The Return of Fat Butt

It is overcast and showery today so Fat Butt is having breakfast later than usual, which meant that I was up and could snap him. I actually wanted to shoo him away from eating my newly planted Grevillea shrubs, which I nursed through the dry period. Instead, I watched him mow them down while I got shots of him.

" Hi, I'm Fat Butt, I visit this garden often. There are so many juicy plants to snack on."

"Mmmmm look at that the old lady has planted some fresh young Grevillea, smells good."

"Let me try some."

"Yum, yum delicious. I'll just hang on to it ready for my next bite. Sorry for talking with my mouth full. Mmm so young and fresh. The old girl is watching me with that big, black, clicky thing but she's harmless and a good old stick for sharing her garden with me."

"Oh boy! Look at that tall shoot that I have missed. Looks good."

" That's the one. Mmmm yum yum. Uh oh, she's getting a bit close now, maybe I had better leave the rest of the Grevillea for her. I'm off to find another juicy morsal."

"Crikey! She is still clicking away and following me, but I'm so cute she won't hurt me."

"Now I know she won't mind if I mow the grass for a while."

" She's getting awfully close. I'm getting a bit scared. I'll make myself big and show her that I am a male and not to be messed with."

"I'm not sure about her. I hop away and she keeps following me with that clicky thingy. I'm off now but I'll be back, earlier next time, when the old girl is still in bed."

LOVE IT or HATE IT?

Here are a few more exhibits we saw at the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane.

These waves of delicate strands of knotted fibres filled a small room. We had to take our shoes off to go in. We entered and just stood there looking at it then we asked the attendant if we could touch it. We were told to walk into it. It was the most amazing feeling, a bit like being in a cloud that you could feel softly on your skin. I'm a big kid and really enjoyed this hands on installation. The hanging threads were too thick and close for the camera to take shots but below you can see Carol trying to take a movie as she walks into the stuff.

Carol on the right and another person enjoying the sensation.

David disappearing into wonderland.

The artist is Shindi Ohmaki from Japan. He transforms space, where boundaries between interiors and exteriors are blurred. Liminal Air – descend – 2007–09 combines over 100 000 strands of knotted thread with the effects of artificial light, and the Gallery’s architectural right-angles provide a counterpoint to Ohmaki’s contrasting approach to minimalism. Using simple fibres in which countless knots have been tied, the immersive installation proposes both a surface (masses of threads give the appearance of vaporous waves) and an interior dimension (within the permeable structure of soft fibres), at once inviting a sense of gravity and weightlessness. The sheer labour involved in producing the accumulations of delicate strands and knots is understated in the overall work, which seems to evoke ideas of infinity and reverie, transforming the gallery into a contemplative space.

Then we moved onto People holding flowers by Zhu Weibing & Ji Wenyu.

I think I know that guy sitting at the back with a camera.

This was an intriguing sculpture, it was sort of pretty and boring at the same time, which is what the artists intended according to the blurb:

Comprising 400 individual figures, each holding a large pink flower, People holding flowers contains potent symbolism for Chinese culture: the flowers recall Mao Zedong’s encouragement of intellectuals to debate a range of policy solutions and criticise bureaucracy, stating that he meant to ‘let a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend’. However, by the middle of 1957, an overwhelming response to Mao’s Hundred Flowers Campaign led to serious crackdowns on dissent.
With the soft, fleshy flowers raised high, this installation appears attractive and harmless. But while the work’s mood is buoyant and celebratory, the repetition of forms and lack of differentiation between individuals question the homogenising effects of mass ideology, be it communism or capitalism.

The next one was comical but amazing.

Line of Control by Subodh Gupta

Gupta reflects on the cultural, social and political impact of economic and technological change on the Indian subcontinent. Gupta’s art has its genesis in the local traditions and materials of his home state of Bihar in India, yet these often anecdotal works also speak profoundly to audiences in other countries about issues of global significance.
The one below is a static display of a mirror mosaic called Lightning for Neda by Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian. The 4000 pieces of mirror used were very, very small. (Wish I had taken a close focus shot) It must have taken a long time to make. Carol is enjoying the art.
The mirror mosaic draws on an Iranian decorative form known as aineh-kari. This technique dates back to the sixteenth century, when pieces of mirror, broken in transit from Europe to Persia, were recycled to create decorative architectural panels. Lightning for Neda skilfully uses this technique: over 4000 mirror shards per panel activate myriad patterns within its glittering, sublime surface. The six sides of the hexagon, which provide the underlying structure, are expanded and elaborately rendered. The hexagon is an important shape within Islamic geometry, and also has mystical connotations, representing the six directions (up, down, forward, backward, left, right) as well as the six virtues of generosity, self-discipline, patience, determination, insight and compassion. Farmanfarmaian symbolically activates these virtues in this work, the title of which pays homage to Neda Agha Soltan, a 27-year-old Iranian woman killed in the streets of Tehran during protests that followed the 12 June 2009 presidential elections. Neda means ‘voice’ in Farsi, and here, the compelling voice of a senior Iranian contemporary artist acknowledges the turmoil that exists in her country.

This last one is one big momma of a picture.

Reuben Paterson’s Whakapapa: get down upon your knees extends the customary New Zealand Māori use of design, pattern, weaving and layering by using seductive new materials. Drawing on his own Māori culture and floral fabrics from the 1960s and 1970s, his judicious use of colour, patterning and composition recalls American Modernism and Op art.

Well what do you think? Do you love it or hate it?

GoMA for LUNCH

Last week Carol and David spent a day at GoMA (Gallery of Modern Art). They love art galleries and have visited many in Europe but they think our GoMA is very good and a cool place to visit in hot weather. We joined them for lunch at the GoMA restaurant. The restaurant always change their menu to compliment the latest art exhibition. At the moment it is the 6th Asian Pacific Triennial Contemporary Art exhibition, so the menu was Japanese.

We started by sipping an Australian red.

David had eye fillet.

Carol and Bill had chicken curry.

I had garlic prawns.

All the meals were delicious. We decided to have a stroll through the gallery before going home. They allow photos but not flash. These days there are less and less pictures on the walls (oops should say static displays) and more and more installations. The first one to catch my attention was this:

It is hanging from the ceiling in the corridors. This is looking up at it from the ground floor.(above)

 

This is looking down at it from floors above.

 

It is made of six thousand A3 sheets of paper held together with bulldog clips.

Unfortunately, I couldn't be bothered taking notes on the artists or the names of their art works, but I was entertained with what I saw. 

My friends, Judyth and Richard, left a comment on my blog and they have kicked my butt and dragged me out of my lethargy and coerced me into looking up information about the art that I saw. Judyth is a curator of an art gallery. So here is the missing information.

The above piece is called Cloud by Wit Pimkanchanapong

Cloud responds to and transforms the dramatic interior spaces of the Gallery of Modern Art. Comprised of A3 paper, bulldog clips and metal wire, this piece is based on a signature motif that Pimkanchanapong initially developed for a rock concert venue to create a cheap, effective means of transforming the environment. Wit trained as an architect.

Judyth and Richard's comment:

WE are with Carol and David, Diane.

No visit to a major city should be concluded without taking in the galleries (or museums as they're known in the US).
So we're sure your goodself and Billy B. would take in the works on display in good old (and expensive) Switzerland when you're there.
And yes, in Museums of MODERN Art installations are more prevalent than static displays --- read, pictures hung from the walls.
New York, London and Paris have some of the world's most famous galleries. Berlin has an entire precinct devoted to gallleries/museums.
It's a sheer delight to wander around these iconic places. Will we have to Google the Brisbane establishment to discover the artists' names for the installations you have captured.

Piccies without captions leave the job half-done !!

THE DAY AFTER

Sonya and Bernie were only here for the weekend from Sydney. While here in Brisbane, Bernie rang his brother, Steve, who lives on the Sunshine Coast. Steve told Bernie that their sister, Margaret, was also on holiday on the coast. So it was arranged that we all go to Mooloolaba Surf Club for lunch the day after our belated Christmas celebrations.

It is a great view from the Surf Club restaurant.

Looking east

Looking north.

Looking south

Enjoying a seafood platter for lunch It was the first time that Carol and David had met Bernie's brother and sister and their families. From left to right: David, Carol, Nadine, Steve, Lachlan (hiding), James, Margaret,Georgia, Jason, Sonya, Bernie and Bill. Both Bernie and Steve are actors and it was quite interesting watching the people recognising them and asking for photos etc.

After lunch we drove to Point Cartwright and had a walk along the Mooloola River bank. It was very hot and people were cooling off in the water. The young ones all stopped here for a swim but Bill and I decided it was too hot and set off for home. We said our goodbyes to Sonya and Bernie as they were going directly to the airport to fly back to Sydney.

We passed the marina on the way back to the car (and air conditioning.)

A LATE CHRISTMAS

Because we knew the young ones were coming here in late January we postponed Christmas until now. Inside we had buffet salads, prawns and BBQed Snapper Fish and.......

..........we went outside to eat in the warm evening air.For dessert we had Alma's famous trifle. Our guests were from left to right, Bernie, Sonya (hiding behind Bernie), Carol, David, Bill, Alma,(David's parents) Steve, Melody (David's sister), Erica (hiding)and Jon,(David's brother), and BB.

After dinner was our traditional gift giving time. David is giving out the gifts. It was an enjoyable evening with family.

LET'S CELEBRATE!!!

Today is Australia Day, celebrating Captain Arthur Phillip planting the British flag in Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788. Arthur Phillip arrived with eleven ships of convicts and soldiers and started the first European settlement where Sydney now stands. He became Governor of the eastern half of Terra Australis called the colony of New South Wales. Little regard was given to the aboriginal population.

This weekend we were also celebrating the homecoming of Carol and David from London and the imminent birth of Sonya's baby.

Breakfast (muesli and fruit salad) on the balcony with......

....from left to right, Bernie, Bill, Carol and Sonya (David was at his parents house)

 

Sonya, a happy mother to be. (My baby having a baby)

Glowing.

It is a very hot, long weekend  at 35C°

THE NEST IS FULL

We have had an empty nest for 13 years but now and then the young ones return for a visit and this weekend is one of those times. Our eldest, Carol-Ann and husband David have returned to live in Australia after after living in London for seven years.

They have arrived in Brisbane via Singapore. Here comes Carol for a hug.

Nothing feels better than a hug from a loved one after being apart for a long time.

Carol came home with us and David went home with his parents to Sandgate but on Thursday we all went over to Sandgate for fish and chips by the bay, it was very breezy. They look happy to be back in a warm place after freezing London. After lunch we went to the airport to pick up our youngest daughter, Sonya and partner Bernie, who came from Sydney to visit. We were all looking forward to seeing the baby bump.

It gives you a warm fuzzy feeling to see your daughters hug each other.

That sure is a new look Sonya, who has always been thin. iPop in the background looking very proud.

All home and excited to be together again and with something extra special to be excited about. Carol is waiting to feel a kick from her nephew.