Orpin, Ryden and Nara – Oh My!
Last week, during my lunch break, I was able to pop into Outre Gallery (on Elizabeth St in the city) and see Beci Orpin’s “outside, over There” exhibit in person. I have always admired Beci – she’s multi-talented and does it all: textile design, fashion, illustration, softies, collage, paper-cuts, sculpture. In fact it’s accurate to say that I want to be her when I grow up (‘though I’m pretty sure we’re about the same age!).
(Image credit: Gemma Jones)
As expected, her work was stunning and I particularly loved the paper-cuts, gocco prints, giclee prints and kokeshi dolls. You can see all of Beci’s work from this exhibition on Outre’s website here.
I also had a chance to wander around the remainder of Outre (I could have spent at least another hour there I think!) and came across the work of Mark Ryden. I instantly fell in love with his “The Tree Show” collection – whimsical settings, strangely cute characters, colourful but dark, with a touch of humour. A sample of his work (image credit: Mark Ryden website):
Outre also has a great range of art books you most likely will not find in your average book-shop.
I couldn’t leave without one piece of artwork and so a small reproduction of Yoshitomo Nara’s “Missing in Action” painting came home with me. Here it sits on my desk with a postcard from Beci’s exhibition, giving me a boost of inspiration as I begin on the next batch of softies.
The reason I chose this particular painting by Nara is that the girl looks exactly like Aurora (the haircut, the big eyes, and even the red dress!) when she’s in one of her defiant and stubborn moods – which has been happening a lot lately, given that she has entered the “Terrible Twos” stage :-) But I just searched this particular painting on the internet to find out more about it and discovered that the original by Nara was sold for US$1.08 million at Christie’s back in 2006! Ummmmmm . . . wow!
A heartfelt thank you to all who have commented and sent lovely words of encouragement on my little show – your response has been truly overwhelming and I am so grateful and humbled by it. Thank you especially to Pip, Cintia, Claire, Jaime, Emma and Katie (hope I didn’t miss anyone!) for posting up such kind words about the show.
I’m going on a little internet/blog break to catch up on some non-crafty stuff – hope to be back online late next week.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I love the Nara painting – it really does look like a stubborn 2 year old – straining the boundaries of relationships!!
I love the exhibit as well!!
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September 4th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
hope all goes well with yr exhibition, I am sorry I will miss it and it can’t be part of my melbourne craft diaries
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September 4th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
you were able to catch a mark ryden show? so jealous :(
i’m in love with him. hee
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September 4th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
jhoanna! that is so nice that you were in outré (it be the place i am 5 of 7 days most weeks) … and tomorrow i’m heading to hudson to … you know … see YOUR thing! glad that you dug the beci show. she good.
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September 4th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I recognize that look — Jaxon is also in those terrible twos!! Although I’ve never put him in a red dress…
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September 6th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Thanks to you
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September 7th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Ooooh, I simply lurve Outre… it’s such a delicious place. I fell about in bliss when there when I saw the Shag artwork and Derek Yaniger artwork.
Great choice of print you took home, and yes I’m extremely familiar with ‘that’ look at the moment. It’s a popular one in our house too.
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September 10th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Thanks for reminding me about the Beci Orpin exhibition, I had totally forgotten about it! I went and saw Kozy & Dan’s exhibition at Outre some time ago, it’s a great little place.
Also love your Nara print, it looks great on your desk!
I would love to go and see your own show as well, however I’m not sure I can make it to Balaclava :(
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