Below stills from part of the performance by Mehdi-Georges Lahlou, running on red high heels around a carpet, crashing glass teacups placed on the ground.

This is the first time that I came to Chicago and also is my first time in “America” (North).

Since I arrived I cannot feel inspired for new work, but I think that I should do something.

Yesterday nearby this exhibition space I took a taxi.

I offered $50 for the taxi driver to guide me through Chicago.

His name was Gurmail.

More then a city landscape I was very interested in Gurmail story.

Gurmail told me that he comes from India and he has lived 12 years in Chicago.

In India Gurmail working repairing electric things. He became a taxi as an option.

Gurmail chose to live here because he already had friends in Chicago.

The tour, in fact, was not forward downtown: museums, towers, baseball camp, etc.

With this tour I could not escape the tourist view.

But in between our conversation I started to think that some work will come.

I asked Gurmail if he had visited few of this places.

He told me that he doesn’t have time for this.

Gurmail told me that since he arrived he only works and tries to make money.

I asked him if in the end he felt fully compensated.

Is this really compensated enough.

In reality this question is from myself.

The “American dream” compensated?

 
Daniele Marx, Taking a cab, 28.04.2010, Chicago.

Thank you for the pictures by Mehdi-Georges Lahlou

With Dan Peterman and Ken Dun we discussed issues of sustainability and encounter. George Korsmit and Saskia Jansen gave an introduction to their Rainbow Soul Club project in Amsterdam and the travel with 3 of its participants to Surinam in 2008. After dinner we played soccer in the multi-purpose working hall, and Dan showed us his work.

Bas and Sander Peterman after playing soccer.

Visit Experimental Station / Dan Peterman & Ken Dunn of the Resource Centre

Thomas I’anson

Lorelinde Verhees

Danielle Marx

Yiannis Papadopoulos

Dominique Teufen

special guest: Maggie Puckett

Mehdi-George Lahlou

Mari Stoel

Emy de Rooij

Kiki Cheng

Kiki Cheng

Janneke Kornet

Dominique Teufen

A crowd of people from Version festival, SAIC, and from the street gathered at the opening last THURSDAY 29th of April at C-TAS (Con-Temporary Art Space).

After an active working period in C-TAS the MFA students presented their findings in Chicago and new works relating to this context.

During the opening there were ongoing intimate, face-to-face performances by Mehdi-Georges Lahlou.

A local band performed and the magician Magic Cedric baffled us with his tricks.

Participating artists:  Mari Stoel, Dominique Teufen, Thomas I’Anson, Ian de Ruiter, Adam van Drimmelen, Emy de Rooij, Yiannis Papadopoulos, Loreline Verhees, Kiki Cheng, Janneke Kornet, Daniele Marx, Mehdi-Georges Lahlou and Maggie Puckett.

Kiki Cheng collecting fingerprints of passers by in front of C-TAS