Steve Bishop in action at P-10 last week

Steve Bishop in action at P-10 last week
Originally uploaded by mrfantesticles.

Steve Bishop at P-10, circa July 2005.

MJ Rezzy in The Happy Song

MJ Rezzy in The Happy Song
Originally uploaded by mrfantesticles.

The P.O.P Station is back in business again, this time touring

Yogyakarta, Indonesia

and Berlin, Germany, where we will celebrate our 1 year Anniversary. We

are 100% Happy!

Rocky and Me

I thought I could have made it 2 days in a row, but I am a Jogger Poseur.

Yes, on Thursday morning, 28th July about 0515hrs, I managed to get up and jog around Opera Estate (Yay!). I didn't take the usual route, so I ran blindly towards the tracks of the unknown, and I passed by Swan Lake Road. Then I realised there are other interesting road names around Siglap area, for example Hacienda Lane, Fidelio Street or Tua Kong Road (I'm not sure why this is interesting, but I just like they wait it sounds). But nevertheless, I have managed to jog after battling with late nights of watching dvds, procrastination and laziness.

However, its all about cause and effect right? A body of the late-20s is different; when you have not been involved in any strenuous activities for the pass 5 months and suddenly you jog like a super-jogger, what you'll get is a re-percussion, I started to walk like Tin-Man (in Wizard of Oz). So boys and girls, please sweat it out, don't think that you still have it. We have to cultivate a healthy lifestyle, exercise both your mind and body. Especially, for fit male Singaporeans who have to go through IPPT once a year, its not worth your time if you have to go for Re-training.

Maybe I will try again tomorrow...the art of jogging is to run early in the morning, when people are still sleeping and they don't have to see your sweaty face struggling to get fit. When I run I will think of Rocky, my all-time favourite boxing film. Yeah! I am the Eye of The Tiger.Grrrrrr...mess with my space, I'm gonna break your face.....Grrrrr!

Tom Cruise Looking at The Line

Steve's talk was pretty interesting, warm, simple and engaging in a really subtle way. His works strangely reminded me of Robert Longo's early works, I felt there was a sense of 'punk-rock' aesthetic in some of his works which I really like. That wicked sense of mischief was apparent, the harmeless innocence of an 8-year old boy poking fun at the world in an irreverent way. Like being logical but yet embracing the nonsensical ejaculation of banal picturesque. The fact that he is still studying, make me ponder what else will he produce when he is thrown into the vicious art world. 5 thumbs up with flashing light bulb on top of my head.

I am down with a bad flu after a night of merry making at Julie's place, but I had to leave after they started on Sponge Bob. More of a Futurama fan than a talking sponge, but I think cartoons are equally dumb, that's why we adults get the kick out of it.

For some reasons, they are many elements in reality we feel that ought to be in a cartoon, but at times we adults need to get more adult oriented. Naturally/socially/politically, we have to groove into it so that our peers could get hold of the frequency we are in. The socio-normality of a matured world is a constructed pattern of au deu natural, like me for example, I find it hard to accept the fact that I am a 27 year old man. I am not sure of how a man should act like, serious, chin rubbers and flame throwers.

I think I will rest for now ... I am 27 with an imagination of 2 + 7. Fact or fiction? or scientific misconception?

STEPHEN BISHOP

There has been a change, Steve's talk has been pushed forward to tonight 27th July, 7:30 pm at P-10.
So, be there or beware ya all!

Package Made for Sin

Its terribly costly to send packages these days, from my bad personal experience this afternoon.

Please to anyone, try your best not to send a package overseas via speedpost. I think I just got ripped off, to send a dvd to Paris cost me about $50. I felt so cheated and ashamed, I feel this Evil Postal Service Corporation took advantage of me, this innocent sender.

With $50, I could watch 5 films or 8 packets of Chicken Rice or renew my library premium membership twice or 2 cds or 10 cups of regular caramel latte from Coffee Bean or top up my EZ-link or buy a crate of beer or donate to NKF or a book on 'How not to get ripped off for dummies'. Postal Service its either you love them or hate them to the core!

Weekend was fine. I bought a $2 Pearl Jam t-shirt from Peishan's stall from the Flea Market at Timberlux, yes, that's all I got. I am not sure, I think I will stick to Salvation Army.

Audience Please Stand Up

The flight tickets to Jogja are more or less settled, I was stuck in the middle of lost time so I decided to visit the new library. It is pretty huge, and it was jam packed with book lovers. As usual, when the place is new people will flock to see the mega space, and I didn't get the chance to visit the reference section which is situated from level 7 to 13.

Anway, the talk at P-10 featuring Susie Wong, Jason Lim and Audrey Wong turned out to be pretty alright, but at the end of the day, the topic will always be narrowed down to performance art this..performance art that. Then somebody asked about strategies in finding audience for performance art event or something like that. Then Jason Lim being Jason Lim, rebuked with ' What do you know about performance art in SIngapore?' Then the theatre student who was left in distress replied...."uh...do want me to answer the question?" Well you mess with the best you die like the rest,,,,hwah..hwah..hwah...hwah...

I brought Steve and Peishan to P-10, and Steve will be giving a talk next Thursday, his works are pretty interesting should check it out. I met him in London last February. Later in the afternoon. gonna check out the flea market at Timberlux, Peishan has set up a shop there and hopefully, if I have the energy will carry on to Home for the RNDM gig. Muon, Disco Biscuits and Stoned Revivals will be hitting the stage.

Weekend oh weekend, you are here again....

Stephen Bishop, Live in Singapore at P-10 next Thursday

Stephen Bishop, Live in Singapore at P-10 next Thursday
Originally uploaded by mrfantesticles.

This is my favourite, bold, direct, minimal, no worries and simple.

Rock it!

Remembering Jogja

Remembering Jogja
Originally uploaded by mrfantesticles.

Jalan Malioboro or the Orchard Road of Jogja, the streets of

Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 2003.

MemoRisk and The NooseTellJah

Memories, the good and the bad ones, we remember them all. How possible is it to live back the golden days of rage, rebellion and uncertainties. But I am still uncertain, in fact I think we all are. Uncertain about our lives, goals, ambitions, dreams and many more. These uncertainties bring a brand new realm of fears and paranoia which we all try to avoid at one point or another.

But for certain I remember the best of my days, forming an art collective, from the lamest idea to the potential ones. We left Art College and hope that we could achive something special, to be an artist and to continue being one. Kill Your Television was set up because of many factors, it came out of frustration, confusion and dillusion.

Finding a new outlet that was different from what we were doing at that present moment, we were inspired with a lot of things, the irreverent, juxtaposition, reposition, the punk rock ideology, outsider art, performance art, puppetry and anything that was off-beat.

I enjoyed every second of those moment, the process of forming a collective, where you can bring all your classmates and thought that all of them had the greatest potential ever. From ten people, we were reduced to three, then to four, then five, then four again and now to two. Expansion and contraction. Addition and subtraction.

Nostalgia is great when you learn not to cling on to it. Professionalism and friendship are two different regions, which comes first, that's up to our conscience, the difficulties of striving is hard when you know you have to deal with emotions. In the meantime, we wait, rejuvenate, reconcile and kiss everyone on the forehead.

Memory Lane CrowFort

Memory Lane CrowFort
Originally uploaded by mrfantesticles.

The days of being wild and robust, KYTV2003.

Memory Lane Crawford

Memory Lane Crawford
Originally uploaded by mrfantesticles.

This photo was taken early 2004, the post-juvenile art quartet.

Artvsts International

Artvsts International
Originally uploaded by mrfantesticles.

The works done by ARTVSTS, graffiti art has changed a lot, I just love

the dynamics

and the organised chaos of their compositions.

Jogjakarta The Return

Nothing much has happened after UnaVoce, I have been busy catching up on my reading and watching dvds, have been trying to do the bloody laundry but the weather has been really sublime/mellow these past couple of days. The preperation for Pop Station is pretty slow, but surely we will be set to go this August.

We will be having a new tenant at the end of this month, a bunch of graphic artists turn graffiti artists or also known as The Artivists will be taking over Dovan's space. I am pretty much looking forward to their presence, hopefully, KYTV could do something with them or vice versa.

The last time I went to Jogjakarta was 2 years ago for a Fusion Strength, a performance art meeting, it was a pretty amazing trip, met loads of people and did loads of wonderful things, and visited Borobudur. What I love about Jogjakarta is the youth culture definitely, the spiriit of D-I-Y was alive and as you roam the streets.

Almost 40% of the population in Jogja are artists, musicians, art workers or craftsmen, even the buskers on the streets were pretty good. I am waiting to be inspired again....

One Voice and a pair of Eyebags

Unavoce 2005 was an experience, for me, the event was about the 'existence' of oneself and being surrounded by these new/old faces around me. Some people do expect something from a festival, especially when you have to pay a certain amount to be jarred/drilled/sedated/seduced by the sound created by the artists.

Yet again, Substation is no longer the new cool, but a space for new mistakes to be made and old desires to fulfill. UnaVoce is ahead of its time, and Zai Kuning unofficially reflects the aura of The Guiness Theatre.

For myself, I see 'performance' has exhausted its ways one too many. I am going back to basics, and I am going back to where I've had left, the drawing board all over again. In an event like this, what I cherish most are normally the conversations I had with loads of people from the pionners/legends, Big Feet, the boy who loves to draw, Mr I-Need-My-quiet-moment, Mr Pensive Pink Ark and many more.

The warmth and fluffiness conversations overwhelmed the technical savageness of diligency, exponential and delinquency.

I am not sure where am I heading next, but definitely not in the presence of lights and shadows.

Zul invited me partly because he wanted a variety of artists of different aptitudes vying on to the same degree of the event itself. Disappointment can sometimes be a slap on the face with swirling stars, droning sound waves and haunting feedbacks.

This is just another chapter, we have yet to reach the introduction.

A photo from the ashes of Rock

A photo from the ashes of Rock
Originally uploaded by mrfantesticles.

Vijay sent me this, taken around

2 years ago, Tiramisu as Deep

Purple with Freddie Mercury. An

event I will remember the rest of

my life, it was called "VERY ROCK".

Give and Take, Una Voce 2005

Give and Take, Una Voce 2005
Originally uploaded by mrfantesticles.

Men at Work, give and take with assorted bits and pieces.

The Class of UnaVoce 2005

The Class of UnaVoce 2005
Originally uploaded by mrfantesticles.

From UnaVoce community with lots of love. 15-16th July 2005.

Sub Stays On 2005 and counting

The past couple of days, I have been hanging out at Substation a lot. I would say the place where everyone in the scene familiar with from the music, art, theatre or whatsoever community. Its a place where I started out as a member of KYTV, we used to have all our meetings at the coffeeshop called 'Food Plus', now it is called 'Win Food'. And of course, S-11, definitely, some hang over 'chicken noodle' after a night of cheap wild party in some super club.

The Substation has tiredly become a jaded-looking art space, despite their 'so-so' renovation, the space still look like an ancient castle of ruin. Everybody is familiar with the Garden where they had loads of gigs, and I have performed in the garden space a couple of times with my band. Now the whole space has been taken over by the UBlues people, and they called it Timbre, literally they have laid a timbred looking platform across the garden. how nice...

I am not sure if the change has significantly produced an impact on me, but seeing the garden transforming into another yet luxurious bistro under the banner of a Blues club make me ponder about the historical remnants of that space. There used to be great moshing area, the skinheads came and fought with the punks, Stoned Revivals performed, The Artists' Village had a millenium party and other assorted activities.

To change, what is it to change, some people don't change, sometimes they do...have I changed? Have the music change? Changes....the new strange? Slick means new? Old means jaded? What are the changes? Changing? Maybe I should ask Bowie...or NAC? Or NKF? Take it easy policy? Do we need to invent laptop straps, so we could feel the transmission of sound on our fingers?

This is a rare photo of me displaying my novice guitar skills in public, as you can see from the expression on my face, I tried to look like a Black Metal guitarist.

Moods entertaining the crowd with Mr Firman 'Manchester' coming in as their guest conga player.

SlowJaxx and The Death Orkes at P.O.W, this week the spirit of Void-Deck rock is imminent as I saw all of my peers presented the best of their raw and primal energy.

Dahlan Francesca Vol.2 at The Esplanade last Saturday, I tried to do a Zack De la Rocha imitation, check out that sideburns. All Mutton Chopped!

Pulled Through! Thank God!

I have pulled through! Phew... I have pulled all through from the illustration, to the lecture/performance and Dahlan Francesca. I am a happy bunny!

The week has been intense, meaningful, hopeful and fantastic. But Dahlan Francesca (Vol 3) played a wonderful set, nevertheless we were late for soundcheck due to the fact that they have closed the road because of the (WOW) NDP parade preview. It was chaotic, but it was one of those moments when we thought it was going to be a catastrophe.

Before the gig Ahmad said, this is where we have to let our soul be our pilot (to quote from Sting). Westside was brilliant, and I went really soft on my knees before the set. It's pretty refreshing having to perform with collaborators you have not worked before especially Firman and Ady from Wicked Aura, they knew what they were doing on the percussions.

The best thing about Esplanade Waterfront is that they have the best sound system ever, and the monitors especially. They are all so pristine clear. I like...Moods up next today, they are playing 2 sets, 7:30 and 8:45 pm at the outdoor theatre. So will be there to support...

Seu Jorge is my new idol!

Paula our new cat has been really sick, but I think she's better now. She has been coughing on a regular basis. Now when she meows, she sounds like a toad. And she likes to chill on top of the computer table, and whenever I shift her to another place, she will climb up to her favourite spot again. Sometimes I wonder, of all the things in this world why would I write about cats?

I love the feeling when you have accomplished something, you can actually kick back and relax, watch the stack of dvds in your room and read your favourite books or whatever it is that turn you on.

Recently I watched The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, a great film by Wes Anderson with a stellar cast, Bill Murray, William Dafoe, Cate Blanchett and many more. Of course, a good film always come with great soundtrack, Sigur Ros, Stooges and this Brazilian singer that I am so fascinated with.

Seu Jorge sings bizarre versions of old David Bowie songs - in Portuguese - throughout the film, Jorge's visionary reworkings of 'Rebel Rebel', 'Rock'n'Roll Suicide', 'Life on Mars' and 'Starman' were brilliant! Jorge acted as Knockout Ned in City of God if you can remember that awesome film. SO, I'm not sure if they are showing this film here...I got it from this auntie who sells dvd in Keong Seik Road.

Sites to Check Out!

Kill Your Television new site is up, so check it out, the fresh new electro clash look designed by Ginette of Wallwork Records.

Ka5 has just set up a new blogger for our upcoming project entitled 'Not Available On Print Date' which will make its premiere at Fukuoka Art Museum in November. And this will be KYTV's first new piece this year. We have been busy navigating our new formation since we are left with just the 2 of us, we are looking forward to working with more collaborators. This performance will see us collaborating with a Japanese sound artist Kenjiro Matsuo and other contemporary performers from Fukuoka.

John Lennon said this once, " It takes one man to dream but two men can possibly turn it into reality." Then I said, yes John, you so 'macam-macam'. You are a jealous guy...

This performance was taken in March last year, a small performance I did at Studio 106, unfortunately I forgot the title to this piece. My fascination with shaving cream and love/evol theory.Photo by Zul.

Then, they did not know how to react when the speaker transformed himself into a cross-dressing auntie with moustache and bad teeth.

Crazy Week and its not going to Stop!

The first half of the drawings have been completed and I have had only a few hours of rest, all in all I think I have slept for only 4 hours the past 2 days. I am halfway through this mayhem...

The Republic Poly talk was pretty alright, introducing the students to Performance Art, some of them never even heard of the term. SO clarifying the difference between Performance Art and Performing Arts was somehow a great 'reach out' situation. I enjoyed it very much, the fact that they were pretty quiet, maybe they were quite shock when I mentioned getting high, marijuana, performing while you are drunk...so I believe it was an eye opener. (I think)

The poly was fantastic, state of the art, everyone had a laptop, Diana told me its the first wireless/paperless institution in Singapore. (hmmm... )

There are 2 performances coming up the next couple of weeks, do come if you think its worthwhile.

My project band with Syed Ahmad and some of the Wicked Aura Boys playing you the sweet lo-fi melodies of urban decay.

Dahlan Francesca Vol. 2
Time: 10pm - 10.45pm
Date: Saturday, 9th July
Where: Esplanade Waterfront. (together with Kelvin Tan and Westside)

And for the third time this year, I will be collaborating with MC Sweetalker aka Vijay Singh at this festival organised by the Pink Ark crew.
Una Voce 2005, 24 hour Sound Art Festival
Time: 8pm - 8pm
Date: Friday 15th - 16th June (coincides with BayBeats, ya I know, but come for the 640 West set at night! Its going to be a party!)
http://www.unavoce.4-all.org

Explaining to the students of Republic Polytechnic the essence of performance art.

And the next day he got more excited and he shot a photo of himself again!How nice...

This boy was so excited he shot himself in front of the stage.

Cradle me Bones

Wedding, aren't we all love weddings, especially when you are not the one getting married. Its like in the movie, seeing the bride and bridegroom walking down the aisle. And you wonder, that would be their greatest performance of their lives. Controlling those smiles while countless people queing up to take a memorable photo together on the ornamental pedestal.

My cousin is married, and I still remember this bugger who used to teach me how to move like Vanilla Ice, who introduced me to the ungodliness of varied metal music concept, the power of all-black outfit, hung out with his friends who worked at McDonald's just to get free Big Macs, burning the heads of Star Wars figurines, who helped me to session for my band at times of desperation and of course, nevertheless, the power of being related to each other. (whatever that means, I was just finding the best way to end this chunky phrase)

What it is to be married and be merry? You have to be merry and get married or married and be merry. You don't have to worry cause you will be slurry and blurry.

Are you ready for a time of your life, its time to stand up and fight. Everybody children of the world can see. Every woman every man, join the caravan of love, everybody take a stand, join the caravan of love. (While I'm typing these, the radio is playing this song) What does this mean? Is it coincidental or just mental?

Jimi Hendrix must have felt uneasy lately in his grave when a performance artist from Singapore did this performance in Sydney recently.