Mona

Took a trip to Tasmania over the weekend and I went to Mona. All I can say is HOLY FUCK that place is amazing! More amazing than I could have ever imagined. Everything about it is amazing (it's built underground!). There is a huge amount of great contemporary works. I loved almost everything there but was particularly taken by a couple of artists in particular. Claire Morgan's piece 'Tracing Time' (below), made from nylon thread, dandelion seeds, dead leaves and a taxidermied wren is so fragile and beautiful. Have a look at her work here. David Walsh is my hero, even though he seems to have a strange obsession with feces, sex and god. GO TO MONA!

Submarine

Definitely a movie worth watching. It shows a small window of the life of 15 year old Oliver Tate, who struggles with everyday issues like girls and parents breaking up. It's a coming of age story, only in a more quirky/funny way, unlike the way you or I experienced it (only because I doubt that Richard Ayoade wrote the script to your life).

This movie is also extremely visually pleasing with a simple colour template and uses the romantic super 8 film, implementing a clever technique so as not to be cliche or trendy. This along with a soundtrack by Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) makes it a charming film that is definitely a must see.

BON IVER "Holocene" from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Such a beautiful video.

Lisa Black

I am absolutely taken by the work of Lisa Black. It's a disturbing image of man made industrial objects, imposed onto the natural world, onto soft and delicate animals. I particularly like the skulls, they make me think about how humans try to avoid death, it may be the skull of the future, implanted with metal plates and micro chips. Its a scary and confronting idea. Her pieces are beautiful in a bitter sweet kind of way.

She also makes a line of jewellery with butterflies, available on her website.

Image source: lisablackcreations.com

Museum Visits

I went to the museum in Melbourne the other day to do some research for a project. It was a lovely reminder of how amazing the world is. Go to the museum!!

Fragment (consider revising)

The latest of my uni work, not sure where this is going I'm still playing around with the concept of 'momento mori' and trying to create works that are slightly fragmented or a little bit off.

What I'm looking at today.

I want to show you what I am frothing on. The latest issue of NO, a New Zealand magazine. It has beautiful photography, editorials and articles about up and coming creatives from all round. Also worth a look is the new issue of Oyster. Also has some amazing photography.

In Oyster there is an article about Marlene Marino, who takes very intimate portraits of women in their homes and private spaces. It's somehow so fascinating to see into the private lives of complete strangers, especially when they are depicted so beautifully and softly. I especially love her 'Sisters' series.

marlenemarino.com

I'm also being heavily influenced by the work of John Pusateri, who uses mostly stone lithographs to create these amazingly detailed depictions of skulls and birds. There is such an eerie feeling to his works. Whilst reading about his work I came across the phrase 'momento mori' which means 'Remember your mortality'. A very interesting concept that I find myself constantly drawn to in my own work and the work of others.

johnpusateri.com

image source: oystermag.com, nomagazine.co.nz

Lucky Charm

If you like beautiful pieces of jewelery and helping out people in need, which I'm sure you all do, definitely have a look at the Lucky Charm Fundraiser. Jewelery makers nationally and internationally have donated their pieces for you to bid on and all proceeds go towards the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Rescue Fund.

luckycharmfundraiser.blogspot.com

These are a few of my favourite things...

Olga Bennett, Justin Lee Williams and portraiture.

Image source: olgabennettphotography.com

Curly

Its amazing what you can create with some paper and a scanner.

Bombay

El Guincho - Bombay from CANADA on Vimeo.

Swing

Lorne

Just got a roll of film developed. This is definitely my favourite.

Taken with Pentax 35mm Black and white film.

Charlotte