Issue two
O u r i s s u e b e g a n s i m i l a r l y w i t h t h e ke r n e l o f a n i d e a: t h a t t h o s e i n b u i l d i n g 9 4 a r e b e c o m i n g . We s p e n d y e a r s h e r e, f e c u n d , e x t e n d i n g f u r t h e r a n d f u r t h e r, g r o w t h b o t h seen and unseen – all the while building 94 o u r s o i l . I t ’s a l l a p r o c e s s o f u n e a r t h i n g , a n d , w e b e l i e v e, t h i s i s t h e e d g e o f i n n o v a t i o n . S p e a k i n g t o t h i s t h e m e, y o u r p e e r s h a v e e n d e a v o u r e d t o e x p o s é: s p a c e s w e m a y t a ke f o r g r a n t e d , i n i t i a t i v e s a t t e m p t i n g t o s e e t h e u n s e e a b l e, a n d a young designer striving for inclusivity in t h e f a s h i o n i n d u s t r y. C o l l e c t i v e l y, w e ’r e p r o u d t o p u b l i s h t h i s p r i n t /d i g i t a l i s s u e s h o w c a s i n g t h e t e e m i n g m i n d s o f o u r b u i l d i n g – a l l f r o m “o u r d e l i c a te p l a c e ” t o q u o t e A n n a S e x t o n . Find the digital edition at Issuu.com. Fr o m u s t o y o u , w a r m l y. Duncan Strachan
R u b y a n n a Ed w a r d s , J u d g e m e n t D a y (d i g i t a l d r aw i n g ) 2 0 1 9
It rained the day we went to look at t h e h o u s e i n P r e s t o n . T h r e e n a ke d f r u i t t r e e s . A n o u t h o u s e. T h e d o o r t o t h e shed propped up against its corrugated w a l l . S p r i n g h a s s i n c e f i l l e d t h e a i r. T h e nec tarines have budded through their white-with-a-lilac-vein flowers, and, in a m a ke s h i f t g r e e n h o u s e w e b u i l t n e x t t o t h e o u t h o u s e, s e v e r a l v a r i e t y o f t o m a t o, zu c c h i n i , m a r i g o l d – s e e d s w e n e s t l e d i n the soil – are sprouting.
Life in Australia, a reflec tion K a t h r i n e S m y r k , T h i s Ed i t o r ’s L i f e W i n d o w o f O p p o r t u n i t y, a f e a t u r e 94 Visions A M i s s i n g Pe r s o n s C o f f e e C u p, a f e a t u r e Reviews Q & A w i t h K i m C l a r ke P u z z l i n g 9 4, Vo x P o p R u b y a n n a Ed w a r d s , T h e A r t o f 9 4
M a n a g i n g Ed i t o r – D u n c a n St r a c h a n A r t i s t i c D i r e c t o r/C h i e f D e s i g n e r – D a n i e l l e Ta r r oz a S u b Ed i t o r � St e p h a n i e B a l R e v i e w s Ed i t o r – A b b e y S m i t h Designer – Qwest Briggs
On exchange from New York, Qwest Briggs reflects on his time at RMIT. Af ter a long flight star ting i n N e w Yo r k C i t y, t h e captain f inally announced, “ We l c o m e t o M e l b o u r n e ”. Wa l k i n g t h r o u g h t h e airpor t, I noticed a real d i v e r s i t y o f p e o p l e, w h i c h I thought was peculiar since I assumed Melbourne was predominantly w h i t e. Wa l k i n g t h r o u g h many checkpoints and verifications, I finally made i t t o a c a v e r n o u s l o b b y, where a spark of loneliness ignited in my chest. Af ter an RMIT driver dropped me at my share h o u s e i n F o o t s c r a y, i t t o o k someone ten minutes to o p e n t h e d o o r, a f t e r w h i c h I was welcomed into a f i l t hy a n d c o l d h o u s e. I waited in the living room for the landlord to drop o f f a ke y t o m y r o o m . O n c e s h e c a m e, I w e n t i n t o m y room, lay on the bed, and c r i e d . Pe r h a p s i t w a s t h e false adver tisement of the h o u s e, t h o u g h i t c o u l d h a v e been that my family and friends were thousands of m i l e s a w a y. We e k s w e n t b y a n d i t f e l t
l i ke t h i n g s w e r e t u r n i n g a n e w l e a f. M y I t a l i a n a n d Fr e n c h - C a n a d i a n housemates took me grocer y shopping, drove me around and we all shared a love for f itness, all get ting g ym memberships. Classes at RMIT star ted and I knew I wanted to use the courses in media and comms to advance my craf t.
position of Designer seems l i ke s u c h a b i g t a s k , i n order to be who I want to b e, I h a v e n o c h o i c e b u t to rise to the occasion. I ’v e l o v e d u s i n g m y s k i l l s i n p h o t o g r a p hy a n d photoshop to develop the m a g a z i n e, b u t I s t i l l h a v e y e t t o m a s t e r I n D e s i g n . I t ’s a c o n t i n u o u s b a t t l e, b u t I know I will end vic torious.
A s I ’m c u l t i v a t i n g m y o w n b r a n d , ‘ M i l a n S t u d i o s ’, which I want to turn into a publication, I felt Magazine Wr i t i n g a n d Ed i t i n g w a s t h e p e r f e c t c o u r s e t o t a ke o n . In the classroom, I noticed it was the exact same structure as a standard classroom in my home u n i v e r s i t y, w h i c h w a s comfor ting. That comfor t was shor t lived though. The teacher informed me the class had star ted two w e e k s a g o. I n e e d e d t o p l a y c a t c h u p.
Overall, my experience at RMIT has been one of self actualisation.
When I found out we were going to be making a n i s s u e f o r a m a g a z i n e, I knew this was the per fect o p p o r t u n i t y. W h i l e t h e
Life throws you random cur veballs that can bring you to your knees, but I ’m c o n t i n u o u s l y l e a r n i n g t h e a r t o f p e r s i s t e n c e, perseverance and the s i m p l e a c t o f b e i n g a l o n e. I ’m s o t h a n k f u l t h a t t h i s issue of In Bud has allowed me to have a real purpose a t R M I T, p a r t i c u l a r l y w h e n o n e c a n r e a l l y f e e l i nv i s i b l e and alone in a foreign c o u n t r y. Qwest Briggs
photo: Shannyn Higgins
Katherine Smyrk is a dedicated journalist, a k i n d e d i t o r i a l e y e, a n d s h e ’s s i t t i n g across the classroom answering our s t u d e n t l y - a s ke d q u e s t i o n s . T h e t r o u g h b e t w e e n u s i s n o t a d e e p o n e. I t w a s n ’t too long ago that Katherine sat on our s i d e o f t h e d e s k a t R M I T, “ F o c u s s i n g a lot on my grades and less on get ting e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e r e a l w o r l d ,” a n d n o w h e r d a y j o b i s D e p u t y Ed i t o r a t T h e B i g I s s u e (T B I ). S h e h a s m u c h t o p a s s o n t o the aspiring writers and editors of RMIT and beyond.
Katherine approaches these stories with kindness and an acute understanding of h e r s i g n i f i c a n c e a s a n e d i t o r. “ I t ’s w h o t h e y a r e a n d i t ’s w h a t t h e y w a nt to te l l … I t ’s i m p o r ta nt to u s to u s e t h e i r v o i c e a s o p p o s e d to u s p a r a p h r a s i n g w h a t t h e y ’r e saying, or giving a description and adding a f e w q u o te s . B e c a u s e t h e n y o u ’r e p u t t i n g your own assumptions, your own biases in t h e p i e c e ”. S h e n o t e s t h a t i t w o u l d h a v e been invaluable to have been told this while studying, as this awareness is, at times, universally useful.
Af ter graduating, and beyond interning with Ar ts Hub and The Conversation, K a t h e r i n e ’s b e s t p i e c e o f a d v i c e t o a l u m n i is to hustle the individual you aspire to b e. “ H a v i n g c o f f e e s w i t h p e o p l e t h a t y o u a d m i r e w a s a g r e a t t i p s o m e b o d y g a v e m e. Pe o p l e l o v e ta l k i n g a b o u t t h e m s e l v e s ”, t h e r o o m m u r m u r s i n a g r e e m e n t . “ S a y, ‘ H e y, I ’d r e a l l y l o v e to p i c k y o u r b r a i n s a b o u t h o w y o u g o t w h e r e y o u a r e? ’” T h i s d o e s n ’t a l w a y s w o r k i n y o u r f a v o u r s h e s a y s , t h o u g h i n h e r o w n e x p e r i e n c e, “ I b a s i c a l l y to l d t h i s g u y, ‘ Yo u ’r e g o i n g to b e my m e nto r n o w.’ A n d h e w a s l i ke, ‘ O h … O ka y.’ N o w h e ’s a g o o d f r i e n d .” H a v i n g this friend in her corner helped round the rough edge of entering the dreaded i n d u s t r y.
Beyond her sensitivit y to her work, Katherine is also proud to have plat formed voices that of ten go unheard, a touchstone o f w o r k i n g a t T B I. A s t a n d o u t w a s a p h o t o series produced by prisoners who hand wrote a let ter to their former selves. These were then published alongside photos f r o m t h e i r l i v e s . “ We a c t u a l l y g o t q u i te a f e w r e sp o n s e s . I r e m e m b e r o n e f r o m t h i s w o m a n w h o h a d a l w a y s t h o u g ht p r i s o n e r s w e r e t h e s e n o h o p e r s [a n d] d i s m i s s e d t h e m e nt i r e l y. T h i s m a d e h e r s e e t h e m a s h u m a n s , t h a t p e o p l e m a ke m i s ta ke s . T h a t w a s j u s t a r e a l l y b e a u t i f u l m o m e nt .”
Five years at TBI has her intimate with the unique set of challenges working with vulnerable stories and voices poses.
T h e r e ’s a p p l a u s e f r o m t h e c l a s s . K a t h e r i n e s p e a k s w a r m l y w i t h o u r l e c t u r e r, t h e n l e a v e s . A n d I t h i n k t o m y s e l f, A m I g o i n g to a s k Ka t h e r i n e o u t f o r c o f f e e? Duncan Strachan
R M I T I N T E R S E C T, E x h i b i t i o n: Ve s t i g e s , E n a r d e D i o s R o d r i g u e z
A disregarded gallery that’s worth a closer look. ’v e w a l ke d p a s t P r o j e c t S p a c e, t h e g a l l e r y o n l e v e l t w o o f b u i l d i n g 9 4, e v e r y d a y f o r t w o y e a r s a n d n e v e r o n c e s t r o l l e d i n . N o t f o r l a c k o f c u r i o s i t y. I o f t e n l i n g e r b y t h e o u t s i d e w i n d o w o r n o t i c e t h e s i g n ‘G a l l e r y O p e n ’ w h i l e I w a i t t o o l o n g f o r t h e l i f t s . M a y b e i t ’s t h e b a r r e n f l o o r – I p i c t u r e s o m e o n e r e a d y t o p o u n c e w i t h s m a l l t a l k . W h e n e v e r I e n t e r a s t o r e, I ’m a r m e d w i t h “J u s t l o o k i n g ” t o s e n d t h e s h o p ke e p e r aw a y. T h a t l i n e w o u l d n ’t w o r k i n a g a l l e r y.
But there is no bell hanging from t h e d o o r w a y a t P r o j e c t S p a c e, n o w a n d e r i n g e y e. Ve r i t y H a y w a r d w o r k s i n a t i ny o f f i c e b e t w e e n t h e a u t o m a t i c entr y doors of level two and the galler y – blink on the way to the lif t a n d y o u ’l l m i s s i t . T h e I N T ER S EC T team, managed by the School of Ar t, run six creative projec ts that together form a dynamic program of exhibitions, residencies, creative laboratories, talks and events. They use contemporar y ar t as a way to enrich our universit y and wider c o m m u n i t y. Ve r i t y c o o r d i n a t e s t w o o f t h e s e s p a c e s i n b u i l d i n g 9 4, P r o j e c t Space and the adjacent Spare Room, which can be accessed through a door w i t h i n P r o j e c t S p a c e. E x h i b i t i o n s m a y co - exist in the two spaces, one ac ting a s a c o u n t e r p o i n t o r l i n k t o t h e o t h e r. “ We p u t a s i g n o u t t h e f r o nt, b u t w e d o s e e p e o p l e s ta n d i n g t h e r e a s k i n g i f t h e y c a n g o i n ,” s h e s a y s . I n o d a l o n g , p r e t e n d i n g I ’m n o t o n e o f t h e m . “ We w a nt to b r i n g i n c u r r e nt, r e l e v a nt a n d e x c i t i n g c o nte m p o r a r y a r t t h a t s h o w s s t u d e nt s s o m e t h i n g t h e y m a y n o t s e e e v e r y d a y,” Ve r i t y e x p l a i n s . “ We ’r e n o t p r e s e nt i n g s ta t i c a r t w o r k o n t h e w a l l to b e l o o ke d a t . I t ’s a b o u t i d e a s .” Projec t Space was home to the work of En a r d e D i o s R o d r i g u e z i n S e p t e m b e r, an ar tist from Spain who lives and c r e a t e s i n V i e n n a . H e r p r o j e c t Ve s t i g e s looks at our insatiable demand for s a n d – a r e s o u r c e a s f i n i t e a s w a t e r, t h o u g h n o t n e a r l y t a l ke d a b o u t a s much. Beach nourishment, where sand
is mined from one place and dumped i n a n o t h e r, i s d o i n g i r r e p a r a b l e d a m a g e. “ I n M a j o r c a , a l l t h e s a n d i s b r o u g ht i n f r o m D u b a i ,” s a y s Ve r i t y. “ T h e y b r i n g i n s a n d f o r to u r i s t b e a c h e s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d – t h e y ’r e n o t a u t h e nt i c a ny m o r e.” While showcasing work at Projec t S p a c e i s o p e n t o a r t i s t s v i a i nv i t a t i o n – through par tnerships with festivals and residencies – First Site Galler y on Sw a n s t o n St , a l s o u n d e r I N T ER S EC T ’s umbrella, is open for students to exhibit – and not just from the School of Ar t. “ [F i r s t S i te G a l l e r y] ’s a b o u t c r o s sc o l l a b o r a t i o n ,” s h e s a y s . “ T h e y w a nt to e n c o u r a g e w r i t i n g p r o j e c t s a n d a l l s o r t s o f i d e a s i n t h a t s p a c e.” Through a f if teen-minute conversation, Projec t Space has transitioned from a window my friends lean against while smoking, and a door I rush past to get to class, into a space of contemporar y ar t and challenging ideas. I wish I had used t h e t w o y e a r s I ’v e s t u d i e d h e r e a s a window of oppor tunit y to engage s o o n e r. F o l l o w @R M I T_ I n t e r s e c t f o r u p c o m i n g e x h i b i t i o n s a n d e v e n t s o r, w h e n y o u ’r e n e x t l i n g e r i n g b y t h e window or lif ts, just walk in. Stephanie Bal
How to go about public transpor t Digital drawing 2 01 9
Q u e e n R oz i Digital Drawing 2 01 9
I ’m g o i n g t o h e l l f o r s u r e Analogue collage 2 01 9
p h o t o: M PA N
Melbourne’s favourite pastime takes a new face. I never would have thought something as simple as f o r g e t t i n g m y Ke e p C u p would introduce me to one o f M e l b o u r n e ’s g r e a t e s t advocacy initiatives. Cof fee on Cardigan is somewhat a staple in the life of a student in b u i l d i n g 9 4. I t ’s a p l a c e to caf feinate and fuel up between classes, get that ex tra bit of work done and even relax in the sun o n M e l b o u r n e ’s w a r m e r d a y s . H o w e v e r, t h e c a f e ’s s p e c i a l i t y i s i n t h e n a m e, c o f f e e. A n d r e c e n t l y, C o f f e e o n C a r d i g a n ’s traditional brown, d i s p o s a b l e c u p s w e r e n ’t to be seen. Instead, they were replaced by brightly coloured, biodegradable cups featuring illustrations o f p e o p l e. A t f i r s t , I
thought it was just a commissioned ar tist shamelessly promoting their work, but a closer look told me the stor y of Owen Redman. Owen is from Brunswick and has been missing for twent yeight years. His brother is still searching for him. A reimagining of the old missing-persons’ milk car ton concept, the Missing Persons Advocac y Net work (M PA N) c u p s f e a t u r e e i g h t m i s s i n g p e o p l e. O w e n i s o n e o f t h e m . E a c h c u p ’s ar twork is coupled with a 10 0 - w o r d i n s i g h t i n t o t h e i r l i f e. T h e n e t w o r k ’s f o u n d e r a n d C EO, L o r e n O ’Ke e f e, explains that this campaign a i m s t o “r e p l a c e s ta r k , g r a i ny m i s s i n g - p e r s o n s ’ p h o to s w i t h h u m a n r e f l e c t i o n s a n d s to r i e s ”.
By capturing an essence of the person and their life on t h e c u p, w i t h t h e h e l p o f the family of these missing p e r s o n s a n d a r t i s t s , M PA N is raising awareness during M i s s i n g P e r s o n s We e k f o r the 38,0 0 0 Australians who go missing ever y year – for t h e 10 0 w h o g o m i s s i n g e v e r y d a y. E a c h c u p i s a t o o - s h o r t s t o r y. E s t a b l i s h e d i n 2 0 1 3, M PA N b e g a n a f t e r f o u n d e r L o r e n O ’Ke e f e ’s b r o t h e r Dan disappeared in July 2 011 . D a n ’s d i s a p p e a r e n c e prompted the campaign Dan Come Home that at trac ted national media at tention. Loren was moved when, in response to the Dan Come Home campaign, millions of other f a m i l i e s r e a c h e d o u t t o h e r, distraught by their own
experience of a loved ones’ d i s a p p e a r a n c e. M PA N i s a proud voice for missing persons and their families. I n 2 0 1 9, t h i r t y - t w o Melbourne cafes replaced their cof fee cups, t w e l v e m o r e t h a n 2 01 8 , including major par tner M e l b o u r n e C r i c ke t G r o u n d . Alongside this campaign, M PA N a l s o h a s o t h e r initiatives that call upon students, volunteers and professionals to get i nv o l v e d . The cof fee cup initiative i s a p a r t o f M PA N ’s free online tool The Unmissables, a program designed to help families connect with fresh resources to aid in the search for their loved ones by pairing them
with volunteering ar tists and writers. Through this online plat form, creatives have the oppor tunit y to collaborate with families and raise awareness for missing person cases n a t i o n w i d e, g r a n t i n g families the oppor tunit y to access free suppor t a n d s k i l l s . Wr i t e r s , a r t i s t s , photographers and c r e a t i v e s a l i ke h a v e h e l p e d out, creating ar tworks, murals, and graf fiti pieces around Melbourne that remind us of our c i t y ’s m i s s i n g p e o p l e. B y creating a profile on The U n m i s s a b l e ’s w e b s i t e, creatives can sign up to a p r o j e c t , a n d h e l p m a ke t h e m i s s a b l e, u n m i s s a b l e.
star t on projec ts that help families in need. Although Missing Persons We e k i s o v e r, m a ke s u r e t o ke e p y o u r e y e o u t f o r t h e c o f f e e c u p s t h a t ’l l b e p o p p i n g u p n e x t y e a r. Abbey Smith
Wa n t t o g e t i n v o l v e d? H e a d to theunmissables.com to of fer your talent and
p h o t o: M PA N
Ev e r y t h i n g i s C o p y D o c u m e n t a r y (H B O/ F o x t e l) T h e w r i t e r o f W h e n H a r r y M e t S a l l y (1 9 8 9) a n d S l e e p l e s s i n S e a t t l e (1 9 93), N o r a Ephron, publicly shared ever y thing but h e r d e a t h . H e r n o v e l H e a r t b u r n (1 9 8 6) was an intimate retelling of her marriage breakdown, and her essay collec tion I F e e l B a d a b o u t M y N e c k (2 0 0 6) d o e s n ’t s hy aw a y f r o m t h e g r i e f o f a g i n g . Ye t i n t e r v i e w s w i t h f a m i l y, f r i e n d s a n d c o l l e a g u e s – i n c l u d i n g To m H a n k s , M e g Ryan and Mer yl Streep – reveal that t h e y d i d n ’t k n o w s h e w a s d y i n g u n t i l i t happened. Jacob Bernstein looks at the life a n d l e g a c y o f h i s m o t h e r, a n d a g r i e v i n g communit y tr y to understand the secrecy o f t h e w o m a n t h e y a d m i r e. A m u s t- s e e f o r w r i t e r s a n d f i l m m a ke r s a l i ke.
E v e r y t h i n g i s C o p y, I M D B
SHUT TERSTOCK
‘What we learn when we choose to live alone’ – Katherine Smyrk Article K a t h e r i n e S m y r k , D e p u t y Ed i t o r a t T h e B i g I s s u e, i s i n t o u c h w i t h w h a t i t i s t o l i v e a l o n e. S h e ’s r e c e n t l y m o v e d aw a y f r o m the f ive- to six-person share houses – p l a c e s w h e r e i t ’s n o t u n l i ke l y t o g e t b a c k from work to an “impromptu par t y for the Por tuguese couch sur fer who is about to depar t for a van trip around Australia” – a n d s h e ’s n o w w r i t i n g a b o u t i t . K a t h e r i n e also speaks to this experience in her c o n t r i b u t i o n t o D u a l i t y, a M e l b o u r n e Wr i t e r s F e s t i v a l e x p e r i m e n t a l i n s t a l l a t i o n t h a t w a s h o s t e d a t K R S B a r. K a t h e r i n e i s o n e t o l o o k o u t f o r, w h e t h e r s h e ’s w r i t i n g a b o u t l i v i n g a l o n e o r o t h e r w i s e.
B a k e r D. C h i r i c o Patisserie D a n i e l C h i r i c o o p e n e d h i s b a ke r y i n t h e hear t of Carlton a few years back. A step i n s i d e t h e t i ny b a ke r y w i l l i n t r o d u c e y o u t o m o r e t h a n h i s p a s s i o n f o r b a ke d g o o d s , y o u ’l l a l s o t a ke i n h i s e y e f o r a r c h i t e c t u r e and design. The venue is reminiscent of a s a u n a . B e h i n d t h e r e g i s t e r, t h e r e i s a w a l l o f s l a t t e d t i m b e r, a d o r n e d w i t h b a ke d breads, pastries and sweets. If all things g l u t e n a p p e a l s t o y o u , t h e r e ’s n o p l a c e b e t t e r f o r a n i n d u l g e n t b e f o r e /a f t e r- c l a s s b i t e. Yo u ’l l f i n d a f e w s m a l l t a b l e s a n d c h a i r s o u t s i d e, s h a r e d w i t h h i s n e i g h b o u r s , M a r ke t L a n e C o f f e e. P l e n t y o f r o o m i n t h e s u n t o e n j o y a p a s t r y a n d a c o f f e e.
@b a k e r d c h i r i c o I n s t a g r a m
S h e ’s o n t h e M o n e y, S t i c h e r
S h e ’s o n t h e M o n e y Podcast S h e ’s o n t h e M o n e y i s a n e w s e r i e s f o r millennials, t ypically women, wanting financial freedom. No one is too economically sav v y or too much of a beginner to get something out of this podcast. Episodes include ‘ The Psycholog y o f S a v i n g ’, a n d ‘ I nv e s t m e n t s a n d H o u s e D e p o s i t s ’. P l u s , f o r a l l t h e s t i c k y b e a k s o u t t h e r e, t h i s p o d c a s t h a s a s e g m e n t i n e v e r y e p i s o d e t h a t d e e p d i v e s i n t o a p e r s o n ’s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h m o n e y : t h e i r i n c o m e, i n v e s t m e n t s (i f a ny) a n d a ny s a v i n g s g o a l s , right down to the figure sit ting in their b a n k a c c o u n t . S h e ’s o n t h e M o n e y a i m s t o c r e a t e a n i n c l u s i v e e nv i r o n m e n t f o r women, while teaching us that the lesson o f c o m p a r i s o n d o e s n ’t a l w a y s n e e d t o b e a bad thing.
From small beginnings studying short courses at RMIT, to completing her Masters in Fashion Design and Technology, Kim Clarke is making her mark in Australian fashion through the amalgamation of her cultures. Writer Danielle Tarroza sits with Kim to pick her brain on pushing boundaries and innovation within the fashion industry.
DT: I ’m e x c i t e d t o s e e w h a t y o u ’r e w o r k i n g o n . S o, t a l k to me about your current c o l l e c t i o n? KC: I ’m c o m b i n i n g t h e s i l h o u e t te o f t h e We s te r n trench- coat and the Vietnamese t r a d i t i o n a l d r e s s a s my p l a t f o r m . I b r o u g ht i n t h e te c h n i q u e s o f c r a f t i n g a n d e m b r o i d e r y a n d I ’v e ke p t t h e g u n f l a p a n d s to r m p o c ke t s s t r u c t u r e s w i t h i n my d e s i g n . I t ’s a r e p r e s e nta t i o n o f breaking the boundaries and l i m i ta t i o n s o f b e i n g o n e t h i n g . S e p a r a te l y, t h e s e c u l t u r e s a r e b e a u t i f u l . To g e t h e r, t h e s e r e p r e s e nt u n i t y a n d w h o I a m . DT: S p e a k i n g t o u n i t y a n d crossing cultures, recently there has been more of a welcome for diversit y – within c i n e m a f o r e x a m p l e, ‘C r a z y R i c h A s i a n s ’. D o y o u t h i n k t h a t ’s t h e c a s e i n t h e f a s h i o n i n d u s t r y, t h a t t h e r e ’s i n c l u s i v i t y? KC: I t h i n k i t h a s to c h a n g e. Diversity in ever y single thing. I t n e e d s to b e a b i g t h i n g . We ’r e n o t i n d i v i d u a l p e o p l e w h o l i v e i n t h e w o r l d . We l i v e as a community and if we d o n’t t r y to c o n n e c t w i t h e a c h o t h e r i n s o m e w a y, t h e n w e a r e i n c o m p l e te. S o, f o r m e, I w a nt to b r i n g out the unknown cultures. For e x a m p l e, t h e H m o n g c u l t u r e.
DT: Te l l m e a b o u t t h e H m o n g c u l t u r e. KC: H m o n g i s a m i n o r i t y g r o u p w h o live in the far nor th of Vietnam. T h e i r te c h n i q u e i s p u r e l y o r g a n i c . They produce ever ything by hand. I n my l a s t c o l l e c t i o n , I u s e d H m o n g f a b r i c . S o , I ’v e c r e a te d p i e c e s to c e l e b r a te w o r k s c r e a te d b y t h e h a n d s o f p e o p l e. DT: T h a t s p e a k s v e r y t r u e t o t h e i s s u e s w e h a v e n o w, p a r t i c u l a r l y with fast fashion and excessive consumerism. KC: O n e o f t h e t h i n g s w e s h o u l d n’t f o r g e t i s t h e f u n d a m e nta l . We u s e d to l i v e l i ke t h a t [d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g b y h a n d] a n d i f w e d o n’t b r i n g i t b a c k a n d n u r t u r e t h a t , w e w o n’t h a v e t h a t i n t h e f u t u r e. B u t i f y o u do your bit and others do their bit, w e p u t i t a l l to g e t h e r a n d t h a t w i l l m a ke a c h a n g e. B e i n g u n i f i e d i s g o o d , b u t [ i t i s] a l s o m a i nta i n i n g t h e c u l t u r e s . F o r m e, i nt r o d u c i n g t h e d i f f e r e nt c u l t u r e s to o t h e r c u l t u r e s a n d u n d e r s ta n d i n g i t u l t i m a te l y [l e a d s to] u n d e r s ta n d i n g , t h a t d i f f e r e nt c u l t u r e s b r i n g u s to g e t h e r. The world should be open minded a n d g e n e r o u s [ i n c u l t u r e].
D o w n: 1 . H e a d (s l a n g ) — B e a s l a c k e r (4) 2. Vivid writ ten or oral descriptions (7) 3 . Tr o p i c a l f r u i t (5) 6 . C l e o p a t r a ’s s u p p o s e d n e m e s i s (3) 7. D o c u m e n t d e s t r o y e r (8) 8 . O b t a i n e d d i s h o n e s t l y (3 - 6 ) 9. S i g n o f a p p r o v a l (6 , 2) 1 3 . S p h e r e (3) 14 . A n n o y e d (5) 1 5 . O p t i m a l (4) Across:
1 9. A t l e a s t h a l f t h e t i m e (2 , 5 , 2 , 3)
4 . F r e e b i e (8)
2 0 . G i r l s n a m e — C o l o u r (6 )
5 . A a r d v a r k (8)
2 1 . H a l t (4)
7. S t i n g i n g a r a c h n i d (8) 10. Gentle breeze 1 1 . G r a t i f y (6 ) 1 2 . T h e r e f o r e (4) 16 . N a t i v e w i t (4) 17. C i t y n o t b u i l t i n a d a y (4) 1 8 . R e l a t i n g t o b i r t h (5) 2 2 . F o r t y - s e v e n t i m e s t w i c e (6 - 4)
Zaniest thing in your backpack, go
‘It ’s fresh, but I’ve had these in here for two
‘A bag I keep all my coins and notes in. I’ve
‘I’ve got a whole bag of tea bags just in case I’m
years. I used to sleep around with girls and I
never been able to find a wallet and when I
stranded anywhere and have to make tea.’
never knew when I was going to, so just in case
take it out I feel like a little troll with a sack
– Vee
I sleep over I’ve always got these.’
of coins.’
– Kara
– Frankie
Answer sheet Down 1. Loaf, 2. Imagery, 3. Mango, 6. Asp, 7. Shredder, 8. Ill-gotten, 9. Thumbs up, 13.Orb, 14. Cross, 15. Best, 19. As often as not, 20. Violet, 21. Stop Across 4. Giveaway, 5. Anteater, 7. Scorpion, 10. Zephyr, 11.Please,12. Ergo, 16. Nous,17. Rome, 18. Natal, 22. Ninety-four
Rubyanna Edwards T h e F o o l i n Ev e H a v e y o u g o t a c o i n? U m m , m a y b e, o h , y e a h , I d o —f o u n d o n e o n t h e street this morning. S e e m s a p p r o p r i a te. Ye a h , y e a h i t d o e s . We ’l l f l i p t h e c o i n to decide between The Fool i n Ev e a n d T h e Tr a i n? O ka y. H e a d s o r ta i l s? Ta i l s … Ta i l s f o r T h e F o o l—s h e i s m e. O ka y, I ’m g o i n g to f l i p, c a tc h , t h e n f l i p i t o n t h e b a c k o f my h a n d , i s t h a t a l l g o o d? U m , y e a h , s u r e. Fl i p s c o i n . Ta i l s i t i s . Oh…
Rubyanna is a Melbourne-based ar tist who is obsessed with digital ar t. Her work is vibrant a n d e x i s t e n t i a l , c o n j u r i n g u p a s e n s e o f a w o r l d t h a t i s s a l l o w a n d s a t u r a t e d i n c o l o u r. Through experimental video that focuses on the drawing process and digital disruption, her work of fers a wild bewitchment of line and colour – her por t folio broad, traumatised a n d c o n t e m p o r a r y.