Si Clark

Feeling slightly despondent about the level of consumerism in modern society today, mostly because Baptiste's parents have rearranged their room for the 3rd time since I've been here, adding new rugs, ornaments and throws to the (still new from the last change) new bed, armchair and lamps. There are two gigantic bags of stuff to be thrown away or stored in the already tightly packed storage space in the garage. And also because during lunch I was flicking through an IKEA catalogue.

So I went trawling through the internet for some statistics or studies about consumerism, thinking that knowledge might make me feel a bit better. It didn't.

But I did come across some pretty cool illustrations by a guy called Si Clark. Kind of freaky, yes, but also kind of cool, and reminds me for some reason of Invader Zim.

Images courtesy of www.artshole.co.uk/siclark.htm.

Jérémy Laffon

Artwork by Jérémy Laffon

Spent most of the weekend in my pjs and unconscious with a cold, but managed to drag myself out of the house for an hour on Sunday arvo to get a glimpse of an art exhibition by Jérémy Laffon. While I didn't find it offensive, it didn't especially tickle my fancy either, but in any case, it was really nice to be an adult for a little while, away from pouts, feeding and demands for attention.

Clay

I got to do some work in clay today. It's smooth and soft and wet and when you run your hands along it, it's so sensuous, like flesh.

We are supposed to be making a basic figure to use when making a plaster cast for concrete. I got sidetracked by making a woman's head, stroking her shoulders, forming her breasts and buttocks. But it was impractical as a start for a concrete mold -- too detailed and the wrong sort of shape.

I ended up with something much simpler (though not nearly as enjoyable to make). I think on one side it looks like someone kneeling and looking down and from the other someone standing and looking up -- economical, two for the price of one. After we make the plaster cast and pour the concrete, the idea is that we paint faces etc on it and put it out in the garden, I suppose.

Fat Man with a Can

I found this guy really difficult to draw, for a number of reasons. Firstly, he's fat, which means all the proportions I normally use to draw people don't work so well(all my prior subjects have been less than obese) Secondly, he's all pixels -- I drew him straight into Photoshop using my tablet. Since I've discovered the world of tablet, I've learned that quite a few digital artists do things on paper or canvas and then import it into Photoshop. There are a few out there who start with a blank screen, such as Min Yum, who is a concept artist that does some really cool stuff. Check her out at http://www.minart.net

BIG art -- AKA I'm No Longer a Finalist

Is impressive.
Is expensive.
Makes a statement loudly.
Can be interacted with at a distance.

Is not what I do.

Despite giving them the dimensions over a month ago, I've just been told by the folks at Artrage/adultshop.com that my entry is too small to be exhibited and therefore I am no longer a finalist in the competition.

To be crude, how utterly shit.

Excerpt Newspaper Article

I'm a Finalist!!

17th January 2007

Dear Eugenie,

The short-list for the 2007 adultshop.com Erotic Art Prize has been finalised and it is with great pleasure that I advise your work “Oedipus/Shiva/Kali/Jocasta” has been selected for exhibition.

A total of 36 finalists have been chosen from hundreds of submissions received from across Australia. The selected works will be judged on March 8th for the $10,000 Prize with the exhibition opening on March 9th and running until April 1st.

The exhibition and initiative is produced in a partnership with ARTRAGE, and the first date to consider is the delivery of your work to THE BAKERY ARTRAGE COMPLEX by February the 19th. You will receive further correspondence soon that covers delivery instructions in more detail, as well as timeline, freight, insurance, artist fees and other relevant exhibition information and logistics.

In the mean time, an email back ASAP confirming your exhibition inclusion would be appreciated, as we are keen to commence media communications that may include reference to your participation.

We look forward to working with you in the coming weeks. Congratulations on your selection.

Rodin - The Kiss

This is one of my favourite Rodin sculptures. I sketched this whilst travelling through France and Italy earlier this year. The techniques, artistry and beauty of this particular sculpture aside, I really just like the subject. I'm in good company -- there have been many iterations on the theme of The Kiss (Hayez, Klimt, Versari, Munch, Picasso, Lichenstein ....) And why is this theme so beloved of artists? My theory is that the kiss is the goal and apex of romantic (as opposed sexual) love, the curtains fall and the music swells and happily ever after. Ahhh ...

papertiger media

Today I discovered this site, whose content and approach really appeal to me. A bit poetry, a bit art, a bit multimedia, a bit all three and most importantly, they don't sound like elitists or wankers.

http://www.papertigermedia.com/


Quoted from the About Us page:

"Award-winning publishers of poetry and art since 2000

papertiger media was established in Brisbane, Australia, by Paul Hardacre and Marissa Newell.
publishers of the papertiger: new world poetry CDROM, hutt poetry ezine, anything i like art ezine, and the soi 3 modern poets imprint, papertiger media is unique in its vision and dedication to diversity, by publishing in three formats.

Queensland-centric, but with an eye to the international, papertiger media now has an Asia office in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to complement the activities of its Brisbane headquarters.
Winners of the Queensland Writers Centre's Johnno Award for its outstanding contribution to writers and writing in the state of Queensland, papertiger media has emerged as one of Queensland's most important and prolific cultural producers."