Matthew Stadler, Smoke&Dust, S&D 24/ APE#47 – SO MANY DARK GIFTS, AN ESSAY BY MATTHEW STADLER, 2014

Matthew Stadler joins with Smoke & Dust, a non-profit record label and publishing house in Ghent run by Tim Bryon, Valentijn Goethals and Tomas Lootens, contributing the essay “So Many Dark Gifts” to this photo-rich volume exploring the group’s varied, cross-media output. From punk rock shows, posters and screen printing, to nomadic radio and providing a platform for young artists, the group enforces confrontation with an audience and a public space. Constantly on the hunt for new impulses, whether visually or musically, the focus is always on experimental artistic forms. In his essay, Stadler emphasises the role Goethals plays, and also what fascinates him. A delicious cacophony of images ensure, with host of images featuring vernacular typography, hand-lettering, and the ephemeral cultural trappings of youth culture.