The Adventures of Tiki Chris!: April 2007

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Offline

The Tiki Chris blogs are on hiatus while I go have some non-blog fun. See you in a couple of weeks!

Need something to read? Check out ...

5 Good Reasons
a sampler of things
Arkiva Tropika
Barefoot Bloggin'
cookiewonton
El Blog Diablogico
Emiana
Eye of the Goof
Great British Pubs
Hanford LeMoore
hooked
Hotels by City - London
Humu Kon Tiki
Jablog
jeansnow.net
johnny dollar's vault
Junkyard Clubhouse
Kahuna Kawentzmann News
Miles' Thing
On the Road Travel
Plep
Positive Ape Index
Ribble Valley Pubs
Slice
South Pacific Travel Blog
Swanky's Blather
Tiki Magazine
Tiki Talk
Tikiblog
Virani le Beachcomber
Wooster Collective

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Welcome to South Seas Cinema, a series of posts about films set in – or pertaining to – Polynesia and the South Pacific.

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the original Kon-Tiki voyage; thus, choosing the voyage's corresponding documentary as this month's South Seas Cinema review seemed only natural. The film, Kon-Tiki, records the 1947 transpacific voyage of Norwegian scientist, Thor Heyerdahl, and his crew of four Norwegians and a Swede adventures at sea, as they set out to prove the plausibility of a hunch.

While in the Marquesas for a zoological expedition, Heyerdahl noticed that prevailing winds and ocean currents from the Americas appeared to greatly affect the islands’ flora and fauna. From this observation, he began to doubt the general consensus that Polynesians’ ancestors had taken a direct westerly route when colonizing the region. Heyerdahl suggested that, although all Pacific Rim peoples originally had hailed from Southeast Asia, the route from there to Polynesia had followed the prevailing winds and currents from Northwest America.

In 1947, Heyerdahl and his crew of four Norwegians and a Swede set out to prove his theory was plausible by sailing more than 4000 miles from Peru to the Tuamotu Islands aboard a balsawood raft constructed in prehistoric South American style. Heyerdahl dubbed the raft Kon-Tiki, after the legend of a seafaring sun-king that Heyerdahl proposed to be common among ancient Incas and early Polynesians.

So incredible was the Kon-Tiki voyage that many scientists refused to believe that it actually happened. It wasn’t until the 1951 release of the Kon-Tiki documentary about the expedition was released that academics began to take notice – along with the rest of the world. Later that year, Kon-Tiki went on to receive the Oscar for best documentary.

Although, most anthropologists continue to believe, based upon a preponderance of evidence, that Polynesia was settled from west to east, Kon-Tiki proved that Polynesia was within range of prehistoric South Americans and went on to further inform and enhance research pertaining to the settlement of the Pacific Rim. But more than these accomplishments, the expedition captured the imagination of millions.

Perhaps more than anything, Kon-Tiki (along with Heyerdahl et al’s subsequent South Pacific adventures) firmly placed the word “Tiki” into the psyche and vernacular of a generation, inspiring a plethora of products, such as dinnerware, board games and several books. Would Polynesian Pop, as we know it today, even exist if it weren’t for this plucky theorist and his crew of Scandinavian adventurers?

South Seas Cinema is sponsored by
DESIGNinBLUE
architecture&design
mail@designinblue.com
+44 20 (0) 7947 359 456
+44 20 (0) 7950 674 636

What are Words for ... when you've got an abstract bikini?

I loved this video back in my impressionable youth.

Next time you're feeling small and lonely ...

watch this:

Friday, April 27, 2007

Published! Week in Review (Friday April 27, 2007)

Must be my lucky week. The current issues of Juxtapoz, Tiki Magazine, and Pocketiki all feature work by me. And if that's not enough Tiki Chris-ery for you to consume, there's (apparently) gobs more at Hotels by City. It's all part of Operation: Tiki Chris Hegemony. Mwahahahaha!

In other news, I ...

- geeked out on some recent comic book purchases;
- met some great folks in the Netherlands (two posts: here and here);
- saw some great art;
- let the world in on one of my favorite places to get lunch; and

- just about wrapped up my Santiago de Compostela series of photos.

And if that's still not enough ... there are all those London Daily Photos at ontoLondon (and plenty more).

Oh yeah, one more last minute thing: here are some pics from yesterday's fire on Oxford Street.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Tiki Magazine's Polynesian Planet: New Wave British Tiki

The newly released Spring 2007 issue of Tiki Magazine features the first in my new series of Polynesian Planet articles, through which I aim to explore Polynesian Pop beyond the borders of the United States. My first piece is titled "New Wave British Tiki" and is about the current interest in Tiki that has been steadily building over the past few years here in the UK. This issue also features lots of other fab articles and pics and a brilliant cover by Mitch O'Connell.

Click here to subscribe to Tiki Magazine.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

One more dank u to Rotterdam

While I'm doling out the thanks to my newfound friends in the Netherlands, I also need to say thanks to David Zee, owner of the fantastic Tin Tin's Latin Jazz Cigar Bar, for introducing me to Ron Palma Mulata and for just being a cool bartender/owner of a brilliant bar.

I also want to say hi to comedian Kees Torn, whom I met at Tin Tin's. Thanks for making me laugh my ass off and for turning me onto Oliphant cigars (I went out and bought some the next day)!

Look for more about my Dutch adventures in upcoming issues of Tiki Magazine. Check my ontoTravel blog in May and June for photos from my visit to Tin Tin's and beyond!

Photography by Tiki Chris and Jeroen Pannekoek © 2007

Check out the May 07 issue of Juxtapoz

Make sure to take a gander at the May 07 issue of Juxtapoz (the one with the Paul Insect cover). In addition to being an all round groovy issue, it's got a photo in the Pop Life section by yours truly.

Click here to get your copy!

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Some recent MARVEL-ous buys

Just thought I'd share some thoughts about a couple of Marvel Comics goodies that I've recently acquired.

The first is 40 Years of the Amazing Spider-Man, an eleven CD-ROM collection of every issue of the Amazing Spider-Man through 2003, in pdf form. That's over 500 issues, including Spidey's debut issue: The Amazing Fantasy #15. It's an awesome reference for geeks like me, especially since the issues are printable.

What's also cool is that the collection is complete with all those vintage advertisements, which, for me, is reason enough to view these CD-ROMs. I think it goes for around fifty bucks retail, but I got mine for $25 at a shop in Newark, New Jersey's airport.

My other recent Marvel buy is the Essential Werewolf By Night Volume 1. This thick paperback of WBN comics in black and white features Werewolf by Night's first appearance in Marvel Spotlight #2 and all related comics up to Giant-Size Creatures #1.

WBN was among my favorite comics as a kid. The whole concept of werewolves rocked my lil noggin and to have that concept in comic-form (from Marvel nonetheless) was a real prepubescent delight for me. Reading it now, the concept's kinda goofy and the dialog's ridiculous. Still, the artwork is topnotch and the story is pretty compelling.

Dank U and Mahalo!

I recently spent some time checking out the Tiki scene in the Netherlands. I had a blast. For their hospitality, I would like to say a special thanks to ...

Henk (organizer of Amsterdam's second annual Tiki Art Show)

... and to ...

Jeroen (founder and owner of Tiki's Bar and Grill in Rotterdam)

Look for my reviews and photography about the Tiki Art Show and Tiki's Bar and Grill in upcoming issues of Tiki Magazine (the art show piece will probably appear in the Summer 2007 issue and the Tiki's piece in the issue after that). Check my ontoTravel blog in May for photos from my visit to the Netherlands.

Photography by Tiki Chris © 2007

Monday, April 23, 2007

I'm a "Top Blogger"

Since January, I've been blogging about London for Hotels by City, a hotel booking website. Well, I didn't quite realize, but um I've apparently been blogging a lot for them. So much so that it earned me their "Top Blogger" award for Most Active Blogger. I have a feeling that I won't retain this title very long as I think other duties are gonna drag me away from the Internet for a few weeks in the near future. Anyway, it's a pretty cool site and seems like a decent organization to write for (they're super nice and very responsive to me).

Click here to check out my Hotels by City blog.

DEVO on Square Pegs

Remember this?

Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

I ♥ T-Shirts: The Tall Ship Moai

Comfortable, practical, and these days the only accessory you need to make a statement, it's hard to imagine a world without the ubiquitous T-shirt. I ♥ T-Shirts takes a subjective approach to this modern fashion phenomenon with each post dealing with a favorite shirt.

Shirt: The Tall Ship Moai
Designer: The tag disappeared months ago
Price: I don't remember but approximately US$25
Purchased: January 2006 at Mataveri International Airport (Hanga Roa, Rapa Nui)
Status: Still goin' strong!

Last month's I ♥ T-Shirts post was about a well-worn souvenir from Spain that I begrudgingly retired in Chile at the end of 2005. That shirt, the Toro Sombra, was soon replaced by a new fave, which I picked up on the second leg of that Chilean trip. After a week in mainland Chile, Emiana and I jetted over to Rapa Nui (aka Easter Island) for the rest of our adventure. With that visit, a life long dream had been realized. In fact, that trip moved me so much that I wrote a book about the experience and started a news blog about Rapa Nui.

Among the more-than-usual number of souvenirs that I purchased in Rapa Nui, I picked up a very cool T-shirt. I got the shirt on our last day while waiting at the airport for our flight back to Santiago. I remember being so incredibly bummed about having to leave the island. I was antsy as we waited to board our flight. I paced from one souvenir shop to another, buying a few tchotchkes here and there in a feeble attempt to hold onto my island time a little longer. While shopping, my attention was drawn to a white graphic on a navy T-shirt hanging from the ceiling of one of the shops. The image depicted one of the island's more unique moai, one with a rudimentary drawing of a European tall ship carved onto it's belly. The bold image of the stoic statue was framed by Rongorongo script, Rapa Nui's bizarre hieroglyphic text that has yet to be conclusively deciphered.

Does the carving of the tall ship mark the moment of European contact? Was it an act of graffiti or made with the sanction of whomever made such decisions?

These were the questions I asked myself when I saw the actual statue in situ at the island's Rano Raraku quarry. These same questions returned to the fore of my thoughts when I spotted the shirt. Whenever I see it stacked in my closet among my other shirts, I remember those questions and the wonder of that mysterious island. Luckily, it's super comfy and pretty durable because I'm apt to choose it over most of my other T-shirts. It's fun to go about my day, wearing a bit of mystery while holding onto my island time just a little longer.

Photography by Emiana © 2007

Interested in contributing a review of a favourite T-shirt or perhaps sending along a sample T to be reviewed? Click here to access my email address. Then, send an email with a brief description of your idea/product along with any relevant online links.

I ♥ T-Shirts is sponsored by Chongolio's Lost-Isle.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Tiki drinks are good for you!

Fruity Alcoholic Beverages May Be More Beneficial Than You Think.
Carrying Contraption
Saturday, April 21, 2007

Adding ethanol -- the type of alcohol found in rum, vodka, tequila and other spirits -- boosted the antioxidant nutrients in strawberries and blackberries.

Click here for complete article.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Pocketiki #2 Out Now!

Pocketiki #2 is out now. It's a good read and as fun as issue #1. This time round, the zine comes with oodles of goodies. It's even got a poem in it by yours truly!

Click here to get your own copy.

Tony Clifton on the Miss Piggy Show

Friday, April 20, 2007

Back in review (Friday April 20, 2007)

Well, I'm back from the Netherlands, where I had a blast. Since then, it's been too hectic at home for any real posting about the trip. However, I did manage to post one disturbingly fun moment from Amsterdam. I'll get around to posting more about the visit next week. And don't worry; I took plenty of photos. I also managed to blog about the significant role that the recently deceased Don Ho played in my life. I also took a bunch of photos of the Mark Jenkins' Outcasts show for Juxtapoz. Over at ontoTravel, I posted lots more pics from my recent trip to Santiago de Compostela. And, of course, there are all those London Daily Photos at ontoLondon.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Disturbingly good time in the Netherlands

I'm back from the Netherlands, where I had a disturbingly good time. Hopefully, I'll have some time to post about my Dutch adventures next week. Until then, I'll let this photo sum things up:

Photos from Mark Jenkins' Outcasts

Click here for photos from Outcasts, a solo exhibition of works by Mark Jenkins at London's Lazarides Gallery.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Mahalo Don Ho

Don Ho has passed. To the best of my knowledge he lived a long, healthy, fantastic life making people happy with his carefree music.

I listen to Don Ho ... a lot. As hokey as it sounds, he was a pretty significant figure in my life. In fact, just this Sunday (the day after Don passed about which I was still unaware), I was telling a few friends about how much of an impression Don's music and style had made upon me as a small child. I remember watching the "Don Ho TV Show" on weekday mornings as a kid and being mesmerized. The show was filmed on Waikiki Beach: the colors of the sky and sea, the palm trees and tropical foliage, Don's laid back attitude, and the utter Hawaiian-ness of the show were just too much for me. Memories of that show have lingered all these years and have greatly influenced my life. My more-shirts-than-days-in-a-month aloha shirt collection is a perfect example of my trying to recapture that childhood fascination with Don Ho's magical Hawaiian universe.

Emiana and I had the great pleasure of catching a performance by Don during our honeymoon. We even got to meet him briefly for a photo before the show. The man was a class act and his show was pure fun.

These days if you see me bopping about London with my iPod, there's a very good chance I'm listening to Don croon. His music, though technically not really Hawaiian, sums up the islands perfectly. His aloha spirit and love for his land shines through in every note.

Mahalo nui loa, Don, for being there and sharing your wonderful life with the world.

Click here for the Honolulu Advertiser's tribute to the legend.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Coconut Wired Adventure #13

Coconut Wired Adventure #13: Get Your Motor Runnin'
Click here to listen to the sonic surf, tropical tunes and exotic ambiance of the latest Coconut Wired episode.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Week in Review on the Run (Friday April 13, 2007)

I'm halfway out the door en route to Amsterdam for the Tiki Art Show. So, pardon the early and abrupt weekly review. This has been an eventful week! Emiana and I spent Easter weekend in Santiago de Compostela. I've already posted plenty of pics from the trip and still more got more to come. Other highlights include:

- Artist Profile: Hanan Harchol (with hilarious video clips!)

- Interview with Dan Witz for Juxtapoz

- Interview with SWEET TOOTH for Whitehot

Artist Profile: Hanan Harchol

Artist Profile: Hanan Harchol

Witnessing Sacrifice, 2003, 10 ft x 8 ft acrylic on canvas, video monitor, lasertran © Hanan Harchol

I've known multi-media artist, Hanan Harchol, for a number of years. Consistently over this time, I have been impressed by the seemingly limitless reserve of energy he devotes to his art. Using family narratives as a springboard, Hanan's art addresses psychological and sociological themes pertaining to the human condition. At the heart of these family narratives is ‘The Nuclear Physicist,’ an Israeli nuclear physicist of Eastern-European Jewish heritage. This character, based upon Hanan's father, provides plenty of real-life material to amuse and enlighten. For example, Hanan supports himself by working as a professional classical guitarist; despite the fact that Hanan has won numerous awards and competitions and regularly performs at venues, such as New York’s Tavern on the Green, The Nuclear Physicist can’t seem to get past the idea that his son is a “strolling guitarist.”

Here's a clip by Hanan which introduces The Nuclear Physicist:

I had been wanting to profile Hanan for some time and with an upcoming world premiere of his work at the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film, now seems like the perfect time. What follows is an interview I recently conducted with Hanan.

Do you have any more information about the World Premiere in Stuttgart? Perhaps a link to a relevant website?

The Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film is one of the largest festivals for animated film in the world. It addresses both an interested audience and industry professionals, and offers an overview of the latest trends in animated film – from short films to feature films and animated series for TV. Be it puppet or flash animation, the five competitions all focus on the artistically challenging genre of animated film. "Hanan! ListenTo Me!" : The Circumcision was selected by the festival as a finalist in the Animated Television Series competition in the Adult category. The screening is on April 27th, 2007 at 8 o'clock. The festival link is http://www.itfs.de//

[Here's a trailer for "Hanan! ListenTo Me!" : The Circumcision]

Are you focused solely on animation these days or are you still painting? How is it that you went from fine artist to animator? What was that transistion like?

Excellent question! I actually try to incorporate as much of my background as a painter into my animation. In this last piece, "Hanan! Listen To Me" I created a collage of painting, drawing, photography, and video in an animated platform. I like to describe my animation as a "painterly animation" I have been making narrative art for most of my life and I feel that animation is a continuation of the same path I've always been on. The medium in which I work in changes or adapts based on the most effective way to express and expand on my narrative.

Can you tell me about the inspiration for The Nuclear Physicist? Is the creation of these sketches cathartic for you ?

I've been impersonating my family and making art since early childhood. I never knew that I could combine the two as art, until a professor of mine, Judith Brodsky pointed out to me that my paintings of my father were the most effective and successful art I was making. (At the time I was making abstract paintings and I had just made a couple of paintings of my dad for my own interest.) I asked her "Who is interested in art about my dad?" and she pointed out that I shouldn't worry about that, that everyone has a dad, and that it was the artwork I was making about my father that was really working). It was a very liberating and inspirational moment and I felt like a creative floodgate had been opened. When I draw and impersonate my family it feels like second nature to me and also a little strange, especially when I take on the role of my father. There is a sense of catharsis for me, but I also see and experience it as a universal exploration of family through one's relationship to one's parents. Many people who see my animations come to me with stories of their own family. I'm intending my art to resonate on a human level. I use my own family simply because that's who I know best.

Has your art always been so autobiographical?

Yes (except for most of my undergraduate career when I decided to be an abstract painter)

Has your dad ever seen these clips? If so, what does he think about them?

My father is one of my biggest supporters. He sees The Nuclear Physicist as a character that was inspired by him, but has taken on a life of its own and is not an accurate portrayal of him. The rest of my family, and people who know him disagree, but in any case, my father has been tremendously supportive, encouraging, and believes in my work as an artist. He does worry how long I'm going to continue supporting my art as a strolling guitarist, but in the recent months we've come to an agreement that my job as a musician is truly a blessing in that it gives me the time I need to make my animations.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Friday, April 27, 2007

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Monday, April 23, 2007

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Friday, April 20, 2007

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Friday, April 13, 2007

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