urchinberry

artexpress

2008-01-25T22:46:00.003+11:00

Art Express has hit NSW- everyone prepare to be amazed by the artistic talent that has just left school! These are truly professional, and the best kind of art show. Displayed from the Art Gallery of NSW to the windows of David Jones.
The above image is by Kiara Crofts and the lower one by Philipa Collins. They're a few favourites of mine; they have a certain something I like. It makes me wonder why I like certain styles and not others- whether it's entirely my past experiences in life or whether it is also related to something I was born with.
The moral of the story is go see art express.

designtech

2008-01-25T22:39:00.000+11:00

Design TECH is on at the Powerhouse- everyone has to go see the young talent that has just left school and is about to hit the national and international design community. Unfortunately, I could only dredge up one picture, but it is perhaps the most photogenic. This is the Trio chair by Simon Del Favero from Trinity Grammar. However, I wish they could display more works! Visual Art Bodies of Work have so many display venues it's amazing- it really puts the students into the public limelight. Oh well, next year...

tim hawkinson

2008-01-25T22:12:00.000+11:00

A new favourite artist. damn, he is so good! I am aiming to convey my enthusiasm without too many exclamation marks. oh what the hell. Amazing! Brilliant! Superduper!
Why?
His materials- big fan of making 'stuff' out of 'junk',
his visual concepts- more intriguing than anything i've ever seen,
his practice- out of this world (never thought of before).
They say that with modernism died the avante garde, the new and individual. But this guy has done things never done before. Ok, ok so that's not quite true- he uses photocollage and recycled materials and the idea of music in art, methods and ideas initiated in prior art movements, but his work is still entirely original. Go see an exhibition (currently showing at the MCA in Sydney), or, if you can't make one, buy a book on him. with lots of pictures.
These works are also interactive- sensors trigger motion in the pieces. There are noises and movements. they are such wonders of engineering that the audience must go and examine the works to figure out exactly how that tapping noise is made, or follow the wires from the battery through the switch to the dripping water. (my younger brother loved it) This may not all make sense, but it's all absolute brilliance.

giacometti

2008-01-16T19:11:00.004+11:00

I wish I could create works so full of life and emotion. Until that dream comes true, I'll be quite content admiring Alberto Giacometti's work. His pieces are hard to catagorise, a value finally becoming recognised recognised by art critics who often want to place an artist in a labelled box. It cannot be denied, however, that they convey aspects of the surrealist movement and, some say, existentialist view points (both suggested by the elongated style of most of his work).

mika

2008-01-16T17:41:00.000+11:00

Yeow! Ah, Mika makes me happy, no matter what.

thea proctor

2007-11-26T20:08:00.000+11:00

Althea Mary (Thea) Proctor- 1879-1966. I love her style; the intensity of colour and strength of the bold line. It's sort of empowering and passionate. Which I suppose is why her works were called, 'dangerously modern' at the time. Maybe due to its feminist nature (i.e. a female artist depicting women- shock!) and, dare I say, hints of same sex romance. I also love George Lambert's (a close friend) portrait of her, middle- it's so elegant.

ginger & smart

2007-11-26T09:47:00.000+11:00

Another label, Ginger & Smart. I can't get over the honeycomb pattern, in fact I'm having cravings for it. Largely because I can't afford it.
Hey... I went to school with the girl in the middle of the bottom photo! How funny.

yeojin bae

2007-11-26T09:25:00.001+11:00

"Bae's earliest memory is of watching her grandfather create elaborate dresses in her birthplace of Seoul when she was about two. And from that moment on, following in her grandfather's footsteps was all she wanted to do." Migrating to Australia, Bae "enrolled for a full-time fashion degree at Sydney's Whitehouse Institute of Design, despite being officially too young."
Excerpt from Sunday Magazine Sept 07

In my opinion, that passion radiates from her pieces, and they are also very wearable. Yeojin Bae.

nel

2007-11-12T22:11:00.000+11:00

NEL has been appearing round design blogs for a while. Therefore they are obviously rather special. Brilliant ideas.

one teaspoon one piece

2007-11-06T17:03:00.000+11:00

I have the biggest summer crush on Aussie clothing and swimwear label One Teaspoon, largely because they satisfy my one piece cossie fantasies. Aaaand I've had the revolutionary realisation that you can wear your onepiece...wait for it...as a top (as in the second image)!! Ok, probably not the most original idea, but one whose band wagon I fully intend to jump on. Then I can learn how to surf in the safety of secure attire.

ergh- exams

2007-10-18T13:36:00.000+10:00

Dreaded HSC exams on at the moment...
So minimal, no, non-existant posting.
But after that.... oh the possibilities!

computer camp love

2007-10-11T09:43:00.001+10:00

Song by Data Rock. Its an addictive twist on the old Greece song. The video is just as quirky.

stuart haygarth

2007-10-11T09:13:00.001+10:00

I cannot believe I haven't posted about Stuart Haygarth. So I'm making up for it now. He is the designer that inspired my design&tech major work, and indirectly my art body of work too. Isn't he awesome?! If you haven't seen this stuff, you haven't lived. More on his site.

From top to bottom, the pieces use; unwanted lampshades, party poppers, old glasses...My favourite is the last one- the 'Tide Chandelier' made from bits and pieces washed up on the Kent coastline. I think it adds a whole new facet to design when you create something new out of existing objects; it becomes that little bit more amazing.

dinosaur designs

2007-09-26T16:25:00.001+10:00

Mmmm... some wonderful rings for summer from Australian jewellery company Dinosaur Designs; it will be here soon. And exams will soon be over... And I promise I will be living on the beach (schoolies!). Now I just have to wait for then... Still waiting...

archie

2007-09-26T15:38:00.000+10:00

I must admit that I'm a big Archie fan. And then there is the post modern interpretation of Archie comics, by aussie artist Ben Frost. The last two are his (the actual Archie one may be found a tad rude, yet truly hilarious, so see it on his site) .

joseph cornell

2007-09-18T18:21:00.000+10:00

Another 'greatest artist of all time'. I sigh in awe.
I could go on and on about the recontextualisation of nostalgia and deconstruction of societal values in these works, but, you may fall asleep. So just stare in wonder.

alphabet

2007-09-10T18:47:00.000+10:00

Gotta love both these topography works.

First by Naoka Ebihara studying at Billy Blue School of Graphic Arts.

Second has been circulating blogs for a while, but still captivating. 'According to the original post on German typographic blog Slanted , the alphabet was created by Rienermann while studying at the University of Duisburg-Essen.'

the shins

2007-09-01T16:19:00.000+10:00

Another great band. With entertaining music videos. The Shins

dirt

2007-08-30T21:48:00.000+10:00

And then following links from Mollie Dash, found this from Sarah Cihat mentioned by DesignSponge. Porcelain with brass and copper chainwork by michael miller. More rather awesome chain.

mollie dash

2007-08-30T21:38:00.000+10:00

Had a jewellery rush the other day, and rediscovered Mollie Dash jewellery!! I want all of it. But the bracelets in particular. Where does she find such bloody awesome chain?!

mdp

2007-08-28T19:53:00.000+10:00

Major works are handed in, nah nah nah nah nah nah...
design tech- a pendant light, with the option of soy sauce container attachments, hehehe

art

2007-08-28T19:33:00.000+10:00

Major works are handed in, nah nah nah nah nah nah....
art body of work

donna sgro

2007-08-19T10:11:00.000+10:00

Though this is a bit too wonderfully crazy for me, I love the pocket detail of the small hand and the print and material of that dress! Donna Sgro, one of the many talented people at the Young Blood Designers Market at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

art

2007-08-14T10:50:00.000+10:00

These are a few photos for my art body of work. The idea is the beauty of the banal, transfiguration of the everyday. Can you tell what it is? I'd love to know what you think.

lightly

2007-08-14T10:43:00.000+10:00

All this design coming out of Melbourne makes me want to move there! Have you ever seen something that made acrylic look so fluid and elegant? Lightly Living.

oops

2007-08-13T18:07:00.000+10:00

I just realised that the shoes below are actually from Anthropology . Sorry bout the stuff up. Both Anthropology and Urban Outfitters are equally awesome and should come to Australia!

gorgeous shoes

2007-07-31T18:22:00.000+10:00

Hmmm. Blogging may quickly become a form of procrastination... All the better!
I've been meaning to post this for a while; do like these textures. And it will be soon be spring! Why is there no Urban Outfitters in Australia?! I do have a list of other things that really should be available down here. I'll post those another time.

hello

2007-07-23T21:49:00.000+10:00

Heya. Sorry about really the slow leakage of really awesome stuff. I am in a rather thick period of exams and have both my art and design&technology major works due in on 27 August, so I am crazy at the moment. After that I fully intend to bombard the site with masses and masses of wowness! Well, till then, tata!

organon 9 worlds

2007-07-11T17:29:00.000+10:00

Jewellery with charm, interest and quirkiness. All on a great collage website. Though I don't really go for the pom pom attatchments, I do quite like these designs. Organon 9 Worlds

frankie

2007-07-11T16:37:00.000+10:00

Mmmm, magazines that actually have good taste. Frankie is a mixture of all the arts; fashion, theatre, literature, music, graphics, design and so on. It is very supportive of up and coming talents, especially young Australian ones. And it has the odd free cards and posters- bonus! It is rather inspiring, has a nice layout and is a good read, so go buy it. Now.

alan fletcher

2007-06-30T12:47:00.000+10:00

I can't help it. I have to post about another of my absolute favourites. After being lucky enough to see the exhibition Alan Fletcher: fifty years of graphic work (and play) at the Design Museum in London, here, I have become a loyal believer in simple, and extremely effective, graphic design.

kanako sasaki

2007-06-29T22:49:00.000+10:00

Brilliant. Provides a different view point on life that should be used more often. Kanako Sasaki.

gnome

2007-06-28T16:53:00.000+10:00

I cannot remember where I found this image, but I thought I would pass on the gnome love. By the way, as a new blogger I guess I should make some profound statement about my blog... Well, I can't think of anything...

reyka

2007-06-28T16:44:00.000+10:00

I may not be legal to drink vodka yet, but that in no way means that I cannot appreciate this quirky website. Reyka Vodka.

zaishu

2007-06-28T16:20:00.001+10:00

Oh dear. I am posting about all my utmost favourite things, other than kittens with whiskers and brown paper packages. Maybe I had better save them up!
I present another one of my design heroes, Matt Butler and the Zaishu. These ones are from the India project. Made from plantation timber, flat pack and often using old paint, the Zaishu is a product that is eco-friendly and incredibly funky also! How handy. And... each panel is individual as it is part of a larger artwork. And... you can build your own. And... the projects support the disadvantaged! And... What more could you want?

nada go-go

2007-06-27T21:25:00.001+10:00

Yay for guy's shirts (especially on girls)! And these ones are awesome. NADA GO-GO (check out the dancing men) at Finnish Design Shop.

shona wilson

2007-06-27T20:56:00.000+10:00

An artist who has inspired my final school year artwork. Shona Wilson is post modern in a way that no other post modern artist has ever been before, which is no mean feat.

josh pyke

2007-06-27T19:55:00.000+10:00

Recently discovered Josh Pyke and am loving him to bits! I don't really know how to describe his music other than a bit country and, erm, soul? No matter; its awesome. And the graphics of the CD, website, music videos is a bonus.

droog

2007-06-27T18:21:00.000+10:00

Ah, Droog. The streamline yet quirky design and concept and the amazingly attractive images! Have a browse of their website and you cannot help but admire the designers.

"Droog is an innovative enterprise based in Amsterdam. Set up in 1993 as a statement on design, it has developed the Droog mentality: creating innovative concepts that change perspective. Our products and projects connect with the individual, the user. They deal with slowness, memories, nostalgia, re-use, craftsmanship, nature. They generate experience, interaction, participation, products that are easily to comprehend, have meaning, tell stories; products that are meant to be cherished and not discarded without thought."