THE ARTYTECHS PARLOUR

Chthonic Tales

Curated by Robert Hocking & Martin Sexton

Alex De Cadenet

Adolf Hitler Skull Portrait

Historical Subjects follows on from Alex's previous series of British Spies. It is very rare to have a full frontal skull radiograph of arguably the most significant figure of the 20th century.
SMERSh operatives discovered Hitler's body on the 5th May 1945. It had taken them three days of searching in the garden above the Reich Chancellery. The charred corpse was removed and taken to a pathology laboratory that had been hurriedly set up outside the Berlin suburb of Buch. The jaws were removed to be identified by Hitler's dentist. It was only then that SMERSh felt confident that they could report with confidence to Stalin that Hitler was dead. Stalin threatened his secret personnel with death if they breathed a word of their discovery, he wanted to create the illusion (the properties of the skull - the jaws matched to the Fuhrer's dental records - the only conclusive evidence of his death) that Hitler's conclusive death was not proven, to somehow suggest that the Allies were still hiding him. He wanted to create fear amongst his victorious generals whom he feared.
As the English historian Anthony Beevor reported 'Yelena Rzhevskaya..said twenty years later when she finally told Marshall Zukov the truth, Stalin's power depended on the exploitation of uncertainty. There could have been no more disturbing ghost in Europe then an undead Hitler.'

Alex Hamilton

Book of Fire

What possess an artist to create a Book of Fire? Alex Hamilton's book explores artistically the fact that Fire is an element that is ever changing - painters throughout history have struggled with its inability to be contained within a frozen moment. Go make a fire - look at it - observe it coldly - avoid its ability to transport you somewhere else - imagine painting it, drawing it - the secret thing about fire, is that on close observation it never looks like anything else, stare at the incredible violence of the Sun - now look again.

Austin Osman Spare

Artist Occultist Sensualist

It was in 1936 that Austin Osman Spare wilfully rejected a chance of international fame. A member of the German Embassy, buying one of Spare's self portraits, sent it to Hitler. The Fuhrer was reportedly impressed - maybe because he admired the Englishmen's moustache or was it his eyes - similar to his own? He invited Spare to the Fatherland in order to paint his likeness. Austin Osman Spare recognised something opposed in Hitler, rejecting the obvious elevation in wealth and standing that such a painting would have produced, Spare instead produced a 'spoof self portrait' and sent it directly to Hitler with a copy to the journalist Hannen Swaffer:
'Only from negations can I wholesomely conceive you. For I know of no courage sufficient to stomach your aspirations and ultimates. If you are superman, let me be for ever animal.'

Martin Sexton

The British born writer, artist and curator Martin Sexton, has most recently
exhibited his on-going 'Physical Literature' project at 'Go Between' in the
Palace Thurn & Taxis und Magazine 4, in Bregenz in Austria. At the Port
Eliot Literary Festival in 2004 he exhibited 'Blacksmoke, Blacksmoke' - a
1000 piece 'text jigsaw' with James Cauty. In 2005 he has co-curated with
Robert Hocking - 'Chthonic Tales' -myriad tales of the underworld - from
beneath the tunnel, that runs under the main body of the house at Port
Eliot. He has had one previous publication 'We Love You' a CD with a book -
described as a 'Futique.' A number of his short stories and poems have been
published. A novel: 'Babelogue' has only recently been completed.
Peter Lewis commented in the catalogue that accompanied his recent exhibit
'Go Between': '(the writer/curator) in the universal sense: going between
things and peoples and 'arranging' new configurations between art, love,
politics and technology, enacted through indirect, often inexplicable chance
encounters. The writer/curator, like the philosopher, is also a co-worker in
the process of art, and can therefore be nominated. Art is, without doubt,
certain of its task to initiate new discourses of the subject.'

Jamie Reid

8 Fold Year Book

Time for Magic - 365 paintings - one for each day of the year - interwoven into the Celtic year - the astronomical divisions of the year - the equinoxes and solstices, the mid point between the cross quarters - of Beltaine, Lughnasa, Samain and Imbolg. A monumental work by the legendary artist Jamie Reid.

Rules, like buttons, are meant to be undone, and Jamie Reid is the original unfastener of all that's been held together and hallowed in Britain over the past thirty years. The image pirate, painter, and sloganeer remains the country's top anti- establishment Big Name Artist. Reid is infamous as the agitator who put the safety pin through the Queen's lip to visually define punk, and it's icons, the Sex Pistols. But for him it was no hip fashion statement or career move. It was a chance to get visual and philosophical ideas through to the mainstream. And that spirit's still firing on all cylinders. Brought-up in Croydon, London, in terms of politics and creativity, Jamie had a lot to live up to. His grandfather died gun-running for the Chinese in the Boxer rebellion; his Scottish great-uncle, George Watson MacGregor-Reid was head of the Druid Order, and one of the first Labour parliamentary candidates; and his elder brother Bruce, was one of the Spies For Peace who went to live in Russia for a while in 1963.

Meanwhile, his father, the City Editor on London's Daily Sketch, who never invested a penny in his life, and his mother, a firm believer in fairies, were steeped in spiritual socialism. Their philosophical legacy inspired Jamie to dive into the protest movement at the first opportunity, which just happened to be the student movement of '68, organising an occupation of Croydon Art College together with Malcolm McLaren.

The pair teamed-up later that year to make a film about the 'History Of Oxford Street', before going their separate ways; McLaren into the fashion business, Reid into the rebellion business, where he co-founded Suburban Press in 1970. What began as a Croydon community newssheet and printing press soon developed into a political machinegun nest spraying wild agitprop graphics, printed accusations of local corruption, and Situationist slogans. It was here that Jamie developed his unique style that was later used in Punk.

Photocopiers had their colours turned-up to the max, litho reproduction found new teeth, and torn typography was honed to a fine art, as the new visuals exploded out of this graphics hothouse. Corporate logos were turned inside out, and back on themselves as 'subvertising' became Reid's artistic response to the new Shopping Age.

And the anti-consumerist snipes and capers remain as cutting edge today as they were back in 1972/3, when they were first unleashed on an unsuspecting London…'Keep Warm This Winter - Make Trouble'… 'Save Petrol - Burn Cars'… 'This Store Welcomes Shoplifters'… and the classic sticker that just screamed 'Lies !'.

A few years later, McLaren would contact Reid to enlist his help in artistically interpreting the Sex Pistols. The result is now history and histrionics. Anarchy flags subverting the Union Jack ..... images of the Queen lifted from postage stamps with swastikas replacing the eyes ..... ransom note lettering .....and those safety pins which pierced the very heart of the establishment.

Even the props for the Sex Pistols' film 'The Great Rock'n'Roll swindle', were major anti- consumerist statements that have now found their time Who would argue now that Vicious Burgers, Piss Lemonade, and Rotten Bars had deeper levels of meaning than first appeared? And that the Holidays In The Sun sleeve, with the slogan ' A Cheap Holiday In Other People's Misery' would find favour and resonance with global eco-warriors of today?

Johnny Rotten and Malcolm McLaren may say that it was all just a scam, but for Jamie and countless other ex-punks and their progenies, it was a pop cultural
protest that really did shake the system. And it still is French workers on general strike in Paris recently had 'No Future' scrawled on their barricades, while New Age Travellers invading Stonehenge through the massed ranks of police carry Jamie's 'God Save The Queen' flags, which were also adopted by Australian republicans in their campaign to have the Queen Of England removed as their Head Of State. Punk, inspired by Reid's accessible, easy to copy graphics, started a Do-It-Yourself revolution which is still very
much kicking, and ripping-up the rules the world over.

"I don't believe in that 'I was in the Sex Pistols thing ', because what existed, was the complete opposite of that" Jamie argues "It was the democracy of it all that mattered. I've always believed in the punk attitude and how that spread into other places. It was making things out of nothing, which we're doing now more
and more".

For Reid, personally, the punk ethos has since taken two roads The first has been continuing to base himself in the protest movement the second has been to try to build positive spiritual alternatives. Every major people's protest since punk has been kick-started by Jamie's visuals, from the anti-Poll Tax to No Clause 28 to the anti- Criminal Justice campaigns. A recent flyer took Disney, McDonalds, and Coca Cola logos and relocated them between swastikas and slogans screaming 'Corporate Slavery', and 'Cultural Rape'. While yet another features an advertiser's dream family with their eyes blanked-out and the legend 'Democracy The Lie' scrawled across their pretty vacancy.Yet there's another side to the graphics and artworks of the Sham anarchist Reid, which has seen him produce colourful collages, hangings, and serene oil painted landscapes inspired by his Celtic and Druidic roots. This challenging work has come to fruition at the end of a ten year project (1990-2000) at The Strongroom studios in London, where Reid's weird decor is inspiring top pop musicians to greater creative heights. Silk-screened canvasses, marble, etched bronze, and slate carry Reid's imagery across the twenty room complex, characterised by a cacophony of colour and symbols based on Jamie's 'Sound Magic' theories. It is a kind of Temple to Sound, which, now completed, is a pop cultural monument for the new millennium. "The Strongroom's Studio One is totally inspirational to the brain" says Keith from Britain's top dance act, Prodigy, "The colours and lighting can wake you up, but can totally chill you out; it's quite strange ".

2000 has also seen the completion of 'The Magic Room' at Hotel Pelirocco, in Brighton.

Now 53 and living in Liverpool with his wife and muse Maria, his works have been feted everywhere from the ICA in London to the Pompidou Centre in Paris. An Artist with a capital 'A' whose 'Never Mind The Bollocks' sleeve was voted second best ever by Rolling Stone magazine, and an Artist who you cannot get through art school without studying. From the thrash of punk music and rattling monarchy crowns, Reid now exhibits his visuals in dance clubs and galleries on canvas, paper, CD-ROMs, CD sleeves and laser shows.

"All that I've been doing is re-adapting my work from the late 60's and early 70's into different contexts and continuing with the same themes and messages" says Jamie "They're the same messages that have been fought over for the last 2000 years, and I don't think they will ever go away or change. You have to keep re-defining them and have a go again ".

Biography by Stephen Kingston - Manchester 2000

James Cauty

(Blacksmoke)

James Cauty has been making art of cultural significance since an early age. Many tales persist of images he created that adorned walls across the world. He co-founded the Orb as well as the KLF, creating notoriety amongst the art establishment along with his partner Bill Drummond, by awarding the Turner prize winner Rachael Whiteread with a counter prize that was at once financially complimentary yet critical. Then there is the much spoken of 'immolation of one million pounds' on the island of Jura. Most recently his 'Stamps of Mass Destruction' caused further controversy with the Royal Mail and his '5-11' pictures were not met with indifference. A prolific artist, James Cauty will be creating hidden select recitals with the 'Junior Insurgent Transistor Ensemble.'

Shezad Dawood

Conversion of Saul
Mysticism has an esoteric, particular meaning in first-century Judea. It
is not; merely a 'style' of doing theology, or quiet contemplation. Rather
in this period of Saul (St.Paul) and as now, it was (is) apocalyptic,
revealing not meditative truths of the universe, but the disturbing news that God
was about to bring judgement.
Shezad Dawood with his 'disciple' Emily performed a intellectual ritual
ceremony within the tunnel during the festival.


Chris Giri

The artist and sculptor Chris Giri presents his marijuana woman.
Sculpted entirely from the plant and the proceeds of the plant - she
stands sentinel - at the entrance to the tunnel. Chris Giri with his sibling
Alex Giri also contributes 'Fashions in Magic' to Truth Machine's Heraldic
Unicorn Lion Grace System' installation at the last exit of the tunnel.


Anton Goldstein

An Eagle collides with the poet-comic Groucho
and blows up the psychopomp
Magic has a punch-line too. (Ha Ha!)

Piers Jackson

Geometry & Nature

A triptych of the Crow - the trickster. Crow also means Alder - a sacred tree. To the Goddess Athene the Crow was also sacred. Coronous was a king of the Thessalian crow-totem tribe. Though the later Greeks liked to think the name Chronos meant time - as any old man was called 'Cronos,' the likely derivation is from the same root cron or corn that gives the Greek and Latin words for crow - corone and cornix. The crow was a bird much consulted by augurs and is symbolic, in Italy as in Greece, of long life.

John Mcleod

The Key of the Kingdom

The mushroom has always been a thing of mystery. The ancients were puzzled by its manner of growth without seed, the speed with which it made its appearance after rain, and its as rapid vanishing. Born from a volva or 'egg' it appears like a small penis, raising itself like the human organ sexually aroused, and when it spreads its canopy wide, the old botanists saw it as a phallus, bearing the 'burden' of a woman's groin. Every aspect of the mushroom's existence was fraught with sexual allusions, and in its phallic form the ancients saw a replica of the fertility god himself. It was the 'son of God,' its drug was a purer form of the god's own spermatozoa. It was, in fact, God himself, manifest on earth. To the mystic it was the divinely given means of entering heaven; God had come down in the flesh to show the way to himself by himself.

Truth Machine

Heraldic Unicorn Lion Grace System

Described variously as 'the high concept band to end all high concept bands'
and as a cult religious group by others - the varying members of this arts collective reportedly all
work to a set of instructions cut from the text of books that vary from
hermetic works, theological mediations to pulp fictions, erotica and maps - who are they? Are you one?

The Truth Machine installation is never complete - the final sound element is almost done - th painting is almost finished, the moving shadows almost connect back to the first source of engagement.
Is it based on the traditional Three Graces? Is it informed by Pagan Triads along with having echoes of familiar works of classicism from Pompeii to Botticelli and Raphael etc?.. In an attempt to harmonise all picturesque trinities with each other, as partial aspects of a universal truth:
'He that understands profoundly and clearly how the unity of Venus is unfolded in the trinity of the Graces, and the unity of Necessity in thr trinity of the Fates, and the unity of Saturn in the trinity of Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto, knows the proper way of proceeding in Orphic theology' - Pico della Mirandola - Conclusiones de modo intelligendi hymnos Orphei - no 8. (Soundtrack kindly created by Steve Severin)

Peeter Laurits

St Sebastian Talking to the Birds

From the point of view of nature, the transmissions within society are meaningless. Nature has its own score to settle with man. In the pictures of Laurits - money-people, family-people, fashion-people have all become earth-people, food for worms. The wave of earth that gives and takes life has taken possession of them. Earth regards man as a simple biological living creature - a body of substances to be consumed. Social standing, economic situation and scholarly degree are not of the slightest interest to it. More important is the speed of tissue disintegration. The earth-restaurant does not only serve earth-people. The diverse menu also includes lawn and turf people, sand, water and air-people.

One of the most distinguished photo artists in Estonia. His recent works deal with the end of the symbolic world.

Milo Hennessy

The Irish artist Milo Hennessy has given on loan his 'Ollave Sidhe Gold
Diadem Generator'

He entered into correspondence with Prof. Dr. Sabine Gerloff who has been
involved in years of research into this subject. He has provided a copy of
the original which he holds in care in Ireland - it was thought that all the
objects unearthed in peat, in Ireland during the 17th century, were lost -
two still remain unaccounted for. Milo Hennessy's family (maternal - O'
Saesnain Mac Crutin) has always lived in the remote area of the Kerry
Mountains where the worlds largest and last remaining Yew forest is located.
His family has always laid claim to the construction of many of the ancient
sites - many kept secret - including a giant 'Neolithic mushroom' and
several 'spiral castles (Caer Sidi - Caer Arianhod) - that are abundant in
the area.
* SIDHE - 'Caer Sidin, means 'Revolving Castle' in Welsh, and though
revolving islands are common in in Welsh and Irish legend, the word Sidhe, a
round barrow fortress belonging to the Aes Sidhe (Sidhe for short), the
prime magicians of Ireland.' - Robert Graves - The White Goddess.
For a long period of time these objects were not considered to be linked in
any way - despite their obvious similarities - it was thought many were
bowls or were placed on poles for some decorative purpose - until one was
discovered with a chin strap.
Apparently these golden hats link the wearers to Magi of Indo Iranian
culture. Hats of this style were worn by peasants across Europe - Dr.
Dolkum Kamberi reports that "several types of felt hats, including one with
a high point (were) found in the Taklamakan, similar to those of the Saka
nomads displayed on the Persepolis reliefs in southern Iran."
"The historian Adamnan wrote in his 'Life of Saint Columba' that magi
advised the Pictish kings, who were 'Hallstatt' Celts. MacGeoghan and
Mitchell, on pp. 42 of their 'History of Ireland' (in the Princess Grace
Irish Library) say that the Celtic Druids were Magi from Scythia, and the
folkloric image of a wizard's hat is very similar to the conical hat worn by
the Scythian depicted on a Behistun Rock in Persia."
Several tall gold hats have been discovered in Ireland (3 apparently
unearthed from peat in the 17th century - but subsequently lost from the
record), and in different parts of central Europe, one with a chin strap.
The oldest is 3300 years old and its inscriptions outline the Metonic cycle
of the sun and moon. A gold cape at least 3600 years old has been found in
Wales - and is on display in the British Museum in London. The conical
shapes suggest Magian influence from Caucasian cultures. All finds are dated
between 1800 and 800 B.C."

Zanna

Witches Cottage Estonia

Ovid says: 'Her power is to open what is shut;
to shut what is open'

Hectate, Circe, Hera, Persephone,
Death aspects all,
Love & Transformation 2 of the Goddess,
The Moon owns it,
The Willow weeps it,
She of the flourishing willow-withies
Erotic charm, oracular serpent.
Burn not the willow, sacred to poets.

Martin Sexton

Sam Buxton

Time Piece - Clone Chaise

A Futique - a collectable piece of the future - a time piece to measure it all - back and forth - transported to the past, our present. To sleep in peace?

Who are we? And who are they? I find the implications of such words dubious for connotations beyond the geographical. Still, to paraphrase a sentence of TE Lawrence, the mark of nomadism, that most deep and biting social discipline, is on each one of us in his degree. We know where we are going. Or rather, each one of us knows what is the correct posture, which awareness is the only sign and badge of his election. We are concerned with the present and only by the way with a future ideal state (process) of society, the articulation of whose functions is forcedly terra incognita. We are all individuals are for each of us the problem is himself-in-the-present. It is not so much a question of choosing to co-operate as of discovering oneself in and of the invisible insurrection by virtue of one's practical posture. The revolt is taking place at the level of symbols; there is no question of our ever meeting the forces of reaction head on in a war on their terms. It is happening. If you are aware of it, you are ipso facto involved, engage. If not, sleep in peace.
Alexander Trocchi - July 1964.

Tom Ellis

Daylight Firework Display

Blink and you may miss it. But you will hear it, so you know it's there. No smoke without fire. Let's change it all around.

Zoltar the Magnificent

?

Who is Zoltar and why is he magnificent? Is he really the kinetic high priest in the Hollywood movie: 'Big' purveyor of transformation? Does Zoltar like fashion? Does Zoltar make art? Does Zoltar incite revolution? Or is he/it all of that and something else?

Rod Dickinson

(24 Hour Abduction)

Around this time Rod with some others, was creating crop circles in Wiltshire. Although Rod has always maintained that prior to creating crop circles he had once actually witnessed a UFO in a crop circle.
The writer and ethno-botanist, Terence McKenna, at a conference with Rod on the premise of alien life forms made the following comment:
'But the question still remains; are there UFOs , Flying saucers, nuts and bolts craft, coming down, abducting hapless victims and interfering with their genitals? I say not - but there is a tradition in all times and places, of social commerce between human beings and various types of discarnate entities, or non human intelligence's. This could have been as simple as the Celtic farmer's wife leaving out a pitcher of milk for faery folk, or it could take a more elaborate form, but whatever form it takes this commerce is expressive of a very fundamental belief system that seems to be inherent in the human condition...   

Listen I have no doubt that there are entities out there - I've met them, all you have to do is take DMT (Di Methyl Tryptamine). Fifteen minutes that's all it takes, give me fifteen minutes of your life and I'll give you a 20% chance of meeting Alien life forms. Forget all that horseshit about UFO researchers, hypnosis and abductions. I wouldn't trust a UFO researcher with my chickens. Just give me fifteen minutes of your life..'

From conversation between artist, Rod Dickinson and author and ethno-botanist Terence McKenna, which took place at "The Incident', a symposium on art and phenomena, held in Fribourg, Switzerland, June '95:

Kenneth Anger

Inaguration of the Pleasure Dome

The mythology that surrounds Kenneth Anger has many sources, from involvement with the occult, astrology and the rock n' roll world of the 60's & 70's. At the heart of it all is a poet and film maker. 'Inaguration of the Pleasure Dome' is derived from Aleister Crowley's ritual in which cult members masqueraded as gods and goddesses. Jean Cocteau said of Kenneth Anger ..(he)comes from the beautiful night from which emerge all the true works. It touches the quick of the soul..'

Mark Bennett

Absinthe connoisseur, is a freelance journalist, photographer and researcher based in Brighton who covers fringe culture and science. He's contributed to Skin Two, I-D, Fortean Times, Mac User, Digit, MacWorld, The Face and Alternative London as well as several books including 'Body Probe' and 'In Whose Image'.

He is best known for creating and editing Black Ice magazine in '92. The new media/style magazine received international critical acclaim (I-D meets New Scientist - quoted on reviewer) and a cult status with only one issue but ceased publishing at the time due to lack of investment.

Subsequently Channel 4 commissioned a sci/tech television pilot based on Black Ice for prime time and he conceived a non-linear interactive TV programme for the BBC. He also demonstrated innovation when created and executive produced a post 'X-Files' dogma styled drama series made with the director of 'Red Dwarf'.

He has undertaken various international public speaking events including radio and television. In Europe, venues include two literary arts festivals in Italy, a computer media conference in Amsterdam and the ICA's first digital weekend conference in London.

Often being told that he's at least five years ahead of him time he managed to relaunch Black Ice a 2nd time in 2002 which was killed due to major distribution problems. He's currently in the midst of creating an online version of Black Ice as a stepping stone back into print.

On going projects include a feature for Fortean Times about re-engineering the Ark of the Covenant which a pitch pilot on DVD has already been completed. Footage for several other documentaries and pitch pilots include Ozone Therapies, The Secret of Silver, The Stechovice Mystery and WWII Circular Stealth Aircraft are already shot.

His photographic work continues to appear in magazines and an ongoing project is photographing the world leading fetish club 'Torture Garden' in 3-D as well as digital for an up coming book. Regular shooting engagements include documenting the Cliffe Bonfire Society in Lewes and stills / video for US band 'The Dresden Dolls'.