Sydney & International Fashion and Style Blog with photography by Kent Johnson. Travel, Art and Events, Fashion from the Streets and into the Clubs. The lifestyle blog you love to share, Thank you Sydney XX to the world.
A few days before we were due to leave Prague one of my art school buddies whom I used to spend a lot of time doing night shots with (on film..) suggested via Facebook that I do some night shots of Prague. Of course, what a beautiful classic and romantic idea! Why didn't I think of that? So the very next morning before the crack of dawn. I was out the door, onto the lamp post lit cobbled streets of Prague heading for the Charles Bridge. And the the lights went out - remember that night in Brisbane, Allan, Megan... Well at least I knew it was lights off at 5.38AM. I still had two chances to make my morning/night bridge shot happen. Next day - oops slept in - or no alarm.. leaving me with just ONE FINAL CHANCE! Can he do it? Well yes and well no; but at least I made it onto the bridge with the lights still on, shooting-pictures all the way. And the minute I put the camera on the tripod and readied for the BIG SHOT! Megan, Allan, do you remember that night in Brisbane.. just as I squeezed the cable release on the camera and the lights went out. Déjà vu!!! Well I certainly wasn't happy. So I grabbed some time exposure shots (no street lights) and felt I needed something more. With much better timing than myself, along walks a lovely young woman whom I just know is Street Fashion Sydney Prague. So here it is, my last street fashion portrait from Prague taken at 5:51 AM on my last morning there. Thank you everyone who stood for my camera, I appreciate your kindness more than you will ever know.
Meanwhile back in Sydney..
Some great painting and a fabulous last Hurrah from the legendary Stills photography gallery which after 25 years is closing - still at the top of their game - at the end of June. Read On for more.
Curator and former Co-Director Sandy Edwards - Final show at Stills Gallery.
Jon Lewis - Final show at Stills Gallery
Melita Dahl - Final show at Stills Gallery
I know I tend to free associate a lot but how strange was it to see an artist for the first time at Watters Gallery just last week who; just so happened to be a huge inspiration for a friend of mine; you guessed it, from art school (which was some time ago I might add). My friend would say to me "Oi kento, you have got to look at this woman's work, Vicki Varvaressos, it's brilliant! Vicki Varvaressos, Vicki Varvaressos, Vicki Varvaressos" Just like that. I think he loved her name as much as her work which is just as brilliant now as it was back then. Go see it for yourself!
Jim Anderson with Vicki Varvaressos at Watters Gallery.
Finally, though it didn't really happen in this order, the lovely show by Lucy Culliton at King Street Gallery on William. I know Lucy's work is very popular and it is easy to see why, at least for me. I did overhear someone saying "who would put a picture of a farm animal on their wall". Well let me tell you. Lots of people. And go learn some art history while you are at it! Anyway, clearly they are all portraits and as a city fella it's nice to learn that those animals are all different and have their own personality, great work, head on down and make some new friends. On Now!
Yes we are back in Sydney; at least for the time being. However I am not finished with Prague just yet so please do excuse the banner for the time being.. But; for now there is a LOT of art to see in Sydney, so here's a quick overview of shows I've seen in the last 10 days along with, you guessed it, some "street fashion" too. Let's kick off with last nights opening at Gallery 9 in Darlinghurst.
Paul Snell above, "Chromophilia" and Tony Lloyd below, "The Distance" I loved Paul's strong colour works including the larger area pieces in the third gallery room. Tony's beautifully executed paintings have a kind of sci-fi quirkiness with the natural beauty of the landscape, and the two shows sit remarkably well together.
SNO 132 - Stephen Jones. A retrospective of the legendary electronica video artist and member of experimental band Severed Heads. The show was opened by Ian Milliss followed by some words from Stephen himself. A must-see exhibition chronicling the cutting-edge start of video art and music clips.
Seated, Ian Milliss left with Stephen Jones on the right.
"Unseen Everyday Japan"; opening, curation and talk by Q Sakamaki at the Japan Foundation. As part of Head On. Well worth a look, gritty stuff. All images were sourced via a dedicated Instagram group.
Gaffa gallery is currently home to a show of three Dutch photography artists and one Scottish photographer. Some pretty terrific work all-round though I was personally very impressed with the close-up "tomboy" portraits of women of all ages, WILDFANG by Lesley Turnbull. Dare I say it; there is something for everyone as at least one artists style will impress anyone who loves photography. The show was opened by the Dutch consulate (above) and is well worth checking out.
Douwe Dijkstra : CITY REFLECTIONS at Gaffa.
INSCAPES by Astrid Verhoef at Gaffa,
"Caprice - Je ne Sais Quoi" : Well I don't know what that is.. but I do know fine erotica when I see it and Emmanuel Angelicas is a master of his underground fine art erotic art form. The sitter is the perfectly named "Caprice Hunter" and between the two of them they have created a beautiful series of sensual and sexually alluring images. Emmanuel told me that he booked the model online in Perth and flew over to photograph her in just one two hour session, with his new Sony point-and-shoot. Of course all this could be true and it is a fantastic story - so are the pictures. Thanks Emmanuel for the signed limited edition catalogue. Love the show. On now at Blanco Negro.
Details. I can't believe that the show I saw almost a year ago of macro photographs of alpine flora and rocks and water and soil and some ice, I mean it was all there.. was her first show! And sold like hot cakes and deservedly so. It was just bloody amazing! So now Sarah Ducker is back at Barometer Galley, this time it's tidal wash on sand. And I think for one, Sarah has done it again. There are no flowers so the pictures are not as pretty? Her sensitivity to the flow of nature however remains undiminished and her skill at choosing just-how-much detail should be accentuated; well this is an artist to watch. On now. Check it out.
Now Nyk and I have been great friends for over a decade. (Nyk can you believe it!) All after I contacted him via the Model Mayhem website, not because he was a model, no I saw a local photographer who seemed to know everyone and as I had just returned to photography at the time; I wanted to meet someone I could talk shop to. Beer, Models, Photography. Probably in that order; we have been good friends ever since and so it's great to see a show that celebrates all that - and Nyk's yet another photography award (he does have a lot). Major Rock Stars and Fashion Stars on the runway and affordable prices. On now at TAP Gallery; and what an opening party - Totally Fashion - Nyk. Congratulations yet again!
I went along to Rod Sainty's show, and to quote myself "Saw a great 'Boys Own Adventure' exhibition last night. And I say that in the most positive way. Amazing historical architecture pictures shot NOW in Ancient Persia, the cradle of civilisation (correct me if I am wrong). Shot 5x4 on film. Lovely work. On now at M2 gallery. Awesome, and Rod Sainty is minding the show so you can find out ALL you need to know just by dropping by. I'm going" back because I have more questions to ask and want to see more of this real photography!" The show is down but Rod is my Facebook friend so if you are interested drop me a line!
A few of the historic sites in Prague have a no photography policy, quite possibly because the camera flash can cause colours in artworks to breakdown more quickly.. (switch it off people - don't use it). So I was quite pleased to find it was OK to photograph at the Gerhard Richter show at the Kinsky Palace - National Gallery; and so I did, and a few of the people who were also their viewing the show. And as I mentioned in the last post this really is an exhibition worth seeing, if you are in Prague do yourself a favour and go check it out.
Well I don't think this lovely and friendly young woman from the Ukraine is speaking for all her country so you will just have to put the title down to editorial licence on my part. We did however have enough of a chat at the Gerhard Richter retrospective(ish) Kinsky Palace - National Gallery, to learn her nationality and that she loves Richter. So the stripes are by Richter and the Mirrored Stripes are in a mirror artwork which as you can see works just like a regular mirror but has its own description tag and title.. which is something most mirrors certainly don't have outside the sales catalogue; though I'm not really wanting to digress into an art review I somehow seem to have done just that - Richter show review(type thing) soon on SFS (as I get my 100 gig of files in order). Love the outfit and the bronze high-cut sneakers; when in Prague, be ready to do plenty of walking over uneven cobbled streets - high heels are only for the brave, the strong and very the very experienced! PS, if in Prague, see the show!
What can I say, this outfit really makes me think of the golden days of the Grand European Tour where you went everywhere and took it all in as part of your coming of age. And Prague would have to have been and still is one of the great and essential destinations. Perfect layering for the rather unpredictable spring weather. Love it! Seen heading for the stairs to Prague Castle.
