My favorite exhibition in Melbourne

This post was actually meant for 2017 but better late than never. I mentioned in my previous post that 2017 was the year of exhibitions for me and it only continues with me getting a call from my lovely friends at the NGV to attend last month’s opening weekend of the NGV TRIENNIAL exhibition. I know exhibitions get better and better every year at the NGV but this is my favorite so far. It’s free, it’s fun and celebrates 100 artists and designers from all over the world – most of which NGV commissioned specifically for this event. They are scattered across the venue so there’s a bit of exercise involved finding the pieces you wanna see on all 3 levels.

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Tomokazu Matsuyama

On the days I’m working, I like to take mini walks often going around streets nearby my workplace, even ending up in gardens and parks on the outskirts of the CBD. Of course, there’s plenty of different routes around the city and last week I felt like pacing through Collins St for some window shopping therapy.

That wasn’t the case as soon as I saw a colorful corflute sign in front of 101 Collins St, “Outside looking in Tomokazu Matsuyama”. The entrance to the artists’ exhibition was via Flinders Lane so I took a shortcut through an alley to get to the other side. It’s a nice office building with lots of space – enough to accommodate a peaceful cafe right opposite the gallery.

Lesley Kehoe Galleries hosted the exhibition and specializes in selling art with a focus on exhibiting Japanese works. It’s an awesome space designed to be timeless with interiors reflecting Japanese aesthetic. It feels cinematic when you walk through a short hallway and not too long after you’re presented with a spacious exhibition room.

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Thanks to the colorful corflute signage on the walkway,  I’m glad I knew about Tomokazu Matsuyama now than later. A New York based Japanese artist, he works in the comfort of his own space in Brooklyn where he has his own freedom to explore combining East and West imagery but is particularly influenced by his Japanese heritage. Some of his works reminded me of KAWS – only that it’s more detailed and geometric – the colours show up vibrantly.

KAWS: Where the End Starts Shanghai Exhibition

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By far the most favorite exhibition of mine is this one.

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There was a time last year my Mom came home with a few KAWS T-shirts from Uniqlo and I was wondering how on earth could she possibly know who KAWS is. I questioned my Mom and her response was, “what’s a KAWS? I just got these shirts because the designs are so cute and on sale.”

“Mami, oh my god. KAWS is awesome, your shirts are awesome, you’re awesome for buying them. Oh my gosh. Can’t. Stop. Smiling. I need to go to Uniqlo. Now.” I couldn’t help but repeat how much I worship KAWS’ works in front of my Mom.

Fast forward to this year, KAWS announced his next major exhibition in Shanghai and I was telling my Mom how much I wanted to go. The idea of going to Shanghai was always floating in my mind but nah, I thought it’d be ridiculous to go all the way for an exhibition. Then Dad brought up how he wanted to visit China for a holiday and has been getting emails about special deals. I thought, why not. Let’s just go.

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Brian Donnelly, known as KAWS, started as a graffiti artist and has been long regarded as a pop artist and designer. He’s collaborated with some of my favorite brands, especially with Medicom toys who produce Bearbricks. His sculptures can be as small as 10cm and as tall as 10 meters high. In contrast to his sculptures, the shape of his canvas paintings mimic the silhouette of popular culture characters such as Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang. His acrylic paintings are mesmerizing to look at because of how clean his painting style is – they all look like printed canvases once you see it in person. At times I didn’t believe they were paintings. Solid blocks of color are evenly applied to properly communicate the 2D subjects in his work. KAWS uses cartoons as subjects because of his inspiration going to Japan early in his life. Cartoons are universally understood, unlike regular politics. Cartoons communicate better and are always embraced by people.

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Thanks to the owner of Yuz Museum, Budi Tek, for bringing this exhibition to life and creating such a wonderful space for it. Being able to walk around the art, seeing it clearly up-close and from afar gave it a sense of structure and intimacy. Looking at the Companion sculptures across the space, there’s heaps of those “awww” moments, especially when you first walk in and peer up at the giant Clean Slate sculpture. I hope a KAWS exhibition will happen in Melbourne sometime soon. If there’s a KAWS exhibition or installation nearby, you better go check it out.

Design had evolved naturally, as a passion and a lifestyle beginning at an early age when I made trips back to the motherland, Indonesia, I experienced the surroundings and the lifestyle that was vastly different from what I was used to. I found myself passing by villages where children made their own toys with whatever was left around them; scrap metal, bits of cloth, banana leaves, and even cigarette butts. Despite this, the children were happy and proud with anything they created.

This image struck me and forever inspires me to contribute my skills to places that need it the most. Design helps me make decisions, while art helps me take risks. Both areas reward me with opportunities to create something impactful and everlasting!