Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Millicent Mimicry

One night, my parents' friends remarked on the similarity my bird lady paintings to a popular Australian children's book, Millicent, which was written in 1980 by Jeannie Baker!

Today, I got my hands on a copy of the book and I can't believe the similarities! The images are also located in Hyde Park, Sydney.
 The techniques of the book involve making the textural shapes from materials like plasticine and fabric, and photographing them. There is a definite sense of depth and vivid life to each page. I definitely remember reading and loving this book in primary school now that I've seen it again!

"Those birds understand everything I say to them."

 After seeing her in person I can't deny that she has formed a reality in which the boundaries between her and the birds are dissolved, it's quite beautiful.

Here are some images from the book mixed with paintings and drawings of my own which were mostly finished last year. I hope you enjoy it and don't find this too self indulgent ;)

I wonder how much of our art consists of childhood memories, thoughts and images? I read TONS of books when I was younger, perhaps I'm still running on the imaginative fuel of my inner child :P















2 comments:

  1. that is awesome- maybe you should do a book too ? The Birdlady Sequel!
    Looks like an amazing little book too - wow!

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  2. There was a lady who used to come around hibernian house once a week to feed the pigeons. She was very politically outspoken, quite sane, wildly dressed and fascinating to talk to. She has a friend who does the same routine, on the other side of Surry Hills, with cats.
    She told me her whole life story one day, and said she was doing it because her mother had done it all her life and she was just carrying on her job.
    her mothers name was millicent.

    ps. window is an all time favourite
    pss. plein air this sunday with kim
    psss. we are still overdue on a storytelling discussion!

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