April 2012
1 post
A Year in Review
Well, friends. It’s been a big year. The biggest. Looking back to last year, or even the beginning of this one, everything is fuzzy around the edges. Like I’m looking at it without my glasses on or up through a cold blue body of water.
A lot has happened. A lot has been learned.
Why don’t we talk about it? Here’s an emotive soundtrack to get you in the mood.
A week ago,...
November 2011
1 post
Go see this
You may or may not remember, but almost a year ago I talked about an artist called Rod Holdaway. I was visiting the AGNSW when I came across a work that he had entered in the 2009 Dobell Prize. At the time I was extremely frustrated because I couldn’t track down an image of the work to share with you.
Very kindly, Rod has recently been in contact with me and provided me with an image. This...
June 2011
2 posts
Stereo Sequences
People of Melbourne! Listen up.
There is a fine exhibition occurring in your fine city and I am feeling rather envious because I will not get a chance to see it. Therefore, I command you to go forth and see it for me. It’d be doing both of us a favour.
Shaun Gladwell: Stereo Sequences
Shaun Gladwell is one of my (and much of the world’s) favourite Australian contemporary artists. He...
No such thing as original thought
Anish Kapoor | Cloud Gate | 2004-2006
Doing Honours has me experiencing weekly earth-shattering realisations. It’s been a bit exhausting but also kind of good; I am the kind of person who enjoys brain explosions. Some people take drugs but I guess I am a bit of a nerd.
If I had to choose perhaps the most pervasive of these world-falling-down-around me, earth-shattering, mind-blowing...
May 2011
1 post
The Toss of a Coin
I really hope you read about this little scandal in the art world last week, because it was FUNNY. At least… I think it was. I may have been delirious/unsocialised after being cooped up in the house with a cold for much of the week, frustratedly staring through blurry eyes and sneezes at what appeared to be a very interesting and relevant essay on digital photography. It was pixelated...
April 2011
1 post
In the spirit of
Jeff Wall | A sudden gust of wind (after Hokusai) | 1993
You know, it’s funny. I’ve often compared (mainly in my head but occasionally out-loud after I’ve had a few drinks and become that lovely, loving, warm person who says things like this out loud) that feeling you get in your stomach and your chest when you’re listening to some really wonderful, perfect music, with...
March 2011
1 post
Hooray for the Twenty-first Century
Olafur Eliasson | The Cubic Structural Evolution Project
I’ve been to GoMA quite a few times in the last few weeks; somewhere up around the four or five times mark. I had plans to go again on Saturday, but a combination of laziness, busy-ness, and the spectacular, premature death of my laptop got in the way.
UGH.
Before you ask, no, I am not obsessed with the 21st Century exhibition, and,...
February 2011
2 posts
Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life, 1990-2005
Annie Leibovitz, Cafe Flore, Paris 1997 | photograph by Martin Schoeller
I’m feeling very clear of mind after a recent (road)trip south to the city of Sydney; almost so much so that I am in too good a mood to be sitting down and writing. Luckily I have some suitably chirpy music so I can expend my happy energy through foot-bopping.
It may have something to do with the fresh sea air, salt...
January 2011
3 posts
Great minds
For me it seems quite normal to give days, letters and numbers colours, and kitchen utensils genders. Of course 3 is yellow, 4 is red, Z is purple, A is red, T is blue, Tuesday is yellow and Friday is green.
Knives are naturally male, forks are naturally female, and teaspoons are little boys.
Milk jugs are most commonly tall, handsome men with moustaches, and most salt and pepper shakers are...
'Selling Out'
When I heard a few weeks ago that Banksy’s Exit Through the Gift Shop had been shortlisted for an Oscar nomination in the Best Documentary category, my interest was piqued, as you can imagine.
News just in is that Banksy has officially been nominated under the category, alongside documentaries pertaining to the war in Afghanistan, environmental concerns of landfill and gas drilling, and...
Flood Relief
Hey you guys. So it’s been a fairly full on week, in case you hadn’t seen the news.
At about this time I was hoping to be posting a piece on the 21st Century: Art in the First Decade. But I guess mother nature had other ideas as the Gallery of Modern Art, along with over 30,000 other dwellings and businesses, were inundated by the mighty Brisbane River last week.
Fairly intense.
...
Shepard Fairey Copyright Case Settled →
December 2010
3 posts
Get Me Away from Here, I'm Dying
It’s been a rainy couple of months in Brisbane, with these past few days over Christmas being particularly aqueous in nature. Yesterday it was so wet that all the windows in my house fogged up and would not be unfogged. They were unfoggable.
Aided by Glaswegian pop music, it’s weather like this that tends to tune my mind to that particular frequency best suited to the art of...
So, this is cool
Matthew Cusick is a collage and mixed media artist who is a New Yorker by birth and a Texan by residence. I am not sure if he is a long, tall Texan. But I like to imagine he might be.
Collage and mixed media works are kind of my thing. I have a fondness for them, generally speaking. But it actually isn’t all that common to come across mixed media works that are so truly skillful in their...
Phantom Limbs in Tokyo
Rather inexplicably, my tastebuds have suddenly been overwhelmed with a taste-memory of those red bean cakes you can buy on the street in Japan.
Well, I guess I am about to tell you about an exhibition I went to on Monday at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo.
Hai. Tokyo. Because that’s how cool I am.
I was in Tokyo recently, did I mention that already? Anyway, I was. I really wanted to go to a...
November 2010
3 posts
Funch!
I came across this wonderful Danish photographer the other day. His name is Peter Funch and he is based in New York City. I am absolutely bursting with excitement telling you about this. Why? I guess, for me, Funch’s work just has that special something.
I’ll let you have a peruse for yourself before I start putting thoughts in your head.
Memory Lane
Informing Informers
...
In Other News...
Yesterday in New York this Lichtenstein sold for an unprecedented $42.6 million (US) - a record for the highly-sought after artist. Ohhh… Alright… almost tripled the price of the previous Lichtenstein record from 2005, and contributed to the $273 million (US) total for the Christie’s auction on the night.
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) Ohhh… Alright… signed and dated ‘rf...
2high Festival 2010
Hello (art) luvurhs (of Brisbane). Remember the 2high Festival? Well it’s on again. TOMORROW (Friday). And the next day (Saturday)!!
I know, I was surprised too.
Firstly, how is it mid-November already? And secondly, couldn’t we have had a bit more notice, 2high? I take my eye off the ball for one minute…
Anyway! Get on down to the Powerhouse this weekend (Friday from 5pm;...
October 2010
5 posts
The death of photography?
Man Ray, Tears, 1932
I’ve been tossing up whether to post this essay I wrote the other week for my ‘studies in photography’ course.
There are a couple of things that have been holding me back.
1) It’s probably not as ‘easy-reading’ (a la 4KQ easy listening radio) as most of my stuff. I don’t crack any lame jokes or exhibit my affinity for puns. But...
THANK YOU!!
Aw shucks, Nobody in the Art World officially has 100 Tumblr followers (from all around the world!).
So I just wanted to say a BIIIIIG thank you to everyone who’s been with me from the start, referred friends and been referred, jumped on board recently, on a whim, after much deliberation, randomly, deliberately, out of the kindness of your heart, out of sheer self-interest. Whether you know...
Banksy's take on The Simpsons' opening sequence →
The always clever and often subversive opening sequence forThe Simpsons took a darker-than-usual turn with Sunday’s episode in the US, depicting the animation process for the Fox cartoon series as sweatshop drudgery performed by an exploited Asian underclass…
Brisbane Airport Fresh Cut Exhibition: the belated...
Fans and followers, it’s been four weeks since my last post. Please forgive me for my absence; my brain has been heavily occupied by other pursuits. I am prepared to take any punishment and make any penance you deem necessary.
Meanwhile, OMG, I’ve got so many things to tell you about! Where to begin?
Brisbane Airport Fresh Cut exhibition
One unusually warm, perfect, spring Saturday...
Lovely letters
Have you heard of ‘typography’? Apparently it’s a thing. And whilst it fits more snugly into the category of ‘design’ rather than ‘art’, Nobody in the Art World refuses to be pigeon-holed so if I wanna talk about it I wanna talk about it, and this is my blog so I will, alright?
Alright. I’m glad we agree on something.
Here’s a little...
September 2010
3 posts
NEWSFLASH for Brisbane-dwellers
Um, so, I’ve just been perusing the Valley Fiesta program.
You should probably do the same: I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.
In between seeing bands (fo’ free) at Brunswick and Winn Street stages and rooftop BBQ and jugs of cocktails at the Bowery, make sure you take the opportunity to visit the IMA’s Brisbane Airport Freshcut 2010 exhibition.
Valley Fiesta runs...
The ethics of the image
Spring has sprung! The birds are in the trees! The bees are buzzing around the lavender plant! The doonas have been kicked off, the bogans up the back are walking around without any clothes on, and I’m going to talk about the Holocaust.
I actually am.
See, I’ve had something on my mind for a couple of weeks now. Something happened to me. I had one of those unpleasant inverse...
Tim Burton at ACMI
When I was young (I’m talking single digits here) there were a couple of movies that I liked to keep on high rotation. I was one of those kids that preferred to stick to what she knew. No branching out.
When it was video store time (video: I was born in the ’80s) I usually went straight for either Grease, My Girl (the first one, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Aykroyd), something in the...
August 2010
1 post
Slow news day
Usually when I haven’t been to any exhibitions I get my tantalising art-related material from the “news”.
I have a number of arts news sources up my sleeve for these times of need, but given the biggest thing going down on ABC Arts this past fortnight pertains to Wyclef Jean, I’m finding myself a little bit stuck for inspiration.
The stuffy nose and microplane...
July 2010
3 posts
Laith Mcgregor on Art Nation
I was watching TV yesterday afternoon in that drowsy way that you do on a Sunday after a night out.
Unfortunately I mean watching in its most literal sense. I’m a multi-tasker you see, so I was also watching Gossip Girl on my laptop, and Gossip Girl won in the audio stakes.
The visual impression that Sunday Arts conveyed of Melbourne-based, Brisbane-grown biro artist Laith Mcgregor,...
The creative force
The other night I was at a party. There I partook in a conversation made up of a mining engineer, a graduate lawyer, an aspiring tax lawyer and myself (for the purposes of the conversation I was classified as a law student - not as bad as a lawyer, but not far off). The mining engineer remarked that he was always glad when, in a social setting, there was a tax lawyer around because on those...
All my friends are leaving Brisbane
At the moment I am facing the prospect of a hometown (Brisbane) with far fewer friends than has been the norm. You see, they’re dropping like flies. Fleeing for greener pastures. Heading for fairer shores. Striking whilst the iron is hot. Movin’ on up and movin’ on out. Leaving me to my own devices. Leaving the building. Gettin’ outta town. Gettin’ outta here....
June 2010
5 posts
Oil Art
Ahhhh.
There really is nothing like a large scale environmental disaster to stoke the embers of creativity.
This week, as protesters against BP’s partnership with London’s TATE Modern spill symbolic crude molasses on the steps of the gallery, I thought what better time to showcase the oil-related protest art that seems to be popping up everywhere.
Looking at these...
DIY Damien Hirst?
I have come across something a bit weird. At first I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but now I am ninety-five per cent sure that it is a joke.
Ninety-five-ish per cent.
Damien Hirst | For the Love of God
IARTISTLONDON is the cool new brand that enables you to make real contemporary pieces of art from the comfort of your home. All those pieces that you always wanted to have but...
Droit! de Suite!
That’s right, people. It’s a droit de suite.
I’ll be honest, my limited knowledge of la langue du francais means that I’m not entirely sure how to speak this phrase. But let me assure you: it is very enjoyable to say inside my head.
Before your urgent impatience gets the better of you and you get a-googling, let me explain to you what exactly I’m talking about.
...
Lesson learnt
Ron Mueck | Mask
Life’s been getting me down a bit lately. It’s that sinking feeling you get when you realise that, despite six years of university and two lots of letters after your name, you’re still unemployable.
It’s been a tough semester.
So today, on the day I was scheduled to start studying for my one remaining real exam this semester, I instead took a...
It's Tumblr Tuesday: Recommend me! →
May 2010
9 posts
Exit Through the Gift Shop
I went to see Banksy’s long-awaited film, Exit Through the Gift Shop, today. At the special advanced media screening. When I got there they asked for my name and where I was from. I casually said ‘freelance’ like I say it everyday. He seemed to buy it, and then he offered me some popcorn.
For Free.
So this is why people go to media screenings.
Mind you it was on at 11am and...
It's an iPhone Revolution
So, I’ve been following this guy on Tumblr for a little while (oh Tumblr, what wonders you expose me to) and I’ve reached the stage where I just can’t not tell you about him.
There is something very special about Misho Baranovic’s work. And it isn’t just that his photos are all taken on the humble iPhone. We’ll get to this later.
Misho Baranovic | North...
Stay Tuned
I have some news.
It seems that all this blogging has paid off, because I have managed to secure for myself advanced media screening tickets of Banksy’s upcoming film Exit Through the Giftstore next Tuesday night.
I am very excited.
The film opens officially at Tribal Theatre on George Street (the former Dendy theatre) 4 June.
Stay tuned for a full review of the film, along with a...
Le rat, Kasino & Lister at Brisbane Powerhouse
For anyone currently in Brisbane you’ll know what I mean when I say I had to mentally will myself to get into the Powerhouse today. It was cold, grey and a Sunday to boot.
But I did it. I put on my Sunday best and got myself in there through sheer willpower. I knew it would be good.
And good it was.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about I am genuinely disappointed...
ABC Arts follow-up on Bill Henson exhibition →
Marieke Hardy follows up on her previous entry on Bill Henson, suggesting that Henson’s talent has mellowed in the wake of the media witch-hunt his last exhibition incurred.
Turner shortlist
It’s that time of year again. The shortlist for the 2010 Turner Prize has been announced.
What’s the Turner Prize? It’s only the most controversial (and therefore most highly regarded) prize in the contemporary art world.
And by contemporary, I mean absolute cutting edge, avant-garde stuff.
The Turner is run by the Tate Britain, and every year the prize is awarded to an...
Get excited. Do it now.
Hey guess what you guys, I have some pretty exciting news.
Where: The Powerhouse, Brisbane
When: Sunday 16 May
What: This is the exciting part.
The Brisbane Powerhouse is having its 10th birthday celebrations and none other than Blek le rat (you know who I mean) has been commissioned to install a new stencil art piece on the day. He will be joined by fellow stencil artists Kasino and Anthony...
Marieke Hardy on ABC Arts →
Hardy presents a scathing critique of Australia’s ‘big brother’ attitude to the arts, focussing on the pre-emptive reporting of an upcoming Bill Henson exhibition.
To quote...
Dappled Cities is one of my favourite bands. They have a blog, which I read occasionally. Alex, who plays bass and also does ‘bird screams’ (thanks Wikipedia) recently wrote an amusing piece on art galleries in London. I intend on quoting from it.
Before I go on, can I just point out how dreamy Dappled Dave is? He is there at the front on the left. Opposite him is Tim, who is also...
April 2010
6 posts
Bad news day
I have some bad news: some people are idiots.
Photo courtesy of Flickr: xmacex
It would seem that in the process of cleaning up Hosier Lane in Melbourne, cleanup crews —how do I say — ‘painted over’ a genuine Banksy stencil.
NICE ONE CLEAN UP CREW. That’ll be $40, 000.
This isn’t the first time this kind of thing has happened, however. So, is it just in...
It's un-Australian
I don’t know whether you’ve heard about this little ‘scandal’ in the art world. It’s been floating around for over a week now, and so far I’ve managed to avoid taking the bait. I think it is a silly issue and was hoping it would all just blow over.
So did Sam Leach, I bet.
Probably Edmund Capon (Director of Art Gallery of NSW) as well, come to think of it.
...
Quilty Live
You know, I really would have preferred to have written this post on Tuesday night, but unfortunately I have been rather busy, and now I’m worried I’ve lost my inspiration. Bear with me whilst I try to stoke the fires.
I’m talking about Ben Quilty. If you didn’t see Artscape on Tuesday, you definitely should watch it. But not so fast - read this first…
Almost a...
100 Years
There’s something quite beautiful about an art gallery with a floor to ceiling glass exterior, at night, during preparation for an exhibition. Looking in from a distance, all the paintings are on the floor, leaning against each other and against the walls.
Walking past the UQ Art Museum tonight has put me in a good mood. Actually, scrap that. I’ve been in a good mood all day....
Will you be my guinea pig?
So. I’m doing this assignment on indigenous intellectual property and I’m kinda struggling to get my head around it. I’ve been sitting here for about ten minutes, ready to start writing, with my brain quietly imploding. Then, suddenly, someone I know walked past and complimented the blog.
Lightbulb.
Luckily, the topic vaguely relates to art. Procrastination? I think not....
Spray it, Brisvegas
Have you guys heard of VegasSpray.com?
I’ve been following them on Facebook for a little while now. They are essentially an online gallery space, and describe themselves as “a portal to Brisbane’s contemporary emerging art”.
The way they work is to have a current ‘exhibition’, which usually follows a theme or idea, and then an ‘artists’ section...
