Author: Ray Monde

Australian-born, contemporary paper artist. View my work at: raymonde.com.au
Art

Art-work versus work-work. Who wins?

Like most artists, I’d rather spend my time creating artworks rather than work-working but unfortunately my art is not self-sufficient. Thankfully, I’m in a position where I run my own business from home, The Wood Agency, which is little advertising agency which specialises in art-based marketing. We recently developed this visual identity for The Studio, an annex of the Art Gallery of South Australia. Essentially, … Continue reading Art-work versus work-work. Who wins?

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Why all artworks titled “Untitled” should be destroyed.

A lot of artists don’t give their works a title and it really gives me the pip. Walking around galleries around the world, I’ll come across a spectacular artwork, I’ll walk up and get closer look, see who created it and what it’s called. Artist, Untitled, 1972 For me, not giving an artwork a name, is like not naming a child. A title gives an … Continue reading Why all artworks titled “Untitled” should be destroyed.

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Would Billie Holiday be upset if I titled this “Strange fruit”?

  I know Billie Holiday’s song Strange Fruit is harrowing, devastating and political, so I am hesitant to use its title for this work. On the road to the local dump, plastic bags catch on the wind and collect in the hawthorn trees along the road. It’s strangely disturbing and beautiful at the same time. I guess using a title like Strange Fruit brings with … Continue reading Would Billie Holiday be upset if I titled this “Strange fruit”?

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Lost or heading in the right direction?

If you’re an artist or writer or musician or anyone who dabbles in creative pursuits, you’ll be very familiar with the bouts of self-doubt. Especially in the early stages of any new work.My collage has been evolving dramatically over the last few years. Early stages involved making work out of existing images from magazines – umbrellas, telephones, screaming mouths. Then I moved to creating images … Continue reading Lost or heading in the right direction?

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Art

Fiddling while Rome burns

It’s been blazingly hot in Australia lately with temperatures pushing 40C (100F) and bushfires blazing across the countryside, decimating the landscape and taking stock and houses with it. It felt weird to be painting while fires were burning not far from me, a little bit like Nero fiddling while Rome burned, but I was on stand-by with the Rural Fire Service and have a very … Continue reading Fiddling while Rome burns

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Art

Is Obama the most inspiring President for artists?

  Time Magazine crowned Barack Obama 2012 person of the year and commissioned this portrait by artist Vik Muniz. It struck me how many graphic images have been created of Barack Obama. There’s thousands of images of Presidents, but I have never seen so many graphic representations of any other President like Obama. I particularly like this one by Vik Muniz as his face is … Continue reading Is Obama the most inspiring President for artists?

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Art

Warhol at The Met, plus a little Hopper

There’s an amazing exhibition at The Met in New York at the moment which is all about Warhol and his influences; Regarding Warhol, fifty artists, sixty years. Interspersed with Warhols are the works of people who have been influenced by him and developed around him. Cindy Sherman, Sigmar Polke, Basquiat and even Gilbert & George. Far too many people are attracted to Warhol’s colours and … Continue reading Warhol at The Met, plus a little Hopper

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Art

Rauschenburg and Jasper Johns at MoMA

The first one is Rauschenburg, the second isn’t Jasper Johns. What I loved about my visit to MoMA today was seeing things I’d seen before with new eyes. Since I’ve become focused on collage, I’m always on the look-out for people doing things with paper. I don’t care what they’re doing, I just want to eat up what they do. Seeing Rauschenburg’s ‘Combines’ was a … Continue reading Rauschenburg and Jasper Johns at MoMA

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