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Carnaby kaleidoscope meaning12/3/2023 ![]() They spilled blood (Hermann Nitsch), smashed a piano (Ralph Ortiz), promised a strip tease that barely happened (Yoko Ono), painted and erased a line, divested actors of their newsprint clothing (in John Latham’s play Film) and counted coins (Al Hansen). Essentially, in their Happenings, they tore things up, and down. The symposium looked back in anger at the pretense of Modernism, with its claims to be mindful of a world of differences and disadvantaged communities, all the better to improve their lot. To characterize briefly the internationalism of the ‘Destruction in Art Symposium (DIAS)’ it may suffice to say that its internationalism was expressly not of the Modernist kind. This was arguably the first international gathering of artists in Britain of the early post-Second World War period, flanked by scientists and poets. The coupling of art and destruction was the theme of an event held at London’s Africa Centre and various other locations across the city (the Institute for Contemporary Art Carnaby Street, etc) from 9-11 September, 1966. It is the work of a large demolition squad of artists and curators who are dead set on tearing down the divisions between art’s privileged viewers and a wider, underestimated and now somewhat rain-drenched public. But, more than that, the pendulous antics of the exhibition are bearing results for art’s audiences. It is finishing off the destruction of the boundaries that have cloistered scholars and authorities on art in their deliberations about what counts as ‘contemporary’. What’s on show breaks through the walls that have separated and ordered art’s histories, drawn along national borders and the hierarchies of (former colonial) centres versus their dependent peripheries. Second, it’s obvious that the wrecking ball is already here – it’s the exhibition itself – and the wrecking has already begun. Indeed, there is no better venue in the Netherlands for evoking a sense of where debates on art and globalization ought to be heading (into a more sober and damp place of reflection from which the optimism surrounding the arrival of ‘global contemporary art’ can be viewed with a sharper and more critical vision). First, the mill, for all its leaking dilapidation, is a vast, sublime ruin which matches the exhibition’s equally large scale and ambition. That’s mean and it misses the point for at least two reasons. Drying off later at the entrance hall, I saw that someone had written in the visitors’ book how ‘the whole place needs a wrecking ball’. As I explored the place and tried to dodge the puddles in the cobblestoned courtyard between buildings, I just kept getting wet, from above and below. ![]() The former industrial site that houses the show was dripping with rain. I didn’t get to see the exhibition Global Imaginations until quite late in the summer of this year, if it could still be considered summer at all. Choose Love will have a pop up at 3 Carnaby Street selling lineup of limited edition products, with a constant stream of celebrity guests popping up to serve customers!Ĭlick I'm Going to be notified of any changes or cancellations.Water on the Brain: A Note on the Global Imagination Leon Wainwright The installation is in collaboration with charity partner Choose Love, to highlight and support the urgent need to raise funds for refugees around the world, with an additional fundraising stream for Afghan refugees. Over 100 shops, bars and restaurants will come together on the first day, Thursday, November 4th for a shopping party offering exclusive 20% discounts along with in-store events, free drinks, goodie bags and more - plus visitors can enjoy live music on Ganton Street from Sister Suzie and salsa band Conjunto Sabroso amongst others! Activations include Christmas wreath making, glitter makeovers and more. By definition, the meaning of Kaleidoscope is not only a term for a group of butterflies but also a constantly changing pattern or sequence of elements! The unprecedented Christmas installation will highlight butterflies' powerful metaphoric representations of life exemplifying spiritual rebirth, transformation, change, hope and life. The Carnaby arch will shine bright in pink shimmer disks with brightly coloured 3D butterflies perched above! Over 600 sparkling 3D and 2D butterflies will flutter down Carnaby Street, Foubert’s Place and Newburgh Street. Carnaby is world-famous for their iconic Christmas installations and is pleased to announce the theme for 2021: Carnaby Kaleidoscope! Visitors will be immersed into a kaleidoscope of shimmering neon butterflies that will be illuminated with an experiential shopping party! Visit their website for more information.
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