Perth Street Art Profiles: Abnormal Design
Abnormal Design have taken street art and made a commercial venture from it. Comprised of Dave and Drew, this duo’s work adorns such locations as Harry’s Bar, Joondalup Train Station, Kenwick Link for the Perth Transit Authority and also more recently Claremont’s Bayview Terrace. They do an array of jobs from private to government works, even teaching young street artists through their involvement with local councils.
How long has Abnormal Design been running for?
Dave: It’s probably been 13 years now. I went overseas and noticed that people could do mural art and things that catered to customers. So I thought why not start something like this in Perth. I met some guys in New York and Europe who were doing something similar.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve had to overcome?
Drew: The stigma attached to the spray can, that’s one thing we’ve had to deal with a lot. They see that it instantly seems to cheapen the art form. We also work quiet fast so I think a lot of people hold that against us.
So what’s the attitude from people toward aerosol work?
Drew: It’s really positive.
Dave: When you do it well.
Drew: It’s something they really enjoy, but they don’t know how to connect with people who are doing it so much. And that’s what we do, getting involved with councils and the like we figure is the best way to get through to the youth in the area. And that’s what we’re about: teaching the kids in the area. So we’re not only doing murals but we’re teaching as well. (more…)
Fashioning Now… Like WOW!
We fashion the future by shaping the now. It’s a simple logic really, that the steps we take now will determine where we end up in the near and distant future.
So while our politicians sit on their hands and call for more ‘assemblies’ (as though talking will remedy climate change) there are people actually out there doing stuff about it, from the proactive to the educational. (more…)
Art Shorts #109
Be first in the country to catch some new tunes by the one and only Claire Bowditch as she wraps up the second season of this year’s ARTBAR season. The award-winning musician’s trio will be previewing some new songs from her upcoming album ‘Modern Day Addiction’ as well as some old favourites. Bowditch will be previewing her first two singles ‘Bigger than the money’ and ‘The Start of War’ for the first time. Her show will be preceded by a showing of the WA Indigenous Art Awards exhibition. Doors open at 6.30pm on Thursday, August 5 at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Tickets are on sale now. (more…)
Perth Street Art Profiles: Invader
Ok, I know what you’re thinking… Invader is actually a French street artist. So what’s he doing in Perth Street Art? Well, back in 2001 Invader hit down under when he was invited to exhibit as part of Mono Culture, exhibiting alongside The Yok, Mark McPherson and Victim. The result? A 26 part installation which spread across the entire Perth Metro area and came complete with a map so you could track down and find all his work. (more…)
Perth Street Art Profiles: Ryan Boserio
When I first met Ryan Boserio his friend Timothy Rollin described him as the man responsible for the phrase ‘You’ve just been Boserioed!’ I’m not actually sure what being ‘Boserioed’ involves, but if his artwork is anything to go by it means your head has possibly spliced by a wave of lysergic madness… while a plane flies past. (more…)
Patricia Piccinini - Larger Than Life
The future is now. Or at least that appears to be the case with Patricia Piccinini’s vividly real yet fantastically surreal sculptures, which will be appearing at the Art Gallery of WA (AGWA) this May.
Her work elicits equal parts fascination and horror in her viewers, mainly because the creatures she creates exist on the edge of dreams. Mythic and sublimely magical in nature, her beings appear as though they could reside in this realm if only genetics would take such leaps. (more…)
Perth Street Art Profiles: Cheeks
We all love a little anthropomorphism. We get a kick out of making inanimate objects come to life, imbuing them with the most fleeting whiff of humanity. It brings us comfort in a cold technological world, unleashing both our inner child and our inner Dr Frankenstein, both of them smiling with glee.
Anthropomorphism, or the technique of giving human characteristics to objects, can be as simple as popping a pair of eyes on a post box. Young Perth street artist Cheeks knows this. In fact, she’s one of its greatest exponents, executing crazy paste-up eyes and gnarled teeth wherever she can. (more…)
Art Shorts - May
LOL
For her first time in Australia, British comedian Zoe Lyons will venture to Perth in June as she joins the travelling troupe of the Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow. Critics have branded her as the ‘epitome of camp comedy’ for her razor sharp wit. She’ll be touring WA from May 25 to June 16 with shows scattered across the state. Acts range from stand-up comedy to musical and sketch comedy, with each show hosted by one of Australia’s favorite comedians. You can catch Zoe or one of the other riotous acts in Perth from June 8-13 for the 12th annual Roadshow.
www.comedyfestival.com.au (more…)
20,000 Reasons To See HATCHED
In the final weeks before his death in 2000, famed Perth dermatologist and art collector Dr Harold Schenberg bequeathed millions of dollars to local bodies such as the Art Gallery of WA and UWA. It was a flamboyant gesture, almost as flamboyant as Dr Schenberg himself.
He was quite possibly one of the most colourful characters our city had ever seen. Dr Schenberg was an accomplished piano player and would dress in a riot of colour. He loved fluorescents and sharp hues, often combining them in daily outfits. It was a love of colour reflected in his art collection, a love he’d pass on to artists whom he’d mentor. (more…)
Perth Street Art Profiles: Timothy Rollin
Timothy Rollin is becoming a much sought after street artist. His work has a looseness of line yet one populated with a mass of characters. What started out as simple demons and trolls (the latter his former tag, taken from his initial and the first four letters of his name) now people a menagerie.
Daydream kids, dinosaurs and yaks with cheesy grins are all part of his populace. Which is where part of Rollin’s appeal lies: his style is carefree, just like his characters… and his attitude toward life. (more…)
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