Friday, July 26, 2013

PERFORMANCE LIFESTYLE


The words ‘performance’ and ‘lifestyle’ are bandied around a lot these days.  They conjure up ideas of individuals making the most, or getting the most, or squeezing the most out of whatever lifestyle choice it is that they are currently pursuing. The idea of performance in contemporary society is one that might imply ‘performance indicators’ or ‘high performance’, and perhaps a sense of fitness, committed training, elite athleticism, triathlons, bodybuilding and other overachiever obsessions.  ‘Lifestyle’ is one of those dirty words that I often feel a little cynical towards, especially in light of ‘lifestyle television’ or ‘lifestyle choices’, though there is no escaping the fact that we all make ‘lifestyle choices’ and live out one lifestyle or another.

 
In the context of this research project and reflections upon the idea of portraits and personalities I think of ‘performance lifestyle’ in another manner.  In particular, I think of those people who develop a lifestyle devoted to performing. Not performing in the sense of ‘in the theatre’ or “I’m a performance artist – come and watch my video” but those people who are committed to outdoors, on the street, real live, everyday type of performance.  It’s the kind of performers who genuinely engage with a real public and challenge people’s day-to-day sense of what may or may not constitute reality or the norm. 

I’m not talking about buskers and people who pursue or expect a financial exchange. I’m talking about people who put on a show, regardless of financial outcomes. These are the people that ‘give’, culturally, on a daily basis.  It’s something like the ideals of street art where art comes out of the confines of a gallery and is “just there for everybody, man”, though we all know that street art always has a bit that you can buy.

Certainly, this project aspires to those big ideals and I get a huge kick out freaking people out on a daily basis.  My research seems to indicate that the general public are at ease with bicycles as they know them, but they are often flabbergasted that someone might alter a bicycle in order to make it more entertaining.  I love the looks that people give you – kind of variations on fear, shock, nausea, having just soiled their smalls and outright hilarity.  This contorted facial expression is often combined with overall body language that indicates the viewer has just witnessed some giant glitch in the matrix that they better hurry up and photograph on their mobile device before the gaping schism in reality closes over again. (As an aside, I wonder whether contemporary Ghostbusters might simply capture supernatural nemeses on iPads.) These comments should not be read as a criticism of the general public as I enjoy acting out this cultural transaction and playing on it, I enjoy the role of performer.

There are many heroes, all over the world, of the Performance Lifestyle genre and I would like to take this opportunity to tip my hat to some of the more distinct that I have encountered and enjoyed on a regular basis.


Johnny Haysmann’s physical stature is dwarfed only by his legendary status as an Adelaide icon.  Equal parts enigma and celebrity, Johnny’s white gumboots, speedos and various array of accessories have been seen striding proudly through Rundle Mall and into the South Australian shared psyche for what seems like decades.  Here is a link to his own website which offers a warm and personal insight into the man and his motivations.


Victor Lancaster, Melbourne’s infamous bucket drummer has kept the CBD alive for many years.  His beats have been celebrated on numerous occasions and made into several recordings.  You can read a little more about Victor here.

You simply must watch this beautiful video of Darwin’s Trevor Jenkins, the Rubbish Warrior.  Trevor devotes his time to constructing ephemeral sculptures out of roadside detritus- in between running for mayor and generally fighting the good fight.


Friday, July 19, 2013

ADVENTURE PANTS


Have you ever wondered how it is that our intrepid adventurers maintain body heat on the wild tundras of the Adelaide Hills?  Here's the secret - Adventure Pants!  Made from Australian fabric and hand printed in Melbourne, these high quality garments have been seen wrapping the pins of the finest tradies, outdoor athletes and rock stars.   These are my own personal choice for their cotton construction, sans fleece, allowing a high level of breathability and their resistance to the mobile sauna outcomes of other similar products.  They also are perfect for my application in their own fusion of both art and adventure.

Beyond my completely objective rant I make note that my services are available for the promotion of any Australian made product that makes use of the word 'adventure' in it's title.  I am also open to alliances between any handmade products that assist in the pursuit of high end freaky adventuring.

Stay warm kids - you know how!

http://www.captainrobbo.com/

Friday, July 12, 2013

CALCULATIONS & CREATIONS


When I began this particular blog I thought that it may become focused on the adventures of one particular bike.  Of course that could never be the case as I’m just not a one bike kind of person.  In fact, there is a formula that is widely applied throughout the bike world by which you can calculate the number of bikes that you need.  It is a simple calculation of n +1, with n being the number of bikes that you already have.  The same formula could also be applied to art collecting. 

The affliction of bicycle collection or accumulation can become even more serious when you start to give old bikes that are otherwise discarded a new lease on life. Old bikes tend to appear magically in the street, people who know that you collect bikes start to deliver them to your door and pretty soon you have quite a pile of raw materials from which to create. In this case, the practice of tall bike building could have that contemporary catch phrase, ‘upcycling’, applied.  The term then becomes nicely stacked with extra analogy.

There is an element of this project that I have decided to develop a little further, and whilst I’m not quite ready to reveal it in it’s entirety, I can say that I have decided that the project will require a specific new tall machine.  So, here’s a snap of this latest lanky creation currently in the stage of being rigorously test ridden before receiving a little more finite finishing.