When & Where – Issue Four by When & Where Magazine

ISSUE N

WHEN & WHERE

WORDS AND DESIGN BY TIMOTHY AZARCON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY M AT T H E W OW E R

WHEN & WHERE ISSUE FOUR

LO ST & F O U N D

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No. Four

HIDDEN GEMS OF M E L B O U R N E

WHEN / WHERE

AGE NDA

J U S T T E L L M E ___ This month's issue we will be not be answering Where ? and When ? This issue will serve as a process of discovery, a journey from the lost to the found. Let curiosity be your engine for exploration. Venture without the fear of the unfamiliar, because there's no such thing as the unfamiliar once it's experienced.

T H I S I S S U E ' S M A I N F E A T U R E S ___

10 C H E A P I DE N T I T Y

(ten)

DISCOVERING AN IDENTITY THROUGH THE STREETS OF MELBOURNE, BUT FACED WITH THE FACADE OF SHITTY SOUVENIR SHOPS.

(twenty-four) 24 OUT OF THE FRAME STUMBLING UPON A PLACE WHERE ART ISN'T LIMITED TO ITS FRAME. ABOLISHING PRETENTIOUS ART ONCE AND FOR ALL.

(thirty-five) 35 ST R A N G ER S & A L L EY WAYS FINALLY VENTURING OUT FROM OLD NOTIONS AND STIGMAS. ENJOYING COMPANY AND CONVIVIALITY IN UNEXPECTED PLACES.

FOR PURCHASE

FOR CREATIVITY

FOR CUISINE

THE WATCHMAN

SIMPLE MACHINES

STRANGERS & ALLEYWAYS

A LASTING IMPRESSION

THE SMELL OF AIR

DEFRYING GRAVITY

FLOATING GOLD

OUT OF THE FRAME

TOASTY EVENING

CHEAP IDENTITY

INTERMISSION

FIELDS OF DREAMS

SOULED OUT

TRADING PLACES

SOULED OUT

FOR W/W

TIL' NEXT TIME, FRIENDS

FUCK EXPENSIVE KNICK KNACKS. F U C K L AV E N DA R B E A R S. FUCK UGG BOOTS. FUCK, THIS PLACE IS AMAZING.

F OR P U R C H ASE

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Pt. One

HIDDEN SHOPS OF MELBOURNE

CHEAP IDENTITY TEN

WHEN? NINETEEN, IDENTITY CRISIS.

WHERE? NOT TOO SURE... CHINATOWN?

When my parents told me that I had one-eighth of Chinese heritage within me, I was quite at lost for words. As I was told this, at such an age where chances of cherishing the long lost rich culture seemed nonsensical, I felt the urge to compensate for my ancestors, as well as to discover the covert corners of my identity, that my parents withheld from me, until now. As I now reside in Melbourne, which is considered the cultural capital of Australia, there is certainly no lack of Chinese culture, especially within the CBD. With the hubbub sparking around every corner of every street (especially Lonsdale & Bourke St.), you’re bound to see Chinese-inspired culture. It is now, that I can finally appreciate such rich Chinese art, architecture and even the abundance of shops selling Ugg boots and lavender bears in the same store. I find it ironically hilarious that many of these stores also sell Australian souvenirs, like they’ve pioneered in it for centuries. But I didn’t come here to connect with my Australian heritage, I’m already full-blown Aussie, that a few more kangaroo and koala plushies will not make me question my true-blue identity. Needless to say, I left those distasteful stores so fast that the owners couldn’t beguile me to buy there heavily discounted Uggs.

INVESTED CULTURE

I was lead back onto the street, where the façades of the same souvenir shop confronted my every turn. I needed to get away fast, before I lose my perception of true Chinese culture. As I aimlessly wandered through the streets of Melbourne’s CBD, I found my shoes implanted at the front of a store of what I believed to be a traditional Chinese op shop. It was deluged with knick-knacks that although seemed useless at first glance, we’re quite innovative and visually compelling. Without a moment’s notice, I felt enticed to buy a random doodad, not because the owner was vehemently looking at me if I was going to buy anything, but because I wanted to fulfil that missing part of me. That ‘missing part’ may have been my disconnection with my Chinese heritage, or just the urge to buy something out of spontaneity. Now I’m left with a golden cat that frantically jabs its paw at the air and an identity that’s somewhat fulfilled. Whether or not you’re also trying to fulfil your long-lost Chinese heritage, this shop that’s hidden far away from the cliché souvenir shops, is one that can be considered a hidden gem. Although you’re bound to spot a similar shop (if you look hard enough), you won’t be able to find the abundant amount of goodies condensed in such a tiny storefront. It’s worth getting lost to find it, I must say.

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CO M E F I N D M E ___

0 1 HUSTLE ON RUSSEL

0 2 DOWNTOWN IN CHINATOWN

0 3 RED FLOWER

0 4 WOOD

FUCK PRETENTIOUS GALLERIES. FUCK FRAMED ARTWORKS. FUCK THE BLACK SQUARE. FUCK, THIS PLACE IS AMAZING.

F OR C R E AT I V I T Y

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Pt. Two

H I D D E N A RT OF MELBOURNE

OUT OF THE FRAM 24

WHEN? T H E A DV E N T O F M O D E R N A RT.

WHERE? NOT IN A CONTEMPORARY ART G A L L E R Y.

contemporary arts gallery. I didn’t hesitate to scale the flight of stairs (even though it was only five storeys high) and at the top, there was nothing but a closed door. Still, I had more gratification than those high hats trying to decipher Kazimir Malevich’s Black Square.

Do you remember the times when art wasn’t so pretentious? I’m not sure I do, but I do remember where art could be found that didn’t make it seem pretentious. I understand how blank-canvased rooms allow for artworks to be fully appreciated for what it is. However, as our eyes reach the edge of the artwork, we’re confronted with a bleak, dull, soulless white wall that annuls all emotion that we may have gathered from recently viewing an artwork.

TWENTY-FOUR

I always thought of art as something that left you with an impression that lingered on, despite changing your optical view. It shouldn’t be a five-second gratification, where one would shift through different pieces of artwork at a gallery. I believe the environment of a place plays an important role into this. I believe that art shouldn’t be confined within a frame, but rather subsumes the whole environment. I stumbled upon this place at chance and was surprised at what it had to offer. For such a building that only ascended five floors and had only one main art attraction at the ground floor, I was consumed by the environment, as it peaked my curiosities. Although it had a dark and mystifying aura, I felt more comfortable here, than a

I looked down to the ground floor and thought of that one piece of attraction down there that was just out of my view. It was then when I realised that art is best appreciated when it’s hidden from view. After viewing it briefly before I scaled the flight of stairs, I tried to recapture it in detail and was astounded by how much I could recall. I think it was the dark environment of the flight of stairs that sparked my imagination to reconstruct my memory of what I just saw. I’m not sure if this is all making sense to you right now, but if you get the chance to visit this place, you’ll know exactly what I mean. I won’t tell you exactly where it is, since that defeats the whole purpose of this issue, but I urge you to discover new ways to experience art. Climb a flight of stairs, look aimlessly outside dirty windows, and stare down at the ground from the fifth floor. Anything but be consumed by the bleakness of contemporary art venues.

AMBIENTMOSPHERE

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CO M E F I N D M E ___

0 1 ON A 'LITTLE' STREET

0 2 WHERE DO YOU FIND JUNKMAIL?

0 3 STEEP ROAD, HIGH RISE

0 4 ONE-FORTY-ONE

FUCK THE STIGMAS OF STRANGERS . FUCK ROTTEN FOOD. FUCK INSTANT COFFEE. FUCK, THIS PLACE IS AMAZING.

F OR C U I S I N E

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Pt. Three

HIDDEN FOOD OF M E L B O U R N E

STRANGERS & ALLEYWAY THIRTY-FIVE

WHEN? AGE OF CAREFREENESS.

WHERE? OAS I S I N T H E D ES E RT.

It was a place that offered amazing coffees and lunchtime snacks, but at the forefront of the place was its bustling environment. The first thing you notice is the amount of people who are there, and remember this is down an alleyway, not at a main street. Although it may be a common meeting place for a fair amount of regulars, I reckon it’s still a hidden gem of Melbourne, due to its unknown location. It truly is a diamond in the rough. Ever heard of the sayings “a diamond in the rough”, “an oasis in the desert”, and “a jubilant café in a dishevelled alleyway?” I’m not too sure I’ve heard of the last one either, but it’s what I had recently stumbled upon whilst getting lost in Melbourne’s CBD. I remember as a child, my parents told me to stay away from strangers and dark alleyways, as expected. However, now that I’ve grown up and matured, I can be less weary of such things. I confronted this stigma that had been implanted within me, and today I aimed to venture through the ‘dark’ alleyways of Melbourne. Despite still feeling a bit reluctant I was able to appreciate my surrounding, no matter if the walls of the alleyways were festered with graffiti, garbage and cigarette butts. I arrived at this place; an outdoor café that was bustling with businessmen and students on their lunch break and it was truly a convivial treasure of hubbub and laughter. Total strangers were gathered at one place and the perception/stigma that had once been implanted within the deep pockets of my mind, were now abolished. I could’ve joined any group and started conversing with them, without feeling displaced and socially awkward, it was that kind of place.

By my parents telling me to stay away from strangers and dark alleyways, I felt a kind of regret as I wasn’t able to find this place sooner. All those free lunchbreaks at uni could’ve been spent enjoying coffee and delicious sandwiches with outgoing strangers here, rather than the cafeteria. So I challenge you try find this hidden gem and who knows, you might spot me there and we can abolish this whole concept of ‘strangers’, over a nice cup of coffee.

COFFEE & BUTTS

THIRTY-SIX

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CO M E F I N D M E ___

0 1 ON A 'LITTLE' STREET

0 2 WHERE DO YOU FIND JUNKMAIL?

0 3 STEEP ROAD, HIGH RISE

0 4 ONE-FORTY-ONE

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