Art news
NEVERNESS- Part 1 is the curatorial extension of online and printed photographic platforms NowNow Gallery and WON Magazine. Contrasting notions of eternity with sequence NEVERNESS - Part 1 subtly frames the exploratory nature of a global group show. Although multiple perspectives inevitably create a kaleidoscope, a considered choice of photographers has developed an atmosphere where contrasts create harmony, and where the group and the individual are naturally balanced. That’s made easier when that group contains the likes of Ray Potes from Hamburger Eyes, Conor O'Brien, Per Englund, Thobias Faldt and Linus Bill.
NEVERNESS- Part 1 opens at Black & Blue Gallery this Thursday, June 5 at 6pm and is showing until June 22.
Image by Ray Potes
When I was 9 I had a best friend who, after watching too much Child’s Play, convinced me that my collection of porcelain dolls would come to life at night and try to kill me. Instead of spending many a slumber party tending to our Tamagotchis or playing truth or dare, my over reactive and highly imaginative friend and I would spend hours thinking of ways to end this unprecedented war between the toy kingdom and a bunch of primary school children. So dolls, which originally provided a source of joy to little girls, have now turned into something macabre and people are determined to reveal their sinister nature. Most girls, who might still have tubby crates full of Gymnastics Barbie and Bath Time Fun Kelly, would tend to agree that this idea of perfectionism was imprinted upon us at a young age. And who can seriously contest that Bratz are good role models for pre school children? (“Don’t theorise, accessorise!” Yes, certainly, let’s spawn an army of mini Paris-ites.)
Two new exhibitions explore these issues – and the first one’s bound to bring Chucky flashbacks. In her latest exhibition, model-come-photographer Tanya Linney blindfolds her plastic muses, water-boards them, stabs them with scissors and then photographs them. All for your viewing pleasure of course.
Showing her latest exhibition,
Counterfeit, at the Mary Place Gallery in Paddington, Linney uses her past modeling experience as inspiration in her art, where she explores exploitation of the female body, the obsession with perfection and the angst ridden period of adolescence. But Tanya’s not the only who’s been raiding Toys 'R' Us. Hannah Scott Stevenson, inspired by Disney Classics and feminist photographer Cindy Sherman, has taken a Lolita-esque approach (and we all know how that story ends). Her sugar sweet images look like something from a catalogue for pajamas, or perhaps a cover illustration for Nabokov’s infamous novel. But that’s all part and parcel of the theme behind
Dollface – so entirely delectable and airbrushed to perfection that you barely notice the copy of Hustler amongst the dollies in one of the images. So dolls - good or the purest form of evil? Check out Stevenson’s
Dollface at the Somedays Gallery in Surry Hills until June 21st, and Linney’s
Counterfeit at the Mary Place Gallery from this Monday, and make up your own mind.
When I eventually put down some of my many millions on a house it will look like this.
And not only will my house have an indoor swing and a drawing room for hightea/ cocktail hour but one of those leafy trees on it's expansive plot will be housing one of the above creations. Baumraum is a German architectural company that specialises in designing and building treehouses!!! The treehouse team is made up of an interior and landscape architect, an arborist and a craftsman; each of whom ensure an individual retreat that takes into account the local environment and the kind of tree that it will perch in. People are requesting the custom-built treehouses for a number of purposes; a present for spoilt children, a meditation area or even for residential purposes (mini-kitchens and electrical sockets can be fitted) but mine will serve none of those purposes thank-you-very-much and will instead remain well-stocked with books, red wine, candles and cupcakes!!
If the first thing that enters your head when you hear the word 'silkscreen' is Andy Warhol's multi-coloured Marilyn Monroe, then you really need to see the work of Cody Hoyt. The young printmaker has an impressive array of works under his creative belt, each evoking an atmosphere of quiet catastrophe through the use of subtle pastel colouring, frenzied typography and conflicting geometric shapes. Hoyt's medium is particularly unique - he often overlays prints with gouache and graphite to create interwoven, delicate images. Warhol, eat your heart out.
Someone or other of relative importance always seems to be up in arms about the detriments of graffiti. Clearly, they've never seen the work of Melbourne street artist Reka. Inspired by both his natural surroundings and Japanese culture, Reka's work juxtaposes vibrant colours, textures and graphics to create offbeat, thought provoking images. By utilising pseudo human forms and appropriating well-known pop icons, he humorously explores the relationship between man and nature. Sounds a little different to the lackluster tagging graffiti that adorns the local train station. Melbourne folk can catch a glimpse of their home-grown artist's work at his latest exhibition "Tall Oaks", on display until the 13th of June at the No Vacancy Gallery. If you're quick you could also snap up some of the limited-edition prints available. Leave the aerosol at home.
After a long day, I often return home with bags of stuff - from clothes, to groceries, to books and my flat-mate almost always asks how I manage to find something to purchase every time I venture out. Imagine if I came home each day with a bag full of trash. Real rubbish that other people have thrown away... What would she say then I wonder? Well, a group of Melbourne artists are actually taking the trash in as part of the Next Wave festival. One such artist is Melanie Upton who admits to having "piles of rubbish" in her house that she's collected for art's sake. Her most recent work is an installation entitled
Beautiful Trash which showcases an array of small sculptures composed from discarded bottles and cartons which have been cast in plaster, concrete or aluminium. Positioned at The Order of Melbourne until May 30, the work illustrates the essence of the consumption driven society we live in, the suffocation of waste production on the environment and its inherent relationship with people. So what are you waiting for rivive your rubbish today!
Didn't you just used to wish your room looked like that when you were younger? Inspired by photographers like Cindy Sherman, Hannah Scott-Stevenson creates images that would be cotton-candy sweet if not for the slightly acidic creepiness them. I mean come on - there's a reason your bedroom didn't look like that and it's because nothing can be that perfect. I think Hannah's photos are quite lovely and if you do too then be sure to head down to Sydney's Somedays Gallery tomorrow from 6pm where Hannah will be opening her latest exhibition, Dollface.
