12 August, 2008
London Retrospect
Two weeks relaxing here at my family’s estate have brought back some of the perspective between hectic city life and small town chill close to the nature. Although I could not settle down in a small town, I think one definitely needs the place to retreat and recharge your batteries. Beside, I think I’ve never been so productive as during my time here.
Most importantly I’ve been thinking of London, Jade, LSBU, MoS and all those times the 5 years gave. I try to summarize the time a bit.
First of all, London changed me totally. No surprise there. I don’t want to analyse London life too much, but rather concentrate on giving glimpse of the memorable moments that I cherish. My time with London was like sex: There were good times that turned bad, and after a moments of struggle reaching a climax that was short but extremely explosive. hmmm…..and finally after the high, one has to come down…
BA Arts Management degree. I moved to London for this. Right from the beginning I was hooked especially on the british way of learning. You listen to the lecturer for couple of hours and the you gather together on seminars to talk about the day’s subject matter. This exchange of opinions is extremely valuable. In addition, the degree gave good friends and gave me skills to get on understanding the relationships of music and picture. Thanks to Suzy Kerr-Pertic for mentoring.
Camberwell ghetto. Because of my personal experiences with the district, although there is a great arts college and beautiful locations nearby on Forest Hill. Beautiful mornings coming home, fucked up nights with Shara and mostly the ‘summer of death’. Starting with mugging after a night out, followed by cold ex-con’s execution right in front of my eyes and finished up with a fistfight with my landlord over painted walls. Still Camberwell had character and holds a dear place in my heart. Mainly by taking away much of my innocence.
Crossover of Senses. My greatest project to date, and is still going strong. After studying merging of music and video on academic level, I decided to go out and use much of my spare time understanding the marketplace, artists and audience preferences. I believe this enabled me to find a good niche in artistic works and which is a cutting edge movement in city cultures.
MoSTV. The team that kept me sane, and believed in me. I am so greatfull for all the opportunities and support received. Pedro, Victoria, Assia, James, Josh and Stephanie. I’m always there for you guys. Most of all, the week in Miami really burned bright and we did something extraordinary, and we all should keep that flame alive in the future.
Jade, the burning flame I could not handle.
18 June, 2008
Leaving London
So, it has happened. After just 2 months of planning, I left the amazing London. I am not sure if I will drag my ass back to the city, most likely will, or will I take another direction to lets say New York. I prefer the latter one to be honest. Or China sounds interesting as well, not least because of the economic development in Asia. 21th Century will belong to China.
However, 5 years in London were a ride I was looking for and I cannot be but thankful. In a retrospect, what did I learned from this city of eternal smoke? Like I have often said, I loved London because it has given me so much shit. I think the whole reason for London life versus the secure nest in the north, was to run away from the numbness that was crawling on me back in 2003. I needed to fall down to be able to pick myself again.
One major factor, of course, was the Arts Management course. Those years of studying, reading and debating about points of view completely overhauled most of my beliefs about creative process. However, outcome is an understanding that gives me ability to face and take on challenges. I learned how to use my personal strengths, and bravely went to use them in VJ and online TV industries.
Surely, living deep in South London was another main factor. Seeing a man shot 100m from your doorsteps, being mugged, your landlord attacking and running out of cash, finally forcing one to sneak into the nightlife London. The nightlife being the final stepping point into what I call my army training. How different it would have been in the north?
However, now it is time to move on. Final blow for this major step came from the one love. A person I could die for, Jade, as I cannot face London without her. No doubt time will heal the wounds, and maybe enable me to return, but not for a while, no. Still, even this fall on over love does teach something…well…like the theme that Christopher Nolan directed Batman Begins revolves around:
“Mr Wayne, why do we fall? So that we learn to pick ourselves up again”.
The discipline to focus myself in the last 2 years after graduation has enabled me to leave my mark into the London nightlife. These years crystalized many ideas, some of which I plan to execute next.
Below a photo of the great MoSTV team. Good times.
27 February, 2008
Earthquake in London
Did anyone else feel it? I bet someone else did at least according to this news piece at Guardian. Last night around 1am a 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit the island. Me personally was just about to fell a sleep, laying on my back eyes closed. Suddenly the walls started to crackle and the bed rock gently. That lasted about 20-30 seconds, before settling. Well, must consider us lucky as in London it wasn’t too heavy, more like a gently rocking by mother nature.
18 September, 2007
Thames Festival 2007
I went down to the Thames to enjoy a sunny day at the annual Thames Festival, this time I was joined by lovely Jade. The festoval is a free event of performing arts and family entertainment, celebrating the river Thames. Nice effort but this time the whole Queens walk was just too full of tourist resembling whales. Nice, but not at all. Some photos of a performance by ‘traditional’ Japanese drum group, which somewhat build up a tension inside. Am I getting too seasoned to enjoy performances? Am I getting too cynical like those old film critics? Hope not, but this year Thames Festival didn’t do it for me.
Couple of photos
1 September, 2007
Why London Works
In a recent column Ken Livingstone, the London Mayor, argued that London has now overtaken New York as the world’s greatest centre of commerce. Before that, the extreme theory that the free market would solve all of London’s problems had produced crisis after crisis – ranging from inner city riots to a transport system on the verge of collapse.
However, since London regained its own government seven years ago, the city has embarked on upon an entirely different course. Where competition is real and produces result it has the mayor’s support. Where it fails and public sector leadership is necessary we have tried to provide that lead. Personally I agree with Ken Livingstone that London is becoming more enjoyable place to live, and the change has been huge in my 4 years here. Though I do question the comment that London has overtaken New York as the place of Commerce.
I think London still has a lot to work on balance within the employment sector. Currently the classifying between nation is massive and foreigners are still “foreigners”. Same might be in New York, but still the city has more a “can do” attitude than a pumped up pill head in a rave. London has a pessimistic attitude on new businesses.
London’s current success is in the public transport and in the finance sector. Public transport is very safe, efficient, relatively cheap and does give you the ability not to have a car. Result is an open city for pedestrians and not for the drivers. In comparison, LA lives within their cars and sometimes crashes into each others just to feel something. In London you definetely feel. On the other hand, massive finance sector produces massive profits as well, and this years bonuses are expected to be £14 billion, with 3000 bankers receiving more than £1 million in bonuses. That has a great windfall on the whole London as well.
The bottom line for the reason of London’s success is the delicate balance between freedom and control. Up to a certain degree markets are totally free, but the London government will step in to balance to greedy attempts to reap anything of from the Londoners. Hopefully Ken Livingstone’s legacy is the understanding of giving it back to the people, and how it will benefit the whole in a long run.
25 May, 2007
Richmond Park Run
Today dawned with an early wake up, even before my alarm around 8am (which is stunningly early for me). After a check on weather “sunny, that’s nice”, quick morning shower and check on emails, I took for a little adventure to run around Richmond Park. Now, for you who do not know, the Richmond Park is the jewel in this congested metropolis, a vast open space famous for its deers and low flying planes landing on the nearby Heathrow Airport. And the park is huge, I mean HUGE!
Its like retreating to a tranquil meditation, where your spirit can actually relax. Your heart is not beating, like it would when you are driving 200km/h on the wrong lane (..hmm…I think I’ll start descriping Ministry of Sound as that).
So by now you might get that I really do like Richmond Park. The beauty is that even me, who is living right in middle of the city near London Bridge, can retreat to nature and slow down for a moment. Check it out yourself. Here are some photos around the park….Oh the run? It took 2,5 hours with few rest and then I walked through the park. Next time under 2h. Promise.
2 April, 2004
Rhythm of London
Falafel coming up at London Bridge. This is good. Weird but good. Went to see London Philharmonics with Steffi, which was a great night eventually.
I am finally getting into the rhythm of London life, feeling it and being able to speak better. My tutor said I’m the spirit and life of the class. Whatever she meant with that. Next weeks I’m in London for some rehearsals and then a month tour in Germany in a huge bus! Looking forward to it. First stop Hamburg.
However, there is one thing I’ve learned about London and getting a girl. Like Scarface says:
“In this country you need to have money. With money, you can get power. With power, you can get a woman”.
20 September, 2003
London life
A couple of weeks of London life behind, living with 7 people in the student halls of London South Bank University. London is nice, though damn expensice. Climate is much better than Finland, lots of art around and multiculturalism. Yesterday, me and Jessi went to see Deftones and A Perfect Circle at Wembley Arena. Nothing special but I finally was able witness Deftones live after missing them in 2000, due to our USA roadtrip.
