The fringes of Mt Aspiring
In an incredibly biased way I have delighted in all the images for the upcoming exhibition ‘Aotearoa’ by the photographer Tom Blachford. As an ex-pat of the little neighbouring country, it’s an incredibly interesting experience seeing these breathtaking pictures that are taken from a Melbourne artist.
'Aotearoa' opens on Thursday 15th December 6 - 10pm
The series of ten photographs focuses on the formidable barren landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island. The remote locations, all taken throughout the rugged mountains that run jagged, carving up the Island with gorges and glaciers, belie their sense of initial serenity.
A permanent waterfall in Milford Sound
The works evoke a sense of cinematic drama, a quality that has been attributed to New Zealand’s landscapes before, yet in these images there is no threatening sense of drama or the overused adage of the untouched world. These works embrace the viewers own perspective and imagination, inviting playful imagery. There are figures, faces and shapes for discovery in each photograph. There is a history of seeing faces and figures in nature, like picking out shapes in clouds or stars, in these works Blachford approaches scenery with this same concept, sharing his discovery of Aotearoa’s beauty with a pleasant naivety.
Captured at Lindis Pass
Blachford describes his process for finding these scenes as one of gentle discovery, upon examining his images he delights each time at seeing faces in the ‘cookies and cream’ landscapes, as though they are something out of a make-believe or sur-reality fantasy. Condensing these colossal landscapes to A0, (also available in an A4, a very limited edition of 3), the tighter image becomes apparent; the landscapes form a set. The edges align the tops of the mountain ranges regardless of the locations sometimes being miles apart and from various perspectives. This unity completes a fantastic set of images from the photographer Tom Blachford.
The exhibition ‘Aotearoa’ is on at L’Unico Gallery, 323 Bay St, Port Melbourne from the 15th – 23rd December.
For more information see www.tomblachford.com
Summer Dreamin’ — in the city, on the streets
It’s summer in Melbourne, and if the 40 degrees heat (spattered by thunderstorms!) eases up for a while it really is the best time to explore the cities hidden gems of street art. When you’re next in the city take the time for a wanderer’s tour…
Union Lane in Melbourne is often cited as one of the greatest places to observe street art’s finest. The laneway in Melbourne’s city centre was made a ‘legal graffiti wall’ in 2008, for a mentoring programme run by the city council. Eager artists from all over soon began layering over the original works, covering the majority of them. Since then the laneway has had a commissioned revamp by PinXit over 2010-2011, and you must have a permit to paint there. It’s worth a stroll as an introduction to Melbourne’s street art, it features works by a broad range of artists like Beastman, Twoone, Toronto artist TZCH, Metro’s own Stormie Mills from WA, Drew Funk and more.
This Stormie Mills work in Union Lane exemplifies his scuffling characters, to view his works on canvas available click HERE, or come in to Metro to see our current stock show where he features until the 20th January.
A towering Stormie Mills piece in Geelong.
This January Metro has put on a show worthy of street art lovers attention, our stock show features Swoon, Blek Le Rat, Stormie Mills, and of course Anthony Lister.
For these available Lister works and to check out more from our stock show click HERE.
For a comprehensive guide to Melbourne’s laneways check out OnlyMelbourne’s guide HERE.