Japanese Legend

Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto tancends time with his photographs. Each image capturing a sense of longevity and a glimpse into an unseen time and place. Obsessed with time travel, Sugimoto's subjects include wax figure dioramas where something lifeless can become full of life in a still image, seascapes that cannot be affected by time or humans and theatres lit by the light of an entire lenght of a film. Worth a look.

My mom, an exhibition...and a trade me fib!

This Wednesday my mothers solo exhibition 'Pretty, as a Picture' will open at Sophie Canon Gallery. Yep real proud... might even be bragging a bit.
Anyway you should pop along if your in town - Melbourne town. It'll be sweet. She's even managed to get the gallery to take this down.... So booze will be on the list. I think the turn out will be alright however, seems New Zealanders know who she is. I just found this listing on Trade Me...
 'Sarah Smuts Kennedy Candelabra'...what a total fib!

Sally Shand and Ssswwonderful Opening Tonight!

Sally Shand is the brain child of Ragdoll Illustrations - a booming business which is super cute!

Tonight is the official release soiree at Swonderful which will exhibit her third collection, 'Sibels.' God damn that's a lot of sssss.

You can read a little Q and A about this HERE

Or simply pop along at 6 to see for yourself!

Super!

Gavin Hurley

Gavin is an artist renowned for portraits which employ the technique ( or at least the aesthetic) of traditional collage. Rather than seek to represent the likeness of a person, he focuses more on their character and uses the age old craft of collage and highly disciplined oil on canvas to do this.

His latest show" A - Z" will open next Wednesday and he recently took a few moments to chat with me...

What has inspired your latest show ? This current exhibition is based on the past ten years of art practice (post -art school). I decided to make a publication to accompany the show called "A-Z".The subjects almost organised themselves into this format of a slightly more grown up version of a school exercise book.

What is the recurring theme in your work?
Looking at what I would call my favourite subjects from the past ten years, its obvious there are recurring themes of boyhood fantasies of exploration, detectives and sea captains. I'm not a historian although many characters are derived from tales of colonists and there are a few homages to artists who have been inspirational such as Christian Boltanski, Sam Mitchell and Rita Angus.

What's keeping you stimulated at the moment? I'm stimulated 'right now' by seeing work being made , planning the next show and getting some time to get to the second-hand bookstores.The Internet is great but so is a dusty old book sometimes.

And how do you find being an artist in New Zealand? Being an Artist in New Zealand has been pretty good so far, I've never once considered doing anything else, washing dishes was ruining my hands.

"A - Z" will open June 10th at Anna Bibby Gallery.

Thought shall not die

I came across this picture yesterday and it made me smile. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm obsessed with flowers. From my perfume ( 'Daisy' by Marc Jacobs' or 'FlowerBomb' Viktor and Rolf) to a giant collage on my wall, duvet cover, myriad dresses and even a range of earrings, it's fair to say - this is a fully fledged obsession! And it is one that I developed at a very young age. When no one was around to play, or the adults were busy talking, I would go out to the garden to pick lavender and roses - to squash. Pressing flowers is a rather old past time, ( that my dear neighbour taught me) , but I believe it's one in need of a comeback!

I used to just stick them in books found lying around the house, wait till I remembered ( or my mother found them) and then stick them on my wall. I have since been introduced to a more comprehensive 'how to'. You can follow it HERE. Dreamy!

Rona Green's Poppet Prize

Thanks for all the amazing entries, they were VERY good indeed. Prize goes to...( drum roll)...Jo! Because your entry was ridiculous and make me giggle!!!!

'This gritty little poppet needs to become part of our family. The rest of our soft toys have become way too contented up here in the hills we call home, too comfortable, taking advantage of our hospitality and expecting everything to be done for THEM! We need some corruptive character to move on in and shake things up abit, let them know it's not good enough to just sit there and be cute. This poppet is the one to do it. I just know.'Please email lucy@fluromag.com and we will have this sent out to you. 

Droog Design

Somewhere in between my day job and my ever growing collection of hobbies I'm lacking time to write down my opinions on things for you this month. I could just hug Lulubelle for her prolific posting. But here's a link for you to make your own opinion about.

Droog Design is a design collective based in Amsterdam and since 1993 they have been creating inspiring and innovative design shows, products, prototypes and publications. Some ideas are hit and miss but they are always thought provoking.... and everyone needs some thought provocation now and then.

p.s (don't miss the Poppet competition down below, he's too cute!)

Flashy Tasty : Win a POPPET!

Rona Green is an artist from Melbourne known for her peculiar images of creatures bearing marks and scars that tell of past experience. Her first New Zealand Show entitled 'Flashy Tasty' runs from 20 May until the 13 of June and is being exhibited at Solander Gallery in Wellington.

Flashy Tasty explores ideas about identity and the darker side of the psyche and features 'various breeds from all walks of life...where chalk and cheese co-exist to battle the sodden elemental.' Her work is represented in over 40 public collections including the National Gallery of Australia, Artbank and Chiang Mai Contemporary Art Museum, Thailand...And she's generously giving FLURO one mini work to give away on our blog!

This soft sculpture doll, which she refers to as a 'poppet', is 10cm high and made with her very own blood, sweat and tears. Figuratively of course! To win this original art work simply tell us why you'd like a Rona Poppet to call your own!

A comment on life, death, beauty and decay

'Mr Potato Face!' - The concept takes on a whole new meaning in Ginou Choueiri's latest art instillation. Rather than use canvas, Choueiri has chosen to depict hundreds of portraits on none other than the humble potato!











'I chose the potato to portray human faces because of the many striking parallels. Not only is their skin porous like ours, but their skin texture and color is very similar... Potatoes grow, live, and then decay, mirroring the ephemeral existence and fragility of our own human nature.'

Wow and I just thought they were tasty to eat!

Error of Excess

Do you guys know we're having a party? It's in AUCKLAND and it's to celebrate the release of Issue Nine - The End of The Suburban Dream! Anyway it's three Saturday's away, so I still have plenty of time to decide on my outfit... Theme: The Error of Excess...

A window of vision!

I'd love to lie and pretend I didn't have a day job which paid the pills, but I do..for as long as I can remember ( whether it was in school or in uni) retail has been my income. Luckily I've always worked in interesting shops and subsequently been exposed to new labels, ideas and visions.
I've also come to appreciate the value of a 'good window.' Eye catching and 'original' are two values which resonate strongly, and when a shop achieves this, I always appreciate their effort!
Enter: Children Of Vision - a new boutique nestled amongst the cafes and galleries on Auckland's K rd. C O V is the brainchild of designer Jimmy D and stocks brands such as Romance was Born ( Sydney), TV ( Melbourne), Andrea Crews (Paris) and many many more....

But back to the point of this post - check out the pics of their latest display 'window'

Children of Vision...get it? get it? Check out their goodies HERE

Creative Consumption

Artists 'Pip' and 'Pop' transform everyday objects and turn them into works of art. (This is Pip and that is Pop)

This weekend in Sydney their new show 'Under the Crystal Sky' will open..and from the image below, you can tell it's going to be sweeet! The exhibition celebrates our culture of excessive consumption, and 'encourages the consumer to welcome the event with delight!' Whether this concept intrigues you, or you simply have a hankering for sugar, pop along to the 'The Japan Foundation' to check it out. It looks excessively exciting!!!
Under the Crystal Sky will open 15 May – 3 June 2009

WASTE NOT...

Most of us are aware we should learn to re-cycle and re-use a little more...Oliver Bishop-Young is just a bit more inventive than the rest of us...

Creative Crochet

I've always been really interested in the 'drink driving' campaign. I always hear people bagging it, 'the visuals are too intense' 'too unbearable' or 'too fake', yet no one seems to have any better ideas. Well New-York based 'crocheting artist' Olek may have just found the solution!!How about this one for ' pedestrians and cars might be hard to see'....

Her work is truly inspired ( and no, not all are car related!)You can view more of her creative crochet here! Check it out...they're pretty darn amazing!

Does anyone recognise these three lads in the new Hallensteins Ads??

LOL. WE DO!!!!!!!!

my idea of heaven

... you walk into a room and take a deep breath of gin and tonic. Seriously, if someone could start pumping atomized gin and lime through the air conditioner at my work for me? I'd be less of a bitch. In fact, I'd be downright delightful.

Bompass & Parr are English jelly specialists and creators of culinary events.... and they are currently holding a sold out event in London in which an old store front has been turned into "alcoholic architecture".... seriously, a room full of gin-laden fog.

I know, I know! it's sold out! and it's in London! but don't you just love new ideas? Their past events look intriguing as well, how about "scratch-and-sniff cinema"? which might be so-so if the film was say Chocolat but Peter Greenaway's The Cook, The Theif, His Wife and Her Lover with smells of 'dusty books' and 'rotting meat' .... brilliant.

p.s. If you haven't seen that movie. Rent it immediately.

Tender Loving Empire

Portland is a freakin' goldmine, the place is teeming with great music... I have though become sadly complacent the last few months, accustomed to a plethora of shows to pick and choose from each weekend - the enthusiasm I had in my first few months for seeing live music faded with the winter. Portlander's love music but there is sooo much of it. It's hard to rally a group of friends every weekend when there's a lot going on - I began to long for my days in Wellington... when a good show came to town the excitement was palpable and you were sure that everyone you knew would be there.

Well, warm weather is upon me and I'm looking for some new bands to fall in love with. I've been scrounging about myspace for new tunes which is my usual method, and perusing show listings... and then I stumbled upon an old friend -

Tender Loving Empire is a Portland based independent record label/store/gallery/art collective.


or in their own words:

"We represent driven, high caliber and culturally conscious authors, musicians, fine artists and designers who work to consistently expand the barriers of their chosen forum but have not necessarily gained a great amount of public exposure. Our goal is to give these artists the attention and exposure their art deserves.

Our customers are those who have burned out on the products of mass culture and desire a more intimate and unique experience with the music, literature, fine art and fashion which they purchase and subsequently interact with on a daily basis.

We believe that participating in the creative process and witnessing others do the same makes our world a nicer place. "

Boy Eats Drum Machine and Super XX Man are playing this weekend at Backspace and RonToms respectively (check out their myspace for show times)

All you Wellingtonians, check out their myspace and website for some great bands and great art.

David Hochbaum

I think the images produced by New York artist David Hochbaum are compelling....




Dazed Digital did a great interview with the dude.... read more HERE...

FLURO ISSUE 8 LAUNCH AT MIGHTY

IT'S NEONSLEEPS 3RD BIRTHDAY THIS SAT AT MIGHTY .......and it's a FUTURE TRIBES costume party! Ye-yah!
Between 8 and 10pm we'll be celebrating the launch of the new issue " CREATIVE DESTRUCTION" so pop along and grab some free punch , while it lasts, as well as a copy of the NEW issue.
Oh yea in case you don't know- it's FREE too! Now that's what we all like to hear....

This issue is going to be our best yet, it's a freaking dream.... and what better way to kick of the celebrations with a few drinks!

This Saturday is going to be meaaaannnnnn
WELL DONE TEAM xoxoxooxox

COCO IS RAD CORE!!

Aleks Sakowski Presents The Parallel Dance Ensemble - Coco Soild and Bobbi Soxx In Turtle Pizza Cadillacs...