A New Year a new chance to, as David Lynch says, live the art life

This year the big resolution is to expand our ideas and to create a solid body of work. While playing more in the weird edges of our imagination and continuing to  push the envelope on what we do. 

Making a commitment to creating more. Not getting caught up in all the other stuff that seems so important but isn't.  My other resolution is being more brave and changing my life to give more time for my creative life mine - but that's a whole different and scary can of worms! 

Part of this refocusing is spending more mornings like this, sitting in one of my favourite coffee shops dreaming. And putting some of those dreams down on paper. Making the time for ideas, and getting into the practice of writing regularly. This is a strange sensation as I'm finding it requires slowing down 

We're also making the effort to read more and see more and I'll endeavour to share some of my thoughts and  discoveries here more often. 

So here's what hit a cord with me in January. 

The Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition at the NGV. This brilliant exhibition was inspiring, sad and overwhelming all at once. The sheer volume of work was daunting, especially as you consider how much must have been lost on subway walls, sides of buildings and obstructions of all kinds. Haring was know to draw on anything that stood in his way. To think of how prolific these artists were and how much they said about society then, that still resonates with society today - and in such a short time as both of the were taken from us much too soon - is a little humbling. And the way they fluidly mixed disciplines and styles has already inspired a the beginnings of a film/ live performance baby. 
​

---

Taking the time to visit the original Heide cottage and standing in the rooms where Sydney Nolan, Joy Hester and Albert Tucker painted, drew, read, lived, loved and breathed, the work is stunning, full of life and drama created quickly while fully engaged in several conversations, by artist that were not recognised in their time and barely remembered now. Part of our rich and often ignored art history. We also got to see a model of the tiny caravan Albert Tucker build in his tiny Paris apartment and lived and traveled in for over a year. These were the folks that lived for their exploration in art, it puts steel in you spine just to see their bold brush strokes and be reminded of their beautiful messy lives. 

And snuggled up on our couch this month with gave ourselves the huge treat of a Lynne Ramsay - Jonathan Glazer retrospective. Watching these masterful filmmakers side by side really highlighted the things they have in common. A fascination with grief and how it can be a catalyst for change, the idea of transformation, peering into the odd corners of life, a questioning about what humanity is and an ability to create masterful opening sequences. Lynne Ramsay's characters are raw and messy in the midst of transformation, Johnathan Glazers characters have a feeling at the beginning that they have it all worked out - and then it unravels. Bold, stylish full blooded, cheeky storytelling - and a preocupation with the bath.   

Would love to hear what you have discovered this month, what has moved you and what is inspiring you.