The Dark Horse

A present from my sister Marie Pauw on her birthday celebration

The character Curtis plays, Genesis, is inspired by real-life Gisborne speed chess player and coach Genesis Potini, who died in 2011. By teaching local youth to play chess, he hoped to give them a positive focus in life and dissuade them from getting involved in gangs and crime. Potini struggled with bipolar disorder, requiring frequent hospital stays. Potini had been the subject of a well received 2003 documentary film, Dark Horse. At the request of director James Napier Robertson, Curtis gained close to 60 pounds in weight and stayed in character for the entirety of the shoot to play Genesis. Napier Robertson also had Curtis study chess with some of Potini's erstwhile friends, including FIDE Master Ewen Green. LINK VPRO television (in Dutch)

Choriner Straße Berlin

und Spätkauf

Alle Fassaden der Choriner Straße sind in den letzten 15 Jahren renoviert worden. In den Neunzigern war der Prenzlauer Berg eines der größten zusammenhängenden Sanierungsgebiete in Europa. Heute ist die Wohngegend bei Medienleuten beliebt. Viele Neuberliner wohnen in der Choriner Straße, die sich von Mitte bis zur Oderberger Straße erstreckt. Morgens sieht man junge Leute mit vollbesetzten Kinderanhängern die Straße entlangradeln und vor der Waldorf-Kita parken. In den Ladengeschäften haben sich Kreative, Schreiber, Medienleute eingemietet, "Architekten-Strich" nennen manche die Straße hämisch. Die Choriner Straße, einst eine graue, lärmende Durchgangsstraße, aus der man schnellstmöglich flüchtete, ist heute überaus beliebt im Kiez. 

Spätkauf Ein verdammt nochmal echt super Spätkauf, derin den nun auch ein kleines Café integriert wurde. Drinnen wie in einem Tante Emma-Laden, draussen mit kleinen Cafétischen und Bank, zum in der Sonne Kaffee trinken... Solche Läden gibt es heute viel zu selten. Dieser solche Laden ist einfach nur toll! Tolle Menschen, tolle Straße, tolle Deco, tolle Geschichte, und dabei wollte man nur kurz Kippen holen und noch ein Bier zwitschern. Was ist passiert? Bin uff der Bank davor geblieben und hab mich einfach verquatscht! Hab Berlin genossen und tolle Gespräche gehabt! Sehr viele Dank zur meine freunden Paul und Alicyn! LINK Choriner Straße

Post Berlin, Tchoban Foundation

Photo dolf pauw

What is still drawn today? Which architects continue to master the art of hand drawing? What place has the skilled use of pen and ink in an age of computer aided design? In the 21st century, virtually no architect seeks to persuade clients of their capacities as a designer by means of sketches or perspective views.  In architectural education today, there is also less emphasis on learning the craft of drawing although the ability to convey ideas through drawing by hand remains essential in developing form and proportion. It is at this point that the Tchoban Foundation intervenes. Established in 2009 by Sergei Tchoban, himself a passionate draftsman and collector of historic architectural drawings, its extensive collection serves as a source for research on the history and nature of architectural drawing. An extensive library on the subject is accessible to experts and visitors. The overall aim of the foundation, however, is to present the imaginative and emotionally charged world of architectural drawing to a broad public through regular exhibitions.
LINK tchoban-foundation

Art Rotterdam

(main section) @ Van Nelle Fabriek 

Rotterdam is buzzing with art During Art Rotterdam the entire city is bustling with beautiful museum exhibitions, site fairs, open studios and pop-up shows. Museum Boijmans van Beuningen will feature the exhibition `Mad about Surrealism`, an unmatched list of masterpieces from four renowned European private collections. The majority has rarely been seen and will disappear behind closed doors late May 2017. In addition, in De Kunsthal Rotterdam an exhibition of internet based art will be displayed from the collection of collectors Hugo and Carla Brown. And Voorlinden, the new private museum of modern and contemporary art collector Joop van Caldenborgh just outside Rotterdam, is an unmissable experience for every art lover. LINK Art Rotterdam

Rotterdam Contemporary art fair

The 6th edition of Rotterdam Contemporary art fair will take place at the World Trade Center in Rotterdam. The fair will be held during the Rotterdam Art Week together with Art Rotterdam and other venues, creating the biggest art fair week in The Netherlands from Wednesday 8th till Sunday 12th of February 2017. Over the past years Rotterdam Contemporary Art Fair took place at the Cruise Terminal, located at Kop van Zuid. In 2017, the fair will move to the World Trade Center. The new location offers the fair a possibility to expand from 72 to over 90 stand presentations and to internationalize itself further on. The expansion of the fair enables a wider presentation of contemporary art scene and offers an international platform for galleries and other exhibition spaces. Link see more