Charcoal stick

Here is an image of the charcoal stick that I wanted to bring.

The charcoal stick is a simple and ancient artist material. But eventhings that we perceive to have defined limits of use can bereinvented into and combined with the contemporary and the cuttingedge. By utilizing this humble material and taking advantage of itsephemeral quality when exposed to the elements I leave a mark on thecollective conscience.

Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada

Nerve Festival CD

The presence of this object, the Nerve Festival CD from 1999 here in Barcelona represents many different levels of reality for me. I first came to Barcelona in 1991. It’s changed amazingly since then. At the time I was lucky enough to work with Global Media on the SONAR festival in 1997. Brent Hansen (then ceo of MTV North West Europe) gave me an intro to his team and the station sent their first ever team to cover SONAR.

My time in Barcelona directly inspired me to stage a similar event in London. It turned out to be Nerve which was staged at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London in the Fall for 1999. I became chairman of Nerve Systems the organisation behind Nerve. MTV amongst others were our media media partners. PlayStation was our main partner. The Nerve festival represents for me an example of my modus operandi and mantra: Connecting the un-connected. It was a three day event that celebrated the “21st century happening”.

Later for my masters in Enterprise Management of the Creative Arts, I used Nerve as a case study to analyse how I do what I do. (My MA research also led to me adopting the name Architects of Communication). I suddenly realise that I could identify types of people that have always been present in my projects. Indeed if they are not present or potentially present, I am suspicious. I called my methodology Systemism or the eight-sided sun. It has become my personal check-list and filter for projects:

Now, seven years later, my metaphor has changed. When I describe it to people I normally picture it as a large dinner party for eight people. Food, drink, conversation. The Plato approach. All the magic ingredients to make things happen. Anything. On any scale. No coincidence then on our adopted format for Satellittte…

But types of people are not enough. They also have to have one particular characteristic. They have to be curious. In both senses of the word. I hope to never lose either my sense of inquisitiveness or my leftfield approach to life.

Michael DaCosta Babb

The meeting was over. Everyone was happy talking with each other outside. The conversation continued in other places. The next TTT satellite version was already in our heads. How to explore the possibility of meeting creatives and improve the way we know each other. Congratulations to Transforma!

Tiago Miranda

TTT Satellite Participants

From the left to the right: Luís Firmo, Jorge Rodriguez Gerada, Jorge Vidal Hausmann, Mireia Duran, Michael DaCosta Babb, Tiago Miranda.

Photos TTT Satellite Barcelona