Ceramics: Gwyn Hanssen Piggott

With a career spanning over 45 years, world renowned ceramist Gwyn Hanssen Pigott's work looks as fresh today as it did when she first created it. Born in Ballarat in 1935, she studied for her Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne during the 50s.

Hanssen Pigott concentrates on the subject of the functional vessel, investigating its subtleties and nuances. Exploring the format of the group, she presents variations on related forms of vases, beakers, bowls and teapots as still lifes. Wheel-thrown in porcelain and using variations of wood-fired celadon glazes, Pigott’s approach to composition and presentation in these deceptively simple forms of grouped, functional objects reflect the influence of Italian painter Giorgio Morandi.

Design: Kris' Color Stripes

Italian artist and fashion designer Kris keeps this great idea of a blog/sketchbook to inspire and evoke all who visit it. Kris' Color Stripes draws single swatches out of everyday life. Lovely.

Must do Global: January

Each month in addition to our 'Must do in Melbourne' post, we'll feature a few 'must do' events from around the globe.

Lower Hutt, NEW ZEALAND

Zeitgeist Becomes Form
German Fashion Photography 1945-1995

THE NEW DOWSE
October 6, 2007 to February 3, 2008

Images: Gaby van Cleef, Evening Dress by Gehringer & Glupp, Berlin 1951 & Winter Fashion for Bessie Becker, Zugspitze 1952 by Hubs (Hubertus) Flöter

Images: Op-Art Design on a Bathing Suit, Athens 1966 & Bathing Caps with a White Rim for 'Brigitte' 8/1966, Cairo 1966 by F.C. Gundlach

This exhibition features over 100 images celebrating 50 years of iconic world fashion, from Christian Dior in the 1940s to Issey Miyake in the 1990s. Zeitgeist Becomes Form includes unforgettable images by some of Germany’s most renowned photographers including Helmut Newton, Sybille Bergmann, Rico Puhlmann and Thomas Rusch.

These images truly capture the spirit of the times, and provide a fascinating insight into both the evolution of fashion, and simultaneous changes in society, codes of morality, the role of women and the hopes and ideals of people at the time.

For more information, take a look here.

Paris, FRANCE

Maisen et Objet

Design Professional's Trade Show

PARIS LE BORGET EXHIBITION CENTER

January 24-28, 2008

For more information, take a look here.

Los Angleles, USA

Black Panther

The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas

MOCA Pacific Design Center

October 21, 2007 to February 24, 2008

Images: Poster from The Black Panther, 27th May 1972, offset lithograph & poster from The Black Panther, 21st August 1971, offset lithograph by Emory Douglas

This exhibition traces the graphic art made by Emory Douglas while he worked as minister of culture for the Black Panther Party from 1967 until its discontinuation in the early 1980s. Douglas's powerful visuals helped define the trademark visual style of the group's newspapers, posters, and pamphlets. Douglas's substantial body of work exists as a powerful graphic record of the Black Panthers' legacy, reflecting their development and evolving mission to improve the lives of African Americans by calling for resistance and change, as well providing social services to their communities. With a firm understanding of the need to disseminate information and communicate the party's agenda visually, Douglas's bold illustrations and striking images spoke forcefully to a community ravaged by poverty, police brutality, and poor living conditions. With unmistakable humanism, Douglas portrayed a populace that was emerging from segregation and proudly fighting to assert their rights to equality. 

For more information, take a look here.

Must do in Melbourne: January

January is quiet for Melbourne's smaller exhibition spaces, most of them close over the holidays and re-open in February but that doesn't mean you'll be short of exhibits to see. Head the NGV International and view the great permanent collection (thanks to the Felton bequest, as my gorgeous sister-in-law pointed out the last time she was in Melbourne). There are always amazing temporary exhibitions showing at the NGV as well...

Joseph Beuys & Rudolf Steiner
Imagination, Inspiration, Intuition

NGV International

26 October, 2007 to 17 February, 2008

Admission free

This exhibition examines the connections between the art of Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) and the teachings of Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). Rudolf Steiner’s writings on politics, economics and intellectual freedom exerted an impact upon Beuys. In particular, Beuys’ theory of ‘social sculpture’ reflects the influence of Steiner in its insistence that creativity should be applied to all aspects of human endeavour. Building upon Steiner’s concept of ‘denkbilder’ or ‘thought drawings’, Beuys used chalk on board to communicate to his audience the basic principles of social sculpture – freedom, direct democracy and sustainable economic forms. Concerned with the intersection of art and politics, education and the development of the individual, this is an exhibition that will appeal to a wide range of people; from the general public, to those interested in German culture or Anthroposophy.

Diem Chau: Storytelling

Carved crayons on wood base, Installation view, 2005 by Diem Chau

These beautiful sculptures carved from crayons are by Vietnamese born artist, Diem Chau. I love the strong narrative inherent in these pieces, the use of colour and scale, and the adoption of the humble Crayola crayon, carefully crafted into these evocative figures. 

Diem Chau describes himself as an artist whose medium is stories. Having experienced a somewhat nomadic childhood with little material possession, he discovered the importance of stories shared with loved ones. 

"Each story is a journey that gives us greater understanding of our past and our culture. Each story is a thread that connects us to each other, the storyteller holding one end and the audience the other." - Diem Chau