Aesthetica Magazine Issue 33

February / March 2010

Much of this issue is about ingenuity, innovation and pushing artistic boundaries – how far and precisely where can they go? Presenting a survey of these ideas, this issue drives the debate forward. In art, opening at Liberty is OH! YOU PRETTY THINGS, which showcases the new generation of British fashion photographers and explores the ideas behind their work. We’re also looking at artists’ wallpaper and defining our interior spaces. Peter Kardia curates From Floor to Sky, a major exhibition on British sculpture, as well as Bani Abidi with her new work Karachi exploring the personal narratives of identity.

In film, we have a chat with Martin Koolhoven about his new film Winter in Wartime, and Part Two of our How To Animate series. While in music, Kathryn Williams tells us about her new album, and we take an in-depth look at Sound Art, and its amorphous definitions. There’s a preview of Danza Contemporanea de Cuba’s world premiere at eight venues this spring. To conclude, a discussion with Ireland’s rising star, Paul Murray, about his new book Skippy Dies, and an extract from Aifric Campbell’s new book, The Loss Adjustor. This is an extremely exciting issue, open up, dive in and enjoy.

Fred Tomaselli

Fred Tomaselli grew up in the psychedelic era of West Coast America fused with hippy daydreams and drug use.

Chalo! India: A New Era of Indian Art

In the fore­word of this book, Essl is keen to look at the dynamic relationship between India’s socio-political-economic devel­opments and India’s artists.

Max Schaefer

Max Schaefer’s debut offers a disturbing glimpse into the skinhead movement and the undercurrent of aggression upon which the British far right is founded.

Sunday Daffodil and Other Happy Endings

The second novel from P. Robert Smith has as many twists and turns as you’d expect from the man who brought us Up A Tree At Night With A Hedgehog.

The Bishop’s Man

Linden MacIntyre’s second novel is a confident portrayal of disturbing themes, illustrating human desires and the need for companionship.

Revenge of The Mooncake Vixen

Chin’s unique way of storytelling inverts the narrative through a series of short vignettes, creating a novel that operates on many different levels.

Simon Curtis

BAFTA nominated Simon Curtis is a producer and director, whose extensive career spans theatre, film and television.

Aifric Campbell

In conversation with Aifric Campbell.

Paul Murray

In Skippy Dies, Paul Murray goes back to school to give a crash course on bullies, boredom and societal power structures.

Oh No Ono

An immer­sive and multi-layered record, Eggs incorporates choirs of their friends, orchestral embellishment, electronic loops and captured background acoustics.

Frightened Rabbit

Written in a sea­side town on the Fife coast, the isolation and loneliness peppering the songs can be gleaned from the setting in which the record was born.

Danza Contemporanea de Cuba

The world famous Danza Contemporanea de Cuba celebrates its 50th anniversary with its first ever UK tour, bringing the passions of Cuban dance to eight venues.

Caitlin Rose

From Nashville, Tennessee, Caitlin Rose has a certain legacy to live up to, but her vocal prowess withstands the pressures.

Kathryn Williams

Kathryn Williams’ eighth studio album, The Quickening, keeps experimental innocence alongside accomplishment. The record explores the “small, beautiful things about life, and quiet feelings.”

RDA

RDA’s debut album was recorded live and in one take, with the trio describing their sound as “over the top orchestral pop.”

Sound Art

The medium of sound art is complex and multilayered, and creates a huge palette of experiences. It possess a number of contradictions, which are affecting the work contemporary artists are making.

Jookabox

With a song for every mood and aspect of the storyline, it’s hard to believe that each track is from the same band, flipping from metal to reggae, folk and indie.

How to Animate: Part 2

In this two-part guide, Myles McLeod of the award winning Brothers McLeod, offers a series of practical hints and tips to help you start animating.

Winter in Wartime

Koolhoven’s emotive film of a young boy learning about love, loss and deception at the close of the second world war is a journey through history and adolescence.

Identity Formation & Social History

One of Pakistan’s most exciting and engaging artists opened her new show, Karachi Series, at Green Cardamom.