Tonight I'm taking the train to Berlin. My friend who lives there invited me to her birthday party. And of course this occasion has to be combined with the next Libyan embassy to be tagged! :)
Größere Kartenansicht
One of the best things about Girdafi is that it's not locally bound and by nature meant about to spread and be communicated. I just love to explore new places and other cities. Just as I love the way how urban knitting changed my perception of the surrounding. But still, it's not only about places, it's also about reaching other people's minds and about communication. In this sense it's brilliant to have my friends scattered throughout Europe who I can visit in combination with my "Girdafi Missions" while my guerilla knitting also makes me meet new and interesting people. Yarnbombig definately is knitting together people!
But about Berlin: Tomorrow it will be a pleasure to meet my Berlin yarnbombing contact Strickgraffiti. She is so lovely to join and help me on my mission. And I'm already very thrilled to hear about her upcoming projects at our "after bomb beer".
So see you tomorrow evening when it's time for some Girdafi action in front of Podbielskyallee 42! ;)
May 11, 2011
HerzTerror / HeartTerror
Remember my heart pictures from May Day? That was HerzTerror!!
HerzTerror (HeartTerror) is a lovely crafty project by a bunch of creative people under the name "silo". It was also mentioned yesterday in "An einen Haushalt", the radio show that I guested, and I really think it worth reading and sharing their manifesto.
Yup, I'm glad that my Girdafi May Flower has such a good neighbour tree :)
HerzTerror (HeartTerror) is a lovely crafty project by a bunch of creative people under the name "silo". It was also mentioned yesterday in "An einen Haushalt", the radio show that I guested, and I really think it worth reading and sharing their manifesto.
Yup, I'm glad that my Girdafi May Flower has such a good neighbour tree :)
May 10, 2011
Knitting-wise off-topic but on air tonight!
Tonight I will guest An einen Haushalt, a monthly radio show on Vienna's independant community radio. As one of the hosts is a passionate knitter and can't make it tonight, we won't be allowed to talk much about knitting, so the other host and I will pick up my second favourite topic: Terrorism! We will listen to songs ralating to this issue from the pop side, talk about matters like Obama and Osama and of course also mention Gaddafi and Girdafi anyway.
An einen Haushalt will be aired 23:00 tonight. Listen to it at UKW 94.0 ( in and around Vienna) or in the internet at http:/o94.at.
An einen Haushalt will be aired 23:00 tonight. Listen to it at UKW 94.0 ( in and around Vienna) or in the internet at http:/o94.at.
 |
| (c) Mona Hermann. From An einem Haushalt's facebook page. |
May 3, 2011
Bruno Kreisky Girdafi by Daylight
Still there! Still looking good!
And I just love to watch elderly people taking a close look at it. Some of them even greeted the statue showing their deep respect for their favourite politician Kreisky. OK, they obviously don't understand the meaning of Girdafi, but at least they seem to like it anyway :)
And I just love to watch elderly people taking a close look at it. Some of them even greeted the statue showing their deep respect for their favourite politician Kreisky. OK, they obviously don't understand the meaning of Girdafi, but at least they seem to like it anyway :)
May 2, 2011
Two May Day Girdafis
First of May, the day after Gaddafi's youngest son and three of his grand children died. While the rebels were performing celebration dances, I wasn't glad at all. My aunt once lost her son due to an act of terrorism. Now Gaddafi lost his son in a war. The calculation of an eye for an eye just doesn't work out. You never can measure violence with violence.
So that's why I installed a little flower granny square on a tree in the huge Prater forests. In silent memory of all victims of violence and war.
Or well, maybe it wasn't that silent there today because a bunch of nature loving people organised a Tanz durch den Tag party. DJs, techno music, mojitos, tightrobe walkers and some fellow yarnbombers!
First of May, holiday and Labour Day, traditionally celebrated by Social Democrats in Austria. One of the most renowned Social Democratic politicians was Bruno Kreisky - but besides all his achievements his not so splendid connection to Gaddafi should not be forgotten.
Reason enough to seize May Day for adding a kaffiyeh-style scarf to his statue in a park here in Vienna.
So that's why I installed a little flower granny square on a tree in the huge Prater forests. In silent memory of all victims of violence and war.
Or well, maybe it wasn't that silent there today because a bunch of nature loving people organised a Tanz durch den Tag party. DJs, techno music, mojitos, tightrobe walkers and some fellow yarnbombers!
First of May, holiday and Labour Day, traditionally celebrated by Social Democrats in Austria. One of the most renowned Social Democratic politicians was Bruno Kreisky - but besides all his achievements his not so splendid connection to Gaddafi should not be forgotten.
Reason enough to seize May Day for adding a kaffiyeh-style scarf to his statue in a park here in Vienna.
Apr 20, 2011
Girdafi placement at Essl Museum
"Festival Of Animals" is the title of a nice and refreshing exhibition at the Essl Museum in Klosterneuburg.
I understand it to be the result of an experiment by the museum's team of art educators. They worked with children to develop a fun way of presenting contemporary art that speaks to all senses. It's really fun! As a visitor you read funny fantasy stories about paintings and sculptures, you search for art in a dark room with a torch and you simply don't feel bad about approaching art in a not so over-serious way.
But the best thing comes at the end of the exhibition: Contribute your own art to the collection!
And so I did. But as they didn't have any yarn or needles there I had to improvise with crayons and covered my favorite animal drawing on the wall with a girdafi pattern.
More photos on Facebook!
I understand it to be the result of an experiment by the museum's team of art educators. They worked with children to develop a fun way of presenting contemporary art that speaks to all senses. It's really fun! As a visitor you read funny fantasy stories about paintings and sculptures, you search for art in a dark room with a torch and you simply don't feel bad about approaching art in a not so over-serious way.
But the best thing comes at the end of the exhibition: Contribute your own art to the collection!
And so I did. But as they didn't have any yarn or needles there I had to improvise with crayons and covered my favorite animal drawing on the wall with a girdafi pattern.
More photos on Facebook!
Apr 19, 2011
More photos on the Girdafi facebook page!
Apr 17, 2011
Girdafi is Out Of Order, too!
Today I added a Girdafi to Out Of Order's graffiti next to Donaukanal. It's an approximately 1,5 meters high yarnbomb with some yarn wrapped around the ballustrade next to it, building some kind of a frame. If you pass by and look through that Girdafi-frame it looks like that not only Gaddafi's system is out of order but that he's also behind bars :)
Apr 11, 2011
Your system is OUT OF ORDER!
My friend Herbalizer told me about an anti-Gaddafi-graffiti by out of order. It's located next to the Donaukanal close to Schwedenplatz, a true hot-spot for street art in Vienna.
Oh, I really loved that graffiti when I saw it today and felt very inspired to add a little girdafi. So let's just hope that I'll finish my knitting before the whole masterpiece on the wall will be crossed ;)
Oh, I really loved that graffiti when I saw it today and felt very inspired to add a little girdafi. So let's just hope that I'll finish my knitting before the whole masterpiece on the wall will be crossed ;)
Apr 8, 2011
More photos from yesterday's Girdafi action
Apr 7, 2011
Second Girdafi installed!
The Second Girdafi was installed today in front of the Libyan embassy in Vienna. The exact location is Blaasstraße 33, 19th district, tree 103 :)
More photos coming up soon!
 |
| Photo! (on facebook) |
More photos coming up soon!
Apr 1, 2011
Mar 28, 2011
Girdafi Announcement
Next girdafi action planned near the Lybian embassy in Vienna's 19th district:
Größere Kartenansicht
It's going to be the same knitted pattern as I used in London. Already working on it ;)
Größere Kartenansicht
It's going to be the same knitted pattern as I used in London. Already working on it ;)
Mar 27, 2011
Dark Elegy
Recently my artist aunt Suse forwarded a video link to me. It's a 7 1/2 minutes piece on her lifework titled "Dark Elegy" (a circle of a bit more than life size grieving figures) and in the end also on our family's story.
Link: Video by Nicole Davis about "Dark Elegy"
Link: Video by Nicole Davis about "Dark Elegy"
Mar 26, 2011
What is Girdafi?
To sum it up, girdafi is the title of my protest yarnstorming against Gaddafi and beyond that injustice in Africa, problems that people in Europe tend to ignore and keep silent on.
Topic and motivation
I chose this topic because I still have a bone to pick with Gaddafi. He is the murderer of my cousin Alexander Löwenstein who died at the age of 21 years in the Lockerbie air crash. My cousin was a victim of terrorism, a tragedy for his loving family, a disaster of painful injustice which I won't let be forgotten. Especially now, after so many years when the people of Lybia are finally close to a shift and need all public support that they can get. Girdafi-yarnbombs are my contribution.
The girdafi design
Girdafis remind the fur of a giraffe, showing a red pattern on a white surface. It is a somehow exclusive and luxurious design, an ornament that easily can be misused out of vain arrogance. Just like a certain ego dictator fancying trendy designer uniforms. Red is an intensive colour, alarming so it's hard to ignore and screaming because of its resemblence to blood. The girdafi-design intends to let people look up and see and remember in their peaceful everyday surrounding what is going on in another less fair part of this world.
The medium of yarnstorming
Therefore yarnstorming, guerrilla knitting, urban knitting or however you would call the installation of handmade pieces of crotching or knitting in public space is what I consider the perfect medium to transport the girdafi message, even though its textural cosiness shows a mere contrast. But isn't right this the nature of peaceful protest? If you're not a violent fighter, maybe wrapping cold bits of urban outdoor life is how to wake up sleepy eyes.
Topic and motivation
I chose this topic because I still have a bone to pick with Gaddafi. He is the murderer of my cousin Alexander Löwenstein who died at the age of 21 years in the Lockerbie air crash. My cousin was a victim of terrorism, a tragedy for his loving family, a disaster of painful injustice which I won't let be forgotten. Especially now, after so many years when the people of Lybia are finally close to a shift and need all public support that they can get. Girdafi-yarnbombs are my contribution.
The girdafi design
Girdafis remind the fur of a giraffe, showing a red pattern on a white surface. It is a somehow exclusive and luxurious design, an ornament that easily can be misused out of vain arrogance. Just like a certain ego dictator fancying trendy designer uniforms. Red is an intensive colour, alarming so it's hard to ignore and screaming because of its resemblence to blood. The girdafi-design intends to let people look up and see and remember in their peaceful everyday surrounding what is going on in another less fair part of this world.
The medium of yarnstorming
Therefore yarnstorming, guerrilla knitting, urban knitting or however you would call the installation of handmade pieces of crotching or knitting in public space is what I consider the perfect medium to transport the girdafi message, even though its textural cosiness shows a mere contrast. But isn't right this the nature of peaceful protest? If you're not a violent fighter, maybe wrapping cold bits of urban outdoor life is how to wake up sleepy eyes.
Mar 23, 2011
Graffiti and comics against Gaddafi
My friend sent me this link with many great photos from Bengasi of graffiti and comics against Gaddafi:
"Graffiti und Comics gegen Gaddafi" on derstandard.at
"Graffiti und Comics gegen Gaddafi" on derstandard.at
 |
| photo by Finbarr O'Reilly |
Mar 21, 2011
1st girdafi
1st GIRDAFI installed in London!
Located near Libyan embassy, corner Ennsmore Garden, Kensington Rd.
Located near Libyan embassy, corner Ennsmore Garden, Kensington Rd.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)