“Quinquis of the 80´s Film, Media and Street” is a must see exhibit for popculture junkies and exposes the curious world of post-Franco era cinema verite.

”Quinqui” in Spanish is a term which applies to juvenile delinquents, small-time gangsters and addicts, and the social reality that they lived in the eighties was perhaps most ironically shown in films. If you lived through the 80s or you want to get to know one of the most important cultural currents happening in Spain at the time, “Quinquis of the 80´s Film, Media and Street” is a must see exhibit for you. It will run July 9th to August 29th at La Casa Encendida in Madrid.

The exhibition aims to show the “quinqui” universe which has now almost completely disappeared. It was quite an influential movement at the time because dozens of films showed juvenile delinquency as a way of life and held up their protagonists as heroes.

The exhibition, which was presented in 2009 at the Barcelona Contemporary Center (CCB) and was visited by no fewer than 60 000 people, aims to explain not only what the quinqui movement was all about, but also compare it with the situation of today’s youth and point out the great changes that occurred in the last 30 years.

The exhibit is divided into two parts. The first teaches how these Quinquis became famous, admired figures in the districts where they lived while the other is more focused on the movies, posters, and advertising of the era which shed light on the sociological context in which these figures appeared and more.

One curious aspect of this subculture, which underscores its magnitude and greatness, is that it had its own vocabulary. You can rent apartments in Madrid to enjoy this interesting exhibit and understand the subcultures of the past and their reflections on the present.

Let’s face it, some of us like to bite: during foreplay and before and after as well …
Bites and scratches are a common sexual practice which are very exciting for some people. Biting, scratching, and applying pressure with your hands can all be very erotic, gestures and depending on the person, the pleasure increases with intensity.

Bites are very important in the Kama Sutra and Indian tradition. Everything from playful nibbles to bites that leaves marks can be elements of a healthy sexual relationship.

Let’s face it; loving bites have made life more bearable for centuries. So much so that the Kama Sutra outlines several types of bites which can make sex as pleasant as possible. Some of them are:

The Classic Bite: It consists of biting down a lot of skin with all the teeth.

The Hidden bite: Bite your partner’s lower lip, leaving a visible imprint of the bottom row of teeth.

The point is a slight bite in which you pinch a small area of skin leaving a red spot.

Dotted line: Same as above but using the two rows of teeth to make a mark.

The Coral and the Jewel: Bring together lips and teeth.

The line of Jewels refers to bites using both rows of teeth.

Bite of the Boar: resembles the tracks this animal leaves in the mud. It is a bite that symbolizes the couple’s passion. Leave a trail of pronounced marks close together at regular intervals.

The Cloud Creek: separate the teeth and nibble at irregular intervals. The skin may raise little welts. Like its predecessor, it is a sign of passion for our partner.
Depending on the intensity, bites are considered either hidden, when the teeth leave only a slight mark, or dilated, if they are more intense.

A few words of wisdom before you get down to business:

Any body part capable of being kissed may also be bitten.
Be careful with the areas that you bite and how much pressure you exert.
Any time during sex is good for giving a bite.
Biting during orgasm may make them more intense and longer lasting.

If things get out of hand, don’t worry, there is no mark that will not disappear with a few brushstrokes with a toothbrush over the marked area, and some people don’t mind walking around with a love bite or two. Now that you know, why not rent apartments in Madrid and experience the pleasures of biting firsthand?

Visitors to Madrid in upcoming months have a visual treat waiting for them at the Mapfre Foundation, which from June 18 welcomes an exhibit entitled “The subversion of Images”. It will explore surrealism in photography and cinema in works by Man Ray, Raoul Ubac, Maurice Tobard, Robert Bresson, Hans Richter and others.

The curators of the exhibition have reunited over 400 works displayed at the Recoletos Gallery in the Foundation, to illustrate how the Surrealists used photography and moving images to give life to their own artistic language and view of reality.

The exhibition is divided into nine sections which showcase various aspects of surrealism and the relationship that artists belonging to this artistic movement had with world of images, their way of seeing, interpreting and manipulating the world around them and the images they produced.

The “Subversion of images”, the title of the exhibition was also the title of a series of photos of Paul Nougé by Belgian photographer Marcel Marien gave. The subversion in question, first, transforms the image and the other changes reality through the image. Surrealist painting was born of the imagination, and photography was another way to express the images created by the mind, and to discover the unknown facets of the conscious and unconscious mind. Indeed the surrealists did not work alone, locked in their studies or photo labs; they also got out on the street to explore the hidden and mysterious zones of the city.

The last section “Making good use of Surrealism” draws attention to the manner in which the surrealist aesthetic was extended to “commercial” areas and left its mark on the worlds of advertising and fashion.

Spend some days in total relaxation in the Spanish capital and enjoy its cultural events. While visiting this exceptional exhibition, you can rent apartments in Madrid, for maximum comfort at the best price. The exhibition can be visited until September 12. The Foundation organizes guided tours; for more information consult their web page at http://www.exposicionesmapfrearte.com/subversion/

Tango is the rythym of the night in Madrid

Madrid is a city that marches to the beats of its residents.

The tango, a heady, sensual, almost sexual rhythm, is delicate but sharp and has made its place in the city.

The molls and rogues of today trace this elegant dance across the floor, even in the 21st century.

Fishnet stockings and dangerously slit skirts live in harmony with jeans and shirts.

Words fall away as the body creates its own universal language … there are suggestive gestures, nuances in one’s gaze… the eyes can say everything or dismiss you with a nonchalant glance. The atmosphere is agreeable yet sultry and the room fills with unwritten rules make this dance more than a simple dance.

When you meet a man’s eyes, you nod in acceptance or quickly avoid contact. If you return the gaze you have agreed, no words are needed, you approach or he approaches and without further ado you are drawn into this whirlwind of feelings that carries implicitly in tango and there is nothing more.

The right thing is to dance three tangos or milongas and then retire, if you dance more than three rounds, you are insinuating that apart from dancing, you wouldn’t mind engaging in other indoor pursuits, whether they be friendly or something more.

It is also a super sensual show to see two men or women dancing together … tango was originally danced by men … and here in Madrid, a liberal and modern city, whomever wants to dance together, dances together… if they dance well, it can be quite a steamy performance.

Over the years a network of underground spots devoted to tango has grown in Madrid, so the best option to dive deeper into this erotic dance is rent centric apartments in Madrid not far from downtown. Feel the beat.

It’s been now 40 years since loved famous group in the world stopped performing as a band. After John Lennon(rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), Ringo Starr (drums, vocals) and George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals), four talented English guys started a band they called The Beatles back in 1960 in Liverpool, England, they released albums that changed history..

April 10th, a historic day
On April 10th 1970 the English newspaper Daily Mirror shocked the entire world with a headline announcing the official dissolution of the band. Paul McCartney broke the news. Even John Lennon admitted the dream was over. Actually the dream had ended a year before the official announcement of their dissolution, when John Lennon had decided to work on his own projects but it seems he was, in certain ways, obliged to keep “the secret” as the “Abbey Road” album was being promoted and they still had to give the illusion of being together in order to promote it.
It was a black day in music history when the Beatles broke hearts of millions of fans who had lived great moments listening to lyrics of songs like “All you need is love” or “The Yellow Submarine”.

Why?
The members decided to concentrate on their own lives and work on individual projects.
Paul McCartney answered a series of questions in Daily Mirror. He talked about personal and business differences among the members of the band and he explained clearly that no new Beatles album would ever be recorded.

But fans knew that the band split up mostly due to John Lennon’s addiction to drugs in response to the pressure. He couldn’t take anymore from his fans. All this, his relationship with Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney’s decision to concentrate more on his family life and the managerial issues contributed to the band´s descion to stop performing together.

A few years later, some of the members of the group collaborated although John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Star and George Harrison never performed as a group again.
Their work still inspires us today with original, unforgetable albums like “Let it be”, “Abbey Road” or “Rubber Soul.”

But hey, don’t get too nostalgic: Rent Apartments in Madrid, take your favourite songs with you and enjoy The Beatles music wherever you are.

Tattooing is a way to beautify the body, and also offers a permanent way to mark or emphasize certain traits of your personality, history or psychology. Tattoos can be decorations or signs rich in symbolism, and indeed even the first tattoos (which were found on Otzi, the ice man) reportedly had some talismanic value. Today, tattoos can be very spiritual power in your life; it’s up to you to decide. However, if you talk to a tattoo artist (and I’ve talked to many!) you’ll probably find out that there are some myths and superstitions that you ignore at your own risk …

The classic tattooing the name of your beloved? Just don’t do it! You only have to think about famous couples like Blake and Amy, Angelina and Billy-Bob or Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen and their messy break-ups to know it’s a bad idea. A tattoo is forever (laser exists, but keep in mind that it is much more painful and expensive to remove a tattoo than to get one.) And love, well … not so much … Many think that tattooing the name of your partner can be a curse.

Some tattooists directly refuse to do this kind of tattoo, because they know many cases of happy couples that mysteriously broke up after getting a name tattoo in honour of their mate. Many times you are advised not to name anyone who is alive, though it is perfectly acceptable to commemorate a family member or friend who has passed away. Another sore point is a portrait of your current partner. I have seen more than a couple of gorgeous bridal portraits, which were covered with ink to make them into terrifying zombie tattoos after the break-up. If your partner is thinking of honouring you with a tribute tattoo, suggest they do it with some symbol or picture that has to do with you, not with your picture or name.

If you want to finish up with a work of art, not a nasty, sorry blob you’ll regret, book an appointment with one of the great artists in Madrid, and think it over well. Check out the work of the Bara (True Love Tattoo) or El Brujo (Santa Dolores Tattoo) if you like Japanese Style tattoos, or Deno, Beto or Pablo Ash (Tattoo Magic) if old school or new school is more your style, all are artists known worldwide for their incredible work. Rent apartments in Madrid, and get a tattoo of something that will make you happy for a lifetime.

Matin Parr’s work is characterized by its criticism and analysis of different social classes and social values. This British artist uses irony and humor characteristic when to represent the harsh reality of the working class. In the 80′s, during the height of the Thatcher years, turned his eye and camera to the English middle class, families vacationing on the beach, with kids swimming and playing with garbage, on dirty and damaged beaches.

Some describe his art as insensitive while others appreciate his unsparing depictions of modern life. He studied at Manchester Polytechnic and in 1994 became a member of the international photographer´s collective Magnum. He has received awards, such as the Erich Salomon prize or in PhotoEspaña. He has published several books and has had numerous exhibitions mainly in Europe.

His work has evolved over the years, and his focus has turned from documenting the lower and middle classes after its production centered in works aimed at the lower classes suddenly began to photograph rich members of the jet set, and depict their leisurely life of fun, extravagance, and organized jaunts to the hippest locations. His new exhibit “Luxury” will be on display at the Minimum Space Gallery in Madrid (Doctor Fourquet 17. Metro Atocha) until 23 July this year. For the exhibition Martin Parr, he worked four long years, attending all the parties and society events that he could.

Images of silicon monsterpieces, operated to the point of spectacle are displayed alongside bourgeois ladies in bubblegum pink dresses, adorned with jewels and trademarks, and of course fat ladies encased in tight dresses like sausages, drips and spills of meals and drinks redorating their apparel. From racetracks to haute couture, such exotic places as Dubai to enigmatic cities like Moscow, Parr brings us closer to the filthy rich. Do not think twice, go ahead and rent apartments in Madrid. Enjoy this beautiful city and this magnificent exhibition.

Often when we think of Gay Pride marches, we think of the floats, incredible parties, gorgeous drag queens and impressive shows. While all this is a great and welcome symbol of how much the struggle for civil rights for LGBT people has advanced, we should take a moment to reflect on the history and importance of this event.

Gay Pride events dating back to the year 1970 and the first was organized in the U.S. in part to commemorate the Stonewall riots, a key moment in the struggle for civil rights of LGBT people. The celebration of Gay Pride in Madrid began in 1979, four years after Franco’s death, and two years after the first demonstration in Barcelona

In recent years the Gay Pride in Madrid has become a key event in a neighborhood that since the 90s has been a referential “gay neighborhood,” as the formerly rough neighborhood has become a neighborhood full of life and culture, which enjoys a healthy economy. In 2009 more than 1.5 million people joined the celebrations in Madrid, and in 2007, more than 2.5 people came to attend the Europride in Madrid, introducing the world to this downtown neighborhood near Gran Via, between Fuencarral street and Barquillo street.

Spain has been a referential country in the struggle for civil rights for the LGBT spectrum: since 2005, Spain is one of the five countries of the world that allows marriage between members of the same sex and has some of the most progressive laws regarding issues affecting the LGBT community.

To show your solidarity, join the Gay Pride 2010 on July 3, and watch the streets fill with feathers, camp, leather, music and color: appreciate the diversity that makes our collective life so interesting and beautiful. Book your Apartments in Madrid and have an unforgettable experience!

We talked recently of the traveling exhibition of Interruptus artists’ collective, dedicated to promoting art which features the most unbridled eroticism … To understand the origin of this group and their amazing parties we must go back to 2004, specifically the time when Mike Steel, Newcastle photographer based in the bohemian district of Madrid La latina , was evicted from his apartment so the building could be refurbished. Saying goodbye to a place that he had loved and called home for over 7 years was tough, so he gathered all his artist friends and proposed to organize a party there. However, it wouldn´t be just any party, it would also feature a special exhibition, wherein all the works had to be related to sex. His proposal was an overwhelming success and the festival lasted several days, after which the organizers were able to indulge without going to pick up or clean … Since the house would also be demolished!

From there, Steel began organizing an annual gathering of erotic artists of all disciplines. Their works may be in any format provided that it is inspired by beauty, sexual excitement and surprise. The collective´s transgressive attitude is reflected in the choice of premises that house its activities, for example the 2010 exhibition was held in a former brothel in Madrid’s Calle de la Ballesta: no doubt that if the walls could talk they would have many spicy stories to tell. Accompanying this exhibition were various performances: There were suspensions by the group “In Cold Blood,” a burlesque performance by Eve & the Evil Evil Evil Girrrrls, and BDSM demonstrations by the versatile filmmaker José María Ponce.

If you want to investigate what surprises the next edition of Interruptus will hold, and get yourself ready, the rest is easy, just rent apartments in Madrid to get in touch with these crazy cool artists…

At one time, the famous painting of Velazquez’s Venus in the mirror, depicting a coquettishly posed naked woman, was considered a shockingly erotic and sensual image… Something similar happened with the Naked Maja by Goya and with the works of many artists of recognized prestige. However, in our world today, do artists who dedicate their gaze to sex receive the same social consideration? Do we not tend to overlook erotic photographers, painters who choose sexual themes or filmmakers whose roots are in porn? Dare we proudly hang erotic art in the living room of our homes? Why are there so few exhibits dedicated to the world of eroticism?

To answer these questions, Interruptus collective was born in 2004 in Madrid. It is a group of over thirty artists of all kinds (photographers, video artists, painters, sculptors …) that focus their work towards eroticism and sensuality. To promote their works to the public, they organize an annual travelling exhibition which shows their frank visions of sex, and complemented the art with happenings, performances and conferences, always with a sharp as a tack perspective. There is no censorship, and artistic limitations are not imposed in these exhibitions, which allow authors a great creative freedom: we can behold everything from a picture of huge alligator genitals to the suggestive photograph of a dancer as seen though the keyhole of a lock. The only requirement is that the work has been created for each edition of Interruptus, to avoid the recycling and repetition of work …

Soon I will speak about the origin of this group of artists and their latest exhibition in Madrid, but in the meantime, you can rent apartments in Madrid and start looking for the trail of Interruptus´s erotic art…