Retrospect Galleries is thrilled to present an exhibition of works from Internationally acclaimed artist Emma Hack.

Emma's artwork is perhaps most instantly recognised in the stop animation body artwork video for Gotye's hit song "Somebody That I used To Know",  which, to date, has been viewed over 350 million times on youtube.

 Emma's process involves 3 distinct phases, she begins by elaborately painting a particular background, be it a detailed wall paper pattern, fine china design or comic book-scape and then painstakingly painting the body of her model in the same pattern so she then blends chameleon-like into the background. The final stage is to photograph the completed tableaux.

 Emma explains, "It can take up to 10 hours to paint a model in front of a background, and they're standing the whole time. I try not to worry about it because it would affect the work - but it's a fine line between being considerate about the models and getting the detailed work done!"

The success and exposure of the Goyte video gave people the opportunity to see that Emma's artworks are entirely handmade and not, as is often presumed, executed in photoshop. Although only briefly in the country Retrospect is thrilled to have secured Emma for an artist's talk about this elaborate process on Feb 2 at the gallery at ?pm.

Another recent project which gained the attention of the world press was  "Body Crash"  an extra-ordinary project for which she painted 17 people and then 'sculpted' them into position to create a crashed car for South Australia's Motor Accident Commission.

Works to be included in Retrospect Galleries exhibition include a series called "POP!" in which Emma explores her fascination with the pop art genre, Emma's is a fun, modern , however, day retake on the comic-inspired work of Roy Lichtenstein. Her heroines are not helpless romantics, but rather, they are strong feisty, sexy, superwomen. They are so impeccably integrated with their comic book surrounds, the viewer does a double take before realising the female figures are not caricatures but rather are real models.
 
We will also present Emma's most recent body of work, the stunning Blue and White series in which she focuses her attention on the fascinating journey of the ubiquitous blue and white patterned porcelain which evolved and mutated through centuries of trade between Asian and  Europe. The collection features designs from 5 countries, China, Holland, England, France and Portugal. Refined, intricate and subtle, these works are like the stylistic antithesis of the bold, primary coloured works of "POP!".

In a similar vein to The Blue and White series we will also be showing works from Emma's well known "Broadhurst" series in which the model was painted to blend into various beautiful elaborate Florence Broadhurst wallpaper patterns. The model distinguishing herself from the background courtesy of the exotic animal or bird she held in each photograph.

With 22yrs experience in the arena of body art/photography Emma Hack is now at the top of her field. The array of work to be exhibited here is in turn  bold, subtle, whimsical, and exquisite. Do not miss this opportunity to meet the artist and experience the work of an acclaimed internationally renowned artist.

See her work online here: http://www.retrospectgalleries.com/exhibition-detail/emma-hack-solo-show/3387/1

check out some of the links to her processes here

Native Mandala
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL156AEB99289E43ED&feature=plcp

Wallpaper Collection 2005-2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUBuZ3jgyzQ&feature=plcp

Voices in the Mirror
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4spIMc9UclM

Other projects:

Body Painting Film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Z3qga_vKc&feature=plcp

Natura:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqnTbyW5Bg0

Guitar Festival
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI1f2BM57Lw
Interviews:

Gotye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY


Interviews:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBQmH7mIAng

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGyj_7zfN14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgFpANlBcHA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVGaEM_-bNw

Rene Botlen has works featured in our current exhibition 'The Garden of Earthly Delights'

One of my earliest memories is looking through the sketch book of a gentleman called Horse. Something powerful stirred and I've had my own sketch books within reach ever since. My formal artistic training and education ended in high school but I keep meeting randomly perfect guides whose shared knowledge has helped me to continually evolve my craft. My artistic career began officially while living in Dubai in 2003 where I received an opportunity to work as an editorial illustrator for a lifestyle magazine. I now work and live in Australia as an editorial illustrator, graphic designer, mural artist, international commission artist and sell locally and nationally through galleries.

 

'The imagination is a crazy gift. It's capable of such incredible and never ending creations. We should explore our imaginations as often as we can. Its a gift to the world and ourselves every time we do'.

 

Q&A 45 questions with our Artist of the Month for September John Cottrell

Right now I am...
Thinking 

At the moment I am working on...
Some new work.. a bit unpredictable

My proudest moment this year was...
Nearly winning that trophy 

My biggest mistake this year was...
Going backhand instead of forehand 

Recently I’ve been inspired by the work of...
Mark Rothko

When I’m stuck for ideas I usually...
Do some drawing 

I have always been fascinated by artists that...
Have confidence, that shows in their work

If I were to try my hand at a new art form, it would be…
Animation

When I was a child I dreamt of...
My early years were full of dreams and in fact have been the main inspiration and starting point for my work, I have tried to capture the energy of theses dreams

My first job was...
A printer 

My first big love was...
Cricket 

The first piece of art I ever bought was...
Well i have swapped many paintings over the years, so have a bit of a collection 

My favourite record cover of all time is...
Little Feat - Down on the Farm

The best film I have seen this year is...
The Road 

If I could see any musician (past or present) performing live, it would be...
Bob Dylan
 
In the film of my life I would like to be played by…
Robert de Niro

My Avatar would be...
Blue

My guiltiest pleasure this year has been...
My new camera 

If I am cooking for myself I...
Always make my own almond meal

My last meal would be...
Roast lamb, you silly

The last thing I do before I go to bed each night, is...
My eyes sort of start to close

I am currently reading...
Arthur Boyd - A Life

If I could be a mythical creature I would be...
Mr Curly 

The best gift I have ever received was...
A bike

If I was offered a billion dollars on the condition I had to give it all away, I would...
Do a lot of research first

If I was heading off around the world and could only take three things with me, I would pack...
iPod, camera, sketch books

If air travel was no longer possible I would...
Be very happy, because I wouldn't have to get into those pesky planes again

If I was a superhero I would be…
Kramer

If my art could work for a worthy cause, I would dedicate it to…
Médecins Sans Frontières

The thing I loved about the 20th Century was...
The music 

If I could live in any one period of time, I would choose...
Paris in the 1930s 

The most valuable lesson I have learned this year is...
Patience 

The craziest thing I have done this year was...
Well i haven't done it yet, but....... 

If I were to get a tattoo anytime soon, it would be...
A picture of lamby

When I think about the GEC, I...
Think they make the best fridges

The rise of graphic art makes me think...
Oh well

I found the Bill Henson debate...
Tragic 

If I wasn’t so busy making art I would like to...
Always be making art 

In the next year I hope to achieve…
45 questions

Click here to view John Cottrell's gallery of works

Sarah Watt is an AFI award-winning Australian filmmaker who has been working as a writer, director and producer of animation for over fifteen years. Sarah Watt studied fine art, majoring in painting and photography, at Phillip Institute in 1979-81, using her extraordinary creative talents, she also completed the brilliant children's picture book, Clem Always Could. She was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in the 2001 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to Australian society and to Australian film production.

See the exhibition of her upcoming show Little Picture here..

Read her artist profile here..

Right now I am…
catching up on my emails

At the moment I am working on…
little pictures, my exhibition at Retrosppect

In the last year I have challenged myself to…
explore more of visual arts process

My proudest moment this year was…
watching my son playing cricket in the firsts

My biggest mistake this year was…
discovering chocolate with sea salt

Recently I’ve been inspired by the work of…
Stephen Shore

When I’m stuck for ideas I usually…
keep working, there’s all those other ideas I haven’t done anything with yet.

I have always been fascinated by artists that…
can still make me see things in new ways

If I were to try my hand at a new artform, it would be… 
digitalized special effects

When I was a child I dreamt of…
hamburgers comes to mind I’m afraid. Maybe spiders.

My first job was…
selling buttons at Adairs

My first big love was…
dogs

The first piece of art I ever bought was…
I can’t remember, I swapped things for a long time

My favourite record cover of all time is…
I really can’t remember many but I always liked Creatures of Leisure by Mental As Anything

The best film I have seen this year is…
Welcome

If I could see any musician (past or present) performing live, it would be…
Dean Martin or Prince

In the film of my life I would like to be played by…
Simone Signoret or James Gandolfini

My Avatar would be…
healthy, gorgeous, Spanish maybe

My guiltiest pleasure this year has been…
chocolate with sea salt

If I am cooking for myself I…
make toast

My last meal would be…
something I didn’t have to cook

The last thing I do before I go to bed each night, is…
a suduko puzzle

I am currently reading….
Lorrie Moore –short stories

If I could be a mythical creature I would be….
The Loch Ness Monster

The best gift I have ever received was…
anything that people have made for me

My grandmother (pick one) always said…
a little fat is good for you.

If I was offered a billion dollars on the condition I had to give it all away, I would…

give it away

If I was heading off around the world and could only take three things with me, I would pack…
my camera, a sudooku puzzle , and my venolin unhaler

If air travel was no longer possible I would…
take a boat

If I was a superhero I would be…
male most likely

And my costume would be…
flattering

If my art could work for a worthy cause, I would dedicate it to…
the glass half full foundation

If I had to leave everything behind and flee to another country, I hope that when I arrived I found…
a welcome

The thing I loved about the 20th Century was…
I was there

If I could live in any one period of time, I would choose…
now

The most valuable lesson I have learned this year is…
don’t ignore the back of the fridge

The craziest thing I have done this year was…
ignoring the back of the fridge 

If I were to get a tattoo anytime soon, it would be… 
temporary

When I think about the GEC, I… 
I don’t

The rise of graphic art makes me think…
happy for shaun tan

I found the Bill Henson debate…
interesting

They say fact is stranger than fiction because…
it can be true

If I wasn’t so busy making art I would like to…
travel

In the next year I hope to achieve…
travel

Deb is an emerging artist with a 25 year art practice! She lives and works on the Brisbane/Ipswich border. She completed a fine art degree at the Queensland College of Art in 2006. Her art practice since then has revolved around still life and she has won some major prizes including the Sponsors Choice Award, Eutick Memorial Still Life Awards 2009 and the New Generation People’s Choice Award 2008. She has been a finalist in many exhibitions including The Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2010, 2008, the Eutick Memorial Still Life Awards 2010, 2009, 2008, the Redlands Art Awards 2010, 2008, the Salon de Refuses 2009, the Stan and Maureen Duke Art Prize 2010, 2007 and the Theiss Art Prize 2006.  Click here to view Deb's Artist Profile.

Deb’s recent works are to feature in our next Gold Coast show - Honestly!  Opening Friday 18 March at 6pm.  Show runs until 31 March. Click here to view show.

An evening with Deb Mostert - Objects Speak! is also being held on Thursday 17 March at 6pm.  For more information contact the Gold Coast gallery on (07) 5538 8825.

 

This interview is an excerpt from InRetrospect 11, to be released soon.

 

Right now I am…

Trying to focus on the computer screen, ‘where are my glasses-’

 

At the moment I am working on…

Developing some ideas into paintings. It’s hard work, much harder than doing the actual painting.

 

In the last year I have challenged myself to…

Care more.

 

My proudest moment this year was…

Suddenly realising that my three teenagers are extraordinary individuals with so much potential.

 

My biggest mistake this year was…

Forgetting the lid was off my tube of Cerulean Blue.

 

Recently I’ve been inspired by the work of…

The Dutch masters, yet again. I keep going back to them, to be inspired and depressed in equal measure by their skills and the mood they create.

 

When I’m stuck for ideas I usually…

Think ‘great! Now I can relax for a while’....never happens.

 

I have always been fascinated by artists that…

Can make paint moody and suggestive.

 

If I were to try my hand at a new artform, it would be…

Sculpture or silver smithing. 

 

When I was a child I dreamt of…

Being a vet, sadly my grade 8 science grades put a match to that dream. 

 

My first job was…

As a paste up artist/ graphic artist (back in the 80’s when cut and paste was literally that!)

 

My first big love was…

Drawing, I became aware at an early age that I could draw and that knowledge lit a fire which never went out. I draw nearly every day and consider it the bones of my art practise. 

 

The first piece of art I ever bought was…

An etching of the interior of St Pauls Cathedral by English artist Edward Sharland, I still love it.

 

My favourite record cover of all time is…

Resurrection by Sons of Korah. The artwork was done by Warren Breninger whose sensitive and dynamic paintings I very much admire. And it’s a great album too!

 

The best film I have seen this year is…

I’m still waiting for it!

 

If I could see any musician (past or present) performing live, it would be…

Paul Simon or Sting or a whole host of others to numerous to mention!

 

In the film of my life I would like to be played by…

Dame Judi Dench, what a great actor

 

My Avatar would be…

A snowdome or a tin paint box

 

My guiltiest pleasure this year has been…

Spending the entire profits from the sale of a painting on tubes of luscious Langridge Paints. It’s probably spoilt me for life.

 

If I am cooking for myself I…

Make a risotto, good comfort food!

 

My last meal would be…

Slow cooked lamb shanks on sweet potato mash.

 

The last thing I do before I go to bed each night, is…

Read usually.

 

I am currently reading….

A few books at once as is my custom and strangely enough all related to concepts of last days and how we choose to live them.  The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Beach by Nevil Shute and One Month to Live by Kerry and Chris Shook.  Sobering, thought provoking and uplifting.

 

If I could be a mythical creature I would be….

A dryad, I love trees

 

The best gift I have ever received was…

Things hand made by my children, complete with tipsy misspelt words of love written on cards made with felt pens and crayon.

 

My grandmother always said…

‘et smakelijk’ meaning enjoy your meal in dutch.

 

If I was offered a billion dollars on the condition I had to give it all away, I would…

Use it to organize a redistribution of wealth on our planet. We have enough for everyone, we just need to re organize it.

 

If I was heading off around the world and could only take three things with me, I would pack…

My bible, my watercolour kit/paper and photos of my family

 

If air travel was no longer possible I would…

Go by boat, preferably by sail.

 

If I was a superhero I would be…

Marine Boy because he was my favourite growing up, he had cool chewing gum that allowed him to breathe underwater. Whatever happened to Marine Boy-

 

If my art could work for a worthy cause, I would dedicate it to…

Compassion International or Share an Opportunity (Baptist World Aid) as they work to connect orphans and desperately poor children in developing countries with sponsors who can support them with basic needs and schooling. 

 

If I had to leave everything behind and flee to another country, I hope that when I arrived I found…  

A community of like minded people.

 

The thing I loved about the 20th Century was…

I can only comment on the decades in which I have existed, so:  60’s music, 70’s clothes, 80’s hair and 90’s gadgets

 

If I could live in any one period of time, I would choose…

Right now is all right by me

 

The most valuable lesson I have learned this year is…

To be more patient, to slow down, listen more and talk less

 

The craziest thing I have done this year was…

To go to my 25th year high school reunion. What a surreal experience. 

 

If I were to get a tattoo anytime soon, it would be…

‘not anytime soon!’ Written in Old English type face accompanied by a dolphin jumping over a skull carrying dragon with butterflies and Chinese characters spelling out my three children’s names.  Oh, and a rose and a snarling leopard. 

 

When I think about the GEC, I…

Think it’s a great opportunity to live more simply and to be thankful for what I have.

 

The rise of graphic art makes me think…

Is graphic art rising-

 

I found the Bill Henson debate…

An overreaction but an interesting glimpse at how people project through their own paradigms onto artwork they see. 

 

They say fact is stranger than fiction because…

It is, just look at a giraffe tongue! Why electric blue-!

 

If I wasn’t so busy making art I would like to…

Spend time writing a novel

 

In the next year I hope to achieve…

A bigger veggie garden

Sarah Harvey is an artist based in Byron Bay who works predominately in the printmaking medium. She began her exploration into printmaking techniques in 2003 after attending a course in etching at Central St Martins College in London. In 2007 she was presented the Fusion Commendation Award for outstanding work in printmaking mediums and in 2008 attained her Bachelor of Fine Art degree at Queensland College of Art, Brisbane. Since that time her work has been exhibited nationally and Internationally in Hong Kong and the UK. Sarah spent an idyllic childhood chasing butterflies, damming creeks and eluding swooping magpies. These moments have left a lasting impression on the artist, whose work is inspired by our attachment to memories and the sense of forgotten joy, mystery and nostalgia they evoke. She constantly finds inspiration in her memories and imagination, books, illustrations and everyday events.

Sarah is featured in our upcoming exhibition The Magic Faraway Tree...

View her profile here

The person who has most influenced my art is….
My partner, who encouraged me from day one to pursue the dream of working in a creative field.

My favourite artist is …
Paul Klee, hands down, he can do amazing things with a just a simple line.

I’m inspired to start a new work when….
I just sit and watch the confidence and pure imagination of my 3 year old son drawing.

I am at my most creative/productive when…
I am covered in ink and surrounded by printing presses.

I am currently reading….
‘Everything is Illuminated’ by Jonathan Safran Foer and anything I can get my hands on by Haruki Murakami.

The book that changed my life is…
‘Watership Down’ by Richard Adams was beautiful, haunting and sad.

My favourite film of all time is…
‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ – there are some truly classic lines in that film.

It makes me smile when…
When my partner does some crazy dancing in our living room.

My three most valued possessions are…
Artworks collected from friends, photographs of my travels and my collection of Paul Klee books.

The three things in life I could never give up are…
A good cup of tea, swimming out past the breakers, my childhood memories. If I was stranded on a desert island I would want…
Great books, a snorkel and flippers.

If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go…
To Paris and watch Alexander Calder perform his circus act.

If I was elected Prime Minister of Australia the first thing I would do is…
Change the way we treat the Indigenous people of our country.

The achievement I am most proud of is…
Finally finishing my fine art degree!! (I had my son half way through the degree).. I wish I had listened when my parents told me…
Cocoa doesn’t taste like drinking chocolate (It took me hours to remove the dry cocoa from my throat!)

I hope my art...
Will always be a constant part of my life…and continue to evolve.
If I wasn’t an artist I would like to be….
A fashion designer or a horticulturalist, most anything that is creative and uses my hands.

Vexta is a self-taught artist who grew up in Sydney and shifted south to Melbourne, where she has gained a following for her neon stencils and paste-ups, drawn from cultural visual debris. In recent years she has been invited to cross the line from street art to galleries, showing her work at fine art venues in Australia and overseas. We are thrilled to feature several of her works in our upcoming Revolution of Art exhibition.

Right now I am… being terrorised by my little cat who wants to sleep and chew everything on my desk…as well as living and working as an artist in Melbourne – which means painting walls and canvas, building things out of bones and discarded objects, drawing and photographing.

At the moment I am working on… a new collection of work for the Melbourne Art Fair , a video and installation piece and am one third of a curating team putting together  a show of 20 + artists in an empty disused space. It’s pretty rad.

In the last year I have challenged myself to… travel more, paint bigger, to draw more and make more sculptures and installations.

My proudest moment this year was… painting a giant painting on a 25m long wall.

My biggest mistake this year was… probably not ever getting enough sleep! 

Recently I’ve been inspired by the work of… scientists, especially physicists, and indigenous astronomy stories. But that’s just lately, I guess I’m inspired by anyone who is passionate about what they do and has a desire to try and see the big picture and effect some kind of change or growth whether on an personal or universal level.

When I’m stuck for ideas I usually… read books, sit in bars drinking wine talking to my friends, or ride my bike around listening to new music. My problem is usually having too many ideas and trying to figure out how to make them all connect to each other or trying to decide what to focus my energy on.

I have always been fascinated by artists that… can mix their skill equally with their  ideas and subject matter, people who create art that is filled with passion and raw emotion.

If I were to try my hand at a new artform, it would be… writing a book, most likely a children’s book or fairy tale.

When I was a child I dreamt of… flying and floating in my sleeping life. In my day dreams I always thought about painting, drawing, telling stories and  generally making things, a lot more than I probably should have when I was meant to be doing other things. My school report always read “she has a very vivid imagination if only she would apply the same energy to her schoolwork”
 
My first job was… pretty shit, I worked for a large multinational fast-food company and I got fired for insubordination pretty fast.

My first big love was… for reading, as soon as I could I started devouring every book I could, I’m always reading a novel and often a nonfiction at the same time, if I don’t I think I would go insane.

The first piece of art I ever bought was… a lightbox artwork, it took me about 10 months to pay if off and pick it up!

The best film I have seen this year is… it’s a tie between The Road, which is so beautiful and brutal and Moon.

If I could see any musician (past or present) performing live, it would be… Nina Simone.

I am currently reading…. I just finished “The Time travelers wife” which was excellent and I'm also reading a book called “sleeping and dreaming” which is about sleeping and dreaming in science, society and art.

If I could be a mythical creature I would be… Some kind of half bird half human creature. A siren or something like that.

My grandmother always said… you are never too old to stop learning. My grandmother taught me that we are students of life, she is amazing and has so many talents - she can recite so much classical poetry, she is a bonsai master, and a gardening expert who knows all the Latin names the plants in her garden and keeper of our family history. If I can know half as much at her age I’d be pretty happy.

If I was heading off around the world and could only take three things with me, I would pack… paper, pencils & my ipod.

If air travel was no longer possible I would… take boats.

If I was a superhero I would be… Spiderman.

If my art could work for a worthy cause, I would dedicate it to… buying back the forests and creating more national parks, on a global scale.

If I could live in any one period of time, I would choose… it’s a tie between the 1920’s in Paris and late 1960s in San Francisco.

If I wasn’t so busy making art I would like to… be lying on a beach somewhere with a tropical old growth forest behind me, far away from the city reading a book.

In the next year I hope to achieve… so many things!

One of our feature artists in the Once Upon A Time exhibition, Cornelia Burless grew up in Bavaria, Germany, and came to Australia for a holiday at the age of 18, in 1991.  Like many ‘accidental immigrants’, she ended up staying and has since established a fantastic painting career from her base in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. 

The person who has most influenced my art is….
 Bodo Boden a german pop artist

My favourite artist is …
There are many I like, including Sam Fullbrook, Ben Quilty, Stephen Bush

I’m inspired to start a new work when….
I have lots of unfinished paintings surrounding me

I usually start my day by…
Getting up and having a cup of coffee…

I am currently reading….
I usually read non-fiction as it requires less emotional investment (I need that for painting). At the moment I am reading “unspeak” by Steven Poole.

The book that changed my life is…
The “art of loving” by Eric Fromm

It makes me smile when…
My kids come home

I get angry about…
my dog, when he doesn’t take himself out when he gets sick

If I was stranded on a desert island I would want…
To not run into Tom Hanks

If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go …
back to the future-

If I was elected Prime Minister of Australia the first thing I would do is…
Throw a great dinner party

My dream dinner party of six would include….
Dara O’Briain, Helge Schneider, If it were my party, I would serve…
Good home made food. I like cooking for many

The achievement I am most proud of is…
Surviving a day’s work as a data entry clerk without turning into a serial killer


The craziest thing I have ever done was…
Come as a backpacker to Australia when Ivan Milat was not in jail. The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is…
We all get older, make the best of it. When I die, I would like my gravestone to say…
Much loved…..

If a young person told me they wanted to be like me when they grow up, I would tell them…
To go and see the careers counsellor I wish I had listened when my parents told me…
That I can’t sing

My legacy to the world will be…
Something they might have to wait a little longer for

Every month we present an interview with one of our amazing artists to give you a bit of an insight into their behind the scenes life.  This month we’re featuring the Collage King Kareem Rizk. His work is highly textured and often multi-layered with a nostalgic and weathered quality. The images can often be vibrant with colour, while others display a very refined or minimal palette. Rizk works in collage, acrylic, oil, pastel, pencil, solvent transfers and acrylic transfers, and his working methods also extend to digital collage with a very gritty and realistic display of texture and layering. He is featured in our upcoming show Retroism.

Right now I am…
Freaking out about how much art stuff I have to do before the end of the week, including this questionnaire!

The person who has most influenced my art is…
Eduardo Recife (Misprinted Type).

My favourite artist is…
Eduardo Recife.

I’m inspired to start a new work when….
I’ve just finished a new piece that I’m really happy with. If  I get on a roll the production of work can almost become perpetual for quite an extended period of time.

I am at my most creative/productive when…
The sun is going down.  Even more so when its dark.

I usually start my day by…
Making a big mug of black tea (dash of milk/no sugar) and warm toast with butter and Vegemite.

The book that changed my life is…
God I Am by Peter O. Erbe.

My favourite album of all time is…
I don’t know if it’s my favourite of all time, but one that has inspired me quite a lot is the soundtrack from Blade Runner (Orchestral version) including the original extended version of Blade Runner Blues by Vangelis. 

My favourite film of all time is…
I can’t name just one, so I’ll name four! The Burbs, in my opinion one of the most classic, quintessential 80’s movies, Back To The Future,  Beetlejuice and Scarface.

When I am working I like to listen to…
80’s soft rock, 60’s & 70’s soul, funk and R&B. Not only do I like this kind of music but it often evokes certain feelings of nostalgia and memories which draws me closer to my work. It absorbs me further into the creative process, making it a truly mixed media experience.
My three most valued possessions are...
My SLR film camera, my growing collection of vintage magazines and 35 rolls of colour and black & white film from my 2008 journey around the world, which are still in the process of being developed! (I got a bit carried away).
If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go …
To visit each year of the sixties. So many pivotal events took place in this decade. And it also seems to have been one of the most creative, inspiring and liberating periods in history, with so much great music produced in so many genres.

If I was elected Prime Minister of Australia the first thing I would do is…
Get someone to kick me in the head in the hope of jolting any memory of why I wilfully ran for Prime Minister in the first place. Then I’d find the nearest person who was willing to become the next hand puppet for the ruling elite.

The three things in life I could never give up are …
Art, booze and laughter.

My dream dinner party of six would include…
Bill Hicks (alive of course), Christopher Walken, Bill Bailey, Dave Chapelle, Edvard Munch and Ghandi.
If it were my party, I would serve…
I wouldn’t be serving, I’d be too busy getting smashed.
I get angry about…
Finding traces of butter in a jar of Vegemite which are not mine.

The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is…
We live within a three dimensional holographic illusion. But we are infinite beings, pure light. There is no such thing as death, our souls are eternal. We will always experience life in all its forms eternally. Which is why it’s pointless ever worrying about anything or even taking anything in life too seriously.
 My legacy to the world will be…
Hopefully leaving a body of artwork behind that will stand the test of time. Something that is unique enough to be remembered as having inspired or motivated others to be creative and pursue their dreams.

Every month we present an interview with one of our amazing artists to give you a bit of an insight into their behind the scenes life.  This month we’re featuring new Zealand Born artist Michelle Dawson who has been shortlisted for several major art prizes including the Bendigo drawing Prize and the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize. She has twice represented Australia at the Intercontinental Biennale of Small Graphics in Romania and is currently shortlisted for the CBCA 2009 Crichton Award for Best New Illustrator. She is a featured artist in our upcoming show Man Woman Beast.

My favourite artist is…
A movable feast usually including some old stalwarts such as Cy Twombly, Bellini, Velasquez and Colin McCahon. Right now I am very taken with the way John Singer-Sargent can paint a frock.

I usually start my day by…
Thinking about going for a run and then getting up and having crumpets and coffee and doing the cryptic crossword in the sun.

I am currently reading…
Frederick Seidel Poems 1959-2009

The book that changed my life is…
The little golden books my mother bought me without fail every Friday with the shopping. They began a lifetime love affair with books and words that colours my existence and plays a huge part in my creative process.

My favourite film of all time is…
Blade Runner and Queen Margot and Ferris Bueller’s Day off and Ice Storm and An American Friend and Donnie Darko and Let the Right One In and Badlands and Taxi Driver and Nosferatu and and and and and…
(Favourite TV series ever is Deadwood)

When I am working I like to listen to…
Instinct, the piece of work I am engaged with and any other intelligent advise that is trying to get through….

I get angry and desperately sad about…
The careless, often willful annihilation of unique wild creatures,

My three most valued possessions are…
Chester, blanket, my brain

The three things in life I could never give up are …
My imagination…..that’ll do.

If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go…
And meet a thylacine in the wild.

My dream dinner party of six would include….
Nikola Tesla, Ted Hughes, Carravaggio, Sir Henry Neville, Anne Boleyn, 

The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is…
To keep learning

When I die, I would like my gravestone to say…
Inappropriate truths to passers by.

I hope my art...
Keeps searching

If I wasn’t an artist I would like to be…
A cheetah

 

 

 

 

Every month we present an interview with one of our amazing artists to give you a bit of an insight into their behind the scenes life.  This month we’re featuring former pro surfer tuned painter, James McMillan, one of the featured artists in the upcoming El Mar Mi Alma exhibition.

Right now I am…
Listening to the clock tick and watching shadows move across the floor as the sun rises

The person who has most influenced my art is….
My Dad…He painted western scenes, and the next day he sculpted abstract vases. His paintings were photo perfect realism and his vases were total freedom

My favourite artist is …
More than one - My son Blake…He wakes up at 6am and starts drawing tigers on skateboards and horses surfing. I love my sisters’ early paintings of mountains and trees. My son Colby’s awesome self-portraits. My nephew Luke’s street graffiti

I’m inspired to start a new work when….
Usually when I can’t start it. I’ll be riding my bike to the beach and see a combination of amazing colours in nature…I’ll want to paint instantly. I never start paintings when I’m happy. Always when I’m moody.

I am at my most creative/productive when…
Creative – when something dramatic happens in my life. Productive – When there are no other people around and it’s midnight

I usually start my day by…
Waking an hour before I need to get up. I lie in bed and stare out the window thinking about my dreams. I like letting my mind go for a walk

I am currently reading….
The Bible, Juxtapoz and The Surfers Journal. That’s all I ever read

The book that changed my life is…
Scuffy the Tugboat

My favourite album of all time is…
There isn’t one, It changes every few years. ’84 was Led Zeppelin, How the west was won, ’94 was Beastie Boys, Check Your Head, 2004 was Ray Lamontagne, Trouble

My favourite film of all time is…
isn't made yet. It would be my own life. I’d watch it in highlight the day before I die

When I am working I like to listen to…
Birdies chirping

It makes me smile when…
I see my sons happy. When I finish a painting. When I give away money. When Lisa smiles

I get angry about…
Misplacing things. People trying to talk to me when I’m singing

My three most valued possessions are…
My tent, my diaries, my laptop (I think)

The three things in life I could never give up are …
Camping, vegemite on toast, daydreaming

If I was stranded on a desert island I would want…
Nothing. Being stranded is something I’ve enjoyed in life. I once slept in a chicken pen for 2 days when I was stranded on the island of Lombok

If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go …
To Heaven on Thursdays to visit my Dad. To Spain on Fridays to hang out with Salvador Dali

If I was elected Prime Minister of Australia the first thing I would do is…
Gather my favourite artists and paint the opera house

My dream dinner party of six would include….
Aside from my family, I’d have; Duke Kahanamoku, Michael Angelo, Jesus, Sir Edmund Hillary, Brett Whiteley, Dorothy McGee (my faux Grandma from Vaucluse in Sydney)

If it were my party, I would serve…
Homemade pizza and ginger beer, and I’d invite the local homeless people

The achievement I am most proud of is…
Not going crazy. Writing a best selling book

My most embarrassing moment was…
There have been many embarrassing moments, but I love them. Embarrassment is such a cool emotion. It’s very humbling and it passes so quickly

The craziest thing I have ever done was…
Walk and hitch hike across Australia with no money and no food. I got kidnapped

The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is…
Listen to God, not yourself. Us humans can’t be trusted

When I die, I would like my gravestone to say…
He was an awesome Dad

If a young person told me they wanted to be like me when they grow up, I would tell them…
That’s cool, but what about being like you…that would be easier

I wish I had listened when my parents (my Mum) told me…
Not to listen to Slayer. Note to youth of today: Add a bit of soul to your playlist

I hope my art.….
Is more than just pretty pictures staring back at you

My legacy to the world will be…
My art and books

If I wasn’t an artist I would like to be….
A drifting bohemian missionary in Africa

View more of James' work here

Each month we present an interview with one of our amazing artists. This month it’s Torquay based artist and graphic designer Luke Taaffe, sharing some of the things that make him tick...

Right now I am…

Starting a new job in graphic design for Roxy and working towards my next solo.

The person who has most influenced my art is….

Probably Reg Mombassa. Although he doesn’t influence what I do these days, it was Mambo artists like Reg and Richard Allen that got me interested in art as a young upstart in the late 80’s

My favourite artist is …

Alex Kopps from San Francisco. A multi-talented artist who’s work is precise and always inspiring.

I’m inspired to start a new work when….

Something visual and interesting comes my way. It could be complex, or simple as seeing a girl watching the waves in the morning light.

I am at my most creative/productive when…

I have a great idea to work with and all the elements come together.

I usually start my day by…

Going for a wave. It clears my head and has helped me get through tough times.

I am currently reading….

Nothing. Don’t have much time to read at the moment. Working and painting is taking up my life right now. Does emails count-

The book that changed my life is…

Storm Boy

My favourite album of all time is…

Led Zeppelin Self Titled.

My favourite film of all time is…

JAWS. I love sharks and it scared the shit out of me as a kid. R.I.P Roy Sneider

When I am working I like to listen to…

Anything…Bowie, Zeppelin. I always work to music.
 
It makes me smile when…

I’m having a family dinner. Around the table, we have the best feeds ever.

I get angry about…

The destruction to the environment and the world. We have really fucked it up!

My three most valued possessions are…

Art and reference books, Surfboards and photos.

The three things in life I could never give up are …

Breathing, love and laughter.

If I was stranded on a desert island I would want…

to be never found. As long as there was a fresh supply of waves, girls, fruit and vegetables.

If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go …

To the north coast of NSW in the early seventies.
 
If I was elected Prime Minister of Australia the first thing I would do is…

Invest in more renewable fuels.

My dream dinner party of six would include….

Dali, Sharon Tate, Jim Morrison, De-Vinci, Sofia Loren and Will Ferrell
 
If it were my party, I would serve…

Australian seafood, wine & coke.
 
The achievement I am most proud of is…

Making a living being creative and doing what I love.

My most embarrassing moment was…

Too many to recall. I have done some crazy things intoxicated.
 
The craziest thing I have ever done was…

Finding myself one morning in a slum with no wallet, phone and memory.

The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is…

Make the most of what you have and be nice to people.
 
When I die, I would like my gravestone to say…

He died doing what he loved.

If a young person told me they wanted to be like me when they grow up, I would tell them…

to come to the pub and drink some beer!

I wish I had listened when my parents told me…

To pace myself. My life has no balance and I run at a 100 Miles and hour.
 
I hope my art.….

Makes people notice and remember.
 
My legacy to the world will be…

A huge body of work and some good memories.

If I wasn’t an artist I would like to be….

A marine biologist.

View more of Luke's work

Each month we present an interview with one of our amazing artists. This month it’s Byron Bay based painter Nikky Morgan Smith, sharing some of the things - both real and imagined, that make her world tick.

A graduate from  Southern Cross University Nikky was awarded a highly commended in the SCU Student Art Prize. Since graduating she has been working as a professional artist firstly in Melbourne and now in Byron Bay. Her works are a response to her environment and incorporate the real and intimately domestic with the emotional and imagined. Poetic and often lyrical Nikky’s work exhibits a confident and gestural use of line and paint. Nikky’s commitment to her art practice apparent in the impressive list of exhibitions under her belt, make her one to watch out for in 2010.

Right now I am…
in the studio watching paint dry.

The person who has most influenced my art is….
My parents, who are also artists, they have lots to say. One day I woke up and there were post it notes stuck on my paintings with ‘constructive criticisms’ its hard not to influenced in that environment!

My favourite artist is…
at the moment I love Peter Greenaway, Anthony Myself, Robert Rauschenberg, too many to name.

I’m inspired to start a new work when…
images, words, experiences, memory and ideas all build up until they just start to manifest.

I am at my most creative/productive when…
It’s night and there is no one around.

I usually start my day by…
looking at the work I did the night before and sometimes cringing, sometimes feeling good.

The book that changed my life is… The divided heart by Rachel Power. It taught me a new way of understanding my life.

When I am working I like to listen to…
my limited computer music until I can’t stand it any more, then it’s just me in my head.

It makes me smile when…
other people smile, or fall over.

I get angry about…
injustices and burnt cake.

The three things in life I could never give up are …
having a creative outlet, chocolate, sleep.

If I was stranded on a desert island I would want…the people I love, water, a helicopter and helicopter manual.

My dream dinner party of six would include….
My friends that live far away.

If it were my party, I would serve…
lots of small things and mojitos.

The achievement I am most proud of is…
managing to get by so far.

The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is…
you just keep learning.

When I die, I would like my gravestone to say…
I hope when I die I just disappear and they have to erect a giant monument in my honour that kids will graffiti on and birds will nest in the crook of my arm and eventually it will rust and decay.

If a young person told me they wanted to be like me when they grow up, I would tell them…
aaaaahahaha! Really-

I wish I had listened when my parents told me…
being an Artists is really hard work.

I hope my art ...
continues to  provide me with an out let for what I see and feel.

If I wasn’t an artist I would like to be…
hmmm, I would just be really confused if I wasn’t an artist.

View more of Nikky's work

Each month we will bring you a new artist of the month, an exclusive interview with unusual questions. Get to know your favourite artists, get the inside information here deep inside the Retrospect blog! In the month of September we are introducing you to Kareena Zerefos.

 

Kareena Zerefos is an emerging artist currently based in Sydney, Australia.

Her work evokes a delicate balance between isolation and companionship, as well as yearning and delight in long lost moments of escape to the whimsical world of make believe.
 
With a background in design, graduating from College of Fine Arts in 2005, Kareena works using a variety of media, including pencil, gouache, tea and ink, and often combines traditional drawing with contemporary digital graphic techniques.

Kareena has exhibited in solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as in numerous group shows across Australia. She also works on commercial illustration projects for the music, fashion and advertising industries.

Right now I am…
enjoying the afternoon sun that is steaming through the window in my studio.

I’m inspired to start a new work when….
I return from travelling, or see a wonderful film… or, most realistically, when I have a deadline!!

I am at my most creative/productive when…
I first get out of bed.  I can spend four to five hours early in the day without stopping for coffee.

I usually start my day by…
walking down to the café with my Italian greyhound, Pelle.

My favourite film of all time is…
probably La Cité Des Enfants Perdus. Well, all Jean-Pierre Jeunet films really, but with costumes designed by Gaultier I do like to watch this one the most.

When I am working I like to listen to…
Bittersweet tunes with guitars and gentle vocals.

It makes me smile when…
it’s the middle of winter, the air is crisp and the sky is blue.

I get angry about…
ignorance and violence.

My three most valued possessions are…                                                                                         my Italian greyhound, old family photos and my collection of vintage tea sets.

The three things in life I could never give up are …
Sunshine, the ocean and sharp 2H pencils!

If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go …
to the Grand Palais in Paris, and visit the Exposition Universelle of 1900.

My dream dinner party of six would include….
my closest friends.

If it were my party, I would serve…
Peking duck pancakes and pink lemonade.

The craziest thing I have ever done was…
quit my day job so I could become an artist.

The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is…
to just get things started.

If a young person told me they wanted to be like me when they grow up, I would tell them…
that i haven’t grown up.

I wish I had listened when my parents told me…
to stop biting my nails.

If I wasn’t an artist I would like to be….
setting up a country home with a garden full of poppies and taking care of lots of dogs.

I am currently reading….
a post about a cylinder lamp by spartan on a blog called distillate.
The book that changed my life is…
the BFG. It taught me that not all giants were scary and mean.

Each month we will bring you a new artist of the month, an exclusive interview with unusual questions. Get to know your favourite artists, get the inside information here deep inside the Retrospect blog! In the month of September we are introducing you to Alberto Sanchez. 

Originally from Spain and now based in Byron Bay, Alberto Sánchez conceives photography as a creative art form that is not constricted to the digital medium, where he photographs, prints, hacks and re-invents his own images to give them his unique flavour. He sees photography as a kind of time travelling experience, a mixture of magic realism, which enables him to rediscover the world through his viewfinder.  Alberto combines his fine art with a passion for portrait and wedding photography which has won him numerous awards including highly commended Olive Cotton Award 2009, finalist HeadOn Alternative Portrait Prize 2009, finalist Olive Cotton 2008, in addition to 17 silver and bronze awards at the AIPP Canon Awards 2007 to 2009.

 

View Alberto's profile

 

Right now I am…

Cursing that I have to do the dishes.

I’m inspired to start a new work when...

I return from travelling all refreshed.  I also get a lot of inspiration from looking at people, they are an 

interesting species.

I usually start my day by…

Making a coffee and checking newspapers on the net. If  I am lucky I catch a wave (my ideal start to the day).

 

My favourite film of all time is…

Down by Law by Jim Jarmusch, a fantastic film featuring John Lurie, Tom Waits and Roberto Benigni. Every time I watch this film it makes me feel alive, nothing is too bad!! I also love One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Amores Perros, La Haine and Delicatessen.

 

When I am working I like to listen to…

Something with guts!! Control Machete, Spanish hip-hop, Eddie Vedder.

 

My favourite artist is…

Photographers Henry Cartier-Bresson and Carmen Garcia Rodero. Cartier-Bresson simply was a visionary and an artist in a yet to be discovered medium. It simply created Fine Art Photography. Carmen is the first Spanish woman to have joined Magnum Agency and her series on Dark Spain and Ritualism are simply sensational.

 

It makes me smile when…

Someone asks me if am Irish.  Albert O’Shánchez doesn’t sound too bad.

 

I get angry about…

Politics, particularly the Middle East.

 

My three most valued possessions are… 

My flute, an old shirt belonging to my dad and my ‘Paellera’.

 

The three things in life I could never give up are…

 Music, sea and travelling.

 

If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go…

Early in the beginning of last millennium, I would love to have seen (and lived in) The Alhambra Palace in Granada, in what was then called Al-Andalus (Spain), sometime during the Arab reign where Jews, Christians and Arabs co-existed together for hundreds of years.

 

My dream dinner party of six would include…

My closest friends and family.

 

If it were my party, I would serve…

Starters: Chilled rosé  wine from Toro, Pimientos de Padron (killer green peppers), cockles in white wine sauce, Octopus a la Paprika. Mains: Vega Sicilia red wine from Ribera del Duero and paella.  Desert: Anything chocolate.

 

The craziest thing I have ever done was…

Being expelled from the USA for looking too much like a ‘terrorist’ (and not having enough dollars) and getting back there again two weeks later.

 

The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is…

Follow your heart.

 

If a young person told me they wanted to be like me when they grow up, I would tell them…

To never give up. 

 

I am currently reading…

The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and On Photography by Susan Sontag. 

 

The book that changed my life is…

Riding The Iron Rooster by Paul Theroux. Where he travels from London to China and describes life on the train. Not only is it a great journey but I also felt akin to his way of perceiving the world. I thought it had a great symbolic approach as to how life is.

 

If I wasn’t an artist I would like to be…

A pilot. Any flying machine would do. Helicopters, Cesnas, 747’s.

Each month we will bring to you a new artist of the month, an exclusive interview with unusual questions. Get to know your favourite artists, get the inside information here deep inside the Retrospect blog! This merry month of August we are introducing Mia Taninaka. You’ve seen her art, read the mysterious workings of her inner mind!

Mia lives and works on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Her father is Japanese so she grew up surrounded by a lot of Japanese art and anime films. A lot of her inspiration is drawn from the magic and spiritual themes that are prominent in Japanese culture. She has always loved working with different colours and textures, but more recently has started drawing lines. Her small to large scale paintings are done on wooden panels allowing her to experiment with a range of mediums. With the use of bright colours and fine line details she creates quirky, conceptual works of art.

View her profile and see more of her works.

Right now I am…
A little bit drunk

My favourite artist is …
(I have 2!)
Gustav Klimt – because he’s magic
Kelsey Brooks - he’s so rad and his art is awesomely weird and wild.

I am at my most creative/productive when…
Creative=3 cups of tea, productive=1 cup of tea

I usually start my day by…
Sitting in the sun with a cup of Roobi (tea) and a book

I am currently reading….
Bram Stoker’s DRACULA. Going through a bit of vampire phase at the moment

The book that changed my life is…
ATLAS SHRUGGED by Ayn Rand, and WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. I love Max!

My favourite album of all time is…
Bob Dylan- the times they are a changing

My favourite film of all time is…
Across the universe-Not my all time favourite but it’s definitely up there. It just has such good vibes plus an epic soundtrack

When I am working I like to listen to…
Bob Dylan

It makes me smile when…
My boyfriend and I dance around the kitchen to ‘the do’

The three things in life I could never give up are …
My eyes, my ears and my tongue (tastebuds only)

If I was stranded on a desert island I would want…
A monkey (standard tropical attire), 2 ponies, a fishing rod and lip balm

If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go …
Dancing in New Orleans, visiting a shaman in sth America, eating pizza in italy,

If I was elected Prime Minister of Australia the first thing I would do is…
quit

My dream dinner party of six would include….
Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, my lover, Edward Cullen the vampire, Frida Khalo, Johnny Depp

If it were my party, I would serve…
A treasure feast.
The craziest thing I have ever done was…
Drink 4 cups of tea

The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is…
Keep it simple stupid

When I die, I would like my gravestone to say…
See ya next time suckers

If I wasn’t an artist I would like to be….
A lady of leisure

 

Each month we will bring to you a new artist of the month, an exclusive interview with unusual questions. Get to know your favourite artists, get the inside information here deep inside the Retrospect blog! This merry month of July we are introducing Doug Bartlett. You’ve seen their art, did you really know them like you think you did-

Doug Bartlett is the name given to the energy created when Nick Morris and Dave Bowers work together on the same canvas. The two artists graduated from Monash University (Caulfield) in 1986, both with Diplomas in Graphic Design. They have worked together in the Street / Surf / Art subculture since 1990. Recent exhibitions include Spacejunk in France and xx Gallery Hong Kong. With collectors buying from all over the country and also internationally it’s boomtown for Doug Bartlett and his lackeys.

Click to see their artist profile

ARTIST OF THE MONTH | DOUG BARTLETT

Right now I am… I am skinning a 120kg pig.

The person who has most influenced my art is…. Me

My favourite artist is … Me

I’m inspired to start a new work when…. I’ve had my fifth long neck (750ml) of cold beer

{readmore}

I am at my most creative/productive when… I’m angry

I usually start my day by… Coughing up blood

I am currently reading…. Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Friedrich Nietzche

The book that changed my life is… Lord of the Flies. William Golding.
Laid out a clear path for me to follow as a young man

My favourite album of all time is… I wanna make you my lady.  Mark Holden



My favourite film of all time is… Death in Venice

When I am working I like to listen to… Silence, or the gentle sounds of a chainsaw or gunfire

It makes me smile when… My partner dons his gardening gear 

I get angry about… Ten thirty or so ( in the morning)

My three most valued possessions are… My guns, my bullets and my beer and Lovers…….

The three things in life I could never give up are …Pork, Grog and hunting

If I was stranded on a desert island I would want…A gun

If I could travel anywhere back and forth in time, I would go … Back to Mauritius to eat the last dodo.  

If I was elected Prime Minister of Australia the first thing I would do is… No child over the age of 12 will be without a firearm.

My dream dinner party of six would include…. Gordon Ramsay, Bruce Ruxton, John Laws, Alan Jones, Pauline Hansen and Nelson Mandela

If it were my party, I would serve… Beer and meat

The achievement I am most proud of is… When I ate that dodo

My most embarrassing moment was… When I vomited on the Queen

The craziest thing I have ever done was… I have never done anything crazy

The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is… Get money off people…

When I die, I would like my gravestone to say… Here lieth the greatest artiste and gentleman of his age. Or maybe a highly advanced ape. R.I.P.

If a young person told me they wanted to be like me when they grow up, I would tell them…Dream on you little shit.

I wish I had listened when my parents told me…  Piss off Doug

I hope my art.…. Touches people

My legacy to the world will be… A few paintings. A few less feral pigs…….

If I wasn’t an artist I would like to be…. A Spanish whore or female mud wrestler