Cut through the urban palette
A colour audit No 4: Japan The Sun’s Circle
The use of red in Japan is as skilfully applied as their use of orange or navy blue. This is a culture that understands colour and respects it greatly. But that does not mean they are conservative or fearful of colour.
On the contrary, they engage it as if it was a prayer being offered to the gods in the strongest and clearest voice. To see more observations about Japan go to the folders ‘Interesting Places’ and ‘Colour’ in the menu.
A colour audit No 3: Japan THAT ORANGE!
Navy blue and white are the ‘black’ of Japan. That is what I have heard since I was but a wee chick. But WHAT ABOUT THAT ORANGE!!!! On a recent adventure in Japan, mainly Tokyo, we aimed our focus and cameras at Kyoto for a short while. The fact that this incredible orange covers all the beautiful architecture of this ancient place made me want to come back, and immerse myself in this iridescent hue.
Japan has the most incredible understanding of colour and the how and when to use it. Orange is the colour of courage and the Japanese use of colour is always courageous and inspired.
A colour audit No.2: Tokyo GREENTEAGREEN
Tokyo is one of the world’s great megacities. Full of contemporary and not so contemporary buildings and roads ways and overpasses, and urban railway lines, and electrical overhead wires, and all the other elements that makes up one of these huge, modernist grey landscapes.
But there is green too. In the forests, meadows and parks. It is a city full of nature, just hiding behind something man made.
A colour audit No.1: Tokyo OLD AND NEW
Tokyo is know as an electric, neon garden of lights and delights. Aglow, dazzling the inhabitants with all the hues of the illuminated graphics and screens that populate the night landscape.It is a 21st century world city.
The old world and all the elements of its style and grace, which includes such beautiful things as kimonos, are ever present.
Clowning around
The Bright Side
These images are from separate exhibitions held in Australia a few years ago. One was a part of the fabulous Future Fashion held at GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art) Brisbane and the other from The Chuck Close show at the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) Sydney. Both were extraordinary shows.
The cohesive theme between these two very different images is colour. The ever-present element that drives our psyches, that feeds our soul.
Strange Fruit
It’s all connected
A refreshing palette
Shades of pink
Taste the colour
The colour you see is but a series of vibrations buzzing around in the universe. Like music, it is made of waves, frequencies, vibrations which fills the world. Observe and absorb colour not just with your eyes but with all your senses. Taste it. Feel it. Hear it.
A colour diary
Orange
A study in blue
Yellow
Cotton candy, pink confetti and cherry petal carpet
A colour audit No.1: Australia: ICONIC NAFF
Every nation has its naff object d’arts. Those little pieces of art and craft that attempt to generate a sense of the uniqueness of the country, culture, society. They are often truly awful aesthetically, but for some strange reason, they also often speak to a tiny corner within the viewer in a sentimental way.
How can one resist a plaster kangaroo, or a hand painted ceramic kookaburra salt shaker. And what home is complete without a Namatjira parody ashtray or lollie bowl. This selection of iconic objects was found at the Junk Company on Elizabeth Street in Melbourne inner city (close to the Queen Victoria Markets). There are some truly endearing, surprising ‘naff’ stuff that should populate your living space and bring a smile to your dial.
A colour audit No.1: Berlin THE SWEET
A colour audit No.2: Berlin THE TATTERED
Berlin is a city where the witnesses of what has occurred are allowed to remain. The tattered remnants of a time past.
But like all things in the Berlin of 2013, these remnants are valid and engaged with. Just one more thread of the tapestry.
A colour audit No.3: Berlin: THE ENDURING
Some colours retain their vibrance and universal appeal long after the period when they were first engaged. Decades full of extraordinary events, trends, and methodologies come and go but there are some things such as colours that never fade and always speak to us.
A colour audit No.4: Berlin THE 70S
A colour audit No.5: Berlin THE TREATS
Berlin more like a solar system than a capital city. There are different culture planets all orbiting around the heart of this amazing city. Each culture planet is a world unto itself and thus, there are many ways one can perceive a sweet treat.
Both bubble gum, from some slightly worn gum dispenser with the marks of the street or a selection of delicate, old school sugary bites, all served up in a refined tea room or cafe, delivering the desired effect.
The most amazing thing about Berlin is that these planets live side by side, cheek by jowl, overlapping forever.
A colour audit No.1: Melbourne AWAY FROM THE SUN
There is a rich life hidden from the blazing Melbourne sun in the city’s laneways and arcades.
A colour audit No.3: Melbourne: SUGAR AND SPICE
Old school cake shop and inner city Melbourne go together like sugar and spice: Lemon slices, Rock cakes, Hazelnut biscuits with chocolate cream or jam filling, Apple cakes, Apple slices, Lamingtons, Neenish tarts, etc, etc, etc fill the shop front window.
A story constructed from pastel colours punctuated with rich chocolate browns, and many sugary possibilities.
A colour audit No.1: Athens TASTE OF GOLD
Last year Shiftazine ran a series of colour audits and homages focusing on the beautiful and inspiring locations such as the cities of Berlin and Melbourne and the Greek island of Crete. This series is a joyful observation of some of the colours of the ancient and eternal city of Athens.
The colour gold is ever present in the land known as Ellas. Saffron and fava beans bring the gold to the plate, and these plates or dishes are served at many eatries in the Thiseio area of inner city Athens.
The delicious and delicate food above are , on the left, Rissotto with pumpkin, corn, goat cheese, raisons and saffron. And on the right, Fava bean puree with caper leaves and fresh tomatoes
A colour audit No.2: Athens LIGHT AND SHADOW
A colour audit No.3: Athens VINE AND BASIL
A staircase leading down into a swirl of sounds and smells is too intriguing to walk past. The sweet and unmistakable scent of basil is the first of many aromas to wash over the diners as they enter into a world almost completely gone from the streets and neighbourhoods of Athens.
The basement space is filled with very old large wooden wine barrels full of white wine (lefko), tables, chairs, diners, plates of honest, old school Greek food, and metal karafes which are placed on small disks of ice to help the wine cool down.
The colours of terracotta and green, are popping out of this whitewashed space which only sees a suggestion of direct sunlight. It is a blissful situation.
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