Close encounters of the weird kind

Misfits make the most compelling art. Yes, the misfits and malcontents of society. Those on the fringes of normality see things we (those of us who have the illusion that we are “normal”) will never see. It is interesting to come around to their way of thinking once in a while, and wake up to one fine strange day.

On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I had such an encounter.

“I want to be part of what’s happening,” Coco Chanel once said. And this is exactly the sentiment I felt at the Mobile Art, Chanel contemporary art container by architect Zaha Hadid.

Inspired by Chanel’s to-die-for and legendary quilted bag, this exhibit featured 20 artists from around the world and their homage to the icon of the fashion world. Thanks to Karl Lagerfeld’s passion, it also showed that when the world of design and architecture collide, fashion spreads the word easily.

Situated on top of the Star Ferry car park, the 7,500-square-foot traveling art container looks like an organic shell resembling a UFO. Think sci-fi flick or The X-Files. As you enter and exit at the same point (with a Creative Zen MP3 player to enhance the artwork), the journey takes you to a multi-sensory experience that will make you want to own a Chanel 2.55 bag. (Next stop will be Japan, Europe and America, so, visit www.chanel-mobileart.com.)

Nobuyoshi Araki, or Japan’s Warhol, is known for his photos of nude women tied in the kimbaku style of traditional Japanese bondage. His “Aakinema: Kaori and Painting Flowers” video shows painted flowers and Japanese women bonded with Chanel chains — because life is defined by force.

Another Japanese artist named Tabaimo designed a black hole or deep well with graphic animation of floating clouds, falling leaves and a metamorphosis of butterflies. My brother Chris really liked this piece. By looking at the black hole, you are virtually unlocking the secrets hidden inside a handbag.

Leandro Elrich from Argentina constantly questions reality. His piece called “Le Trottoir (The Sidewalk)” leads you to believe that when you are looking down at the gutter, you see the reflection of things above. Like being entranced by Chick Corea’s Crystal Silence, you realize that what you see is a reflection of things and afterwards the things themselves.

I really liked “Jesus Love and 2 Handbags” by Belgian artist Wim Delyoye. There are two stuffed pigs with tattoos on their backs next to two encased Chanel handbags made with the pig’s skin. The explanation: maybe we are greedy for wanting what’s beautiful.

Another work I enjoyed is “Crystal Custom Commando” by Swiss artist Sylvie Fleury. Her masterpiece is a giant sculpture (fit for a queen) of a black Chanel handbag with pink fur trimmings and a compact that encases a video of women shooting down the Chanel 2.55 bag. The possible explanation? We are like skin anyway.

My ultimate favorite is of course Yoko Ono’s profoundly social art that makes the viewers pen their desires on rice paper and tie them to the “Wish Tree” before leaving. The premise is: your wish will come true if you are true to yourself and you will become what will happen. So, I was really careful about what I wished for.

The artworks on view are as compelling as the ones created by one of my favorite artists, Matthew Barney, whose “Drawing Restraint” and “Cremaster Series” have made contemporary art so maddeningly mystifying.

And whatever Barney has done for art, his partner Björk has done for music. Uncut magazine said about Björk’s “Volta” album: “She’s rarely sounded more alive.” “It bristles with life,” according to Mojo.

My brother and I recently watched Björk in Hong Kong (one of the stops in her “Volta” tour). The stage of Asia World Arena’s Hall 3 was covered with red and green flags printed with insect designs. As the troll army of Icelandic Wonderbrass band marched in with flags on their heads, Björk, the snow queen of Iceland, was dressed in a shimmering out-of-this-world ruffled dress with a colorful octopus-like headpiece, dancing to Brennid Pid Vita (Walk In).

In Joga, Army of Me, Bachelorette, Hyperballad and Declare Independence where lasers were used to add to Björk’s magic and the hall was transformed into an Ibiza club, the dark beats and primal screams sending chills down to my spine. Way to go Jónas Sen, the harpsichord and keyboard player who got Björk’s headpiece and danced with the brass band.

Her Declare Independence video that was directed by Michel Gondry of Science of Sleep so reminded me of Matthew Barney’s intriguing video installation. In her video, Björk sings via a megaphone, while soldiers are tied together to create art. Whatever that means, (I can’t figure it out myself) it is intriguing just the same.

After a few songs, Björk got annoyed for some strange reason. Blame it on the flashing lights of digi-cams. Before singing the ambient Unravel song, she said, “Hello, Hong Kong. Can you do us a favor? Turn off cameras and be with us in this moment.”

Björk — the Axl Rose of Iceland with extremely avant-garde fashion (remember the swan dress at The Oscars?), mother to darling Isadora and partner to an amazing visual artist — was only sending evils to those brave enough to take her picture.

For me, that’s just human behavior.

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E-mail love-hate whatever things to becca_rodriguez@yahoo.com.