Checkmate Knockout
5 January 2012
If there is a rule that the founder of a successful start-up has to look like an over-excitable nerd living in a Silicon Valley bubble of technology and industry gossop, then Eric Wahlforss is the exception. Before changing the online music streaming game, this demure Swede from Stockholm traveled around the world and released an electro album, playing in clubs around Europe. It wasn't until a visit to start-up hub San Francisco with eventual co-partner Alexander Ljung, that SoundCloud was launched in October 2008. For The Avant/Garde Diaries, Eric presents lepe Rubingh, a Dutch artist and inventor of Chessboxing. "Avant-garde means thinking outside of the box and being bold," Eric explains. "Iepe is one of the boldest people I know. He always comes up with crazy ideas." Chessboxing is exactly what it sounds like: a mix of boxing and chess. Inspired by the graphic novel Froid Equateur by Yugoslav-born French writer Enki Bilal, Iepe thought about how to adapt the futuristic idea into reality. What initially began as personal art project was quickly met with roaring enthusiasm. "Now we are trying to create the toughest and smartest athlete on the planet," Iepe says with a smile.
Read more about Eric Wahlforss HERE and chessboxing HERE.
Production: Oliver Schenk & Stefan Adrian/ Filming & Photos: Oliver Schenk / Music: Bunnystripes
