Carl Abrahamsson

I woke up with a new film

May 27, 2018

Sometimes it feels relevant to ask where ideas and creative concepts come from. Although it’s likely that we’ll never truly find out beyond phantasmagorical speculations, sometimes it’s just so mind-blowing to be part of it that we can only believe there is “something” there. And that can be quite enough. I ascribe to no external theory of some “angel” or “daimon” helping humans out in need or in pleasure. I believe in the human soul making itself heard and seen through the complex machinations of the psyche. In that sense, a schematic image of an idea “bubbling up” or “trickling down” can be useful when talking about it. But I’m not sure it has any value beyond the function of a model. Anyway, this morning I woke up with a new movie on and in my mind. Bam! From beginning to end, more or less complete. I was amazed. Was it a dream? A hypnopompic revelation? Or a mix? I’m not entirely sure, but there it was nonetheless. The film in question is a follow-up to my first feature...

Patreon is a great way to show support

May 21, 2018

After some months of trying Patreon out, we have found it to be a great platform. We create so many things at such a frantic pace, and to feel that there are people out there willing support us with more than a Thumbs Up actually makes a great difference. That’s why we intend to post more unique Vanessa & Carl stuff at Patreon too, and have different treats for different levels of commitment. Unique videos, musical mixes, photos, cut-ups, collages, and behind the scenes video clips, to mention but a few things. Plus general news before anyone else gets it, of course. To be our patron is to be our friend! Take a look at what’s there and see if it appeals to you: Vanessa & Carl’s Patreon Here’s how we’ve segmented the support: $2 or more per month: Thank you for supporting our work! At this level, you gain access to locked posts and videos, etc. You’re welcome to submit writing to be integrated into the cut-ups, and we can talk about...

An Art Apart leads into the future

May 21, 2018

I’ve been getting some e-mails recently about the An Art Apart documentary series. Basically, “Hey Carl! What happened?” As many of you know, I shot some thirteen documentaries over a period of two years for the An Art Apart series but only finished five. You can check these films out here: Giving a baby a chainsaw (The Hafler Trio/Andrew McKenzie) Nothing can turn into a void (People Like Us/Vicki Bennett) Once the toothpaste is out of the tube (Charles Gatewood) Change itself (Genesis Breyer P-Orridge) The mystery of life (Gustaf Broms) Then I ran out of steam (read: money) and I decided to turn it all into a book instead. To read the full story of that shift, please go HERE. But of course I still have that funky footage of all the unfinished films. And of course I want to somehow proceed in that magical medium too. I’m currently thinking of making a joint An Art Apart documentary when the book comes out, to complement and promote the book rather than compete with it. That...

A Garden of Books (for Adam Parfrey)

May 12, 2018

Now that it’s almost summer time again, the greenery is literally the scenery. I have been blessed with a terrace, and that terrace is filled with trees, bushes, flowers and just an assortment of Chi-enducing beings. The greenery surrounds me and my wife, and we spend as much time as possible in that surrounding. It is in many ways our equivalent to a garden or an oasis. On the inside, my wife has just finished alphabetising our bookshelves. Not an easy task! Where it used to be all my “intuitive” order (meaning more chaos than order, albeit one in which only I could find my way), now every book in our collection is meticulously and lovingly put in its proper place. The result of both these processes is a feeling of absolute well-being and harmony; safety even. You need to go no further than to Cicero, who already in the first century BC eloquently stated that all you basically need in life is a garden and a library: “Si hortum in bibliotheca habes, deerit nihil”. However...