 photo: getty images courtesy of dave hogan |
 photo: courtesy of frank micelotta |
 photo: courtesy of frank micelotta |
Beyoncé opened the World Aids Day 46664 concert in Cape Town with her huge hit Crazy in Love much to the delight of many screaming fans. Artists Bono and Ms Dynamite - who threw condoms into the stadium mass of 40,000 fans - performed alongside a host of other international and South African pop stars in support of Mandela’s recently-launched fundraising website and telephone line 46664. The whole event was broadcast webwide and promoted by MTV’s Staying Alive, reaching more than 2 billion people in 166 countries. The musical experience was recorded and will be released on CD and DVD shortly across the world. Watch this space for details. 46664 was Mandela’s prison number. By dialling 09 06 01 46664 callers can hear exclusive tracks recorded by international stars - many took part in the Cape Town gig concert - while donating £1 per minute to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. More info at: www.46664.com
Nicole
Kidman, Michael Stipe, Damien Hirst and Kate Moss were among many stars who
joined Canon Europe and Red Cross to take their own pictures for charity. The
Canon-inspired photo collection, On the Other Side of the Lens, appears in
a commemorative book produced by Dazed and Confused (Amazon £15.99) and
signed prints were recently auctioned at Christies raising over £30,000
for European Red Cross societies (HIV charities will benefit from funds raised).
Damien Hirst fetched £9,000 for his series, The World is your Oyster
(above).
Visit www.otherside-lens.com
It
takes a powerful story to work as a monologue. Biro is one such story. The
exceptional life of Biro seems aptly told by the subject himself, actor/director
Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine.
Given the name, Mwerindebiro (‘Beware of time because it has the answers’), Biro was destined for an extraordinary life. The youngest of a dozen siblings, the play begins with a gripping account of Biro’s childhood, where he is confronted with the issue of migration as his brothers and sisters emigrate around the world.
We get immersed in the psyche of a boy who leaves school to fight a guerilla war in the jungle. Then there’s the contrast of Idi Amin’s madness, with the “murder, torture, extortion and rape” of Milton Obote’s rule.
The world as Biro knows it disappears completely when a new ‘enemy’ is revealed in a Cuban Military training camp. Biro is diagnosed with HIV, sent back home and discharged from the army. Bigger that any war that he has witnessed before, this enemy wipes away everything that is familiar to Biro: career, friends, family, life itself.
In search for survival, for life itself, for the opportunity of a better life for his own little boy, Biro moves mountains to get to America. Only the land of hope and glory is not all milk and honey. The struggle for survival sees him bend the rules and land in prison. Will the lawyer buy this extraordinary tale?
If you missed this moving and challenging masterpiece, then you’ll have to go to New York for its next showing. Moono Nyambe
Written and performed by Ntare Guman Mbaho Mwine, Drill Hall, London WC1. Info on Mwine at: www.bewareoftime.com
 photo: alex caballero |
On
Sunday 30 November, MadAboutArt celebrated its annual WAD event of fun and
creativity at the Shaw Theatre in London to raise funds and HIV awareness
with supporters and children from across the UK in attendance. (See WAD
news)
The focal points of the exhibition included song and dance performances, a
body maps presentation from 13 South African women and a backdrop of artworks
on display from schoolchildren around the world. BBC London 94.9’s Sadie
Nine led the evening. For more info on the work of MadAboutArt for children
round the world visit: www.madaboutart.org
 Anna Lever’s commended work submitted last year in response to the MS Society’s brief |
The annual Young Creatives Network (YCN) Design and Communication Awards looks set to be as interesting as ever this year, with the National Aids Trust (NAT), Durex and Pot Noodle among the 20 leading organisations presenting students with live design and advertising challenges. Last year £20,000 and dozens of creative placements were awarded, and outstanding entries were showcased in the annual YCN book.
Keith Winestein, NAT campaigns manager views the chance to be part of this year’s YCN Awards as an opportunity to “raise the issues surrounding HIV and Aids-related stigma and discrimination amongst the student community”. Interested students are invited to work on the briefs and submit their work before the deadline of 26 March 2004. Anyone in education is welcome to submit work as is anyone under the age of 30 and not in full-time employment at a creative agency. Entries are also encouraged from HIV positive individuals and there is no cost to submit work. Winners will receive financial awards and creative placements at top agencies including Saatchi and Saatchi and Design Bridge. For more information and submission guidelines, visit www.yconline.com
Red Threads: The South Asian Queer Connection in Photographs
In over 100 colour and black and white images, Red Threads depicts people who don’t fit in boxes. The British Asian queer experience is documented through themes of race, identity, sexuality and culture. Photographers Poulomi Desai and Parminder Sekhon (the latter some will know as NAZ Project London group manager) have both been capturing images on film for some years and have had work published in a variety of publications and magazines. Both artists have been brought up in London and challenge what it is to choose South Asian and queer status. Traditional styles juxtaposed with contemporary queer scene ambience. There are some stunning photographs in this collection produced by Diva Books and with commentary from established artist - and PN contributor - Sunil Gupta. RdF |
P Sekhon & P Desai, Diva Books, £15.99 hdbk. From Prowler King’s
Cross and other bookshops. ISBN 1-873741-76-6.