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
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
