interventions, transforming public space at platoon kunsthalle
Monday, 18 March 2013, 8pm

For those who missed the program III of Urban Research at The 9th Berlin International Directors Lounge , here is another chance at another fine location.

more and more artists chose to create art in public space, use it as a public stage, or try to actively change it. an “invisible performance”, invisible, because it has not been publicly announced, may not physically change a place, however it may change the ideas of how to use public space in general.

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(Source: directorslounge.net)

DAY 5, Feb 13th

SUDDENLY: IT CAME FROM HERE AND BEYOND

Fans of the sudden will like short films coming at them “Out Of The Blue” at [DL8] (the 8th Berlin International Directors Lounge), as curated and presented by Deborah S. Phillips, and including five World Premieres. Film titles like “PFFFHP TT!” can make you wonder just what you’ll be seeing. It all jumps at you starting at 18:00 (6pm). Then DL’s own Klaus W. Eisenlohr treats us to a program of Urban Observations and Local Studies at 20:00 (8pm), chock full of metropolitan moments. Look for Klaus there too, recognizable in his trademark fedora. Then still more follows, with the DL Selection IV at 22:00, getting underway with “Silhouette” by Astrid Busch (in attendance), and weaving its way through shorts from Finland, Ireland, Hungary, Italy, France and the U.S, with a couple of World Premieres in the mix. One film in this block is entitled “The Last Picture”, but we certainly promise you more. In Naherholung Sternchen (near Alexanderplatz at U-Schillingstr., second building behind Kino International)

                                                                                       KT/Team DL

pictured: 10 Moments by Wenhua Shi (Urban Research)

urban research
program I:
Urban Observations and Local Studies

Monday, 13 February 20:00

http://berlinlounge.tumblr.com/tagged/13th%20Feb%202012

With:
Alejandro Bernal, Caroline Koebel, Yptu Enth, Wenhua Shi, Deron Williams, Leslie Supnet, Joel Wanek, Chris Kennedy, Sarah Christman

This beautiful program comprises films, which meditate on city impressions in rather leisurely pace. Urban observations are always subjective, especially if done with a camera. Also, undertaking observations is only possible when making a distinction. The observer, the camera is always part of the situation. Never is it possible to look from outside (the Hollywood ideal of realism, the “God eye’s view” is only possible in fiction). Thus, the distinctions we make are never clear cuts, the opposites spill back in, and the dichotomies unite as the complementary parts of the same idea.

Following the program of Deborah Phillips, this program shows films originating both on digital video and 16mm film, including the film projection of Chris Kennedy CA
Simultaneous Contrast and Sarah Christman US Broad Channel

Curated by Klaus W. Eisenlohr

More about the Urban Research Programs at Directors Lounge:
http://www.richfilm.de/DL2012/framesUrbanResearch.html

StadtRaum Film Double Feature
• Klaus W. Eisenlohr
Stadtrandzone Mitte 46 min, 16mm, sound
• Klaus W. Eisenlohr und Johann Zeitler
zwischen | stadt | raum 64 min, 3 channel (HD Version)

StadtRaum – Urban Space Double Feature

Two films, two film essays about public space. One is based on performances including public interventions on urban plazas in Hannover and the second film explores encounters in public space in Gropiusstadt, a modernist residential area in the South of Berlin. Both films bring forward issues of public space and urban development: Will public space disappear under the changes of globalization and the development of an electronic public sphere? Are there new meanings and new functions of urban public space that could reactivate public space also in urban areas outside of the historic center of cities? Do we still need public places, or urban community space in the larger metropolitan areas?
Both films developed from visual researches in the respective urban areas and may be best described as visual essays.

Klaus W. Eisenlohr is a lecturer at Photocentrum Kreuzberg and at Lexia International in Berlin. His media are photography, film and new media. Johann Zeitler mainly works with painting, performance and drawing. Both artist have collaborated on urban and film projects since 2003.

A DL Screening: Monday, 5 Dec 2011, 7:30pm
Z-Bar
Bergstr. 2 
D-10115 Berlin-Mitte
U-Rosenthaler Platz

Urban Research/ Directors Lounge at
KING KONG Contemporary Art Project,
Ehrenhof des Mannheimer Barockschlosses

Sound Pattern #1 Violence in the City
12-29 November 2010

Opening reception 12 November 19:30

Mannheim Barock Castle

Three guest curators, Klaus W. Eisenlohr (Berlin), Hans W. Koch (Köln) und Thomas Lühr Frankfurt/M.) present video and sound works.

Barock Castle Catacombes: Tom Skipp’s 3-channel work Stormwater, which explores Europe’s biggest stormwater reservoir before the flood

Container 1: Urban Research Screening and Installation
”urban interference and the city’s symbols”

The success of modern cities is connected with relative security and trust in the social contract between citizens. As Jan Philippe Reemtsma states: “If I happen to drop into a violent situation, I will neither be made responsible for not being armed, nor for having failed to defend myself.” (memory-quoted). Although this unwritten contract is part of the production of modernity, urban myths and symbols often tell about violent situations. Therefore, films about urban symbols often deal with the uncanny. They thus touch the precarious balance between the violence of law enforcement and undisclosed threats of decay.

On the other hand, with urban interventions, artists try to play a more active role in society . Some artists see themselves as “political activist” and try to change politics and society; others just try to reach a different, more divers audience; or, they like to reach out for a seemingly impossible dream. All of them, however, share visions and ideas about urban life. And those inspirations may be infectious!

Videos:
   

•    Seven After Eleven, 2008 -*- Christina McPhee US
    •    Play Ground, 2009 -*- Rinat Edelstein IL
    •    Descend, 2009 -*- Pablo Useros ES
    •    Fragments of the Los Angeles River, 2009 -*- Richard O’Sullivan UK
    •    Elsewhereness: Yokohama, 2008 -*- Anders Weberg + Robert Willim SW
    •    Sintia, -*- Jose Matiella +Ivan Meza MX
    •    Buda, 2009 -*- Beatriz + Carlos Matiella MX
    •    Easy Rider, 2006 -*- Pilvi Takala FI
    •    Jalkeilla Taas (Up And About Again), 2009 -*- Maarit Suomi-Väänänen FI
    •    Amusement Park, 2001 -*- Pilvi Takala FI
    •    Drive, 2008 -*- Elham Rokni IL
    •    Simulacro, 2005 -*- Hector Falcon MX
    •    Moel Yad, 2009 -*- Hadas Tapouchi IL
    •    Night Meter, 2000-*-Yaron Lapid UK
    •    Interception 2007-2009 -*- Roch Forowicz PL
    •    Stormwater / Estanque de tormentas-*- Tom Skipp ES
curated by Klaus W. Eisenlohr (Directors’ Lounge Berlin)

Links:

KIng Kong
http://www.kingkong-contemporary.de/?p=539
Klaus W. Eisenlohr
http://www.richfilm.de/DL2010/framesIndex.html

Neue Bewirtschaftung, Magistrale 2010.
(New Management)
Screening in public pubs and at gallery Suomesta on Potsdamer Str.:
October 8 starting at 6pm
October 9 starting at 2pm
October 10 discussion at 2pm

Organized by gallery Suomesta and Neues Museum, this event is including many Directors Lounge artists and associates. The artists and their films will occupy screens in public pubs usually set up for watching soccer games along Potsdamer Str, Berlin

Participating artists:
Thorsten Fleisch, Veli Granö, Jari Haanperä, Marikki Hakola, Aline Helmcke, Pekka Kantonen, Cinema Mobile, Horace Ové, Antti Pussinen, Seppo Renvall, Pekka Sassi, Ira Schneider, PINK TWINS, Roi Vaara and Klaus W. Eisenlohr with a selection of his Urban Research programme.
On Oct. 10 there will be a discussion panel on the question of “places for short independent film today?”
Program and more detailed infos on http://magistrale2010.wordpress.com/

Above: still from AlexandLiane’s video for “Shoes” by the band Tiga

Monday February 15, Museek No 3 programme

It has been years since MTV more or less stopped playing music videos and cut to the chase to sell pure image, nevertheless it is entirely possible that these are the very same years in which the field may have opened up a bit to new talent which have gone on to produce some of the most creative new work since the dawn of the medium.

Regardless of budget or country, the majority of the music videos featured in MUSEEK No. 3 were essentially able to take a clever idea and run with it to great sucess.

The videos seem to successfully embrace the excitement of human life in this day and age, and in most cases one can’t help but taken aback by their inventiveness.

Although I could easily write about nearly every video in the programme I chose a few to review:

“Evident Utensil” by Ray Tintori for the band Chairlift has utilized a technique I’ve not yet seen, namely: you know when an online video breaks up into a sort of Predator-like digi-garble while it is beginning to play? Of when a DVD is scratched? Tintori’s video is basically constantly morphing with that effect under control. I am so glad someone did this.

The Royksopp video “Happy Up Here” basically makes the oldschool arcade game Space Invaders attack a real city (Berlin?) on the special-effects level as good as any Hollywood Blockbuster –terribly entertaining, especially if you are familiar with the game itself.

Jeff Desom video for Hauschka’s song Morgenrot which just shows a burnig piano falling off a skyscraper, was positively captivating. Daniel Eskils on the other hand simply used an overhead projector and dry-ease markers for the band.

Pop culture may have left Lenny Kravitz and his coolness to chill back in the 90s where they more or less belong, but a simple remix by house superstars Justice plus a surprising video with a clever idea behind it somehow turns his radio pop into something fresh and relevant.

Not much point in describing Jonas Meier’s video “One Up Down Left Right” for the band Rusconi but it should be watched.

AlexandLiane’s video for “Shoes” by the band Tiga integrates retro fashion with what appears to be an early-70s-looking television talkshow-type programme to weave a goofily surreal piece.

The Presets “If I know You” is basically a group of young Billy Elliott-esque teenagers dancing across Los Angeles – so damn charming.

Ethan Lader’s video for Rob Roy’s “Fur in My Cap” is essentially a tongue-in-cheek Hip-hop song, but what sets it apart is the theme essentially being: The means and lifestyle are within the context of 14-15 year olds in a neighbourhood which contradict the bling-and-ho lyrics… which, with a bit of clever camera work and effects, makes it just damn entertaining.

The Justice video “Stress” in which a young gang out violently causing trouble everywhere they go in Paris really begged the question: is it just a bunch of punk kids or rather a disturbing social commentary on France’s racial turmoil…?

Metronomy’s  “A thing for me” was -wow- a sing along with the sing along bouncy-ball comes to life bouncing wildy bopping people on the head!

-Paul J. Thomas

Gestern Abend wurde der erste Block Tomorrow, Night and Day des von Klaus W. Eisenlohrs kuratierten Urban Research Program innerhalb der Directors Lounge präsentiert. Die Auswahl zeigte Arbeiten von internationalen Künstlern, die sich in diesem Block in Form von experimentellen, animierten als auch fiktiven Formaten der Auseinandersetzung mit dem urbanen, öffentlichen Raum widmen.

Das Video von Anders Weberg Elsewhereness:Yokohama (2008) aus der gleichnamigen Reihe, befasste sich mit urbaner Entfremdung, was sich ganz offensichtlich in der Form des präsentierten Videos widerspiegelt. So sieht man in der 7 Minuten langen Arbeit übereinandergelegte, abstrahierte Aufnahmen der Stadt Yokohama. Die mit starkem Kontrast verfremdeten Bilder werden von einer elektronischen, sphärischen Musikkomposition begleitet, was der Arbeit eine hypnotische Qualität verleiht. Das Thema der Entfremdung wird konzeptuell von der Abwesenheit des Künstlers verstärkt, wenn man bedenkt, dass das Rohmaterial der verfremdeten Bilder aus dem Internet recherchiert worden ist und sich der Künstler nie in Yokohama aufgehalten hat. Die manipulierten Aufnahmen werden dadurch zu einer surrealen Reise durch eine entfremdete Landschaft, die auf der Grundlage der kulturellen Vorannahmen und Stereotypen des Künstlers über den Ort basiert. Der Ort bleibt hierbei belanglos, da das Fremde überall zu finden ist. Die einzigen Anzeichen, dass man sich in einer asiatischen Großstadt wiederfindet, sind japanische Schriftzeichen. Die gezeigte Arbeit von Weberg geht von einer anonymen, mechanisierten Zivilisation aus, die mit Hilfe digitaler Medien aus der Distanz erkundet wird. Entfremdung und Abwesenheit werden dabei als Mittel verwendet um die Wahrnehmung des Fremden, dass hier nicht verstanden werden kann und will, erfahrbar zu machen.

Von Martin Tscholl

Zur Eröffnung der diesjährigen Directors Lounge wurde gestern Abend ein Querschnitt des Programms der nächsten zehn Tage präsentiert. In der alten Brauerei Pfefferwerk im Prenzlauer Berg startete die Directors Lounge zum 6. Mal, parallel zur 60. Berlinale. Unterteilt in drei Blöcke, wurde eine Vorauswahl der kommenden Tage präsentiert. Neben den gezeigten Film- und Videoarbeiten, konnte man in den Nebenbereichen der angenehm gestalteten Lounge verschiedene Videoinstallationen betrachten.

Der von Klaus W. Eisenlohr kuratierte Block des Urban Research Program gab einen Vorgeschmack auf die kommenden Tage: Neun Filme und Videos wurden in diesem Block gezeigt, die vor allem die subjektive Erfahrung und Erkundung des großstädtischen Raumes zum Thema haben. In diesem Programmblock, der sich durch eine gesunde Kombination aus dokumentarischen und experimentellen Formaten auszeichnete, beeindruckte vor allem die Arbeit von Pablo Useros „Decent“ aus der Reihe Found People Movements: In dieser Arbeit werden Passanten einer Treppe im öffentlichen Raum gefilmt. Der Filmer nimmt hierbei eine observierende Position ein und zeigt Menschen, die in einer durch Blütenregen mystisch anmutenden Szenerie eine breite Treppe hinuntergehen. Die an das Innenleben einer Schneekugel erinnernde Situation verstärkt den mystischen Charakter des in Zeitlupe laufenden Videos. Das in vertikaler Ausrichtung präsentierte 16:9 Format, erinnert durch diese Anordnung an die Malerei der Renaissance. Dieser Eindruck wird durch die auditive Dimension verstärkt. So hört man zu den Bildern der herabsteigenden Menschen eine Arie, die den filmischen Ausdruck bekräftigt. Durch die vertikale Ausrichtung des Formats gerät der Mensch in seiner Ganzheit in den Fokus des Bildes, wird ins Zentrum der filmischen Reflexion gebracht. Das nebensächliche, scheinbar belanglose Hinuntersteigen der Treppe gerät in einen Moment, der den urbanen Alltag aus einer ästhetischen Perspektive wiedergibt.

Die Arbeit „This is a Political Film“ von Pablo Useros aus der Reihe Found People Movements ist am Freitag, den 19.02., in dem Block Urban Interference um 18 Uhr in der Directors Lounge zu sehen.

von Martin Tscholl

The Warm-Up Show

We start into the year with a first night at our new location, the meinblau arthouse at the Pfefferberg. Expect teasing tidbits from the forthcoming 6th Berlin International Directors Lounge. An oeuvre surprise from all flavours, mouth-watering movies that will make you ask for more.

Ausgewählte Leckerbissen, ein kleiner Vorgeschmack auf die Lounge während der Berlinale. Erstmals im meinblau Pfefferberg.

Thursday/Do. 21. Jan meinblau Berlin Mitte, Christinenstraße 18

doors open at 8pm/Einlass ab 20h
program starts around 9pm/ Filme ab ca 21h

still from Toe Jam by Keith Schofield/The BPA