loving to...

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Think about space, escaping, hiding spaces, building a house on a moving object. thriving in departure zones like bus stations and airports. standing still in a dust storm or at the top of Martin Place. waiting watching. think about closing your eyes and imagine running so fast. you breathe fast, start gasping for air and you haven't moved a muscle. lying at the bottom of the pool and looking up through the water. diving. listening to your breath. closing your eyes.







then think about construction/fabrication/make up masks/costumes/houses.







games/ ladders/interiors/superfluous decoration and the definition of O.T.T . and imagine how much you can hide under that distraction, colourful beautiful creative mess.













to view my art please visit www.amandahumphries.com







Monday, February 1, 2016

Trying to view in a framework of 18"

The average distance between the heart and head (I heard Margaret Throsby once saying on The Midday Interview) is 18". This is a physical measurement of physical features. 
As metaphor it can be a useful parameter and a playground for all sorts of philosophical, physiological conversations on the dance between Dionysus and Apollo, reason and emotion. I guess it's inviting to seek out the terrain between these points to find clues for an esoterical map between reason and emotion. 
I am making 10 or so paintings looking into the world through this lens and at this size. Not so much to illustrate the contrast, and elaborate (which could be fun and super neo romantically indulgent) but to invite critique into the way we measure in polarities. 
And then there's part of me that then says 'so what? Why manufacture this supposed antithisisetic relationship.'  The personal point is it's (love/objectivity) great fodder for human connection and I can feel my way through this process in parallel to my own conflicts within creative practice and know the content is wide reaching. And then of course there are acute emotional life experiences - however now I am approaching as if it's out of body because in my real life (not my art life) I am finally deeply, happily content and in love and unquestioning in my quiet, conservative, quite selfish existence. I could make gardens and cook food and join a book club and fill my life with padding. 

And in this light, when your life is going well... And your work is completely personal, why make art? When questioning can make it all disappear.