Chihuly Colour

I have been meaning to post up these photos I took on my visit to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.  I have admired the work of American glass artist Dale Chihuly for many years ever since I watched an ABC arts program featuring his work.  You can imagine my delight at discovering the fact that there was a Chihuly exhibition on during my stay in Boston.  Chihuly's blown glass pieces are exquisite in form and jewel like in colour.  The artist's glass installations are like some kind of strange and beautiful underwater wonderland...

The Nutcracker

With our holidays coming to an end today I have been reflecting on the events of the past month and trying not to get too down by the thought of returning to work.  What am I saying, I enjoy my work. Anyway, for me the festive season began on Friday 17 December when we attended an evening performance of The Nutcracker by the Queensland Ballet, accompanied by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.  Dad, Leonie, Anton and Oi Lai joined us in celebrating the arrival of the festive season, the coming holidays and my birthday.  The performance, the athleticism and of course Tchaikovsky's score all magnificent.


Image source:
http://awhitecarousel.com/

e1027

A couple years ago I sat in on a lecture discussing the life and work of Eileen Gray, an Irish architect (and famous furniture designer) who for many years was forgotten by the design community.  e1027 was a house built by Gray on the French Riviera in 1929.  Inspired by Le Corbusier and the Modernist Movement, Gray's work is beautifully simple and contemporary.  For decades this house has been slowly decaying by the sea but thankfully the French Government stepped in and made it a French National Cultural Monument.  Restoration is expected to be complete in December.


Image sources:
http://e1027.org/
http://blog.ounodesign.com/2008/12/24/eileen-gray-e1027-house/

Swan Lake

We attended a Saturday evening performance of Swan Lake by the Queensland Ballet on a recent weekend.  We invited Dad and Leonie to join us for our first ballet experience.  Last year I read Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin and was inspired to see a production.  I was also very keen to see this ballet classic set famously to Tchaikovsky's music.  A number of the dancers were especially charismatic and very enjoyable to watch.  We are now looking forward to seeing The Nutcracker at Christmas.

Guitar Distortion

I was particularly impressed with Rudi Mantofani's distorted guirars at APT 6 last week.  Up close there are no visible joints in the neck of the elongated guitars.  Would be a great card to be able to play one...

APT 6 at GOMA

James and I wandered across the river to the Gallery of Modern Art yesterday to see the 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.  I always highly anticipate this exhibition when it comes around every three years and have been attending since APT 2 1996.  One of the artworks I found the most striking from APT 6 is definitely Ji Wenyu and Zhu Weibing's People holding flowers 2007.  With backgrounds in fashion design and painting, these two Chinese artists have been making textile-based sculptures together since 2003.  The amount of detail up close is amazing on these four hundred black suit-clad figurines holding soft sculptural flowers.  The effect is at once joyous and ominous.

Jos Kivits Still Life

I only recently discovered the work of Dutch artist Jos Kivits and immediately fell in love with his still life paintings.  Kivits uses the painstaking techniques of the Dutch Old Masters to beautiful effect.  The colour, composition and detail are amazing and I love the juxtaposition of Eastern style ceramics with more Western objects like leadlight and stemware.  Now, if only I had a spare $10,000 to splash out on a piece!  

Chinoiserie at NGV

James and I visited the National Gallery of Victoria on Sunday.  I was very happy to discover that one of the featured exhibitions was Chinoiserie: Asia in Europe 1620-1840, having a keen interest in this particular era of design and decoration.  The display is so beautiful and is on until March 2010.  The gallery foyer is a stunning space in itself with diffuse light filtering through, intriguing hidden voids against grand spatial volumes and thoughtful use of tactile finishes conveying a sense of tonal warmth.