Art in Sydney - On Now & Just Missed It!

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!

http://www.gallery9.com.au/

http://www.sno.org.au/
https://www.headon.com.au/exhibitions/unseen-everyday-japan

http://www.gaffa.com.au/exhibitions
http://blanconegro.com.au/ http://www.emmanuelangelicas.com/
https://www.sarahducker.com/ http://barometer.net.au/
http://www.nyksykes.com/

Telling Stories in Pictures all over..

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

Facebook Twitter

About Art Last Night - Keith Haring @ NAS

I bet that got your attention, Keith Haring at the National Art School. Well sort of, I mean look at this great Keith Haring print dress, or skirt and top, plimsolls, and not sure if you can make it out at this size, I mean I only saw it when I was editing the shot, a yin/yang necklace; spotted and photographed at the launch of 'Greyscale' in the new and very lovely Rayner Hoff Studio.

There was also the Honours Painting 2015 LSG show on in the stairwell gallery also at NAS, certainly one of the more enjoyable shows that I have seen in that space, well worth a look in.

Annelies Jahan, LSG, 2015

I don't think any joke is intended with this  site specific work but how many times do we look at something and think, "well that's a ready-made work of art right there.." brilliant! Must say I have admired these niches before, this one upstairs and the 'trap' pictured below was in the corresponding niche downstairs.

Raymond and chair, Rayner Hoff Studio.

Spring trans-seasonal style.

Matt Peet, Ackbar, 2015

I think this art piece by Matt Peet must be one of the funniest and clever art works I have seen in a long time, don't take the money its a trap, the highway to art hell? For me I immediatly thought of Meret Oppenheim's teacup which was a whole career in one artwork!

Portrait of Pollyxenia Joannou at GREYSCALE.

Book Street Fashion Sydney to cover your next event.

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

Instagram Facebook Twitter

Will Coles 'casts' Death Wish 2013 at Brenda May Gallery..

If you have not come across Will Coles cast artworks before his new show at Brenda May Gallery in Danks Street is certainly a good one  in which to make Mr Coles acquaintance. of course if you live in the Inner West then you may have seen his cast concrete TVs, Remote Controls, Washing Machines, Gloves, Mobile Phones or Suitcases; often embosed with a though provoking WORD -  in all sorts of places; and wondered where they came from.. well wonder no more! And I like Will's description on his website here, "Sculptor, Street Artist & Freelance European". All served with a heavy dose of irony.. mouse over images for details.

And please stay in touch with Street Fashion Sydney by liking the all NEW Street Fashion Sydney Facebook Page by visiting or 'liking' the box to the right!

Will Coles - "Sculptor, Street Artist & Freelance European"

www.willcoles.com/
www.brendamaygallery.com.au/

Street Fashion Sydney - shot with the Fujifilm X-Pro1 

Deeper into a Surrealist Bodyscape - Lexi Land's 'Illuminating Darkness' 2013

Last Thursday evening saw the launch of Lexi Land's much anticipated 2013 solo exhibition "Illuminating Darkness" at Leonard Mattis Studio in Sydney's Surry Hills. Much anticipated? Yes I think so, and certainly not only by me after last years successful "Pieces of Me" exhibition shown at the same venue. Lexi has the great sense or is it marketing genius of dropping hints-of-her-new-works; and the occasional completed image onto her facebook page so we all have some idea of where she is going with her next show; which on this occassion seems to be deeper into a DADAist or Surrealist trance and spiritual collaboration with the likes of Man Ray and Kurt Schwitters; all the while becoming her very own auto-manipulated and life-size Hans Bellmer doll.

The evening began in darkness with guests being asked to view the artworks with tiny LED torches and three hours later the evening concluded in the same vein, at which time I took the opportunity to not only photograph a small sample of the works by torchlight (including a shadowy self portrait reflected in Lexi's glory) but also some portraits of the as-always wonderfully-dressed and styled Lexi herself using the very same torchlight for illumination.  "Illuminating Darkness" from now until the 26 of October, details below..

ILLUMINATING DARKNESS
DISSECTED DREAMSCAPES OF A LUNARTIC

Leonard Mattis Studio
8 Fitzroy Place, Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia

26TH SEPTEMBER - 25TH OCTOBER

HOURS:
Mon/CLOSED
Tues/Thursday 10am - 8pm
Wed/Fri/Saturday 10am - 6pm

Lexi Land on Facebook
Leonard Mattis Studio on Facebook

Street Fashion Sydney - shot with the Fujifilm X-Pro1 

Artist's Style - Deborah Young - Factory 49

Another fabulous and colourful show at Factory 49 this one 'Patterns' courtesy of Artist Deborah Young.

Factory 49

49 Shepherd Street

Marrickville, Sydney

Thurs - Sat, 1 - 6 pm.

Street Fashion Sydney - shot with the Fujifilm X-Pro1.

Guy Maestri & Friends - Heavy Ground Opening - Olsen Irwin

I took a seat on the bench across the road from the Olsen Irwin gallery just a little after six and watched the art patrons arriving for the show. It was an interesting night on that front with the different groups arriving at what seemed to me to be quite distinct waves. How should I say this.. the more traditional art set arriving first, then the artist(s)-set, then at quite a gap there was an influx of the student and the 'cool' set although I suppose no-one is cool any-more! And I got to meet Guy at last and take his portrait, a perfect night.

Two fabulous shows, Guy's landscapes in heavy impasto in the front gallery and Emma Van Leest's - Amouris Labour, delicate paper cut-out works in the second.

www.timolsengallery.com/
Street Fashion Sydney - shot with the Fujifilm X-Pro1.