At an exhibition currently on show at the gallery Semmer Berlin (Germany), the Australian artist Jenny Brown is offering a re-interpretation of the cult television series The Prisoner. Sacha Kagan, who collaborated with Jenny on one of the works on show, further discusses here how the TV series critiques the illusions of ‘freedom’ as emancipation from attachments. Von Sacha Kagan, Lüneburg (D).

Foto: © Jenny Brown

We need new ways of thinking about issues that affect how we interact with our environment. The authors whose work is collected here make some powerful calls for change. Some make them emotionally and metaphorically; others make them rationally and logically; but all make them passionately. "These essays are fresh, unconstrained and thought-provoking. They bring new, sometimes quirky perspectives to the environmental debate." David Pilling. Asia Editor, Financial Times "There’s no single “right” answer to the challenges that we face in the world today. The assembly of citizens gathered in this volume takes strength from its dynamic polyvocality: its attention to more perspectives – and therefore, its access to more possible approaches – than any conventional environmental text could offer." Randy Malamud, Professor and Chair of English, Georgia State University Dr Joe Zammit-Lucia is an artist, author and independent scholar and commentator. A self-proclaimed 'intersectionist', he works at the intersection of disciplines "which is where the action happens." He is President of WOLFoundation.org, a Member of the Dean's Advisory Board for the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida International University, has served as Special Advisor to the Director General at IUCN, is a Board Member for the African Rainforest Conservancy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Vol 7: J. Zammit-Lucia: An Orange County Almanac

The article discusses “transdisciplinarity” and “interdisciplinarity”, and illustrates the benefits of a transdisciplinary approach for combined spatial and cultural analysis, to improve research at the intersection of urban and cultural studies. By Volker Kirchberg, Lüneburg (D).

The fifth edition of the Burning Ice Festival in Brussels, from June 5th to 9th at the KAAI Theater and around the city, questioned nature-culture relationships. Sacha Kagan followed the festival for Cultura21 Webmagazine and gives us a short review. Von Sacha Kagan, Lüneburg.

Foto: © BettinaF / PIXELIO

New Approaches within the Fashion Industries. This volume analyses current developments in the fashion industries related to the debate on the Cultural and Creative Industries. This approach includes the particularities of the debate about social, economic, aesthetic and anthropological aspects and, lastly, the current discursive and practical changes towards the idea of sustainable development. The focus lies on two main aspects. First, the implementation of new sustainable practices within the production sector of the fashion field and second, a mindset change in consumer behavior.

Vol. 6: Rana Öztürk: Sustainable Fashion (PDF)

Diese Publikation macht die Idee der Sozialen Plastik nach Beuys für die Anwendbarkeit in der kulturellen, künstlerischen, sozialen und gesellschaftspolitischen Arbeitspraxis handhabbar, ohne sie verkürzt darzustellen. Der Text beschreibt die komplexen und weitreichenden spirituellen wie sozialen Bedeutungsebenen und Gesamtzusammenhänge der Sozialen Plastik und begründet diese am Beispiel des Berliner Kunst- und Kulturfestivals 48 Stunden Neukölln als ethisch-inhaltliche Grundlage für eine verantwortungsvolle Kulturarbeit.

Vol. 5: Mareen Scholl. Soziale Plastik. 48 Stunden Neukölln (PDF)

Among artists working with science, those who deal with the climate have gained particular relevance recently. In Andrea Polli’s works, her art, in which nature meets digital culture and technology, is capable of putting man back in the centre of the environment, stimulating direct involvement, both intellectual and physical. By Gaia Bindi.

Der Autor geht dem Ursprung und der Wirkung des negativen Menschenbildes nach und beruft sich dabei auf Vertreter des negativen Menschenbildes wie Niccoló Macchiavelli und Thomas Hobbes. Darüber hinaus wird das Separationsdenken der modernen Gesellschaft untersucht.

Vol 4.: Davide Brocchi. Negatives Menschenbild und Separationsdenken der modernen Gesellschaft (PDF)

How may we evaluate the sustainability of processual, open source, community-based, bottom-up/ P2P projects and initiatives within clothing and fashion, or even broader, within economies of culture? Building on an 'ethical fashion' case, OpenWear, this small reflection will try to provide some lines of thought that might be useful to move ahead with understanding the sustainability of such phenomena better. And, in a broader perspective, provide a bit of food for thought around cultures of sustainability. By Oleg Koefoed, Kopenhagen (DK).

Foto: © L. Stallknecht / PIXELIO

The Ueber Lebenskunst Festival in Berlin, from August 17th to 21st at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), and in some other locations in Berlin, playfully explores cultural actions for sustainable ways of life. Sacha Kagan is following the festival for Cultura21 Webmagazine, sharing some impressions gained along the flow of the events. from Berlin, Sacha Kagan