BABABA INTERNATIONAL

My fascination with BABABA INTERNATIONAL started with POSSIBLE CURRIES. For just one moment my world was magically turned into a scene which might well have been in Kurt Weill's THREEPENNY OPERA. Ivan, one of the four young men in this collective, fulfilled a promise by delivering Robin and I two vegetarian curries at my nominated time and location. This was their project - we weren't expected to make a donation, our role in their project was simply to place an order and accept delivery. His arrival was announced by the dull thud of his Brechtian like cart filled with curries being dragged up the Victorian sandstone steps to our front door. Our curries were warm, super tasty and delivered right on time - they were made with the produce which had been exhibited at KUDOS GALLERY a week earlier. These same deliveries were made throughout metropolitan Sydney

So when Tom, another member of the collective, suggested that I visit their studio aptly named BABABA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT in Sydney's Redfern, although uncertain as to what I might capture, I couldn't resist.

By this point having also met the other two members of BABABA, Giles & Steve, I was slightly in awe of the way their brains worked, and was half expecting that I would be photographing the four of them frantically nutting out ideas, rather than photographing actual THINGS. This expectation was of course only heightened when I received this email confirming my arrival

But when Ivan welcomed me into the AIRPORT this morning, I think my first words were stupidly something like "oh, this place smells like work" because I was struck by the smell and sight of tools and machinery, and just about everything you might expect in a studio where art was being made. At this point I couldn't help but think of my forever travelling cousin's recent Facebook status update about the charms and spectacle of Dubai's International Airport...

Thank you gentlemen for having me

The one remnant from the building's previous occupant, a sex shop - shiny black plastic bags nailed to the wall

from their SOUP work from Tin Shed's RIGHT TO THE CITY

ANOTHER SHOE FOR ANOTHER LIFE

Oliver Watts, on the ceiling

Charlie Sofo book made of unfinished sentences, hanging by a bulldog clip from an electric cable 

pin board from their MOP Projects exhibition

a work on paper for an upcoming project

Bababa International also make websites for other people - this is an illustration for one such website

Uncle Eric who was flown over for the construction of  the MUD BATH

for a future mud brick making project

Koji Ryui suspended wire sculpture

a group of clamps, ideal for clamp races

a box of not so private papers

poster for their FIRST DRAFT exhibition

drawings by Tom & Ivan

SOOTHSAYER

DEBT TIMELINE

an illustration from their Brisbane show

Ivan, Bababa International Airport

BABABA INTERNATIONAL

The Salon Hang

After nearly a year of doing this blog it's quite obvious that once people get the bug for collecting art they find it hard to stop, attesting to the joys of living to art and hence the purpose of The Art Squirrel

So it's nice to see the 'salon hang' being utilised

As someone in the business of selling art I sometimes hear potential buyers worry about one work of art not looking right next to another, or matching an item of furniture, or that they've run out of room. Although these concerns can be useful I find it quite refreshing when people throw them out the window, make space, and allow each work to hold its own. Here are some of the salon hangs I've already blogged, and a few more...

Justine

Carl

Fleur

Roddy

James & Anton

Robin

James & Anton

James and Anton's apartment in Darlinghurst was a delight to visit and photograph - lots of natural light and nice white walls are perfect for showing off the art, yet also warm and welcoming. At first glance I didn't quite realise how many works there were due to the crisp and clean aesthetic, and and some simple yet effective ways of displaying the work

I met James at his Potts Point gallery James Dorahy Project Space when I bought a small work by one of the young artists he represented at the time. Many of the works in the apartment are by his gallery's artists, but there are many by other artists too, and some by James himself who is also a practising artist

What goes into their collection is a combined effort, and like many collectors in compact inner city apartments, only a part of their collection is out of storage at any one time

An earlier group of works by Jonathan Jones - the artist's interpretation of views of Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly & Maroubra

One of Lionel Bawden's enigmatic 'works on paper'

James with Noodle on the sofa below a new acquisition - a dazzling work by Sally Gabori 

Some pretty effective shelving showcases a variety of small sculptures, souvenirs and gifts including a work by Ali Noble - the delicate white work hanging from the wall is by Annie Aitken

One of James' own works 'I am my mother's son', with snow dome by Fiona Hall

Perfectly aligned salon hang including works by Stephanie Monteith, Jake Walker and James Dorahy

A group of smallish 3 dimensional works, including the Addison Marshall spaceship drawing on plaster in the foreground, and works by Sarah Newell & Julie Krone sit very nicely on this beautiful vintage sideboard

James Dorahy Project Space

Robin

As promised, instalment number two on gallery owner and director 

Robin Gibson...

A David Eastwood interior with works by Brett Whiteley, Gina Bruce and William Scott. In the top centre of the photo is a hand coloured lithograph by John Rae, New South Wales' first Commissioner for Railways. John Rae built the house which is now Robin's home and gallery in the 1850s

 A Lawrence Daws poinciana painting in front of a much larger work from the artist's iconic glasshouse mountain series gives us an indication of Robin's admiration of his work. Robin has represented Daws for as long as he's had his own gallery which he opened in 1976. The sandy coloured marble & limestone sculpture is by Joel Elenberg who Robin also represented, and the portrait is by Catherine Fox, part of the current gallery stable. The wall work on the right is by John Coburn

Hugh Ramsay painting, with ceramic pieces by Sandra Taylor and Frank Robin


Robin - First Instalment

Art Month Sydney 2011

During the month of March I'll be co-ordinating the Art Month Sydney Blog

Tim & Terry

While in New Zealand in January Tim and I drove from Wellington to Auckland where we had the great pleasure of lazing in hot baths in Tokaanu, driving along the gorgeous Lake Taupo and experiencing the incredible thermal pools at Waiotapu, while taking in the almost gothic North Island landscape

At our destination of Auckland we stayed with sculptor Terry Stringer and his partner, also called Tim,  who live in their very own sculpture park called Zealandia which they open to the public. The house itself seems more like a piece of sculpture, and the sculptures throughout the property give the visitor the sense they have stepped into some other world

The grounds and main foyer are mostly populated by Terry's sculptures, although there are works by other New Zealand artists such as sculptor Chris Booth and Tim's brother, painter & sculptor, Richard McWhannell. In Tim & Terry's sitting room and bedroom, the feeling is quite different, with an eclectic collection of paintings and objects often with quite a theatrical bent

Some architectural details of the house, adorned by one of Terry's sculptures - a human hand holding a world globe

Terry in the reception area of the house with a newly finished work destined for the front steps of Robin Gibson Gallery in Sydney for his solo show there later this year

View of the house from the forest at the bottom of the property

One of Terry's works on the edge of the forest

The walk down into the forest part of the sculpture trail

The main lawn area of the sculpture park, enclosed by the house, the forest at the bottom,  and the front wall which separates the property from the street

Tim McWhannell playing Bach's Goldberg Variations on his outdoor organ while Tim Chappel takes it all in...

The driveway to the house inside the front gate

The front patio area just inside the front gate

The more cosy private sitting room

Good night ;)






http://www.zealandiasculpturegarden.co.nz/

Ingrid & Gary

I met Ingrid in 1993 at a linguistics residential school in Armidale New South Wales - it was love at first sight... 

A few weeks ago, almost 20 years after we met, I took the opportunity to visit her and her partner Gary in their current abode in Wellington New Zealand while the gallery was shut for its annual break

Being my second visit to Wellington I was happy to spend as much time as possible in their new home which architect Gary is designing and building himself, rather than try to see all the sites. The house is somewhat of a miracle - extraordinary in its ingenious plywood simplicity and honesty, way up high on a hilltop in windy Wellington, and overlooking the harbour and suburb of Petone. Discussing the house with Gary and Ingrid, I got the sense that the house was unfolding around them

I found this way of building and making a home extremely appealing...  And of course I couldn't resist the opportunity of taking some snaps for Art Squirrel

For the decade or so they lived in Sydney's Elizabeth Bay in their much cherished Seidler apartment, they acquired a few artworks...

A purpose built lounging platform, perfect for watching TV from or listening to music, is flanked by a painting by Sydney artist Stuart Watters

Ingrid's desk and day bed make a perfect home for a painting by the late Sydney artist Elwyn Lynn

In the hallway a glass & metal wall piece by Cypriot artist Helen Black called for a wall to be made especially for it 

Another painting by Elwyn Lynn in the cavernous yet light filled bedroom, obviously to Sputnik the devon rex's liking

Happy family featuring rocket-fuelled Baguette the dog - on one of the many outdoor areas with views of the harbour and local area

Gary at his desk

And of course I had to take Tim with me - he does make the most delicious margaritas

Another outdoor area, perfect for daydreaming while taking in the view of the town and harbour, as well as the perfectly distanced sound of trains and factories

The most comfortable seat in the house, on the patio