Candice Breitz

King (a portrait of Michael Jackson) is a piece consisting of 16 Michael Jackson fanatics with headphones in their ears singing and dancing to the whole 1982 album Thriller producing an a capella version of each song. Breitz found the fans by posting ads in newspapers, magazines and the internet and then picked the 'most deserving' fans to record in the studio. The fact that every one of the applicants can sing the whole album (including the various ah hoo's from Jackson himself) is a testament to his reign as king of pop. This was obviously the aim of the work, to represent a pop star through his fans, without whom he would not have become one. This piece is a unconventional portrait of sorts which has had viewers around the world stunned. The familiarity of Michael Jackson is drawn upon by Breitz so that most audiences are able to connect to the work and enjoy it.

Although I can see the point of the art the way I perceived it was quite different. Rather than seeing it as a portrait of Michael Jackson I saw it as a portrait of each of the participants of the film. Throughout the film it became quite clear to me what each person would be like if I was to meet them. For example there were those who simply stood still and sung. This was in contrast to those dressed in Michael Jackson-esque outfits who thought they would sport a moon walk and a crotch grab every now and then. Although these may be very superficial observations I think they show both the personality of the participant as well as their own personal way of appreciating the music of Michael Jackson.

Overall this work is wonderfully dynamic and interesting, even when I lack a liking for Michael Jackson's music I found it thoroughly enjoyable and interesting. I hope to create works like it in the future.




References

Photos by me.

[Gallery of Modern Art, Art in the 21st Century: The 1st Decade, Candice Breitz, King (a portrait of Michael Jackson).]

Yayoi Kusama

Ok, so who on earth would ever think "I'm going to hang a heap of coloured ping-pong balls from the ceiling of a dark room lit by ultra-violet light with walls made of mirrors and light them all from the inside". Well evidently Yayoi Kasuma did. She called it Soul under the moon.

As you may have guessed it is currently showing at the fantastic current exhibition at GoMA, 21st Century: Art in the First Decade . You wouldn't be far wrong if you thought this room was located in another world, that is exactly how it feels when you enter. The automatic door slides open and you are transported into a world in which only light exists and everything is a mystery. The ground falls away beneath you and you wonder if you stepped off of the platform you would simply fall into nothingness forever. You are left wondering which of the things you are seeing are real and which are merely creations of light and mirrors. You are confronted with many glowing version of yourself which fade into infinity.

By using mirrors Kusama has created an artwork which is literally never-ending therefore exploring the concept of infinity, which is, naturally, a very hard concept for any human to grasp. Walls in a room are designed to contain something and define the space, however this room does not. Kusama has created a realm in which these mind-boggling oppositions create a rewarding experience and make the viewer truly feel. It's amazing.

References

Photos by myself.

[Gallery of Modern Art, Art in the 21st Century: The 1st Decade, Yayoi Kusama, Soul under the moon.]

Olafur Eliasson

The cubic structural evolution project by Olafur Eliasson is currently on display at GoMA's 21st Century: Art in the First Decade exhibition. The basic idea is that a whole world of white lego is created for the public to interact with. The piece has a very post-apocalyptic feel to it due to the singular pieces of lego wich surround the buildings however there is always so much life around the tiny little city! Much like Martin Creed's work this piece brings the viewer into the artwork and therefore into the process of creation. Some people will say that anyone could have done this, anyone could have given a gallery thousands of pieces of lego on a table, but it takes someone special to actually do something so carefree and yet so beautiful. The simplicity of the idea is what makes it amazing and the fact that it can encourage children to create art and work their imaginations is fantastic. The simplicity is emphasized by the white of the lego and the bright lighting of the buildings themselves.


Although I would have put it in a room with black walls, just sayin'...



References

Photos by me

[Gallery of Modern Art, Art in the 21st Century: The 1st Decade, Olafur Eliasson, The cubic structural evolution project]

Planning

Martin Creed

Currently displaying at GoMA in Brisbane, Martin Creed's Work No. 956 instantly grabs the attention of the viewer, after all it is a room filled with huge purple balloons. I thoroughly enjoyed this work. I think that it is a form of art that anyone can really enjoy and relate to. The exhibition; 21st Century: Art in the First Decade, being free to enter and also including works which are enjoyable for the general public, is obviously an attempt at getting the non-art minded people of Brisbane to get involved and get excited about art, and I think it's working. Creed's piece does this by bringing the viewer into to the room, once you are in the room you are a part of the artwork. You become part of the space and it is impossible to be unaware of it. You become more aware of your own movements also. Your view of something as mundane as a balloon is completely changed. The artist has also created a world in which children can be immersed in art and their interest in art can therefore prosper from an early age. I myself was taken multiple times to the Queensland Art Gallery and other such venues as a child and look at me now; absolutely obsessed.

Sometimes art is about meaning, sometimes it's about making a statement but in my opinion it can sometimes just be a lot of fun, and quite frankly who doesn't like a room full of giant purple balloons?

References

Photograph by me.

[Gallery of Modern Art, Art in the 21st Century: The 1st Decade, Martin Creed, Work No. 956]

Fantasmo Blawgz

These are some blogs I've come across over time that I think you might like :)

SENSING OWLS
This is a photography blog by Sophie Richards, she documents her life and her friend's lives in the most beautiful of ways.

JACOB LAMBERT
Another photography blog, just... no words... go look.

BLACKALBINOBONES
You must visit this blog if only to bask in the wonderfully simple design of it. Ebony Harrison shows her inspirations and then blogs her work at http://artbybones.blogspot.com/ Both are worth checking out.

GARLIC IS NOT A PERFUME
The wonderful Claire Dawe's blog detailing her influences, research and work.

MATURITY DIED
This is a blog by Bel Tully, a fantastic person who happens to attend university with me :)

ART RESEARCH
Another fantastic person from uni, Greg shows his work and research on this wonderful blog.

GRAINS DON'T GROW UP TO BE CHIPS SON
Caitlin Royal discusses her influences and research.

UNE COLLECTION DE CHOSES SAUVAGE ET GRANDIOSE
Julia Wilken's collection of wonderful things which inspire her.

I hope you enjoy them!

Hey There Dreamer!

One day when I have somehow come across large sums of money I think it would be lovely to start an artist run space with friends. It would be a versatile space for any medium, any topic, anyone. It would have the potential to launch lowly, poor art students into the art world. It would serve as a platform for the beginning of an interest in art for people in the public who had no interest in art before. It would be a space for everyone.

Yeah, that would be pretty cool.

An Inspirational Place- Melbourne, Australia

I was born in Melbourne and I've always found an extreme urge to return on a regular basis. Every time I go there I just feel fantastic, it's hard to explain. It has been the setting for so many fantastic memories. I also love the aesthetics of Melbourne, there is so much history in the architecture but it manages to have a new age feel to it with all it's hidden away cafes and fantastically decorated alleyways.
















The Melbourne Zoo also held much inspiration for me purely by giving me some amazing things to photograph. From a purely photography geek perspective Melbourne also gives a whole new form of light to work with.

Music and Film Inspiration

Boy and Bear- Rabbit Song

A friend introduced me to this film clip quite some time ago and I have loved it ever since. I was doing research for a photography shoot we were planning and my friend thought this would inspire me. I love the carefree feel to this piece of film, it ties in perfectly with the music and really compliments it I think.




Strongbow- It's Strongbow Season

I saw this ad when I was quite a lot younger than I am now and boy was I impressed. I saw it in a cinema when waiting for a movie to start. I think the music and voice over to this film is what makes it truly amazing. Everything in it leans towards one aesthetic and I think it all ties in together really well.




Tim Abbott- Hillbrook Seniors 2010

Ok, so I'm quite biased in the case of this video as it is about my friends made by one of my friends but I still think it is a fantastic piece of film making. The reaction from the crowd when this played at graduation was fantastic and I guess that's what I think art is about. This video could have been a very boring and typical view of our last year of school, Tim however has managed to do the exact opposite. You should definitely check out more videos from his Youtube channel, click through the video to find it.

Process Inspiration- Film Photography

Using film is something that I believe every photographer should experience at some stage. The use of film allows for a variety of new techniques and experimentation. I think it also makes for a more perceptive photographer by limiting the number of photos which are able to be taken. Of course the aesthetics of film are also complimentary using faults and mistakes to the advantage of the photographer.

Following photos by me :)

Alex Bowler

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I came across this blog quite recently and... well all you have to do is look at it. Alex Bowler is a Brisbane based photographer and his photos are fantastic. They have a certain quality about them, they are simply enjoyable to look at. Through his photos you can see his obvious passion for photography as well as, in my opinion, a passion for life. He also experiments a lot within his photography with different techniques and seems to vary his subjects. He also works with film here and has a Tumblr here.

And my friend Hobbs assures me he is a fantastic person also.

Go check out his blog, it's worth it.


Bowler, Alex. 2010. "Newcastle", 105060, March 23, 2011. Accessed March 24. http://105060.blogspot.com/2011/03/newcastle.html

Inspiration Post #1- Banksy.

I know that Banksy is a fairly standard source of artist inpiration but seriously, it's not hard to see why.

Artistic practice as a form of self-expression has always come naturally to me but there is one artist in particular who has influenced my work like no other. Banksy is a British graffiti artist who continues to produce work anonymously all over the world. His humorous and distinctive stencil art often carries dark undertones and his own political agenda. The fact that Banksy remains anonymous is something that I admire. The strong messages he manages to convey to not only the art-aware public but also the general public are also something I often strive for in my own artistic practice.




The way that Banksy stays anonymous, for me, is a point of extreme interest. In my opinion this makes the statements he makes all the more powerful. By separating his art from himself he is able to foreground the meaning he is trying to convey showing his determination to make his audience think rather than give him personal praise. This is a quality I strongly admire as I think that art’s role is more than to be aesthetically appealing. Throughout my practice I have often been inspired to take the same technique and apply it to my works, leaving them in a place to be viewed by an audience without interruption from myself, the artist, allowing the audience to make up their own mind about the issue I have explored. It is obvious to me that Banksy’s message is always more important than his own reputation and prestige as an artist, this has inspired me immensely.


I feel that the placement of Banksy’s works is also an admirable aspect of his art. I truly respect the way that Banksy literally gives his art to the public. He puts his pieces in danger of being painted over or defaced in order to reach an audience that surprisingly enough does not experience art nearly as often as necessary; the public. As Banksy says himself:


"Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don't come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make someone smile while they're having a piss." (Banksy, Banging Your Head Against A Brick Wall)


When art is placed solely in a gallery it is only those already interested in art that get to experience it, however when art is introduced to the street a whole new audience is reached and their opportunity to become passionate about art is revealed. Banksy’s work has introduced art to a whole new generation. So take it to the streets I say, because of Banksy’s influence on my own artistic practice I endeavor to create works which are accessible to anyone, no matter their current situation.




Banksy’s approach to art has truly inspired me to delve deeper into artistic practice. His work, while tackling strong political issues, still manages to be enjoyable and often humorous. Banksy is focused on conveying his message to the public despite the chance that his work will be destroyed and despite the fact he will not gain recognition from it. As an artist I have been truly inspired by Banksy and I can only wish to have such commitment to my message and hope that my work can be as accessible as his.

References

Banksy. 2005. Wall and Piece. Century Publishing.

Banksy. 2001. Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall. Weapons of Mass Distraction.

Banksy. "Banksy" Accessed March 27, 2011. www.banksy.co.uk.

A Fresh Start

My name is Ryan Fraser and this is the beginning of a new blog for me! As I study visual arts at QUT in Brisbane it was suggested not so long ago that we start an online visual diary to keep track of our inspirations and research. Keepin' up with the timez yo! So this is mine.

Throughout you can expect to see my own work as well as a large range of my influences. I think it's inevitable that you will see some personal posts as well since that is also a part of my 'artistic practice'. I hope you enjoy my creative ramblings.