CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE - "A motherfucking moment of silence"

It has come to a point in which I have been forced by myself to leave Madrid behind for a while before I move to my next location so I can make real plans and concentrate. I have to many open projects that need to be feed: Exhibitions, books, vinyl toys, work, Surviving Pangea, travels, etc.

I had to do this because the capital makes me feel very sad and frustrated. Its not the city I use to love so much anymore and it will NEVER come back. Im sorry for all my friends for saying this but it has turned into something boring, lifeless, meaningless and in some way stressful, insane and crazy. Maybe because of Spain´s devastating situation but mostly because I let it be that way. Lets blame anyone but me. You build your own fortress but nothing makes sense to me anymore there. Nothing makes me stay any longer. Im trapped.

Right now Im in the middle of nowhere, isolated in a village with 9 houses (some empty) surrounded by real wild life (that includes wolves, deers, wild boards, foxes, millions of different birds, the Sasquatch, velociraptors, Insecticons, Dr Moreau´s experiments and Bin Laden. Also woods, rivers and snow). This is beautiful and so inspirational. Feels good spending time with myself again. I missed this long conversations so much and what a better way to do it than submerged in pure nature.
I was looking at the stars the other night and I felt a magical contact with the Cosmos. I know this sounds pretty cheesy and lame but its true. Millions of stars where staring at me while sitting in the darkness. In silence. And when I say silence I mean TOTAL silence. Insane.

In one week at "Vilviestre de los Nabos" (near the "Laguna Negra - Black Lagoon-.) Its 10 times more productive than 4 months in Madrid. Sad but true! (- James Hetfield-.)

I found this GOYA portrait I did circa 2010 for a how in LA. He is eating some tapas, in this case, Spanish omelette. This exhibition was called "Anochece en Fuendetodos" and it was a tribute to the painter, mostly his dark paintings. Gorka Villaescusa and Jose Punzón where also with me at this show. It was a super fun trip around the west cost. We met amazing people.

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DUE TO PERSONAL ISSUES "SURVIVING PANGEA" HAS BEEN FROZEN UNTIL I LEAVE MADRID TO MY NEXT DESTINATION.
- THANK YOU! -

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FIRST BOOK ABOUT HELSINKI OUT IN MARCH, 2015
PRE-ORDER NOW!

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR - "MADRID: CIRCLE OF DOOM"

Im NOT gonna apologize for not posting as usual. I dont care, this is my blog and I do it whenever I want. Lets, see, a lot of stuff has happened since my birthday:

All of a sudden there is/are a lot of people interested in Surviving Pangea (which makes me very happy) and that has given me the strength and energy that I needed to feed it like it deserves and take care of the project like the fragile baby it is.

( I also want to thank everyone that is emailing me offering their houses and a place to stay. Seriously, I REALLY appreciate your hospitality and support. THANK YOU! its very important to me!. Im thrilled!)

My next move is not confirmed yet since I have to (and want to) be in a million places at the same time. I was going to travel to Melbourne but now there is something VERY cool that might happen in Sicily, also in Stockholm, so Australia will probably have to wait a little bit. It depends on the guys from Black Canyon, dates, artists, tickets...etc. I have 2 shows in spring (San Francisco & Los Angeles) that are waiting for confirmation because everything is so confusing and floating around right now that I cant concentrate. I can close anything until I see what happens, I cant focus.

Oh! I might get a sponsor for my traveling and SP which is INSANE. Cant give names yet, sorry. But this is the best thing that could happen to me to achive this goal.

Im more than ready to pack and leave Madrid as soon as I can so I will be able to share my happiness with everyone. I need to meet new people, that is always wonderful. For good or bad, I need it.
I promise I will arrive singing and dancing like El Foli to my next destination. No matter where it is. It has to be pretty soon or I will expire and die in here. I feel trapped in a circle of doom in my own hometown and that is very very sad.

would it be stockholm?...

...or would it be Sicily?

the set of clowns are sketches im doing for my next exhibition called "Clown Town"

The first Pangea Book about HELSINKI is ready and will come out in March, 2015. You can PRE-ORDER it through Watdafac Gallery´s online store which reminds me that I also added new stuff on mine! (here). Have a look and support if you feel like it!. I would appreciate if for ever and ever because any kind of help is always needed.
The book is a very limited edition with more than 150 pages in A5 format ( C1 ) that includes sketches, doodles, notes, pictures, anecdotes and some extra stuff about my intense month in Finland. Its signed, stamped and hand numbered. Released by Watdafac Artifacts (as usual).
I hope this is the first one of MANY to come. Im sure it will, my darling.

pre-order here before is too late!

What else?... O yeah! wait, let me copy and paste something, give me a sec... OK, this text has been taken from my facebook page. I dont want to write about it again son here it is (I added some important stuff):

"Hey Madridians and lovely visitors! (that is why Im writing this in english)
I will be part of this curious festival in the city called CARA B this weekend (Feb, 7). There is a lot of stuff happening, shows, exhibitions and so.
It features (with a bunch of other artists) the poster I did for Tokyo Sex Destruction & Parrots a few months ago while in Helsinki during christmas.
Im not sure if I like my poster or not ( I hate it more than I like it at this point because I wish I had a better one to show. It doesnt really fit my style. I dont know why I did that anyway. I guess I was just experimenting, ugh). 
I dunno who did the one for FUTURO TERROR but, to be honest, its absolutely the BEST one in there. Actually, the only one that I like because the rest are BORING or just ugly (including mine). Friends are going to kill me for saying this but its true! ( I might also find some new enemies). but...
Things happen, man up! get a grip!."

Now I know who did that poster because Its on the website and when I looked I didnt notice. It was done by Néstor Sevillano. Its simple, beautiful, its alive... I LOVE IT! thumbs up! Olé!

poster by Néstor Sevillano - wow! I wish it was mine... 

Ok, people,  I have to go and finish some work before meeting Simon Hanselmann and The Pimentels. He is in town I hope we dont end up like we did last time I saw him in Portland. Also my friends Delorean are in town because they are playing tonite. AND... there is a cool opening at Combustión Espontánea too. AND... I dont know... UF!
See ya!

PS-. Im trying to find some pictures of "MOVING: SET YOUR PATH" opening from last thursday (just in case you where wondering)...

coffee!

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DUE TO PERSONAL ISSUES "SURVIVING PANGEA" HAS BEEN CANCELED UNTIL I LEAVE MADRID TO MY NEXT DESTINATION.
- THANK YOU! -

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FIRST BOOK ABOUT HELSINKI OUT IN MARCH, 2015
pre-order now!
 

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE - "Birthday scum pt. one"

Today its my birthday and I want to thank everyone that has emailed me or texted me or remembered this day or whatever this far. Its nice to see people care about me but Im aware that Facebook is doing 95% of the job, which is good and I think its fine because sometimes Im another victim. I have to confess that if it wasnt for that crap I would probably forget my own.
People could just say "fuck it! fuck this dude!" so every post or PM is more than appreciated and feels really nice. THANK YOU, EVERYONE!.
My birthdays are weird to me. I always have mixed feelings. I have learned with the years not to expect much or maybe just think about it as any other regular day. I miss people, is like christmas. Im getting (g)older and everything loses its magic, I suppose. Probably is also because of this nomadic phase or mood im totally into, in which this constant state of alert keeps my mind away from other secondary thoughts. Whatever...

birthday´s first sad and simple meal

the dance of joy

bought myself some shit (more to come)

I am peacefully drawing today

I have two exhibitions coming up this year that are important (sorry, actually all of them are!). But It will be the first time I will be showing my stuff in San Francisco - thanks to my friend Omar-. I love the place.
Having the chance to exhibit there is pretty cool since I remember a few years ago, when I visited SF, that I spent some afternoons drawing at Four Barrel. Its a very nice spot to spend hours happly doodling non stop. Also coffee there is amazing so what else do we need?. Man, San Francisco is really nice. Im excited to be back there.

After SF I will be traveling to Los Angeles to exhibit at Secret Headquarters. SQ is a BEAUTIFUL comic store in Silverlake. First time I stepped in I literally fell in love so im totally psyched about the idea of posting my new illustrations at that precious spot. Places like this make traveling around the world a tremendous need in my life... 

But wait! before this happens! I will be traveling to Melbourne (probably with a fast stop in NYC first). Busy year, my friends.  And Im loving it.

Gotta go. Wanna draw.
thank again for all those nice and kind words.
Luv ya!
M-.

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DUE TO PERSONAL ISSUES "SURVIVING PANGEA" HAS BEEN CANCELED UNTIL I LEAVE MADRID TO MY NEXT DESTINATION.

- THANK YOU! -

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FIRST BOOK ABOUT HELSINKI OUT IN MARCH, 2015

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO - "a Chuchita la bolsearon"

Im stressed!. Besides work, plans, exhibitions, events, trips and being a nomadic person (which mostly means visiting people´s coaches and floors from around the world), I have been thinking of making a new webiste with my stuff. The one I have is confusing and boring. I want something easy and simpler but I dont know what. I have been looking around and all I see is mostly crap and the cool ones are too much. I cant think  of a good design or something that feels right, argh!
I guess I will end up keeping this one which is not very fun and easy to update until I found something I feel confortable with. Probably, this will never happen. Im constantly under construction. I cant find a place on planet earth. I belong nowhere yet.

Im also obsessed with Shameless tv show but this is not important.

There are also some good news. For those who dont know I used to play drums and sing in a band called Grabba Grabba Tape. We started in 2006 and quit in 2009. We recorded a new (lost) studio album when we decided to split up and it never came out:

"GRABBA GRABBA TAPE - "Los 8 Trovadores del Golden Axe: el Renacer de Eskimo Espíkole".
(Gssh! Gssh Records, 2015) - Yes! G!G! is also back this year!

Finally, in 2015, this record will be released and we will TRY to start playing again and tour around. Im saying "try" because last year I broke my elbow pretty badly and had A VERY severe surgery that lasted hours so I wouldnt lose it. The recovery is still being hurtful and slow. The doctor (Dr.Raskin is the best human being in the world) told me that I wouldnt be able to play drums again (or practice any kind of "extreme" sports, uh? ) but a miracle happened, magic landed on me and it seems that my elbow´s bone is regenerating!. WHAT?!. This stuff hardly ever happens so I feel very lucky! psyched! 
This means I will be able to do more things than we expected, which probably includes playing drums, clapping at flamenco shows and doing break dancing again.

Wait! I already do...

Grabba Grabba Tape circa 2007 in Sintra, Portugal
picture by The Second Bus Home

We are pretty excited about our comeback. Since the very first day we announced it on our facebook page we have already been offered shows, festivals and tours from everywhere. This is insane but gives me energy to sit down again and hit the snare even though my Robocop 
elbow might explode into pieces. One, two, three, four!...

first promo picture back in 2006 when our costumes smelled nice and were clean

The first contact  with our radio show "CACA LIQUIDA" was recorded last Thursday and it was a disaster, en epic fail!. Everything was set and ready but we missed something important: what we didnt know was that the mic wasnt connected properly so sound was all a mess and the show was ruined. SIERRA was our first guest but we will have him back again tomorrow so we can do this right!. 

moving on

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DUE TO PERSONAL ISSUES "SURVIVING PANGEA" HAS BEEN CANCELED UNTIL I LEAVE MADRID TO MY NEXT DESTINATION.
- THANK YOU! -

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first book about HELSINKI out in March, 2015

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE - " Je ne suis Yosemite"

My computer does not work due to the magic and wonderful malfunctioning of YOSEMITE. I updated my laptop and now it does not work. I mean, it does not work AT ALL. It starts and just stays in a black screen forever. Im in serious trouble if I dont fix this because it means I WONT be able to travel or move around if I dont have tools to keep on working. I CANT go anywhere without my computer because I cant do my job properly.
What a lovely 2015. It didnt start as bad as 2014 but Im starting to kind of hate it a bit and totally loathe it. Please, dont ruin my life again.

(This text was written yesterday before my brother Maux helped me with this mess. Now I have a brand new computer that works as fast as a weasel on fire. THANK YOU!)

Ugly day in Madrid. Yiacs!
Whatever, there are great things happening anyway so everyone calm down and lets enjoy what its worth it. So, the poster I did for Tokyo Sex Destruction has been selected to be part of CARA B festival on February 7th where, beside shows and stuff, there is an exhibition about independent and underground music in Madrid..

Also, Im working on a secret project but if I say a word about it I know someone will kill me. Im pretty excited because I have never done something like that before so this is a new challenge. I guess that this will be done and working by march or something. I dunno really.
This year is all about exhibitions: London, Melbourne, San Francisco, LA... (and more to come!). So I will be traveling around AGAIN. I feel like a super model but with a deformed body and ugly face. I love moving, everyone knows that.

Gorka (aka Chi) and I are going to record our first radio show tomorrow that will be launched on friday at mid day. Its about silly stuff, comics, books, anecdotes, good music, interviews, house shows and serious comments about whatever. We dont have a name yet so we are kind of nervous about it because its tomorrow. Any suggestions?. Last minute things are the best, anyway...
This two songs have been the soundtrack at home (The Extraordinary Atalaya Club) for the past days but this doesnt mean we are playing them tomorrow or that we are following any kind of style. We like a lot of different music and probably not your band.

sofas & couches can be called "home"

The Prehistoristas circa 2006, NYC

dinner gone wild at home

Dude, I already had 4 cups of coffee. Brrrgggh!
gotta work
Bye.

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CHAPTER THIRTY - "Its not over"

Hey, listen...
This January 29, JUST TWO DAYS AFTER MY BIRTHDAY (ehem!), Watdafac Gallery will be curating its first 2015 show called "MOVING: set your path!". You guessed right, It will the third part of the MOVING series and probably the last. We want to start doing other stuff, setting up exhibitions for individual people again and believe me we have a LONG list. We just need to find the perfect spot that I hope it will be this year. We NEED to find our headquarters and start doing our thing. I miss my baby.

I woke up thinking about Helsinki a lot today (and then my friend Chi sent me this movie trailer featuring this finnish kid we call Piettari from Rare Exports- is this a sign?). I had a rough time in Finland but it was so goddamn good at the same time that I cant wait to be there again with all the wonderful people I met while in the city.
It was a few days before I left my friend Natty took me to an AWESOME bookstore where Sarah works. Its a magical two floor maze packed with millions of books, rare, new, old, hard to find, etc. Too bad I was leaving. I should have known about this place before because its beautiful and really cozy. They set up events, shows, readings and all that plus they have big tables where you can surely draw, read, write or spend a lovely afternoon. I wish I had more time to go through all the books they have there. If you ever visit Helsinki, ARKADIA IS A MUST!

just like arcadia

gotta go to the bank. Boring!
Catch you later, I mean, see you tomorrow.

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CHAPTER TWENTY NINE - "Set your path"

Ok, so christmas is officially over in Spain and I already planning my next moves (yes, in plural). I have to short some stuff out first before setting a new route (since this parenthesis in Madrid has ruined my plans) but you will know about all this very soon because....
 

SURVIVING PANGEA IS BACK!
 

Right now I will start working hard on a few upcoming exhibitions, Australia and probably Japan. Speaking of which, if you are around Melbourne this month, please drop by this group show Im in with a bunch of AMAZING artists. Black Canyon Projects is curating this exhibition and it looks very cool. Im happy to share space with so talented people.
Watdafac Gallery will be working with this guys early this year on some exciting projects because Sean Morris (which runs BC) is an awesome man and he does amazing stuff. Im also smiling like an idiot when I think about the idea of bringing Watdafac Gallery to the warm light again this year. I want to curate more shows but mostly, start releasing and putting out new (and past) stuff such as books, magazines, toys, merch, etc. Also the ashes of Gssh! Gssh! Records where found and brought to life. Some records to be released this year too and some shows happening.
Anyway, thats another long story that will have to wait. Step by step, dont run, please dont fall.

At the end of 2014, while I was in Miami, I spoke with Charlie from Beach London and we thought that having a show at their gallery with my new stuff could be a good idea. Right after a couple of emails I left the house and found GB´s flag hanging out at my mum´s apartment. It was a sign. Im sure this show or whatever it is will be something good. I believe in signs from the Cosmos. I do believe in Aliens. I believe in Carl Sagan.
Coffee is ready, work has to be done. Have a great day.
M-.

are we ready?

working out is boring and I do it ONLY once a year

I already did...

"chocho" means pussy in spanish and they have them at the supermarket

I miss NYC (& friends)

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CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT - "Tu, tu, tu!"

Madrid is still the same crap it was when I left. There is something about this place that kills me, darkens my energy and turns my positive vibes into a disgusting pile of horse shit. I can handle it because Im not new here and I have defeated this beast before but I hope I can leave the sooner the better (for a long long time).

I think that Arteuparte´s new magazine is out and it features one of my illustrations about technology. I think you can get it here through their website or something. 
There are also some exhibitions that will take in different parts of the world. First one was in Barcelona and they will be coming to Madrid soon this year. Come by if you are around!.

I would wish you all a happy new year and all that non sense but Im not comfortable with Christmas anymore. Not since last year. I stopped believing in such a a big lie and this year hasnt been any different. I hope you are ok, thats all. I also hope this year brings me lots of happiness. You can go and reach your own, who cares?.

never stop moving

Harry Larry from Margarita joined me on my way to BCN

I spent NYE in Barcelona. It was fun!. I dont remember the last time I visited the city but I know it was a long time ago. There are some spots that still bring me sad memories to my mind & heart but I wanted to leave the capital and visit some old friends, anyway. 
Holidays in Spain end up tonight so I want to sit and organize all my plans for 2015 right after all the christmas sadness ends. There are quite a few projects about to happen and im VERY EXCITED about them.

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CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN - "Rat place, shit hole"

Yes, Im in Madrid, I think you already know why. Yesterday I got my bag back from the police. It was hold at the airport for carrying dangerous weapons and ilegal armament. It all ended all right so things are good now.

Im heading to Combustión Espontánea Gallery in few minutes to talk about the new MOVING pop-up group show on January 29th. Yes! this is happening again and Im so excited because we are adding some excellent artists to the roster for this next edition.
The name will be "MOVING III: Set the new path" and we will be discussing who is finally in and who should we contact or email. We will also we talking about the exhibition Im doing at the gallery in June 2015 which will be kind of different from what I have been doing. I will be experimenting with new technics for the first time in my life and I hope I cant make it work and something decent comes up. Plans, baby, plans!.
Plus I wil have the opportunity to check out Villa Luminosa by Andrés Magán and Berto Fojo. Two of my favorite spanish artists. They are great people and VERY talented men.
Triple excitement!.

Berto Fojo - left - & Andrés Magán - right. ( I dont know who took this picture but I love it!)

Thanks to the "Coco Conch Tropical Crew" I will be spending NYE in Barcelona so if you are around and want to say "HI" you are more than welcome. I dont bite, Im a lovely man.
Errands must be done so I gotta go.
Later!-.

I miss Finland (even though she is in Norway)

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