcoholic. More on that next Summer*.
(*Amendment, 2014. Didn't work out. Again.)
December 29
THE ATHEIST CHAPEL
or the Church of Atheism, or whatever it is, is coming on. To be unveiled in March. Here’s some info at the Facebook link. It grows rewarding as texts are added to the shop walls - until now, just in the smaller room. A drip of fabulousness in a stagnant ocean at the moment. Can’t wait to get our place back for a month when the fashion people move out end of February. (It appears we will not be invited to extend the contract again. Hope to know for sure in a week or two.)
I mentioned to Maya in passing that I shall begin writing proper when I’m 60.
December 26
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY PARTY
last night at Linus’s studio featured Humphrey Bogart, Annie Lennox, Isaac Newton, Kenny Everett, Cab Calloway, Quentin Crisp, Muhammad Anwar as-Sadat, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Rod Serling, Sissy Spacek, Louis Chevrolet and Shane MacGowan. A round 12. Mostly showed Bogart films on the beamer loaned from the Berta Bar. The concept was fine: "Bring music, film, food, whatever you like to celebrate birthday babies of enormous or dubious importance", and things went well enough. But it needs more welly if I ever do it again. A few more guests would have been lovely, but I suppose most were doing christmas.
August 18
SUNDAY FEELING
At the park, Maya speaks while PP writes on the laptop:
TO DO THIS WEEK
We gonna go to the Restaurant Verdi opening & brunch. With Andrew at 8am. (A fine time to party.)
Need a concept for March 2014, our last month in the gallery. (Talk to Jo Brauer, offer them just January for now.)
Apply for this and that.
The exhibition should still be THE CHURCH OF ATHEISM.
Look for short term jobs and more contracts.
Flyer the city. Advertise.
Advertise what?
The Summer Offer and the coming exhibition in Zurich.
Get access to Linus's studio to work on the show there. We don't have the space.
For the Berlin exhibition 10 days after that, send some flyers to Ken. Arrange to get keys.
Come to think of it, not much going on the next couple of weeks.
Start organizing the Berlin week.
Start looking for a small live-in shop or space or old pub or whatever in London. Spend more time in London and Berlin.
Chase up Karussell about the December exhibition. Must know soon if it's on.
Set up a screen-print workshop.
Buy a 3d printer with Simon's money. HA!
Get another barbecue on and invite co-conspirators, like Nikki's Ghost.
August 16
LET'S GET SECULAR
Filled out the form to become an affiliate of the people at www.besecular.com. It is not strictly clear from the website, which seems to be an on-line shop, what affiliation means, apart from hints at getting fifty percent of something, or fifty percent off something. But I do like the type-face.
August 15
YOUR SPIRIT IS THE RESIDUE OF YOUR LOVE
And your Hate.
Spirituality, separated from religion, is Love. Spirituality, corrupted by any means, breeds Hate.
August 14
WHEN YOU DIE
which starts with the stopping of your heart, but takes quite a bit longer than that, your brain is gasping for oxygen and goes into overdrive, causing hallucinations and the famous "light at the end of a tunnel". That is not heaven you see down the road or up in the sky. It is just the last activity of your over stressed mind. A very bad trip indeed. Commonly disguised as a very good one; God is looking after you so everything will be alright in the end. True, leaning heavily towards the understanding of dark ideas like DEATH IS INDEED THE END is really very scary. Instead you can free-fall towards spiritual mythology and eternal happiness, or eternal sexual bliss if that is what you are into, which all sounds very preferable. But the natural process of death, like life amongst us at its very worst, is unbearably scary. But that's how it is. This dark scenario, however, feels a whole lot better when compared to living our short and singular lives cowed by the meanest series of falsities and regulations to make it down the ages, rammed down our throats by equally terrified, and far less imaginative, overtly religious people who prefer to shut eyes and ears and spread a rather comfortable, rather childish, rather fucking stupid alternative version of what, in the end, happens with equal brutality, or very nearly equal brutality, to us all. Amen. One has no qualms with those who "quietly believe". Aggressive believers are the problem; those who achieve selfish pleasure in bullying other people, day in, day out, concerning how to live their lives.
I write obvious stuff like this so I don't forget what I know. Most of my friends and associates, strangely enough, feel exactly the same way. So I am usually preaching to the converted. At the other end of the scale, and if I were a bore, I could repeat my ideas every Sunday, sing them aloud, whisper them before eating and going to bed. I could go somewhere to hear them repeated to me and all my male friends, five times a day, or just drop to the floor where I am and do the same, twenty-four-seven, anywhere and everywhere, again and again, over and over. And brainwash my kids to believe the same, instead of teaching them how to love in the real world, and thus how not to kill people. Every killing is a crime against Humanity. No-one can claim authority over the infliction of any single person's death. The most fundamental advice, or law, found at the base of every religion is THOU SHALL'T NOT KILL(*).
Your death is your own. A unique occurrence in the universe. You were privileged to have lived, once, on our crowded planet, and we loved you. At least some of us did. When you close your eyes to die, nobody else is seeing what you are seeing. Nobody has foretold it. You are going through a unique transformation in the universe. While you are yet conscious you may consider the things you have done, whether you have loved, or killed, enjoyed, or suffered, or bullied. Drift away comfortably, or otherwise, in an event as great as birth, as fundamental as the stars, as unique as this One Life, on this One Earth - upon which you will remain for a very long while, in atoms and in spirit...
Doctor Dawkins: "Be thankful that you have a life, and forsake your vain and presumptuous desire for a second one".
(*) Later additions to many a "good book" will go on to condone killing under particular circumstances. This is because the books are written by Humans, and it's the Human way to meddle with good things. The books are always too long.
August 10
"DEAR MISS WINFREY
To some silly sales assistant who didn't recognise you as the rich celebrity you obviously are, you didn't look like a $35,000 handbag fitted your shopping agenda. It was her mistake. Prove her wrong and buy the stupid thing or accept the utter embarrassment and move on. The poor little shop boss and all the staff are so embarrassed they will never be racist again. It's bad for business, even if it's true. So let the world's news cover more pressing stories. Fucking christ. Two chicks fall out over a handbag. All over the news."
(It wouldn't happen to Tina. She's one of us.)
August 9
EMOTIVE AND SIMPLISTIC
But heck, let's be emotive and simplistic. Anything to protect even one child from psychologically damaging parents:
www.facebook.com/ReligiousFreeYouth
August 6
"DEAR KARUSSELL
Here is a preliminary outline of the exhibition concept I mentioned which you can consider for the Karussell space. Best time would be towards the end of the year. I have quickly outlined it here in English. If you wish to have this translated just let me know. For the exhibition, all literature will be available in German of course.
BE NICE TO BUILDINGS
and buildings will be nice to you
A group exhibition of ART-WORKS & POSTERS, curated by Paradox Paul & Karussell. You can decide if:
a. Anyone is invited to take part, or
b. Participants are limited by age.
General description:
With so many empty buildings in good condition in cities everywhere, why is it so hard for so many young businesses and projects to find spaces in which to set up and pursue their creative ideas? Why is there so little interaction between house-owners and those of limited financial means in need of temporary or longer term spaces?
Here in Zurich the problem is acute. The usual alternative way is to squat a building and hope not to be thrown out by force almost immediately. This option, by its nature, induces the persons involved to bend, if not break, the law. A side effect of being labelled "anti-social", as squatters mostly are, is that they are frustrated, feel uncared for, and their spaces are often thus neglected, even physically damaged; as much through lack of interest and interaction by the landlords as through their own inexperience of healthier systems. Yet buildings themselves are much better off inhabited, i.e., kept "warm". Landlords who allow their properties to fall into ruin, perhaps for dubious financial or even political reasons, are just as guilty of vandalism.
Along with many others, I have come to the conclusion that "Temporary Usage" ("Zwischennutzung") of a building or space, based on mutual agreements, is the best answer.
(Manifesto)
About me:
Studied fine art in London. Moved to Berlin in 1992 to become active in the underground arts & music scene. Founded and curated the off-gallery project "Wallywoods" (2004-2010). Semi-squatted East Berlin's Kulturhaus Weissensee (2007-2010), organizing demos and generally raising the profile of space closures by local and national government. In 2010 founded in Zurich the arts space "Paradox Zurich Projects" and later "Design-Partners", based now at Idaplatz in District 3. Has staged, as curator and conceptual artist, numerous solo and group exhibitions in London, Berlin, Hamburg, Prague and Zurich.
Let me know what you think...
P.P."
August 5
"DEAR DAN
I've organized an exhibition of the posters at a small gallery around the corner from our Zurich shop, opening event on 31 August, running for one week. If we have screen-printing set up by then it may include one or two new ones, but basically its what we presented at G511ERY. Point is to show people here what we've been up to, where we want to go, and generally keep the ball rolling. Directly after that we have the one week exhibit at Art House Waterloo (tiny place with Wallywoods roots) in Berlin, starting 9 September. That week includes various music & art events around town. If you are interested in coming over for either or both of those exhibitions, let us know and we can work out some arrangements..."
August 1
COMFORTS OF ZURICH, THREE YEARS ON
Yep. Been here three years. Unable now to conceal the frustration. Come to think of it, I barely managed to conceal the frustration after a few months. We certainly gave it a go. The art scene is a guarded staff-room I hardly want to enter anymore. It's all so standard. A high standard, much of it, but standard none-the-less. Our little shop ticks along, like the design partnership. Tick, tock, tick. We've rented out the main room now to a "vintage" clothes (second-hand) shop-in-shop run by chatty young girls. Based in the side room - one of the oddest and prettiest in town - we get unchallenging jobs here and there, enough to keep us alive in this infuriatingly expensive and claustrophobic village. The people are sophisticated, in an uninteresting way, politely arrogant, well-to-do, well turned out and dull. Our best friends (we don't have many) are mostly foreigners. They all quietly note the same thing - quietly so as not to rock this luxury boat - that Swiss folk aspire to being uninspiring. The fact that I've made no significant impact only shows further that I have failed. Not in my art, but in my method. I tried to blend in from the start. Have been intimidated and meek. Far too nice a bloke, I am; if prickly. (They don't like prickly.) And lazy. After endless talk, I never even finished the guillotine.
The day before yesterday we returned from ten days in London and ten on the Island. Back to real suspended life, inspired, tired, a little disappointed. But mainly inspired. We are looking at ways to return for longer periods, starting next year. Or soon as possible. Best would be to find a little shop. I just love starting over in little shops. (In the incessant absence of a nice big shop. In my dreams, almost all of them, and I dream a lot, I wander great abandoned buildings.) I confessed to Maya towards the end of our visit my latest ideal condition; four months in London, four in Berlin and four in Zurich, where of course we will keep the flat, letting it out, and perhaps the shop too if we still have it into next year. That triangle between the three capitals, as featured in previous posters and pondering, still grips me. Either way, after three years in Zurich we both long to move on. And poor Maya has been here a lot longer. Twenty-one years away from my unhappy home town and I begin to enjoy the thought of going home. I believe I've almost grown up.
In coming September it's Wallywoods Week in Berlin. Some stage events, one at KKK, one at T-room near the original Wallywoods in Kopisch Street. Based loosely at "the Loo" (Art House Waterloo) also in Kreuzberg, which Ken reluctantly still runs. When we passed by earlier this year it was covered in Alesh & co's graffiti (fine work though some of it is), windows broken, a tramp trying to enter through the rear. I asked him to move on, protecting my little stake I suppose, although nobody gave a damn. Ken neither, it sometimes seems. But it's a space we can use, and will use. On that last trip we saw Jon, Jason, Lee, Kristijan, Chris H., some old murals, more old friends - all without the driving urge to stay. Gosh it was fun though. And thanks to Hotel Helge. I don't speak of it much, but there - exactly and only there - sleeps fitfully my heart. In comparison, London is a prison sentence and Zurich banishment to the sticks.
Paradoxically, while business and whatever we earn and dish-out back to the state is all gripped in Zurich, the driving urge is now to get a foot-hold in South London. And if it works out it could be great fun. Our exhibition at Danny Flynn's fairly new "G511ERY" in grubby (let's not mince words, shitty) Seven Sisters Road was as North London as you want to go, a place I hardly ever knew, and upon completion of the exercise, feel not the slightest wish to. From the mosques at Shoreditch to the synagogues in Tottenham, I was as much an outsider as impressionable, bunny-eyed Maya. In contrast, a short and pictorial afternoon around Hercules Road with Liam Barnes and a pint of beer felt suburban, peaceful and most civilised (never thought I would say that); practically in the shadow of the London Eye. What more would you want? No need to travel for an hour and more to get anywhere. (London is so horribly BIG, and the travel costs...) At the Eye we met, too, Neil and three of his five wonderful kids, all happily Scandinavian and solid in the world. Wonderful to see them. And Maya does love children. (More about that elsewhere.) She was born in Paddington, oddly enough, though I've probably mentioned it. St Mary's was one of many places we briefly passed, tourists we happen to be, where Princess who-cares-what-her-name-is birthed an apparent baby king during our stay. So the news kept telling us. Endlessly. Indeed, almost to my shame I made a poster about it for the London exhibition ("I'm the bloody King of England") which is why we were there in the first place. Posters by Paradox Paul, produced with Maya and wordy old Dan, at his Metropolitan University full of old print machinery and no students, how handy, right in the middle of that hot and increasingly foreign north bit of the city. The one-off "private view" was a lot of work, involving no little stress with the eccentric curator as it turned out; but very much worthwhile. For my cv also, which is in urgent need of updating, whatever the hell I'll need that for one day, along with so much other stuff urgently in need of updating. Like this website, which I'm doing now. Far as the exhibit goes, a nice lady called Hilaire came along and summed it up thusly:
POSTERS AND COASTERS
"Biblical weather last night as we ventured far north, deep into zone 3 and along the Seven Sisters Road, to the private view of an exhibition of posters at G511ERY. A fabulously unlikely location for a gallery, next to a kebab shop in Tottenham, but just the spot to showcase some maverick printmaking. The work on display included short absurd texts by Paradox Paul and several posters for his fine-looking Flying Guillotine Piano Throne. Later in the evening an actor read one of the texts, Fish Fuck, with Paul prompting/interjecting/echoing phrases from the piece, which, as the title suggests, was of course a love story. There were further posters blutacked to the white gallery walls, based on some of Paul’s projects, and produced by him in collaboration with Danny Amos Flynn – striking, witty and subversive work. In the adjoining kitchen, a trestle table offered a marvelous collection of Danny’s letterpress printed coasters, bookmarks, postcards and bags. I particularly liked Occupy the gift shop in fluorescent pink – got the coaster. And This is not a postcard! in 72pt red playbill font on thick card – got the postcard. There were also a couple of impromptu (uninvited? but very welcome) poetry performances from a couple of passing locals. Where were we? Hoxton? Paris’s 10th arrondissement? No, rain-soaked gritty Tottenham. A fun, sociable and warm evening. Don’t tell the art establishment."
https://hilaireinlondon.wordpress.com
July 27
GILBERT & GEORGE COULDN'T MAKE IT
Next time perhaps.
July 25
THERE IS NO GOD
I know it like I know I have no wings. I will never have wings. I will not live forever. I am here, now, making the most of my limited, fascinating life. "He" is ancient fantasy. I am comfortable in that knowledge. I love myself, my family, my friends. I love reality. Feet firm on this wonderful Earth. I am complete, untainted; privileged to be a clear-headed, reasonable, peaceful Human person - filled with love and fear, yes, like my ancestors. Before the Brainwashing began. I am happy in my corner of the universe. Nature, all around us, is our heaven.
Never-the-less, Danny invited Gilbert & George to our private view this Saturday, after they got on our bus. If they make it to dilapidated Seven Sisters my faith in earthly existence will peak for a while. If they don't, they missed what's looking like a slightly nutty one-off event; a thrown together show of ideas as much as half finished posters. So of course we didn't have any flyers to give to the very well dressed couple. But they were kind enough to give Dan their address, and he went by the other day to drop a hastily produced hand-written invitation through the apparently very narrow letter-box, together with a lovely picture of the guillotine. Gosh how exciting. PP's guillotine throne on G&G's hallway floor.
July 9
ARRIVE IN LONDON TONIGHT
Maya and I will be based first at Danny's gallery in Seven Sisters to work on the exhibition. Visitors welcome. Then down to the Island for ten days, where it would be great to find somewhere to screen-print. Then up to the Smoke again to present the exhibition, my very first in London.
June 24
START PAINTING
for a week or so at Restaurant Verde in Zurich's Expo Center (Messezentrum). Thanks to architects Andrin Schweizer for the opportunity. Hoping a very late ball is at last rolling.
June 21
LIST OF POSTERS
so far, for Paradox Paul's curious projects exhibition taking place at "G511ERY" in North London next month. They are currently being produced by hand, through virtual instructions from Zurich, by Danny at his famous print gallery. Most will then be shown at Ken Shakin's Waterloo in Berlin in September, and for sale at our Zurich studio, and hopefully elsewhere.
June 2
MADE A NEW FB PAGE
called RIGHT TO CHOOSE METHOD OF EXECUTION BY THE (ALREADY) CONDEMNED WITHIN INTERNATIONALLY AGREED METHODS AND STANDARDS.
If it catches on it could change the world. But let's not expect too much.
www.facebook.com/RightToChoseMethodOfExecution
April 29
SOMETIMES
when I try to see our showroom with other peoples eyes, which takes a lot of concentration and never works, I think we might have the strangest and most interesting little shop in Zurich. Unfortunately, because Zurichers are not the most inquisitive of folk, to put it politely, the majority have missed out on our energy and various skills. We continue positively, however, into this year with a further development of concept, and welcome new partners who open here next month a "vintage clothes" shop-in-shop. Maya and I have contracts outside the studio, but remain based here in the side room, working on various new ideas; including the exciting 3D printing idea in association with our French colleague Simon, an engineer with a bright imagination.
April 28
EARTH TABLES
are mixed-media art tables. Round, as big or small as you like. You can put your coffee on the the glass surface. How practical. Under that surface is a lot of paint and beer and other stuff, in the colours and shape of the Earth. It's a moving picture. Until it dries, which is possibly never. The edges of glass and table are glued together with silicon, ensuring nothing drips out. The effect was surprisingly beautiful, and relatively simple to reproduce. The first was still moving, before I scrapped it, and was far from dry, as I found when it slid off, ruining the picture. I had hoped the thick glass wouldn't crack through no little stress (on a wooden table in this case, which bowed), although slow drying due to everything being trapped in tight, will be an advantage. As soon as the edges are secured then it's usable. It will still move a little when you push down or place heavier objects on it - a bit like those sixties oil and water lamps, where the blobs go up and down. The "Earth" in our table could be lit, too. Apart from a round plate of hardened glass, needed for each piece, the table may be made from almost any materials.
Apart from that there is this:
Date confirmed: Thursday 12 September 2013
First Wallywoods Concert + Party in 3 years
And celebrating 10 years King Kong Klub in Berlin
Featuring The Ugly Americans
The Ghost of Nikki Sudden
And lots more....
February 6
"HALLO ANDREW
Luca at Berta Bar liked our concept a lot but wants to wait until its more clear what happens to the house generally - probably not even this year - he didn't take the decorating firm's offer either. Thats a shame - for us. (I wonder why he even asked the first place somehow. Could have been just curious about possibilities). So I'm sorry that didn't work out. In fact that leaves us in the shit. We are now broke. I'm contacting various people to generate whatever work. As always we remain positive. See you soon - good luck decorating your shopping center!"
February 5
"HALLO PAUL
I believe we met once or twice in Another Country over the years but how and ever I am making a short documentary film about the bookshop, it's community and the relationships there and feel it wouldn't be complete without your input. My partner and I, Anna Byrne, have been gathering audio interviews with various bookshop "regulars" over the past 12 months so we would like to record one with you if that's agreeable. I know we missed the boat as you were in Berlin a few weeks back but there is also the possibility of an interview over the phone. We imagine it shouldn't take more than 30 or 40 minutes. Perhaps, if you're interested you can write me back with a few suggestions for times that would suit you. Looking forward to a response at your earliest convenience.
Kind regards,"
David Gordon
February 2
CURRENT EXHIBITION
"HI, WHO ARE YOU"
by Linus Scherer
HAND-MADE LINSEED OIL PRINTS FROM DIGITAL ORIGINALS ON CANVAS
HANDGEMACHTE LEINÖL-DRUCKE AB DIGITALEN DATEN AUF LEINWAND
1 - 15 February, 2013. (Monday to Fridays...)
January 30
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO EASY
"Hallo Luca.
Here are two graphics showing our suggestion for the Berta Bar.
Included in the price are:
- Ceiling: clean of nicotine, isolated, painted white.
- Walls (left, right, left of bar & corridor area): clean of nicotine, isolated, painted white (egg-shell).
- Walls (street-side, left of corridor area, behind drinks shelves): Gold-brown "Berlin-style", like the gold wall in rear-left of our shop.
- Back wall: rebuild wall (Regips), paint off-white, prepare for photo to be painted at later date (included in price) or during this main phase if you prefer. Maya and I would visit the City Photo Library to find something we all find suitable.
- Doors & window: sand wood, minor repairs, paint gloss white.
- Heaters: probably painted not sparayed, white (radiator paint).
Total price, ink. vat & materials: CHF XXX
You do need to close for two consecutive days because of paint/chemical smells - you can choose which days within the 10 days (max) that we need for the work.
Exactly which walls are white or gold-brown (if you want gold-brown at all) are variable; for instance the column behind the bar could be gold-brown too. But the graphics show my preference. We work clean and tidy: each business day will be cleared and ready for opening at 4pm. (8am start).
If you wish to change any details or colour suggestions we can discuss it. If the cost is too high, especially because of the two days closed, tell me and we will see what we can adjust. It would be great for us to do this, a real help. Hence the reasonable price. Just let us know, then I can work out details. And happy holidays..."
(*Half a year later, decorating the bar next door didn't happen yet.)
January 19
PEOPLE WANT
something to feel good about. Something to fill that terrrible hole, to allay that hunger, dull that primitive fear, counter that aweful smallness which all living creatures know. For an atheist it can't be God. I thought it must be Art. Through Art my place in the world has been better defined. Yes, it is Art, sure it is. Although to be sober, art has never, EVER supported my physical existence. It’s been a one way street up to now. But we won’t fall out over that. After all, ART WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS, so who am I to question.
January 18
"HALLO MANFRED KIELNHOFER
Next week we begin to hang the new exhibit. We are even making a new floor. So please come and collect your Perspex Chair. As I said, the Ball Benches are safely packed in the cellar and therefore no problem. And we can keep a little Time Guard in the shop. But I need to know what to do with your great big chair? WHAT SHALL I DO WITH YOUR CHAIR?"
January 10
DESIGN-PARTNERS ARTICLE FOR THE FINE PEOPLE OF ZURICH
"Vor kurzem fand in Zürich am Idaplatz das Re-Opening von DESIGN-PARTNERS statt. Nach einer sanften Revitalisierung der Räumlichkeiten erstrahlt die Ausstellungsfläche und der Design Verkaufscorner im neuen Glanz. Neben dem Design Corner mit Objekten von nationalen wie internationalen Künstler steht vorallen das Künstler Kollektiv rund um Paul Woods und seiner Frau Maya Malfatti Woods im Mittelpunkt. Erwähnenswert sind besonders auch die einmaligen Dekorations- und Wandmalereien des britischen Künstlers.
Der kleine unscheinbare Laden mit grossen Ideen an der Bertastrasse 26 direkt am Idaplatz überrascht und erfrischt mit einzigartigen Design, Asseccoires, gewagten Möbeln und Einrichtungsgegeständen. DESIGN-PARTNERS ist allerdings viel mehr als nur ein gewöhnlicher Laden, es ist vielmehr eine Plattform für Künstler und Designer die neben ihrem Schaffen auch zusammenfinden, sich ergänzen oder neue Projekte aufgreifen. Das innovative Netzwerk rund um das Künstler-Ehepaar Malfatti Woods bietet verschiedenen nationalen wie internationalen Künstler, Schwerpunkt London und Berlin die Möglichkeit, sich hier einem grösseren Publikum zu zeigen und auch deren Design Objekte zu verkaufen. Immer wieder präsentieren sie auch neue unbekannte Designer, wie unter anderen Maria Kühnen (Wachsobjekte & Seifen), Reto Ehrbar (Illustrationen), Wink Witholt (Bronzeknöpfe & Fotografien), oder Lottie Fröhlich (Silberschmuck). Exklusiv gezeigt werden auch aktuelle Holzarbeiten von Wolfgang Burjack wie die «Parkett-Boxen», oder «gesandete» Möbel.
PAUL WOODS
Der Maler und Illustrator Paul Woods arbeitete als Modellbauer und Spezialeffektendesigner in London, bevor er 1992 zur Ostberliner Hausbesetzerszene stiess. Dort konzentrierte er sich hauptsächlich auf Wandmalerei und Innenraumgestaltung und wurde 1994 zunächst mit der Wandgestaltung der Bar Die Fünf Ziegen beauftragt, danach des bekannten Restaurants Brazil. Woods machte ausserdem durch eine Reihe von hochkarätigen Gestaltungen in Klubs und Restaurants in Berlin-Mitte auf sich aufmerksam: Yosoy und Oxymoron am Hackeschen Markt, Goa in der Oranienburger Strasse, Kid Creole in der Lottumstrasse und in West-Berlin das Terzomondo. In seinen Auftragsarbeiten finden sich sehr verschiedene Einflüsse: von tibetischer Kunst bis Science-Fiction, präraphaelitische und gar surrealistische Leihgaben springen ins Auge und zeigen Paul Woods malerische Vielfalt.
ANGEBOT & DIENSTLEISTUNGEN
Dekorationsmalerei, handgefertigte Schilder und Beschriftungen, Grafik, Illustrationen, Skulpturen und in Zusammenarbeit mit weiteren Designern auch Möbel-Design, Licht-Design, Set- / Location-Design sowie Ausstellungs-Design. Der internationale Standort Zürich gibt DESIGN-PARTNERS die Möglichkeit, Anfragen und Aufträge weltweit zu bearbeiten. Aus der geografisch vorteil-haften Lage in Form eines Triangels: Zürich, London und Berlin, ergibt sich eine enge Zusammenarbeit zwischen den drei Städten."