What Happened in Australia
Well, a lot of amazing art. And it is everywhere. There is a vibrant exciting graffiti scene in Melbourne which I found inspirational. Travelling the suburban train network to its extremities it was incredible how far and wide some of these artists moved around
I began to recognize artists styles and marks and signatures and have a big respect for these guys-it’s risky, it’s done on the fly and some of it is vast and impressive. Obviously, people like Matt Adnate and Michael Fikaris are legally contracted to decorate massive tower blocks buildings and walls in public places (links to websites and pics) https://www.adnate.com.au/wall/mural
mural by Matt Adnate-the tallest wall painting in the southern hemisphere
mural by Michael Fikaris in the centre of Melbourne city
http://www.fikarisart.com/murals.html
There was some moving and exciting work in ACCA-the Tenant creek Brio, where a collective of guys made fantastic sculptures out of the detritus that various corporate concerns had left behind
shell oil junk turned into amazing sculpture by the Tennant Creek Brio
A photography exhibition by the fabulous Destiny Deacon and lots more in the permanent Ian potter indigenous collection
photograph by Destiny Deacon, who sadly passed away last year
As for my own stuff, I was staying in a very small room and my life became tiny and hyper-focused! I created these very small concertina booklets, as big sheets of paper wouldn’t fit in the room and these would be easier to carry around in suitcases. I set about looking at how some of the graffiti was made , and zeroed in on some micro detail to make up this series of tiny pictures which are only 5cm x 7cm. love the bold colours and clearly defined shapes
Found myself in a rural cemetery, steeped in grief around xmas time-well to be expected really and these little postcards emerged using begged and borrowed art materials.
Also ventured out into the wilderness- with friends-Gariwerd in the springtime - all the wildflowers were out and waterfalls spilling over -then a month later the place was up in flames-the fragility of the Australian landscape
the giant choc-chip muffin rock! Gariwerd
spring flowers-Gariwerd, victoria Australia
The secret lagoon-Gariwerd. Acrylic, collage on recycled paper350gsm
