X spot - summary

X spot - thanks

I thank Thomas for all the effort given to the event... Together with Mei, you were a great host during those 5 days in London... and Mei, thanks for the nice photos displayed in the blog:)
I thank Pauline and Deborah for the sympathy and the easy-goingness: The George Tavern was definitely the right spot for hosting the X!
I feel immensely greatfull to all the people that got so deeply involved with trying to find 'the missing cable' (we were told just one hour before the event start that there were no connection from the laptop to the projector... as you can imagine, the alarm rang in all directions, and the real 'interaction' started... Commited with the 'Save The George Tavern' campaign, we lauched another one: 'Save The X Spot'! We started contacting nearly everyone we could in order to find a cable, as the shops were closed for some time already... thank you so much Alex, Anna, Dulcineia, Mei, Nick, Rute, and all the others who helped... I can't even mention all the names! Without you the event wouldn't have been the same!). At the end, everything was solved and actually it was a warm evening in London so the late start was not that bad after all :P
Thank you to all the speakers for the passion given to the presentations and for those who couldn't present... I hope we can meet in future 'interactions'.

X spot - text

The X.Spot took place on Friday 2nd of May 2008 at The George Tavern in East London. The event had about 80 people attending.
Due to technical problems there was a serious delay but it was solved with the help from friends of friends of friends… It was already late when a mixture between the East London pub space, the projected images and the ideas created a unique atmosphere. The people were listening and watching, probably also smelling the old curtains, timber beams and wallpapers.
Paulo Moreira explained a bit about the notion of organizing events for creative people in different cities. Interesting drawings showed: Portuguese architect Pedro Bandeira adding that he could not really explain them but he enjoyed it. Brazilian architect Ricardo de Ostos from NaJa & de Ostos showed his work with astonishing drawings and the book he has published recently. Emanuel Sousa spoke about the meaning of X and gave a glimpse of his ample architecture projects. London based architect Adam Khan impressed with a composition of atmospheric architectural moments combined with music. After that designer Paula Amaral introduced her idea of mapping home of her new book “Private Landscape – a domestic survey” (Publicações Dulcineia #2, 2008).
After a small break the event continued with architect Nicholas Lobo Brennan who showed his film “The bird of Merit”. The mexican industrial designer Agustin Otegui who had just arrive from North Carolina explained an alternative idea of getting wind energy. The last speaker was Alex Bank, who is an architect and chef, and he made his point about food and architecture.
The diversity of the participants’ work and the openness of the public made the X.Spot in London an enjoyable and enriching event.
Thank you all!

Thomas Gantner

X spot - video

X spot - photos

X spot - news

Here is the provisory list of participants:
Adam Khan (architect, England)
Agustin Otegui (industrial designer, Mexico)
Alex Bank (cook and architect, England)
Emanuel Sousa (architect, Portugal)
Nannette Jackowski & Ricardo de Ostos (architects and writers, Germany/Brazil)
Nicholas Lobo Brennan (architect, Brazil-England)
Paula Amaral (designer, Portugal)
Pedro Bandeira (architect, Portugal)

(the picture above is referred to the book 'Private Landscape - A Domestic Survey' by Paula Amaral (Publicações Dulcineia, 2008). We are proud to host the launching of the book:)

X spot, W files - news

I am pleased to anounce 2 more 'interactions': the 'X spot' in London, on Friday the 2nd of May 2008 and the 'W files' in Madrid, on Saturday the 14th of June 2008. I will have as 'local partners', co-organizing the events, Thomas Gantner in London and Key Portilla-Kawamura in Madrid. In London the event will be hosted by The George Tavern. As they said 'There are approx 10,000 artists, performers and musicians in Central East London. All of whom need places to meet and a platform to show work', we thought it would be the perfect spot for our meeting. We plan to show presentations from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. (with a break) and then stay in for drinking and talking untill The George closes, at 1 a.m.. Please notice that Thursday the 1st of May is a holiday in most countries in Europe, so it could be a good opportunity to take Friday off and spend some days in London... If you already live there, you are invited to join us and bring your friends. In Madrid the event will be hosted by the Studio Banana, 'un faro cultural de debate y encuentro' dedicated to 'creación con carácter transdisciplinar'. We plan to show presentations from 15h00m to 17h00m and then stay in for watching Sweden vs Spain, referring to Euro Cup 2008 (starts at 18h00m). We thought this could be a great way of mixing culture and sport. You are invited to join us and bring your friends...

X spot - flyer

by Thomas Gantner

X spot - info

080502 THE GEORGE TAVERN LONDON ENGLAND - from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.