Downtown Dolls
Having been motivated by the triumph of Brides By Design being selected to hang in the Shanghai Biennial I have cracked and painted another window. This time a collaborative effort. Nick Simmons took this picture exclusively for the purpose sometime in 2008(that's him behind the 3rd dolls legs:)). It's taken awhile to get around to it but I really like how it's turned out. Almost a weeks work.
75 x 104 cm (29" x 41")
posted by David Burge at
6:00 AM
15 Comments:
This is GREAT, David!! I love this series but, I think this may be the best yet!! Congratulations on the Shanghai showing too!
A killer take on this, and another twist in the approach for this series. Love seeing that taxi in there. And it was a thrill to finally see an original Burge in Shanghai, that piece is a totally unique addition to the show and I'm sure will be a favorite among many of the 2.5 million people who will check it out!
Well done on the selection into Shanghai. I am sure this painting will hang well with the others and hold its head up high. Good on you!
Would have loved to see the exhibition, but it is a bit far to go without anything else planned over there.
Well done again!
Prediction: Usual suspects win! :)
Charles
Thanks Nancy Lee
Nick, I've has this image on the radar since you sent it a couple of years ago( seems like yesterday). Thanks for a fabulous photo to work from.
I'm pleased the "original Burge" stood up to the fire of scrutiny in Shanghai. It was probably it's originality of subject factor that pulled it through(apart from it's delightful pallete) rather than the sleight of hand technique "magic" that usually identifies the most popular watercolours.
Your wonderful "Russian Woman" will stagger the crowd though! Sadly I wont be able to make it to the opening to meet them both in person.
Thanks Charles, I'm sure you're right re the winners, there's 15 of them, it's the other 12 or so that might surprise us. Many superb chinese painters are waiting in the wings to take the world by the throat I hear. I think China is where the watercolour renaissance may really ignite. A relatively accessible market for Australian painters and wealthy enough to perhaps generate some gravity in WC.
Perhaps there's an opportunity to be tapped into.
Good luck in Shanghai and beyond Charles.
Hi David, extending my congratulations on the Shanghai exhibition!
Another exceptional piece - so much work here!
What else can i say..
Un capolavoro!
ciao
perugina
Grazie Perugina, Non proprio un capolavoro, ma una pietra un altro passo
Congrats David, on the Shanghai show! Would love to see that show in person.
This is a very interesting painting. I love all the interesting shapes going on behind the women.
David of course congrats are in order for the Shanghai connection -that's a big deal in anyone's book. The current painting reminds me of stain glass work done in a modern context. The ladies are stunning (for mannequins) and the arrangement dramatically put together. I dig the architecture you added to the background as it ties the group together without overpowering the prime players. Seems the studio snake decided to hibernate and give you some to do serious brush work - nice!
Great work, beautiful mix of line and color !
Congratulations on the Shanghai exhibition ! One of my watercolors will be shown there too.
well done Dakester!
Thanks Tonya they're only big show dolls, not real women but who's taking pulses;)
Thanks Wizard Will....Shanghai, nah just another lousy show. That snake has not been seen since, large lizards only.
Hi Catherine, thanks!
Cheers Joel!
Congratulations on the Shanghai selection David!
I agree with Nancy Lee...I love this series too!
love the whole series of shop fronts ..this one reminds me of a woodblock print David ..congratulations on Shanghai
glad to have found your blog via nick's link
Hi David, long time no see! apologies that i haven't been around the blogosphere for a while .. now emerging from my ahem 'time-warp telephone box whatever cum studio' :P lol..
This is a brilliant piece imo .. i very much admire the way you've managed to incorporate a vast array of colours and shapes, numerous striking patterned motifs, confidently articulated/delineated forms: it conjures up for me the art of *orchestration* in music. To my eyes, there's a very virtuosic balancing of a vast array of variables: colours, tones ('values' US), patterns and motifs, lineation (melodic phraseology), punctuation (percussion) etc >> this is what i mean by 'orchestration' finesse. Some composers simply *have it* when it comes to 'orchestration' (balancing and combining the huge tapestries of sonic textures and forms that a symphony orchestra affords). One such giant of orchestration in music for me is Camille Saint-Saëns. His 'Organ Symphony' (Symphony no.3) is imo arguably amongst the greatest symphonies written to date (together with Beethoven's 9, 6 and 5). These are 'imos' of course! . Scored for a huge orchestra grand piano and pipe organ, it 's truly monumental. Yet Saint-Saëns shows both restraint as well as unbridled power resulting in a startling dynamic range , the full spectrum of sound, pushing boundaries and surpassing them everywhere. I've painted more studio watercolours accompanied and inspired by that single work, than any other piece of music. Especially in the 90s. [Now that i'm a hundred, times have moved on hehe] .. Your painting reminds me of a well-composed and orchestrated symphony. There are flavors of Lautrec and modernists like Gaugin, Matisse, and a new kind of pop art (subject matter in particular i refer to) that's recapitulated in an intriguing new way that's very balanced and pleasing to the eye. There's also far deeper things (too lengthy to go into here but to do with, for me anyhow, the 'mannequin', 'iconography', perception-windows , etc.. ) All in all, i love the piece. btw congrats on Shanghai too!
best wishes, wayne
Thanks Sandy, I'm a poor contributor to the blogosphere these days, sorry to take so long acknowledge you valued presence.
Jane thanks so much. Seems I've reached the point in my artistic life of really stepping up or giving up. It's very valuable for me to get feedback on these creative ideas.
Wayne, your comments are every bit as creative and thoughtful as any piece I've ever painted.
You contribute a great deal to my motivation.
Thanks mate!
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home