Friday, 7 October 2011

Tutankhamun/Vienna Art & Design Melbourne

the neon signs are colourful, especially at night
eastern gateway
Chinatown


on of the festival activities in the Arts Centre impromptu ink drawing



 An expedition to Melbourne mid week was great with good food, accommodation at Mecure inner city Chinatown and 2 exhibitions that were well worth the trip. After being ejected from my booked window seat by a young mum and her obstropulous 12 month old, I thought demon babies were banned fron Melbourne. The highlight of the Festival of Melbourne were the exhibits of giant demonic baby figures appearing at various prominent sites around the city arts precinct. The theme was Angels and Demons, and think I will leave any discussion on their significance at that along withthe significance of Meatloaf, who also made an appearance.


Vienna Art and Design at the National Gallery of Victoria featured furniture , architecture, ornaments and artworks from the 1900's with artists Schiele, Klimt, Kokoschtka, Mahler, and others.There were not many paintings but the murals from Klimt were spectacular, presented on plaster blocks resembling sandstone and presented up high on the walls. Replica architectural models of theatres, museums and arthouses decorated with gold that were typical of the enclosed city of Vienna were on display. The designs showed an easy preview of what was to come in the 20's and 30's when Art Deco began to emerge. White and gold featured in all art and design and a distinct elongation of figures and architectural models added a style of elegance and refinement to the era        http://www.expo-klimt.com             Gustav-Klimt-The-Three-Ages-of-Woman-51150.jpg











klimt.love.jpg    klimt_228x245.jpg    1211555828203.jpg


http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/vienna/painting/egon-schiele

Tutankhamun exhibit at the Melbourne Museum was my next stop.               

Despite the high volume of visitors and children present, the exhibition was monitored and flowed smoothly so that all the beautiful artifacts could be easily accessible for viewing. The wonderful soundtrack and some narration provided an awesome atmosphere and amazingly the apparent silence and appreciation of sacredness of the ancient exhibits was experienced by all patrons. The highlight of the show was the golden sarcophagus which encased 4 other golden caskets holding the remains of the young king Tutankhamen. I had a digitally enhanced photograph taken with the golden casket in the foreground.        http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show
http://www.akhet.co.uk/tutankh.htm    

The fascination with the discovery of ancient ruins is still incredibly prevalent amongst all ages and theeducational side of this is why the exhibition is so popular. I spent a couple of hours here but could easily return for an encore visit, it was so intriguing



Just before leaving Melbourne, I arranged to be picked up from the Carlton Hotel in the city and what a find that was. I went upstairs to get a drink and to my surprise, I found a jungle wonderland with stuffed wild animals hiding amongst palms, foliage, urns, lamps and maroon velvet booths, wallpaper and carpet. What an eclectic wine bar reminiscent of the 60's Sosat with my animalia friends had a couple of drinks and said goodbye to Melbourne ,probably for the last time

Max and the Where the willd things are on the way down and Rumble in the Jungle at the Carlton on the way back up...oh , and I forgot the Demon Babies.....I'll be having nightmares for months...







The roof
peacocks

that's a green spotted Rhino
ostrich with pearl neck
velvet and velour
maroon,yellow,blue

Saturday, 1 October 2011

Thursday, 22 September 2011



Bloggus Interruptus

Hello, I haven't had much to say in print aside from my uni essays, hence the pause. But , on the other hand , I have been photographing babies, planning an exhibition, caring for my ailing mother and sister apres Duplon's contracture right hand operation, entertaining my mother's sisters, planning a trip to Melbourne Art Gallery and Museum. I need to speak about something arty so I'll add some drawing links I have been viewing and some baby pics for now. I have started swimming daily, the water is freezing but invigorating.

 Tamara de Lempicka’s depiction of folds is more abstract and stylized, the fabric in the painting below appears quite stiff, almost like paper.
 Portrait of Marjorie Ferry, 1932, Oil on Canvas, 99x65cm
http://www.delempicka.org/artwork/1930-1933.html

Have a look at Ra’anan Levy’s work with interior spaces. He has managed to capture the texture of stainless steel, timber, plastic and painted surfaces, all through the use of tone.  http://www.janosgatgallery.com/JANOS_GAT_GALLERY/Raanan_Levy.html


Brice Marden (American, born 1938)
 Rain, 1991. Ink and ink wash on paper, (65.4 x 87.2 cm).
  http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=37195
 Notice how interesting effects are achieved through varying the weight of the line, and allowing the ink to bleed a little on damp paper. Albrecht Durer, Annunciation III, woodcut, 1503, 29.8x21.2cm
http://www.albrecht-durer.org/Annunciation-3.html
 Durer was a master of perspective and his drawings show great technical control.

 Albrecht Durer, Melancholia I, 1514, engraving, 24x18.5cm, detail
http://www.albrecht-durer.org/Melencolia-I-(detail).html
 Albrecht Durer, St. Jerome in his study, 1521, oil on panel, 59.5x48.5cm, detail
http://www.albrecht-durer.org/St-Jerome-(detail).html

                                                                                                             I've had no
                                       sleep, am stressed and can't get the baby to settle---you want to photograph me ?





 trying new camera app and lens-too dark because subjects photographed spontaneously and did not wait for me to get good light reading, but great compositions and mood


Drawing exercises on line perspective
 Paddington Art Prize entries
Gerroa Take 1 & 2



Saturday, 3 September 2011

Portrait Workshop at Catherine's


 Alyssa and Monique

Karen


Freda


Paula the tutor





Well, here it is the long awaited visual report about the portrait workshop 20/8/2011.

Nautilus Exhibition Opening

Friday night 2/9/2011- 7 artists shared a collaborative show with Meroogal prize winner Arja Valimaki
to produce a multicultural eclectic show of mixed media and art styles. Colour and form from lifedrawing to beaten copper sculptures, collaged prints to mythical drawings and plasterworks, digital and B&W photography to oils on canvas- there is plenty to see and experience.

The nature and high quality of the show certainly sets the standard for collaborative exhibitions in the future and congraulaions to Art Arena Gallery for a seamless performance. The exhibition is open until Sunday 11/9/2011.