A true art collaboration by Bare Bones x Sid Lee

A true art collaboration by Bare Bones x Sid Lee

Mar 14, 2012 |  by  |  Art, Event
About the author
The name's Ciaran, a 27-year-old guy who loves the idea of a discovery, even if it actually isn't one. Among many other Sherlock Holmes adventures, searching for art and music is what keeps me going. High Five!

Bare Bones, an intensely creative collective based in London who travel the universe setting up spontaneous exhibitions and printing paper magazines along the way. Sid Lee, a renowned international team of specialists in every discipline related to creation. For their eighth issue, Bare Bones has struck down on Amsterdam. Arriving here last Sunday, they have four days to get inspired, instructed and intoxicated. This all leads up to the one-night-only expo at Sid Lee’s Amsterdam office tomorrow evening.

Leaving all their troubles back home, they arrived here with an empty head, open for all kinds of input material. They’ve started work and are busy letting the good stuff Amsterdam has on offer inspire them. “It’s like a car crash of what we already know and a bunch of local influences,” explains Harry, on of the founding fathers. Avoiding the clichés everyone has covered before, the theme for this issue is Death Excited: Dutch Courage.

We live in scary times, days of uncertainty and speculation.

Ship of Fools

“We live in scary times, days of uncertainty and speculation.” Their allegory is the Ship of Fools, the rocking base of their spontaneous hard work. “We’re just imagining ourselves on that ship,” he adds. Sitting in the expo space, everyone is busy with one thing or another. On one side of the room, a giant mural is being created as we speak. Numerous artists, brushes in hand, standing on chairs, ink-dipped fingers, produce high quality illustrations before my very eyes.

Bare Bones Post

Dutch Inspiration

In another corner, one lad is working out the cheapest way to get his photos printed (bad-ass-big size) of the already famous lady they met at Eddy’s Bar last night, Rena. She has been adopted as an intense source of inspiration for the group, revealing the true identity of Dutch drinking culture. “She just fascinates me. But to be honest, she was just pissed and was trying to tell us not to be so serious in life,” photographer Niall smiles.

Joining in the creative vibe, even I pick up on all the things happening around me. Even though each member has his or her own discipline, there’s a mutual allowance of nibbling a bit off of everyone else’s work, thus creating a true collaboration. “We all have a common ideal of not being too precious about what we do. We’re just making art for our own sake, not for any commercial ideal,” Harry tells me. And on that note, it’s time for a beer and to sit back and watch the elements evolve. Can’t wait to see the final result!

Photos courtesy of Yeliz Cicek

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