MAD LOVE Ep. 5: Thomas Jackson

I personally am not someone who loves the great outdoors – sue me.

I have never had any fantasy about camping under the stars or swimming with dolphins in the ocean aka God’s pool. Instead I’ve always had an obsession with shopping centre air conditioning. You can’t tell me I can eat a foot long meatball sub at a controlled 23 degrees celsius in nature. But if I were to step outside I would probably see some alright stuff, or at the very least something half as cool as Thomas Jackson’s work.

Thomas Jackson is a Sydney based artist who specialises in entomological artworks, which is the art of specimens. If anyone is the David Attenborough of the art world, it would be this guy. Thomas Jackson breathes his subjects to life with stunning realism. Whether it be small meticulously detailed goache and ink work, or luscious soaring murals populating the concrete jungle, there is always an attention and care to organic visuals in everything he does.

Also, we ate oily beetroot burgers at da godfather home of singlet wearing grease mongers, Newtown’s own Dean’s Diner. The highlight of the whole meal was when Thomas Jackson ate a potato scallop chasing a previous course of starchy chips cause he’s hella extra. BAO!

MAD LOVE Ep. 4: Kayo Shoji & the Shoji family workshop

The world is made up of strong families. Bloodlines that seem to permeate greatness, DNA with success written in their code.

Think about it, the Smith dynasty (who knew big willy style was a genetic thing), the travelling circus of the Kardashians (they’re rich, which is cool right?) and the Corleones (fictional, I’ll give you that) – all families and all bodying the competition, the last one very literally.

If you haven’t already, you can now add the Shojis to that list. One of Sydney’s premium art families with their legendary shared studio located in the best suburb on planet earth, Ryde.

This oak tree of creatives starts with international ceramics legend Mitsuo Shoji, a pioneer of ushering traditional Japanese techniques and introducing them to Sydney’s landscape in the 70s. It then continues to the multidisciplinary and highly regarded work of Christine Shoji and Enku Shoji through illustration, fabrication and object based work.

Youngest of the family, Kayo Shoji is an up-and-coming sculpture artist starting to make his mark in the art world. Creating abstract works of heritage sandstone, twisted metal and oak, Kayo is steadily finding his artistic identity while also living up and adding to his family lineage!

Also, big ups to No Name Italian Restaurant, closing after 64 years of business. An institution not too dissimilar to the Shojis. I can speak for Sydney when I say that we will miss your humble spaghetti with added clump of butter, your schnitzel with a melted slice of singles cheese on top, fresh bowl of fluffy gum cutting bread and your house fluro red cordial. Hell of a run, ahh bellissimo!

MAD LOVE Ep. 3: Pseushi Pop Up Store & John Kaye Exhibition

Ah yes, fashion, my favourite subject. If I had a dollar for every outfit I wore that changed the game I’d have a hot $5 dollars.

Alright to be honest I don’t know a lot about fashion. My only foray into that world was when I met George R. R Martin (The Game of Thrones guy), and when I told people they thought I was saying Georgio Armani – bellisimo! That being said, Sydney based brand Pseushi seems to be making all the right moves, leaving a huge mark on the local scene.

Chris Loutfy and Wesley Chiang are the masterminds behind Pseushi. It would be pretentious to say that it’s a lifestyle brand, but there’s something about them that seems to extend past just prints on shirts and cuts of pants. It might be the inclusion of Sydney’s youngest and creative faces, the emphasis on classic film photography, or the combination of contemporary art and music.

MAD LOVE Ep. 2: Georgia Hill & Elliot 'Numskull' Routledge

If there was an art equivalent to Hulk Hogan and The Macho Man Randy Savage, It would be Georgia Hill and Elliott ‘Numskull’ Routledge.

Last Friday this power tag team threw Sydney into a crippler crossface and didn’t let go, artistically of course. Holding the dual show I Think About this All the Time (Georgia) and Happiness as Religion (Elliott) at The Commune, Waterloo. Georgia’s known for her signature large scale type work and striking black and white compositions, while Elliot on the other hand has been pioneering surreal landscapes through blending abstracted shapes, negative form and vibrant colours.

Could they be a cohesive unit for one night and go over as the crowd loving babyfaces they are? Or would they explode like the Mega Powers at Wrestlemania 4, ending in heart ache, leg drops and probably steroid use?

The result unsurprisingly was a huge success. With both Georgia and Elliott gracefully showcasing a style familiar with their well-earned reputations, while stepping into bold new territory of occupying lighting, media and environmental experimentation. All that is left for them is to flex for the cameras and maybe sign some babies’ foreheads.

Also big ups and maj shout outs to Australia’s own IWA Wrestling League with musical act Kissteria – The un-official afterparty to NumHillmania no.1. Oh hell yeah mane! 3:16 baby! Wooooo!

Mad Love, Ep. 1: Art at the Australian Open of Surfing

There are few things that are certain in life: death, taxes and the fact that, against my own virtue, I will inevitably end up at Manly within the year for the Australian Open of Surfing.

My hesitancy towards the Northern Beaches comes more from laziness that anything else. But once I step off the ferry and let the salty stench sting my nostrils and the cool ocean air stick to my skin, I realise I’m back and I kind of love it out there.

This year there were four good reasons to love it: Ben Brown, Mitch Revs, Chris Yee and Kentaro Yoshida. This motley crew comprised of some of Sydney’s most bold and talented artists took to Manly to show off their skills for the Australian Open of Surfing art component, painting on behalf of Take 3 – a charity organisation that inspires people to lower plastic pollution in our oceans