Princess Hijab: French Guerrilla Artist of Anti-Advertisement

La Métropolitain.  A sub-terranean labyrinth of solitary people.  

La Métropolitain. Paris Sub-Conscious Realm, ruled by an anonymous graffiti artist:  Princess Hijab (PH).

Just like one of Stan Lee's Super-Heroine, she is concealing her secret identity in a distinctive costume:  a colorful djellaba covering her body. Its hood hiding her face. Long black gloves with acid green fingernails. Holding a black ink marker. Ready to go. 

Her Mission? Hijabize Advertisement, namely, paint Niqabs and Burqas on the glamorous faces of advertisements characters. DOLCE & GABBANA men. L' OREAL Kate Moss. No one is spared! But why did she choose the Veil?

Actually, PH de-contextualizes  Niqabs and Burqas form their religious and gender-related environment, trasforming them into means of protest against consumerism. Makes me think about the work done by the Canadian culture jammers known as AdBusters, when they say: 

"Consumerism is the new patriarchy. The beauty industry is the beast. Advertising constrains the horizon of female aspirations, gendering their dreams before they’re hatched. Girls, even when they are still a fetus in the womb, are the target of an unrelenting image assault. Pretty little girls is what this society wants and it gets it through a flood of erotically charged marketing that propagandizes half the population, and their parents, to sexualize femininity at an early age. Of course, boys get the message too. But their assigned role is as the aggressor party. Girls, on the other hand, are told that weak and vulnerable is sexy."

Thus, I guess the point is the following: stop being a passive consumer of lifestyles and identities. Men and Women Out There. Start looking inside Your-Self. Find your identity. 
Know Thy-Self!

Again, But why did she choose the Veil?

“Guerrilla art is innocent and criminal, ancient and dystopian, intimate and political. I chose the veil because it does what art should do: It challenges, it frightens, and it re-imagines,” PH answered in a recent interview to THE INDEPENDENT

Naturally, PH disruptive visual language is challenging the status quo. 

Actually, Guerrilla Art is about shock and awe, uh?

“Some say I am pro-feminist, some say I am antifeminist; some say I am pro-Islam, others that I am anti-Islam. It’s all very interesting—but at the end of the day, I am above all an artist.”- she stated ( interview )

Whatever your opinion, Be Brave. Meet the Challenge...

ARS ELECTRONICA 2010: Repair Your-Self!

This is the Age of Darkness, the Kali Yuga (कलियुग).

Discord, Hate, Violence, Injustice,Falsehood,Oppression, Crime, Greedy-ness...

OK, I understand. So, what am I supposed to do?passively wait the Divine Intervention while keep complaining about the state of the world?

No.

I choose to discover the Divinity I Am.
I choose to change the Reality that surrounds me. How?
So Simple. I just gotta change My-Self.That's all.(ha!)
I would say, changing the planet, one person at a time. Do you like that?

Kali Yuga is the Age of Darkness, indeed.
But, wait a moment...it is easier to see the LIGHT when we are in full Darkness, uh?
Hence, Kali Yuga is the very moment to discover Your-Self.
The easiest moment in the whole history of humankind, feel me?

Are you ready to grab this once-in-a-lifetime chance?
Are you ready to repair? Are you ready to pull the lifeline?

The ARS ELECTRONICA FESTIVAL is a pretty good starting point, uh?

Program Your-Self:

if
[repair] -->[restore]-->[rectify] -->[re-set]-->[renew]-->[re-generate]
[repair] -->[restore]-->[rectify] -->[re-set]-->[renew]-->[re-generate]
[repair] -->[restore]-->[rectify] -->[re-set]-->[renew]-->[re-generate]
then
[re-generate] -->[change]-->[change] -->[change]-->[change]-->[Your-Self]

if you need technical support, then jump right into Your-Self.
Lemme Know How's Going...

TR

TRIBAL REALITIES Visionary Art Exhibition

Spettacolo!
Grazie alle fiorenti sinergie con Associazione Universo (Nuff Respekt To: Damiano & Miki) sono ben lieto di annunciarvi:
TRIBAL REALITIES Visionary Art Exhibition, Giardini Fava Bologna June 8-14, 2009

Ri-qualificazione Urbana + Ri-generazione Energetica: nel Piccolo Cuore Verde di Bologna, venite a sperimentare nuove discipline, nuove realtà, nuovi orizzonti di vita. Veniteci a trovare.

Aloha,
* Marco Katana

http://www.myspace.com/tribalrealities
http://www.myspace.com/giardinifava

I Giardini G.Fava dove sono?
via Don Minzoni, vicino piazza Martiri e la stazione ferroviaria, appena dentro le mura


Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

TR4: Viva Mexico!

Que onda?
Click here...TR4 is finally on-line, featuring the stunning contributions from multimedia producer Franz Borja-Hernandez(Mexico), award-winning artist Paty Ortega(Mexico) & photographer Silvia Superbi(Italy).
In this issue we are going back to the roots of Ancient Mexico, discovering our Love and Respect for Mother Earth.We are going to deal with controversial issues like Columbus discovering of the New World, Genetic Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Terminator Technology (V-GURTs), the end of Tenochtitlan and the rising of the New Sun, Tonantzin and Green Powa.
We wanna be In-Dios: tuning our-selves to universal vibez and act accordingly.In other words, be free and live in joy!

Que Dios Los Bendiga,
Marco Katana

picture above: El Niño Radiante, Vibrating Energy in the whole Universe

TRIBAL REALITIES: Issue Three is on-line!

Selam!
The Beta-testing process is finally done,
I would like to express my warmest thanks to all of you out there!
Plus a special thanks to all my talented contributors: çak beş!

Please just click on the link in the upper right corner of this page,
sit back and enjoy fullscreen TR3 Beta5, special issue on TURKEY!
I am waiting for you comments on this blog,
and/or on facebook TRIBAL REALITIES group,
and/or on scribd TR group
See the Whirling Dervish on the cover?
The Acension has just begun...Unleash Your TRIBAL REALITIES!

Your Friendly Neighborhood,
mkatana

TR ISSUE Three: editing Beta release(s)

Merhaba!I am back from Turkey where I had amazing chances to dive into the ancient culture of a modern country: meet old & new friends! Naturally, I am now selecting & organizing all the raw materials I got back from my experience. Plus I am painting new mixed-media canvas and acrylics on cardboard. And promising sinergies make me think this issue is gonna be amazing. I am currently editing the Beta release(s) of TR3, thus if you got pics, art, video, music, stories/poetry about Istanbul & Turkey...please let me know about it!
Sending Hi-NRG Vibes,
Marco

TR ISSUE Three: Going East!

I am on the road again: going East...painting,writing, filming, dancing...in other words I am editing a new issue of TR magazine.
So, stay tuned for moreeee!
In the meantime enjoy this classic....vroOOom!
That's All Folks!

TR Issue Two: End Gun Violence NOW!

Ciao a Tutti,
I've just published TRIBAL REALITIES Issue Two:
it is an instant issue on gun violence.
Instant because the NIU campus shooting is a tragedy.
It is time we start asking ourselves
what is the world we wanna live in.
Check out TRIBAL REALITIES Issue Two...
Enjoy these thought-provoking visions and let your heart fuel the change in Your-Self.

Peace!
Marco.

TRIBAL REALITIES Issue One is here!

Dear Readers,
check out the latest release of TR Issue One:
mind-blowing content for your soul!
Just click on your right...and jump to anotha dimension.
Lemme know your feelings.
In the meantime, I go back to wallz bombin' : )

Lotta Luv,
Marco

TRIBAL REALITIES magazine is on-line!

Ciao!
It's hot and it's here, the final release of
TR magazine Issue Zero is finally on-line!
Just click on the Scribd icon on your right to
1) view it fullscreen,
2) download it as a pdf document
3) or check out my Scribd profile.
a HUGE GRAZIE to all my Beta testers, fan and friends...I LOVE YOU!
And now I am going back to edit Issue One.Stay Tuned!
Sending Good Vibes,

mkatana

New Challenges, Tribal Realities

Once again, diz iz it, turn it up!
A new challenge, a new chance: I am developing a new project calledTRIBAL REALITIES which is literally snowballing more and more every-single-day, involving creative people from all around the world.
Skip mere cerebral status quo, challenge Your-Self and
let your Heart speak up.
Check out my new massive T-shirts here and bring out your tribal attitude!More items on the way, this is just the beginning, baby!
Lotta Luv,
marco

Framing a Vision

I think the key to success in life is about the willpower to persistently and consistently frame one's vision.
Make it happen. Everyday.

Caption:this is my latest LandArt installation, it is called Shakkei.
Shakkei is one of the ancient principles of the Japanese Art of Gardening.
It may be translated into English with the term "borrowed scenery".
Japan was a life-changing experience to me.
Hence, Japanese civilization keeps on inspiring me.
Nature inspires me and teaches me.Continuously.
My personal vision is that Nature is a Divine Work of Art. How about yours?

Bamboozal

Marco Spada (2007). Bamboozal, acrylic on Fabriano paper (30x40cm.

Full-ness of Empty-ness?

Marco Spada (2007). Fish and Wisteria, mixed media on Fabriano paper (30x40cm.

Discovering the Full-ness of Empty-ness.

Navigators

Marco Spada (2007). Navigators, mixed media on Fabriano paper (30x40cm).

Delfini

Marco Spada (2007). Delfini. (Detail)





Marco Spada (2007). Delfini. mixed media on Fabriano paper(30x40cm).

Yuku mizu ya nani ni todomaru (How to stop Running Water?)

Marco Spada (2007).Yuku mizu ya nani ni todomaru (How to stop Running Water?), acrylic on Fabriano paper (30x40cm).
Yeah, How can we stop Running Water? We can Just Flow with It!
Paradigm Shift: from Command & Control --> to Let It Flow, Baby!

Descent on Planet Earth

Marco Spada (2007) Discesa sulla Terra, acrylic on Fabriano paper (30x40cm).
The Sacred Bird: from the Sun is landing on Earth to Become a Human Being.
Sky and Earth are Breathing Together in my lungs.