Throwback Thursday: Early Experiments
Posted on February 22, 2018 Leave a Comment
I recently found a sketchbook in the basement filled with drawings that I did from when I was 8 ’til I was 12 years old. There were a lot of drawings inspired by “Havoc in Heaven” (the Chinese cartoon ‘The Monkey King’) and “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”, but there were also an entire series of drawings where I experiment with drawing tiny stuff as if seen through a microscope. They are all very colourful and psychedelic.
Here is one I did when I was 11:
Another classic from when I was 11 (I have ceremoniously given it the title “The World Seen Through the Glasses of the Wizard!”, written in purple filt pen next to the drawing, including the exclamation mark. This technique actually looks a lot like a part of a painting I’m working on at this very moment. (!) Food for thought.
And another from when I was 11:
This one I did when I was 8:
And this one, when I was 12:
It’s fun for me to (re)discover that a lot of the things I experiment with in my drawings today are the same things that I was obsessing about as an 11-year old. I just used a different kind of drawing tools, and my technique has improved. But I am clearly EXACTLY the same person.
I talk about this (in Danish) in this interview by Artoteket: Mød kunstneren – Christina Majcher
“Der kommer nogle ting ud inde fra sjælen, som ikke kan auto-genereres af en algoritme”
Posted on November 5, 2017 Leave a Comment
Jeg udstiller nogle af mine værker på Artoteket på Nørrebro, og de har udgivet dette interview med mig, hvor jeg fortæller om, hvorfor jeg tegner, som jeg gør:
“Bare én af mine tegninger kan snildt tage 85 timer at lave, og det er superspændende og også lidt skørt at bruge så lang tid på at tegne bare ét mega-detaljeret værk, når vi lever i en tid, hvor computergrafik kan generere kunstige skyer, bjergkæder og virkeligt flotte fraktaler på få sekunder. Men der opstår en helt særlig magi, når man gør tingene på den langsomme, møjsommelige og meditative måde, med hænderne. Så kan der komme nogle ting ud inde fra sjælen, som simpelthen ikke kan auto-genereres af en algoritme. Og det siger jeg med den største kærlighed til computere: Jeg anmelder computerspil og udforsker ny teknologi såsom virtual reality til daglig i kraft af mit job, så jeg er fuldt ud klar over, hvilke forførende universer, den digitale verden kan trylle frem.”
Læs hele interviewet her: Mød kunstneren – Christina Majcher
85 hours of blissful work is done: The Garden
Posted on September 6, 2017 Leave a Comment
My newest hand-drawn piece is done and can now be ordered as print.
The Garden. 61 x 84 cm. (White border 2,5 – 4 cm). Colored pencil and ink on paper. Limited edition print. Signed.
The Garden is my most time-consuming piece so far, but also my most joyful creation yet.
I drew the original as a birthday present for my mother, and it took me 85 hours to complete. The first 10 hours was hard work, with lots of doubt and resketching and planning and replanning… There is so much white paper in the beginning, so many choices and what ifs.
But then, things take shape and start growing by themselves, and the following 75 hours were just pure fun and bliss and carefree experimentation. And then, after 85 hours of deep diving, The Garden was done. Some parts of it were exactly as I planned, others completely different. Like life. Congrats, mum.
You can buy limited edition prints at my shopify page.
For framed version or other requests, get in touch directly at christina@majcher.dk.
This is what the work process looked like about 7 hours before finishing The Garden.
Drawing with pen on white paper this late in the process is a thrilling experience. Mistakes are obviously not an option. 🙂
Why games journalism and travel journalism is the same thing
Posted on August 26, 2017 Leave a Comment
I have been working as a games journalist and a travel journalist in 15 years, and to me, it’s the same thing in so many ways. I visit a new and unknown area, I explore the landscapes and I write back about my findings and experiences. If I’m excited about where I have been, readers will probably feel like going, too. (And even if they don’t want to go themselves (or can’t), they will hopefully enjoy reading about my explorations anyway).
I have just spent most of the week at GamesCom in Cologne, and when I need a break from the noisy halls, I do what I always do: I go for very long walks, exploring areas of the city I haven’t seen yet. This brings me to some pretty remarkable places sometimes.
And one of the many, many things I love about this life as an explorer of both the digital and the physical worlds is that now, today, it will be difficult for most people to see if this picture is one I took with my iPhone while exploring Neuehrenfeld – or if it’s a screenshot from the new Fallout 5. I love that.
(But yeah. It’s from one of my walks. Arriving at Odonien in Neuehrenfeld).
When Something Comes Along Something Else Comes Along
Posted on May 26, 2017 Leave a Comment
I drew this as a cover for the track “When Something Comes Along Something Else Comes Along” by Al Lindrum: Here’s the track on soundcloud.
Hand-drawn. Colored pencil on paper. Sold as print. Limited edition. Signed. 30 cm x 30 cm. Completed on the day of the release, on May 26th 2017.
You can buy the print right here: https://chriszka.myshopify.com
For a framed (and signed) edition or other enquiries, contact me on christina@majcher.dk.
Reconnecting with the Master Magicians
Posted on May 17, 2017 Leave a Comment
My newest hand-drawn piece is done and can now be ordered as print.
Reconnecting with the Master Magicians. 68 x 92 cm.
80 hours of blissful work went into this piece. Drawing by hand is just the best pathway to some intense meditative focus. I simply can’t recommend it enough. It’s quality offline time for your brain!
See more of my artwork and prints on sale in the shop: chriszka.myshopify.com
Get in touch for collaborations or commissions at hello@chriszka.dk.
Reconnecting with the Master Magicians is pretty difficult to photograph in its entirety, but here are some shots of the piece:
Closeups of the cogwheels:
Close-up of the right hand:
The entire piece:
Order your print here: Reconnecting with the Master Magicians on Shopify.
“CounterStrike is a bit like chess”
Posted on January 29, 2017 3 Comments
The Danish CounterStrike team Astralis just won the world championships (or an equivalent).
I spoke to Nicolai ‘dev1ce’ Reedtz right after the final – on the phone directly from Atlanta. “CounterStrike is a bit like chess”, he said. Amongst other things.
You can google translate the article here: Danish team has won the world championships in CounterStrike
The art of dying in virtual reality
Posted on January 20, 2017 Leave a Comment
The most scary thing I have ever tried in virtual reality was a ski jump. Whauw, that felt so real.
Virtual reality is an amazing tool for exploring your phobias, but the technology can also be used for many other things. The hyper focus of the VR headsets can be very useful for exploring meditation and altered states of consciousness. So I was very curious when Makropol invited me to experience their virtual reality installation Doom Room: a trip through the moment of death and a tour of the afterlife hallucinations.
So, was it a cosmic experience or what? Well: I have written about the virtual reality ceremony in Weekendavisen today. The experience is open for the public this weekend and the next at the Chateau motel nightclub.
Jungle Confessions: The 24th Surprise
Posted on December 24, 2016 Leave a Comment
As you all know, the JUngLE Calendar likes the dark arts of number magic, and that’s why you could read the interview with dj Drop on day 4 (because of his birthday date on the 4th), and me on day 3, for instance.
And so, as I was searching for a possible main character for the interview on day 24, it turned out that a surprisingly large number of JUngLE Calendar Stars celebrate their birthdays on the 24th of the month.
IS THAT A COINCIDENCE?! You know it can’t be.
In case you need proof, here we go:
The 24th Surprise is the case for Garridge Bwoy:
And for Sofia:
And for Evil Economist:
And for the Discoshaman:
And for the one like CRS:
And for Mariii the Jungle Monster:
And for Alex:
And for Donna:
And for PZ:
And for Lucy Love:
And for Luis:
Luis babyfacin’ at Nadsat.
A beautiful moment caught by jonask.dk
You think it’s STRANGE AND ODD with all these “Day 24” people? You don’t say.
So a choice had to be made, and the magical dice decided on MUGGE. A raver recognized by his unmistakable enthusiasm and his Adidas hat, filled with jungle voices that he has to obey.
Little known to many, however, Mugge has a secret superhero identity where he spends his nights and days catching evil darkside monsters, rendering them harmless before they attack us.
Scary monsters live right next to our houses, just waiting for the right moment to attack and annihilate us.
I mean, seriously, jeeeeeeeeez. THE HORROR!
“I go fishing once or twice a week. I love it. The rush I get at the alarm from the bite indicator… It’s an awesome feeling. I go fishing at put’n’takes, like Ørsted and Poppelsøen, for instance.”
So put’n’takes, that means you put them back out, right? How long can you keep them out of the water?
“4 or 5 minutes. After a little while, they just calm down and relax. And after the photo we just put them back out. I go for carps and sturgeons. The giant ones are sturgeons. Sometimes it takes me 20 minutes to land one after the alarm, sometimes 3. I started fishing when I was in school, so it must have been in the 80s. It’s my favourite hobby. There’s fishing and raving. Raving took over for a while in the 90s. But then you get kids and a family and the fishing moved up a notch. But if I have to choose between a jungle party and a fishing trip, I will choose jungle. The jungle parties happen so rarely now.”
Mugge The Predator sometimes eats what he hunts.
“I started out with acid and then I moved onto jungle. So it goes back to around ’91. My first jungle party was one Nis did somewhere by Loppen I think. The second on was the one at Rugbyklubben. And I just thought this is the best! It just totally hit me in the right spot.”
Looking fresh at Club Labyrinth in London.
“The drums, the bass, the vibe, the people. Raving, dancing. Just being able to go mental without giving a toss about what anyone is thinking.”
Did you see that you’re in the video of ”Blæst Igen” by 2000F?
“Yes, that’s legendary, being in a music video”.
How are you spreading the jungle gospel?
“I have been playing jungle tapes for lots of people and bringing them to parties. Everyone I know are getting kind of old now, but I’m bringing a colleague to the next All Jungle. He has never been to a jungle party before. He’s gonna have the best time.”
Mugge showing his enthusiasm at All Jungle.
What’s your favourit tune?
“I never really remember the name of tracks. But everything from 1993 to 1995. Those are legendary years. But that 31 seconds one would be one of them.”
What’s the best thing that happened this year?
“The All Jungle party where all the junglists could meet up once again. Best thing this year for sure! Epic night. Just epic. I thought ”well, there’s probably gonna be like 100 people or something” and then it was just PACKED! From the beginning! And people were really going for it. I can’t describe the feeling it gave me.”
What’s your best party moment ever?
There are so many. But I really remember that party in The Grey Hall where the stage was built like a massive castle and you and me and Rudkjøbing were dancing on top of one of the towers, going mental. I will never ever forget that. It’s edged into my brain forever.
Mugge obeying the voices inside his Adidas Raver Hat at Pandemonium, Huset, april 1997.
I would jump straight into a phone booth and fly directly to World Dance in 1993/1994. Have you seen the videos?! It looks too mad. The tracks they play… It’s crazy. I saw the video at Nis’ flat and I watch it often on youtube, still.
What have you learnt this year?
To enjoy life. Appreciating every day where you wake up alive and healthy.
On that note, I think this would be a good tune to wrap this up with. It’s very Christmassy, too:
Thanks, Mugge, and Merry Christmas!
And that’s it, everyone! Merry Christmas and enjoy your JUngLE festivities!
If you feel inspired by Mugge’s heroic endeavors, refresh your knowledge of the darkside by diving into my collection of The 13 best darkside jungle tunes ever.
Did you miss a day of JUngLE? Scroll through all three seasons here: JUngLEkalenderen
Blasts from the Past: Roskilde 2008 part II
Posted on December 23, 2016 Leave a Comment
Did you enjoy the 31 pictures from Roskilde Festival 2008 that was posted two days ago?
If so, get ready for some more pleasurable scrolling: Here’s the second round of digital memories from the same festival, and be warned: Things are becoming messier.
Oh, but first: warm up with the warmup-scroll –> the 31 Blasts from the Past: Roskilde 2008 part I.
Okay, you’re ready:
Things start out reasonably enough.
But they quickly deteriorate.
People try to find the meaning of life at the bottom of their plastic cups.
Kristian gets a glimpse of the brutal vastness of the universe through the Total Perspective Vortex device and feels horrible. Then the Playground beer kicks back in and he forgets all about it. (The Total Perspective Vortex can be found on the planet Frogstar B if anyone feels like giving it a go).
Chriszka the Time Traveller escapes from Media City and meets Julian at random morning party amongst the tents.
The next day, my brother explains something important to a skeptical accountant.
AP throws a well-known handsign (see this post for details –> https://chriszka.com/2016/12/13/how-to-be-a-junglist-the-hand-horn-special/) and adds the t-shirt communication on top. No need for talking at all. Very junglist!
The all-important deciding-where-to-go-next-situation.
More hand signs. Don’t miss the hand Horn Special, it’s pretty essential.
Okay, so Keanu Reeves totally entered my life in 2008, and I only realize now, eight and a half years later. GOD DAMN IT! Come back and ask for directions, Keanu!
Ah, this is what happened. Sneaky people with friendly faces made some evil magical brew, handed it out to innocent passers-by and erased everyone’s brains. That is so mean.
And the sun started to set on people and their mainstream t-shirts.
BAM! -darkness again. We’re back in the lounge.
Kalle B does some babyfacin’ here. Nicka, on the contrary, looks exactly the same in this moment as he did 8 years before this and 8 years after. How is this possible? I shall reveal nothing; any time traveller’s secret is safe with me.
Hello, random hot festival service guy.
DJ Buda decides to teach the Stella Polaris crew a thing or two.
And people go semi-bananas.
The sun rises and some people give up.
But when the going gets tough THE TOUGH GET GOING.
It isn’t easy, but someone has to do it: The festival vibe must continue.
For a moment, a slight glimpse of the horrors of the Total Perspective Vortex enters Kristian’s brain once again.
Fortunately, he forgets all about it once again a second later.
Jkamata arrives from another dimension.
Everyone’s still putting on their brave faces.
If we sit at this magical table long enough, everyone will turn up eventually.
See what I mean? Here’s Sofus the Amazing Shape-Shifter.
After some rest, everyone’s relaxed and ready for round 12.
A group of junglists show up for Slayer.
Nico Defrost takes a small nap while stocking up on the beers.
And here we go again.
Goodbye, Roskilde, that was sunny!
More hand-signs? Go to How to be a Junglist: The Hand Signs Special
More personal stuff? Try the Jungle Diaries: A Junglist on a Mission
Did you miss a day of JUngLE? Scroll through all three seasons of JUngLEkalenderen here: JUngLEkalenderen
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