On a recent visit to the Queensland Art Gallery I was intrigued by a number of images and realised that they reminded me of works by other artists. First up was a small group of photographs in the Asian section which I found striking in their simplicity and in the power of their gaze. They were by an IndianContinue reading “Pastiche or homage?”
Author Archives: tjladyen
Melbourne – my kind of town
Its been a while since I’ve been in my old city. A long time since I lived here and quite a while since I’ve visited. My kids live in Melbourne now – both in Northcote. When I last lived in Northcote it was just outside the fringe; Fitzroy was still the happening place. Further downContinue reading “Melbourne – my kind of town”
Traveling solo
It’s raining as I sit here looking out the window at the Brisbane terminal. I’m on my way to Melbourne to visit family and friends. Its been a while. COVID put a stop to our ordinary connections, our ability to decide to go visit and catch up, to see an exhibition, to join friends orContinue reading “Traveling solo”
Cooking with love
Tomorrow afternoon my beautiful daughter leaves for home. She’s been here with me for 6 months now. She’s been my support person and my angel all through Michael’s hospitalisation and dying. I couldn’t have coped without her. Tonight we’re off for a farewell dinner with some of our fellow dog humans, so yesterday was ourContinue reading “Cooking with love”
What goes on in your mind?
I’ve been thinking about Michael and how he died without being able to communicate; a tracheostomy inserted into his windpipe in order to breathe meant that his voice box couldn’t work. At first he tried, very valiantly, to speak in the hope that we would all be able to understand. To read his lips. ButContinue reading “What goes on in your mind?”
Ashes to sea
Yesterday I travelled to Sunshine Beach to scatter some of M’s ashes into the sea. I hadn’t planned on doing this. We were such itinerants that no one place seemed to be “our place” so I had organised to send half of his ashes to his daughters in Melbourne and half to his family inContinue reading “Ashes to sea”
Burnt toast and kerosene heaters
Last night I had a hankering for some toast – just some plain toast with a smear of vegemite. Down I went into the kitchen and put the bread in the toaster and waited for what seemed like ages. Impatient, and sure that the toast must be ready I pressed the cancel button and upContinue reading “Burnt toast and kerosene heaters”
Lost in Space
Prompted by some memorable moments from films and TV series, I found myself thinking about our childhood cinematic experiences and how easily amused we were. It began with some classic lines from one of my favourite films, Ferris Beuller’s Day Off – a 1986 film which I initially thought was going to be one of those god-awful Russian communistContinue reading “Lost in Space”
Gerhard Richter – the life of images
If you don’t know who Gerhard Richter is, you’re probably not alone. He is considered to be one of the greatest artists of out time, having had extensive exhibitions at both the Tate and the Pompidou yet he has been glaringly absent from any collections in Australia. This exhibition at QAGOMA is a first forContinue reading “Gerhard Richter – the life of images”
The Black Square – an icon of abstraction
On 3 November 2008 a work by Russian artist Kasimir Malevich entitled Suprematist Composition from 1916 set the world record for any Russian work of art and any work sold at auction for that year, selling at Sotheby’s in New York City for just over US$60 million (surpassing his previous record of US$17 million set in 2000). Malevich created theContinue reading “The Black Square – an icon of abstraction”
tania j layden 