November. It’s been real. It’s been hectic. It’s been joyous. A glimpse into the eclectic personalities of the AW crew leading into the last month of 2020.
Explore the world of Yoshitaka Amano
It’s easy to forget the time passing by as you get lost in the world of Yoshitaka Amano. A true multi-disciplinary creative, Amano works as an artist, character designer, illustrator, theater and film scenic designer and costume designer. He started designing characters for some of studio Tatsunoko's greatest cartoons at just 15 years old, growing restless and pursuing a freelance career at 30m believing that a little of the unknown is good for creativity.
"Once your life is too stable, your creative dies."
Image: Yoshitaka Amano
Challenge your thinking with cult classics
We've been revisiting some of the cult classics, and recommend you do the same if you're struggling for some holiday-time viewing. Many of these films open our mind and thoughts when we view them again through a current day lens.
The People Under the Stairs is a bizarre, complex blend of horror and dark comedy. It opened in 1991, but many of the themes are still relevant today. It took out the No. 1 spot at the box office, taking in over $5.5 million that weekend. New York Times reviewed the flick as "mostly creepy and, considering the bizarre circumstances, surprisingly funny".
We'll let you decide how you feel about it.
Image: Theatrical release poster
In the meantime
Three analog photographers, Brandon McCarthy Jake McCann and Jacyee Nicholas, give us a glimpse into their perspective of human connection through the rollercoaster ride that has been 2020 and Covid-19.
The Gold Coast-based trio captured the complex emotions we’ve all felt throughout the year, sharing with us intimate moments of pure joy, deep confusion and all the beautiful, messy parts in-between.
The limited edition run of 50 was printed right here on Gold Coast by Fast Proof Press. Snag your copy while they last.
Image: Brandon McCarthy
Spend some time with Mavis Ngallametta at QAG
We learned about Mavis Ngallametta when we received a sample from a book publishing company we are currently collaborating with. Luckily for us, the sample was a copy of Mavis Ngallametta’s Show me the way to go home. Ngallametta (1944-2019) was born in the west Cape York Peninsula where she lived a traditional life as a member of the Kugu people, before moving to the Presbyterian Mission at Aurukun when she was five years old.
It wasn’t until she reached 64 that Ngallametta attended a women’s painting workshop, a class that was the catalyst for Ngallametta developing her own unique painting style.
The exhibition currently showing at QAG, by the same title as the book, weaves together major works from Pamp/Swamp and Kendall River, while also highlighting her powerful bushfire series for the first time.
Image: QAGOMA
Concrete Poetry
November saw AW Visual Designer and Animator Elke Gill launch her new sustainable jewellery collection 'CONCRETE POETRY'. We're so proud to see Elke's hard work and considered creative process shared with the world.
Born from a passion to tell stories and evoke creative inspiration, all ELKE pieces are laser-cut in Murwillumbah NSW while the final crafting happens 20 minutes up the road in the humble seaside town of Kingscliff in Northern NSW in partnership with Lachlan MacLeod.
Elke’s passions lie in creating conscious and sustainable products meaning you can sleep easy knowing all care has been taken during the creative process:
Solar powered machinery
Biodegradable packaging
Made with material offcuts
Slow and small
Image: Laurie Oxenford wears ELKE, photographed by Capucine Merlant-Pilonchery
Is there something you think we might enjoy but don’t know about yet? Please tell us.