Volume 19
Welcome back to the Isolation Diaries, our weekly round-up of the things that bring us joy, keep us creatively motivated and help us unwind. What have you been up to?
When the ideas aren’t flowing, we just have to be patient and know that they’re still there… At least that’s what Nick Cave tells us in this open letter on his website. Frankie Magazine’s Issue 97 profiles a variety of interesting humans, from Hijabi ballerina Stephanie Kurlow to Australian Rapper Briggs, to Melbourne photographer Matt Kulesza who has captured his time in North Korea. And we’re completely entranced by Esmé Weijun Wang’s essays in The Collected Schizophrenias, an insight and brave exploration into her world of mental illness.
We’ve recently been made aware that David Lynch presents the weather report, and now we can’t imagine life without this (thanks Ian at LOHA). When the weather’s good we’ve been taking advantage of that 1-hour of exercise by teaching Bear some new tricks. You might remember Taika Waititi’s Give Nothing to Racism campaign video. Working with the NZ Human Rights Commission and Clemenger BBDO, Give Nothing has now launched a new interactive, experiential website project that reveals the damaging effects of micro-aggressions.
The weekends are a confusing time right now (what day is it?) but we’ve been making Friday night dinner time a collaborative activity with homemade pizzas. The Colorfy app is a wonderfully calm and creative way to pass the time, with games, activities and straight colouring-in templates. If you’re looking for something more interactive, Kids is a game that encourages the player to move with and against crowds until everyone disappears… And that’s kind of it. No expectations and no big picture can make for a very addictive game, it seems.
Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace was a global livestream sensation and a welcome joy to those who desperately miss live performances (most of us). It’s not quite the same experience, but the full setlist is available on Spotify for those eager to relive it. Lockdown has been challenging for everyone. The Jay Shetty podcast explores practical tips on healthy interaction and self-growth for those struggling at the moment. Please also enjoy this incredible symphonic version of The Killing Moon, by Echo and the Bunnymen, on repeat.