Channel 83: Madonna of the Multi-Storey Car Park

(Image by Raffaella Morini)
F.A.Q:
"Thanks for the add, where are you now? Florence, London, Berlin?"
I was born in Florence and lived there until the age of 18. I then moved to London from 1998 to 2006: I love the city to the point of considering it my hometown, but I started finding it very depressed and uninspiring; I just wanted a different life, so I left. Next step: Berlin. I came here for the first time to show my video in September 2005, and decided to move within one hour from reaching the city. I managed to get here, at last, in March 2006; I landed like an Arabian princess with 134 boxes full of memories and experiences (plus records and DVDs!) and no slaves to help me carrying them. Actually, a few of the boxes are still here and I guess I could use a spare hand putting order among them...
I think I'll be in Berlin for a while, but then again who knows...I like to be able to be mobile. I go where I simply can pursue my goals. I work wherever I can, so I am frequently travelling around Europe. At the moment I am working regularly in Berlin and Milan, occasionally in London, Florence and central/northern Italy. Look at my website www.channel83.co.uk for further infos on my schedule, or add my second profile www.myspace.com/channel83events.
"So AlbertO, what's with the name, are you trying to sound international here?"
Albert is my real name, I am not trying to sound exotic or pretend not to be Italian. My family is Italian, my origins are in Sud-Tirol, I was born in Italy and grew up there. That makes me 100% Italian, not 'half-German'!
I speak Italian and English, I am studying German at the moment but I would like you to talk to me in English for another short while as I try to get my head around the language...
"Is it true that you chase serial killers? Are you still DJing? So, do you cut yourself too? Do you hang from the ceiling at your parties? What do you do for a living?"
I graduated (BA Criminology) in 2001; then I took a Master Degree in Cultural Studies, and finally enrolled in a PhD programme in the same department in September 2002:I have not finished my PhD yet. That makes me a PhD candidate, I guess. The only serial killing case I'm deeply interested in is 'The Monster of Florence', by the way. I never worked for the FBI and I never met a serial killer, the most dangerous person I know is probably myself.
Sadly I was forced to quit DJing ages ago, due to my deafness: tough luck. I am a promoter, I organize parties and events and I do NOT play music anymore: I like to leave that to the people who are good at it. I work with DJs, VJs, academics performers, artists and musicians and I can get you any of the above (and more!) if you need, of course: it is my job. I am involved in several art-projects of different kind, but I do not plan to perform at the moment. Obviously I am interested in modern primitivism, body-modifications and body-art, but only to a certain extent, my studies and my work go well-beyond all that and my take on wounding is rather peculiar. I don't hate myself or my body, quite the opposite. I never hanged from a ceiling, no, but you never know.
"Do you have a sponsor for Channel 83? Do they pay you?"
No, I cover all the expenses out of my own money, and it costs me a whole lot. If you would like to help Channel 83, you can buy some merchandise or send me an offer of any value using paypal or any other mean of payment. Drop me a line if you feel like contributing, and thanks for the support!
"Can I show your video at my club? Can I use images from Channel 83 for flyers?"
You can write to me to arrange a screening or to set-up a collaboration of any sort: send me a message on this page or go to www.channel83.co.uk to obtain my direct contacts. I am always happy to get involved in new projects, but please keep in mind that this is both my life, my passion AND my profession, not merely a hobby. I only like to work with passionate and capable partners. Do not get offended if I refuse to take part in a new project for lack of time, or if I ask you to cover part of my expenses. That said, I am enthusiastic and hard working, not to mention very eager to show my work anywhere!
The artists are the rightful owners of the copyright for each image. You cannot use any of the content that you find either on this pae or on Channel 83 without my consent in writing (that involves acquiring the artist's permission in the first place). Please respect the artists you love, do not steal their works!
"So where you born in 1983?"
No, and I wish! The website Channel 83 was born in January 2004. I was born way before that date. The name I chose is actually a quote. If you don't know where I got it from, you'll be left wondering; if you recognize it, then I think we should be friends...talk to me!
"Do you mind if I add you?"
Not at all! Thanks for taking an interest in both me and my projects, please take a look at my own website too, this MySpace page is nothing but a shortcut to it.
"Do you realize that there is enough suffering in this world? Why would you want to do a project about wounds? Don't you feel bad about it?"
Precisely because it is actual, I think it is worth discussing this topic in depth. I love what I do. I love my wounds.
CHANNEL 83 - SOME PRELIMINARY INFOS:
Channel 83 is a project born at the beginning of 2004 aiming to create an .. archive dedicated to wounds. The website http://www.channel83.co.uk was initially set up in order to document, archive and assess the penetration of a new understanding of wounding within contemporary culture; slowly but steadily, Channel 83 has grown in its depth, becoming something way more complex, a platform for artists, directors, academics, writers to swap ideas, a place where the very notions of body and wound are explored, deconstructed, re-assessed, an arena for the development of a discussion focusing on the body, its skin, and its visceral aspects.
In the first two years of its life Channel 83 has showcased works produced by over 50 international artists, both scouting the up and coming talents and devoting its attention to the already well-established names (Saturno Butto, Mario Ambrosius, Margot Quan Knight, Francesco Arena, Matt Sesow, etc).
Channel 83 aims to create further, fresher wounds, without limiting its involvement to the act of mapping and documenting those that are already in existence. In order to set-up this process of exponential wounding (wounds creating further wounds) Channel 83 has launched a series of collaborations with some of its best contributors; Channel 83 Presents: Surgical Interventions is a series of works on commission developed exclusively for the website: you will not see these artworks anywhere else, as they were created for Channel 83 only and with Channel 83 in mind, all of these artworks try to underline a specific aspect of wounding, critically re-assessing the very concept of body.
Channel 83 attempts to actively promote the work of those who contribute to its development, organizing events allover Europe (conferences, parties, exhibitions, performances, screenings, aktions) where the talent of those who actively promote its development can be showcased.
In September 2004, Channel 83 organized Every Eye is a Hole A Coronation of Wounds, a 12 hours-long event dedicated to the wounded body, alternating talks, installations, performances, exhibitions, and a party featuring some of the most talented VJs and DJs of the International panorama: the event saw the participation of over 1500 people and was a benchmark for the Italian underground scene.
(Image by Irene Rossi)
In June 2005 a second event took place: Errata Corpora Bodies Against Nature, a party that saw the participation of some of the freshest talent from the Italian music and videoart scene, also featuring a performance and an exhibition focusing on the idea of wrong bodies, rebellious bodies going against nature, palpitating bodies rebelling to the idea of 'health' and 'nature'.
In Fall 2005 Channel 83 has launched its latest project: Channel 83 - An Archive of Wounds, is a 50-minutes long DVD documenting the development of the project, focusing on the visual component of Channel 83. Having been developed with the help of resident Channel 83s VJ Goofo (Stefano Moretto) and featuring a soundtrack composed by the highly acclaimed composer Martino Marini, founder of Mass_Prod (one of the most exciting talents to ever come out of the Italian Electro scene), this work is composed by a selection of some of the best material having been showcased on Channel 83s gallery."Channel 83 - An Archive of Wounds" has been showcased allover Europe ever since, receiving enthusiastic reviews; both its screening in cinemas/clubs/festivals and a more complex package comprising a live performance by Mass_Prod and VJ Goofo can be arranged by contacting Channel 83 at: info @ channel83 . co . uk
In Channel 83s universe, wounds become interfaces allowing for a fibrillating process of transformation to be set into motion.
CLICK HERE TO VISIT CHANNEL 83