Checkmate Knockout

If there is a rule that the founder of a successful start-up-company has to look like the average nerd who is living in his bubble of technology and, you know, computers, than Eric Wahlforss is the exception of this rule. The friendly swede, who was born in Stockholm, traveled around the world and published an album in electronic music, making him playing Live-Gigs in clubs around Europe. After a visit to San Francisco with his co-partner Alexander Ljung, they both launched 'SoundCloud' in October 2008 in the 'Picknick-Club' in Berlin, and it was all uphill since then. The fast growing community is the first place for people to create, record and share their sounds. Simply put: If you connect 'Flickr' to pictures, you now do the same with SoundCloud for sounds.

For Avant/Garde Diaries, Eric presents Iepe Rubingh, a dutch artist and inventor of 'Chessboxing'. "Avantgarde means thinking outside of the box and being bold", Eric explains, "and Iepe is one of the boldest people I know. He always comes up with crazy ideas." 'Chessboxing' is exactly what it sounds like: it is a mix of boxing and chess. Inspired by the comic 'Le Froid Equateur' by serbian/french writer Enki Bilal, Iepe thought about possibilities how to adapt the futuristic idea into real, modern life. Starting out more as an art project, the roaring feedback from the audience immediately made him think to keep the thing going. "Now we are trying to create the toughest and smartest athlet on the planet", Iepe says with a smile, "completing the evolution in sport."

For notes on the web, music and other random bits check Eric’s blog or see here to get more information on Chessboxing

Production Oliver Schenk & Stefan Adrian/ Filming & Photos Oliver Schenk   / Music BUNNYSTRIPES