Dark Mountain Launch

On Friday I hoped on the coach to Oxford (and missed my last one back, so thanking the Oxford Tube which runs all night) for the launch of Dougalds (and Paul Kingsnorth) Dark Mountain project, welcome to uncivilisation. The evening was fun, the radicals out of London and invading the countryside (and who said the radicals where all in London anyway? There where people there from all over.)

So a brief introduction to Dark Mountain. Best way is to look through the manifesto, and the Eight Principles of Uncivilisation. The impression I come out with is that for so long the debate has been that society as we know it is in danger of ending and we need to do what we can to keep our way of life, but really, we should be pushing for society as we know it to end, and build something else. More information, I suggest you read up on the manifesto. I like however, that the turn seems to be towards the artist and designer as the way forward, not just political elite used to solving problems. We have to look forward to the end of the world, my favourite quote from Dougald is that "the end of the world as we know it, is not the end of the world."

The launch itself was great. Interesting music from Marmaduke Dando, Chris T T and Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly, not to mention an impromptu reading of 'Gods own Drunk' by fellow RCA Grad Steve. All this in the Isle Farmhouse inn by the river in Oxford and a great gathering of 'radicals' over beer. I look forward to the Journal, and may even submit something myself.

Photos on my Flickr.