George Harrison always knew there was something special about muse, fashion model and photographer, Pattie Boyd. She was married to the Quiet Beatle from 1966-77 and then to his best mate and guitar God, Eric Clapton from 1979-89. She was the inspiration for many great love songs, including Harrison’s “Something” and Clapton’s “Layla” and “Wonderful Tonight.” She…
Category: Arts Review
THEATRE REVIEW: TOWN HALL AFFAIR @ SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
The original “Town Hall” debate was no ordinary affair. So it should come as no surprise that the one-act play based on this historic event is no ordinary piece of theatre. The show comes courtesy of New York’s The Wooster Group and rather than a straight, re-telling of an already chaotic feminist discussion, they…
ARTS REVIEW: ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE: THE PERFECT MEDIUM
Photo credit: Robert Mapplethorpe Self-portrait 1980 © Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. Used by permission It is clichéd to say that a picture tells a thousand words. But there’s also some truth to this and one photographer who certainly knew and appreciated how an image could confound or shape one’s perception is Robert Mapplethorpe. He is the late artist, photographer…
ARTS REVIEW: NINE THINGS WE LEARNED AT UNLOCKING YOUR GREY ZONE: HOW POSITIVE AMBIGUITY CAN HELP YOU THRIVE IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD
We often make breakthroughs when we reserve judgement and keep things like fear and prejudice at bay. Yet as humans the notion of embracing ambiguity can be a hard thing to swallow because the only certain things in life are death and taxes. Matt Whale is the founder and managing director of How To…
ARTS REVIEW: TEN THINGS WE LEARNED AT DEADLINES, DREAMS & GOALS AT VIVID IDEAS SYDNEY
The vast majority of us are not natural born managers. Many managers have had to study, research and gain practical experience in the field before they can earn the title. But what do you do if you’re a creative practitioner, freelancer or sole trader who is in charge of their own career? The idea…
ARTS REVIEW: 6 THINGS WE LEARNED AT EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE FROM THE DARK SIDE @ VIVID IDEAS SYDNEY
We consider philosophers, world leaders, writers, artists, musicians and comedians as good sources of wisdom. But we don’t rate pirates, hackers and gang members quite so highly. Author Kyra Maya Phillips disagrees and thinks we should look to social misfits as sources of inspiration as she describes in her book, The Misfit Economy. The Venezuelan…
VIVID IDEAS REVIEW: 9 THINGS WE LEARNED AT MARKETING TO THE MACHINES @ MCA SYDNEY
It doesn’t matter if you’re the biggest technophobe or if you’re a digital whiz kid, there’s no denying that algorithms are becoming a pervasive part of our lives. Companies like Google know more about us than ever, Amazon can predict our shopping purchases and Facebook likes can be used to distinguish your class, race,…
ARTS REVIEW: HOW TO MAKE LOVE LAST @ THE SCHOOL OF LIFE SYDNEY
I wrote this article back in February but it got published online in May… I went to a workshop on How to Make Love Last three weeks after a break-up. I was in the throes of a long-term relationship when I agreed to cover a course at The School of Life in Sydney,…
ARTS REVIEW: MARKUS KLINKO’S BOWIE UNSEEN PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION @ BLENDER GALLERY PADDINGTON
David Bowie may have been Messer Jones, Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke. But there was no question that this chameleon artist was also one handsome and photogenic man. Blender Gallery are celebrating this with a new exhibition titled Bowie Unseen, which is also part of the Head On Photo Festival. Bowie Unseen…
ARTS REVIEW: ADMAN: WARHOL BEFORE POP
For most people the iconic artist, Andy Warhol is synonymous with the colourful pop art of Campbell’s soup cans, portraits of Marilyn Monroe and the record sleeves from The Velvet Underground and The Rolling Stones. What some people may not realise is that Andy Warhol was an accomplished commercial illustrator and draftsman who worked…
