After a recent couple of days of rain and constant drizzle, AK and I went into the city and took our cameras. I am often captivated by reflections and/or shadows.
Here are a few images I took of wet Melbourne, its reflections and shadows.
AK is so cheeky getting in my shots! I think he secretly loves having his photo taken!
These next few images are about the play between shadow and light, negative space, lines and texture.
A few months back, I decided to explore the way that hand gestures can have different meanings. These meanings can be both widely and/or secretly known. The meaning can be shared, for example with the wider community, within cultural or religious groups, or it can be held within a small group of people such as in baseball sporting teams or in street gangs. The meaning can shift over time and the same hand gesture can hold various meanings depending on which group views or uses them. I decided to pose using hand gestures I had seen being used. Here are some images from that series.
All photographers copyright matthew schiavello 2016.
It seems like a while since I posted some new music.
Here is what I have been listening to lately.
The new Parquet Courts LP "Human Performance' is a bit loose, DIY (in a produced way) and has some great little moments like this one-
Parquet Courts - 'Berlin got blurry'
The Pet Shop Boys have a new Lp out called 'Super'. It is produced by Stuart Price, who did the last LP and this is apparently the second of a trilogy. I really like the pet Shop Boys, but can't help but think that anyone could be singing over these sounds, which sound a bit samey and lack the tonal and musical variety of albums like 'Fundamental'. I do like 'Pop Kids' though.
Pet Shop Boys- 'Pop Kids'
Aussie group 'The Drones' have released a new LP titled 'Feelin Kind of Free'. If you like loose, raw (and with a bit of sonic noise) and interesting Aussie music, then this is well worth a listen. This slower track is a favourite-
The Drones - 'To think that I once loved you'
Lastly, Prince has passed away. Many people will have a favourite Prince track or Lp. I have several and grew up with many of his LP's. Here is a track that never seems to sound old to me.
I have been taking some art classes for a little while now, as I have no formal training in art. We have been recently looking at colour theory and how to use the three primary colours (red, yellow and Blue) to mix other colours. My teacher works mainly in watercolour, but recently had me try acrylic paint and I really love it! Here are some things I tried out on my own after my first acrylic class.
These are my own designs and I also mixed my own colours..
This last one, also has ink used in it.
I am excited to see what else my teacher has me do next!
I recently undertook a little series of defocused images.
The aim was to shift attention away from defined form and what the form means to us and instead to focus on colour. More precisely to bring our attention to the Hue/s (the colour/s), Saturation (how strong or saturated the colour is) and value (how light or dark the colour is) in the image.
AK turned forty, this past weekend. I baked him a cake sized brownie. He loves chocolate and brownies! We went out to dinner that night and had a good time. Here are some photos from the morning:
Posing with some of the items I gave him.
Lighting the candles (yep, we had already started eating the brownie):
Posing with the 'cake' and wearing a Donald Trump branded tie, his family gave him.
Now enough about AK and more about me!
My exhibition has a final viewing at Balkon Art Incubator, here is some info and some photos!
This is Sunday is the final opportunity to see the exhibition-
"Seminal and non-seminal works", at Balkon Art Incubator.
Date: Sunday 20th of March Time: 10am - 1pm Location: 635 Plenty Rd, Preston (Near Tyler st).
Some info about the show, from my artist statement:
" Over the last two years Matthew has been exploring Bricolage through
the manipulation of translucent materials. The works in this exhibition
were created using this technique. Much of Matthew’s work is centered on
finding beauty in spaces or items which are unwanted or discarded. The
series ‘Seminal and non-seminal works’ sees Matthew making a shift from
passive observer of beauty to active participant in its creation.
‘Seminal and non-Seminal works’ explores several themes. The themes are:
-how items 'to hand' can be used in the creation of beauty,
-the artist’s own personal exploration of how chosen materials are used to represent the joy of life (and its creation) and
-How the experience each viewer has with each piece of work can be
affected by the emotional meaning they have attached or imbued in the
items used."
I do hope that you will be able to attend.
Please feel free to pop in, say hello and bring your friends. Please
feel free to also forward this invite those whom you think would be
interested. It is important to note that these works are different to my
usual abstract photographs and are mixed media works. Some aspects of
the show may be confronting for some people. Please do not hesitate to
contact me in need.
best regards,
matthew schiavello.
A discerning art lover who matched her outfit to the prints!
A.K. was barman! -What will it be sir? or is it more 'whadda ya want?'
One of the prints that sold on opening night:
‘Seminal works #23 110116′
Mixed media. 12 x 18 inches.
