An Exotic Brisbane, Winters Odyssey - (Brissie you've Changed)

For those of you who may not be aware, and there is no reason you should be.. I grew up in Brisbane, and spent the formative years of my life there including three and a half very-important-years at the Queensland College of Art where I was a major in photography. Although residing down south in Sydney for many years now; one of the things that has stuck with me most, about Brisbane, then-and-now is that Brisbane is exotic! Don't ask the locals about that they won't know what you mean, or worse, may think you are having a go at them. But Brisbane is Exotic, and it's hot, hot and humid, because it's subtropical, which is a big part of why it is exotic. It still has a good collection of colonial era, tropical style architecture (that survived the Joe years), and  famous 'Old Queenslander' houses too, and it has these little patches of remnant bush land, close to the city and dotted all about. And because during WW2  as Pacific headquarters of U.S. General Douglas MacArthur 1,000,000 American servicemen passed through the city; (and the legendary Battle of Brisbane as Aussie servicemen fought the Yanks!) Some things a city never forgets. Because Robin Gibson and successors did such a great job on the South Bank arts precinct, arguably Australia's finest. Then there's the river, there's Morton Bay, Stradbroke island AKA Straddie, and now, while not exactly exotic, there is life right in the city now too; something we would dream of but could hardly imagine back in our day.. as seen from the 26th floor apartment I stayed in, one of the many tall apartment buildings now dotting the Brisbane skyline. Oh yes Brissie, a lot of you has stayed the same, but Brissie you have changed! Mouse over pictures for details.

The view from the 26th floor I Stay River City.

Anti-Vax street march - maybe Joe was right..

Ferris wheel and QPAC, South Bank Brisbane from Victoria Bridge.

Knit Your Bit, outside the Queensland State Library, South Bank Brisbane.

Duchamp & Degars dreaming - Michael Parekowhai, The Promised Land (detail) GOMA.

Michael Parekowhai, The Promised Land (detail) GOMA.

Former CML Building 1930 ( now The manor Apartments), always a favourite & the GPO.

Sandstone arches, Victorian architecture, the arcade Brisbane GPO.

Old State Library Annex Brisbane, Mosaic Mural 1958 by Lindsay Edwards. 

Morning Star by Jon Barlow Hudson

"Approaching Equilibrium" by Anthony Pryor 1951-1991

Under the Storey Bridge, a WW2 bunker? 

Luxury Favelas on the river, Bulimba Brisbane viewed from New Farm.

An Elvis impersonator(?) entertains onlookers at the vibrant West End night markets.

A panoramic view of Victorian era Queenslander houses and the view back to the city from the top of Teneriffe hill. 

Steep public steps leading to the top of Teneriffe hill.

Wild scrub Turkey on path Teneriffe Bushland Park. 

This is not GOMA...

Clouds, view from city cat ferry Bulimba reach.

 Dennis McCart at the opeing night of his show 'Beneath Our Feet' at The Hold Artspace. 

At the 'Beneath Our Feet' exhibition, The Hold Artspace in West End, Brisbane. 

Love you Brisbane! Thank YOU.

My Brisbane Post War Housing Architecture project on Flickr.

Previously from Brisbane.

http://streetfashionsydney.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/christmas-art-culture-in-brisbane.html

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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