Key People:
Mark Hanson, Ron Hanson, Carla Schollum, Tim Bollinger, Thomas LaHood and Aaron Coyes.
Location:
Wellington, New Zealand.
Bio / Company History:
White Fungus began in 2004 as a one-off photocopied handout protesting Wellington’s Inner-city Bypass in the lead-up to local body elections. The magazine also attacked the hypocrisy of the City Council who, while branding Wellington as the ‘Creative Capital’, oversaw the destruction of the city’s creative quarter and many of its historic buildings.
Appearing unannounced with its bright distinctive cover bearing no information other than its mysterious title, the magazine hit the streets of Wellington in a flurry, often gift-wrapped in Christmas paper and thrown through the doorways of small businesses up and down Cuba Street.
Produced by a collective of artists, writers and designers, the publication has since evolved into a multi-faceted print publication of interdisciplinary content, distributed throughout New Zealand, Australia, Asia and North America. Known for its unpredictability, White Fungus covers a wide range of areas including visual arts, experimental music, literature, New Zealand history, political satire and commentary.
Issues feature original artwork from leading New Zealand and international artists, including Peter Robinson, Yvonne Todd and Yao Jui-Chung, plus in-depth interviews with people such as Chris Kraus, Ronnie van Hout, Christoph Keller and Nicky Hager.
The title of the magazine comes from a brand of canned food Ron Hanson and Mark Hanson discovered in 2003 in their local supermarket while living in Taichung City, Taiwan. The brothers spent four years in Taiwan teaching English, learning Chinese and conducing secret art experiments.
What Drives You:
Havana Coffee, John Coltrane, rampant tacky urban development and disgust with the mainstream media.
Inspiration:
Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Nina Simone, Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida.
Recent Media:
See attached.
What are you doing when you don’t this?
That time rarely exists. We do this almost all the time, occasionally recuperating in the countryside. We do a radio show on Sundays, 6-8pm, on the VBC called THE LOST WEEKEND. We also occasionally make experimental short films including Watercooler, starring Thomas LaHood, and most recently Fizz Factory, starring Jeremy Randerson and shot at the Foxton Fizz Factory, with saxophone by Jeff Henderson and excerpts of music by German minimalist composer Hans Otte.
Black or White?
Fluro Fungi.
Meat or Vege?
Wouldn’t be sure. Who knows these days what one eats. More open labeling on food products please.
If you could spend a day with anyone, who would it be and why?
Napoleon. We could exchange tips.
Best day in your life so far? Why?
Let’s wait till George Bush leaves office.
Mac or PC?
Both.
Married / Single / Kids / Pets?
Like a rolling stone…
Describe Yourself in 5 Words:
Completely without merit or respectability.
Links:
