HOMOEROTIC AND HISTORIC BRAIN EXERCISE

In November 2009 London based artist Liam Ryan submitted a word search puzzle for inclusion in issue 4 of the New Obsessive (at that time the publication was produced as an online broadsheet). The puzzle created by Ryan was both visually and intellectually unhinged and proved massively popular with New Obsessive's readership. This month Gary Farrelly pays hommage to the humble word search puzzle in his own Homoerotic and historic word search puzzle. Competition: Readers who can find all 18 words contained in the puzzle and use them (exclusively) to create a piece of Unhinged Poetry will have their masterpiece published in New Obsessive.


Historic: See Liam Ryan's 2009 word search.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO NEUSTERN

(Above) Image courtesy of Neustern International Airport(2011)

All Roads lead to Neustern

READERSHIP, MORAL AUTHORITY AND READER LIFE EXPECTANCY CONTINUE TO RISE

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(Above) FOUR KEY MEASUREMENTS OF THE SUCCESS OF NEW OBSESSIVE (2000-2011), Gary Farrelly (2011)

New Obsessive's readership has increased by just under 20% in the second quarter of 2011. It is up 52% on 2009 levels. This wonderful news is accurate, impressive and has not been exaggerated for your pleasure. Increases in the four key success measurement areas (KSMA) confirm the effectiveness of the publications new format which was inaugurated by founder and editor Gary Farrelly earlier in the quarter. The latest set of figures also confirm that there is a direct coralation between the moral authority of New Obsessive and the life expectancy of it's readership. Rigourous mathmatic testing reveals that New Obsessive readers have added an additional 30% to their projected lifespan since the publications founding in mid 2009. The average life expectancy of a male New Obsessive reader now stands at 91. The corrasponding figure for female readers is 97.

Gary Farrelly, Neustern.

INTERROGATING ALEXANDER

(Above) PORTRAIT OF ALEXANDER, Image by Cezary Zacharew.

Gary Farrelly interviews Berlin based disco cabaret performer Alexander. The interrogation takes place at an undisclosed glamorously seedy location in the German capital. Farrelly is dressed in a Mao style suit made of beige sack cloth and herringbone finish. Alexander is wearing an early coco Chanel suit tailored to his tall, slim, boyish figure. Farrelly is smoking a Cabinet (East German) cigarette and drinking a generic brand gin, neat. Alexander is drinking a mint tulip in mini pear shaped glass. The atmosphere is cordial as the interview commences.

Gary Farrelly: We met at a at Sophie Iremonger’s Kreuzberg apartment under a year ago. My first impression was that you had arrived from 1920 in a time machine. The hair, the attitude, the clothing and to some extent the music. Are you an anachronism? Or at least very nostalgic?
Alexander: Lover, I’m a daydream. That epoch resonates with me very much, I suppose it’s part of the hundred year cycle isn’t it? Most of my favorite art and literature comes from the early twentieth century, and there’s a definite sense of glamorous tragedy to the era that one can’t help feeling a kinship with.

GF: Do you remember our first encounter? What was your first impression of your interrogator?
A: I remember it well, you had an erection. Actually, so did I.

GF: How are you liking the 21st Century? Do you feel at home in 2011?
A: To put it bluntly, no. I can’t help feeling that all the interesting people are either dead or have gone into hiding. Wilde put it perfectly when he asked, “Why was I born with such contemporaries?”

GF: I like your music. Is your music your favourite music?
A: It’s my favorite music to sing that’s for sure, but I’m also a big fan of Justin Vivian Bond who is probably my favorite living singer, and also a lot of contemporary electronic music by artists like SSION and Light Asylum.

GF: Characterize your style of music for me in three key words.
A: Come over here.

GF: Characterize your performance style in three words:
A: Less is more.

GF: On a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being not at all and 10 being very much so. What grade would you give the presence of egoism in your personality?
A: I’m a Leo so probably pretty high, maybe 8. Does that sound reasonable?

GF: Alexander is in the process of producing a new record. What is it going to be called and when do you envisage it’s completion? A natural evolution of your previous output or a radical change of direction?
A: Yes, this album is taking a long time and I’m trying very hard to stay cool about it, respect the process and all that, but it’s difficult. As my darling friend and collaborator Jordan Hunt put it, I, “have a lot of patience for a person with absolutely no patience.” The list of collaborators is endless and they are based in four different countries, which adds to the complication. When it’s finished the album will be broader in influences and styles than my EP “Dandylioness”, in a way it is becoming a snapshot of a certain internationally coalescent music scene. There are several possible titles, though I quite like “Blood Sports” at the moment. I hope that it will be finished (if not actually released) this year. But who knows? I’ll keep you posted, lover.

GF: Other projects of interest in the pipe lines?
A: Yes, I have a month long residency at The Silver Future in Berlin, where I will be performing every Monday night at the horrendously civilized time of 8.30pm. I’ll have special guests too and a fantastic new backdrop from the aforementioned Sophie Iremonger. All of the details, times, artwork, are on my website (www.thisisalexander.com)

GF: You have lived and performed in Los Angeles, Liverpool, New York and now Berlin. Do you like being based in Berlin? Do you see the German capital as home?
A: I also lived in London and Athens, but never actually L.A. though I have performed there. When I was in California I lived in San Francisco, psychedelics and bad art are more my style than smog and TV sets you see. I love living in Berlin, I have been very happy here but it was only ever meant to be temporary. I imagine I’ll move on when the record is done. Maybe back to London, a city that I have always found quite ghastly, but seems to be calling me back. We’re in an off-again on-again relationship I suppose.

GF: I find Berliners somewhat charm less. Do you agree?
A: Do you mean the cream filled donuts? I actually rather like them. Oh the people? Not at all, I love them, each and every last one. Even the ones who ride their bicycles whilst drunk, with no lights at 3am, on the pavement, and get irate when they crash into you. And of course all of the kind, gentle, patient souls who selflessly dedicate themselves to customer service, always with a smile, giving their utmost, everyday.

GF: Do you eat red meat?
A: I’ve never met a cow I wanted to eat, though if cannibalism were a serious option I’d be quite happy to carve up any number of ex-acquaintances.

GF: What kind of boys attract the desiring attention of Alexander?
A: Lover, everybody is beautiful! I really can’t say I have a “type”, that seems like too much work to maintain, especially for one who has such a short attention span, what a bore that must be hounding the same old template. As a rule of thumb, cheekbones score more highly than muscles, but generally if you have the nerve to try it on with me then you’re pretty much made, my door is always open to those brave enough to cross the threshold. I realize that I can be a little intimidating sometimes, but really I am all heart. Well, at least 25% heart. I must say, I do like the smell of your armpits.

GF: Are you political?
A: Of course, how could I not be? My existence is political, everybody’s is of course, but it is magnified when you live outside of certain norms of gender and sexuality.

GF: I recently spent some time working in the Autonomous Coastal city-state of Neustern. I was covering the shambolic parliamentary elections there for New Obsessive. I had the opportunity to meet the Supreme Controller (head of state). He made it known to me that he is a fan of your music. Would you be interested performing in Neustern some day?
A: As long as you don’t try and fly me there on a budget airline I’m game.
GF: The Supreme Controller of Neustern is known for his style and commitment to lavish full service air travel. He would never do that. Especially not to an esteemed guest.


GF: Do you believe in god?
A: Absolutely. And I always capitalize the “G”.

GF: A brief closing statement?
A: Tiocfaidh ár lá

Gary Farrelly, Berlin.

OISIN BYRNE INTERVIEWS ARTIST AND N.O EDITOR GARY FARRELLY

New Obsessive, GARY FARRELLY BRIEFING INTERESTED PARTIES ON THE MAP OF NEUSTERN(2011)

Oisin Byrne travelled to the remote region of Pickering Forest to quick fire interrogate Gary Farrelly. Questioning takes place at exactly 18:00. It is cocktail hour in the Kunstbureau. The two men are drinking generic gin and Lilt from crystal jam jars. Farrelly is smoking a Russian cigarette.


Oisin Byrne- The KUNSTBUREAU has been in operation for only seven weeks and is already an impressively total experience. Can you comment on its current and projected state?
Gary Farrelly- The Kunstbureau is currently located at Pickering Forest. My art practice is fully centralised at that location. I maintain a garden, which is lit by a series of mirrors funnelling the sunlight. Inside I run a woodburning stove, and fully stocked bar used for the entertaining of visiting dignitaries. There are certain aims and objectives I am striving towards at this time - these however are not for public consumption. I envisage the Kunstbureau in this location for approximately six months.

O.B. Where is Neustern?
G.F. Neustern is an autonomous coastal city state - think Singapore or Monaco. It’s neighbours are undefined but I envisage them as being somewhat hostile. The work - which includes the large map and subsidiary graphs and charts - is within a measurable distance of completion.

O.B. Your upcoming marriage to Tara Tonini. Tell.
G.F. I am deeply commited to Ms Tonini and intend to construct a domestic life with her which I envisage lasting a lifetime.

O.B. The plans for the wedding?
G.F. We are to be married in a airline themed ceremony. The invites are being issued as personalised boarding cards to the select guests, which must be presented to gain access to the event. There will be a airliner shaped tent, and full business and first class bar and meal service.

O.B. Can you tell us of you and your fiance’s commonalities?
G.F. We hit it off immediately. Tara is obsessed with aviation. I am obsessed with aviation. Tara makes stewardess uniforms. I make art inspired by all aspects of aviation. Tara has an unfaltering faith in progress - as do I. Our interests converge in our commitment to DISASTER READYNESS, PERSONAL SOVEREIGNTY, AESTHETICS, and PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL AUTOPROPULSION. We publish a blog together - AIRPORT 6565 - and we plan to roll out various stunning projects in the medium and long term.

O.B. Speak a little on the subject of artistic sovereignty.
G.F. The artist must minimise compromise both in the production and proliferation of his work.

O.B. Gary Farrelly in five years time?
G.F. The great luminary of western art: kunstfurher. I hope to be tanned, healthy, and productive.

Oisin Byrne, Dublin.

DAVID TURPIN INTERVIEW

(Above) DAVID TURPIN, photograph by Oisin Byrne.

Gary Farrelly quick fire interviews artist, musician and writer of the Turpin Island series David Turpin. The interview takes place at Pickering Forest.


Gary Farrelly - You are working on a new album. How close is this project to fruition?
David Turpin - It will be out in 2012. I wouldn’t describe it as an album though. Exactly what it is remains a secret.

GF - Sum up you world view in three sensational words?
DT - You will kneel.

GF - Your Turpin Island series of articles paints a picture of hell on earth for all non Turpin inhabitants. Discuss?
DT - It gets a very high readership.

GF - Do you intend to continue working on the series?
DT - I will continue Turpin Island for as long as New Obsessive is going.


GF - Does David Turpin believe in God?
DT - No comment.

GF - Does David Turpin believe in love?
DT - No comment.

GF - What is David Turpins favourite time of day?
DT - Dusk. When the light is kind of hot pink and lavender.

GF - What is your favourite possession?
DT - My brain.

GF - What is your favourite material/ not part of yourself possession. A prized object?
DT - I do not believe in making myself an acolyte of anything, including an object. I have allot of objects I would consider extremely resonant but I’m not sure that they are prized objects in and of themselves.

GF - Do you like air travel?
DT - I enjoy the ritual element and I enjoy the view but the sensation I do not like.

Gary Farrelly, Dublin.

NEUSTERN ELECTION SPELLS END FOR OPPOSITION

(Above)Gary Farrelly, NEUSTERN ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS/ VOTING PATTERNS(2011)

The first ever democratic elections to be held in the Autonomous Coastal City-state of Neustern have taken place. 603 candidates from four political parties contested the 117 seats across 17 constituencies. Several minor political groupings as well as independent candidates also presented themselves on the ballot paper. The previously undisputed ruler of Neustern, known as The Supreme Controller called for elections after several foreign observers noted that the country was “without doubt the least free and most despotic political arrangement to be found anywhere on earth” International observers were not permitted to enter Neustern to monitor election proceedings. The Supreme Controller’s own National Comrades Party (NCP) won 74 seats in the ballot. Independent and officially unaligned candidates (sworn loyal to The Supreme Controller ) took an additional six seats in the Supreme Assembly (parliament). This gives the Supreme Controller a 68% majority which guarantees that his legal and constitutional whims will be facilitated without opposition. Other parties made the following seat gains: Conservative Party (CP): 16 seats - 14%. Workers Party(WP): 14 seats - 12%. Liberal Green Party/ incorporating gays, feminists and ecologists (LGP): 7 seats - 6%. The National Comrades Party contested the election with a manifesto pledging to maintain the robust sovereignty, prosperity and law and order that Neustern has built its reputation upon. Also pledges was the disbanding of all opposition parties, a promise that NCP headquarters says is at the top of their priority list going in to government.

Gary Farrelly, Neustern.