audrey kawasaki
Wearing: top by ecco, vintage skirt, belt by Zambesi.
Some of you may not have seen my tattoo – booked in February 2009, done in July the same year, and now about 15 months old. I had it done by the incredibly talented Rob Abell at Dynamic Tattoo (hence the 6-month wait between booking and execution) who not only understood my vision but also worked with me on improving it.
The piece is inspired by the work of Audrey Kawasaki, whose delicate, haunting paintings have captivated me for years. Audrey’s work is beautiful, tinged with darkness and charged with eroticism. Stylistically, it marries elements of manga and art nouveau, fluid and lyrical and organic. It was these elements I wanted to capture in my tattoo – curving lines, organic shapes, harmonious colour. Working with Rob, I chose some floral elements from a number of Audrey’s paintings and he combined them into a piece that would start at my shoulder and curl around my upper arm.
I’ve been waiting for Outré Gallery’s Audrey Kawasaki solo show since February 2009, when Audrey mentioned it on her blog. You can imagine my excitement when I found out that Audrey herself would be in attendance. I’m counting down the days until the opening night at Outré Sydney, slightly breathless at the possibility of meeting her. Will she like this city? I get the feeling she will fall in love with it when she realises just how many fans she has here, so far away from home.
If you’re in Australia, I highly recommend you check out the exhibition. Details below:
MELBOURNE OPENING: Friday 22th October 2010. The Melbourne exhibition runs until 10 November at 249 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, VIC.
SYDNEY OPENING: Friday 29th October 2010. The Sydney exhibition runs until 15 November at Shop 7, 285A Crown Street, Surry Hills, NSW.
PERTH OPENING: Friday 5th November 2010. The Perth exhibition runs until 20 November at 260 William Street, Northbridge, WA.
Explore:
Meanwhile, on Instagram…
are you going to the opening? I realllllly want to see this!
Your tattoo is all the more beautiful because of the inspiration behind it. I’ve never seen Audrey’s work before but now I definitely want to attend the opening. Perhaps I’ll meet you and say hi!
Anya – YES! Most definitely going to the opening. You should come!
Lucinda – that would be wonderful. I would love to meet you!
Oh wow it’s such beautiful elegant tattoo, I’d love to meet Audrey some day to xoxo
oh that tattoo is beautiful. perfectly delicate and the colors are sublime.
also, that pleated skirt is pretty major. pleats please!
Cate – I hope I get to meet her! But I get the feeling she will be so swamped with fans that it will be sadly unlikely.
Meagan – Thank you, lovely. The skirt is actually ankle length. I’m a bit sad I didn’t get it show it off in all its maxi glory!
Such beautiful work thanks for sharing, I didn’t know anything about this illustrator x
Your tattoo is even more beautiful than the original artworks. I do lurk here you know, but I never know what to say.