You’re Not in Kansas Anymore… but in Homonumos Magazine part.2

This is the continuing interview with Christine Bellerose and Virginie Mangin from Homonumos magazine. Homonumos is a multi-lingual, multi-disciplinary, art, science, beyond real classifications journal. It aims to incorporate elements of the human condition into a classy, easily accessible magazine that is for earth, literally.
They are seeking submissions so get in touch and be involved.

Read part.1 of the interview.

Christine entwined in an Homonumos Christmas

From issue no2 Perspective, Qui Suis-Je by Gautier Battistella, voice Isabel
Macklin

I remember when you, Christine, told me that the French speaking community in Montreal didn’t really have a vibrant art scene. Why did you think this and do you still?

Christine: I’ve been living outside of Montreal for a decade at least so I can’t say for now. Though coming from a separatist nationalist background in the early 90’s in Montreal, I felt somewhat surprised that the English community was so much of a get-up and go vibe compared to the French community who seemed to indulge in self pity. Now I realize that the English community included much more than the locals. It merged naturally with the expatriates and the visitors to form the scene that is so vibrant in metropolises around the world. It’s not, I hope, a language issue, though the communication is in English, an international language. (Could it be replaced by Chinese?) But because when people from all over the place get together on it, candles turn into dynamite. That said, I’m still pretty proud of my French Canadian background. It’s an unconditional identity.

What is it about China that you would take with you if you were to leave?

Virginie: Living in China has made me understand that Europe is not the center of the world (though I knew this in theory it is a very different thing to experience it). It has given me a bigger and more global approach and understanding about the world. Living here puts things in perspective and when I leave I hope to take all this with me. I will most probably leave before the end of the year to London.

Christine: Leave anger behind. Wow am I ever so very often angry here. But it’s the “don’t worry let the anger go” (suan le) that I think keeps them looking so young! Also sharing food. We do that in Quebec. Unconditional friendship. Pure joys. And like Virginie said, the very real experience of daily dealings with a numerous variant of rights and wrongs - culture shock.

What are your attitudes about working with people that are far-flung across earth? What are the drawbacks for you with this and what are the positives?

Virginie: The positive side is to have the opportunity to (virtually) meet many different people. Sometimes here I feel a little cut off from the rest of the world and writing to people in Europe or the States is a nice way to stay connected with home and my culture. The drawback is that I never get to physically meet most of the people and I prefer to work one on one rather than write emails. I guess I am not very 21st C in that sense but I prefer a more human approach to work.

Christine: If I could communicate with my “ayi”* (maid, dog baby-sitter, personal assistant) by email I would. I never have time to meet. I eagerly await the “beam me up” technology. I don’t see a difference between emailing Virginie (Beijing) and emailing Josh (Montreal).

What have you been doing to promote the magazine?

Virginie: We promoted the first issue during a big art festival here (Dashanzi International Art Festival-DIAF). We improvised some street theatre happenings. We also rented a small theatre for an afternoon and did some poetry readings/art performances. I also organized a debate open to the public in a book store. At present, unfortunately, we have done little promotion worldwide. I hope to distribute the mag in a few bookstores in London and Paris later this year. The upside about being in China is you can just improvise performances, something unthinkable in London or Paris.

Homonumos issue #1 The Norm

From issue #1, The Norm, The Drowning of Adolf Bliss (excerpt) by Joshua Hinck

Christine: The Norm no.1 came out during the month long DIAF performance. Broken Not Broken launched homônumos at timezone8 (THE English language art bookshop in 798 and Beijing) The Subterranean Poets & the Beijing Actors Workshop joined effort, and it was an in and outdoor performance which gathered more people than any other street performance (they are forbidden or at least really controlled) I’ve seen in 7 years here. That is important because I wanted the first issue to be promoted with the creators who participated in homônunos. Bob Marccacci read/performed and so did you it was amazing because I wanted just that. To have those creators use homônumos to get publicity. Lois and Seth recorded much of the performance. Lois put hers (pre pod and post prod) on her web site. During DIAF we had 8 shows in 5 weeks. Then I burned out. Falling asleep on my bicycle, on a red light, in the middle of 3rd ring road and Dongzhimen, with a sandwich in my mouth. So I had to slow down. Now we’ve decided to keep DIAF annually. We want to be at the Hong Kong art Festival in March so I’m working on it. Otherwise we have two blogs, main blog and other blog. We’re getting help on making it real. No.2 (Perspective) we had a show in France in December and January and were showcased as an art magazine amongst pretty well known and solid competitors in Bourges. (The Box. A presentation of documents on contemporary art, magazines, reviews, websites, press releases) + works by Davide Bertocchi and Julia Varga From 18 December 2006 to 13 January 2007). Then I am entering the Biennale in Portugal, 2007. I aim to place homônumos as a manifesto of cultural fusion and multicultural manifestation. Literature philosophy and science. Let’s see if they take our zine as a piece of art.

Have you been using and trying different promotional tactics in the various regions of the world?

Christine: We will have to. According on the different ways we are tagged as a publication. USA: avant-garde literature and poetry. Europe: art zine.

Could you tell me about the process an issue of the magazine will go through before it gets into the hands of the reader?

Virginie: First we select the texts and edit them. Once we have an idea of what will be published we start sending texts to the graphic designer. Even if it is not the finalized version she can start working on the layout. Once everything is ready we sit down w/ the graphic designer and finalize the layout. Then comes the printing which is a very long process here. We meet a couple of firms, negotiate prices and then decide where we will print. Complications about compatible software normally occur at this point. We first order a sample to make sure of color etc… if this is what we want then we print…

Christine: Even though homônumos is mainly 2 people (I started the zine on my own, and Virginie joined in, Anna our art director is on contract), I still separate the files into departments: Department advertisers and sponsors, department blog and web, department coordination, department distribution, etc. etc. Promo is the wildest department because it contains our mission, our PR, our influences and our shows. If it were only one issue, it would be this: mission/theme, team recruit, call to authors, selection, layout, final selection, editorial credits, advertisers/sponsors, final layout, print etc, distribution, PR, mailing, visit to distributors, events PR, collecting money, refueling the zines at distribution point. Update on the blog. But then, it’s collecting money for the latest released issue, creating the issue coming out, and the call to authors for the next issue. It’s wild. Multi-tasking doesn’t even begin to explain it all. Then we have to consolidate our vision, me and Virginie, and move along to the next issue. By the way, topics just come in my mind. I write the editorial draft and then decide it’s going to be a good topic for the zine. Then I do some research on the topic to buff my letter from the editor. To avoid “peter de la broue!” (fart bubbles: being meaningless and boasting at the same time.)

The grasp, reach and attitude of this magazine and web-presence is definitely not meaningless nor bubbles of any kind.

Read part.1 of the interview.

- euphoreador -

contact me josh (at) indyish (dot) com