Monday 14 December 2015

Hippo 5 (final), acrylic, oil and charcoal on canvas, 150 x 100cm

11 comments:

  1. Not only did the individual paintings keep me guessing but your reveal was just as mysterious. What a joy to have followed this series. Thank you.

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  2. Have you ever watched Hugo the hippo? Its a rather serious cartoon from the early 80's. With strong philosophical and ethical themes.
    Rather suits Mr Tan.

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  3. I guess like the Moomins, hippos seem to inspire that kind of thing. They are one of those animals that are such early childhood icons that you easily stop 'looking' at them much, or it becomes harder to see them fresh. But when you do they are endlessly fascinating. I could draw hippos all day (along with every other thing I guess!)

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    1. Shaun I'm jumping in on this conversation to say that the sketches you posted on Friday and Saturday prompt me to ask you to consider joining in a project (as creative consultant, artist, and/or set designer). The project captures and naturally builds on your drawing and design interests and will take form as animated film and sponsored Arts events. The project fits your authorship tendencies and disposition. I have imagined adapting a story where a woman grieving the loss of her husband walks through woods, accompanied only by a family dog, and peels words from the bark of trees, kicks up word leaves, and catches a word leaf in her hands. The visual narrative about her will be an Alzheimer's story designed to benefit education and research. The story uniquely combines the emotions of The Red Tree and your fascination with hidden ecological spaces. It also encompasses your interests in set design and animation. The project has the ability to change the world. Tonight I thought to post to your blog, in an informal act of communication, thinking that, at the very least, it may beat drawing hippos (and may prove endlessly fascinating)!

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    2. Best to contact my agent, Sophie Byrne; sophie@passion-pictures.com.au. I'm unable to take on any new projects at present & foreseeable future, but keeping that in mind you are welcome to get in touch.

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    3. Beat drawing hippos? IMO you cant put a value on pure genius like that of Mr Tan. It is all so poignant, The pictures shout loud words about the time and place that we are in. Similar to illustrations of dickensian literature.

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  4. Moomins are terrifying. I cant watch them. Although I do have a friend that looks like a moomin.

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    1. This almost makes a very funny haiku poem!

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  5. Great to see this progression and thanks for sharing your process- fascinating

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  6. Great to see this progression and thanks for sharing your process- fascinating

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