Of Hedgehogs and Cucumbers

Another year gone by, somewhat low-carb on the sensual side this 2021, much like it’s predecessor, and similarily oblomovian. Landwehrkanal froze and was ice-skated upon, later inflatable boats were rowed on the same canal. Sahara sand flew over Berlin, breads were baked, drinks were mixed, books were read, movies were watched, technology failed. Cats came, cats died. Goodbye FLockerl, you were found dead on the cemetery that was your second home by an old lady – what an iconic way to go. You will be dearly remembered …

Flockerl you were a drooly cat. After you ate dry food – half was gone and half was wet. But you were a worthy successor to Ziggy, with whom you’re now cruising through the cemeteries of cat heaven.

Goodbye Flockerl !

Hedgy & Company are very much alive to the contrary .. growing fatter and bolder, and still preferring cat food over slugs! When there is enough food for everyone, there is peace. But cat food makes you very thristy, so quickly a drink of puro agave! 😉

Sharing is caring. When there is food for everyone, there is peace.

Eine sommerliche remote work + vacation Combo in Hoheneich (und Wien) brachte etwas Abwechslung, das gelegentliche Glaserl “Joiseph”, der Platane beim Wachsen zusehen, Holz einschlichten für den Winter und fast jeden Tag schwimmen im Teich! Du was ham si’ die Zwergerl g’freut jeden Tag beim Pumpen mit dem neuen Brunnen!

‘kochte Haaße. Aufschneid’n. Schoaf. Brot (Scheibn). Gurkerl. Zwa Pfefferoni, schoaf. Budweisa. Da muss bei einen einfachen Menschen einfach Freude aufkommen.

Im Garten in Berlin gab’s heuer frische Gurken, stachelig und schneckensicher wuchsen sie prächtig im und aus dem Hochbeet heraus und kletterten an allem was sich links und rechts zum Klettern anbot. Nächstes Jahr bekommt ihr eine Rankhilfe meine grünen Freunde!

Sorte: Dicke Bertha.

A sunny Friday off during late summer led Björn and me on a bike tour through Berlin in search of brutalist and modernist architecture (yes, we had two dedicated maps ;-)) and there was lots of coarse concrete to touch!

The Shell building (top) was one of our favourites, but among the most brutal ones are mainly churches.

Um brutalistische Betonbauten auszubalancieren hilft: der Britzer Garten! Im September gibt es dort ganz grandiose Dahlienbeete zu bestaunen, und auch die eine oder andere fluffy flower from outer space:

Dahlia, dahlia … and a VERY fluffy sunflower mutant!

A week on Elba in October gave some time to explore the Tao of Physics (highly recommended – probably the best read of 2021), sample local wines (Aleatico!) and enjoy views from various high spots.

Unicorn enjoyed the view from the citadel!

2021 also saw the 20 years anniversary of my master thesis, part of which was completed in Stockholm in 2001. Frequent visits to Stockholm have taken place since then, the latest one last November/December which is a very un-touristy season and very nice just because of that already.

Stockholm then and now. Top: view from Gamla Stan towards Stadshuset in April 2001, bottom: view from Nationalmuseet towards Gamla Stan, November 2021.

The Buddha is rotated, and many things are askew as we try to embrace the paradoxical nature of the universe and are waiting for the pandemic and capitalism to end (neither of which will of course), so we are only left with practicing our minimal-vogue moves.

This would be how the pros are doing it:

With this, I send you into 2022, practice your floor work and your duck-walk, and may the force be with you, as always!

Does it dance ?

After last year’s pandemic (out)break, 2021 was again an Impulstanz year! The legacy of founder Ismael Ivo lives on. “Does it dance?” is not the question here – it does!

The weekend started with ALEXANDRA BACHZETSIS / Private Song, by whom I was rewarded to assist in opening the zipper of the latex dress during the performance 🙂

We continued with TRAJAL HARRELL / Maggie The Cat, by which we were unanimously underwhelmed. Maybe having read “Cat on a hot tin roof” would have helped. Maybe not. In the meantime we’ll practise our duck-walk …

The anti-climax came in the very end and was provided by MEG STUART / DAMAGED GOODS, supposedly one of the prime performances of the festival. Also the first ever Impulstanz performance I had to leave before the end, because it was so unbearably banal.

Funnily, others felt the same way apparantly (only I don’t stay until the end to “buh” them – the dancers are not responsible for bad choreography or lack of inspiration by the choreographer):

Interesting audience reactions and their re-interpretation through the press 🙂

Not surprisingly, the highlight was to be found in what Impulstanz calls “[8:tension] Young Choreographers’ Series”, this time sampled through SOPHIA RODRÍGUEZ / Ostentation Project. 1,5h of pure fabulousness from 23:00-0:30 at Schauspielhaus, complete with life size inflatable jumping castle (with bunny head!) in the end (it’s in the golden bag, believe it or not 😉 ):

Category “hands” to stand for “legs/feet” in this case.

Hats, Hats, Hats !

Meine Güte, was für Hüte!

Nicht nur das Tragen, auch das Anfertigen von Hüten ist ein großartiges haptisches Erlebnis, wie ich seit einiger Zeit selbst bezeugen kann.

Wenngleich der Filzhut ja eher ein klassischer Winterhut ist, wie uns Massimiliano damals im Sommer erklärte, als wir seine Werkstatt besuchen durften, und momentan ja nun wirklich keine Wintertemperaturen herrschen, habe ich nun endlich die Zeit gefunden ein bisschen den mad hatter raushängen zu lassen! Diverse frühere Akquisitionen haben die initiale Kollektion von Urgroßvater Johanns Hüten anwachsen lassen, und naja, nun sieht sie so aus:

So. Many. Hats. Latest addition and self-made: black wool-felt with altrosa hat band, amber vintage belt buckle and pink ostrich feather flower. Petruzzo Hats 2021.

Filz, Shellack, blauer Architektenhartschaum, lederne Schweißbänder aus NYC, Deko aus diversen etsy-Untiefen und Straußenfedern aus Großbritannien, ein paar Stunden youtube und Arbeit, und schon kann man sich wieder zeigen im Adlon! Vergessen Pandemie und jogging Hosen! Karl Lagerfeld, du darfst wieder stolz sein. Und Josef und Barbara sowieso:

Great-grandmother Barbara, who was Modistin in Vienna
Great-grandfather Josef, who was a tailor

Man muss nicht unbedingt von der rohen Alpaca Wolle starten, obwohl, es geht schon auch: enjoy …

Veronica, Hanami & Co

Jetzt ist er da.

Little forrest of moss, lilac, wisteria, peione, almond, Fukubana cherry, maple, magnolia, lily of the valley, akleia, chess flower, anemone with its friends gingko and the japanese larch.

“Nose” category for double smell: wisteria and lilac, “Ears” for all the birdies and “Hands” for all the planting and soil digging action!

Honi soit qui mal y pense!