Alex and Tor's 'Gem of Zen'

A thought struck me and a friend whilst we were working late in the studio.



Whilst we were both complaining, as most people do, that our own respective pieces of work we were working on were 'rubbish' (it's so much easier to see the brilliantness of other peoples work isn't it?) a thought coalesced into being...



'It's not your artwork that is shit, it's the process of making it that can be shit. Ergo; don't mix up the feelings appropriate to the process with the final product'



It sort of made sense at the time...

Agh!

I know this isn't particularly to do with art and creativity, but it wound me up so much i had to vent my anger somewhere.

Here's the source of my anger: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7119399.stm

It is unbelievable. All this international angst, mouth-foaming religious 'offense', and a possible 40 lashes over a teddy bear. A fucking teddy bear. Once again; Unbelievable.

I respect other people's viewpoints/religions, but respect must be earnt in my opinion, not demanded or pandered to. So, to accuse this poor woman of 'inciting religious hatred' when it is obviously a naive cultural faux pas on her part is absurd (And wasn't it the children that named the bear, not Mrs Gibbons?)

What's most disappointing is that it is totally unrepresentative of religious people in general, it is always the few fundamentalists in power that do such negative things. Surely it would pass off better to acknowledge that a foreigner made a mistake and pardon her? Thus showing that religions can be benevolent and understanding? Way to reconcile the Muslim world with the western world Sudan.

Religious Theocracies: are they a bit backward, or are they finest governments of the 14th century?

Go Banksy! :)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7070000/newsid_7072000/7072081.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&nol_storyid=7072081&bbcws=1

Banksy

From the BBC website(Full article here ):

'Graffiti art by the acclaimed artist Banksy on streets in Tower Hamlets is to be painted over.
Stencilled artwork from the guerrilla artist can be seen on walls across London, but Tower Hamlets is the first council to treat them as vandalism.'

Grafitti or art? it's a tough one with Banksy. I personally think it's an awesome form of public art; it's composed, usually witty and makes a point unlike most graffiti which is usually incomprehensible letters and 'tags'.

Whatever you think of his stuff though, it's undoubtably popular. (see the video in the right of the article) So popular in fact, that they've recently published a guidebook of his work in London. Think of the tourism they could attract to the area, and the inevitable money they would bring! It could be the novelty that sets Tower hamlets apart from the rest of London! A unique selling point! So quite naturally they should stick dogmatically to the law and wipe them away. Stupid. Bet the guidebook publisher's are kicking themselves...

I much prefer Bristol council's approach to his work (though i suspect their comparative leniency may have something to do with being Banksy's hometown) 97% voted for his most recent graffiti to stay where it is. Power to the people!

Incidentally i happened to see the piece in question when i visited some friends down there, here's my pic: