The Garden Gallery, a NEW Gallery Space in the Heart of Sydney

 Whoa, I'm up to my old tricks again, reporting on shows that have already happened, been and gone and... On the other hand, I'm going to be extending the life of that show, at least a little bit, and give a heads up to you, dear reader, about this excellent 'new' space on Mrs Macquarie's Road, just a little further along from the Big New Shed (love those curtains) next to the AGNSW!

We found out about this show from a friend, who was invited by a friend. In other words, word of mouth - more about that later. 

Different Views, Interpreting Landscape 1-12 May 2026

A  a group exhibition of landscape inspired art, paintings, which I was told are by Alumni of the National Art School. There were paintings verging on abstraction, new-realist type pictures, fauvist colour palettes, and a lot of people enjoying the pictures. The space is large, light and airy, and does not have a dedicated Instagram, which is a shame, as there was nothing on the 'Garden' IG that this space's web page led me to.

I did manage to track down several Artists IGs by searching Different Views, Interpreting Landscape on Instagram - guys, honestly, if you are going to have a show Post 2014 you really need a hashtag and a unifying social media space - something! So people can check out your work later. This is probably even more important now Social Media is no longer really free, as the algorithm requires your $$ to 'bump' your posts... in the hope someone bumps into it. Hashtags will still give you something. Be tacky stick it on the wall, stick it on the roomsheet, beg people to share you on social media, make it work for you! We all need sales from our art, even if you don't need the money, this can't hurt!

Anyway, I loved the show, loved the space, talked to some nice people and walked outside and lay down on the grass under one of the big native fig trees and looked up into the sky, what a perfect day!

Looking up at the big fig right across the road from the gallery, bliss!

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/

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From Suburbia to China Heights and a New Standard..

I keep hearing about how galleries are closing; but new galleries are opening too and some rippers like China Heights just keep doing what they do and keep doing it well. So lets kick off with my first visit to Cement Fondu (CF) (website coming soon)  CF opened on the 10th of  this month with a beautifully curated group show SUBURBIA. This is a colourful show of installations, photography, ceramics, drawings and mixed media work on, you guessed it suburbia. Only the selection of artists and their own visions of suburbia while remaining somewhat familiar, will certainly shift your perception of what is suburbia, and how it is for some who are for whatever reason on the periphery. Pictured directly below is my portrait of Caroline Garcia - post Live Performance & floor talk at CF with House #7 by Garry Trinh as a background.

The post performance floor talk was actually really illuminating as to immigration and integration into Australian suburban society. It was during this talk that I realised that Garry Trinh's "Houses" represented a shuttering of suburban society to those new people moving in around them. I mean maybe it should have been obvious (but then I'm a white anglo Aussie) and the context of the show made this very clear! That said, the installation has a lot of whimsy bright colour and is an overwhelmingly enjoyable experience and I can't wait to see more shows from Cement Fondu!

I've know of Disorder Gallery for a while now but have only just made it to two my first shows there. On NOW, the beautiful new show from Catherine Hourihan - dance inspired images with a contrast of youth and age, beautiful images and really lovely matte prints - you need to seem them on the walls, not on some glossy glowing screen!

China Heights - Even after all these years attending an opening at CH still feels like like being part of some underground yet very cool art society. I'm not sure if that's because it seems way off peoples radar or they just can't handle the coolness factor! That said I think (not unlike the recently closed Black Eye) many of their artists seem to come from commercial design and advertising backgrounds - like Andy Warhol & Willem de Kooning did - but in Sydney that still seems to be a bit of a no-no to the art establishment. I enjoyed seeing "they used to call me" Rad Dan by Daniel R. Watkins on Friday night, the work reminding me a little of 1960's British Pop artist Richard Hamilton. CH have the slightly unusual practice of Friday openings followed by Sat/Sun only viewings so check the website first if you want to see the work.

Phillippa Griffin and Sam Ramsden's The New Standard Gallery has been up and running for a little over a year now (I think). The Current show Brad Teodoruk, PROOF IS AN IDOL is a show that feels very much, one from a stable of artists coming from Sydney's strong art school traditions and I perhaps felt more my age at this opening than I do at CH! Lovely skilled painting, don't be fooled by the painting out and naive approach to form - it's anything but that..

And if you like the pictures on this blog; you can view them larger on my Street Fashion Sydney Facebook page here - and don't forget to Follow too - all of these shots without the review appeared there first.

https://www.facebook.com/StreetFashionSydney/
http://cementfondu.org/
https://www.disordergallery.com/
https://chinaheights.com/
http://www.thenewstandardgallery.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/

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Joanna Frank - Magnitude of Dissonance at Goodspace Sydney

I'm getting to like Goodspace in Chippendale more and more. Sure it's a little rough but that is certainly part of it's charm; and that allows the work on the walls a kind of authenticity.. truth.. that you don't get in your perfect pure white cube. Anyway, it's interesting to see the current growth of text as art, in this show - something we were warned NEVER to do when I was at art school - but then Joanna Frank is a well seasoned creative with plenty of design, art and music projects under her belt and can pick and choose subjects of her own desire. I asked Joanna if PUNK was back; creating a magnitude of dissonance all my own - I can see it's much more than that! Love those slogans, the gold, the black and the paintings with a positive/negative geometry and of course, cultural iconography too. It was one night only, last night; however you can track down her work on IG and her Frank website here.

Artist Joanna Frank at Goodspace Gallery.

http://joannafrank.bigcartel.com/
https://www.instagram.com/madrasmade/
https://www.instagram.com/good.space/

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/

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Thank you Prague for the Charles Bridge & Hello Sydney + Art.

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.

And yes I did get some night shots - most of my pictures will be going up (much larger than here) on my Flickr here https://www.flickr.com/photos/kentjohnson/ or follow on Facebook for updates including those night shots!

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!

The Residents of Bibbenluke Lodge.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kentjohnson/Prague2017

http://www.stillsgallery.com.au/exhibitions/

http://www.wattersgallery.com/artists/Varvaressos/vv.html

http://kingstreetgallery.com.au/

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/

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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/

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