Gerhard Richter: Abstractions

Prestel Publishing

With its telling title, there is not a whole left to the imagination as to what this beautifully illustrated and curated book zeros in on:

Gerhard Richter’s abstract emissions from the mid 1960ies to the current day with a well-balanced mix of prominent works but also artefacts from private collections and some pieces that have been undug and see the light of the public for the first day around.

It is interesting to explore how the book weaves its way from Richter’s first experiments with paintings, which consisted merely of grids or prime coloured squares and rectangles, via his grey and colour chart paintings, and sculptures to enlarged photographed patterns depicting what was dried on canvas after he let go of control, which is one of the methods that is dominant specifically in his abstract body of work.

After perusing the book I got a real sense of the richness of the material that was used and how imperfections become welcome features, adding another dimension and “je ne sais quoi” factor to the artworks that is nearly impossible to replicate without losing its authenticity and magic.

Now, if you are not familiar with Gerhard Richter and his oeuvre at large I’d probably recommend approaching him via a more mainstream take on his art, as the abstract aspect is only a mere half of what made him as an artist.

For the initiated enthusiasts, this book holds merit as it shows unreleased works and makes connections that are rarely highlighted in other releases on this subject, starting with the trajectory from Richter starting out as a realistic painter to the evolution of an abstract, experimental visionary, who never stopped questioning the status quo of painting, trends and the motivations behind it all – with his internal discourse taking the centre stage.

Rembrandt's Roughness

Nicola Suthor

Princeton University Press

Ah, roughness. It was not only Benoit Mandelbrot who discovered that there is at least some roughness everywhere. Now, focussing merely on it is not what makes art but the holistic melange of seemingly diametrically opposed extremes, e.g. tenderness and roughness – delicacy and coarseness – sentiment and sensuality - soaring and grovelling, dirt and deity – make truly remarkable art.

This is a feat that was achieved through what Rembrandt channelled via his paintings, which not only incorporated the aforementioned attributes but were infused with his unique approach that keeps capturing and inspiring the imagination of recipients throughout the ages.

Anyone who has had a chance to view Rembrandt’s painting close-up would be able to attest to the quality that the often rough textural layering adds to not only his most prominent pieces but his oeuvre at large. The fact that Rembrandt not only let the “roughness” of his painting shine through, e.g. the thick layering along with the visibility of things like coloured priming and the extensive usage of “chiaroscuro” (the nuanced treating of shade and light in paintings), but emphasized it and used it as a tool helped him to elevate his art above comparable emissions of his contemporaries as it escaped the limitations painting and its materials was subjected to back in the day.

This kind of approach along with Rembrandt’s ability still work with a laser like precision is the focus of Nicola Suthor’s research, which helps to get a least a hint of an idea of how much subtle complexity is beyond literally every brushstroke of one of the masters. It also investigates and shows that assessing and appreciating Rembrandt’s art for its merits it something that can only be fairly assessed if it is seen contextualised in the canon and history of art, which shows how many aeons ahead of his time Rembrandt really was.

High Adventures in the Great Outdoors

Performance Enhancing Gear, Digestive Health and Moisturisation

Alight, are you firmly in touch with your feminine side?

Gird your loins, alpha males – this instalment of “High adventures in the great outdoor” will deal with leggings. Leggings for the male persuasion, i.e. “Meggings.”

Now, Kapow Meggings got some out there variations. We are talking numbers going by names “24 Carats” or “Jake the Snakes” for a reason.

Unless you enjoy being the conversation stopper, a member of Steel Panther or alternatively becoming a conversation piece when you leave the solitary confines of your home, you might want to get started with designs that are less challenging for your retina.

Ok, why wear meggings, you ask?

I use them for workouts and running, specifically in winter, which is where Kapow Meggings’ Performance range comes into play as they are designed for getting as “physical” as Olivia Newton John could hope for.

Compression is the enhanced through NWOBHM spandex and polyester which aid in the stabilisation of muscles while providing support, comfort and durability. I’d go as far as claiming that the Chomablast and High Voltage (Danger, Danger!) variants not only make for a borderline psychedelic, kaleidoscopic fashion statement but they have immensely enhanced my workouts and their outcomes.

Engineered with not only stretchy bits,  but thoroughly reinforced through stitching, and sweat-absorbing technology, plus a neat secret lil’ slimline hip pockets to hold your phone and keys firm whether you’re running, wrestling, or BASE jumping, they are doing the job I’d normally come to expect from heavier duty track pants while not feeling more than a lightweight, second skin.

Did I mention that those ergonomic waistbands and flat seams make them comfortable as to wear as they enable your natural range of motion?

They have proved to be great as a base layer in colder climates as well.

Talking of colder climates – I recently travelled through Tasmania in what is the comparably mild Australian winter. One of the things that aided in keeping my bowels intact was my recent experiment with Apple cider vinegar, a good ole ancient folk remedy claiming to have all sorts of health benefits.

The genesis of Apple Vinegar is not too dissimilar from the process of creating methanol, in that you source some of those round, yellow or red, edible fruits of small trees, crush ‘em, bare the result to yeast, let it ferment the sugars and morph them into alcohol.

Add bacilli to the alcohol solution until the reaction results in acetic acid, which is the main active compound in vinegar and is something that even good ole Hippocrates held in high esteem for its qualities as a preservative and ability to kill pathogens.

Apple Vinegar is your friend if you are struggling with a myriad of ailments, e.g. if you are grappling with high blood glucose, i.e. struggle with diabetes mellitus, either because of insulin resistance or an inability to produce the peptide hormone.

Keeping your blood sugar levels at bay in the normal range by avoiding refined carbs and sugar is not one of the worst ideas in general, but apple vinegar can also have benefits as it significantly lowers blood sugar and insulin responses.

Some claim that vinegar can aid in assisting weight management by increasing the sense of “fullness”, helping your gluttonous self to eat fewer calories and lead to actual pounds lost on the scale.

While it is certainly not a panacea like some people would have you believe, it undeniably has some important health benefits.

Now, how do you get a hold of the stuff in the most feasible manner without a degree in chemistry and going Walter White in your garden shed or making a concerted effort to incorporate it in your cooking?

Well, That Hippie Co’s boutique-y range of natural, vegan and non-GMO products have got you covered in capsule form.

As their name suggests, their credo is based on a foundation of new-age health stuff rooted in old-world wisdom and the honourable dream of contributing to a better universe. Eventually That Hippie Co. got serious about creating a supplements focusing on supporting your gastrointestinal wellbeing and a robust way of life that was not all broccoli and cabbage.

With lots of trial and error, travels around the earthround, diving head first into the latest science and of course, consulting their makers, they found gut-health to be one of the most vital aspects of human health and well-being.

The equation is simple – if your gut is healthy, so is not only your immune system, vitamin and mineral absorbency, metabolism, vitamin production, and hormone regulation.

Insights that spawned the creation of That Hippie Co. Apple Cider Vinegar capsules, which provide all the benefits without having to deal with the tart taste and providing a natural source of enzymes and probiotic organisms to keep my gut in good spirits.

If you are looking for an easy way to incorporate sixty mg of acetic acid into your diet to support your absorption of vitamins, this is the way to go.

Wind, weather, weather skin – skin care.

Skin care.

Ja, babyh, die Haut! Feeling good in your own skin is the essence of true beauty.

We are not getting younger and independently from age, there is always something to battle with from fighting acne when your first pubes appear to eventually the first emergence of wrinkles.

The skin game is always on and at some stage you might want to move from stealing and using your girlfriend’s products, and you know that you are are doing it, to stepping up your habits.

Basics first: Lathering up in the morning does not just aid the process of waking up but helps get rid of dead skin and applying moisturizer seems like the logical next step.

Hydrating is always a good idea – hydration nation through invigoration – along with cutting down on booze, sugar and caffeine as it dehydrates you and staying out of the sun and away from the smokes always sound like the sensible thing to do.

Hard to accomplish?

I hear you.

Getting what you need in terms of Zzzzz’s is something that sound appealing to fix the day’s wear and tear, but in this day and age it seems to get harder and harder to come by, same with a proper diet with ample vegetables and anti-oxidants.

There are no bottles of “Zen” available in your supermarket.

Now, there is not really a need for expensive five-step peels, caviar potions or expensive serums, as some are just a plain waste of money and layering on too many products can actually irritate skin. The key is washing and moisturizing every day and following a few other maintenance basics, for which I found an entity based in Melbourne that ticks the boxes in many departments.

I first came across Salus after attending a show at Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre.

The love affair began after using the soap dispenser in the bathroom and lotioning up afterwards. It smelt and felt amazing.

After the theatre show had wrapped up on the way out, the Malthouse staff handed out samples of Salus products, which held the initial promise and sealed the deal. I was hooked.

Turns out their products do not only feel and smell good, but their formulations are therapeutically active, i.e. botanicals, natural plant extracts pure essential oils without containing any synthetic fragrances, colours, sodium laurel sulphates and mineral oils, they are doing a wealth of good.

The fact that Salus has an eye on sustainability by using recyclable and reusable packaging, including the bottles, does not hurt either.

Favourite of the Salus range have quickly become the Pumice and Peppermint Men’s Soap, which cleanses and refines with its detoxifying black clay, cleansing peppermint and hydrating shea butter. It does a stellar job unclogging pores and smoothing out rough patches.

Yup, let’s delve deeper into territory most men shy away from: Scrubbing and moisturizing.

Salus got this Eucalyptus and Rosemary Purifying Body Scrub, which works a charm in tandem with the Calendula & Shea Butter Hydrating Body Cream.

Confused by the exotic nomenclature and myriad of ingredients? Let’s unpack: The first cleanses, smooth and softens dry skin with its bamboo and pumice components to stimulate cell renewal and restore glow, the latter is a restorative blend to nourish and protect with extracts of shea butter, calendula, sweet almond, chamomile and jojoba.

Sounds like a handful? It really is not. The aforementioned product pretty much cover all bases and can be easily applied on the go, which make them ideal travel companions.

Read previous installments of High Adventures in the Great Outdoors here.

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Lead photo from Kapow website. All other photos by T

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Fundamental Political Writings

Broadview Press

A philosopher – both in the realms of politics as well as morality and psychology.

The influence Rousseau has exerted cannot possibly be overstated.

What has always made him an interesting figure to me and more of an authority amidst the myriad of thinkers of his time is that he not only questioned the status quo of the political environment, but he never stopped questioning his own viewpoints and those of his philosophising peers.

If one was to boil down Rousseau’s emissions to their essence, you might find freedom of will and the opposition to tyranny at their centre. His political writings aimed at creating a stable society based on political institutions to ensure equality and peaceful coexistence of the individual as well as counteracting egotism and selfishness. 

Now, from a distance this could be perceived as an overly optimistic view on things but when delving deeper into his elaborations, it becomes apparent that Rousseau is convinced that humanity at large is on a slippery slope down to a dystopian world of epic proportions, i.e. corruption, enslavement and inequality, if approaches to politics and individuality along with the responsibilities that come with the territory are not being reassessed and carefully reconsidered.

His early writings assess how humanity got to where it was at the time of his writings, and the focus then changes to how democracy should and could look like if equality is the central tenet.

What makes Rouseau’s political tracts and essays an enjoyable read is that they are underpinned by some very engaging and lively writing.

It also does not hurt that Rousseau was not just a political thinker but also dabbled in music as a composer, which he was inspired and fascinated by the wonders of nature and that he was firmly in touch with his feelings and emotions, which made his writings an important influence on the genesis of the Romantic Movement.

It is that wide range of influences that make his political writings approachable, as his elaborations are informed by topics and areas that ostensibly unrelated to the realm of philosophy, yet help illuminate the points he brings across.

An essential resource and reference book of one of the major political thinkers with newly translated texts and an abundance of explanatory notes, contextualisations of his emissions as well as comparisons to other philosophers and Rousseau’s influence on them.

Spirit of the Wild - Wild Turkey Pop-up

Sydney, Australia

There are pop-ups abound.

There is hardly a multi-national brand that has not at least dabbled in providing an experience to win new audiences over and extend what they are known for with some sort of engaging incarnation.

With Wild Turkey, bringing a touch of the wilderness to city sounds like a natural fit, i.e. conveying the “Spirit of the Wild” and helping city slickers to bridge the divide between their sheltered existence and the appeal of the outdoors with the launch of a bespoke watering hole framed within the context of natural surroundings and wilderness.

To achieve this feat, Wild Turkey has teamed up with not only a group of authentic craftsman, but with the well-oiled machine and some of Sydney’s best bar talent that is the trio of Gabrielle and Andres Walters and Daniel Noble. Each of the constituents of the Old Mates teams has honed their craft at reputable bars, e.g. The Lobo Plantation, Kittyhawk, and Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern, which are well decorated for their inventive efforts to create more of an experience than merely serving drinks.

What will become their new venue, i.e. Old Mate’s Place, which is set out as an old, abandoned library, with exposed wooden beams and a staircase leading up to the rooftop with an overgrown garden – in essence, a treehouse kind of theme, became the fertile ground and site on which Wild Turkey’s incarnation of “Spirit of the Wild” has come to pass:

Upon gaining access through a non-descript door on the fourth level of an office building, one if ushered through a dimly lit entrance area to be welcomed with a dram of Wild Turkey’s excellent “Decades” expression and inducted by the host on the proceedings.

Once the dram has been drained, the journey continues upstairs where the immersion in sight, smell and taste is taken to the next level: In a bush environment, guests are seated around a fire-pit, which was specifically designed and hand-crafted by sculptor Dion Horstmans. Blankets are handed along with the first cocktail of the evening, a little number based on the concept of retoxification, with activated charcoal proffered in a hand-carved tiki style bamboo cup.

The cocktails of the evening are creative, made with native ingredients and presented in different ways e.g. form hip flasks but not over the top conceptual — the focus is firmly set on good drinking drinks with a bit of fun ‚ and a two-course menu, inspired by the flavours of the Wild Turkey range, is served with a touch of nostalgia, reminiscent of meals around the camp fire and carefully curated by the free-thinkers behind the hospitality stalwarts Continental Deli.

Spirit of the Wild is an immersive experience that manages to convey the essence of what makes the DNA of Wild Turkey, with its emissions being paired and matched with drinks and fare that accentuated not only flavour nuances but infused the concrete jungle with a sanctuary of sensory experiences that our day-to-day routines are usually devoid of.

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Photos by @k.a. vv