Pop-up-vernissage on December 2nd: The Phoenix
Posted on November 19, 2023 Leave a Comment
On Saturday December 2nd, I’m doing a pop-up-vernissage at H15 Studio in Kødbyen in Copenhagen.
Come and feel the energy of my latest paintings.
H15 Studio, Halmtorvet 15 (direct entrance in Slagtehusgade).
Saturday, December 2nd from 18 onwards.
Facebook-event: Pop-up-vernissage + Party: The Phoenix
The newest one of the paintings, The Phoenix, is the cover star of the Facebook event and it has been my most time-consuming painting BY FAR so far. Deep work. Difficult, wild, colorful. It taught me a lot
I’m always exploring this in my works: What it is, exactly, that emerges when you spend hundreds of hours creating something with your hands?
Something arises for sure – and radiates from the canvas. Most noticeable when you’re in the same physical space, of course. I want to share that energy.
Many of the paintings are heavily inspired by the very best things from rave culture, so I’m expecting them to send just the right amount of this-is-a-portal-to-another-world energy out into the room. Which will, eventually, if you stay at the fernissage long enough, turn into a dance floor. Come and be transported.
There’s a well-stocked bar – and dj’s (hand-picked with great care) behind the decks. Line-up in the facebook-event.
Yoga progression: How to turn into the future version of yourself (and stay motivated)
Posted on November 16, 2023 Leave a Comment
When I started practicing yoga a number of years ago, I was often really bored in yoga classes.
The Bikram yoga classes were particularly hard on the boredom level (90 full minutes and then the same series every time).
But I kept going because it was quite clear to me that I was onto something.
The thing was that I had gotten some very stiff shoulders due to really long hours at my keyboard with many, many article deadlines every week. And I would completely forget about my body for those hours and just exist inside my head and inside the words.
And I had shoulder and back massages quite often, because I had to, but skilled masseurs are expensive, and I could also sense that I probably had to go deeper into the shoulder issue and not ‘just’ doing body treatments
– even though I really like body treatments (and I also expanded my regime with body-sds and acupuncture and reflexology.)
So: Yoga.
And while I was forcing myself to go to yoga classes (yes, forcing myself), I often thought:
“What if I get to a point where I actually LOVE coming to yoga. What if I get to the point where I feel like an hour-long yoga class just flies by?”
Well: I just had a class like that this week.✨
I’ve turned into the imagined future-version of yoga-chriszka, who is just like ‘wow, that was a great class’ and ‘whoa, are we done already’.
I’ve always had a very holistic idea of how much my mood and health is connected to the physical flow in my body, and how much a certain point on the bottom of my feet is connected to my liver which is connected to a tight muscle in my inner thigh which is connected to my eyes etc. etc. etc.
But I STILL felt really bored in MANY yoga classes in the beginning.
So a big thank you to chriszka-of-the-past for getting up and going anyways – and keeping at it.
Yoga HAS become so much more fun now!
And seriously: If you need motivation for sticking with your own yoga practice (or just motivation to get started), my mats will keep your eyes entertained: https://chriszka.myshopify.com
Solving the yoga mysteries, slowly
Posted on May 18, 2023 Leave a Comment
The yoga mysteries:
How some poses take days to improve, and others take YEARS.
The gomukhasana clasp: I wanted to be able to do it. I started practising, focused. Got there FAST. So satisfying.
The wide-legged forward bend: One should think this was super basic. I mean, how long can it take before I see improvement, at least? Years, apparently. Years. I still feel like a beginner in this pose. A beginner that has just run a marathon.
Luckily, I have done so much yoga by now that I no longer feel annoyed by this apparent lack of progress. More …intrigued.
I’m definitely not a patient person in all areas of life. I like things that move swiftly. I like progress and results. But people looking at my artwork will consider me to be e-x-t-r-e-m-e-l-y patient. And yoga has definitely taught me new levels of this skill.
And that’s one of the many reasons I have found it so meaningful to print my paintings onto the yoga mats. They remind me that things take time and that all the work will grow into a big pattern, eventually. They are also very entertaining to look at while practising, which is great for people with lively brain activity.
The print on this yoga mat is an acrylic painting I made after a (very yoga-filled) journey to Bali. Inspired by the fractal-like rice fields, the sound-healing pyramids, the temples, the surfboards and the electric sunsets. It’s my own favourite mat (currently) and it motivates me daily.
Get your own! Have a closer look at https://chriszka.myshopify.com
Turn your mousepad into a cyberdelic portal
Posted on March 10, 2023 Leave a Comment
Why settle for something boring and black when you can access the internet with your VERY OWN HAND-PAINTED PSYCHEDELIC PORTAL?! – made by me?
This is a mini version of my WipeOut painting, cut into a circle and printed onto a mousepad to make your daily trips into cyperspace a bit more sci-fi and a lot more artistic.
Remember: “The PC is the LSD of the 90s”, Timothy Leary said (in the 90s). Let’s use it for exploration, not distraction.
The painting on the mousepad is inspired by light machine experiences, psytrance and rave visuals, playing WipEout in virtual reality and the amazing power of our brains.
(Hot tip: If you acquire mouse arm syndrom through all the clickety-click on the www, get yourself a yoga mat (hand-painted by me) to fix it! I can provide).
Link to the mousepad upgrade: Circular mousepad: WipeOut
Current painting I’m working on: The Phoenix
Posted on February 2, 2023 Leave a Comment
This acrylic painting is inspired by the Boom Festival in Portugal and other events of 2022; events of heat, transformation, travel and mind expansion. Its work title is ‘The Phoenix and the Toad’. It has taken me 87 hours of work so far and it’s teaching me new lessons every time I get in front of the canvas.
I have never made a painting that has required this many sketches. I have to sketch and sketch and sketch again before putting actual paint on the canvas, trying out new ideas constantly. And even though this painting, at its current stage, looks a lot like my very first original pencil sketches (although a lot more colourful, obviously, since the first sketch was made with a grey pencil), the painting keeps surprising me, taking me in new and unexpected directions, still.
I expect to work on the piece for at least another 20 hours or so before it’s done. Deep and interesting process, for sure.
Ravers Are the Experts: Big Smiles and Extreme Happiness
Posted on December 24, 2022 Leave a Comment
This has to end with an explosion of emotion, every year.
Enjoy this collection of feel-good snapshots of moments in the past (and the very recent past) where you were all clearly TRULY happy.
Intermezzo: Read some of Tim Driver’s insights about rave culture right here: My first big raver experience.
Intermezzo: Enjoy some more pics from THAT night here: How to be a Junglist: Camouflage
Want more?
In 2015, JUngLEkalenderen finished with Jungle Feelings: The Love, Hugs and Kisses Extravaganza
The third season finale was a very long list of junglists celebrating their birthday on the 24th (of some month), climaxing with Mugge, the predator, and all his darkside fish: The 24th Surprise
DID YOU MISS A DAY OF JUngLEkalenderen? Go here:
December 1st: Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives
December 2nd: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special
December 3rd: Blasts from the Past: Birthday Bash Edition
December 4th: The 7 best things about being a raver
December 5th: How to be a Raver: Flags and Balloons
December 6th: Jungle Feelings: Stuff that Glows in the Dark (remix)
December 7th: Ravers Are the Experts: Dancefloors Everywhere
December 8th: How to be a Raver: The Mad Hatters
December 9th: Ravers are the Experts: Party Animals
December 10th: How to be a Raver: Food of the Gods
December 11th: Jungle Feelings: The Weird Faces Special – Extended Mix
December 12th: The Jungle Diaries: the Meaning of Life
December 13th: Blasts from the Past: The Babyface Special – Extended Mix
December 14th: How to be a Junglist: The T-shirt Special – Extended Remix
December 15th: How to be a Raver: Hands in the Air
December 16th: Ravers are the Experts: Our Natural Habitats
December 17th: How to be a Raver: Nectar of the Gods
December 18th: How to be a Raver: The Power of the Hands
December 19th: Ravers are the Experts: We Love Machines
December 20th: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special – part II
December 21st: Blasts from the Past: The Well Dressed Raver
December 22nd: How to be a Raver: The Conversationalists
December 23rd: Ravers Are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives – part II
Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives – part II
Posted on December 23, 2022 1 Comment
Let’s get back to how it all started out this season: With slowing down. On purpose. Here’s another sweet selection of ravers slowing down in the middle of everything.
– Read more about the ‘slowing down in the middle of everything’ skill here: 5 problems only ravers know about
– Here’s some family fun for the Christmas days: The DIY Test: Is my Child a Junglist?.
DID YOU MISS A DAY OF JUngLEkalenderen? Go here:
December 1st: Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives
December 2nd: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special
December 3rd: Blasts from the Past: Birthday Bash Edition
December 4th: The 7 best things about being a raver
December 5th: How to be a Raver: Flags and Balloons
December 6th: Jungle Feelings: Stuff that Glows in the Dark (remix)
December 7th: Ravers Are the Experts: Dancefloors Everywhere
December 8th: How to be a Raver: The Mad Hatters
December 9th: Ravers are the Experts: Party Animals
December 10th: How to be a Raver: Food of the Gods
December 11th: Jungle Feelings: The Weird Faces Special – Extended Mix
December 12th: The Jungle Diaries: the Meaning of Life
December 13th: Blasts from the Past: The Babyface Special – Extended Mix
December 14th: How to be a Junglist: The T-shirt Special – Extended Remix
December 15th: How to be a Raver: Hands in the Air
December 16th: Ravers are the Experts: Our Natural Habitats
December 17th: How to be a Raver: Nectar of the Gods
December 18th: How to be a Raver: The Power of the Hands
December 19th: Ravers are the Experts: We Love Machines
December 20th: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special – part II
December 21st: Blasts from the Past: The Well Dressed Raver
December 22nd: How to be a Raver: The Conversationalists
Find all seasons here (long scroll): JUngLEkalenderen.
How To be a Raver: The Conversationalists
Posted on December 22, 2022 2 Comments
Back in 2016, I had a JUngLEkalender conversation with fellow junglist Sofus about our first many years at raves. And how we always always always had to be the last person standing on the dancefloor. How important that was.
This is a bit of the conversation:
Sofus: “Now, it’s a lot easier for me to leave a party or a rave when I feel tired. But back then, I stayed ’til the last drop of blood – every time . It wasn’t exactly like doing sports, but it was something like it, and you felt super cool and kind of like a cyborg and definitely very future-like!”
“I know exactly what you mean!”
Sofus: “Sometimes I had these inner struggles on the dancefloor where I was really tired and had to sit down for a bit, but I always got up again. I had to stay on the dancefloor until the very end. […]There’s something euphoric about it, the fact that the body can just keep going. It’s a meditative quality, almost shamanistic. All of us doing this tribal dance together. A collective consciousness. You are actually doing it for the community. You don’t just go home, you stay and dance until the end.”
“Exactly!”
“And afterwards you feel really proud and sore in all your muscles for days and days afterwards.”
Obviously, when you do important work for the community on the dancefloor, talking to people has to wait.
(That’s what afterparties are for. We talk about this as well. You can read the interview here: Jungle Confessions: I had to stay on the dancefloor until the very end.
Buuuuuut sometimes all your shamanistic movements bring GREAT insights into your brain that you just HAVE to communicate with words to your fellow raver next to you! Immediately!
These snapshots are dedicated to those moments.
Intermezzo by Dancing Sofus:
“When you’re at a rave with a lot of people you don’t make a lot of conversation – you use your physical body to express your feelings and the sounds in the music. We don’t use our language but the bodies and the rhythm and pulse of the music instead. And you start to recognize eachother when you’ve experienced a thing like that together. You feel connected. There’s a poetry of the body – a compassion and inner knowledge that we’re all in tune with each other. When you get home from the raves, you feel that there has been a bond, that we turned into a tribe. That’s why afterparties are so popular for ravers. It’s hard to let go of that bond. And all the things you didn’t get to say while dancing… You get to say all that at the afterparties.”
Do you want more to talk about? Jump into 5 problems only ravers know about
If you prefer less talk and more action, jump to How to be a Junglist: Body Language.
DID YOU MISS A DAY OF JUngLEkalenderen? Go here:
December 1st: Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives
December 2nd: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special
December 3rd: Blasts from the Past: Birthday Bash Edition
December 4th: The 7 best things about being a raver
December 5th: How to be a Raver: Flags and Balloons
December 6th: Jungle Feelings: Stuff that Glows in the Dark (remix)
December 7th: Ravers Are the Experts: Dancefloors Everywhere
December 8th: How to be a Raver: The Mad Hatters
December 9th: Ravers are the Experts: Party Animals
December 10th: How to be a Raver: Food of the Gods
December 11th: Jungle Feelings: The Weird Faces Special – Extended Mix
December 12th: The Jungle Diaries: the Meaning of Life
December 13th: Blasts from the Past: The Babyface Special – Extended Mix
December 14th: How to be a Junglist: The T-shirt Special – Extended Remix
December 15th: How to be a Raver: Hands in the Air
December 16th: Ravers are the Experts: Our Natural Habitats
December 17th: How to be a Raver: Nectar of the Gods
December 18th: How to be a Raver: The Power of the Hands
December 19th: Ravers are the Experts: We Love Machines
December 20th: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special – part II
December 21st: Blasts from the Past: The Well Dressed Raver
Find all seasons of the calendar here: JUngLEkalenderen.
Blasts from the Past: The Well Dressed Raver
Posted on December 21, 2022 3 Comments
Dressing for the dance floor is not an easy task. You need to be comfortable, flexible AND possibly in for the (very) long haul at the same time. But you also need to entertain your fellow ravers. Elements of joy, sensuality and surprise are welcome.
We all have different strategies. Let’s have a look.
Do you want more absolutely fabulous clothes? Go to Blasts from the Past: The Dressed-Up Junglists.
DID YOU MISS A DAY OF JUngLEkalenderen? Go here:
December 1st: Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives
December 2nd: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special
December 3rd: Blasts from the Past: Birthday Bash Edition
December 4th: The 7 best things about being a raver
December 5th: How to be a Raver: Flags and Balloons
December 6th: Jungle Feelings: Stuff that Glows in the Dark (remix)
December 7th: Ravers Are the Experts: Dancefloors Everywhere
December 8th: How to be a Raver: The Mad Hatters
December 9th: Ravers are the Experts: Party Animals
December 10th: How to be a Raver: Food of the Gods
December 11th: Jungle Feelings: The Weird Faces Special – Extended Mix
December 12th: The Jungle Diaries: the Meaning of Life
December 13th: Blasts from the Past: The Babyface Special – Extended Mix
December 14th: How to be a Junglist: The T-shirt Special – Extended Remix
December 15th: How to be a Raver: Hands in the Air
December 16th: Ravers are the Experts: Our Natural Habitats
December 17th: How to be a Raver: Nectar of the Gods
December 18th: How to be a Raver: The Power of the Hands
December 19th: Ravers are the Experts: We Love Machines
December 20th: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special – part II
Find all seasons of the calendar here: JUngLEkalenderen.
How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special – part II
Posted on December 20, 2022 4 Comments
Days couldn’t be much darker than they are RIGHT NOW here in Scandinavia, and we need to add our own lights to the situation, so let’s enjoy another round of pics from brighter days in the rave-o-sphere.
DID YOU MISS A DAY OF JUngLEkalenderen? Go here:
December 1st: Ravers are the Experts: Slowing Down in Fast Lives
December 2nd: How to be a Raver: The Sunglasses Special
December 3rd: Blasts from the Past: Birthday Bash Edition
December 4th: The 7 best things about being a raver
December 5th: How to be a Raver: Flags and Balloons
December 6th: Jungle Feelings: Stuff that Glows in the Dark (remix)
December 7th: Ravers Are the Experts: Dancefloors Everywhere
December 8th: How to be a Raver: The Mad Hatters
December 9th: Ravers are the Experts: Party Animals
December 10th: How to be a Raver: Food of the Gods
December 11th: Jungle Feelings: The Weird Faces Special – Extended Mix
December 12th: The Jungle Diaries: the Meaning of Life
December 13th: Blasts from the Past: The Babyface Special – Extended Mix
December 14th: How to be a Junglist: The T-shirt Special – Extended Remix
December 15th: How to be a Raver: Hands in the Air
December 16th: Ravers are the Experts: Our Natural Habitats
December 17th: How to be a Raver: Nectar of the Gods
December 18th: How to be a Raver: The Power of the Hands
December 19th: Ravers are the Experts: We Love Machines
Find all seasons of the calendar here: JUngLEkalenderen.