White Fungus

While I was schmoozing, and trying to be cool at the premeire of the Taipei Contemporary Art Center I was greeted with a magazine. White Fungus, was handed out by the two brothers who publish to help get art lovers hooked. It worked.

White Fungus is run out of Taichung by two brothers, from New Zealand and the United States*.
White Fungus, garnished its name from a can of mushrooms one of the brothers found, that had the emblem "KKK" on one side of the can. Amused, the brothers used the moniker to adorn the cover of their arts/music/literature/politics magazine. English and Chinese find ground to hold in the magazines assortment of thought provoking articles and lone comic strip. I'm afraid I'm biased, as seeing I've gotten to hang out with the creators a few times, I only have nice things to say about the magazine and its creators. Although I'd like to think I'm hardcore, and can find music under the radar, this magazine gave me a check up from the neck up. Brilliant work.

For more information on finding/buying the magazine:
http://whitefungus.com/stockists/


















*(I'm putting in the slash because they have dual citizenship, and New Zealand first, because it's more rare).

Derek Murphy's Absurd Visions

Derek Murphy originally hails from Tigard, Oregon but has made Taiwan his home over the last few years. In this time he has painted, painted, and painted some more. His work can be seen now in his show "Absurd Visions", at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan.

Artist Statement
My paintings expose my optimistic nature, my dark cynicisms, and my deep spirituality. I am awed at the power in the world, tickled by its implicit joy and angered by the perpetuation of ideological rubbish. Strong beliefs are the electric fences of the world: labeling, distinguishing, separating, condemning. As long as I don’t have them I have no criteria with which to judge others or praise myself. I hope that in toying with sensitive issues I can draw attention to the emotional barricades that define us. I am floating beyond certainty and being romanced by forces with secret motives. I live in constant struggle to make peace between my warring halves, and the canvas is the forum where each side stakes its claim. Inevitably, I am a product of my time, and all I can do is share my vision of the world.

CLICK the title to go to his website.
Or follow the URL: http://www.derekmurphyart.com/

Will you be my neighbor?

When I first came to Taiwan, I lived in a little place called Hsinchu.
I was lucky enough to move in next to a super cool couple from Canada.
Jeff is not only a semi pro bicyclist but a pretty kick ass photographer.


Blah blah blah yeah my little sister is good at photography.
No, he is good as in, he should quit his job and work for National Geographic good. He worked as an assistant to a wedding photographer for several years, and has a craftsman's understanding of the entire photographic process: from the camera, to the technical aspect of the print development.

I don't have enough nice things to say about him or his work. Because I got to live next to a photographer, all of my social outings, neighborhood, and friends were captured perfectly. But now I live in Taipei, without my photographer neighbor to document it, I look back at the photos to see where we were and where his new adventures are taking him. And to torture myself since I no longer get to have my moments captured so well.

You can click on the title, that links to his website.
Or cut and paste this url: www.redbubble.com/people/harris

-d