Elfin Saddle
Das Weisse Haus, 2010
Wurld (http://www.elfinsaddle.com/power/leaf/film/) is an experimental short film telling the story of human advancement that takes place on an outdoor garden plot. The creators of this small conflated world out of soil, plants and found materials are Emi Honda and Jordan McKenzie, who are – apart from drawings and visual, installation and video art – also making music. Together they formed the band Elfin Saddle (the name of their favorite wild mushroom) that has been joined by Nathan Gage (also active in Shapes and Sizes (https://www.myspace.com/shapesandsizes)) on contrabass and tuba. However, Elfin Saddle have been invited by the film festival Viennale (http://www.viennale.at/) to present “Wurld” and play a concert in town. When we meet the Montreal-based trio for an acoustic session in Vienna, they have already been eagerly looking for a nice spot to do the filming. In an area where there are not many parks, a contemplative courtyard in a partly abandoned old house comes closest to a nature-bound outdoor-setting. Elfin Saddle put up their various equipment to perform “She Mountain” on the balcony and “Running Sheep” down in the yard. With an atmospheric and spirited performance they herald the hibernal evenfall.
- Photography
- Simon Brugner
- Artist
- Elfin Saddle
Das Weisse Haus
Vienna’s 7th district Neubau has more and more become an extremely popular residential area, which means that abandoned places are more and more used up. Neubau does not lack shops or cafés, but it falls short of open and green space. In this neighbourhood lies Das weiße Haus („The White House“), a small but select spot that was once the residence of a homonymous art society, which has moved to the inner city. The modest building in Westbahnstraße has always incorporated a few apartments, yet soon it will be transformed into a bigger dwelling house. The construction and the architecture firm are already in the starting blocks to brush up and augment the number of lodgings. This might happen at any time anywhere else too. Nontheless we are happy that Elfin Saddle have memoralized the spot with their beautfiul session and thus helped us creating an atmospheric, lasting portrait of Das weiße Haus as it was.