Neometro Issue 3

NEOMETRO ISSUE # 3 - NOVEMBER

Welcome. In this newsletter we are pleased to announce the upcoming auction of number 283 Bank St. Located moments from iconic St Vincent Gardens, and just a short stroll from Victoria Avenue in Albert Park, this town house integrates all aspects of design, development and construction with Neometro’s signature use of architectural materials and finishes.

We invite you to inspect this elegant and ideal home on Saturdays 12:30-1pm, Sundays 2-2:30pm and Wednesdays 5-5:30pm until final auction on December 5th at 12:30pm.

In the meantime, we hope that you glean inspiration from some of the people and ideas that have inspired us over the past weeks, including founder of the Melbourne Fashion Festival Mr Robert Buckingham, Australian art star Ricky Swallow, the sound of rain, and the use of architectural approaches in unexpected areas.

Click here for more
information about Bank St

Yours Sincerely,
Jeff Provan and James Tutton

www.neometro.com.au

Mr Robert Buckingham

1. Who are you and what do you do?

Robert Buckingham. I run a small creative direction agency called Mr Buckingham, and I am the Australian associate of UK-based trend forecasters, The Future Laboratory.

2. What has been your greatest challenge?

Establishing the Fashion Design Council in the 1980s and the Melbourne Fashion Festival in the 1990s. The FDC was a force of nature because of the people and the times, whereas the MFF was much more structured and considered. I had six months to develop the creative and program mix with the new MFF board, State Government, industry and cultural players. Keeping things fresh and relevant every year is always a challenge.

3. Tell us about a memorable moment.

My favourite fashion event was probably The FDC’s ‘FASHION ’87: Revolt into Style’ show at the faded Palais Theatre in St Kilda. It ran for three nights and I was backstage with the mess of 140 non-professional models, too many make-up artists and hairdressers, and 30 or so designers. One designer required the model to be laced up so tight she had to be out of the corset 45 seconds after coming offstage or she’d certainly die!

I also loved watching legendary model Veruschka being made up by the famous ’80s make-up artist, Richard Sierra, as he used surgical tape and string to pull Veruschka’s face miraculously back to its 1960s perfection.

4. Who do you work with on your projects?

I think I’ve probably worked with everyone in Melbourne who’s done something interesting in the past 20 years. My mentor and dear friend, the late graphic designer and illustrator Robert Pearce, always taught me to seek out the best - in design, graphics, production, photography and fashion - and to not be threatened by people who are much more talented than myself. I think I’m a good collaborator.

5. Where to now?

I’m currently working on the re-launch of Circa at The Prince, and also on the opening of a new winery in Red Hill called Port Phillip Estate. I’ve just completed research on Melbourne’s Retail Strategy with The Future Laboratory and am providing ideas to the Victoria Racing Club for the evolution of Oaks Day. When I set up Mr Buckingham, my objective was to work on interesting projects with people I liked, and fortunately I’ve managed to keep doing this.

FEATURES

Endless Rain Record – Kyouei Design

In order to survive the heat of summer, we require some cunning tricks of the mind and there aren’t many sounds more soothing than rainfall on an oven-like afternoon. Produced by Kyouei Design for the RAIN exhibition — part of Taiwan Designer’s Week 2009 — their Endless Rain Record is the perfect accompaniment to an Australian Summer and a great design piece for your apartment and/or record collection. With tracks like Droop Sound, you can pour yourself a cold drink, close your eyes and bring the rainforest to your lounge room. The Endless Rain Record is available online from the Kyouei Design website.

Shigenobu Twilight - Anicka Yi & Maggie Peng

In some way, the fragrance that you wear defines you. It impacts the present as well as your memories of the past. Shigenobu Twilight is the limited edition fragrance from a collaboration between New York-based artist Anicka Yi and architect Maggie Peng. It has as much impact on your shelf as it does on your skin. The packaging is made of raw cedar wood, each one uniquely hand-cut in architectural geometry, which encases a 10ml glass bottle of hand-distilled fragrance. Inspired by Fusako Shigenobu, the leader of the Japanese Red Army who was exiled to Lebanon, the scent uses cedar wood (cedar is regarded as Lebanon’s national emblem) as its base note along with violet leaf and nutty heart notes, and top notes of yuzu, shiso leaf, and black pepper. Shigenobu Twilight is available online here.

The Bricoleur – Ricky Swallow

When translated directly from the French, Le Bricoleur means handyman, or DIY enthusiast. However, there is also another layer of meaning that describes a person who creates work based on the materials or inspiration found in their immediate environment. Ricky Swallow’s current exhibition at the NGV Australia is a reminder of the importance of these materials, these things that surround us. As the curator of contemporary art, Dr Alex Baker aptly summarises: “Things have lives. We are our things. We are things. When all is said an done it is our things – our material possessions – that outlive us.” Combining past and current wood-based sculpture, recent bronze castings, and even Swallow’s paintings, The Bricoleur is a carefully considered exhibition that provides stunning insights into the depth of his practice. The Bricoleur runs until February 28, 2010 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, in Federation Square.

Image credit:
Ricky Swallow
born Australia 1974, lived in England 2003–06,
United States 2006 -

The Bricoleur 2006 (detail)
Jelutong (Dyera costulata)
122.0 x 25.0 x 25.0 cm
Private collection
@ Ricky Swallow
Photo: Courtesy Stuart Shave/Modern Art, London