STEPHANE LEONARD

Müritz

Stephane Leonard — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:33:28 +0000

I just got back from my annual cycling trip around the lake Müritz (the largest german lake, about 2 hours north of Berlin).
It is only an 80km ride which only takes a few hours but it really is so incredibly beautiful to drive through so many different forests, fields and villages that it almost feels like a small international road trip. I am definitely considering turning this into a biannual ritual this year since I am still longing for more, still feel like I haven´t seen everything.
The timing couldn´t have been more perfect – it was sunny and warm, yet not burning heat. In the shadows of the trees it was actually still chilly and some parts of the roads, the ones that lead you through some sort of swamps were still even wet and moist.
The Müritz itself has already become a famous tourist hot spot but since more than half of the way around it is either a protected national park or different kinds of forests under protection with a lot of unpaved roads and a little tricky terrain, it never feels crowded or too touristy. In fact sometimes you won´t see a soul for quite a while depending on the area and of course the time of the year.
Besides passing some of the most beautiful nature, like rivers full of water lilies, the most colorfull dragonflies and wild roses, one is witnessing an amazing sound collage along the way. Cicadas, birds, bees and other insects form a choir of sounds that feels like an ongoing modern composition, new and inspiring as well as entertaining and exciting at the same time. I was basically just pedaling, listening and watching while my everyday life was fading and fading.
Most of the ride I was accompanied by butterflies that swarmed around me like dolphins around boats. I have a feeling that most people slip into a very dreamy state when cycling through the national park. You can see it in there faces in that split second when they pass you.
The road won´t always go directly along the lake but when it does there are plenty of possibilities to go swimming and cool off for a little bit.
I usually take a mixture between a medium and a long way around. Not all roads are perfect so depending on the speed you want to go you can pick your route.
Anyway, just wanted to share some summer impressions with you.

Madrid, Espana

Stephane Leonard — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:48:16 +0000

Some weeks ago I went to Madrid and I have to say that it is probably one of the most vibrant and beautiful places I have ever been to.
I really do want to live there one day – at least for a few month – so if you hear about any residencies please let me know. I am also hoping that by writing down my wishes they might actually become true.

So here are some more wishes:
- finding a way to help this planet
- going to Namibia in 2011
- getting more tattoos
- writing the perfect song
- buying a vocal harmonizer
- work less but do more
- going back to Bergen and Oslo and New York to visit friends

The list will be continued.

Back to Madrid:
Full of people, full of art – mainly old art but really the best of the best: Goya, Velazquez, Tizian and Rubens… at the Prado Museum, a prolific collection at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, impressive works at the Reina Sofia and so on…
I am in love with Tapas at old Madrid Bars, the Retiro, the cable car into nothingness…. I like walking forever through narrow streets, 25 degrees in april, I like the architecture and life on the streets.
I went to the the Arte Sonore Festival and saw some great shows and exciting installations and I wandered from book store to book store during La noche de los libres…. what more can you ask for?

Anyway, just wanted to share some love. Soon.

Oslo, Norway

Stephane Leonard — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:51:36 +0000

Mittwoch Museum für Moderne Kunst und Astrup Fearnley Museum. Im Ersteren gab es Videokunst und späte Expressionisten, im Zweiten eine Bjarne Melgaard Retrospektive.
Donnerstag aktuelle und groteske amerikanische Videokunst im Kunstnernes Hus.
Freitag selber eine Ausstellungseröffnung und Konzert.
Samstag ins BLA zu FM Belfast.
Sonntag ins Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, etwas ausserhalb der Stadt gelegen, zu einer großen und sehr gelungenen John Cage Retrospektive. Auf dem Rückweg Zwischenstop auf dem Holmenkollen, um die neue Skischanze zu bewundern.

Bergen, Norway

Stephane Leonard — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:26:49 +0000

Impressionen aus meinem Atelier.

Bergen, Norway

Stephane Leonard — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:27:35 +0000

Gerade habe ich ein kleines Album beendet. Diese EP wird demnächst für gratis und umsonst im Internet veröffentlicht > www.frozenelephantsmusic.com.
Ein schwedischer Musikblog hat ein Interview mit mir über naivsuper gemacht – ist süß geschrieben, auch wenn nicht alles so 100% korrekt ist: Interview
Mein Freund Schröder E. hat ein paar Fotos in einem pdf-mag veröffentlicht – sehr zu empfehlen: And I still miss you

Bergen, Norway

Stephane Leonard — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:59:19 +0000

New Studio, New Drawings.

* mein Atelier im 3. Stock

* das Atelier

* das Atelier

* Ideen an den ich gerade arbeite

* Blick durch das Fenster an meinem Schreibtisch

art & life

Stephane Leonard — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:56:50 +0000

…
here is an email that I got today – these days are pretty rough – I wonder if someone or something wants to punish me
…

“Dear Stephane,
we have met at the Owsum art gallery, where you had your exhibition last year.
I am afraid to say that we have been robbed, probably by a junkie of some sort.
He smashed a window in the back and stole our safe, wich contained all our money but, we realised later, also your drawings and the xeroxes.
Our money gone was a bit of a bummer, but the disappearance of your drawings is even worse.

We are really really sincerely sorry about the loss of your art, but I hope you understand that there was and is nothing we could and can do at that point and at this time, but to notify you about it.

Kind regards,
Owsum”

Iceland

Stephane Leonard — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:14:36 +0000

Some lucky coincidences made it possible for me to go to Iceland (thx Bodi Bill).
Iceland really is a landscape that looks like someone elses dream. It is stunning, beautiful, prehistoric, fabulous, spectacular… I am lacking the words to describe it, but it really looks like I imagined it but never thought it was actually true. Volcanic stones everywhere and a lot of lot of empty land.

new blog!

Stephane Leonard — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:19:32 +0000

This is my new blog.
Here is a link to all my previous blog entries: