Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities.

Now screening:
1. BR1 & GEC – Fieno e Asfalto (Hay and Asphalt)

2. Ai Weiwei – Studio Visit – Via Design Boom

3. Amy: Beyond the Stage Mural – Via The Design Museum

BSA Special Feature: BR1 & GEC – Fieno e Asfalto (Hay and Asphalt)

Ready to witness an unauthorized intervention like you probably haven’t seen before? Italian artists BR1 & GEC take on the streets of the “Barriera di Milano” area of Torino with a bale of hay and dodge pedestrians and cars along the way. This action-packed adventure culminates in the final occupation of a parking spot, leaving people bothered and perplexed.

This performance isn’t just about having fun; there are layers of meaning, too- the paradox of the presence of a vital material necessary for city folks’ food production is comical in this context. However, the harsh response from people driving cars in the city is not quite as endearing. From exploring the relationship between natural and artificial landscapes to the rampant consumption of resources in urban centers, these artists touch on various current issues. At the very least, you think of the different uses of public space we take for granted and the rediscover activity that would be perfectly acceptable in rural areas. You may also say it is a form of resistance toward the modern world.

As you watch the calm and grounded progression of the wheel through city streets, you may consider the relationship between the artwork and the public space. The two artists often make ephemeral interventions in the urban context, and this is one more way to act spontaneously and without permission. With one simple, if not easy, performance, the viewer may consider the various symbolisms uprooted in the collective consciousness.

BR1 & GEC – Fieno e Asfalto (Hay and Asphalt)

Ai Weiwei – Studio Visit – Via Design Boom

“I choose things that I am not familiar with, which I can learn from, and which present me with a challenge.”

Amy: Beyond the Stage Mural – Via The Design Museum

To celebrate the anniversary of Amy’s birthday and the launch of the exhibition Amy: Beyond the Stage, a large-scale mural was hand painted on Camden High Street.

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