Sydney College of the Arts Postgraduate Degree Show 2009

My installation titled Gokko Rando (Make Believe Land) Part I, exhibited in the SCA Postgraduate Degree Show 2009. I technically finish my MVA in March (due to an extension) but luckily got to test run the install and set up at the end of year show. It was a great experience and I received a lot of feedback. Thanks to everyone that came to see it, and many thanks to Mark Scott Johnson for taking the time to help me with the lights and photography.

Gokko Neko (Make Believe Cat), Ceramic, 2009.

RED: The Lure of the Huldra: A Norwegian Nightmare, Ceramic, Mixed Media, LED lights, 2009.

Once upon a time there lived an alluringly amorous young wood nymph. She lived on a small island off the coast of Japan and drank red wine with adzuki beans every day. She also had an appetite for inquisitive young men. So much so that the adventurous sailors that dared to visit her island to view her beauty were often eaten up after their encounter with the Huldra and their body parts lay strewn across the island as evidence of her passionate hunger.

One day a Spacecat from an other universe landed on her island and found himself strangely attracted to the Huldra. The Huldra knew that she could not mate with this hybrid creature from outer space. Her salacious nature got the better of her and their relationship was consummated resulting in the birth of the Spacecat Spirit.

This tablaeu titled BLUE: Forbidden Love - Banished to the Blu Land, references the Norwegian myth of the Blu Man. In my scene the mutant cats that have evolved from the space cat and Huldra's encounter, have been banished to the harsh cold Blu Land of frost and ice. Frozen to the core, they no longer pose a threat to the wood land creatures.

Entrance view to Gokko Rando (Make Believe Land) Part I






Mr Poop with Exploding Flower, Ceramic, 2009.

RED: The Lure of the Huldra - A Norwegian Nightmare

GREEN: The Woods Have Eyes

The Tree Spirits witness this travesty and banish the Spacecat Spirits to an icy cold island situated at the top of the world.

BLUE: Forbidden Love - Banished to the Blu Land

This is a little vid of the installation. The project titled Gokko Rando (Make Believe Land) Part I is a living sculpture that morphs and grows throughout the exhibition period. Porous ceramic elements are installed in wet diorama habitats. The ceramic pieces slowly absorb the coloured dye that they sit in, slowly moving up the body of the piece. The dye not only colours the pieces but also reacts with the ceramic material to form coloured crystals that sit on the surface.

Postgraduate Degree Show 2009

My cast of characters are slowly assembling, waiting patiently in the wings for their last costume rehearsal. Some of the little spacecats are suffering from anxiety and perhaps stage-fright while the other larger felines are prancing around with confidence.

It's been a long time coming but I'm just in the process of putting a few finishing touches to the last pieces, and of course there are a few more creatures still emerging from the slip bucket in my studio. I'm currently planning the installation and have set myself an ambitious goal to create shelves that will hold and retain liquid (with lighting).

I would love to see you all at the show, so if you're in the area feel free to mosey on down to check out my 'Fractured Fairytale' Series.

The opening is on Wed 9th Dec, 6-8pm at Sydney College of the Arts, Balmain Rd, Rozelle, Sydney.
It runs to Wed 16th December.
Monday - Friday, 11-5pm
Sat - Sun, 11-4pm.

http://lesswrong.com/lw/1/about_less_wrong/

http://lesswrong.com/lw/1/about_less_wrong/

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I love bad things: the dark side of creativity

Stumbled upon this site while researching the work of Michael Doolan. Worth a look if you are attracted to the darker side of life. www.ilovebadthings.com

Unbearable Sydney Design 09

I managed to piece together the fragments that survived the long trip from Norway for a display in this years Sydney Design Utility Exhibition titled 'Unbearable'. I also began work on a new display shelf made out of acrylic to hold liquids. I wanted to experiment with the porosity of the ceramic pieces and the contrast in textures. The piece is titled 'The Lust of the Huldra: a norwegian nightmare' and is based on the Norwegian myth of the woodland temptress, the Huldra, who lures men out of their homesteads with her beauty to steal their sheep and milk.

Thank you Mark for taking all the lovely photos.

Josh Pyke 'You dont scare me'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MXUxL

australian ceramics triennale, sydney, 09

Penny Byrne, John and Janette Were all set for the Long Walk

Penny Byrne, If Only Gay Sex Caused Global Warming, mused Mother Earth

Just when I thought it was safe to relax , I came home to the pulsating vibe of the 'Australian Ceramics Triennale'. And as it was taking place just down the road from me at my old college (NAS), I couldnt find a reason not to go. I listened and watched, albeit a little brain dead, but it was worth hanging around for the Marek Cecula and Takashi Yasuda words of wisdom - "Design is Dead" (ie: as we know it). And of course I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Penny Byrne's pieces in the flesh. She is probably one of my fav ceramic artists at the mo. http://www.eatfrenchbread.com/penny-byrne/ . Thanks Penny.