Researching Taiwanese Electric Flower Cars - part 1.
Clips from the 2011 short documentary “Dancing for the Dead: Funeral Strippers in Taiwan.”
Directed by Marc L. Moskowitz, the film explores the Taiwanese tradition where trucks are converted to moving stages so that women can perform at funerals, celebrations and religious processions. The documentary touches on the origins of the practice, its symbolism and perspectives from the performers, academics, government officials and the wider public.
Clips from Sayonara Speed Tribes, 2012. Documenting Bōsōzoku culture, the film follows the story of Kazuhiro Hazuki - the former leader of the Specter bōsōzoku crew in Japan.
Directed by Jamie Morris
Mera Pia Ghar Ayaa - Magic Touch
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Mixed By Bally Sagoo), 1991
One of the most renowned Pakistani Qawwali singers, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan brought Sufi devotional music to the global stage.
On Magic Touch, his vocals are reinterpreted by British-Indian producer & DJ Bally Sagoo - a key figure in the British Asian music scene who introduced Punjabi reggae, blending genres while influencing diasporic sounds.
Saaz & Sounds is an ongoing series exploring the intersections of tradition, heritage, and contemporary sound, sonically connecting the past and present.
Last weekend at HXR Fest - a beautiful day taking over the @artotellondonhoxton gallery with art, film, installations & sounds 🌷
We presented a small selection of materials from the RASMi archive, alongside a screening of the 2024 short fashion film Kyrk Chach in the cinema.
Honoured to share the space with so many incredible women & platforms like @prim.black 📚 Thank you @ayatelzz@hxr.world for bringing us all together and everyone who came down to support.
Images by @naomivds
Happy International Women’s Day! ❤️
Come celebrate with us today at art’otel Hoxton.
Pop ups, exhibitions and film screenings all day. DJs from 6PM.
Sun 8 March · 11AM TO 11PM
Tickets in bio
A preview of some of the material we’ll be displaying at HXR Fest tomorrow @artotellondonhoxton@hxr.world 📖
We’ll also be presenting the 2024 short film Kyrk Chach in the screening room alongside some other incredible films 🎥
11am-11pm
Ticket link in bio. See you there!
It’s that time again. HXR FEST returns!
Our first event of the series starts on International Women’s Day as we take over @artotellondonhoxton for 12 hours of women-led art, film, installations and music.
With two amazing pop ups from our friends and partners @rasmiarchive & @prim.black .
Exhibition and film screenings on all day. Music from 6pm by @parris.francis , @sunayah._ & @drybabe with live audiovisuals by @_oliviaema .
Sunday 8 March • 11AM to 11PM
Tickets in bio
Stills from ‘Finding Tales’ - a four-chapter short film exploring dreams, fleeting memories, nostalgia, and inter-generational connections. Paying homage to Kazakh culture and daily life, the poetic film reflects on the importance of dreams in Kazakh culture, where they are always considered meaningful, never random. Shot across Almaty, the film came to fruition following Director Yernur Bashpay’s personal practice of noting down his dreams before they disappear.
Discover the film & full credits on @nownessasia
Produced by: @planb.films & @rabochee_nazvanie in collaboration with @artlist.io
Director: @bashpay
Executive producers: @a.magzhanov@sa_fi
Producers: @yers1an@innch_i
Emerging in the 1950s, Bōsōzoku (loosely meaning ‘violent/reckless drivers’) is one of Japan’s most well-known youth subcultures & organised biker gangs.
Members would customise their bikes with elaborate designs, neon lights and exaggerated parts. Their distinct aesthetics and daring attitudes became a statement of defiance against a conformist society. Inspired by former mechanics and the kamikaze pilots of WWII, their signature uniform, tokkō-fuku, consisted of embroidered jumpsuits & jackets decorated with kanji slogans, gang signs, and other symbolic designs.
The Bōsōzoku gangs had their own itineraries and rules with regular late-night convoys and disruptive group meets. At their peak in the 80’s, there were apparently around 40,000 organised gangs. Though the numbers have dropped since, they heavily inspired other subcultures across the region, referenced regularly to this day in streetwear, anime, manga & the media.
Image sources:
1. Collecti Kult
2. @yokogao.mag
3. Bosozoku - Japanese Biker Gangs, @estevanoriol
4. Bosozoku, Masayuki Yoshinaga
5. @federico_radaelli
6. Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama City Shura via @ bosozoku_RT (X)
7. Champ Road mag via @federico_radaelli
8. @sabukaru.online
