THOMAS AZIER-MUSICIAN
DÆDALUS: You are in the Netherlands right now. How’s the situation there?
Thomas Azier: Currently i’m in Paris. The past months I’ve been spending time between Amsterdam and Paris. Whenever I need to immerse myself into my work I go to Amsterdam and spend time writing and producing new music.
D: Are you isolating alone?
T.A: I feel quite lucky because I have the possibility to switch between solitude and spending time with my family.
D: What is the best thing about isolating alone/ with the person you are together with?
T.A: I enjoy doing things in the house, for example having to cook for more people, and trying to make this strange time into something pleasurable.
D: Do you ever feel anxious and overwhelmed? If so, what do you do to stay sane and positive?
T.A: What scares me is the fact that in France the city closes museums, concert halls, theatres but you see crowded shops and airports with people unable to practice social distancing. I find it alarming authorities favour consumerism, buying, above culture. I feel especially in these times I need something that makes me dream, places that are a bit magical, that take me somewhere. The absence of shows and the way we accept this new reality makes me feel anxious. I feel we have to remain critical in this time and question authorities on decision making. A few weeks ago I visited the Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam) exhibition of German-Dutch artist Ulay and was positively surprised how well it was organised. Social distancing was possible in the large spaces, and with the time spot assigned to you, only 2-3 were allowed per room. This gave me a safe feeling compared to the crowded shops.
D: Did you develop a routine during the quarantine?
T.A: When I get to work in my studio in Amsterdam I easily slip into a routine. I usually get enough food for a week or so, so I don’t have to worry. I’m not productive in the morning and usually wake up around 12. I make coffee, read, wash, chores around the house etc until I feel ready to work. Then I get going and sometimes work non stop from 4pm to 2 am. When I feel serene and focused I love being in this zone where time is bendable.
D: You are working internationally as a musician. The pandemic has certainly changed your work life. What do you miss the most?
T.A: During the lockdown, we saw many artists perform live concerts on the internet. I don’t care much about the illusion of reality. Giving a concert on the internet is in my opinion contrary to the principle of the concert, namely the coming together, the interaction, the danger. The concert is one of the rare moments when I am fully involved in the present, and I can say that I make music for the almost religious and meditative
feeling that a live experience gives me. This is what I truly miss. I am convinced that these shared experiences are necessary for us humans.
D: What is it that you most desire to do when we turn back to normality?
T.A: Not to be pessimistic but I have a feeling there won’t be a back to normality. The world after this will be different and I think the sooner we accept that, the better. I do have desires to play shows. Raw, with my new band, sweaty, full small clubs. I miss dancing. I would love to play Berlin, a show postponed so many times. I would love to play eastern Europe, Russia more. Visit clubs. Dancing. Bars. Drinking. I would like to go to a spa. I would like to see the sea.
D: Last three books that you read?
T.A:Life With Picasso – Francoise Gilot; A Man In Full – Tom Wolfe;Be My Baby – Ronnie Spector
D: Last three songs you listened to?
T.A: Holger Czukay – Persian Love; Tonstartssbandht – Hymn Eola; Big Thief – Shark Smile
D: Last three people that you saw?
T.A: I’m putting a new group of musicians together which is extremely exciting. I just finished a rehearsal that was months in the making with guitar player Obi Blanche, bass player Andert Tijsma, manager and sound engineer Ferran Huijsmans, drummer Simon Segers and saxophone player Maarten Hogenhuis. Very excited about this new music and setup. Things are coming together!
TANYA CHURBANOVA-MODEL
DÆDALUS: You are in Milanright now. How’s the situation there?
Tanya Churbanova: I’m in Moscow right now. Self-isolation regime has been introduced here, as in the whole world. But I can’t say that it was introduced in the same way as, for example, in Milan (I was there in November). All restrictions that have been introduced in Moscow: wearing a mask in public places and all entertainment venues are closed after 23:00.
D: Are you isolating alone?
T.C: I’m isolating with my girlfriend.
D: What is the best thing about isolating with the person you are together with?
T.C: I like that there is always someone to talk to, you can watch series and discuss them. And in general, doing everything together with a someone you love is the best thing that can be.
D: Do you ever feel anxious and overwhelmed? If so, what do you do to stay sane and positive?
T.C: No, I don’t. I love being at home in everyday life, so I like the new mode of life. Although there are times when I miss work and travel. Before the quarantine, there were many more trips to other countries. But I still can’t call myself anxious because of this.
D: Did you develop a routine during the quarantine?
T.C: No
D: You are working internationally as a model. The pandemic has certainly changed your work life. What do you miss the most?
T.C: I really miss regular flights without mandatory COVID-19 tests and masks. Now when I arrive in another country, I can’t walk freely around the city and see the sights.
D: What is it that you most desire to do when we turn back to “normality”?
T.C: I will throw off the mask.
D:Last three books that you read?
T.C: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Harari; Dear John by Nicholas Sparks; It by Stephen King
D: Last three songs you listened to?
T.C: My playlist consists of Lana Del Rey’s songs
D: Last three people that you saw?
T.C: My girlfriend, my flatmate and grocery store clerk.
CAI ZEBIN
– ARTIST
DÆDALUS: You are in Beijing right now. How’s the situation there?
Cai Zebin : I am now living in my hometown Shantou, a small coastline city in Southern China. We have returned to normality by and large.
D: Are you isolating alone? (If with someone: With whom?)
C.Z: Shantou was never really affected by the pandemic so I am not in quarantine.
D: What is the best thing about isolating alone/ with the person you are together with?
C.Z: Although I am not in quarantine, I have always enjoyed working alone.
D: Do you ever feel anxious and overwhelmed? If so, what do you do to stay sane and positive?
C.Z: I do, from time to time. Whenever I find myself in anxiety, I yearn for a streak of light in the darkness. During difficult times I tend to use pure and contrasty colors in my paintings. I was not aware of this tendency when I made the works, but only realized it when I looked back at paintings done at the time.
D: Did you develop a routine during the quarantine?
C.Z: My day-to-day life has not changed much since I am fortunate to have not been affected by the pandemic. I spend the morning with my kid, make lunch, and head to the studio in the afternoon and work until the evening.
D: You are working internationally as an artist. The pandemic has certainly changed your work life. What do you miss the most?
C.Z: So far, a large number of my exhibitions have been in China, so to an extent I managed to work as usual this year. However, my works will be shown at Super Dakota in Brussels, Belgium in April 2021, and at L21 in Mallorca, Spain in October. I am glad that the shows will happen under such unusual circumstances, thanks to the dedication and input of the organizers and everyone involved, though it is a pity not being able to see them in person. I hope the world will soon return to normality and we can travel again. I always get so much inspiration when looking at art of different regions and cultures.
D: What is it that you most desire to do when we turn back to “normality”?
C.Z: I would like to work. I guess I just really enjoy working.
D: Last three books that you read…
C.Z: Making the Invisible Visible, which is a study on Paul Klee by Su Mengxi, Notes of A Painter by Henri Matisse, and Notes of Outsider Art in China by Guo Haiping.
D: Last three songs you listened to…
C.Z: Lately I have been listening to Barry White.
D: Last three people that you saw…
C.Z: When I am not travelling, I spend most of the time in the studio, so the only people I meet are my family.
