TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

7:54 PM
Posted by jodi rose

yes, singing under bridges is where you might find me this weekend. landed back in berlin today, after a flight that had some light turbulence, which I found the anticipation of was far worse than the actuality. Heard someone talk about flying a while ago, and she said that it´s the one time she always thinks about death. I´m the same, it´s terrifying. Anyway, I made a deal with myself that if I survived this time, I would go and do something else that terrifies me. So now I have to: Yes, it is a particular thing, and no, I´m not going to tell you what it is.

Last night in Paris was fantastic. Started the day with a walk along the Seine, out at Pont de Sevres, around the house boats and this fancy new residential development, lay in the sun on their rowing boat docks for a while. Eric and Luka were out there later, rescueing the ducks and ducklings from marauding kayaking teenagers. Then met with Yro about VJ plan for the performance at Mains D'oeuvres in May, for which I will send sound and image from Singapore. Nice conceptual links betweent his ideas and Emmanuel´s, think it will be beautiful. Made it to the Debilly footbridge, across from the Eiffel Tower, no song or even radio coming through the bridge todaz. Then across to the Palais de Tokyo, where the art intrigued and confused me but the cafe was sunny, and the view spectacular. Found some hand photocopied black and white fliers amongst the glossy art promo material, for Recherche Sophie Calle, which I think may be a current project of the fabulous artist herself. Working on my ideas of what to send her for the research.

Wandered through the cool local market and ok a little retail therapy, well it was a very cool bowling style bag, perfect for airports and all that extra luggage that seems to invent itself wherever I go.

Met Emmanuel on the bridge we have chosen for the ballade of the saint martin canal, did more tests and played underneath for a while, with Mathieu and Laura who came to check out the scene. There is wireless access, but we have to test the bandwith - as Thomas told me, when I synchronously ran into him outside Point Ephemere, at the Octopus Festival opening. He is signed up now for the streaming, fantastic, I have a rocking bridge team in Paris!!

The work at Octopus is absolutely gorgeous, a nostalgic poetic interface of old postcards, each with a speaker and recording that starts when you turn the card over; a lovely spatial audio experience with sensors and headphones, part of a sonic city under construction; and a fantastic instrument built into an old writing desk, with knobs you switch on and off to play the sounds. Superb. Met even more fabulous people, including Nick, recently arrived from sydney via berlin, then headed back to Mathieu´s for the improvised drinks soiree, which ended at 4am after my dream of a marshall stack the height of a bridge - a la disaster zone, the band you had to be on another planet to listen to - with Eric raving about the improbable charms of Belgium, and Claudia laughing jubilantly. The gorgeous Helen came along - had missed her the previous night at Nemo exhibition in Le Bellevilloise, but Heiko showed up there and dragged me to a squat bar round the corner for some alternative Paris ambience, then down Oberkampf to Zorba´s bar, where I left him ensconced with friends looking very happy, and headed back to la generale, and a visit to the studio downstairs where yroyto makes his ultra cool vj lab.

Which just about brings us up to date. No wonder I´m exhausted, just writing that is making my head spin. Floating in a virtual home for the evening, then hope to be camping at a friend´s new place for the weekend and Mari´s exhibition celebration...

In case you´re wondering: yes, this is insane. Next round of organising details and gritty pragmatics is underway, things are looking a little shaky in some corners but am sure they will all work out just fine.

Tonight I´m hoping for a screening of Barberella on Udo´s home cinema... just what a girl needs, Jane Fonda attacked by mutant dolls and then breaking the orgazmatron! :)