The Once & Future Britain from A. DEE on Vimeo.

The Once & Future Britain
The premise of this short shows us a Future Britain of 2024 where expressions of cultural diversity in the form of religious and cultural holidays have been banned. Difference has been near eradicated and cultural celebrations are now forbidden in favour of creating a more ‘passive’ and ‘socially cohesive’ nation in the name of ‘Peace’ or sedate universalism.

Could this be the Future? Time will tell, as Mankind seems destined to repeat the mistakes of his past…

This film was Created, Directed, Written and Produced by myself, A. Dee (The Artful Dodger) and Narrated by Felicity Finch.

This was a project I did at Iniva based over in Shoreditch, London at the end of last year.

Based on some of the Identicons Projects that I had done and my work with young people, I was asked to come and do a project at their downstairs gallery space.

The premise of the installation takes us to a Future Britain of 2024 where expressions of cultural diversity in the form of religious and cultural holidays have been banned. Difference has been near eradicated and cultural celebrations are now forbidden in favour of creating a more ‘passive’ and ‘socially cohesive’ nation in the name of ‘Peace’ or sedate universalism.

The group have come into contact with a section of wall art that has been retrieved from this future British society (much like what happened when the Berlin Wall came down) and assembled it in the present. Their window piece acts as a pre-emptive strike against a potential future establishment, and as a forboding monument to freedom of expression and warns of the dangers of its erosion.

This short film shows the project in progress from the beginning of December ’09 for the eventual window display/exhibit. I collaborated with about 5 other artists on it, and this shows the (almost) finished result. The project was a mixture of spray-paint, stencils, graphic design, acrylics and photography.

Thanks go out to; AKS USN, Iulia Filipovscaia, Remi Fedare, Sam Jenkins, The Artful Dodger, Tigz Rice, Felicity Finch, Sheena and a Big Thank You to Teresa Cisneros-Ledda.

This one charts some of my early designs and explorations into why I wrote what I did and also who with. It’s an OLD SKOOL book going back to the early 80s! There will be a limited edition of these so if you have a feel for what went on back in the day with regards to 1980s Aerosol Culture in London, then this is for you! It may be small, but the quality of the print is high. Also, unlike many books in this vein, it’s not just a bunch of anonymous pictures, it has text and descriptions as well, giving you a deeper insight into what went on…

Anyway, feel free to checkout the preview above. Currently only available on Lulu.com

This blog is like the girlfriend you have in a long-distance relationship, that you keep meaning to write to, but somehow, keep putting it off.

BLOG: I can’t believe it’s been over a month since you last wrote!
ME: I really only though it’d be a few days but when you’re absorbed in something, life around you just seems to snowball in a different direction. Like being in the eye of a tornado (so the ‘voices’ tell me!), it’s calm in the centre, and everything else around you is chaos. Though, often it can appear to be the other way around.
BLOG: Yes, that’s all very well and good. Yes, very philosophical… you’re good with words but you never use them.ME: Huh?
BLOG: OK, rarely use them then.
ME: I do. I’m writing stuff all the time.
BLOG: Yes, but I never get to see them, these words you write. So who are they then? And how come you’ve never introduced us?
ME: They’re just other words, that’s all. They’re special, but not as special as you. They’re -
BLOG: So they’re special are they. Well that explains it. That explains everything!
ME: I said they’re not as special as you.
BLOG: But you used the word ‘special’. If they weren’t special, then why not just say that they’re not important then? Why use the word special?
ME: OK, listen, please.
BLOG: I am listening. I always listen.
ME: Yeah, right. [Under my breath] And you wonder why I don’t come around so often…
BLOG: What was that?
ME: Nothing. I just said I know I should come around more often. But anyway, as I was saying, I think about you all the time. It’s just that, well… when you’re absorbed in something, life around you just seems to snowball in a different direction. Like being in the eye -
BLOG: Hang on a minute… You’ve said that before.
ME: No I haven’t.
BLOG: You have. That line about tornadoes… Hold on, you’re just cut and pasting aren’t you?
ME: What?!
BLOG: You’re just cut and pasting bits form other text that you’ve wrote before, like those stories you’ve mentioned and e-mails. E-mails to her!
ME: Oh don’t start that again.
BLOG: Well it’s true!
ME: I don’t need this.
BLOG: You don’t need this?! What about what I need??
ME: That’s it. I’ve had enough.
BLOG: Hey! Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare walk away from me!!
ME: Watch me.
BLOG: There are other men out there you know. I don’t need you!
ME: Why don’t you act like it then?
BLOG: I won’t always be here you know!
ME: Is that a promise?
BLOG: Get out! Go on, just get out!
ME: Don’t worry, I’m going.
BLOG: You’re crap anyway. Just leave.
ME: And you wonder why I stay away so long.
BLOG: Maybe you should stay away more often then?
ME: That’s what I’ll be doing.
BLOG: Where do you think you’re going?? Don’t you dare sign off!
ME: You said leave, so I’m leaving.
BLOG: And since when have you ever listened to anything I’ve said?
ME: Do you want the list?
BLOG: Just stay and talk to me. Please!
ME: Nope! Had enough of talking…
BLOG: Where are you going?
ME: I told you. I’m off. Out.
BLOG: Look, I told you, we can talk about it.
BLOG: You know I hate it when we argue.
BLOG: Hello??
BLOG: Talk to me… Are you there…?
BLOG: Hellllooooooooo…!
ADMIN.: A. DEE has left the building…
BLOG: Typical. Just like a man. Always runs away when the going gets tough…! He’ll be back. Mark my words. He’ll come back. He always does…………..

Just when I thought I had found an effective way to deal with cold-callers selling debt/loan schemes or asking me if I wanted free calls or whatever (my way of dealing with them is to simply yell ‘Hello?’ down the phone repeatedly whilst tapping the receiver as if it’s a bad connection and I can’t hear them. They soon get frustrated and hang up), life then sends me something else. No sooner have I waved off these pests, then another begins bombarding me in the form of requests from friends, acquaintances, and who-the-f—k-are-you? Gob-shites from way back when – who literally wouldn’t give me the time of day at the time, but who now think I’m their BFF (yeah, TTYN!) – to go on Facebook.

NOPE!! Not interested. You’ll not find me partaking of the delights of that website any time soon.

Look, I’m not against social networking sites, but the thing is, the same people that are requesting me to go on 2-Facedbook, are the very same ones I see complaining about having to block certain people and being hit-up by cretins they hardly knew, were bullied by or just simply loathed when they were in their company. So I ask you; why? It’s like people are just collecting friends the same way they do other junk. I’m not saying cultivating friendships is bad, just that collecting profiles of people you don’t like and then referring to them as friends, is. It’s like displaying your junk e-mail inbox just to show how popular you are. What’s the point?

Yes, I am aware of the great connections that can be made, and I’m sure for a lot of people the pros out-weigh the cons. But I’m still not convinced, it’s just not my thing, and I don’t feel I’m missing out by not being a part of it. It’s like Big Brother for social net-workers, and I’m not into that either. Besides that, I’ve too much creative stuff to be getting on with that’s more fun, fulfilling and will be of more benefit in the long run. I think if it didn’t seem to make digital vegetables out of some people’s brain cells and faculties who seem to be getting into it because – dare I say it – everyone’s talking about it, I might be tempted.

The latest example of it taking people’s commonsense hostage – which by the way is the most uncommon thing in the world – took place this morning. There’s an acquaintance that I often see taking her daughter to school in the mornings and who either smiles at me or says ‘hello’. I saw her again this morning and she had ample time to talk to me, but didn’t. About an hour later, I got a text from her saying “We should catch up. Are you on Facebook?”
… I’ll say no more.

There’s a saying in politics that goes, “There are no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only permanent interests”…

Yes, as more and more revelations come to light about MPs’ bogus business expenses, corporate execs’ fat-cat bonuses and other outlandish financial shenanigans from those you know and love, it’s quite clear that those to whom is given a window of opportunity – or a brick! – will rapidly devolve into fat-cat burglars – or show their true colours – and take whatever isn’t nailed down… or claim it on their expense accounts. And it doesn’t stop there.

I saw a man in Sainsbury’s once who was told by the cashier that he couldn’t take his shopping home (nearly £30.00 worth) just because he was 1p short! I kid you not. ONE PENCE!! Yet over time I’ve seen countless people queuing at the Customer Services desk querying their receipts because they’ve either been over-charged, charged twice for items, or something along those lines.

There’s another trend that has appeared that’s becoming more mainstream, that seems to be getting popular in those KFC-esque fast-food places and it’s rapidly spreading. And that is, the advertising of a set meal for one price, i.e., £2.99 and the actual charging of another; £3.00. It’s another one of those scams that I’m not falling for, and I make sure I always get my change! Even though they’ve tried to fob me off with all sorts of excuses. On one occasion I had to make it clear I would not leave the shop until I was given my change, after he tried to BS me by saying that he didn’t have any small-change in the till!

I’m not being difficult, just standing up for my rights as a consumer!

OK, so I may come across as a small-minded penny pincher, I’m not; I’m just not up for being taken for a mug. Yes, I know it’s only 1p, but it adds up. If, say, 500 customers over the course of a few days fall for that same scam, then that’s an extra £5.00 in their till. Over the course of a few weeks, months and even a year, it adds up. That’s a lot of dough! Especially when you consider that most of these are chain store franchises that are nation-wide if not regional.

There are lots of other areas that people are being short-changed too; taxes, bank charges, mobile phone and utility bills – and don’t get me started on British Gas! The sad thing is, 1) it’s always the big boys that seem to be doing it, 2) they will more often than not get away with it – and let’s face it, people usually do whatever it is they can get away with. But what’s even sadder is 3) most people feel powerless to do anything, won’t find the time to do anything or just can’t be bothered to do anything. And that, people, is the real crime!

Here’s my page:

Currently I’m working on a range of merchandise with Pritt from King Of The Beats and another graphic designer, Chris Malbon. Hopefully the next range should be available later this year, or early next. Keep posted for updates and news.

Till next time!

TIME KEEPS ON SLIPPIN’, INTO THE FUTURE…

It sounded better in my head. Probably because I was hearing as it sounds on wax – that’s LP (Long Player), vinyl, record album, to all you newbies out there. Or oldies that feel they’re young again because they’ve just picked up on MP3s as being the ‘latest thing’!

The track’s called “Fly Like An Eagle” and it’s by the Steve Miller Band from 1976 if you’re interested.

Back to what I was saying. I’m ‘this close’ to finishing this website and going live with it. AWESOME! Prisca – the designer and coder on it, has done a sterling job and I’m really pleased with the results. But as with most things, the closer you get to the finish line, the more of those little things seem to pop up from no-where in the form of loose ends… It’s like moving house. You never know how much stuff you have until you’re moving are you start doing an inventory. But then that’s life anyway. Even if you look at the process of making a sculpture, you have to just be there an hammer or carve away at this rough organic form. The closer it gets to your vision of completion, the deeper you get into it, sculpting all the little details – depending on your style of course. Some people like there lives to be course, full of texture and character; almost making your body vibrate when you touch it. Leaving an impression. Others, well, they’re forever focussing on the details of who they are and what they are about – what they stand for. Striving for that ever elusive idea of perfection. Elusive to most, obtainable to others…

I do love writing, but I feel that if it weren’t for my stories, the ones that I am currently writing, then I could Blog a helluva lot more. But I won’t. Not till I can clone myself like the Ancients, but that’s another story. Right now, I’ve assets to prepare and a site to finish.

‘NOTE TO SELF…!‘ As well as having titles for Blog entries (most probably based on songs that I like), I think I’ll play said songs to really get into it… So yes, you’ve guessed it. The sun is shining, the neighbourhood’s at peace, and I’m blasting Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like An Eagle”. Perfection!

Let’s go to work!