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ART // BEAUTY // CRAFTS // DESIGN // FASHION ART // BEAUTY // CRAFTS // DESIGN // FASHION // //LIFE LIFE ////NATURE NATURE////PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY
HELLO THERE! Dearest reader, This magazine is not a traditional magazine, it is actually a school project. I am actually a Year 12 Art Design student at Temple Christian College, not a magazine editor. The names, brands or websites mentioned don’t actually exist; I invented them for the purposes of the magazine, inspired by things that held personal significance to me or figments of my imagination. Almost none of these people or websites are actually real so I can’t guarantee what you’ll find if you Google them. Australian Apparel is a satirical version of American Apparel. The Plush Slow Motion bath bomb is just a renamed, rebranded Lush Sex Bomb bath bomb. Leelah isn’t a fashion collection by Accro, it was inspired by the works of Jacquemus, Cardin and Courréges. Chiyo Eto didn’t make those geta with her sisters because they don’t exist – are you getting the point? If you’re anything like me you might be feeling like this is one massive conspiracy but in fact this magazine is just my first major and Leelah (featured on page 92) is my second. My initial brief was to design and produce a personal portfolio in the format of a magazine, inspired by the wonderfully refreshing Frankie magazine and other indie mags. My aim was to reflect myself and my artistic work in a full colour magazine, which, judging by the magazine you’re holding in your hands with all my work in it, has been achieved. My goal was to make as much of the products in it as possible to develop my skills over a range of subjects, which means 99% the clothes and products you see have been handmade and not brought. Most of the stories happened personally to me or a friend, or were just entirely made up, or even a mix of all three. Which is real and which is fake, however, will remain a mystery; did I really make a birds nest in my bed as a child? Did my parents really tell me those things? Did I accidentally sign up for a volunteer job and keep it for over fourteen weeks? (No, Yes and Yes). Most of these stories did actually happen and I’ve made a special goal in my brief to make it a personally significant project, so all the issues mentioned are very close to my heart, including gender identity, sexuality, homelessness and environmentalism. The project was restricted by budget, time and a folio limit of 60 pages (all the supporting work for the articles was completed in this folio) but considering this and the fact that I juggled three other subjects at school and some pretty hectic real life factors, I am pretty chuffed at what I achieved. Could I have made more? Sure. Would my teacher’s eyes fall out from drafting so much work? Most probably. Would I have cut both my hands off in frustration at the amount of work? Without a doubt. I can only hope to make the people around me proud of my work and have a good mark to show for it. I know the skills and knowledge I have gained from this will help me in the future and has cemented that an artistic career and lifestyle is a definite for me to survive (unless I have an opportunity to live in an alternate universe with Batman or study palaeontology, one of the two). I hope you will take thorough delight in this magazine and appreciate the enjoyable (yet at times painstaking) effort I have invested. Yours truly, Chloe ................................................................................................................ To say hi or contact me personally for work opportunities, email me at chloe.katopodis@gmail.com, check out my art blog at chloekatopodis.tumblr.com, my Instagram @chloe.katopodis, or my website chloekatopodis.com NOTE: The online version has been updated in 2016 with the font ‘Karla’ and minor grammatical changes.
EDITORS LETTER // 001
THE TALENTED TEAM OF ISSUE 29 EDITORIAL Editor Chloe Katopodis Art Director Lolotte Aabadi Writer Soren Lorenson Fashion editor Tor Säng Guest Artist Seline Saint Sufijan Cover Artist Adeline Thiel CONTRIBUTORS WORDS Aoming Ostrovsky Ariettale Tsveta Giovanni Kosumosu Iris Elle Moutrakous Jing Zu Lia Yiang Misa Tasmi Lak Penelope Arte Xanthia Ja Yaffe Chernov Yelena Aptekar PHOTOGRAPHIC Daria Finoci Felicia Li’oha Mei Mei Song ILLUSTRATION Stav Zinopolus Yui Huang ADVERTISING National Advertising Manager Yui Alkev Advertising Traffic Manager Aurio Mata Advertising Sales Executive Kuno Oyibo Head of digital Aristokles Naoum Prepress Manager Tiffany L’Akah Production Manager Karianna Pirot Circulation Director Amandla Tarn Chief Executive Officer Ayako Choux Commercial Director Emille Bullion GENERAL ENQUIRIES chloe.katopodis@gmail.com
002 // THE TEAM
SUBSCRIPTIONS subscribe@chloemag.com chloe.com.au/subscribe P: +61 8768 2334 F: +61 8768 7829 Locked Bag 2908, Murray Bridge, South Australia 5253 Chloe magazine is proudly published 6 times a year by Blurb. Blurb is a selfpublishing and marketing platform that allows people to design, publish, promote, and sell professional-quality printed books and ebooks. Blurb, Inc Attn: Copyright Agent 580 California Street, Suite 300 San Francisco, CA 94104 www.au.blurb.com All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part, without the prior permission of the publisher. Any dissemination, distribution or copying is strictly prohibited. Views, opinions, etc. expressed by the writers are not necessarily those of the publisher or do not reflect Temple Christian College Incorporated, nor its associated companies or campuses. SUBMISSIONS Chloe magazine accepts freelance art, photo and story submissions, however we cannot reply to unsuccessful pitches. For guidelines see chloemag.com.au FIND US ONLINE chloekatopodis.com
PENELOPE ARTE FRINGY // PAGE 24
ARIETTALE TSVETA SUBTITLES // PAGE 60
YELENA APTEKAR MENTAL HEALTH // PAGE 86
Favourite Animated Film? Monsters Inc. was my all-time favourite film as a child. I remember the dark blue of the VHS and the short film about the birds on the wire before the movie started always had our entire family in stitches. I lost count of how many times I watched it, it’s always my go-to movie when I feel sad, or happy, or any emotion actually. I watched the sequel on my birthday with my family, there were only a couple of others in the cinema which saddened me.
Favourite Animated Film? Any film by Studio Ghibli is an animation spectacle but one of my favourites in particular is Ponyo on the Cliff by the Seat. It has a light-hearted atmosphere and the colours are so calming and optimistic. As usual with any Ghibli film, the animation is absolutely seamless and spectacular – it just blows me away every time. Ponyo is a cute film, it makes me warm inside from just watching it and I feel like I’ve been painted yellow with happiness.
If you could be any creature in the world, what would you be? When I was younger my biggest wish was to be a bird, a pigeon specifically. In my mind there was nothing greater. I used to sit outside and draw birds all the time; I actually found them a while back after going through my old schoolwork and they honestly belong in a modern art museum. My older brother told me that if I built a nest and made bird noises before I went to bed, that I would become one. I was ecstatic when I found out and collected all the sticks and leaves I could find and built possibly the worst nest in the history of nests. I went to bed at four o’clock that day. My brother woke me up a couple of hours later and pretended he couldn’t understand what I was saying because I was talking in a ‘special bird language’. My parents just went with it.
If you could be any creature in the world, what would you be? I read that mantis shrimp could see up to sixteen colours because they have so many cones in their eyes. Seeing more colours would be the most sensational thing; I can’t think of anything cooler than more colours. But because they’re in such a rush to survive, the use their cones to perceive more of their surrounding environment so they don’t even really care about the colours. Still, it’s pretty cool.
Favourite Animated Film? Hands down How to Train Your Dragon 2. The first one was mind-blowing but the second one, oh man, that took the cake for me. The character design and development struck me the most, having lost my left leg from the knee down as a child, I felt a personal connection to Hiccup and even Toothless; Dreamworks’ handled disabled characters so gracefully and realistically. The women in the film were so refreshing and lovable - you know there’s an issue when you’re actually rejoicing at three women who look different and have strong, independent characters. From the vivid colours to the depth of detail in the animation to the strong themes being dealt with to the humour to the dragons, oh the dragons! I could watch this movie forever.
What was the last dream you had? Everything was fairly regular, going nice and slow until my dog appeared and looked me straight in the eyes as he said, ‘Coffee is the sludge I am after’. I still remember it vividly.
What was the last dream you had? I’ve been working on a short animated film so most of my dreams lately have been centred on the production, meaning scenic landscape pictures playing in my mind. Last night there was a vast library carved in a ginormous tree heading into an Atlantis type city.
If you could be any creature in the world, what would you be? A cat. I would definitely be a house cat, hands down. They do nothing all day! They meow for food - which they always get. They can sleep anywhere, any hour of the day. They get pettings whenever they choose. They get it all! They are always in power, it’s incredible that such an animal lives such a life. What was the last dream you had? There’s a boy in my Russian class who has been in my dreams for the past three months so every time I see him in my dreams now I concentrate on trying to find him. This time he escaped in a hot air balloon. I woke up confused and annoyed. The colours were warm yellows and dull greens. It was nice. MEET THE PEOPLE // 003
WHAT’S INSIDE 008 // Cover Story 010 // Chloe Adores 016 // The Volunteering Fiasco 018 // Colour Me Cheerful 020 // Saucy 022 // Visitors 023 // Nature Street 028 // Subtitles 030 // Australian Apparel 056 // Full Of Colour 058 // Lyrics To Live By 068 // Panda Bear 070 // Mental Health
018
058
004 // CONTENTS
030
120
084
071
071 // Vincent Van Gogh Look At This 080 // Monday, Tuesday, Happy Names 081 // Travel Tales 082 // Short Stories 084 // Leelah 114 // Animation Sensation 118 // Sex Ed 120 // Guest Artist 128 // Life Lessons Gone Wrong 130 // 16 Going On To 70 131 // Thank You
OF ISSUE 29
CONTENTS // 005
Spring Fling. Meet Elisha. Elisha is a forced to be reckoned with. In her spare time she practices interpretive dance and makes absurdist music, using colourful toy xylophones and interactive piano books as instruments of choice. Some of her tracks on her upcoming album include, ‘Plastering the Wall’ and ‘I Had A Wet Dream, It Was Cool’, which are just as charming as they sound. We first met Elisha via her submission to our model search, and after being outright denied due to her hilarious small legs, she hasn’t stopped pursuing us since. Call it stalking or strong character, we finally let her model for Australian Apparel out of pure terror; anyone with that much sheer determination should be outright feared. Model wears the the black Bridgette Halter Crop and Giselle High-Waisted Jeans paired with the Diana Oversized Denim Jacket and Amelie Chunk Shoes.
That’s Australian Apparel australianapparel.com.au Made in New Zealand. Not Sweatshop Free.* Just kidding, we’re actually an ethical Aussie business.
dearest chloe... Every issue we ask you to put pen to paper (or more likely fingers to keyboard) to write us in your silliest confessions and stories. In theme with childhood memories of Issue 28, we asked you to spill out something you believed as a child. Hit us up at letters@chloemag.com or send us good ol’ snail mail to tell us your tantalising travel tales for next time! ...................................................... Confession time, chloe When I started year seven at a new school, we read a book by Roald Dahl in our English class called ‘Danny, Champion of the World’ which I only vaguely remember now. What I do remember of it was that it had pheasants in it that were killed. I didn’t distinguish the difference between pheasants (the birds) and peasants (the people) so I sat there horrified at the massacre while others didn’t even bat an eye, which only intensified the shock. Irina ...................................................... Dear chloe, When I was younger my at my grandparents’ house, my grandma would always ask us if we were hungry and offer us ice-cream, as grandmas do. She always had the boxes with three in one: chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. Now I always called it ‘Napoleon’, but I only recently realised that it was, in fact, not called this but rather ‘Neapolitan’. Same difference. A’aki
THE LETTER OF THE ISSUE WINS THIS ADORABLE MINIATURE POLKA TEA SET, RRP $49, FROM TOKKA.COM Oh chloe, wait ‘till you hear this, When I was younger I thought that the great Harry Houdini was a mouse. Hear me out, it wasn’t just out of nowhere. In my year four/five class we had a rack of books that you spun around and the books were always really old and crusty – you know the type, yellowed pages, a slightly funky smell, serif writing that was always too big or too small, lengthy introduction and a little section at the end where you can tick a box, tear out the page and send it in the mail. I don’t know anyone who has ever done that though, but the allure was there. We had a period of ‘silent reading time’ where we had to bring in a book and have it signed off in our handmade paper booklets by a teacher or a parent – not that it stopped me from accidentally reading a YA murder mystery I picked up in the library that was definitely NOT for young adults (I couldn’t care less for the innuendoes, I just wanted to find out the story). Anyway, I forgot my book on more than one occasion and while looking for one, I always saw a book cover with a mouse with the title ‘Houdini’ on it, so logically I connected the two. So when people always praised Houdini for escaping, my thoughts were always, well duh, he was a mouse. Joelle LETTERS TO THE EDITOR // 007
cover story
THE OH-SO-LOVELY ARTWORK THAT GRACES OUR 29TH COVER WAS CREATED BY THE ONE AND ONLY ADELINE THIEL, CHARACTER DESIGNER AND ANIMATOR AT AYAKO PICTURES AND CREATOR OF OUR NEW FAVOURITE CARTOON ‘ALKA AND NIMU’ AS TOLD TO PENELOPE ARTE
Tell us about the cover art, please. The cover is actually a self-portrait in a style I’ve recently adopted focusing on strong lines and bold colours. This tone of blue is one of my absolute favourites, feeling as soft as clouds with its dreamy muteness. I’ve been really digging mute colours recently so it’s an obvious reflection of this affiliation, probably representing how tired I’ve been with production lately. My hair is drawn to look like clouds because that’s where my head feels most days – up in the clouds away from everyone. I’m in a sitting position because that’s how I usually am [laughs]. Being an artist there is so much sitting and drawing and painting and sitting and sculpting and sitting and sitting, but that’s alright because I don’t like standing (four years of a C in PE can testify). Nature is one of my passions so I always incorporate it when drawing myself; it’s so close to my heart and I feel such a connection to it. It felt natural to put it around me. That was a such bad pun. I’m not even sorry.
Tell us about Alka and Nimu. Alka and Nimu has been a project I’ve been working for ages but has now become an actual television show on Cartoon Network that I am just ecstatic about. It started during university as a weekly web comic to allow me some down time in between studying for my marine biology degree and spawned some small books and prints and stuff. I based the main characters off of two wooden souvenirs’ my friends brought back from me from their holidays to South Africa and Papua New Guinea (pictured above). They even sort of suit their home countries, Nimu reminds me of vast forests like PNG and Alka is so colourful like all the African art I’ve ever seen. The characters have changed a bit since their humble beginnings but I’m glad that the show embodies the same philosophical undertones of the comics, which I think is a very important thing to have in cartoons because kids can handle the themes, and the lessons and morals are actually really important for them to learn. It’s the subtle things that shape us and I feel like it’s my personal responsibility to minimise the negativity in our world, any way I can. What made you change from marine biology to art? I’ve been interested in art forever but decided to pursue science for a career because I wanted to give something back to the earth and help conserve the ocean, particularly the Great Barrier Reef. Throughout university I went to art classes and created animated films. Now I write and animate for my own television show so I think it worked out pretty well. In the beginning I worked in association with some university friends making shorts directed to children about saving the ocean to be played in schools. I try to combine my loves as much as possible and definitely haven’t left it behind. See more of Theil’s works at helloadeline.com ⁕ COVER STORY // 009
Slow Motion
In The Bag English brand St Moritz has us particularly tickled with their new line of bold, beach inspired canvas bags. Each bag is completely original so you never have to feel the embarrassment of having the same item as somebody sitting right next to you on the bus. Made from sustainable recycled materials in London, it has lining and hidden pockets, with cool adjustable straps to suit each individual body and keep you’re things secure. Prices range from $10 to $15, makin. Want to bag one for yourself? Head to stmoritz.co.uk
Plush has released their latest bath bomb, Slow Motion, a jasmine, mimosa and orange blossom infused bomb reminiscent of the slow motion fall of the fragile cherry blossom flowers in the springtime. Their signature bath bombs are known for their magical ability to turn an ordinary bath into a lustrous experience, lifting your spirits and leaving your skin silky soft. Slow Motion is as ephemeral as the flowers it was inspired by but the peaceful feeling will stay with you. To experience this, visit plush.com.au to pick one up for only $7.50.
Amanita Trix Kystansiatos of Amanita will bring you back to your childhood days of dandy dresses and frilly socks where you had no control of what you wore because your excited mum dressed you up like a human doll only to have you chased down by a mad rooster. Well maybe not that specifically but Kystansiatos’ Lola shift dress will make you feel young and free again with its loose fit and flowing skirt, fit with deep pockets to collect odd treasures and a sheen satin lining to keep you comfortable as you spend all day trying to relive the fleeting memories of your childhood. It can be found for around $91 at amanita.com
Scrunchmes Travel back to the gnarly 90’s with Lulu Tierney’s radical scrunchie collection, Scrunchmes. Her Esty store has a variety of styles to keep even the fussiest of fussy pots happy. From spring florals to school day tartans, there’s a scrunchie to suit everyone! scrunchmes.etsy.com
010 // CHLOE ADORES
It’s Tea Time Rosita Ohli aka Rosie Oh is one ridiculously talented and hard working woman, producing more than twenty illustration posters each month to sell in her online store as well as pursuing countless other creative artistic ventures which she documents throughout her blog. In a sense, it’s similar to the amount of time we dedicate to sleeping, but, like, the complete opposite because she is actually being productive. Here recent poster, It’s Tea Time, will enlighten your eyeballs and have you salivating at the mouth for the delightful ambrosia beverage. See more of Ohli’s works at rosieoh.com
Leaf House Leah Leaf of Leaf House has a thing for nature. Some may say it’s who she is, intimately connected to her, but we’ll leave it up to you to read between those lines. We do know though, that if plants had a human like existence, families of succulents and cacti would be crowded at an open auction for the opportunity to live in this pot. And we wouldn’t blame them, with inscribed patterns and hand painted detail, this inordinately cute planter has us sold. It’s around $28 from leafhouse.com
Lunch Time Bringing boring brown paper lunch bags to work is a thing of the past as Aurélie Valerianovich, revolutionises lunch packaging. Well maybe not revolutionise but she certainly is sprucing things up with her decorative lunch bags. The most recent inclusion to the Lunch Time series is her Grecian palace inspired marbled bag series, Ilios. Handcrafted by Aurélie herself on super-sturdy cardstock, all the prints are 100% original and come in packs of fourteen for $30, enough to brighten your day for at least two weeks. lunchtime.com.au
CHLOE ADORES // 011
Personalised Pyjamas We’re all guilty of sleeping in our uber-comfy favourite pyjamas even if they’ve got a small tear in the side or a hole where holes shouldn’t be; it’s only a small tear and there are only a couple of holes, right? But then comes that dreaded moment when you’re stuck in a situation where you’re required to be in your pyjamas, like a sleepover, God forbid you must attend. Never again, my friend, must you experience the crippling fear and those uncomfortable nice pyjamas you fished out from who-knows-where because Norwegian duo Haper are here to save your poorly pyjamed tushy! Their sleeping clothes feel like magic against the skin and come in endless styles to suit every individual without breaking the bank. hahaper.nl
Eva and Ava Russian homeware designers Pochemunchka’s new line of manchester is just as cute as their brand name sounds. The gentleness of the lava lamp blob shapes in illuminescent orange and pink of their Eva and Ava matching pillowcases will see you spending more time in bed than out, which isn’t really a bad thing. We have three sets (worth $35 each) to give away, so if you fancy a dreamy treat please email your details to giveaway@chloe.com with Pochemunchka in the subject line and you may just be in luck. pochemunchka.com
What’s The Time Mr Gropius Bauhaus-inspired product design group, Heike Studio of Australian architect establishment Haus Design, most recent exhibition served to introduce their newest five members of the team, exhibiting an array of wooden clocks that will be featured in Haus’ Summer Feature House of 2015. Lazar Rosza’s design caught our eye with its bold, precise cut out and subtle clock feature. To see the full collection of clocks, visit heike.com
012 // CHLOE ADORES
Dear Diary
Dear Dairy
This hilarious book by Lola Lee Ling isn’t your typical diary, writing about experiences that didn’t happen. Ranging from far-fetched feats like ‘Dear Diary, today I didn’t climb Mount Everest’ to mundane tasks such as ‘Dear Diary, today I didn’t pat any dogs’, Lee Ling overshares in explicit detail her melodramatic achievements that never actually happened to her, because, ‘It probably happened to someone. Surely.’ Visit lolaleewrites.com
A sequel to Lola Lee Ling’s sidesplitting ‘Dear Diary’, Dear Dairy is a compilation of some of the most heartfelt, detailed letters you’ve ever read. But in a wild unprecedented plot twist (well not really if you read the title) the letters are all addressed to various dairy items. Keen to read a love letter to butter or hate mail to frozen yoghurt? At only ten dollars, a signature low price of all of Lee Ling’s books, you’d be mad not to go to lolaleewrites.com
Tokka Say goodbye to the crippling fear of spilling your soup with these groovy supported soup bowls by Tokka. With little legs to bring the deliciousness closer to your mouth and super deep bowls, you’ll never fret again about knocking your plate over or ruining your clothes. Coming in four different colours and styles, they’ve got something to suit your taste. tok.ka
Colour in Clothes Next time the little monster in your life decides to artistically express themselves on your favourite shirt (read as: draw all over your prized ‘Led Zeppelin’ shirt that was the centre your adolescence years) resist the urge to punch a hole in the nearest wall or blow your head off so the neighbours don’t have one more thing to gossip about you. Icelandic designer Amalía Aríelsson and mother of four has the solution that you’ve been praying for – Colour in Clothes. These gnarly shirts are like a wearable colour-in book that your munchkin can turn into a masterpiece as you explain that your clothes aren’t for ‘decorating’. The best bit is they’re machine washable so they can recolour them as much as they want. Coming with a pack of fabric markers, there are ample shirts to choose from that will only set you back around $20. colourinclothes.com
CHLOE ADORES // 013
Soap Stones Adelaide wonder duo petrologist Lucinda and soap maker Oliver quickly became friends after realising they had been feeding the same cat and have since joined forces, combining their loves to make gorgeous soap gems that almost make you feel guilty for using them. Completely natural and fantastically fragrant, they sell for $9 individually and also come in gifts sets and packs. They’ve generously handed us five of their gems sets (worth $26.50 each) to give away. To win one, email your details to giveaway@chloe.com with Soapy Stones in the header and we’ll see what we can do. soapysuds.com.au
Asexual Awareness Simple and succinct, this comfy causal shirt shows your support for asexual’s everywhere by flagwaving, or at least flag-wearing, their own pride flag which, let’s face it, sadly doesn’t get much attention. Or just use it as a passive way of announcing your own sexuality. Aussie-French group La Drapeau make shirts just like these with almost any flag: if you can imagine it, they’ve probably got it. To get your hands on it, and other neat-o flag shirts, swing past ladrapeau.com
Geta Outta Here Japanese studio, Shuzu, are bringing back geta – traditional Japanese wooden sandals – into fashion with their modern interpretation of a classic Japanese cultural and fashion item. Coming in a variety of shapes to suit even the oddest shaped foot, Chiyo Eto hand makes each pair with her younger siblings, Sakiko and Ikki, saying it’s a quality time to bond even though we’re positive that any sibling related project we would attempt would inspire a dysfunctional family sitcom. Prices start from around $35 a pair so head to shuzu.com if you want to nab yourself some.
014 // CHLOE ADORES
Tingo Tingo New Zealand sibling design duo Ivone and Lise, aka Tingo Tingo, have won our hearts with their ceramic cat-tastic mug that will have you making (bad) cat puns at every time you treat yourself to a warm beverage, whether it be hot chocol-cat or cat-momile tea. You can find it for around eight bucks at tingo-tingo.etsy.com
KA KAW If you, like Taaliba Sara Campos, live a life dedicated to the wonders of birds, starting each morning with a passionate ‘KA KAW’ as a salute to the birds of the world and end every day with a whispering ‘ka kaw’ as a goodnight to them, then it’s time to throw the ‘home sweet home’ embroidery frame out the window and replace it with this wonder. If your throat is hoarse from all the bird noises you make, put on your homemade bird noise mix tape and feathered sweater and head to taalibasara.co.uk to purchase a limited copy for $16.
Mathematical Have you ever been consumed by the insatiable desire to wear your math book? Had thoughts about wearing those neat grid lines on your body to let the whole world know how much you love numerical subject? Well neither have we, as all our thoughts about maths books involved burning and usually high school math involved crying and slowly dying inside. Fashion designer Akiko Aquilina thought otherwise and changed our perspectives on this matter, making a funky fashionable feature inspired by the dreaded subject. It’s the only time you’ll say ‘I love Maths’ without being called a nerd, which isn’t that much of an insult anymore though. akikoa.com
Snazzy Socks If your foot-warmers are looking a little too plain for your liking, then Neomi Coral is here to save the day! Her uber cute lace trimmed Snazzy Socks will jazz up your feet lickety split and give you that school girl glow without feeling the school time stress. They’ll only set you back around five bucks so nab some for yourself through neomi-coral.com.au. ⁕ CHLOE ADORES // 015
the volunteering fiasco LIA YIANG REFLECTS ON HER STUPID DECISIONS
Dearest reader, Have you ever done something stupid? Like really stupid? Not something small like tripping into someone on a bus or spilling water all over your new clothes. Oh no, something so stupid that you get shivers down your spine just thinking about it? Something so stupid that wakes you up in the middle of the night and you just lay there with your eyes wide open in total shock and horror and disgust that such a person like yourself could do something so ridiculous for such a long time? Something like accidentally getting a job that you’re not even being paid to do and keeping it? Have you ever done something that kind of stupid? Well I have. It all started in my Year Ten Christian Living class when we were introduced to a compulsory program called PLP that was supposed to help us develop through the ever-so-tough teenage years into mature young adults and we were supposed to reflect on various aspects of various tasks they gave us throughout the year. The key words here are ‘supposed to’ because these plans are always so preposterous that it feels like school boards sit
around their mahogany tables, saying ostentatious things like, ‘Oh Charles, let’s give them more assignments, but less time!’ And they all sit there roaring with laughter at their new schemes to make the so-called ‘best years of their lives’ as miserable as possible while making the most money the can. So naturally I wasn’t taking the class seriously as filling out worksheets and listening to homophobic Christian propaganda isn’t really my favourite pastime when the teacher introduced the next task: to make a presentation reflecting on the skills we learnt while volunteering. Volunteering? I’ve never done that before. What was I going to do? After pestering my mum for weeks, we finally walked into a local volunteering retail store and inquired about helping, only three weeks after the assignment was introduced – sadly, not even a new record for starting assignments late. The manager was ecstatic at the possibility of new recruits because they ‘always need more people because it’s so busy and it’s for such a good cause, you know’. After gathering all the required paperwork I delved back into the bright and happy place where the clothes were colour-coordinated and the people chirped instead of talked. The young manager, Vivian, beckoned me deeper into the rabbit hole for a discussion. Little did I know that this was the first event in a series of the stupidest events of this entire stupid project. She asked me a simple question: when can you work? It’s only a small project, I thought, so maybe a couple of hours for a couple of weeks? But is that what I responded with? Oh no, that would be much too smart. So instead I told her I could work on Saturday and asked about what their opening hours were. Vivian, with her lovely red apron and her lovely wide smile,
informed me they were open from nine to five. Perfect, ten to five, I thought, I can do that, it’s only a few hours and I won’t have to do an opening shift. The look of pure shock on her face when I replied to her should have sent alarm bells ringing off in my head, telling me something was wrong, but they didn’t and I left as soon as I could, longing to get back to the safety of the car. I should never be allowed to make decisions on my own. It was the shock in Mum’s voice that sent the alarm bells ringing as she explained to me that ten to five was not five hours. Ten to five was seven hours. Every Saturday. With no pay. What had I got myself into? The dreaded Saturday came and I asked Vivian if I could work until four as my parents had a car show afterwards, which wasn’t an entire lie because they did have a car show, I just wasn’t planning on going to it. The day speed on as fast as a dead snail, as I was faced with challenging tasks which required my absolute concentration and dedication if I were to perform them correctly. Tasks like making sure all the clothes hangers were facing the same way or that the precious colour coordination was maintained. Such vigorous work, but I had to trudge on, I simply had to. I wasn’t trained to use the cash register so these menial tasks filled my day. If I wanted to clean without pay, I would stay at home! My feet grew weary quickly, as I walked around the small shop, tidying and tidying and tidying the same stuff over and over and over again. I glanced desperately at the clock only to be denied my relief - it wasn’t even three o’clock yet. I slowly began to notice that I was the youngest person there by at least thirty years and that the store wasn’t as understaffed as the posters on the walls begging for more help were advertising. My last hour was spent in a corner re-sorting books until my sister, my divine saviour, snapped at me to ‘get in the car quickly’, but which my ears only heard the angelic choir of heaven – it was over! I was free of the prison where time stood still! The only thing keeping my through that it was for a good cause. After practically falling into the car from exhaustion, I was told that I wasn’t going home, but was going to the car show. But that’s okay, because it’s only for a little while. In my head, a little while means one hour at the absolute maximum. But in my parents head, that meant at least three hours. Standing up. On my feet. After seven hours of already doing that. With flat shoes. On my feet. My feet. Standing up. If that day wasn’t the definition of fun then nothing is. This day was only a raindrop in an ocean – an incredibly deep and vast ocean. That volunteering job lasted the entirety of Term Four and continued right on, throughout the six weeks of holidays and into the first two weeks of Year Eleven. My anxiety levels rocketed and my outlook on life plummeted as the shifts relentlessly hurdled towards me, my weary legs stumbling every time. Day by day, I became distant from friends and my grades dropped lower than my mood, all because of a thoughtless commitment I made. Every Saturday I had committed to volunteering was a Saturday that I couldn’t sleep in, catch up with my friends, do homework or even just relax. It was a humiliating ending, reaching its anti-climax as I called Vivian one lonely recess, telling her that ‘I couldn’t work this Saturday, or the Saturday after that or the Saturday after … Lia, are you quitting?’ Her squeaky voice resonated disappointment. ‘Yes, yes I am’, my empty voice
echoed in to the abyss of time and space. That phone conversation wasn’t even the most embarrassing one I’d had with them. They so kindly invited me to their annual Christmas party but I, being the person I am, did not want to go to this social event with people I barely know so I tried to communicate this to them a week later on the phone. The key word was ‘try’ because what happened during that 2 minute and 38 second disaster was possibly the worst bout of communication I have ever had, and I have a sentence stuff up rate of 100%. I had it all planned, I even wrote down what I was going to say: Hi, I’m so sorry I am unable to attend the Christmas party this year as I have already promised to help my family with party preparations. But is that what came out? No. Nothing near it. Shaking with nerves, I left my room where my sister was to spare myself embarrassment but alas, she heard it all. Before the poor lady even picked up the phone I had blurted out my entire speech to her, and it was nothing as planned: HI ITS LIA AND I CAN’T COME TO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY BECAUSE I HAVE A THING ON ALREADY I’M REALLY SORRY! She obviously didn’t catch any of it because at that moment I had broken the world record for speaking the most words in the least time. Trying to catch herself, what sounded like a lady of two hundred and three, asked me to repeat myself. Which I did and thankfully I didn’t beat the imaginary record I just broke. What did happen was all of that in a half-rushed, half-slowed down, stuttered, incomprehensible garb – the literal definition of word diarrhoea. Again, with a tang more frustration, she asked again. Which I repeated, just as before, only slower and I would be lying if I said that she didn’t her my brain turning into mush and my body trying to vaporize itself. As reassuringly as she could, she told me it was okay and asked for my name, which I practically blurt out in an attempt to end this catastrophe of a conversation. Not even waiting for her to ask to repeat myself, I did. She didn’t hear either of these attempts so what happened was her trying to ask my name and me yelling out my name at the same for a ten second burst. Even after she understood, I still yelled it out for a reason I will never know. And then, to top it off, while she was saying goodbye I hung up the phone. Taking a second to recover from the reality of what just happened, I walked with shame back to my room and my sister just looked at me. She heard the whole thing. ‘It’s Lia! It’s Lia!’ Sometimes I still hear those desperate yells in my nightmares.
So next time you spill water all over yourself on a crowded bus, look at the attractive boy watching you fumble and think to yourself: ‘at least I didn’t spend over fourteen weeks – every Saturday, without pay - fighting boredom and trying not to hit my racist co-worker’. Pat yourself on the back and remember that you didn’t let an insignificant task consume you. So wipe the water off your clothes and pride yourself on being clumsy, not incurably stupid. Sincerely yours, Incurably Stupid. ........................................................................ DISCLAIMER: Names have been changed to protect the people unfortunate enough to ever be in contact with me. ⁕
STUFF UP // 017
colour me cheerful IS BRIGHTENING THE WORLD, ONE TOP AT A TIME. CHIAMAKA SEKIBO, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS, TELLS US MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT. INTERVIEW JING ZU
Tell us a little about your new collection. Colour Me Cheerful is an ongoing collection of colourful, vibrant shirts made from recycled materials where half of all proceeds go to Headspace, a fantastic organisation, helping young Australians going through a hard time. For every eight shirts sold, we donate one to be part of a care pack. Along with a few other brands, including Boys Latin and Friendship Bracelet, as well as some truly incredible volunteers, we create care packs to give to post hospitalised patients to help their recovery process. We’re only relatively small and new so we don’t make as many as we hope to but we’re doing our best efforts to expand our company and raise awareness as much as we can about mental health and how it affects people. It’s our subtle way of brightening up the world by making some not-so-subtle fashion. How did the name come about? We played around with similar names centred around the theme of happiness but didn’t want to it too overbearing. There is this notion in western society that happiness is a constant state of being. Like any emotion or feeling, happiness comes in moments; you don’t ‘achieve’ happiness but rather you experience it with every other emotion on the spectrum. We want to put a focus on living a fulfilling life and working on being a whole person while increasing the happy moments. So Colour Me Cheerful was a result of this thinking and hopefully through this little name we can begin to debunk these distorted, toxic ideas of happiness. What inspired you guys to do this? I founded this company with my best friend, Lorette, whose brother was hospitalised because he had severe depression and an eating disorder. It was pretty devastating when it all happened and absolutely heart-breaking to see him like that and how it affected their family. After talking to some nurses and councillors, we came up with the idea to make bright clothes as a little thing to bring positivity and bring energy in their lives. It’s easy to be brought down in a gloomy environment; even wearing dull clothes can have an effect. Any little bit counts and part of our philosophy is to do as much as you can with what you can, when and where you can; lots of ‘can do’s’ because we want to spread encouragement and positivity. Where can we purchase your works and help out? Shirts sell for $20 at www.colourmecheerful.com. There are links to our supporting brands, contact information for Headspace and other mental health resources. ⁕ INTERVIEW // 019
saucy! SOREN LORENSON SEARCHES HIGH AND LOW FOR A QUALITY BBQ SAUCE. PAPER CRAFT YUI HUANG
HEINZ FULL FLAVOUR BBQ SAUCE
MASTERFOODS FLAVOURFUL BBQ RIB SAUCE LIMITED EDITION
FOUNTAIN SMOKEY BBQ SAUCE
Is it BBQ or barbecue? Do you pronounce it the same? What difference does the abbreviation make? Does it matter? This sauce may not be full flavour as the name alludes, but it’s not a bad thing. With a medium strength, this is fresh and light, leaving a zing of barbecue in your mouth for a split second. If you’re looking for a quality barbecue sauce to have in the house in the occasion of your food being in need of some saucy garnish, Heinz has your back.
While it may be flavourful, zingy and tangy are not the qualities I look for in a barbecue sauce, or anything at all for that matter. With an odd red colour reminiscent of Uluru, it has a thin consistency that doesn’t work as a sauce or even a marinade. I must commend it for living up to its name, tasting like actual ribs – really badly marinated ribs. Masterfoods, I think this should stay as a limited edition and never come back, thank you very much.
Above average at best, it meets the smokey brief, which, judging by the other barbecue sauces with ‘smokey’ in the name that do that same thing, is not that hard to do. If you want a thin coating of sauce to help down your burnt potato chips that you forgot about in the oven and only realised half an hour after the timer went off but you’ll still eat because you refuse to eat some fruit, then this sauce fits the brief. The perfect company for your meal? I think not.
020 // TRY THIS
COLES BARBECUE SAUCE
MASTERFOODS BBQ SAUCE REDUCED SALT
McCORMIC GRILL MATES KENTUCKY STYLE VINTAGE SMOKEHOUSE BBQ SAUCE
Oh Coles, you should be commended for managing to hit the average range almost every time. With a slightly thin, watery consistency and a dark brown colour to match the packaging, this saucy sauce is fairly mediocre. Nothing special but thankfully, nothing horrendous. It has a slight aftertaste but that can quickly be extinguished by waffing down another meat pie. If you’re planning a party with nibblies, this is the low-key sauce for you and your sqaud.
The most well rounded of the lot, balancing flavour and health to keep your taste buds and waistband happy. Normally I cringe and scream for days on end when I find out that I have picked a low-fat/sugar/salt, no artificial flavours/ preservatives/other nonsense light rubbish excuse of a food instead of the normal one but this time I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t have to exhaust my voice box because it had a pretty flavourful taste and thick consistency.
Dear marketing directors, please change the name to something shorter than the Empire State building. Despite the rocky start, this sauce was probably the best of the lot, living up to its name (all of it). The distinct developed smokey flavour hits you instantly but doesn’t overpower your mouth, so any food that you go on to eat won’t taste like a burnt sausage. With a wide lid and just the right consistency, this barbecue gem will quickly become your grill mate. ⁕ TRY THIS // 021
visitors SURELY A MAN’S WORST NIGHTMARE Words YAFFE CHERNOV
There is an old Greek superstition that if you drop cutlery on the floor, visitors will come. Being ridiculously anti-social, I treat each knife, fork and spoon like I have been given this as a gift from God and under no circumstance must I drop it, lest my life be taken before me and my family becomes cursed for eternity. But like all of mankind, I am imperfect and mistakes happen. If only I didn’t have to learn this the hard way.
the very core of my body. I looked up in a panic, quickly realising the situation I was in. I had made a fatal mistake – leaving the blinds open for the light to peer through. There was no time to think, the doorbell was ringing for a second time and I was in prime view. Their target was spotted and they were in for the pounce. Panic swept through my body and thoughts were racing through my mind – I can’t open the door but what do, she’s already seen me! The doorbell rung for a second time and a voice came with it. ‘Hello?’ a creaky voice called out. I dropped to the floor like I was dodging bullets in war and scrambled for my phone – 2%? Come on! The blasted thing only works on speaker phone but that only makes more noise so here I am, half crouched under a table, making a desperate call to my mum for help while trying to block the speaker. But to no avail were my pleas for help, she couldn’t help me. I had to make a run for it.
It’s a Sunday night, my sister is at work and as usual, I am swamped with homework. My family and I have just moved in to my grandparents’ house while they’re in Greece for eighteen months, smack bam in the middle of Wogsville, or Croydon as they call it on the maps. The Greeks are everywhere. Before she left my grandma told my mum where the biscuits were. ‘What for?’, my mother innocently asked. ‘The visitors,’ my grandma replied as if it was an obvious thing. Clearly telling them we weren’t going to be home all day to entertain whoever decided to invite themselves over wasn’t effective. Anyway, we had eaten all of the allocated visitor biscuits fairly quickly. It was a dream to think that they would ever last. The phone had rung more times in three weeks than ours had in three years. This was ridiculous.
Less than 2 meters distanced me from the kitchen but the journey was perilous. First I had to manage my way out of the table, then somehow through the mass of chairs and boxes and I still wasn’t safe. Now I’m the furthest thing from an athlete but boy did I run, through the kitchen to the lounge then a solid 5 meter sprint to the back of the house in the bathroom. All the time this old lady is calling out for this mysterious person in the house. I close the door, heaving and on the verge of wetting my pants, I start texting my friend, like that will help. Crap. The phone dies. My means of communication are lost. I am all alone. Sitting pathetically on a toilet in fear from a five foot tall Greek lady. What a sight.
My parents went out that night to work for a few hours, which wasn’t unusual, leaving me home alone. Now I know the rules of being home alone – don’t answer the door, don’t answer the phone, don’t make noise, pretend you don’t exist. There I was, on the dining room table, doing my homework like a good student when it happened.
It’s been almost five minutes and I think she’s left, but I can’t be sure. How long will I be here for? Will I ever make it out? I’m hungry and the post panic attack giggles are settling in. I slink out of the bathroom to my room. My anti-social behaviour has paid off – the blinds are closed. Energy drained, I lie down and accept that this is my life for the next nine months.
The doorbell rung so loud, it echoed in my bones, chiming into
I will never drop a spoon again. ⁕
022 // STORY TIME
NATURE STREET Part time photographer, part time florist, Amina Volz couldn’t suppress the kleptomaniac in her mind chanting ‘steal, steal, steal’ as she walked through past the flower-filled houses of Croydon. We couldn’t be happier that she listened to her inner klepto and produced this phantasmic photographic series, Nature Street, instead of stealing something more serious, like a car or a small child. To view more of Amina’s work visit aminabloomphotography.com. WORDS IRIS ELLE MOUTRAKOUS
PHOTO ESSAY // 023
DEATH STREET After finding all the plants I had collected dead I found the perfect opportunity to express the fragile mortality of life. Shaped like a rounded tombstone, the dried up leaves and remnants of what once was practically glowing with life, I included this image for shock factor and to provoke discussion about life and death, and the beauty that can exist in both natural events. The white background symbolises the purity the repetition of the soft arches serve to transmit peaceful vibes in the midst of the difficulty of accepting death and moving on.
LEAF LANE Opposed to the grimness of its adjacent counterpart, these plants were all cut fresh for this photograph and proceeded to ooze water all over the place, showing just how full of life they are. All of the leaves are directed north, symbolising the positivity of progress. The twelve different types of plants highlight my love for the diversity of nature and promotes coexisting together as a community despite our differences, because together we can create something beautiful. The simplicity of the image shows that often raw beauty doesn’t require superfluous elements.
AUSTRALIAN ALLEY Collated from an adventure walking down the riverside, this image is comprised of native Australian plants, or at least plants that look like they’d be native to this country. Unlike Death Drive, the life and energy of the plants aren’t dependant on being freshly cut, making them ideal to give as gifts and keep in vases indoors, as well as fantastic for our scolding summer climate. Each individual element works in conjunction with the others, tied in by a shared colour or shape; the overall harmony makes for such serene landscapes that the riverside is so abundant of.
ROMANCE ROAD Rich in reds to represent the passion of romance, this monochromatic compilation exudes this. A large red leave shaped like a heart was cut in half and folded to form the two large foundations of the circle, filled with dried berries and the richest auburn bark so representative of the natural Australian landscape. Created while thinking of the extraordinary plate presentations seen on the recent season of Masterchef, the piece almost looks edible, with the delicateness of the rhubarb-like leaf stem cuttings and the overall lushness. â •
subtitles ARIETTALE TSVETA DEDICATES THIS LETTER TO THE PEOPLE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO VISIT HER HOUSE AND WATCH TELEVISION
Dearest visitors, I don’t want to deter you from visiting me, I love your company, I do and that’s why I invited you over. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all going really good. We’ve powered through dinner: the food was great, the conversations were great. It was all great. But now were moving on to coffee. In the lounge room. And the television is on. Which is great. There’s just one thing. It’s just a small thing. You’ll laugh, I’ll laugh, and we’ll all have a good laugh. It started a long time ago, too long for me to remember, when we brought a new digital flat screen television. I remember the distinct shine of the screen, its slim figure posing on my shelf. The remote was a thing from the heavens – look at all the buttons! But there was one that stood out – subtitles. Subtitles? What were these illustrious subtitles? 028 // LETTER
It started as a joke but little did we know that it would grow into something more. Like a new friend we grew to discover and love its quirks, even going as far to give it a nickname: Subbies. ‘Turn the subbies on!’ ‘Hey turn the subtitles on.’ Or even as succinct as a quick ‘Subbies!’ I know it sounds weird, trust me I do, but just hear me out. They’re kind of fun, just give them a chance. There are different colours for different speakers – blue and yellow and white and green! And when music plays, it gives you a little description: ‘ominous music plays’, ‘upbeat pop’, or even a bit of ‘majestic music’. It’s not like we can’t hear or the volume button doesn’t work, it’s just nice to have them. ‘Isn’t it weird’, you may ask, ‘to watch the movie and read the words at the same time’. Maybe at first but our eyes have adjusted and soon yours will too. Even when we watch DVD’s, we have a nice hearty laugh at all the possible languages, choose English and we’re well on our way. Don’t get me wrong, the grass isn’t always greener on the subtitle side. Some programs don’t even have subtitles! Coles and Woolies commercials are the worst: maybe three full words can be made out. Pathetic. Some don’t give you the lyrics to songs. Some give you little music notes. They’re not all made equal. So when you ask about the subtitles on the television, please understand, they’re are practically family now. So no, I won’t turn them off. You’ll laugh, I’ll laugh, and we’ll all have a good time. I hope this doesn’t get in the way of our friendship. Yours truly, Ariel. ⁕
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SUBSCRIBE // 029
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE Meet Australian Apparel, the satirical brand that takes the piss out of the American version in a typical Aussie manner. Can I hear you say OI OI OI? AS TOLD TO GIOVANNI KOSUMOSU
This exclusive segment is a glimpse of Australian Apparel’s most notable clothes and an interview with one of the minds behind it all, Adelaide Young. So what exactly is Australian Apparel? Basically, it is our satirical play on American Apparel. More complexly, we are making a statement about the Americanisation of Australian culture and criticizing American Apparel’s business. From employing people based on their looks (and consequently firing them if they don’t maintain this appearance) to their advertising (victim blaming women for rape on an occasion) to their customer service (or more accurately, lack of) to their attitudes about people (not letting certain people in their store because they don’t fit their target audience), we don’t support their overall brand. There are too many negatives to outweigh any positives (natural beauty, sweatshop free, made locally) and they aren’t doing anything to acknowledge their mistakes and correct them. So this is a legitimate thing? Yes absolutely. We have an actual website where you can buy all of our products, for real prices and so the whole thing is a legitimate business. It’s all real. But all the fun and games aren’t lost; there is a link to the satirical side of it all with the ridiculous prices and item descriptions you’ll see in this women’s lookbook snippet. It was a really entertaining design process to invent the whole idea of this massive parody but there is a point to it and the biggest ‘sham’, if you will, of the whole thing is that it is a very ethical business. On the American advertisements they promote their products being ‘made in America’ and ‘sweatshop
free’ but ours are a bit of a joke, saying ‘made in New Zealand’ because there is all this cheeky, light-hearted banter about us being rivals and the ads promote sweatshops, which is not something we endorse at all, so in little fine print we straighten things out. This again is sort of ironic, because it’s in that small print where the truths really lie. In reality we are supporting the Australian economy by making things locally in Australia – from designing to manufacturing to distributing, the whole shebam is 100% Aussie, through and through. This is one of our major focuses – supporting our nation and being ethical. Given our current state of things and the economy of not only Australia but the world, these things are really important. We have a limited amount of stores throughout Australia (which in the next few years we hope to expand) and we place a specific focus on employing disadvantaged people (i.e. people that may have difficulty finding jobs due to homelessness or a criminal record) and giving them the skills and experience they need to begin a career. A portion of our profits go to setting up workshops to kick-start their careers and we personally work in conjunction with organisations that help the homeless. Part of the original design team had experience with this issue, so it’s a very personal goal of ours. We also have other initiatives, including a bimonthly artist featurette, where we work in conjunction with an Australian artist to produce a small line of clothing, and an annual summer fun run event that supports a new cause each year. To see their full catalouge and learn more about their initiatives and charities, head to australianapparel.com.au FASHION // 031
Tops
Bridgette Halter Crop Cost: Your weight in solid gold
A cropped halter top with a high neckline, featuring tie closures at the back and the neck. Tie them up real good in case of cheeky buggers trying to undo them, leaving your face red as a tomato. This stripey number is the epitome of fun and flirty, having an open back and cropped length perfect for the hot summer days. Wear over your bathers or with a pair of high waisted shorts in the scorching heatwaves, with a flowing skirt in the days leading up or layer over a sports bra for when you’re exercising. The long ties at the neck and sides allow for a tight knot, assisted by the stretchy fabric so you don’t have to worry about it coming undone. Coming in classic colours like maroon, navy, grey and black (pictured), you can wear this all year for only $10. 032 // FASHION
Tops
Lucille Pocket Shirt Cost: Your retirement savings
A soft cotton t-shirt with a little penguin flap at the back to shield the world from your bum and the most impractical, freaking useless pocket in the history of pockets, second only to the ones in women’s pants. Dearest pocket on a shirt, why do you look so good but are so impractical and awkward to conceal goods in? Why are you such an appealing feature but lack in actual purpose? Are you related to men the pockets they put on women’s jeans that can barely fit a baby’s hand in? (Not that we’ve tried.) Oh well, woe is us for falling so hard for you. Thankfully, we’ve counteracted this garnish of the fashion world by making the back longer so that when you sit down, you won’t have to worry about your shirt ridding up. Pretty smart, huh? Only $15, too. 034 // FASHION
Tops
Katrina Backless Shirt Cost: A Fabergé Egg
Just your run of the mill cropped t-shirt, but made in the least practical way possible. You see, it’s backless so you can’t wear a bra, and it’s cropped so your jeans need to have come straight from the 80’s. Luckily showing your bra is becoming a trend, well at least with sports bras that is. I guess if you spend that much money on a product, you’re going to want to show it off. Which is a good thing because they come in such fancy styles nowadays, with mesh and colour blocks and more straps that you can count on two hands. Perfect for pairing a jacket over if you are going to a restaurant or the cinema because it can get really stuffy in there. Or a warm summers day. Or over a top with back details. Not so dumb now when you think about it. Costs only $15. 036 // FASHION
Tops
Primrose Turtleneck Pullover Cost: As much as the US invests in the military
A long-sleeved cropped jumper that’s super comfy and has a medium thickness to let you wear it all year round. One benefit is that it doubles as pyjamas, but anything does now really. This soft knit fabric will help keep you snug as a bug in a rug in those cold winter nights that you’re border lining on frostbite despite the numerous amounts of layers you have on and blankets you wrap around yourself. Not that we are insinuating that bugs live in your bed. With a thick neckline, you can fold it over so it wraps around your neck to feel like a turtle, or wear it upright to cover half of your face in those really chilly winds. With a hidden pocket compartment inside to sneak candy in, this jumper comes in four dreamy colours and goes for $20. 038 // FASHION
Skirts
Scarlett Cheerleader Wrap Skirt Cost: 3 trillion dollars
This cheerleader wrap skirt will make you feel as preppy and perky like you were part of an actual sport team, even though we both know what a lie that is. With button closures, you won’t have to worry about fiddly zippers not working. Ever feel like a different person when wearing an outfit? Well you’ll feel like an athletic superstar in this one, whether it be a preppy high school cheerleader or a speedy tennis player, the wrap around feature has this incredible ability and you don’t even have to lift a finger. Well, maybe to put it on but you can fast forward the gruelling training. With large gold buttons to pop against the solid classic colours, you’ll find yourself wearing this skirt more and more often. All this for only $25. 040 // FASHION
Skirts
Estelle Button Down Skirt Cost: The amount of debt Greece owes
Throw back to the 90s with this high-waisted skirt with a central button feature going from your belly button to the middle of your thighs. With a slightly flared A-line design, you’ll be prancing and dancing in this short number. In classic black and white, this skirt comes in a vinyl material and features a range of coloured buttons from ruby red to emerald green, giving an elegant touch to this edgy skirt. Also available in two tones of denim if you’re a 90’s vibe - we just beg of you never to commit the horrendous double denim sin. For an innovative spin, wear the skirt backwards or for a more casual vibe, tuck an oversized vintage tee and wear with low Chucks. It costs $35 for the white or black vinyl number and $30 for the denim variation: acid wash or deep indigo. 042 // FASHION
Skirts
Natalia Short Skirt Cost: Your parent’s nest egg
Miniskirts are fun and cheeky but things get a bit too cheeky when they ride up and you show the world something it shouldn’t see. Save yourself (and possibly others) the embarrassment with shorts built into this skirt. How very smart. We’ve all been there: being caught behind the slow couple in front of you who think they own the pavement and trying to pull a fast one on them by walking around them only to walk over a vent and have a whiff of air arise under your skirt, not even making you look like Marilyn Monroe but just a flustered parachute. Or having to scramble to find shorts any time you want to wear a skirt for the fear of The Wind. Not any more with this short/ skirt wonder duo for only $30. 044 // FASHION
Skirts
Therese Central Pleat Skirt Cost: A King’s ransom
A classic high-waisted skirt with a central pleat to give you the extra razzle dazzle you desperately need in the dull, meaningless existence of life. Spin around and around in this skirt to feel extra special. In a heavy houndstooth fabric, this skirt features a central box pleat to give more flow than your usual A-line skirt, coming in muted hues like salmon, tan and deep green (pictured). It is only one in our vast collection of pleated skirts, including favourites such as the Natasha Pleated Wrap, the Roxanne Two Tone Box Pleat and the Lacey Double Pleat, just to name a few. Pair with a blazer for an elegant formal look, jazz up any simple tee like Katrina or even a strapless bodysuit for a more playful feel; this skirt works how you want it too, and for only $25. 046 // FASHION
Sets
Viola Asymmetrical Set Cost: Your most valuable organ
This slightly asymmetrical set fixes all the problems associated with wearing short clothing – having a slightly longer back section. Not that this could have been solved by wearing longer clothing. However cute skirts look there is always that annoying habit they have of ridding up at the back and leave this lopsided mess. Not this time. For the warmer half of the year, this set comes in an assortment of fruity colours like watermelon, tangerine, pineapple and lime, as well as the pastel sky blue characteristic of Spring and Summer. For Autumn and Winter, warm shades of maroon, ginger, mustard, viridian and navy are available, as well as the year round classic black and white. Individually, $20 for the top and $25 for the skirt, the set goes for only $40. 048 // FASHION
Sets
Ivy Industrial Zipper Set Cost: Find a gravy train real quick
This industrial zipper set really lives up to its name, featuring a central industrial zipper. Wear at the back or the front but be weary, it’s a lot harder (and more awkward) to unzip someone’s front zipper than their back zipper. Coming in a range of muted colours, including rhubarb, grape and the featured moss green, purposely chosen to match with other our other items - or the pieces can be worn separately. The central zipper pops in a darker shade, with a versatile neckline to the top and small darts on the skirt that allows the pieces to be worn on either side of the body, depending on the look desired - either way the zipper adds a sense of edginess. The top and skirt each sell for $25 but in a set become $45. 050 // FASHION
Sets
Juliet Classic Set Cost: Your life savings
This Juliet set is your classic A-line skirt and crop top for when you want something simple but sweet. Available in an assortment colours in a pattern that’s not quite Glens plaid or a Houndstooth – A Hounds plaid? A Glenstooth? Who knows? We don’t, but it looks good, which is all that matters. This skirt has a level of sophistication suitable for an office but a short length to give you a chic, youthful flair, enriched by the muted colours like blush, taupe and olive (pictured). The slight A-line of the skirt is enhanced by two back darts and a central back zipper for a fitted shape and the slightly oversized crop fits over the head, eliminating one more fiddly zipper in your life. Individually, the top and skirt each sell for $25 but in a set is only $45. 052 // FASHION
Sets
Cleo Two Tone Set Cost: A pretty penny, like a really pretty penny
This two tone skirt and shirt set can be worn any way, back or front that is, not inside out because that’s just weird. If you want to feel like a minimalist zebra, opt for the black and white. Available in an assortment of colours. Actually quite dynamic in the sense that it is two outfits in one, having an identical neckline on the top and no darts on the front or the back of the skirt, featuring an invisible zipper. Whether the pieces are worn as a set or individually, the impact remains and the versatility of Cleo is definitive. A new colour pairing is introduced each month for the month; this selection of autumn tones shows March to May. Individually, the top sells for $20 and the skirt for $25 each but as a set goes for $40 ⠕ 054 // FASHION
full of colour ENTER THE DELIGHTFUL WORLD OF WES ANDERSON: REFRESHINGLY COLOURFUL AND OPTIMISTICALLY VIBRANT, THE CINEMATOGRAPHY OF THESE FILMS ARE ENOUGH TO BRIGHTEN A GREY, GLUM WINTER’S DAY WORDS JING ZU
THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU // 2004
FANTASTIC MR FOX // 2009
While I would say this film is certainly more adventure than comedy (unless you count Bill Murray being in his speedos for an alarming amount of time comedy), it had moments that were quite funny and the whole thing was entertaining. Nearly two hours in length, the film had a distinctively beachy feel, filled with yellows ranging from the sun to the sand and blues as soft as a clear sky and deep as the ocean, with the occasional pops of red. I didn’t really know how to feel after sitting through the whole thing because the plot line was about as clear as a brick wall but it remained in my mind for a long time after and I began to appreciate it for what it was: a story for no other reason than being a story. It’s actually incredible how the film makes you feel that these odd adventures are actually something that can happen and that life can be wonderful.
Like a lot of other children, I grew up reading Roald Dahl’s books and they quickly became cherished treasures of my home library. Book to film adaptations can really lack in capturing the same magic, or can omit/add certain things that don’t match up or fit the original which thrills me as much as stepping barefoot on glass. With short books it can be an issue to turn them into full length films but I couldn’t have asked for a better adaptation of this classic. I can’t count on two hands how many times I’ve read the book and have seen the movie now three times and been overjoyed each time. The characters are all crafted so carefully and I am always a fan of any stop animation film because it means that considered effort was put into it – you don’t spend 3-4 years on a crap story, you just don’t. A must see for anyone who adored the book.
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MOONRISE KINGDGOM // 2012
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL // 2014
In a word, Moonrise Kingdom is a cute film. It tells the tale of two children who deal with feelings of isolation that fall in love at first sight that decide to meet up and run away. Despite how cheesy and predictable it sounds, the film actually succeeds in transcending the this dull stereotype, becoming a story that keeps you gripped the whole time as the characters begin to grow on you. There is a strong green/yellow colour scheme that gives it a warm feel and makes any blues particularly pop. The understanding Anderson has of colour symbolism is evident and defines his personal, thoughtful style. The strong use of central shots make the plot feel believable. Here in the dull reality of life, we don’t have camera angles changing every three seconds from left to right, up and down, it’s generally just all on one level, but in these films it becomes special.
The hardest part of this whole Wes Anderson film fest was narrowing down which two screenshots would encapsulate the atmosphere of the entire movie; I know, such a challenge. Every frame could easily be a painting and galleries would be filled to the brim with pictures from his films because of how considered the cinematography is. The Grand Budapest Hotel was ridiculous to choose because of how beautiful this film is – how Anderson managed to condense such a vast range of life into under two hours is to be commended. This quickly became one of my favourite films due to the sharp wittiness of the characters and the attention to detail. His films differ so much from the usual over the top American garb because they just serve to tell a story and just end without any grand exclamation; it feels so natural and humble. ⁕ FILM // 057
058 // FEATURE
LYRICS TO LIVE BY While the lyrics of Animal Collective are as warped and incomprehensible as politicians answering questions at times, on the rare occasions of clarity their words are as profound and inspirational as Ancient Greek philosophers. Penelope Arte discusses their relevance to life and the world around us. ILLUSTRATION STAV ZINOPOLUS
WHAT WOULD I WANT? SKY // FALL BE KIND // 2009 Gray’s where colour should be, What is the right way? One of my favourite albums, introduction of the song absolutely washes over you, just like the focus of the song which can be interpreted as going through depression. It seems to capture it so eloquently: you should be feeling so high and appreciating life but you seem to be weighted by thinking and can’t seem to overcome these melancholy feelings. All of the things in life that you once loved an enjoyed now seem to have lost their meaning and significance, becoming so insignificant. Mental illness can make you question your identity as you lose your sense of direction and purpose which can be really confronting and confusing because you don’t know who you are any more and if you don’t know that, then what do you know? How can you make decisions when you’re contemplating the very core of your character? But there is a line that expresses what people suffering can forget: you are not alone in this, you’re not the only one. Clouds may not be able to help you, but the people who love you can, and there are people who love you.
STREET FLASH // WATER CURSES // 2008 Does anyone in here get hit with inside fever, So bad sometimes it’s hard to move around? Like What Would I Want? Sky, the song also deals with feelings of depression, expressed through the term ‘inside fever’ which is quite fitting to how the illness makes you feel: it’s not that you don’t want to go outside but your overcome by this inside fever. It can be so bad that it becomes hard to move around, becoming bed-ridden because there is no energy to move around. The difference with this song is the struggle for others to understand and deal with a loved one with mental illness because they can’t understand the mentality behind it. It can be difficult for the people around a person with the illness to support them, because it takes a lot of strength to support them and try to motivate them through their plight. The song tells his experience of disillusionment and depersonalization he is going through, losing track of time and experiencing life like you’re on a different plane. It also expresses how something as simple as walking can bring a new mindset and perspective, washing off the troubles on your mind.
#1 // STRAWBERRY JAM // 2007 Young love is fine, just please respect the candles as they line. I know there will be times, you wonder why it can’t stay simple I interpret the lines ‘respect the candles as they line’ quite clearly and literally, the candles being an obvious symbol of the process of aging. The message here is distinct: live in the moment, act your age and don’t try to be older than you are through your actions because youth so ephemeral. When I was young, I was always told how mature I was because of my actions and always thought that this was a great thing. Fantastic! I’m mature: that’s a great quality to have! Then as I grew older I realized that I had spent so much time in my youth trying to be mature by acting more like an adult, that I suppressed my inner carefree child. Sure, my childhood was far from bad but I became so distraught when it started hitting me that I was actually growing up and had no choice but to be ‘mature’. The times when I wonder why it can’t stay simple seem to dominate my thinking space as I dread having to become an adult. I don’t feel ready but I must take responsibility and respect the candles as they line.
APPLESAUCE // CENTIPEDE HZ // 2012 When I was young I thought fruit was an infinite thing I’d be sad to wake up and find all of my cherries are charred or they’re rotted to ruin A prevalent theme through Animal Collective’s music is about change and the nostalgia of childhood, especially in this album. Again, the realization that life is so transient and moments are fleeting is expressed through the witnessing of fruit decaying: a natural part of life but a depressing one. What, in the mind of a naïve child, was an infinite thing was so easily rotted to ruin symbolizing the things we can be so sure of can just change so quickly. Transcending above the direct imagery of fruit which is naturally destined to decay, the principle can be applied to other aspects in our lives, like friendships or relationships: they can seem so secure but not be destined to last. We can feel like we are losing things so fast when things start to change and it takes a lot of work to look beyond our situations, as we become stuck reminiscing over the past where it all seemed so simple. Not that this isn’t easy to do; every other day I fall into a pit of nostalgia but it’s not healthy to not live in the present.
TASTE // MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION // 2009 Am I really all the things that are outside of me? Would I complete myself without the things I like around? One of my all-time favourite song by this band and in general, this song is lathered with symbolism and depth in the lyrics, not to mention the sensational music that accompanies these gems of genius. The song challenges our perceived ideas of self-identity and what it really means, especially in relation to others. We all seem to have different identities: one for work, for school, for family, for people we don’t know or just met, for people we’ve known since birth, and then we have the one when we’re alone. So who are we really? Are we a combination of the people and things around us, and if so what defines the things that influence us? How do we express this? Through the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, the people we surround ourselves with? How does this relate to others? We seem to judge people all the time but are we looking at the exterior or beyond that? Do we conform to a societies molds to appear normal to escape judgment? Who are we really? This song is so challenging on so many levels, it’s so beautiful.
MY GIRLS // MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION // 2009 I don’t mean to seem like I care about material things like a social status I just want four walls and adobe slats for my girls One of their pop-iest songs and possibly the most publicly recognizable, the song holds deep meaning like most of their music. The song is about the desire to provide the necessities for his family, the people closest to his heart, without making it seem like a social status. It rejects the notion of ‘keeping up with the Jones’ – this idea that life is a competition and to win this twisted game, you need to outdo those around you by acquiring the latest material objects and keeping up with the latest trends. It emphasis the unhealthiness of the materialistic desires that seem to dominate our self-obsessive Western culture. To live a life of games is so unfulfilling and unsustainable. All he feels he needs is his health, a strong inner life and spirituality, and a comfortable living standard for his family. He looks beyond the superficial image, which is something that’s not easy to do in our society but what will ultimately lead to a more enjoyable and healthier life. Constant comparison will eat you up and destroy you inside; it’s no way to live.
While going through the Youtube comments of one of their albums (which I don’t recommend because of the abundance of nonsense this section holds so dearly), I found this comment which was an absolute gem and has become one of my most though about quotes, particularly relating to Animal Collective’s music. Open your mind. Expand your conscious. Love unconditionally.
FEATURE // 067
PANDA BEAR With the release of Noah Lennox’s, aka Panda Bear of Animal Collective, most latest album, Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper, we reflect on the pure brilliance and poetic genius of his music that has so humbly graced our unworthy ears. WORDS AOMING OSTROVSKY
PANDA BEAR // 1998
YOUNG PRAYER // 2004
Although this album is the first of his, I found it last and was taken aback at how different it is. It sounds so youthful and energetic, you can practically feel the bright colours bursting out. Immediately you can tell that is isn’t as professional produced as his later albums because he is just emerging as a musician, but I doesn’t diminish it in any way, rather adding to the fresh, youthful atmosphere. I can imagine creating an old arcade game to this soundtrack with the beginning tracks that feel so pixilated and jumpy. It brings me back to my childhood playing Nintendo games on the floor with my cousins, where all that mattered was winning the race. In his later albums, Lennox expands on this talent to conjure intimate moments for the listener, somehow tapping in to each person’s own individual experiences in each song while remaining broad enough to have appeal to everyone.
This second album is much shorter than his others at just over 28 minutes, making it a quick listen but the emotions he has compressed in this time and the journey it takes you on is so compelling that it feels that much longer. Deeply personal and heart-wrenchingly raw, Lennox made this after his father passed away. I think its best going in to the album with that knowledge in mind because it just puts it in perspective, giving the sounds context and making it feel purposeful. All of the songs are untitled as well – these small details make Panda the artist he is.
The musical progressions on the album are noteworthy, giving much needed balance to the lyrical side and demonstrating the aptitude Lennox has for finding clarity in the commotion of it all – never is it overwhelming or underachieving. While his vocals aren’t the strongest on this album, the background music makes up where it lacks, creating rare moments where both work on the same level to impact you. Around the middle of the album (27 minutes) is an acoustic guitar solo which just takes the cake for me, it is so honest and demonstrates the unpretentious quality about hismusic that made me fall so hard for it in the first place. The album takes an intense twist that will set your brain on fire. 068 // MUSIC
Starting with shaky vocals, the entire album has a slightly echo-y feel, and if you close your eyes and calm down, your world slowly feels like it centres around this and that no sounds really exist. It’s so different than the loud hustle of reality and makes you cherish solitude and silence. The hypnotic power of the album catches you from the beginning and lies in the slow pangy picks of the guitar strums and the reverberating soft beats that are reminiscent of learning to play instruments as a child, fumbling around and playing with new things. At times it even sounds like he’s making music on the human body. The highlight is undoubtedly his vocals, reaching notes he can’t quite hit and never sounding strong, all of which only adds to the emotive atmosphere. There are times where a word is so impacting that is jumps out from the rest, imprinting in your memory. It is an experience, while it’s not exactly positive, it’s not sad either but rather lingers melancholy. The ability to intimately convey the deepest of human feelings has to be a superpower.
PERSON PITCH // 2007
TOMBOY // 2011
While this album vastly differs from his previous two, it brings a new sound, more structured and consistent, well as much as you can sound with experimental music. The songs feel more mature and considered, marking a new beginning for Panda as a solo artist. It is a similar progression to Animal Collective’s change from their first album Spirit They’ve Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished (which was wild to say the least) to the tighter Strawberry Jam. In Person Pitch Lennox finds his own individual style, remaining light and overall dreamlike with compelling backing loops and melodies. The tunes are catchy and the lyrics are clearer in sound (not so much in meaning on the surface), referencing to his father’s death in Pills, where he addresses his mother, telling her that he doesn’t want them to take pills anymore, and in Bro’s where he directs it to his own brother who is struggling to give him the space he needs. He seems to accept the death, using the music as a recovery process and a means to express his thoughts on the matter.
Honestly, my favourite album. Ever. It absolutely blows me away every single listen and I sit there in awe that I am alive to hear this. It makes me want to have children in the hope that they produce something one day worthy of even half of what this album is. It gives me life. The structure and progression of the whole album is so thoughtful, evident in some of the Animal Collective albums like Merriweather Post Pavilion and Fall Be Kind; Tomboy defines itself and has a unique sound, which I can only describe as a metal factory in a rainforest. I think such absurdist thoughts when listening to it - It just opens my mind and soul. The music is phantasmorphic on its own but finding out the lyrics bought me clarity and understanding, it is an absolute must to listen with the lyrics in hand. My highlights are Friendship Bracelet and Alsatian Darn for the pure power you can feel from them. I want to fill my bones with this album.
With this clarity of the lyrics, we begin to see some of the philosophical gems that are scattered in AnCo and his later albums, making his music all the more impacting. It’s an album you can absorb yourself in intimately in bed with headphones or listen to in the background to keep your mind simulated but not to take too much of your energy. The album is gentle, allowing the listener to engage as much as they like. For anyone beginning to discover Panda, this is a possibly the most sound starting place; not too overwhelming with vacuums or misleading without them.
If his next album is anything like this one, or any of his previous ones actually, then it is sure to be a spectacle. One of the most striking things about Lennox as an artist is that you can feel that the music is personal to him, something he does for himself – it’s an extension of himself and his circumstances. His progression from his first album, where you can feel the freshness and the amateurish, to Tomboy is immense; this isn’t to say that his first album was bad or anything like that, but the maturity he gains as an artist from album to album is evident and I feel so lucky to be able to watch him grow and go through the motions. ⁕ MUSIC // 069
mental health
IRIS ELLE MOUTRAKOUS’ SHARES SOME SUPER SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP A LOVED ONE WHO’S DOWN IN THE DUMPS There are many ways to support the people you love around you who are going through mental illness. People have a tendency to be really weird about letting someone know that they’re loved, which is stupid because love is not limited and when we feel love we should always express it at any time of the day. Here are some ideas to encourage your support for them, which is one of the most helpful things you can do. LEND A HELPING HAND Chances are their living space is a disaster and they have the motivation of a sleeping sloth to do anything about it. Helping them tidy up will make them feel a little less overwhelmed. This can be anything at all, from doing small chores that seem to pile up like laundry or the dishes, having a tidier environment can really have an impact on them. Even if they stay in bed all day, having clean sheets, pillowcases and pajamas can make a world of difference. Or even offer to tuck them in. Or make a fort to sleep in. In the wise words of a very strange video, ‘get creative’. WATCH SOME KOOKY VIDEOS With all the videos the internet has to offer, the only thing that is guaranteed is that you will be entertained. The power that animal videos have is near unparalleled. Or even go old school and rent an actual physical DVD; who knew they still existed, right? Growing up I spent a lot of quality family bonding time watching all kinds of movies; they became progressively worse as my sister and I got older and there was more than one occasion where the DVD cover didn’t match the DVD content at all. Still, some of my best memories were watching obscene movies with 070 // EDUCATE ME
the family so take a chance, any chance to bond over kooky vids. OPEN YOUR EARS AND CLOSE YOUR MOUTH The simplest of them all - just be there to listen - genuinely because you want to support them. Obviously their illness doesn’t define them so by all means you shouldn’t talk about it all the time BUT when they actually want to talk, just be there for goodness sake. Don’t define them by their illness because that feels just as good as stepping in water wearing socks or eating glass. Support, support, support. The magic word here (if you didn’t get it) is support. CARE FOR THEM One of the most personal things you can do but one that will surely have the most impact and really move them is to make a care package for them. This can include anything to basically let them know that you actually do give a damn about them and they are actually loved – see, it’s all in the title. Things to include are as endless as your imagination, but going with the ‘senses’ is a surefire option; think food/drinks (taste), candles (smell), blankets (touch), a music playlist (sound) and a book (see). These are just general ideas but if you’re going to do it, put your soul into it and make it genuine because it really is powerful. When I was still in school, my friend left me a bunch of roses in my locker and I was almost brought to tears at her kindness. Another friend wrote me a personalized two page letter for a secret project that I found myself going back to when things felt really bad. If it comes from your heart, it will touch theirs. It’s really not hard to show someone you love them and you care for them. Destroy the idea that you need some elaborate gesture of eighteen million bouquets of roses or an album worth of original love song or something equally extravagant. While these things may be nice, a simple hug can speak volumes. Show love in the ways you can and try to act like a decent human being. Not hard, not hard at all. ⁕
VINCENT VAN GOGH LOOK AT THIS Spanish make-up artist Estela Så has blended her impressive skills and love for influential artists in her latest project, Paint My Face, designing MAC face charts based on chosen painter’s works. She has covered artists like Frida Kahlo and Pablo Picasso, most recently including Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh to her series. To see more of her captivating works, go to estelasa.com/paintmyface. WORDS XANTHIA JA
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MONDAY, TUESDAY, HAPPY NAMES Wednesday Amandine and Sunday Perilana of the Day Name Fan Club, a Toronto based group solely dedicated to people with birth names that are also days, reveal to us the secrets of their exclusive club. AS TOLD TO GIOVANNI KOSUMOSU
How did this all start? Wednesday Amandine: Sunny and I met in primary school and immediately became best friends when we realized that both of our names were also days of the week and have basically been inseparable ever since. Sunday Perilana: We were at a party in early 2010 when we met another girl named Monday, which was totally bizarre and hit it off with her due to our calendar inspired name situation and she actually knew another guy who’s name was Friday and we all arranged to have lunch together and the idea to make a club was started. WA: We put up a notice at our universities, workplaces and churches and surprisingly a whole bunch of people rocked up. SP: It was so exciting and strange. What is a typical club gathering like? WA: In the beginning we only thought of it as a once off thing and made a Facebook page for it and exchanged numbers and funny stories and all brought along food to eat and had a really good time. SP: Everyone had name tags and we tried to see how many groups we could organize. We had most and least popular days, tried to make full weeks and months and even saw some variations of spelling. WA: After people expressed how much fun they had and how exclusive it felt to be part of a community, we expanded it to meet up more regularly and each year are expanding. A lot of people have made friends from this and have their own little groups, which is super cool too. We introduce new things all the time to keep it fresh and recently included a plusone so people can bring a mate, which encouraged a lot of people to come and make it friendlier and less cult-like. 080 // HOW INTERESTING
What are your plans for the future? SP: We all have such different careers so there is a lot of options to go in different directions. I know some graphic designers and journalists are creating book about it. WA: Sort of like ‘Humans of New York. SP: We’re in contact with other people from other parts of Canada to keep it connected on a central website, so that is out big focus at the moment. WA: We have discussions at our meetings of which direction we’re going on and people suggest all kinds of things, including a festival, a day dedicated to us (which day caused a lot of fuss) and even a fun run or a charity project. We are blessed to be successful in this idea of ours and to have a truly beautiful community with potential to grow into something stupendous. My name shares a day too! Where can I find out more? SP: You can email us at daynamefanclub.gmail.com and if you provide evidence that your actual name is a day, we give you a password for our exclusive website which has dates and places to meet up and groups to join and lots of other super cool, super exclusive fun stuff. It gives you the opportunity to be in our upcoming book, have a small interview to put on our blog, become part of our other groups and share your talents, skills and possibly jobs with the other people. My name isn’t a day! Where can I find out more? Our blog is daynamefanclub.tumblr.com, which we are in the process of turning into a website with personalised pages. It has links if you or someone you know has a day name. ⁕
come fly with me LET’S FLY, LET’S FLY AWAY. WE ALL LOVE A GOOD TRAVEL STORY Words MISA TASMI LAK
It was 2009 on the laid back island of Lefkada, Greece where it all happened. Where a determined praying mantis met a head full of the blackest, curliest hair and through sheer strength of will and mind, won this monumental battle. Our family was out for a drive as usual, lapping the most up of the time we had on my dad’s home island, exploring the hidden beaches of Greece; this weekend it was Amoosa Bay. Maybe it was the excitement of being in a different country or the giddy high we were already on from laughing at my sister tanning her butt but this lunch we had practically broken our laugh boxes. Lunch was going fine as we followed the adventures of a little green praying mantis climbing up a chair, but it all took a drastic turn as this mantis approached a mass of hair. A mass of hair that wasn’t going to stop him at all. So this bug is not at all fazed by this detour in his journey, climbing left and right and side to side to reach the top of this mountain. The giggles soon turned into laughs as we realised that this poor woman was completely oblivious to the events happening on her own head. I was in tears, doubled over on my chair trying to suppress my laughter, head under the table at one point, making absolutely no noise as my abs had the workout of their life. She had no idea. We tried to do the respectable thing, we really did. In between violent fits of laughter Mum managed to let the waiter discreetly know that there was a live insect trekking through the masses of this poor lady’s head. The laid back attitude of Greece at its finest presented itself in his reaction: a slow eyebrow raise, a small understanding nod of the head, and the pout of his mouth saying ‘is that so’ as he inconspicuously gazed at the horizon, catching this mantis, in all its glory, in his view. With a brief shrug of the shoulders and a succinct ‘it’s not my issue to worry about’, he took our plates and left, probably letting the rest of the staff know about this gripping tale of man versus nature. By now it had miraculously made its way to the top of her head, standing tall and proud as if he’d climbed Mount Everest, putting down an imaginary flag and exhaling a breath of excitement. There was no way now the man sitting across from her hadn’t seen it, there was absolutely no way that he could not make out a green clump moving its way from her right ear to her left. He just had to have seen it. But did he do anything? Did he say anything? The lack of flailing and screaming told us no. She must have done something horrible for him to let it go. Whoever had tabs on her must have made a lot of money that day. ⁕ TRAVEL TALES // 081
short stories YAFFE CHERNOV SHARES HIS FAVOURITE NOVELLAS: SHORT STORIES YOU CAN MOW THROUGH IN NO TIME TO GET YOUR BIBLIOTHERAPY FIX. MOVE ASIDE COFFEE, LITERATURE IS COMING THROUGH
FLY AWAY PETER // DAVID MALOUF At less than 40 000 words, Fly Away Peter is a poetic novel at its core, with every line of the book conjuring grand imagery and making your heart flutter. Not a word over-written to drag on and on like some stories with immense detail tend to do (I’m looking at you ‘The Hobbit’, that was an unpleasant Year Ten journey that I do not regret not finishing) but never in lacking substance. In fact, if this book had any more substance the words would just be flowing out off the page and your brain would just implode on you. It’s even on the English curriculum for many schools, so if you read it as a student chances are you either love it or hate it. It’s really a shame when such incredible pieces of literature are turned into required reading because when anyone is forced to do anything it becomes a chore and you lose the magic of it. Set in Queensland just before the outbreak of the First World War, the book follows Jim Saddler, a country fellow whose immense passion for birds is recognised by Ashely Crowther, the British owner of a block of land in Queensland who offers Jim a job documenting them. We can only wish landing a job was that easy. Dealing majorly with the themes of nature and war as well as countless other sub-themes, this novel captures the human experience and challenges ones perspective.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THE METAMORPHOSIS // FRANZ KAFKA I have to admit, I first picked up this book at the school library just because I had heard Kafka’s name so frequently (something I don’t particularly recommend, as I did this with Lolita and spent a year analysing it in English) and read it when waiting for my sister to finish an afterschool detention. After reading The Metamorphosis I didn’t understand a lick of it. Sure, I knew what was happening at face value and could tell I was in the presence of something great, but nothing was clicking. So I though and thought and though (and Googled extensively) and finally came to terms with it, finally making sense of the pure absurdity of it, because it is a really weird book, but a weird book with meaning. The main character, Gregor Samsa, lives a dull life, stuck in a
dead end job without friends or any excitement until one day he wakes up a bug. That’s right, he wakes up and is no longer human, but is a bug. And it doesn’t faze him. Or his family. Everyone just accepts this apparently random metamorphism. Which confused me a lot. The rest of the novel deals with his life as a bug but really it’s the themes of the book that elevates it to classic status. The elements of absurdity gives the story a distinct tone and suggests a universe that functions without any governing system of justice; Kafka is trying to alert us that we are living in a world of illusions. Focusing on the connection between mind and body, the story suggests that our physical lives shape and direct our mental lives and out understanding of human identity is skin deep; should our bodies change our identity is also distorted and lost. Gregor has the ability to escape his circumstances and search for freedom but these options don’t occur to him and he continues to suffer, challenging our own tendencies to conform to society and stay within our comfort zones. Whether you agree with the thoughts Kafka presents in this short story, it is certainly an eye opener when you analyse it deeply and reflect on it.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THE LITTLE PRINCE // ANTIONE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY One of my all-time favourite books, The Little Prince is a worldwide classic, translated into over 200 languages and dialects from the original French Le Petit Prince, which is pretty amazing. The basic bones of the novella is about an aviator who becomes stranded in a desert encounters a strange young boy who, as it emerges over the story, has travelled from his solitary home on a tiny asteroid where he lives with a rose. The prince goes about his tale in intimate detail, capturing the essence of things and how they make him feel, bringing focus to the loss of innocence and wonder from childhood to adulthood. The strangeness of the adult world is spoken about right from the beginning, where Saint-Exupéry addresses the book to his friend Léon Werth, ‘when he was a little boy’, and talking about how adults rarely ask important questions about the character of a person, but rather want to know their ‘figures’: how old they are, how much money their parents make, do they have any siblings, rather than asking what the sound of their voice is, or do they collect butterflies. This really spoke to me as I have always been taught to keep an open mind and I have always been awkward with small talk, finding it lacks substance and is more of a filler. Talking isn’t always necessary. While this appears to be a children’s book, the criticisms and themes may appear a bit heavy, such as the dangers of narrow-mindedness, spiritual and inner enlightenment through exploration and discovers, and how relationships require responsibility. The book is brimming with quotable lines, my most favourite being: ‘One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eyes’. With the release of the film expected this year, it is a purely fantastic book to pick up that you can zoom through in no time, but will leave an impacting effect on you. ⁕ BOOK REVIEW // 083
LEELAH French Greek fashion design group Accro’s new line, Leelah, combines the quintessential French Space Age fashion of the 60’s with ancient Greek war attire, resulting in a burst of strong, geometric garments filled with contrasts and layers. As always, Accro push the boundaries of traditional gender roles in their clothing and will fill you with envy that their clothes aren’t yet in your wardrobe. Leelah is on sale 29th of December, just in time for New Years. To find more of their exciting works, visit accrofashion.com.
WORDS JING ZU
FASHION // 085
The Quelouluthyia dress is a fusion of two salient pieces. Unified by a horizontal high waisted zipper, the Georgiani skirt and WivĂŻde top convey an atmosphere of mystic charm and valiant beauty. Georgiani mirrors the motion of swaying plants of an underwater Atlantis with the spaghetti thin slits, specially cut to a reverse triangular to give your legs shape. WivĂŻde brings the modernity of a city scape, cutting up through the bodice to meet the high neckline. With a geometrically cut open back, the freshness of the top compliments the classy length of the skirt. $1,019
The Kyrina family is well-rounded and dynamic, working strikingly as individuals as much as together. The youngest is OĂŠmie, an acute A-line crop, falling just below the belly button to work with just about any bottoms. Slightly older Neosa is just as playful at mid-thigh, working together to form a full outfit. Right in the middle is Zya, bringing balance to the wild minds of the youthful, just kissing the knees. Yele is the eldest, working in harmony to form a structured maxi A-line dress, with a vibrant mix of royal grace and joie de vivre. $938
Pictured: Kyrina Four Layer Zipper Dress. (L-R) Yele, Zya, Neosa
Pictured: Neosa of the Kyrina dress and Ikilinte knee length cut out skirt. Ikilinte’s subtle luxury and soft simplicity give it an air of ingenuous lovability. Pair over a straight cut skirt to let the longer straps fall neatly, a longer skirt to show then off flat or an asymmetrical one for an edgier look. $372
Pictured: OĂŠmie of the Kyrina dress and Voelille asymmetrical mini wrap skirt Voelille radiates energy and life, sending a message of warning as much as one of vivacity. With a small button fixture, this skirt becomes a lightweight wrap around, with sharp cuts to give refined layers. Wear with knee high socks and a halter for a vibrant burst or with tights and a buttoned up Oxford for a more interesting spin. $196
Penelopitze‘s courage and intelligence is to be lauded, producing an eccentric and dynamic statement piece that will be sure to draw attention. This layered piece oozes luxury and class, centred in the unstructured box pleats with triangular vinyl reverse triangle details to bring a rebellious contrast. The delicate peeping straps provide a cheeky, refreshing contrast against the heaviness of the skirt, all together capturing the mix of Ancient Greece in the structure and Space Age France in the energy. $889 Pictured with OĂŠmie of the Kyrina dress.
Pictured: Penelopitze triangular cut box pleat skirt with peak-a-boo layers with WivĂŻde of the Quelouluthyia dress.
Pictured: WivĂŻde of the Quelouluthyia dress and Alethinet asymmetrical mid-length skirt. Alethinet is modest and clever, remaining as eternal as the sky with its long asymmetrical cut and as classic as Ancient Greece itself in rich black. Play with the angles to keep your look as sharp or soft as you like. $478
Pictured: Voelille asymmetrical mini wrap skirt and Delity gathered crop top, Delity is the soft kiss of sea foam on the shore and the harsh crash of waves against rocks, contrasting the draped lightweight material with the metal details. Versatile enough to be a statement piece or to bring an outfit together, this stylish top will earn its place in your wardrobe. $376
Pictured: Alethinet asymmetrical mid-length skirt, Delity gathered crop top and ChaninĂŠ asymmetrical vinyl pleated skirt. ChaninĂŠ is strong and bold, but never afraid to show a raw and vulnerable side. Made from clear vinyl, this statement skirt features unstructured knife pleats tapering off to an angle. Wear the zipper on the side or at the back for a new look or even over a skirt for an extra layer of depth. $774
A WORTHY MENTION: This series is actually a homage to Leelah Alcorn (born Joshua), a transgender teen who committed suicide on the 28th of December 2014 due to her feelings of isolation and discrimination from her conservative Christian parents who wouldn’t accept her and tried to change her. It is alluded to in the introductory text, using her name, death date and mention of non-gender conforming clothes. Accro fashion are known for making bold statements surrounding issues in society and mention on their website that they hope to raise awareness of the issues trans* people face to help make a change. A percentage of the proceeds go to non-for-profit charities. ⠕
FASHION // 113
animation sensation IRIS ELLE MOUTRAKOUS IS HELPING YOU FIND THE GOOD THROUGH THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF BAD ON THE INTERNET, ANIMATION WISE. TRUST US, THERE ARE SOME WEIRD FILMS, AND WE MEAN WEIRD, OUT THERE. LUCKILY THESE SIX SHORTS DON’T FALL UNDER THAT CATEGORY, WELL NOT TOO MUCH
THE LOST THING SHAUN TAN
THE DARKEST TRUTH ABOUT LOVE LARA LEE AND HANNAH JACOBS
Based on a short novel by Shaun Tan, this fifteen minute film is slightly longer than the others featured, telling the story of a boy living in a dull, unimaginative society who finds a mysterious creature and befriends it, opening his mind and soul in the process. This strange creature doesn’t seem to belong, or fit in with anything in the city, being big and clunky and colourful and all together wonderful. His parents, friends and society don’t seem to understand it, hence the name ‘the lost thing’, making it an object of empathy for anyone who has ever felt like a lost thing. It is in tune with the vulnerability of human nature and how fragile we feel. One of my favourite parts of animated movies is the backgrounds, the ability to create new universes and this has such a beautiful one.
Based on a short piece of writing by Alain De Botton, this short animation for the School of Life is backed by touching music by Tom Rosenthal that brings on this melancholy frame of mind that’s fitting to the messages of the film. It’s actually kind of depressing in all its existentialism but is contrasted by the childlike animation of Lee and Jacobs and the poignant music of Rosenthal, creating something whimsical but humbling. The limited colour scheme of oranges and blues dominates, ranging from baby pastels to moody saturated colours which softens the harsh messages of love, the ‘darkest truths’. The style of animation feels so effortless, which is always a sign of a good artist. It isn’t all upsetting, ending on a positive note to not make you feel like it’s time to drink bleach.
114 // ANIMATION
TO THIS DAY SHANE KOYCZAN
ROMANCE GEORGE SCHWIZGEBEL
I saw this short film on YouTube a few years back but it has stayed with me ever since. It lead me on to the poet Shane Koyczan who narrates it and his works are an equal delight that I have shared with other friends who have found just as impacting. He is an incredible poet and I recommend searching for his works, probably alone though because they will bring you to tears. I couldn’t watch this one either without crying and that’s saying something. To This Day is a project based on Koyczan’s poem to explore the deep and lasting impact that bullying can have on a person. It combines the unique styles of several animators and motion artists creating 20 second segments that thread into one fluid voice. The compilation of different styles and strong poetry make it so impacting.
I first saw a snippet of this on SBS while flicking through the channels to sit down and eat some yogurt to but I forgot soon about the yoghurt because of how transfixing the animation of this film is. Just imagine Claude Monet’s painting’s started moving and walked all the way to Salvador Dali’s works and they started dancing – this is what Romance is like. With no spoken words at all, the vibrant, inquisitive piano music walks you through the motions, and boy are there motions. Never still for more than three seconds, the camera angle is constantly changing around the characters, providing different perspectives that add to the surrealist mood, complimented with a strong contrasting scheme of blue and orange broken up with moments of greyscale or subdued lines. ANIMATION // 115
animation sensation
NEIGHBOURS NORMAN MCLAREN
THE TALE OF THE PLUMP BIRD SAKI IYORI
I stumbled upon this short film at three in the morning after stupidly beginning watching a completely unrelated video back at ten, a time when I had a ridiculous thought that I would actually go to sleep; we’ve all been there. There are only short snippets of animation in the video, similar to stop motion but with living things, which are incredibly entertaining and contribute to the overall absurdist atmosphere. Actually made in the 50’s, this Oscar winning short is a parable about two men who become enthralled over a flower, completely possessing them with its adorable nature. Not realising this wasn’t a modern film, I was delighted at the corniness of it, fit with a soundtrack that will have your shoulders bopping as you reminisce over arcade games and simpler times.
Energetic and colourful, The Tale of the Plump Bird follows a girl on a mission to catch a plump blue bird. Fast paced and eccentric, the fluidity of the film makes it so exciting and imaginative as the colours and shapes become one and jump in and out and here and there and up and down – this film is brimming with movement. It also probably has some deep message that English majors could squeeze from it like does the bird represent the freedom she desires or do the colours symbolize her inner feelings but for the vast majority of us who operate on a fairly average thinking level on most occasions, this film is something light enough to enjoy. There are some moments that really engage you and the enlightening soundtrack by Atshushi Takiguchi has an air of enchantment.
116 // ANIMATION
WHAT IF? GIANT ANT
AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT DANIELA SHERER
My goodness, this is how commercials should be made! I am so excited when companies actually put time into their commercials because I have to freaking sit through them when I am trying to innocently watch a darn television show, God help me. There are so much garbage ads around us that when I see a good one, I am bound to be swayed to that brand and when they incorporate animation, I am hooked. Set in a dystopian world full of dial up and fax machine repair shops, Community Futures pitches a world where people stop asking ‘what if?’ A different take on the typical orange and blue, this film incorporates corals and tangerines with sapphires and navy, even introducing some mints in the mix. I don’t even own a business and I want to take out a loan with these guys.
A short music video for Tom Rosenthal’s ‘As Luck Would Have It’, it’s all in a dull black and pale beige, making the occasional hints of royal blue and coral pop out. Set in a western movie fantasy, Rosenthal’s hoarse voice and acoustic guitar are perfectly complimented by Sherer’s minimalist animation style. There is a small storyline fit in the short time space but it remains uncomplicated and considered, making the video stick in your mind with every listen of the song, because it is a pretty catchy tune that is bound to have you searching for more of his works. My favourite thing is how the objects interact with each other, flowing into each other to bring a sense of connection and family. This quality is found in many indie shorts that big films seem to loose. ⁕ ANIMATION // 117
sex ed GIOVANNI KOSUMOSU LAYS DOWN THE SEXUALITY EDUCATION YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T LEARN IN SCHOOL
When I was growing up, sexuality was never really spoken about. My parents always pushed me to have an open mind about things to broaden my thinking and make me a more accepting, understanding person (read as: basic human being). Throughout school sexuality was never taught, not even in health or sex ed, but to be fair nothing was really taught in those lessons. They were taught by people who didn’t seem to pay too much attention or give much importance to the subject, despite it being an incredibly essential one. I, like a large percentage of people in this country, are a product of a failing educational system. I do acknowledge, however, that Australia is a really privileged country, especially in terms of education, but I always can’t help myself for wanting more – for wanting the best for the people. I see too much ignorance and lack of knowledge when it comes to this topic, so if you think that pansexual people are attracted to pans, strap yourself in and please, for the love of all things good, absorb this knowledge like a sponge. So what exactly is sexuality? Is there one concrete definition or is it subjective to each individual? In its simplest forms, sexuality is about sexual feelings (who we are emotionally and sexually attracted to), sexual behaviour (how we express our sexual feelings), and sexual identity (who we define ourselves as and tell others based on our internal beliefs). Your sexuality is not defined by who you have sex with – it’s about how you feel and how you choose to identify yourself. Sexuality is diverse and deeply personal, it is not someone’s obligation to tell you theirs especially if you aren’t close with them. Some people discover their sexuality from a young age but this isn’t always the case; people can find their sexual attractions until much later on and it can be equally as confusing. For many people, this might change over time too as they change as a person, which is fine as well. Understandably discovering any part of your character is a process and the journey is never easy and support networks are essential. No one can ‘diagnose’ your sexuality; only you can answer this for yourself. Some people choose to label themselves like queer, fluid, asexual or heterosexual - whatever suits them - but by no means is it a necessity and the most important thing is to do what feels comfortable. You don’t have to label yourself today or ever. For some people, they may find their sexuality may change 118 // EDUCATE ME
over time and may feel liberated by not conforming to a single, fixed sexuality. It is so important to respect that different things empower different people. Sexual orientation is who a person is sexually attracted to, defined by a few common labels. Sexual identity is how a person identifies with their sexual orientation. Some of the most common labels are explained further in this article. An issue I commonly hear about is people being confused about trying to explain sex and sexuality of non-heterosexual, cisgender people is that if marriage equality laws are passed, how will that be integrated in health education in schools. It’s really not a hard issue to overcome - if you are uneducated on a topic, how can you educate someone else? By devising a proper curriculum for health and sex education, we can raise a generation to be educated of their bodies and help them on the path of self-discovery. Heterosexuals are people attracted to their opposite binary gender. Homosexuality is basically the same as heterosexuality but they’re attracted to persons of the same gender. There is so much unnecessary fuss over such a little difference that hurts so many people (but that’s a mammoth topic for another day). Gay is a common term for male homosexuals, but can also be used for both genders or as an umbrella term for the whole LGBT+ community in general. Conversely lesbian is the term used for female homosexuals. Bisexual is the term used for a person who is attracted to both genders. A common misinformed thought is that if a bisexual person is dating someone of the opposite gender that they are straight, which is downright false and simply ridiculous. This is an attitude shared between the gay and straight community; there is negativity everywhere centring these issues about sexuality and gender identity which is so stupid. The intolerance and negativity of our society disgusts me to the core but when I hear stories about others attacking each other in their own communities, it really upsets me because you would think that these would be the people who understand. Things get a little more complicated now with pansexuality and asexuality, NOT because they are confusing concepts but because not a lot of people know what they are and their simple minds become confused. Pansexual is a person (like any other person of any gender identity) is attracted to anyone, regardless of their gender identity. This can include straight, queer, cisgender, transgender, agender and genderfluid people. Omnisexual is a term that can also be used but is not as common. Contrary to common (read as: uneducated, ignorant) belief, pansexual’s aren’t attracted to everyone in the same way that homosexual’s aren’t attracted to everyone of their same binary gender or heterosexual’s don’t feel attraction to every person of the ‘opposite’ binary gender. In the similar sense that ‘pan’ is a prefix meaning ‘all’, ‘a’ is a prefix meaning ‘none’, therefore asexual people feel little to no sexual attraction. This is not to be confused with people purposely abstaining from sexual activity or celibacy, which are generally motivated by other factors. This is also not to mean that asexual people don’t ever engage in sexual activity, which
may be motivated by a variety of reasons, including feeling closer to their partners, as a form of release or out of curiosity. There are many in-betweens on the asexual spectrum, including demisexual people who may develop sexual attraction when they’ve developed an important connection to a person and greysexual people who feel sexual attraction sometimes, but only rarely. Like any other sexuality, it is perfectly normal and natural; it isn’t something that needs to be ‘cured’ or is just because they haven’t ‘found the right person’. Due to these terms relating solely to sexual attraction, pansexual and asexual people can have any romantic orientation. In a similar relation to sexual orientation, romantic orientation is who a person is romantically attracted to. Really, not too hard of a concept to grasp. The prefixes used for sexual orientation apply to romantic orientation so hetero-, homo-, pan-, demi- or any other prefix that suits can be put before romantic to form a definition for a person’s romantic orientation and still have the same meaning, but relating to romance (as opposed to sexual) in this case. Asexual people can be attracted to anyone but not feel the desire to have sex with them; it is important to note that sex is not a necessity of a fulfilling romantic relationship. A worthy mention on this topic is aromantic people who (you can probably guess) don’t feel romantic emotion towards people but, like asexual people, can have fulfilling relationships, just of the platonic kind. Again, they can have relationships similar to romantic ones or lifelong marital ones but are just platonic in nature, meaning they are non-romantic and/or non-sexual. Aromantic people can be asexual, pansexual, heterosexual or have any other sexual orientation in the same sense that sexual people can have any romantic orientation. Asexuality and aromance is different from losing an ‘appetite’ for romantic or sexual interaction, which can actually be a symptom of depression. It is also different to antisexualism where someone has negative beliefs and attitudes towards sexuality. By no means is this a comprehensive list, it only covers the basic, most commonly known sexualities, and my words aren’t the be-all-end-all. I write this with the hope to give people a little education that they desperately need because sexuality has become such a big issue in society and too much negativity stems from being simply not being educated and aware. These are the two most important things that exist in the world and I can’t stress this enough. Its fine to form an opinion on a matter, everyone does it and its essential to think as individuals and develop of sense of who we are through making decisions for ourselves, but, and this is a big but, we can’t form a proper opinion unless we are educated on that matter. In some cases it is perfectly acceptable not to have an opinion, like when someone’s asking what your favourite colour or ice-cream flavour is, but when it comes to issues that are predominant in our society and lives, it’s more of a big deal. I’m not going to rave and rant about how in a perfect world other people’s business isn’t your business because the simple, and quite frankly depressing fact is that we are in no way even close to a perfect world. I write this with the hope that you can be inspired to go out and do your own research to become more educated and hopefully more understanding to begin to build that perfect world. ⁕ EDUCATE ME // 119
guest artist SELINE SAINT SUFIJAN TALKS ABOUT HER ONGOING WATERCOLOUR SERIES, I JUST NEED TO DO WHAT I FEEL, SHARING INTIMATE THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PROJECT, HER OWN LIFE AND THE WORLD AROUND HER AS SHE SEES IT AS TOLD TO YELENA APTEKAR
Tell us about your project. What started out as some colourful watercolour paintings of eyes - particularly the bags under eyes (as I could relate to them being so exhausted at that point in my life) - evolved into an almost ritualistic project expressing how I felt after all kinds of events. People are always attracted to other people, maybe is the vanity in us or our desire for human connection in the lonely existence of our lives, especially eyes which are always glorified as ‘orbs’ or ‘windows to the soul’. The paintings are abstracted eyes (the small central black shapes) with colourful, expressive under eye bags, eyelid crease details and some of the weirdest eyebrows you’ll ever see. The central idea behind them is in the title of the project, I Just Need To Do What I Feel; the paintings are me doing what I need to do to express my feelings. They’re all symbolic, particularly the colours and lines, so they double as social commentary as well as personal works. For example, ’Money’ was painted after I found just how much money soccer players make and the deep colours represent the materialistic, self-indulgent lifestyles they lead which fills me with frustration. Each painting has a message behind it which is important to me; people often believe that abstract art is something that anyone can do, just throwing paint on a page or drawing random shapes but I think what elevates any art actually is the thought and meaning behind it. Everything must be intentional and considered, even if it doesn’t look it. It has to be genuine to be real. Otherwise what’s the point? The paintings are all so different, what kind of thought process happens behind the series? The paintings are all individuals, absolutely. Some of them are based on pictures I’ve seen that I’ve translated to an emotion or the product of songs I’m listening to, which are some of the most interesting ones actually because you can have different experiences with each listen. Others are based on things I’ve
seen on television, often small details or words that have stuck with me. Sometimes I listen to music while doing them so it can be interesting how many different paintings I can produce from one song, over time or in one sitting - the human experience is all so fascinating. I’m a thinker so I over-analyse everything over and over and over – everything gets processed thoroughly so I never run out of inspiration. It can be a good thing as I get time to develop my own stand on issues but it’s also so draining doing that much thinking. Even when I’m lying down I can feel the energy pour from my body but there’s no off switch for the brain. If my bed was a feeling sponge it would be saturated. I would wet my bed with my feelings. So you’ve ‘done what you feel’ by painting but how do you feel afterwards? Sometimes I look back and don’t particularly like what I’ve done or believe some aren’t as successful or powerful as others; that’s only my opinion though. But I know I can’t deny what I feel, or was feeling at the time. These paintings were reflections – expressions – of how I felt; I let my most intimate feelings and emotions pour on the page. So when I look at a work and go ‘oh this one isn’t as good as that one’, it’s like denying that my feelings at that particular moment weren’t as powerful or ‘good’ as at another moment, which is not something I want to do. It’s also a commentary though about how different and fleeting emotions are; we experience so many at an abundance, it can get overwhelming just thinking about it let alone actually going through them all. I always try to keep an open mind when reflecting on them and learnt from studying the Romantic poets that reflecting in tranquillity is part of the process of dealing with emotions and inner feelings, which influenced me strongly. After an exhibition at Queensland Gallery of Modern Art you were offered a publishing deal to collate your works in a book. What was that like? Even the fact that people responded to them when I first published them on the internet amazed me. I had books filled with them and one day I just scanned them all and then released a new one every day; it felt like throwing paper airplanes into a black hole in the beginning. So the exhibition even happening and now a publishing deal is just so overwhelming but I feel so appreciative that I’ve had these opportunities. The paintings are personal though, deeply personal. There are times where I wish nobody saw them. I was so scared to publish them, because some of the captions are quite private and not something I would usually just pent up, not share with others. It’s been liberating in a sense to make them and I think I will continue with it for a long time because there is never a moment when you’re not feeling things. We all need ways to express ourselves and I’ve never been one for dancing. Where can we see more of your works? I aim to update my website, www.saintseline.com, daily with new works. It also has links to purchase individual prints and sketchbooks and other goodies including postcards and calendars. The book comes out January 15 of next year so it is currently available for pre-order. GUEST ARTIST // 121
DAFFY DUCK While researching fashion shows I came across a picture with possibly one of the oddest colour combinations and was immediately attracted to it, as integrated in this image. The image had such vibrancy and energy and originality; I was thrilled and inspired to make wonderful things. The cartoon-like eyes are a homage to the old Disney style animation that always had an air of exuberance and exaggeration, being much more dynamic in its defiance of anatomy than the more pared down style of recent years. The colours are such an odd combination that I kept the shapes minimal to not overwhelm and to let the most important element radiate.
RHYME This one is similar to Daffy Duck in the sense that it was inspired by a colour scheme in a picture although the emotions of the picture didn’t seep through as much (it was a bashful pose of a beautiful boy with a stripped blue and green jumper and a stark yellow background). The piece was done while listening to music, showing how both external inspiration sources can combine to influence the outcome, reflecting the energy of the song. This often happens with this series and I like to churn through them relatively fast (less than 10 minutes each) which is a real thrill when I’m in the mode. This usually happens about three or so paintings in and when my phone radio song sections start to flow really nicely; a rhythm takes place and the stars align. Okay, so not so dramatic but the creative energy is present which I believe is vital for success.
GUEST ARTIST // 123
KORRA I rediscovered the sensational series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, earlier in the year, a show I only saw glimpses of as a child that always held my interest. I recently began to watch the sequel series, Legend of Korra, and was equally as blown away by every aspect. The entire concept enthrals me so this was a product of post-second series paintings. It incorporates each element of the Avatar: earth in the vine-like under eye detail; fire in the tear drop shapes; air in the small grey strokes; water in the pensive eyebrows; and spirit in the purple curvilinear details. I placed particular focus on balance and kept each ‘element’ with a considered proximity to be individual to represent the nations as well as close enough to feel connected.
NOBILITY I was listening to Panda Bear’s second album, Young Prayer, which was dedicated to his dying father and there is a word that always stuck out to me when it was sang: nobility; not only for its meaning but the drawled out way it is sung accompanying the equally ethereal and haunting background music. This was made while listening and a combination of my constant reflective feelings of this particular word. It feels rich, like nobility, but also quite melancholy. I chose pastels washes and while painting I envisioned the image of a serene desert and thought about how some deserts were previously deep oceans, hence the soft browns and blues. The world is astounding. This then reminded me of Michael Lee’s Pass On poetry video which spoke about his friend passing and how he still sees him in the little details of the world. Nobility is a combination of all these thoughts, tried to be condensed down to these colours and shapes
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I CAN FEEL IT IN MY EYES This piece was done earlier in the year as the crushing reality of schoolwork started setting in and my stress levels began peaking. The thick, furrowed eyebrows are representative of my constant worrisome expression, highlighted by the red-purple that increasingly became apparent under my eyes. The eye details of swirling lines symbolise the inner turmoil in my mind; in stressful situations I have a tendency to begin to look beyond, thinking about my future and questioning myself. This obviously only contributes to the stress as I begin to lose a sense of who I am. The blues symbolise my concealment of these thoughts but the red that seeps through represents the fear and actual anxiety of the situation. The lines striking through the under-eye bags are reminiscent of my recent behaviour of rubbing my tired eyes.
STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS This was actually done recently and only when I was going through my old work that I noticed the similarities to I Can Feel It In My Eyes (shown left), that was done under a similar situation. Again, the stress is building and I was conveying the same kinds of emotions and feelings, expressing it in a hauntingly similar way. The same furrowed, unruly eyebrows are present, this time raising higher and feeling greater melancholy in periwinkle tones. The red is less predominant but still remains, this time in upwards tear drops and in harsh, triangular shapes. A similar theme of lines cutting through shapes is apparent to show how much I have been rubbing my eyes. Even the light amber brown is present to show how emaciated my skin looks. It’s odd how much time can pass and certain things can change; emotions are always present. Even though we can experience such an array of them to different degrees, some things seem to be forever. ⠕
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life lessons gone wrong IRIS ELLE MOUTRAKOUS’ CHILDHOOD LECTURESWERE A BIT DIFFERENT TO YOUR USUAL LIFE LESSONS My parents have always been open with my sister and I which has been one of the most positive things in creating a more trusting, honest relationship between us. I can talk about serious issues in an open discussion without fear of being reprimanded or dismissed, feeling like my opinion is valued and matter. School wasn’t a reliable source of educating us on topic like drugs and sex because of the ridiculous amount of censorship that still exists in our society, so my parents tried to make sure we were aware of issues that actually matter. It’s not always as serious as it sounds, so most of the time we’re watching inappropriate movies, cracking bad jokes and always, always joking around about serious things. One moment in particular has stuck in my mind where my Mums intention was vastly different to what she actually said. We thirty seconds away from school when she imparted some words of wisdom I will never forget. What she meant to say: Education is one of the most important things in your life. Never underestimate the importance of a good education and living up to the fullest potential of the opportunity you have. If you try hard and do your best in school, you will have many opportunities to extend your studies and reap the rewards 128 // STORY TIME
of your hard effort by living a good life. Through having a good education, many doorways and paths will open up for you to lead you to a good job, where hopefully you can make enough money to have financial stability, a good home and be able to have spending money, afford luxuries and go on holidays. You will be able to buy the higher grade dishwasher or the better television which will might make you happier and your life easier. If you don’t have at least a certain level of quality, you could be doing yourself more harm and cause more hassle. What she actually said: You have to go to school to get a good education because if you don’t have a good education then you can’t get into a good university and if you can’t get into a good university then you won’t have good job. And if you don’t have a good job you can’t buy the good drugs. And the bad drugs will stuff you up more than the good drugs. You don’t want to buy the bad drugs. You don’t want the $200 crack, you want the $600 crack because that’s the good stuff and the bad stuff will stuff you up more and you don’t want that. You want to have work to get a good education to get a good job to get the good drugs. Now go to school and have a good day. My Mum doesn’t endorse her children doing drugs and I don’t know exactly how much thought went into this speech but I can assure you it wasn’t much and she never intended for us to remember it. For her it was just a rambling in the last two minutes of our car ride to school but for me, it has been imprinted in my memory, it is something I think of before going to school, a funny story to tell, transcending beyond a stupid rant – it has become something iconic. ⁕
Elisha’s back. It’s been months and she won’t leave us alone. The Australian Apparel team are currently hiding in Uluru with a pack of surprisingly friendly dingoes, which may be standard for Aussie families nation-wide but for this inept, talentless team with minimal brain capacity to take basic photos and who pay over four million dollars for a simple white shirt or the equivalent of setting a bank on fire for tasteless brand-name coffee, this is not an ideal situation. The strength of character Elisha has could challenge even the most stubborn of anti-choice conservative politicians but we must admit, she does take a good photo. To help us, or to view more of our overvalued, unsatisfactory products visit australianapparel.com.au. She is styled in the black Bridgette Halter Crop and Giselle High Waisted Jeans.
That’s Australian Apparel Made in New Zealand. Not Sweatshop Free.* Just kidding, we’re actually an ethical Aussie business.
AOMING OSTROVSKY LOOKS BACK ON HER JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN OLD MAN
forget things or can’t hear properly I’ll be excused. People will talk slower to me and give me more time to process things. I have the opportunity to say things like, ‘back in my day’ or ‘get off my lawn’ or even just a brief grunt to express my emotions. Maybe I’ll join a senior’s home and spend my days playing bingo and watching birds, passing on wisdom that people will appreciate for generations to come. It’s all so fantastic! Why hadn’t this happened earlier?
The symptoms started young but I knew what was happening straight away. The white hair. The aching muscles. The grumpy attitude. The fits of rage when kids played on my lawn. The sudden desire to wear slippers. The slow walk. Making loud noises at any physical exertion. I knew the signs. It was obvious: I was becoming an old man.
But being old isn’t all fun and games. Sometime I sit up too fast and joints pop and click. Other times my bones are aching and my back is cramped up. Some people don’t accept me being an old person – but they don’t understand, this is my life. I’m not turning seventeen, I’m turning eighty three and I don’t appreciate your laughing. I go through old man mood swings, which are in fact different to teenage girl mood swings or middle aged man mood swings in the sense that only certain things are part of it: people, kids and teenagers especially (depending on the day), the government, my garden, the neighbours and the current generation are defining factors. I’m short tempered sometimes and have to go to sleep early.
sixteen going on to sixty
It’s not something I thought would happen to me, or at least not this early. I’m not opposed to it though, surely there are some benefits to becoming an old person, right? Why fight the inevitable? My personality matches an old man perfectly so it’s not a drastic change. This is my fate. I have an excuse for being slow now; my days of being called lazy are over. I can wake up late and take my time dressing self and people can help me out. I can wear vintage, mismatched old clothes without being called a hipster or a fashion disaster. I can shuffle through life and spend time watering my garden, planting seeds and sitting on a rocking chair out front. I can knit without being ridiculed. If I 130 // STORY TIME
I must say though, the lows aren’t really that low and while my brain is making the transition to old age, my body is as relatively youthful as it will ever be. I’ve come to peace with this weird age dynamic and I think you should too. Maybe we can discuss it over some tea and biscuits while listening to the soothing sounds of Glenn Miller Big Band or even a bit of Frank Sinatra to jazz it up. Trust me, it’s the next big thing on the music scene, all the hip kids my age are listening to it. What age was that again? ⁕
THANK YOU! Mum: If I didn’t put you first, it would be my body on the spit this Christmas; without you this magazine wouldn’t exist. If I had a dollar for every time you made a suggestion for the magazine, I could fix the Greek economy. Thank you for your constant support and encouragement and keeping me on my toes. You push me to my absolute limits because you just want the best for me and I am so appreciative for that. You have supported me through my schooling in art and I hope this makes you proud because you’ve had a tremendous effect on me. Dad: The quiet creative genius, always eager to support me in my plans for practical work and hearing my ideas. For being yourself and extending your endless wisdom about life when you drive us to school. Knowing your there to support me always means more than anything and I value all the time we spend together as a family. Thank you both for raising me to be the person I am today and I appreciate all the sacrifices you’ve made for our family, even if we can’t see it sometimes. I genuinely couldn’t ask for better people to be my parents and I love you both. Elisha: For putting up with endless talk about my art and this magazine, even though I know for a fact you weren’t listening half the time unless you wanted something back from me. For buying that initial frankie magazine that inspired me. For modelling for countless photos and letting me makeup your face despite you not liking people touching you. You inspire me every day and I can’t thank God enough for making you my sister, you make us all laugh and I love you. To my entire family and all my friends for being so wonderful and supportive and loving; it’s so reassuring to know you guys are in my life. Thank you for providing endless memories and experiences that let me tell stories that help me make friends; God knows I need it. Thank you especially to Bec that modelled for this magazine, I overjoyed I could include you in this and we had so much fun together; you are so incredible. Mrs Van Eyk: During these three terms you have probably read and drafted more writing from me than your Year Ten History class, which admittedly might not be much at times, but I do apologise for; you have always accepted it with excitement and your commentary has given me the reassurance I need. I couldn’t have reached such a level of artistic vocabulary without you. Your feedback has always been appreciated and your depth of knowledge is inspiring and it is heartening to know that our class is in such good hands. Thank you for your continual support through my time in your classes throughout my four years of art, especially in my last one where you have made me feel more like a daughter at times than a student, with your continual encouragement and guidance. I can personally say that your investment into your students is most definitely appreciated by them and they will certainly remember you for years to come.
Ms Minni: Before you even taught me first in Year Eight, I had heard so much about how incredible you were, all of which didn’t even begin to touch the surface of how amazing you are, which is saying something because I’d heard a lot. You remind me so much of my own mother and it gave me that comfort I needed that things were going to be okay as I was in such good hands; I am convinced that it was part of God’s plan. You are such a positive influence in every student’s life who knows you and one of the most incredible people I have ever met; your influence has surely affected me for the rest of my life. I can’t thank you enough for how you’ve supported me artistically, helping me in so many ways; I wouldn’t be half the artist I am today without your teachings and your effect on me is simply indescribable. Thank you so much for being there. Thank you to my two Art and Design teachers at Temple, who have both helped me immeasurably to become the artist and person I am today. I simply couldn’t have done it without you and I treasure every lesson I had with you both, at least the ones I was there for. You both extended your roles beyond just being a teacher, acting more like a parent and friend at times. Knowing you both believed in me helped me so much and it was that support and nurturing that helped me most. Ms Wright: While I never experienced the depths of your legendary musical talents, I did experience your incredible teaching talent. The love you have for teaching English shines through and has been unequivocally invaluable for me in the last two years of my secondary schooling; you have most definitely inspired me to improve my writing skills and even though there’s a long way to go, I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher to help prepare me for that journey. Ms Bowley: For being such an inspiration in Year Eleven Textiles; you sparked my inner fashion designer and enthusiastically helped me with the construction and taught me how to elevate the quality of garments. Thank you to you and Mrs Radermeyer too for allowing me access to all the fabrics. To both of you: your caring nature is so valuable and your love is felt by all your students. Thank you to the other teachers who have taught me along my thirteen year schooling journey, both at Temple and Saint Josephs; it has all had a profound impact on me and helped mould me into the person I am today. Thank you to everyone not mentioned here that has supported me and is involved in my life, from the mysterious internet user who introduced me to the most influential band of my life to the people I worked with to the praying mantis lady - I am really all the things that are outside of me, and I couldn’t complete myself without the things I have around. Last but not least, thank you for reading this :) Much love, Chloe ⁕
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chloe.katopodis@gmail.com chloekatopodis.com