I am back in Perth on a holiday. My motive is to finally relax after so many weeks of being high strung and devoting my time to nothing but uni work. I also aim to raise enough money through working my old job to get to Tokyo and visit my brother. I have nearly made enough too!

Last weekend I felt it time enough to rustle up some feathers and frazzle the people of Perth. I did this through the character of the Psychedelic Yeti. I created the costume in it’s entirety. It had a mask with a permanent smile and ornate detailing, and art deco feather headpiece and red circular ears. I also wore a leotard and layers of fringing, fur and roses around my neck. All made for a rather shocking and haunting costume.

I remained sober through the night and graced the clubs and the dance-floor with my movements and prowling. Many couldn’t stand the mask – through fear and through not being able to know my identity. Many wanted to touch me and even more found it sexual. I didn’t speak a word all night – just gazed directly into the eyes of all in an intentionally uncomfortable way. I aimed to be above humans. 

Photographs to Come.

If I wasn’t such an internal person I should probably be yelling at someone or something. But the deal is that I go out of my way to visit friends I haven’t seen in ages  because I miss them. I also had done an artwork for one of them and was very excited to give the print to her. I came back from a going away party early to make sure I could make it to their house. I even rang up to double check they would be awake/there when I arrived as it was a 20 minute walk to get there. She was down the road at a friends house but said she would walk back to meet me.

I got there and was let into the house and fell asleep waiting for someone who didn’t actually come home at all. I just made the bed and left the artwork there this morning. Basically these are the times where I feel my energy is wasted on a rewardless result. I love giving to people and I go out of my way to be there for others when I can. But I just feel like a fuckin’ doormat.

We had to do an illustration assignment at uni where we take two artists of our choice and replicate their style in one of our own artworks. I don’t have the whole picture of mine to put up here as I need to get in reach of an A3 scanner. But here is a sneak preview of a midget with a GIGANTIC COCK playing his drum. I think we can all agree on his beautiful pubes. It is based on the Nouveau illustrator Aubrey Beardsley. Please – enjoy his soulful beats.

I got a movie out this evening by an Italian director named ‘Fellini’ set in ancient Rome. It is hard to explain exactly what the plot is about. I can tell you that it involves two beautiful young men competing for the same lover (who is also a pretty young boy). I can also tell you that it is both confusing/hilarious/erotic and above all else – visually gratifying. I am a sucker for the costumes/makeup/styling and sexy greased up young men in skimpy togas that this movie so blatantly gloats. Here, have some screen shots!

Trimalchio's Party

The Lovers

Intimacy

Pretty Boy

Giltion and his strange hand movements

Recently befriended a whole bunch of street artists painting the city whacky. Met one of the guys through a friend of a friend at a party and since have been hanging out with the bunch in their gallery at 55 Enmore rd Newtown.

The ‘Oh Really’ gallery is the perfect place for anyone who wants to wander in and gaze at canvases or even sit on the couch with a beer and a sketchbook. This totally laid-back atmosphere are what these guys are all about. Plus their artwork is super. 

Last thursday night the boys asked me to perform a tap dance to open their ‘culture jam’ event on the premises. People flocked from all over and filled up the tiny space with great vibes and casual chit chat. Later the tunes got rolling when some MC’s started free-styling to a band.

Another band followed and soon instruments began to rotate around everyone amongst all the radical dancing. Meanwhile two live artists ‘Kwan’ & ‘Sribla’ were contributing to the atmosphere in creating a really kick-ass collaboration on the back wall.

These have inspired me to pick up my sketchbook again. Maybe even try out this ‘paste-up’ business. Who knows? So Sydney art-fiends – check it out. 

OH REALLY

 

back wall of 'oh really' by ears and max

 

I make things…

I began following the hollywood rules

Laden with lies and vicious jewels

I gave myself up to love 

But never got my full wages

Should I have expected?

Is it right that when I devote I get neglected?

I found the cure to the fever

It is to drink and fall into a life meaningless

I tried this out once again

Never trust love – your fickle friend

But a friend is what it leaves me

I would give up and let anyone have me

I beg you just to let me touch

The hand of loathing has me in tight clutch

I would refuse the boy who would never

Tear me so I tear him

But now under this yellow moon

Nostalgia beckons and it croons

To make me remember all that love is and does

But I try and try again

Earthdance last year was the best weekend of my life. I found my third eye and soaked in the most blissful vibe of peace/love/unity/respect that I have ever experienced.

Unfortunately this year I was in a hurry to leave the ground that Earthdance was on in Sydney. It was the exact opposite of what this festival was supposed to be about. 

The area was a park in the city, fenced off and smeared with pigs. Most of the pigs had sniffer dogs that went through anything/everything/everyone. It was not a comfortable surrounding.

No drugs/alcohol/unsealed water-bottles/fun.

I saw no earth people – no culturally vibrant/artistic life-loving beings. Nobody was tripping either. The place was in fact full of bleach blonde skanks in short shorts showing off to the drunk shirtless guys wearing the matching faux 80’s sunnies (how I loathe thee).

I came and left as quickly as I could. This atmosphere depressed me. Humanity tends to depress me all the more every day. But I am a happy person I swear!

I have finally settled into a small Samba band in Sydney – as I was feeling a lack of leisurely artistic involvement till now. Through this I was invited by my new friends Benny & Rana to practice ‘Bata’ drumming every monday night. We have been involved in these sessions the last three weeks and last night we had a visitor join us for some more intense and recorded fun!

I met Walter through my old Perth samba band – Beleza. He is a great percussionist and a very influential example – there are a lot of people in that band I look up to. Lately he has travelled from WA to NSW and is continuing up the coast in about a week. 

I was inspired to write about this because I have fallen in love with samba and percussion over the last 18 months. To play percussion with a wealth of people is a bond and a feeling that is so different from that of playing my bass guitar/viola. It becomes a trance.

You must close your eyes and your mind and just experience the natural phenomenon of that which is your subconscious controlling your hands. It is almost magical when you are slapping on a hide so fast you don’t know what you are doing anymore. It is something I relate to dance in that – the physical energy and the soul you put into it is so surreal and so uncontrollable.