Matt Huynh is a Sydney-based artist and illustrator, graphic novelist and all around amazing and innovative person. I first saw his work in a strange show at a university where his animation about a fox blew my face off my head with amazingness, and have since come across his work here, there and everywhere. Strangely, he’s not so keen on solo shows so I always wondered when he would do one, to showcase his beautiful design and illustration skills to the art- and talent-hungry masses. Finally that day has come, and Matt is putting on his first solo show in three years, Asperatus, at the Skeleton Gallery at the Australian Museum. Yes, that is correct. With all the bones and stuff. Yes, the one with the skeleton on the rocking chair and stuff.

I interviewed him about his current work and life. It’s nice to speak to intelligent, articulate artists who are passionate about their work. The exhibition opening is tomorrow, June 1st, so read quickly.

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+ What does the title ‘Asperatus’ mean? Ok, I’ll be fair, I googled it and it’s about cloud formations with a ‘wavy undersurface’ – but why did you choose it for the exhibition? What does it mean to you? What does it mean in terms of the exhibition? How did you choose it – where did you learn about it?
> I wanted something that captured this moment in time, both personally and as a visual metaphor for the zeitgeist. From where I am, the time and experiences I am surrounded by are very much of a ‘wavy undersurface.’ We are beginning to deal with consequences of actions long disconnected – global warming from consumer and lifestyle decisions over decades; homeowners affected by the global financial crisis and the bankers dealing with pixels instead of faces; even the modern form of terrorism and warfare. Our problems are abstract and their solutions demand a lateral thinking we are developing that is foreign to our history of zebra and monkey-mind thinking.

These clouds appear as though the sky will collapse over you – they’re dark and overbearing – and yet they often disperse without storming at all. These confusing signals and appearances disconnected from their meanings are a sign of the times. Read more for the full interview…

Posted by amelia in Art, Features

Tags: Adam Paquette, Alan Moore, Art, art feature, Art Spiegelman, asperatus, australian museum, Ben Constantine, Biddy Maroney, Chalkhorse, china heights, Chris Wahl, Craig Phillips, Craig Thompson, Daniel Clowes, David B, Eddie Campbell, feature, firstdraft, Frank Miller, Garry Trinh, GB Tran, Gipi, Horus & Deloris, james jirat patradoon, Jeff Smith, Jessica Abel, Jillian Tamaki, Jonathan Zawada, Kate Banazi, Kevin Tran, Knot, Lee Tran Lam, Leigh Rigozzi, Mandy Ord, Marcela Restrepo, Marcelo Baez, Marjane Satrapi, Matt Huynh, Matt Madden, Mel Stringer, Mitchel Spider, Moebius, Monster Children, monstrosity, MOP, Morten Rowley, Pat Grant, Paul Pope, Peter Blegvad, R. Kikuo Johnson, Rutu Modan, Scribla, skeleton gallery, Sonny Day, Sonya Gee, Tony Curran, White Rabbit, Wil Loeng

We were basically 85% sure that no-one was going to come to our party. We figured that everyone had said yes just to be polite but were actually going to go do more important things, like knit a tiny jumper for the tiny cat they knitted for their real cat. So when we got numbers the next day of the ridiculously large amount of people who came, we were pretty surprised. And hugely delighted…

Posted by amelia and steph in Reviews, Your Face

Tags: Danimals, Ears Vs Eyes, Greedy Hen, Informal Dialogue, James Brown, Lucia Fischer, Luke Tipene, Matt Huynh, Megastick Fanfare, Mel Bligh, Rebecca Murphy, Sonya Gee, SPOD, Stephenie Kanhukamwe, Tony Curran, Watch This Space, We Buy Your Kids

We’re having a party this Wednesday night to launch this here blog. It’s another Ears Vs Eyes shindig – the first was a fundraiser art auction last year, where we nabbed $3000+ for Heaps Decent by selling art from people like EAMO, Beastman, We Buy Your Kids, Greedy Hen, and Simon Degroot. This one is a digital techy audiovisual extravaganza, because blogs are for nerds. That’s right, we’re calling you names already.

Anyway, the party is being held at our BFF’s house. Our BFF is The Wall, every Wednesday at the World Bar. For all you arty farty party types, the Wall let you exhibit your work for free in a delightful room upstairs, while a party happens around you and below you. They don’t take commission, they help you promote it, and goddamn do they know how to party.

But this Wednesday it’s all about us, because It’s Our Birthday – and you’re invited too. More info, and an uncharacteristically oversized image, after the jump.

Posted by steph in Art, Events

Tags: Danimals, Ears Vs Eyes, Greedy Hen, Informal Dialogue, James Brown, Lucia Fischer, Luke Tipene, Matt Huynh, Megastick Fanfare, Mel Bligh, Rebecca Murphy, Sonya Gee, SPOD, Stephenie Kanhukamwe, Tony Curran, Watch This Space, We Buy Your Kids, You Are All Nerds

The Jacky Winter Group is home to pretty much most of your favourite Australian illustrators; names like We Buy Your Kids, Rebecca Wetzler, Oslo Davis, Lilly Piri, James Gulliver Hancock, Eamo and Matt Huynh. And now they’re having a video about it…