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…
Category: Arts Review
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…
ARTS REVIEW: HAKAWATI AT SYDNEY FESTIVAL
The term “Hakawati” may not mean a lot to people today. In fact, you’d probably be forgiven for thinking it was something Japanese. Hakawati actually means the art of storytelling in the Arabic tradition where story time is combined with the breaking of bread or sharing of food. It’s a wonderful concept and has…
ARTS REVIEW: MATTHYS GERBER @ MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, SYDNEY
To seek out the failings of an image seems like a curious choice of action for an artist. But Matthys Gerber is no ordinary painter. The Sydneysider (who has born in the Netherlands and has lived in Denmark) is the subject of a comprehensive exhibition that is currently being staged at the Museum of…
ARTS/EXHIBITION REVIEW: GINGER MEGGS: AUSTRALIA’S FAVOURITE BOY @ MUSEUM OF SYDNEY (UNTIL NOVEMBER 8 2015)
Ginger Meggs has taken over the Museum of Sydney. Australia’s longest running comic about a jolly larrikin and red-haired boy with boundless enthusiasm continues to entertain us to this day. This temporary exhibition is lots of fun and something that the whole family can enjoy. Meggs first appeared as Ginger Smith in 1921 in Sydney’s…
LIVE REVIEW: AN EVENING WITH JAMES RANDI @ METRO THEATRE (07.12.2014)
Randall James Hamilton Zwinge (James Randi) didn’t earn the name, The Amazing Randi for nothing. The 86-year-old Canadian-American has built a career on great things, first as a magician modelling his stunts on Harry Houdini’s work before graduating to become an author, skeptic and all-round investigator who lifts the lid on people making falsehoods….
THEATRE REVIEW: BRAZOUKA @ ENMORE THEATRE
Brazouka made it feel like the Rio Carnival had come to the Enmore. It saw comedian, Billy Connolly acting as the voice of authority and it had the promise of dusky temptresses plus colour and candour from the get-go. It was also a setting where gyrating uncontrollably wasn’t frowned upon but in fact actively…
