The punktuaTAR

punkTAR 

1. The act or an instance of punkTARing.
2. A hole, cut, TeAR or breakthrough created by a sharp object/ion. 
    e.g. There were two small puncTARs in his arm where the snake's fangs had pierced the skin.
3. (specifically) A hole in a tracTAR tyre, causing the tyre to deflate. 
    e.g. On the way back we got a punkTAR, and we were stuck at the roadside for three hours until help arrived.

Lucio Fontana, Spatial Concept (1949-1950) Tate Gallery

punkTARation 

1. A set of symbols and marks which are used to clarify meaning in text by separating strings of words into clauses, phrases and senTARnces.
    e.g. Different languages have different rules for punkTARation.
2. The act or an instance of punkTARating   

    e.g.

punktuaTAR 

1. A person who punkTARs.

2. A system of punkTARation. 

    e.g. The punktuaTAR states, Let each punkTAR equal :

Theatre of the AcupunkTAR of Regard     

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 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

 someone looks at something...

   

 LOGOS/HA HA

    

Secret bLOG for a Secret Person in TARland

 l'enfant TARrible, 1952  

Joseph Beuys + Mihai Olos matrix  
Documenta 6 (1977)  

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 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

 someone looks at something... 

         
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"It is difficult to grasp the cultural devastation that is occurring across Australia. Even a partial glimpse is unnerving; surveying the whole is depressing beyond words. Despite the fact that in 2015 Australia's per capita purchasing power ranked 15th among the 25 wealthiest countries in the world, we are living in a nation in which poverties of every kind are being imposed from above.

In 2016 it became clear that Australian arts are facing the worst crisis since before the Australia Council was founded in 1967. But that is only a part of the story. The past three years have seen an unremitting ideological war on knowledge, inquiry and, significantly, cultural memory."

- Opening paragraphs of 'Culture Crisis : Critical failure and the Australian malaise' by Alison Croggon writing in The Monthly (October 2016)

That's your cue, James Paterson :

'Budget position... sell Blue Poles.'

Senator James Paterson
B. Commerce, BA (Melb).

Vice-President, Melbourne University Liberal Club 2008

Vice-President, Australian Liberal Students' Fed. 2008-2009
President, Young Liberal Movement (Vic) 2009.
Office of Senator Mitch Fifield* 2006-2010

(*present Minister for the Arts) 
Victorian Employer's Chamber of Commerce & Industry 2010-11
Institute of Public Affairs 2011-16
Liberal Party senator in the Turnbull government 2016-

Gough Whitlam, Prime Minister of Australia 1972-75
Authorised purchase of Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles, 1973
          

Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. 
I knew Jack Kennedy. 
Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. 
Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy. 
      
- Democrat Senator Bentsen to Republican Senator Quayle : remark made during the 1988 United States vice-presidential debate
         

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 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

 someone looks at something... 
         
 LOGOS/HA HA
 
       

Meanwhile, just announced on another planet : 

France’s arts and culture sector will receive its largest amount of federal funding ever starting next year, with the allotted budget for the Department of Culture and Communication set to increase to €3.6 billion (~USD 4 billion). The leap of 5.5% marks the greatest boost in government financial support for the arts since 2010; the department’s budget now comprises 1.1% of that of the entire state.

The announcement arrived at the end of last month during Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay’s presentation of her department’s forthcoming budget, and makes good on President François Hollande’s announcement in July that a substantial increase was in the works. In her speech, Azoulay suggested that the renewed focused on culture was a response to the terrorism France has witnessed over the past year — from last November’s coordinated attacks across Paris to the devastating violence that shook Nice during this summer’s Bastille Day celebrations.

“I know the difficulties confronting museums today, between a drop in attendance, particularly linked to the drop in tourism, and a rise in security expenses,” Azoulay said, according to the Art Newspaper. As part of the new budget, museums will receive a 7% increase in annual funding.

France’s decision follows another recently announced, huge government effort to promote the arts nationwide: in April, Canadian officials pledged to invest almost CAD 1.9 billion (~USD 1.4 billion) into its own cultural industries over the next five years.

 Looking at Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles, NGV 1974

Theatre of the Actors of Regard

Fosterville Institute of Applied & Progressive Cultural Experience

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 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

 someone looks at something... 

         

 LOGOS/HA HA

   

            

Vale David Bowie ... we are ... described as being ... David Bowie

           

   David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known as David Bowie (/ˈboʊ.i/), was an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, arranger, painter and actor. He was a figure in popular music for over five decades, and was considered by critics and other musicians as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s. (Wikipedia)

Fashion 

David Bowie, 1980

There's a brand new dance
but I don't know its name
That people from bad homes
do again and again
It's big and it's bland
full of tension and fear
They do it over there but we don't do it here

[CHORUS]
Fashion! Turn to the left
Fashion! Turn to the right
Oooh, fashion!
We are the goon squad
and we're coming to town
Beep-beep
Beep-beep
Listen to me - don't listen to me
Talk to me - don't talk to me
Dance with me - don't dance with me, no
Beep-beep

There's a brand new talk,
but it's not very clear
That people from good homes
are talking this year
It's loud and tasteless
and I've heard it before
You shout it while you're dancing
on the whole dance floor
Oh bop, fashion

[CHORUS]

Listen to me - don't listen to me
Talk to me - don't talk to me
Dance with me - don't dance with me, no
Beep-beep
Beep-beep

Oh, bop, do do do do do do do do
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fashion
Oh, bop, do do do do do do do do
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fashion
La-la la la la la la-la
              

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 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
 someone looks at something...

 LOGOS/HA HA 

                   
        

 Blackstar

 David Bowie, 2016
 Blackstar the album is released on his birthday
 8 January 2016

 Blackstar is the opening track,
 the opening verse is :

 In the villa of Ormen, in the villa of Ormen
 Stands a solitary candle, ah-ah, ah-ah
 In the centre of it all, in the centre of it all
 Your eyes
         
          

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 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
 someone looks at something...

 LOGOS/HA HA 

                   
        

   

Dr Who : LOL

Those new to the acronyms of texting often reveal their newbie status in the way they use LOL, believing it means Lots Of Love.

LOL is the abbreviation for Lots Of Looking :

    

               

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A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

someone looks at something ...
 

LOGOS/HA HA

      

        
Even Dr Who says LOL. Not sure what he imagines it means?
      

Dr Who (Smith) : Now, I want this stone dust analysed. And I want a report in triplicate, with lots of graphs, and diagrams, and complicated sums, on my desk tomorrow morning. ASAP! Pronto! LOL!

- 50th anniversary episode, The Day of the Doctor

    

.   .   .   .

     

Joining with 93 other countries of the Cast of Earth : Theatre of the Actors of Regard, bLOGOS/HA HA tuned in at 6.50am yesterday to watch the simultaneous broadcast of the 50th anniversary episode of Dr Who : The Day of the Doctor.

We were not disappointed. LOL indeed!

    

.   .   .   .

    

LOL #1 : The Doctor is summoned to the National Gallery by Britain's Chief Scientific Officer, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (daughter of 'The Brigadier'). 

She hands The Doctor a letter from his employer Queen Elizabeth 1. (Apparently, he still works for her Unified Intelligence Task Force, investigating aliens.) To confirm that the letter and its message are genuine, he and Clara are escorted into a secure section of the Gallery to look at a painting, Her Credential.
    





The Doctor recognizes the painting. 
     

Dr Who : "No More"

Kate L-S :  That's the title.

Dr Who : I know the title.

Kate L-S : Also known as "Gallifrey Falls".

Dr Who : This painting doesn't belong here. Not in this time or place.

Clara : Obviously

Dr Who : It's the fall of Arcadia, Gallifrey's second city.

 

Clara: How is it doing that? How is that possible : it's an oil painting in 3D. 

Dr Who : Time Lord Art. Bigger on the inside. A slice of real time. Frozen. 

      

Dr Who : He was there.

Clara : Who was?

Dr Who : Me. The other me. The one I don't talk about.

     

LOL #2 : In the War Room of Dalek-beseiged Gallifrey, the Time Lords worry at their desperate defence. 

Here, they examine a security breach to the Time Vaults of the Forbidden Weapons. Included among these is The Moment, the most dangerous weapon in the universe, turned sentient, and now with a conscience. It has been stolen.

    

Who would do that? John Hurt as The Doctor.

Another cube, (requires) another Act of Looking  :
     

Billy Piper in the form of Rose Tyler / Bad Wolf looks on as The Interface, the conscience of The Moment. 
           
Later, this Doctor will commit to use the terrible weapon. He will declare: "The moment has come".

LOL #3 : Still at the National Gallery, the Doctor reads his letter from Elizabeth the First.
           

Elizabeth I : My Dearest Love, I hope the painting known as 'Gallifrey Falls' will serve as proof that it is your Elizabeth who writes to you now.You will recall that you pledged yourself to the safety of My Kingdom. In this capacity I have appointed you as Curator of the Under Kingdom, where deadly danger to England is locked away. Should any disturbance occur within its walls, it is My Wish that you be summoned. God speed gentle husband, Elizabeth R

             

more Dr Who : LOL soon...

    

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A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

someone looks at something ...
 

LOGOS/HA HA

      

Here Is The News

.

Some days ago we intended to pay tribute here to the late beloved Australian puppeteer Norman Hetherington. However, we have been caught up in other matters on and off this stage. On the news front Julian Assange and WikiLeaks continue as the major issue of the moment.

The Hetherington appreciation will appear soon. In the meantime, in all the discussions about WikiLeaks, about freedom of the press, about citizens rights to information, about the public interest, the right to know, about diplomacy and secrecy and so on, it seems to bLOGOS/HA HA that the term puppetry might well apply as the umbrella for these associated issues of grand principle.

A pause for a moment to consider umbrella, realising it most likely arises out of umbra (shade, shadow). Thus, in relation to light, umbrella can be viewed as a refuge or a defence, a refusal, even an offence, against light. So umbrella term... ah, the twists and turns of the imagined LOGOS... HA HA

Back to puppetry. Manipulation (manipulator, manipulated), ventriloquism (a SpokesMan said...), shadow play, pulling strings, behind the scenes, and so on. These are terms as much about desire, attachment, power, liberation, theology, creation, freedom and originality as they are about child's play.

Here, from a personal archive, a glove puppet journalist

click image to enlarge

... with an orange card pencilled PRESS as proof of character. Once he had a peaked cap, too.

Journalist [NAME UNKNOWN] :
first appearance in an original puppet play (circa 1960)
White face, black eyes, red smile.

Q: What's black and white and red/read all over?
A: A newspaper

The journalist publicly interviews a dour, purple face witch,
a practitioner from the dark side.

Transcript of interview now missing.

click image to enlarge

Costume assistance : a loving mother.

Perhaps today, in this end-of-the-noughties spirit of disclosure, your correspondent should also unmask...

[ sounds behind screen ]

... Voila!

click image to enlarge

"So, until next time, this is your transparent stiff-spined Puppet Reporter for LeakiWorld Press signing off with that familiar re-mind-er :

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A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA

freehand (#5 _ Regards _ Rain )

.

freehand: recent Australian drawing
Heide Museum of Modern Art
25 November 2010 - 6 March 2011

Yesterday we saw how an artist at the local Heidleberg School recorded the drawmatic rain burst over Heide MoMA some days ago :

Here's how Francis Ponge observed it :

Rain

The rain, in the courtyard where I watch it fall, comes down at very different speeds. In the centre, it is a fine discontinuous curtain (or mesh), falling implacably but relatively slowly, a drizzle, a never-ending languid precipitation, an intense dose of pure meteor. Not far from the right and left walls heavier drops fall more noisily, separately. Here they seem to be about the size of a grain of wheat, there of a pea, elsewhere nearly a marble. On the moulding, on the window ledges, the rain runs horizontally while on the undersides of these same obstacles it is suspended, plump as a humbug. It streams across the entire surface of a little zinc roof the peephole looks down on, in a thin moiré sheet due to the different currents set in motion by the imperceptible undulations and bumps in the roofing. From the adjoining gutter, where it runs with the restraint of a brook in a nearly level bed, it suddenly plunges in a perfectly vertical, coarsely braided stream to the ground, where it splatters and springs up again flashing like needles.

Each of its forms has a particular speed; each responds with a particular sound. The whole lives as intensely as a complicated mechanism, as precise as it is chancy, a clockwork whose spring is the weight of a given mass of precipitate vapour.

The chiming of the vertical streams on the ground, the gurgling of the gutters, the tiny gong beats multiply and resound all at once in a concert without monotony, not without delicacy.

When the spring is unwound, certain gears continue to function for a while, gradually slowing down, until the whole mechanism grinds to a halt. Then, if the sun comes out, everything is erased, the brilliant apparatus evaporates: it has rained.

from:
Francis Ponge: Unfinished Ode to Mud
poems translated by Beverly Bie Brahic
published by CB editions (2008)
click here for the original French

Here's how Marcel Broodthaers ///////

(In Germany, 2000, your correspondent had the great happy fortune to watch in mesmerized delight the projection of this Marcel Broodthaers' 1969 16mm film loop.)

La Pluie (Projet pour un texte)

He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/
He writes/ it rains/ the writing runs/

Here's how bLOGOS/HA HA

Fall of the Reign of Regard
after The Triumph of Christianity over Paganism
by Tommaso Siciliano (1585)

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A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA

detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA

detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA

detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA

detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA

detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA

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A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA

Public Projection Space Program

.

A brief review of some public projection-spaces :

We presented this one in our 2009 Christmas Eve offering, Along the Blogian Way. ( here ) It is from the United States, circa 1890s, from a genre known as the Trade Card. It is shown as it was acquired, with no addition or subtraction, no secondary projection.

On October 4 we visted the same scene with a psycho-commercial overlay. Not only that, we were also urged to discover in the abounding environment...

FIND - Cow, Owl, Frog, Parrot, Lizard, Goose., Man Smoking Pipe, Rooster Crowing, General Grant, Romeo and Juliet.

What else might be there, it seems to ask? Everything, seen and unseen?

Here's the same scene again, as part of a Projection-Space Journey set. From the mountains to the sea. It features a text installation series by the late-19th century artist collective P.P. Senour & Co which anticipates, as it were, the readymades of Marcel Duchamp, the readymade paintings of Robert MacPherson and the journeys of Richard Long.

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A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA