Semi Permanent Sydney 2012

Skipped down to darling harbor last weekend for two days of design related everything at Semi Permanent. It was a mixed year, as it usually is – with a jumble of design thinkers, illustrators, photographers, studio managers with the addition of a director (Hello Roman Coppola) and a paper artist – both of which I’ve been yet to see at an SP event prior…

What was solidly amazing:

• Kelly Anderson spoke like an absolute goddess (of design). Her ethos was incredible – her creative process originally stemming from teenage obsessions with lo-fi music and physics, she demonstrated how often it’s one’s weird side-projects that shape our idea of what design is (or could be). She pushed the notion of seeing differently – questioning what is around us in order to improve, or should I say completely reinvent for the better – the design objects that become a part of our lives. Everything we interact with. The phrase “Disruptive Wonder” was dropped – her ethos of what designers should be trying to achieve. Hugely polished and ground shatteringly intelligent talk.

• Roman Coppola spoke all the way from LA via google hangout. He went into the unusual methods of idea generation for his film clips and side projects. He brought his mum on (cue awwww-ing). Then he brought Jason Schwartzman on (cue mass female hyperventilation). Streamed the latest video the two had created together, which is undoubtedly one of the greatest pieces of advertising I’ve seen in some time:

He finished with a live snow leopard. The whole thing shone with Hollywood insanity. In a good way.

Vince Frost from Frost Design in Sydney talked about some recent projects, a favourite of which was the redesign of a way-finding hut in china town, which finished up as a giant glowing lantern. Very clever. He really demonstrated how breaking a concept down into it’s simplest form looks easy, usually isn’t – and always has a nice purity to it.

The final talk that really grabbed was by Florian Schmitt from Hi Res in London. Verging on art, the work they produce manages to use technology not just for the sake of it, but to really say something. I remember back at college steering away from inessential complexity – (why focus on techniques when you can focus on ideas) –  and likewise have always held a similar opinion on using new technologies with no real reason. But this was the first time I’ve seen a concept take on a whole new life through new media. Also inspiring was his free-spiritedness: “Life is trying things to see if they work out”.

We’ll finish with the leopard.

SNOtoes

Few shots from the SNO auction – un superbo successo, much like my español. But in all seriousness – a beautiful show.

SNO Sydney Non Objective

Having attended many a great show at Marrickville’s Sydney Non Objective – Contemporary Arts Projects Gallery (abbreviate that down to the memorable SNO), I came on board recently to manage design production of the gallery, and exhibit down the track.

I can’t say stress enough how much this place resonates in regards to the genre of work exhibited (lovers of contemporary non-objective art with heart will feel like they have stumbled across their home-away-from-home), and the passion of everyone involved here. For years the gallery has continued to run via the support of ongoing Arts grants – however, having a core funding source recently withdrawn, this week marks the launch of the SNO Silent Auction Fundraiser.

Having just finished the poster design (see below), in addition to the catalogue, it’s pretty exciting to see non-objective artists both internationally and locally donate such a solid collection of works.

I’ll be showing a small print artwork from a recent series The Look of Sound, which explores the visualisation of non-visual experiences. See below again.

Anyway – worth seeing. Worth supporting. Bids can be made at the gallery, via email or direct message with all funds going straight back into keeping the gallery alive and as fresh as ever.

New Studio / Home

Exciting news. Me and my partner Hugo are moving into a new place! Part studio, part home, we’re both ecstatic to be creating under the same (hundred year old) roof.

Celebratory work below!

Gulp.

New drawings which will be published in a book in 2012. They are all drawn in moments of tastiness and stillness; one of the best moments to draw. The title will be Eat or perhaps Gulp. Maybe a different verb. Enjoy!

All works © Belle Blau 2011

Long time no type.

It’s been far too long since any updates. A bit’s been happening since the return from Tokyo post-earthquake – a big combination of client work and nice personal projects which are quite exciting. The next few months will see the creation of two artist’s books:

One for poet Toby Fitch – his great words accompanied by some free response artworks that are slowly coming together.

The other a documentation of the history of Clogs – the painting partnership and musical adventures of Dutch artist Jelle van den Berg and Australian artist Simon Blau (the pa).

My partner Hugo and I have re-launched into the production of the children’s book; writing has been written, story lines have been plotted, tea has been guzzled and much consideration of art materials has been pondered.

For now however I thought I’d post a recent poster design, which was submitted last week to the Australian InFront Visual Response; the open theme being Woman. It’s based on what I regard as the most feminine feature: the lips. The way women talk, annunciate, or – more often than not – sometimes say most when they say nothing at all. (Frustrating? Alluring?)

Anyway… it’s pretty open to translation. I hope it’s captured something distinctly womanly. It does spell it out after all.

© Belle Blau 2011

Exhibition at Mils Gallery

Photos from my show at Mils Gallery in Surry Hills last week. Curated by MA Gallery.

Originally I was shipping these works from Tokyo, and wasn’t going to be able to attend in person… so it was nice/surreal to be there.

About the work:
PRESENTS – I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII
2011
100 x 150mm
Archival prints, limited run, signed on verso

I am interested in moments of presence. Whilst living in Tokyo, I came to see this represented within packaging; where often the art of wrapping an object transcends importance of the object itself.

The Present Series documents the beauty in these discarded materials; floating paper and cellophane, inclusive of every fold and crease, symbolic of the significance of  complete appreciation.

Artworks are sold individually. To purchase, please get in touch here.

Work in Progress: Yoyogi Trees

As taken from my recent submission to Something Pty Ltd…

Setting vastly unachievable plans is on average 20 to 30% more exciting that setting rational ones.

Upon traveling to Tokyo for design, adventure and culinary delights, I wrote at the top of one of the multiple lists lining the workspace, that I would base my next personal project on illustrating every tree in Yoyogi Park. Keep in mind there are approximately 75 billion trees.

A month later, and progress has been steady.

Among interruptions from yogi’s on bikes, small pug dogs dressed as children, and an ever-present fascination with methodically consuming each days packed bento, this particular project is a constant reminder of how unbeatably wholesome it is to sit, and be, in nature. It’s a cheap, never-fail medicine, which leaves you a little dirty, a little chilly, and completely refreshed.

The Yoyogi Tree prints will be available soon at www.belleblau.com, or can be purchased in advance via contact@belleblau.com

Shibuya Exhibition

Currently exhibiting at the Tokyo Wonder Site gallery in Shibuya: the Team 17 | WAKUWAKU show – presented by Ichiro Endo, and assisted by the lovely Ami Nakayama.

There is a solid selection of highly original, colourful and uniquely Japanese art spread over the gallerys two levels; the top most taking on the aesthetic of a bedroom (pastel carpet, and a small colony of mixed shoes at the entrance)(more shoes than you would imagine). It’s a fantastically stimulating place; the artists involved really seem proud to see the world through their own eyes. There’s no hint of trends. With a big mix of traditional artforms, performance work, craft and sculpture, the whole things becomes something very young and very fresh, I recommend a visit. Happy to be showing here.

Tokyo Days Tokyo Nights

The manic, dingy, dark and wonderful tokyo nightlife has been flicking the creative switch on in all the best ways. There’s nothing like being swallowed up by a million people on the 2am train home, after nestling into a hidden backstreet highrise bar in the red-light district, and crossing the language barrier with a mutual obsession with design, art and noodles. Aluminum foil is everywhere.

Here are some shots from this week: