Images of Mammon (Part Two)

More personifications of he who sits upon the throne of this world.

Images of Mammon (Part One)

If we're living in a devil's world - if one demon shaped our reality more than any other - whose world would it be? Paimon? Vassago? Ose? One name comes to mind more than any other -- that of MAMMON, associated with money and (at least in the West) the evil of money, its crimes and sins* - namely greed, exploitation, avarice.










Once considered the gravest of sins, society is now rife with religious people arguing that perhaps all this talk of money as "the root of all evil" has been misunderstood; surely, such voices argue, it is no sin to be wealthy? Maybe Mammon just has a bad rep.







How has Mammon been depicted over the years? Corpulence is one modern defining feature but even that isn't constant; indeed, the range of artistic depictions through the centuries is something to behold...




















SEE PART TWO HERE

*Avaritia being the sin of Wealth, Luxuria the sin of spending wealth on luxuries.

The Sphinxs & The Gories!

So I made it out to a couple of shows last week -- the first was last Tuesday, the début performance of sometime No No Zero chanteuse Siân Llewelyn's new band The Sphinxs (with Chris Cheeseman, also of No No Zero, on guitar), playing at Parts & Labour in Toronto. Less straight-up soul/garage than her previous band The Bang Bangs, The Sphinxs brought a walloping energy and diversity of style to their impressive set - one I was unexpectedly hooked into playing a bit of theremin for at the last minute, I might add.


I missed The Modern Superstitions because I was outside during their set, no offense to them. Headlining the bill was Chicago's The Hollows, who really blew me away with their loud old time RnR sound and three (four?) part vocals. I thoroughly dug them, what can I say? Fun live band. I will go see them again if I get the chance.


Friday night, blog favourites Catl opened for Detroit legends The Gories at Lee's Palace and, against all odds, I made it out to that one as well and a fun night out it was too. Catl charmed another crowd in their usual forthright manner, looking slightly odd actually being on a stage for a change. I was particularly struck by new song "Hold My Body Down" and Sarah K's standout performance on same.


The Gories played a great set: relaxed and loose but with groove and energy. Danny was the band mouthpiece and seemed like he was genuinely having a fun time. It was The Gories' first-ever Toronto show and the crowd was fully into it. They played all my faves, did an encore of "Hidden Charms" and "Nitroglycerine", and I left feeling exhausted and happy.


Good photo of Sian and Chris by Ivy Lovell; good photo of Sphinxs by Christina Wozniak; crappy Catl & Gories photos by me.

Anatomical Maps!

Awesome art blog Designboom presents A Short History of Anatomical Maps, a "contemplation of our internal workings...from the mystical and spiritual to the surreal and then the informative".







From the article --

"...while our understanding of the physical may have increased beyond all recognition compared with our ancient forefathers, arguably our mechanistic understanding of our bodies doesn't fully reflect the reality of the human self. In fact there may be much to learn from history. If we can again attain an innocent perspective on the blood, guts and muscle that represent our physical self and move beyond this arguably more reductive understanding we will arrive at a point at which we consider the body both in terms of biology, psychology and philosophy. In some senses the more we know the less we know about the miracle of life."

Four Corners Poster!

Here it is -- Ka-BLAOW! -- the quadriffic animalistic stylistics of thee grandiose Fort Polio art foremost boast in this post. Drop your LSD tablets and spend all your money on booze, this show is FREE!!!

Anagram, No No Zero, Ancestors and Teenanger all playing simultaneously July 23rd at Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil Street, Toronto. 9pm BBQ 11pm show.

FREE FREE FREE

COME OUT TO FOUR CORNERS

JULY 23 2010