Hiraki Sawa
Hiraki Sawa was born in Ishikawa, Japan. He currently lives and works in London. His work focuses on the use of video projections and installations.
Recent exhibitions include Experimenta Playground, International Biennal of Media Arts, Melbourne, Australia and 12e Biennale de l’ Image en Mouvement, Centre Pour l’Image Contemporaine, Saint Gervais, Geneve. Sawa has exhibited solo all over the world including Chisenhale Gallery, London, UK., National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo, Japan, and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington D.C. His work is represented by James Cohan Gallery in New York.
Hiraki Sawa represents Japan and the visual arts as part of the Original Cultures roster of artists for 2009/2010.
Hiraki Sawa online
Hiraki Sawa – Going Places, Sitting Down
Original Cultures ‘09 – Visual Artists
Original Cultures focuses on two specific strands of modern performing arts: music and visual arts. Within these two strands Original Cultures works with both established and upcoming artists from the UK, Italy and Japan.
The 4 artists chosen to represent the visual arts strand for the first year of Original Cultures activities (2009) are:
- Will Barras (UK) – click to view bio
- DEM (IT) – click to view bio
- Erica il Cane (IT) – click to view bio
- Hiraki Sawa (JP) – bio coming soon
Together these 4 artists will take part in events in the UK, Italy and Japan throughout 2009 and 2010: Original Cultures Bologna 09 (June 2009), Original Cultures London ‘10 (March 2010) and Original Cultures Tokyo ‘10 (TBC).
During each event the artists will work together to create collaborative works inspired by the cultural exchange and interaction fostered by Original Cultures. This work will take place mainly during private workshops where the artists are given a brief to create new art, or in some cases given a free hand to come up with their own brief. The resulting works are then used as part of various activities such as public workshops, seminars, showcases and exhibitions.
You can view examples of the collaborative works created during Original Cultures Bologna 09 on the Original Cultures Art channel on Vimeo and our Flickr archive.
Original Cultures ‘09 – Musicians
Original Cultures focuses on two specific strands of modern performing arts: music and visual arts. Within these two strands Original Cultures works with both established and upcoming artists from the UK, Italy and Japan.
The 3 artists chosen to represent the music strand for the first year of Original Cultures activities (2009) are:
- 2tall / Om Unit (UK) – click to view bio and discog
- Tatsuki (JP) – click to view bio and discog
- Tayone (IT) – click to view bio and discog
Together these 3 artists will take part in events in the UK, Italy and Japan throughout 2009 and 2010: Original Cultures Bologna 09 (June 2009), Original Cultures London ‘10 (March 2010) and Original Cultures Tokyo ‘10 (TBC).
During each event the artists will work together to create collaborative works inspired by the cultural exchange and interaction fostered by Original Cultures. This work will take place mainly during private workshops where the artists are given a brief to create new art, or in some cases given a free hand to come up with their own brief. The resulting works are then used as part of various activities such as public workshops, seminars, showcases and exhibitions.
All 3 artists come from a similar background, having had a hand in the development and evolution of the turntablist scene in their respective countries, and have followed similar evolutions, moving away from the world of scratching towards music production and live shows.
You can listen to examples of the music created by the 3 during Original Cultures Bologna 09 on our Soundcloud page and our documentaries page. You can also view footage from the workshops on our Vimeo channel.
DEM
Like a modern alchemist, DEM creates his surreal creatures, weird characters that live in between the most imperceptibles layers of human reality. Protean and ironic, his works range from wall painting to illustration to art installations.
The symbolism that enriches DEM’s artwork invites the public to elaborate a personal access code to decipher this world, a mysterious and enigmatic world.
His art production, an ideal setting for which he found in dismissed factories, has been showed in various occasions such as a personal exhibition at the Oro Gallery in Gothenburg, collective exhibitions like Street Art, Sweet Art at PAC in Milan, Street Lab at Termini Train Station in Rome and Nomadaz at Scion Installation in Los Angeles.
DEM represents Italy and the visual arts as part of the Original Cultures roster of artists for 2009/2010.
DEM online:
DEM, Ericailcane and Will Barras – Stay Away from Light (edit2)
DEM and Ekta at Nimis 2007
Will Barras
Will Barras is an illustrator and artist living and working in London. Born in Birmingham in 1973 he spent his formative years in Bristol.
His invention of composition and fluid lines provide poignant detail in liquid abstraction. The subject matter is readily familiar, but captured in a manner that seems to jar time and space with psychedelic abstraction. It is painting, which takes place. It is his way of expressing the emotional movements of this labor. It is therapy and pleasure and necessity. Though Will is more passionate about Cricket, and even the art of the poached egg than he is of Skate or Snowboarding, he is hailed as one of the visual artists who best represents these influential creative movements. This is not only an indicator of his prolific work rate and good nature, his illustrations featuring on all types of boards, clothes and mural campaigns, but more so of his unique voice, technical competency and sense of exploration.
Highly sought after both for commercial and private commissions, Will divides himself between directing Animation, designing graphics for projects that stimulate him and undertaking a truly grueling exhibition and event schedule. Last year he participated in the highly acclaimed Wooster on Spring exhibition that people waited five hours in line to see in New York City. He was invited to exhibit at the Scope Art Fair on the occasion of Art Basel, Miami at the close of 2007, having participated in shows in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Brussels, Edinburgh, Mayrhofen, Oslo, Copenhagen, Bratislava, Cologne, Budapest, Warsaw and London earlier in the year.
Will Barras represents the UK and the visual arts as part of the Original Cultures roster of artists for 2009/2010.
Will Barras online:
Will Barras, DEM and Ericailcane – Stay Away from Light (edit2)
Will Barras interview from On Point TV
Ericailcane
Ericailcane is a visual artist based in Bologna who has produced art, exhibited and collaborated with artists worldwide.
Ericailcane represents Italy and the visual arts as part of the Original Cultures roster of artists for 2009/2010.
Ericailcane online
DEM, Ericailcane and Will Barras – Stay Away from Light (edit2)
Ericailcane at FAME festival
Tayone
Tayone’s musical career started in 1997 when he won the first edition of the Italian ITF DJ battle chapter at a young age. In the same year, riding on the wave of his win, he becomes of Alien Army, the first Italian turntablist crew. In 1998 he wins the second edition of ITF’s Italy chapter and ends up fourth at the world finals. In 1999, Alien Army release their first album, ‘Orgasmi Meccanici’, on Royality Records. In 2001, Tayone takes the title at the Vestax Extravaganza Italy.
Quickly Tayone becomes one of the best scratchers in the country, if not Europe, allowing him to take part in various live tours with Alien Army, Zero Stress, Chief and Soci and others. In 2003 he is chosen as the official DJ for the Nike Freestyle Tour in Italy, and also judges and showcases at the ITF German and Austrian finals. Alien Army also releases their second album that year, ‘The End’, in tandem with Hip Hop Slam, Billy Jam’s legendary label based on the US West Coast. In 2004 he continues to tour across Italy and abroad, including appearances at major festivals such as Arezzo Wave and Hip Hop Kemp (CZ), and is once more chosen to judge at the ITF, this time for the world finals.
It’s during that time that he meets the famed multi-instrumentalist Bruno Briscik. Out of their meeting comes a new project, Rasjaful, which blends both of their musical backgrounds and work. In September 2005, he releases ‘Sbarbie Live in Praga’, his first solo release and a little known jewel in the scratch music world. From that point onwards he continues to focus his work on production and making music, while doing more live work with Bruno as well as Skizo from Alien Army and DJ Excess, from America.
In the last few years he has released with and taken part in the rap group I Fluxer, Rasjaful (a jazz, rock and funk combo with Bruno Briscik), Bungalow Zen (with DJ Skizo and a string of guests) and The Stones (an electro jazz project featuring MPC, turntables, bass, and live dubbing). He’s worked with the French saxophonist Mark Baron, the ensemble Pas Polis, the trombonist Fabio Morgera, the drummer Bruce Cox from Philadelphia, Franco Micalizzi and the Big Bubblin Band (as part of the Gli Originali project). In addition to this he’s also worked with the cream of the Italian Jazz scene including Carlo Atti, Nico Menci, Fabrizio Bosso, Giancarlo Bianchetti, Alessandro Meroli, Max Dall’Omo, Lorenzo Feliciati, Silvia Donati and more.
2009 will see the release of his first proper solo album, ‘Photographie’, which features Neffa, Patrik Benifei, Blu Rum 13, Anti Anti, Samuel Subsonica, Franco Micalizzi, Silvia Donati, Carlo Atti, Giancarlo Biancheti, Bruno Briscik, Skizo and Sean Martin.
Tayone represents Italy and the music art strand as part of the Original Cultures roster of artists for 2009/2010.
Tayone online
Original Cultures Bologna ‘09 audio documentary pt 2
Original Cultures Bologna ‘09 music workshops
2tall / Om Unit
Jim Coles aka 2tall/Om Unit has been active since the late nineties as a DJ and producing music since his early teens. He has several releases out under the 2tall moniker, which came after a brief stint in the world of DJ battles where he represented the UK at the DMC world DJ championships.
More recently he has put out two notable albums under the 2tall moniker: “Beautiful Mindz” a collaborative project with U.S duo Dudley Perkins and Georgia Anne Muldrow (Stones Throw), and “The Softer Diagram”, his most recent solo LP released on L.A-based Content Records.
Current projects include various guest spots on releases by Dented Records based in the UK, including the forthcoming Foreign Beggars album. 2009 also sees the launch of his new electronic beats project “Om Unit” which will be released on the Terrorhythm label, run by UK grime/dubstep stalwart Plastician.
Jim has also been known for live showcases using various experimental techniques involving the turntables and effects amongst other gear, which brings him to the Original Cultures project.
2tall/Om Unit represents the UK and the music art strand as part of the Original Cultures roster of artists for 2009/2010.
2tall/Om Unit online:
Selected discography
Releases:
Shifting Tides (CD) // Needlework 2004
Loose Ends For Divination (CD + CD) // Eclectic Breaks 2005
Beautiful Mindz (CD, Album) // Eclectic Breaks 2007
The Softer Diagram (LP) // Content 2008
Remixes:
Real Thing (12″) // Slaves (2Tall RMX) // Hum+Haw 2008
Co-production:
Diner @ Table No. 9 (12″) // 6 DJ’s + 1 // Brick9000 Records 2006
Tracks Appear On:
Signal Path (2xLP) // Garden Child // Content, Styge Recordings 2007
Twisting The Frame (File, MP3) // Another Place // Myuzyk 2008
Original Cultures Bologna ‘09 audio documentary pt 2
Original Cultures Bologna ‘09 music workshops
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Tatsuki
Tatsuki was born in Osaka, Japan in 1973 and raised in Suffolk, UK. He settled in London in 1991. For the last ten years Tatsuki has been a member of the international, Danish-based band Blue Foundation.
Alongside his work with Blue Foundation, Tatsuki has also collaborated with Japanese artists such as DJ Krush, Boom Boom Satellites, Numb, Calm and DJ Baku as well as UK DJ collective The Mixologists. He has released music on both major and independent labels worldwide.
In recent years he has worked closely with musical instrument manufacturer Korg to develop and promote the company’s latest DJ equipment. This work has included input for the R&D of Korg’s ZERO4 mixer.
Tatsuki represents Japan and the music art strand as part of the Original Cultures roster of artists for 2009/2010.
Tatsuki online:
Selected Discography
Featuring:
Organ Language (CD, Album) // Colors // Revirth 2002
Sweep Of Days (2xLP) // Virgin Records (Denmark) 2004
Notwithstanding (CD, Album) // In The Parallax Of You… // Hobby Industries 2005
Production:
Whakhakha Breaks (12″, Ltd) // Ortofon
Alis EP (12″) // Alis Vs. Le-Fix (Ver. 01) // Alis 2003
Co-production:
Numb (CD) // Tenka, Jyaki // Revirth 2002
Appears On:
Human Essence (CD) // Times For The Two // Sublime Records 2002
Sweep Of Days (CD, Album) // Virgin Music (Denmark) 2004
寂 Jaku (CD, Album) // Columbia 2004
Original Cultures Bologna ‘09 audio documentary pt 2
Original Cultures Bologna ‘09 music workshops
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
