Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Carved Wall Art
Just saw this on ebay - a very neat, simple idea - a carved tree revealing woodgrain behind. Neat.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Les Ballets Russes
The last time I visited Canberra, this exhibit was due to open the next day, so I missed it.
The next time I was due to visit at that point was the day after the exhibit was due to close. Worse still, that trip was cancelled.
Fortunately, the exbihit was extended, until today, and I went through on friday.
Les Ballet Russes is commonly regarded as one of the greatest ballet company of the 20th century, directed by Sergei Diaghilev, and this exhibit is the first time many of these costumes have been seen since the performances themselves, which ended in 1929.
The costumes provide an insight into a cultural experience that no longer exists. The Ballet Russe was very different from traditional ballet of the time - combining art, dance and music, and moved away from the more reserved forms of the past. The company worked with the best choreographers, composers and dancers.
The costumes on exhibit are part of the NGA's own collection, and in many cases this is the first time they've been shown to the public since they were last worn on set. The costumes are in many cases well worn from use on set (Ballet Russe productions tended to be quite hard on them in terms of dancing), and the costumes have been in storage pretty much ever since, only coming out to end up a Southebys to be bought by the NGA.
Along with the costumes themselves the exhibit also features photos and paintings from the productions, and as you will never find these productions on film, represents a unique insight into a part of history that will not re-exist. Sadly, the exhibit closed today - otherwise I'd say you should go.
The next time I was due to visit at that point was the day after the exhibit was due to close. Worse still, that trip was cancelled.
Fortunately, the exbihit was extended, until today, and I went through on friday.
Les Ballet Russes is commonly regarded as one of the greatest ballet company of the 20th century, directed by Sergei Diaghilev, and this exhibit is the first time many of these costumes have been seen since the performances themselves, which ended in 1929.
The costumes provide an insight into a cultural experience that no longer exists. The Ballet Russe was very different from traditional ballet of the time - combining art, dance and music, and moved away from the more reserved forms of the past. The company worked with the best choreographers, composers and dancers.
The costumes on exhibit are part of the NGA's own collection, and in many cases this is the first time they've been shown to the public since they were last worn on set. The costumes are in many cases well worn from use on set (Ballet Russe productions tended to be quite hard on them in terms of dancing), and the costumes have been in storage pretty much ever since, only coming out to end up a Southebys to be bought by the NGA.
Along with the costumes themselves the exhibit also features photos and paintings from the productions, and as you will never find these productions on film, represents a unique insight into a part of history that will not re-exist. Sadly, the exhibit closed today - otherwise I'd say you should go.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Wallace Arts Centre and the Pah Homestead
Just a wee way away from the Hillsborough off ramp from SH20 lies Monte Cecilia Park. Within Monte Cecilia Park lies the old Pah Homestead which has been recently restored, and within that is exhibited part of James Wallace's art collection (that is, the Wallace Arts Trust).
The collection contains over 5000 items, so obviously only a sample of them are on display, but that which is, is very good, and contains a neat cross section of New Zealand art from the last fifty years or so. As photography is not permitted inside, I have no pictures to share, but can certainly vouch for this place.
Perhaps my favourite display was a modern plastic robot sculpture sitting in a niche in the stairwell where one would generally expect to see a greco-roman stutue - a very neat juxtoposition indeed.
Not only is the place worth visiting for the art, but also the architecture. This was at one point the largest residence in Auckland, and it's opulence has been tastefully restored. Moreover, Cafe Pah on site has excellent coffee and baked goods (I'll give them 8/10 for morning tea), and appears to be a favourite among Auckland's ladies who lunch.
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| Pah Homestead, Monte Cecilia Park, Auckland - April 2011 |
Perhaps my favourite display was a modern plastic robot sculpture sitting in a niche in the stairwell where one would generally expect to see a greco-roman stutue - a very neat juxtoposition indeed.
Not only is the place worth visiting for the art, but also the architecture. This was at one point the largest residence in Auckland, and it's opulence has been tastefully restored. Moreover, Cafe Pah on site has excellent coffee and baked goods (I'll give them 8/10 for morning tea), and appears to be a favourite among Auckland's ladies who lunch.
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| Pah Homestead, Monte Cecilia Park, Auckland - April 2011 |
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| Pah Homestead, Monte Cecilia Park, Auckland - April 2011 |
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| Pah Homestead, Monte Cecilia Park, Auckland - April 2011 |
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The secret art of Dr. Seuss comes to Hamilton
The Waikato Museum has a neat exhibition on at the moment - The Art of Dr. Seuss.
Dr. Seuss has always been a childhood favourite of mine - but then how can you go wrong with rhyming prose with so much going on on so many levels. To quote Suess: "I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living; it’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life’s realities.". The man has a point.
The exhibit goes through many of Seuss' works, ranging from artworks form his books (like sneetches), through to his artworks that weren't drawn for children, through to the unorthodox taxidermy. All up, a really neat exhibit, and one that you can easily spend an hour in - all the better because it is free.
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| The secret art of Dr. Seuss comes to Hamilton |
The exhibit goes through many of Seuss' works, ranging from artworks form his books (like sneetches), through to his artworks that weren't drawn for children, through to the unorthodox taxidermy. All up, a really neat exhibit, and one that you can easily spend an hour in - all the better because it is free.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Ben Quilty - Inhabit
The Art Gallery of South Australia is always quite impressive considering the smaller city that supports it (unlike the NGA, NGV and Gallery of NSW which have a lot of funding).
I went for a walk through the gallery on Sunday. There weren't any major exhibitions on, but there was a gallery wtih Ben Quilty's latest works, entitled Inhabit.
Quilty is regarded very highly in the Australian portraiture scene, and this set of works explores the Australian national identity, and the problems faced with the changes since the arrival of Captain Cook, right through to the current reconciliation movement.
I enjoyed the 16 paintings, though the gallery doens't take too long. The custom birdcage in the center is particularly impressive.
I went for a walk through the gallery on Sunday. There weren't any major exhibitions on, but there was a gallery wtih Ben Quilty's latest works, entitled Inhabit.
Quilty is regarded very highly in the Australian portraiture scene, and this set of works explores the Australian national identity, and the problems faced with the changes since the arrival of Captain Cook, right through to the current reconciliation movement.
I enjoyed the 16 paintings, though the gallery doens't take too long. The custom birdcage in the center is particularly impressive.
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| Ben Quilty - Inhabit |
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| Ben Quilty - Inhabit |
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Dreams Come True: The Art of Disney's Classic Fairy Tales (ACMI)
The one thing you learn more than anything else at Art Galleries and Museums, is that children tend to have very short attention spans, and many parents don't know how to keep their childrens' behaviour in check.
However, this exhibition, on Disney's classics at ACMI (the Australian Center for the Moving Image) in Melbourne was different. The children were entranced.
For me, I enjoyed the exhibit a lot more than I'd expected. I don't regard contemporary Disney children's films all the well, in my opinion they tend to be a little too politically correct, and lacking anything for the unfortunate adults who watch them.
As it turns out, the older works definately do not fall into that category. As a kid I'd never noticed the argument between the ugly duckling's parents which was obviously along the lines of "I can't possibly be the father of that...", nor the pictures of the three little piggys' parents on the wall. Mother being a sow with piglets, and father a chain of sausages.
Seeing the pre-production art also gave the characters much more life - the animations are a bit too polished - I'd actually quite like to see some of these movies in comic book form drawn by these artists.
I spent about an hour and a half here, and would definatley suggest talking kids here. Even though I went on my own, I still enjoyed it greatly.
However, this exhibition, on Disney's classics at ACMI (the Australian Center for the Moving Image) in Melbourne was different. The children were entranced.
For me, I enjoyed the exhibit a lot more than I'd expected. I don't regard contemporary Disney children's films all the well, in my opinion they tend to be a little too politically correct, and lacking anything for the unfortunate adults who watch them.
As it turns out, the older works definately do not fall into that category. As a kid I'd never noticed the argument between the ugly duckling's parents which was obviously along the lines of "I can't possibly be the father of that...", nor the pictures of the three little piggys' parents on the wall. Mother being a sow with piglets, and father a chain of sausages.
Seeing the pre-production art also gave the characters much more life - the animations are a bit too polished - I'd actually quite like to see some of these movies in comic book form drawn by these artists.
I spent about an hour and a half here, and would definatley suggest talking kids here. Even though I went on my own, I still enjoyed it greatly.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Koko Black Easter drawing competition
Koko Black makes excellent chocolate, though I gave that a miss this time. What I did not miss were the finallists for their Easter Drawing competition, which are on display in the Royal Arcade here in Melbourne.
You can view all the entries online at kokoblack.com, but here are some photos I took of my favourites:
You can view all the entries online at kokoblack.com, but here are some photos I took of my favourites:
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| The Pursuit of Easter Egg Manor - Troy John Argyros |
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| Too Big for my Bucket - Tegan Rhianna Carter |
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| The Motherload - Hayden John Dewar |
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| Rabbit Proof Fence ... Fail! - Ainslie Wright |
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| Choc-a-Block - Elise Martinson |
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| Lost Delivery Bunny - Mel Mackin |
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Gustave Moreau and the Eternal Feminine
I regard the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) quite highly. Sufficienly so that when there is an exhibit they've brought in from overseas, and I've never heard of the artist before, I'll go in anyway.
So, that was me a few days ago, handing over $7.50 and an NGA membership card to go into this gallery of Moreau's work.
It is clear from the works on display that Moreau was more than a little obsessed with women, in particular heroines, queens and temptresses. The works range from biblical scenes through greek mythology.
While the exhibit only takes one smallish gallery, it is very good, and you really should spend a few minutes studying each picture in detail. Heres the one I found most intriguing - the Apparition.
So, that was me a few days ago, handing over $7.50 and an NGA membership card to go into this gallery of Moreau's work.
It is clear from the works on display that Moreau was more than a little obsessed with women, in particular heroines, queens and temptresses. The works range from biblical scenes through greek mythology.
While the exhibit only takes one smallish gallery, it is very good, and you really should spend a few minutes studying each picture in detail. Heres the one I found most intriguing - the Apparition.
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| Gustave Moreau - The Apparition |
Monday, March 14, 2011
Scott Redford introducing Reinhardt Damnn
So yesterday I went for a walk through the Queensland Art Gallery and caught the last day of Scott Redford's exhibition (http://qag.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/past/2010/scott_redford)
You get the impression from the exhibit that Scott is a thourough Australian, and fully embrasses the Gold Coast lifestyle - the theme here is Scott's fictious character, Reinhardt Damnn... and a variety of media are utlised.
Having said that, regardless of what I thought of it, you can't go and see it now, or at least not at QAG. Which is a pity, as I enjoyed the exhibit - there is nothing quite like giant red polar bears, or googie-style signs (the non-pictured items, cut up surfboards for example, didn't have quite the same appeal).
You get the impression from the exhibit that Scott is a thourough Australian, and fully embrasses the Gold Coast lifestyle - the theme here is Scott's fictious character, Reinhardt Damnn... and a variety of media are utlised.
Having said that, regardless of what I thought of it, you can't go and see it now, or at least not at QAG. Which is a pity, as I enjoyed the exhibit - there is nothing quite like giant red polar bears, or googie-style signs (the non-pictured items, cut up surfboards for example, didn't have quite the same appeal).
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