Category: London

Modern Panic Opens Next Week + Live Art Programme Announced

7/11/2018

Modern Panic is an annual exhibition of surreal, controversial and provocative art curated by Guerrilla Zoo founder, James Elphick. It returns for its ninth edition. Bringing together over 70 visual artists and live art practitioners offering a commentary on our chaotic contemporary world and the darker reaches of human nature with works that shock, disturb and confront.

Over the opening weekend evenings we present a radical live art and performance programme of cutting edge performative works.

Panic Ephemera: Private View and Exhibition Launch
Friday 16 November 2018
An opportunity to meet the artists, see the art before the exhibition opens to the public, and experience live performances: Syban presents a disturbing dissection of exclusion; Liam Brandon Murray presents his spectacular wearable art couture; Sound-artist Austin Sherlaw-Johnson and his performers conduct an orchestra of ammunition boxes; Aepril Schaile shares an intimate and interactive lucid dream experience exploring where the astral and physical meet; and Neon Naked Life Drawing invite you to an immersive life drawing class using neon reactive materials and projections.
7pm - 11pm | £12 Adv Only BUY TICKETS

Panic Sermon I - Saturday 17th November 2018
The first of two diverse showcases of riotous acts by some innovative and masterful live art practitioners: Philip Bedwell’s will to struggle against the inevitable.; An entangled, enchained, violent extraction to break free from Linda Anne, Jasmine Dhingra and Courtney Laine; Snake Fervor and Ian the Bloody Poet tackle issues of mental health and societal pressures; Victoria Karlsson invites you to an Aural Séance exploring our subliminal inner landscapes; and a muddle of yearning and un-belonging exploring the journey of the Selkie by Natalie Wearden.
7pm - 11pm | £12 Adv / £15 Door BUY TICKETS

Panic Sermon II - Sunday 18th November 2018
A second evening of radical, confrontational and beautiful performances bring this year’s Modern Panic to a close: Traveling from Germany to premiere this breath-taking in London, Benjamin Turc presents Lucifer, a moving mechanical installation full of noisy shards, colourful parades of shadows, frescoes and intoxicating paintings. Shadows are born and die at the borders of your imagination ; Black Arrows undertake a metabolic process exploring emotional and spiritual ordeals in life, through a process of surrender and acceptance. An act of letting go ; raised by rats Miss Hernia presents her surreal rituals of self love; and a special guest to be announced.
7pm - 11pm | £12 Adv / £15 Door BUY TICKETS

Don't miss out tickets are strictly limited. Due to the content of peformances we advise these are for mature audiences only.

Celebrate 30th Anniversary of Jim Henson's cult film Labyrinth at an Unmissable Masked Ball tribute to David Bowie

19/4/2016

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jim Henson's cult film Labyrinth and an unmissable tribute to the late David Bowie!

The Goblin King's Masquerade Ball is a themed costume ball that explores the weird and wonderful darkside of fantasy. Join a cacophony of London's greatest underground circus, music and cabaret performers at this immersive ballroom party, infamous for having made even the mighty Dionysus blush! A night of mischief and revelry awaits you amongst the strange and beautiful creatures of the night. Let us dance the magic dance and toast the hallowed night until we render the moon a prude and set the sun ablaze!

The event will be held next Friday 29th April at Coronet London. The full line up has finally been announced, have a quick glance below and get your tickets now!

Check out the star studded array of the most exotic and bizarre acts from across the many enchanted realms! A wondrous cornucopia of acts to delight and revolt!

Live Music from the near-eastern sounds of The Turbans, Tim Burton inspired Parisians' La Mouche and medieval speed folk from PerKelt.

Circus & Cabaret presented by Knightmare Life host Paul Flannery, with aerial performances by Josie-Beth Davies, Betty Madimi and Hauk Pattison. Cabaret shows by firey Snake Fervor, Pearl Grey, The Man of A Thousand Farces, Bambi Blue, Arthur Foxaque & Carmen Mon Oxide. Monsterous puppetry by Twice Shy Theatre and Curious Oddities.

DJ sets from The Roustabouts, Troy Savoy [Austria], Rockit Riyad, Duncan DeMorgan & Jamie Moon.

Other curiosities include goblin life drawing by Art Macabre, Tarot reading by House of Daath Tarot, Faery Slave Traders by The Myth Heads, join the rebellion with our cast including Dread Falls Theatre, meet Goblin Shaman Honiki, giant creatures from Razor Pariah, exotic goblin ladies of the night from The Creature Shop, Magical Forest Photo Theatre by Out of Order, dancing from Shell L'Amour and Skyler, and make up artists Squiggles and Wiggles. Plus an interactive cast featuring members of the Goblin King's Royal Army and underdog upstarts The Tusk Rebellion. Click here for full info on each act!

BUY TICKETS now before they are all gobbled up!

Charles Bronson and The Death of Britain's Most Notorious Prisoner

25/11/2014

Guerrilla Zoo salute the demise of the Bronson with a final exhibition of his unique art works, curated by James Elphick. The Death of Bronson celebrates the art and literature of Charles Bronson.

Charlie is one of the highest-profile criminals, often cited by the media as 'Britain's most violent prisoner’ and has been featured in books, interviews, and studies in prison reform and treatment. For those not well versed in the life and times of Charlie, he was born 6 December 1952 in Luton. Michael Peterson as he was first known, was first imprisoned in 1974, originally convicted at the age of 22 for armed robbery at a Post Office during which he stole £26.18. His sentence was repeatedly extended for crimes committed within prison as Charlie fought against the system. While in prison, he began making a name for himself as a loose cannon, often fighting convicts and prison officers. He also embarked on one-man rooftop protests. Regarded as a "problem prisoner", he was moved at least 120 times through Her Majesty's Prison Service.

What was originally a seven-year term stretched out to a fourteen-year sentence that resulted in his first wife, Irene, with whom he had a son, leaving him. He was released on 30 October 1988, and began a bare-knuckle boxing career in the East End of London. His boxing promoter Paul Edmunds was unhappy with his name and suggested he change it to Charles Bronson (although it was never legally changed). He spent merely sixty-nine days as a free man before he was arrested again for suspected robbery. He was released again on 9 November 1992, spending fifty-three days as a free man before being arrested and returned to prison for planning another robbery and continued to be a difficult inmate, instigating numerous hostage situations.

He has spent over 40 years in prison mostly in solitary confinment, spending a total of just four months and nine days out of custody since 1974. In 2008 a film was made of his life, 'Bronson' with English actor Tom Hardy in the lead role. In November 2011, when the film was screen on TV, Charlie finally got to watch it - Watch the 'Bronson' trailer.

In 2014 he announced that he was changing his name again, this time to Charles Salvador in a mark of respect to one of his favourite artists, the late Salvador Dali and to distance himself from his existing reputation and the 'Bronson' stigma. His art has occupied him for the past seventeen years now. His work is quite unique and is sent to and exhibited around the world. He has published fifteen books and numerous prizes for his art and poetry, including six awards from The Koestler Trust.

Charlie's art is most famously recognised for the control bubbles, restraint and forced drug depictions. But his art goes way beyond the Prison/Asylum pieces synonymous with his name. Charlie also draws delicate animal portraits, cartonised creatures which betray his softer side. He draws inspiration on a daily basis, from moving imagery as well as printed matter. Anything around him can inspire a piece of art. Spiders are one of the subjects closely associated with Prisoner BT1314. Charlie can take the simplicity of a spider, add a line of text and make it poignant or comedy genius. Charlie also gives this comedic tone to his Flowers. A simple idea, injected with humour, which brings pleasure to so many. He does successful characterisations of celebs as well as tribute pieces for close friends and family, when they have lost a loved one.

Charlie is passionate about many charities and donates both money and his art has raised thousands for numerous causes. Of his art he has said: "The greatest dream in my life is would be to be accepted in the art world and to live as a free man, that's my one dream left."

Contrary to popular belief, Charlie has never harmed anyone outside of the prison walls. He has never taken a life. Charlie is still a Cat A prisoner, kept in solitary confinement conditions. He is allowed out to exercise and collect his food only.

In a hand-written statement on his website, Charlie stated that "The old me dried up...Bronson came alive in 1987. He died in 2014." He also announced that he was renouncing violence and wished to distance himself from those who sought to associate themselves with him due to his past reputation, commenting that "It’s non-violent all the way. It’s a peaceful journey from here on...Coz my heart is at peace and my mind is set on art."

The Death of Bronson is open to the public until 9th - 22nd January 2014, 11am - 6pm every day. Held at Apiary Studios, 458 Hackney Road, London E2 9EG

\\\\\\\\\\ PRESS NOTES ///////////

ORIGINAL ART & BOOKS
Available to purchase exclusively at the exhibition.

PRIVATE VIEW
Thursday 8th January 2015, 6pm
Public RSVP - Limited availability.

BOOK
The much anticipated biography, Broadmoor, My Journey Into Hell will be launched to coincide with the show. A no holds barred account of his time behind the walls of the notorious high-security psychiatric hospital. Never before has Charlie extensively documented his five year tenure at Broadmoor, his experiences, personal triumphs and descent into madness.

FILM
Thursday 15th January 2015.
Special screening of the film 'Bronson'
Trailer & Ticket Info

PRESS
High Res Images Available for Press - Contact info at guerrillazoo.com

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

WHAT:
The Death of Bronson
(curated by James Elphick)

WHERE:
Apiary Studios, 458 Hackney Rd,
London, E2 9EG

WHEN:
Fri 9th - Thurs 22nd January 2015
11am - 6pm daily

PRICE:
FREE

WEBSITE:
www.guerrillazoo.com/death-of-bronson

RSVP:
www.facebook.com/events/307676672762764/

See the late H.R. Giger's brilliant last sculptural works at Modern Panic V

21/10/2014

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Timothy Leary once said, "Giger, you are an alien lurking inside my body, laying your futique eggs of wonder."

Renown for his monochromatic dystopian landscapes, perverse creatures and machines fused to organic beings,
H. R. Giger is recognized as one of the world’s foremost artists of Fantastic Realism. Born in 1940 to a chemist’s family in Chur, Switzerland, he moved in 1962 to Zurich, where he studied architecture and industrial design at the School of Applied Arts. By 1964 he was producing his first artworks, mostly ink drawings and oil paintings, resulting in his first solo exhibition in 1966, followed by the publication and world-wide distribution of his first poster edition in 1969. Shortly after, he discovered the airbrush and, along with it, his own unique freehand painting style, leading to the creation of many of his most well known works, the surrealistic Biomechanical dreamscapes, which formed the cornerstone of his fame. To date, more than 20 books have been published about Giger’s art.

Giger’s most famous book, Necronomicon, published in 1977, served as the visual inspiration for director Sir Ridley Scott’s ground-breaking science-fiction thriller ALIEN. One year later, H.R. Giger created two of the most iconic pieces of film art in motion picture history. Labeled the ‘Derelict’ and ‘Space Jockey’ their originality and influence became landmarks in both the film and fine art worlds.

"Giger surely has one of the most original visions in late 20th-century art."
– Clive Barker

ALIEN was Giger's first high-profile film assignment, which earned him the 1980 Oscar for the Best Achievement in Visual Effects for his designs of the film's title character, including all the stages of its lifecycle, plus the film’s the extraterrestrial environments. Giger's other well-known film work includes his designs for Poltergeist II, Alien3 and Species, as well as the legendary unmade film, Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Dune. His otherworldly and often grotesque art has also graced album covers for Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Debbie Harry and Danzig.

In 2012 Sir Ridley Scott returned to the ALIEN universe with Prometheus which was motivated and dependent on the ‘Derelict’ and ‘Space Jockey’ that H.R. Giger created 24 years prior.

However, despite their impact, universal admiration and the continued interest in them, HR Giger never produced scaled versions of these classic creations. When creating his designs for film, there was neither the time, nor need for Giger to sculpt them.

Then in 2010 Giger determined that the Alien Room in the HR Giger Museum in Gruyeres, Switzerland would be greatly enhanced by the sculptural presence of the ‘Space Jockey’ and the ‘Derelict’. To achieve this ambitious project Giger worked with one of his sculpting assistants, Jules Bloom, to produce his own scaled down models of the ‘Derelict’ and ‘Space Jockey’.

Returning to his original paintings, preliminary sketches and archive photographs, Giger and Jules, painstakingly recreated these iconic movie monuments, which now are part of the HR Giger Museum’s permanent collection and are on loan in this exhibition. These two sculptures are Identical in both detail and form to the preceding artworks and an enduring testament to HR Giger’s unique vision and originality.

On 12th May 2014 at the age of 74, H.R. Giger tragically passed away. Guerrilla Zoo are very honoured to be exhibiting the 'Derelict' and 'Space Jockey' at Modern Panic V. These are among the last projects that were completed by HR Giger before his untimely passing.

"A mysterious blend of erotic beauty and ferocity."
– New York Times

For more information about the show and other participating artists please visit the exhibition page.
Images courtesy of Jules Bloom

Modern Panic V curated by James Elphick

Apiary Studios, 458 Hackney Rd, London, E2 9EG

Saturday 8th - Sunday 16th November 2014
11am - 7pm daily

WEB:
www.guerrillazoo.com/modern-panic-5

RSVP:
www.facebook.com/events/509503689152410

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Modern Panic returns for it's fifth year! Step into the dark side of art

16/10/2014

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Guerrilla Zoo's acclaimed Modern Panic exhibition curated by James Elphick returns for it's fifth incarnation. The show features a unique collection of surreal, controversial & provocative international artists and live art's practitioners, exploring the furthest depths of the psyche and human archtypes.

This year's exhibition offers a rare opportunity to witness the work of the surrealist Swiss painter, sculptor and set designer best known for his creations for the film ALIEN -- the legendary H.R. Giger -- and features exclusive sculptures co-created with his assistant Jules K Bloom, completed before his untimely passing earlier this year.

The exhibition will also showcase work from UK-based illustrator Iain Macarthur, famed for his ability to embellish his portraits with decadent and flirtatiously geometric patterns. The twisted and warped universe of Scabbage with his disturbing Pests of London series, felt-based provacations from Lucy Sparrow whose recent felt Cornershop exhibition landed on art headlines worldwide, and the sequined skull of Sequin Kay which took 295 hours to complete, a labour that involved individually applying 24,500 sequins and 1,010 Swarovski crystals.

Alongside are the insurgent rising stars, including Belgian artist Simon Lejeune with his intricate futuristic machina, French artists Jean Francois Bouron and Olivier Dzo and their inked distopian reflections of society, the vivid religious iconography and prison-tattooed figurine pairings distilled from Russian artist Karina Akopyan's unusual visions and Berlin based Anne 'Blondie' Bengard who's colourful japanese influenced works pose undertones of humor and eroticism.

These and many more are part of the fifth year of Modern Panic, with further artists to be announced soon!

PRIVATE VIEW + ‘PANIC EPHEMERAL’ LIVE ART SHOW
Friday 7th November, 7pm - 11pm
Featuring live art performances - Limited Tickets Available

MODERN PANIC V LISTINGS INFORMATION:
WHAT: Modern Panic V curated by James Elphick
WHERE: Apiary Studios, 458 Hackney Rd, London, E2 9EG
WHEN: Saturday 8th - Sunday 16th November
TIMES: 11am - 7pm daily
PRICE: £3
WEBSITE: www.guerrillazoo.com/modern-panic-5
RSVP: www.facebook.com/events/509503689152410

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William S Burroughs' new art exhibition brings together a new generation of provocative artists

30/7/2014

A new exhibition of William S Burroughs original art entitled ‘Animals in the Wall’ opens at the end of August for just 10 days and showcases a new side to Burroughs’ exciting work and premiers in the artistic hub of East London.

The exhibition curated by James Elphick & Yuri Zupancic will exhibit 40 original Burroughs art works, many of which have not been seen in public before. Featuring alongside are original responses from well known and emerging artists, exploring strong relevant themes to engage and inspire with a new generation.

The Beat Generation questioned politics, explored religion, developed styles & creative methods, and wrote about the human condition. This legacy is explored, re-defined and re-appropriated for a modern audience through connected commissioned artists (and events programme), deliberately designed to expand, introduce and directly engage with young, innovative, and cultured audience alongside mature fans of arts and literature.

Contributing artists include :

Matt Black
One half of music duo Coldcut, which founded Ninja Tune. Black is widely regarded as one of the most innovative people in the new sphere of AudioVisual performance.

Shepard Fairey
One of today's best known influential American contemporary street artist, graphic designer, activist and illustrator widely known during the 2008 U.S. presidential election for his Barack Obama "Hope" poster.

Brion Gysin
A painter, writer, sound poet, and performance artist born in UK. Best known for his discovery of the cut-up technique, Burroughs later stated that "Brion Gysin was the only man I ever respected."

Cleon Peterson
LA based artist whose chaotic and violent paintings show clashing figures symbolizing a struggle between power and submission in the fluctuating architecture of contemporary society.

Aaron Brookner
American film director and scriptwriter who recently restored his uncle Howard Brookner's film Burroughs : The Movie and is working on a documentary about Howard's adventures with William S Burroughs.

Ben Frost
A visual artist whose work seeks to challenge contemporary norms and values of Western culture and society.

Yuri Zupančič
An artist from Kansas, USA who is most prolific in Microchip Paintings.

Mobstr
UK street artist who employs a combination of stencils and cheeky quips to challenge the way we view public space.

Gastón Ugalde
Known as "the enfant terrible" of the Bolivian Art Scene and called "the most important living Bolivian artist" by the Konex Foundation

Dreamachine Ft Gorilla Perfume
The dreamachine is a stroboscopic flicker device that produces visual stimuli. Installation provided by Gorilla Perfume

Paul Don Smith
Currently one of the most popular street artists in activity and his artworks are everywhere in East London.

Philip Heying
Kansas based Photographer who began a friendship with Burroughs that endured until Burroughs’s death in 1997.

Oliver Switch
London based artist utilising collage ink sketching and photorealistic aerosol paint techniques.

Lana Alana
Lana Alana is the work of London based Painter & Graphic Designer Lana Hughes. Adapts her works throughout many forms due to her passion for bright coloured, hand designed typography.

Check out all the artist profiles for more information!

The act of non-conformity and dissent runs deep within the Burroughs ethos. There are many anarchic graffiti-esque elements in Burroughs' paintings, for which he used spray paint aerosols, stencils, paste-up collages and letter forms. His marks are those of an ambitious and rebellious outsider scrawling text and layering images into new forms.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a new generation to get up close with the innovative nature of this work.

Sponsored by Wholefood Planet Organic
Brought to you in association with Londonewcastle Project Space, Penguin Books, London MET University, Gorilla Perfume and Third Mind Productions Ltd.

EXHIBITION: William S Burroughs - Animals in the Walls
DATES: Private View Thursday 28th August (Invite Only)
Open to public Friday 29th August - Sunday 7th September 2014
HOURS: 11am - 7pm daily
LOCATION: Londonewcastle Project Space, 28 Redchurch Street, London E2 7DP
INFO: www.guerrillazoo.com/william-s-burroughs
PRICE: FREE

New exhibition of William S Burroughs' original art to premiere in London

14/7/2014

We are proud to announce exclusive access to a unique collection of William S Burroughs artistic works,
curated by James Elphick and Yuri Zupančič.

‘Animals in the Wall’ exhibition showcases a new side to Burroughs’ exciting work and premiers in the artistic hub of East London. The exhibition will feature original Burroughs' works including some never before shown, in addition to new multimedia experiments and an exciting programme of talks, film screenings and workshops.

William S Burroughs is recognised as one of the most culturally influential writers and visionaries of the 20th Century and his legacy continues to steer world culture and creative thinking. A progenitor of the Beat Generation, his writing and ideas changed literature forever. Burroughs' multi-media collaborations spawned new directions in film and music and his art is only now being properly discovered and explored. His works come alive in new ways each day and his legacy is constantly evolving.

William S Burroughs © Gottfried Helnwein, ca. 1985

This exhibition explores his ideas and themes as they continue to steer world culture and creative thinking, connecting to modern times through his art. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a new generation to get up close with the innovative nature of this work.

In many ways Burroughs was creating art for future generations. In 2014, the centennial year of his birth, his work continues to strike poignant chords. It has an enduring relevance, bringing to light important issues that are in sync with the times. He made many prescient predictions on technological evolution and the oversteps of sociopolitical 'Control' systems. Burroughs created many works as a form of resistance; his stated purposes included exposing systems of oppression and creating a "mythology for the space age," complete with "heroes and villains with respect to overall intentions with regard to this planet."

"-control symbols pounded to word and image dust; crumbled cloth bodies of the vast control machine- the whole structure of reality went up in silent explosions under the whining sirens-" -The Ticket That Exploded, 1962

The act of non-conformity and dissent runs deep within the Burroughs ethos. There are many anarchic graffiti-esque elements in Burroughs' paintings, for which he used spray paint aerosols, stencils, paste-up collages and letter forms. His marks are those of an ambitious and rebellious outsider scrawling text and layering images into new forms.

William S Burroughs setting fire to a canvas © Philip Heying, 1998

Burroughs' art works were mainly created from the early '80s to late '90s and resonate well with the vibrant street art of today's East London, where this exhibition is being premièred. Graffiti tags form 'cut-ups' of texts along the train tracks to the gallery and the diverse and colourful illegal art that covers this part of the city has always fostered a space for free thought.

Burroughs' legacy is explored, re-defined and re-appropriated for a modern audience through commissioned artists and events programmes, designed to introduce, expand and directly engage with young, innovative, and cultured audience alongside mature fans of arts and literature.

Event programme and other artists to be announced soon.

William S Burroughs Animals in the Walls Exhibition Flyer

Brought to you in association with Londonewcastle Project Space, Penguin Books, Wholefoods Planet Organic and Third Mind Productions Ltd.

EXHIBITION: William S Burroughs - Animals in the Walls
DATES: Private View Thursday 28th August (Invite Only)
Open to public Friday 29th August - Sunday 7th September 2014
HOURS: 11am - 7pm daily
LOCATION: Londonewcastle Project Space, 28 Redchurch Street, London E2 7DP
INFO: www.guerrillazoo.com/william-s-burroughs
PRICE: FREE

Read the full press release here.

Pay your respects to Ziggy Stardust at It's Your Funeral

8/6/2014

On Thursday 12th June - It's YOUR Funeral returns to Bethnal Green Working Men's Club,
Join us for a theatrical New Orleans inspired funeral experience of macabre performances & morbid humour!

The Starman who fell to earth is now strung out in heavens high, so come pay your dues for this great man who's wild appetite of drugs, sex and rock'n'roll led to his untimely death on stage at the hands of his fans...
Celebrate the life, shed a tear, drown your sorrows, dance with the devil and share stories of the dearly departed - Ziggy Stardust.

The unearthly ceremony will be hosted by none other than 'The International Man of Misery'
TOM BAKER

With live performances & tributes by:
MISSA BLUE
LATE NIGHT SHOP
MISS CAIRO (the familyyy fierce)
THE FABULOUS BAKEWELL BOYS (Lucha Britannia)
CARMEN MON OXIDE
RUBY WEDNESDAY ((the familyyy fierce)
LILY RAPTOR (Chivaree Circus)
APPLE TART & ORLANDO!

BUY CHEAP TICKETS NOW AT:
http://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/14960/chk/9036
**Discounts available on door price if in costume/appropriate funeral attire**

Celebrate William S Burroughs 100th Birthday in London with an immersive step into the world of Interzone

28/12/2013

William S Burroughs is cited as "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th century." His legacy continues to foresee what now fills the headlines of the world today. Burroughs’ writing and ideas changed the course of literature and his multi-media collaborations spawned new directions in film and music.

To mark the William S Burroughs centenary, a few days after what would have been his 100th birthday, Guerrilla Zoo presents an experiential event inspired by his life and times. Based within the strange and seedy surreal "metaphorical stateless city" of 'Interzone' inspired by the cult beat writer whilst in the north Moroccan city of Tangier during 1950s, where he wrote his acclaimed influential nonlinear novel Naked Lunch (published almost 55 years ago). The event, which takes the world of Burroughs' writing and brings them to life with an immersive spectacle, combines promenade theatre, music, performances art, films and art installations - Think Naked Lunch meets Punch Drunk.

William Seward Burroughs II was born 5 February 1914 in St. Louis, Missouri. Burroughs was an innovative writer and artist in many mediums. A progenitor of the Beat Generation, Burroughs went on to deeply influence a wide swath of culture and thought with dozens of books and hundreds of paintings, essays, spoken word performances and multi-media collaborations. The relevance of this work persists in modern times as he made many prescienct predictions of technological evolution and oversteps of 'Control'. Burroughs' stated purposes included exposing systems of oppression and creating a “mythology for the space age.”

Burroughs was informed by a lifetime of dialogue with provocative and penetrating thinkers. Often these interactions sparked new directions in writing, film, sound, and visual art. Notable collaborators include Antony Balch, Ian Sommerville, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Keith Haring, Robert Rauschenberg, George Condo, Philip Taaffe, Robert Wilson, Tom Waits, Kurt Cobain, John Giorno, Terry Southern, Sinclair Beiles, & Gregory Corso.
He continued writing until the day he died, on 2 August 1997, Burroughs passed away at home at the age of 83.

Burroughs was not only a highly influential writer in the realm of arts, but in the cultural landscape at large.

Aside from the numerous recordings and album releases that Burroughs directly participated in (check out Laurie Anderson's "Sharkey’s Night" or Kurt Cobain's The "Priest" They Called Him), Burroughs is constantly referenced by musicians; David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs was inspired by Burroughs & Brion Gysin's "cut-up" technique, Burroughs figure is on the cover of The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, and 'Interzone' is referenced in the widely remixed “Atlantis to Interzone” by the Klaxons.

Rebel Rebel … David Bowie and William Burroughs photographed by Terry O’Neill in 1974 and hand-coloured by Bowie. Photograph: Courtesy of The David Bowie Archive 2012. © V&A Images

In the current film industry's obsession with the Beat Generation over the last few years many films have portrayed Burroughs and his literary cohorts; James Franco played Ginsberg in 2010’s "Howl," same year also saw the documentary "William S. Burroughs: A Man Within", Sam Riley and Garret Hedlund were the ambling Kerouac and Cassady in last year’s adaptation of "On the Road" where Burroughs was portrayed by Viggo Mortensen.

The recent release of John Krokidas' "Kill Your Darlings" saw Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe portraying Ginsberg and Ben Foster as Burroughs. There is a boisterous beauty about the film thats depicted through the quick pacing, jazzy hallucinagenic interludes and periods of manic genius that mirror what we have grown accustomed to be the romantic illusions of the beatnik generation.

“He was one of the most forward-thinking minds we have had. We can feel the waves of his influence today.” Ben Foster on playing Burroughs in John Krokidas' film Kill Your Darlings

2014 sees events celebrating the William S Burroughs centenary all around the world, with several major exhibitions of his artwork in London and USA, along with the release of the digitally restored film by Howard Brookner "Burroughs: The Movie" and the Beat bastion of Greenwich Village is the setting for the Coen brothers’ upcoming "Inside Llewyn Davis."

Through Burroughs multiple creative outputs it is clear his legacy has an enduring and continuing social and political relevance bringing to light some very important issues that are still in tune with the times today.

There is a cultural shift in the way we are seeing the world, the governments, the big industries and how we engage with them and each other. Writer's like Burroughs helped shine a bright translucent light at how the 'Control Machine' operates, and with Edward Snowden's 'politically backed spying' revelations that far surpass George Orwell's dystopian glance at the future, perhaps we need a little reminder that one person is all it takes to throw a spanner in the greasy cogs to disrupt the system and instigate a change.

Guerrilla Zoo presents Interzone
Celebrating 100 Years of William S Burroughs - An immersive party combining promenade theatre, music, performance and art.
DATE : Friday 7th Feburary 2014
TIMES : 8PM - 3AM
LOCATION : Secret London Location
TICKETS : www.guerrillazoo.com/interzone-burroughs-100 [Adv Only]
RSVP : www.facebook.com/events/262178000596380
Flyer Image by John De Moss

Read Burroughs biography, fascinating new insights into his life by his friends and colleagues and details of international events over at : www.burroughs100.com

Dorian Wood to perform LIVE in London

27/11/2013

Photo : Zoe-Ruth Photography

Dorian Wood is a Los Angeles-based artist "armed with a vocal charisma that would befit a preacher and an experimental streak that would make avant-gardists swoon." A wunderkind with a headstrong DIY discipline, Dorian has brought his emotionally-charged performances to concert halls, museums, music venues and performance spaces throughout the US, Mexico and Europe, with a voice that channels the skill and ferocity of such auteurs as Scott Walker, Nina Simone, Nick Cave and Tom Waits.

Dorian Wood will perform with special performance arts guests at his only UK gig of the tour on Friday 14th Feburary 2014 at the intimate Dalston Boys Club in East London. Do not miss out on this exclusive one-off show, we recommend you get your tickets now!

Born in Echo Park, California, Dorian began his musical education at a very early age, continuing his studies at Conservatorio de Castella in Costa Rica, and eventually making his way back to Los Angeles, where he first gained exposure performing on the queer bar circuit. His debut album, BOLKA, received wide critical acclaim for its impeccable merging of folk, soul, Bulgarian choral music and experimental music. His follow-up EP, Black Pig Suite, featured members of the L.A. experimental orchestra Killsonic, of which Dorian was a principal collaborator and performer for 3 years.

Photo : Dino Dinco

In 2010, Dorian received critical praise for his performance and "picture perfect" art direction (Los Angeles Times) in the Killsonic opera, Tongues Bloody Tongues. He also released his album 'Brutus', which featured only Dorian on vocal and piano, and was recorded live at St. Giles-in-the-Fields, a church in London, in the midst of his European tour. Of the back of this release, Dorian was commissioned by LACE (Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions) to present a new work for the performance series Los Angeles Goes Live, part of Pacific Standard Time. Dorian's performance installation, Athco, Or The Renaissance of Faggot Tree, the controversial piece incorporated over 30 performers, and was presented at Barnsdall Art Park. Dorian also performed with acclaimed artist Marina Abramovic in her piece An Artist's Life Manifesto, presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).

Wood's latest effort, "Rattle Rattle," is an collection of original "doomsday-themed songs" that hang together a bit like a concept album. Like Killsonic and Athco before it, Rattle Rattle incorporated dozens of participants -- in this case, over 60 musicians, including a 45-member choir assembled by Wood called the Difficult Women. Dorian directed the video for his song "La Cara Infinita," which featured a guest appearance by actor Margaret Cho, as well as some very direct images portraying gay sexuality in a manner of objectification -- similar to the treatment women usually receive in this context, and in the art world too. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was some internet dust-up action, but by that point, the performance art, live music, and creative director aspects of his career had permanently fused.

Dorian Wood (feat. Eddika Organista) - "La Cara Infinita" from Dorian Wood on Vimeo.

He embraces what these conduits to communicating with the audience make possible. "[I] realized that if I was going to keep putting out work that I believed in, I needed to allow people to 'join' me in the work. People rarely forget a truly immersive experience, and a big component in what I do musically has to do with who I am, what I look like, where I've been and where I'm at. For a while, I would wear masks and insane outfits, but there is no greater vestment one can wear than the one people believe is yours and only yours. The videos try to capture this without requiring that the audience physically be there in order to get the most out of it."

Though the album was only recently released, he began composing songs for it around late 2008. In the four years that followed, he was devoted to fleshing out arrangements, rehearsing, recording certain sections, lots of mixing -- all while working around some high-profile guests' schedules and staying within budget. "I underestimated what this would cost financially," he says, "and yet grew restless of waiting for the right label to come around and pick up the tab and I really counted on the incredible support of my beautiful friends to make it happen." The controlled chaos of his days with Killsonic prepared him for what he calls "the challenge of gathering over 60 musicians to create a cohesive sound." "There were times when I welcomed any collaborative input they shot my way," he continues, "but I was honored that they mostly just went along with my vision."

Themes of LGBTQ experience and sexuality and gender and politics seem to be clear elements of the work, yet -- while he certainly understands and accepts it being viewed in that context -- Wood does not consider his activity to be primarily political. "I believe I identify more with my anger than I do with politics per se, in that I create based on how something affects me emotionally; and in politics, only a few things affect me that way. I am deeply angered and saddened by injustices against LGBTQ and women, and somehow a rebellious little girl emerges within me whenever I feel anger, and she can only think of violent things without minding the consequences. Certainly, this is how 'Rattle Rattle' came to be, as well as the video we did for 'La Cara Infinita.' Like most people, I welcome the idea of solidarity, but if I had to choose between that or being the weird loner kid who punches walls and browns his trousers, well, I'll be in my corner."

Dorian Wood
Friday 14th February 2014
@ Apiary Studios, London.
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