The Tales

~ The Go-Between ~
Mixed Media Collage

Inspired by the notion of stories within stories, this series of collage explores the classical themes of forbidden desire and fragmentation. 

~ The Nights ~
Paper Collage

~ The Tale of the Three Apples ~
Paper Collage

Melbourne Surprises

I really do love Melbourne. 

Wondering around the city is always a pleasure. ....especially when you come across a wonderful surprise like this one. 

Russell Place, in Melbourne's CBD is quickly growing into quite a cool little side-street of wonder. 

With a handful of beautifully designed cafés, bars, boutiques (including unique men's leather shoes, a secret little FAT boutique and Pieces of Eight Jewelry Gallery), Russell Pl is definitely a destination for any curious Melbournian.

Along with all the retail and culinary excitment, what really got me thrilled was the Street Art on display. 

This collage is very surreal yet, quite a romantic motif in comparison to the other street around the CBD. I love the notion of colossus stone-like hands, intertwined as if they were vines, while people sit, converse and dine on the opposite side of the street. These hands emerging from the concrete ground give Russell Pl a softer more organic feel against the dense and chaotic life that lives beyond its walls.

LOVEhelen

Hypothetical Collaboration

This is some collage work which I did in late March this year.

The brief was to propose a small capsule collection to the Melbourne based label P.A.M (Perks and Mini) for a collaboration project. I suggested the label work with the iconic Spanish Artist/Illustrator Javier Mariscal. His energetic, naive and Picasso//Matisse influenced style was too irresistible and really complemented P.A.M's quirky and witty design style. 

While this is a hypothetical project, I think it'll be a great collaboration, for both P.A.M and Mariscal!!!

:D

Together Alone

Yesterday I spent the day in the city, and had a wander around the NGV Ian Potter Centre. There is an exhibition on for all you design lovers that you will just adore! ….Hahha! Yes, Darlings! This is for you!

Together Alone is running in the Fashion & Textiles Gallery, level two, from October 1st 2009 till the 18th of April 2010, (so you’ve got plenty of time to make your way there!!). It’s a collaborative exhibition showcasing the outstanding works of Australian and New Zealand Fashion Designers. Ranging from the soft and sensitive works of Akira Isogawa and MaterialByProduct, to the outlandish and outrageously fun designs from Romance Was Born and World. This exhibition really touches on the broad range of intellectually charged and dynamic undercurrents that have flown through our fashion industry for many years. What was interesting about this exhibition is that it theatrically entertains the viewer with bold, bazaar and embellished garments but also music and film. While this was exciting, the balance came through with the incorporation of beautifully detailed and subtle pieces, which complemented the other designers.

Together Alone, for me, was so enjoyable because it not only included designers which I already knew, but also ones which where lesser know, and ones that I had not even heard of. It is hard for me to pick out my favourite pieces, but I did make some drawings of the ones that allured me most, I really enjoyed the collection, and I would strongly recommend seeing it!!!

LOVEhelen

INFO:
Drawings By: Helen Pappas
Image Sourced: http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/togetheralone/
Exhibition Details: Together Alone: Australian And New Zealand Fashion, NGV, Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square, 01.10.09-18.04.10, --FREE—
Designers: Akira, Doris de Pont, MaterialByProduct, Toni Maticevski, Nom*D, Romance Was Born, World, Zambesi.

Let Me Tell You A Tale

The 29 year old artist Aya Kato completely amazed me when I first saw her work almost three years ago. I can't remember how I came about her. But all I know is that she is the one current artist which I have consistently kept track of over these years. It's simple, I LOVE HER WORK!

I'm a bit of a softy when it comes down to stories, especially fairy tales, and it seems that Kato is too. Many (if not all) of her works seem to be inspired by a story tale. She is an exceptional artist who strongly captivates the whimsical and romanticized emotions of these stories, yet also still casts the allure of hidden more sinister undertones of these stories. Kato's aesthetic seems to draw heavily on the fluid and sensual lines of the Art Nouveau style, but also is highly influenced by traditional Japanese painting and an the Oriental, which do blend well together. She not only successfully combines what is predominantly an European style with an Oriental style, but also the more traditional techniques (or the appearance of them) with modern computer graphic design.
I find her work so wonderfully rich and embellished, I could be engulfed by the beauty of each piece!

If you like her work, have a look at her web-page. All her pieces are catalogued in the 'Gallery'.
http://www.ayakato.net/box/planet.html
Enjoy!

LOVEhelen

An Advertised Evolution

Bernard Villemot's work is pleasure for my eyes.
His use of bold thick lines with strong and vibrant colours give such a dynamic edge to all his work. Villemot's aesthetic is unmistakably his; the smooth, curved lines, feminine almond shaped limbs, witty&comical compositions and playful use of form, all build such powerfully suscessful images.

It is not doubt that Villemot is one of my favorite illustrators and graphic designers. I can see his love of art and design though his works; with suggested inspirations from artists like Matisse and Picasso, and the art movements of Surrealism and Fauvism. Villemot is probably most known for his posters for Orangina, Bally Shoes, Perrier and Air France.

......I only wish that advertisements now could be as enjoyable as Villemot's!

LOVEhelen

The Dulac Discovery

When I was thinking about what my first post should be, I pretty much immediately thought of this illustrator!

On the last day of Uni, when I finally return all those piles of books that I've been renewing for the past 4 months, this book just entranced me! Like something out of an adventure movie, this Illustration book was glowing on the shelf!!!!

Edmund Dulac was one of the most highly successful illustrators of his time, along with Arthur Rackham, W. Heath Robinson and Howard Pyle. His works between the years 1905 and 1918 established his outstanding talent, and his Oriental and Arabic influences set him apart from his contemporaries.

What love most about Dulac's illustrations is his ability to create lush, exuberant and bejeweled surroundings, that have beautiful fluid line work. While the content is extravagant and so exciting, a balanced competition is still created. The strong Arabian influence, and Art Nouveau line work are both styles which I deeply admire!

So here are a few of my favorite works by Edmund Dulac:
Book: DULAC, edited by David Larkin, Introduction by Brian Sanders, 1975