'HEADCASE' by NANAMI COWDROY @ DISORDER GALLERY.
HEADCASE is a collection inspired by the craziness in the world over the last 2-years and a desire to escape into the playfulness, curiosity and love of nature we feel as children.
Stuck inside and unable to travel, and being bombarded with daily images of illness, waste, displacement and suffering has turned many of us into ‘headcases’. Working as an artist on your own, in a private space can sometimes only add to this sense of anguish and isolation.
I’ve really needed to break away from an overwhelming sense of adult complexity and return to the simple essence and innocence of a child’s mind. In particular the innate, inquisitive and playful love we have for animals and nature.
I wanted to celebrate their purity of spirit and how animals live in the moment, and how drawn to this we are as children. I’ve loved watching animal and nature documentaries since I was a little girl, it has always stirred my curiosity and made me feel a sense of wonder.
As part of the creative process for these pieces, I studied photos of animals for hours (birds, bees, frogs, fish) after a while you start to see unique, individual characteristics emerging in their facial and body expressions (coyness, humour, confusion, happiness, sadness, fear). I’ve tried to reflect these subtle animal expressions through the mind of a curious child.
Headcase started from the helpless and trapped feelings of the last 2 years and became a way to heal and connect with a precious and hidden child within me.
Each Headcase piece took about 2+ months to create using graphite pencils, watercolours, pen, Japanese black & white ink on fine art watercolour, 100% cotton rag paper.
WHERE : Disorder Gallery, Door 108, Corner of Stanley & Bourke Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, AUSTRALIA
WHEN : April 27th through May 8th 2022
Below are some work-in-progress Artwork images, as well as some image stills from the final Approved motion animation.
Very excited and honoured to be part of RISE EXHIBITION. An exhibition to benefit those impacted by the Australian bushfires. The exhibition is taking place at The Carriage Works, Sydney. 11th - 20th March 2020.
An epic line-up of local and international Artists are all creating works for an online silent auction - using charcoal collected from the burnt trees.
The concept behind my piece "Smoking Souls" reflects the spirits of the lost wildlife (kangaroo’s) fleeing the fires in the form of smoke. The burnt corner of my canvas symbolises the fires, the thick / thin charcoal strokes and splatters symbolising the charred trees and ash filled winds carrying their souls away.
"Smoking Souls" is a mixed media composition using charcoal, Japanese Ink (black and white), Pastel on 100% Cotton watercolour paper. Size width 102 x height 66cm. My chosen charities to donate monies raised from my artwork are WIRES -and- Kangaroo Island Wildlife Fund.
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Like many, I have been so overwhelmed and deeply heart broken witnessing the recent catastrophic bushfires which have been engulfing Australia from coast to coast... which, even now, continue to burn out of control. The devastation these fires are causing is unprecedented. People have lost loved ones, their homes and the WWF has reported that thousands of native Australian wildlife have died during these fires, their natural habitats having been wiped out and destroyed.
It staggers belief, that one of our most famous animals - the Koala - could now be facing extinction. According to the World Wildlife Fund, Australia :
".. It’s been estimated that around 1.25 billion animals have been killed across Australia to date. This includes thousands of koalas and other iconic species such as kangaroos, wallabies, kookaburras, cockatoos and honeyeaters burnt alive, and many thousands more injured and homeless..."
It shouldn't be this way! As a small contribution, but one I am 100% committed to - I will be donating 20% of all of my White Peace Pin sales towards WWF's Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund. Please read more about what World Wildlife Fund is doing here
To purchase either / both of my Charity Peace Pins, which supports both the WWF.org.au -and- The RedCross.org.au : Please click here
Every dollar counts, Thank You.
I think it's time for a long overdue HARRO! with my family in Tokyo ;)
This piece is my interpretation of Neoclassicism - playing with traditional Japanese Ukiyo-E subjects and styles, combined with contemporary objects, elements and themes.
Being lucky enough to be born and raised in a free country like Australia, where the concept of 'Female Empowerment' being the cultural norm... this quite often led to tensions and struggles at times when I was trying to relate to my okaasan (mother) and her old school, traditional Japanese views and behavioural expectations of how I ( ie, girl / woman / female) should 'be' whilst growing up.
I was often challenged and questioned over how I should -or- should not present myself both privately and publically eg. how to dress, how to behave, how to speak, how to act in public etc. Of course, despite our generational and cultural differences - I know mumma-san always has her heart in the right place and was wanting to do what she thought was in my best interests.
Traditionally women in Japan are raised to be more 'quiet' 'reserved' 'submissive' (*cringe*) . Even today, the Feminism movement and the attainment of Equal Rights for women, still has a very long way to go in Japan... Likewise, even though it has come a long way in Western society - the challenge and battle continues, but thank goodness the dialogue and activism is much more vocal and Open!
This piece reflects a rebellion over some of those cultural expectations which so many Japanese women still face. A Playful reflection on what it means to be 'Female'.
NEWS! Im very proud to say, this artwork has been recognised and showcased on the Design & Art Publication website, Gestalten (Germany) on International Women's Day, 8th March 2019.
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My Tsuru ‘Peace Pins’ are finally ready! Each enamel pin is custom made, and comes on an artist signed, premium cardboard backing. It comes in 2 styles - Black and White -and- Black and Gold.
For every Peace Pin sold, 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Australian Red Cross to help support their everyday humanitarian work locally, and internationally.
Click here to Order a Tsuru Peace Pin now :)
Westfield Carousel together with aMBUSH Gallery approached for a wonderful collaboration, where they asked me to create several large scale murals and internal wall art installations for Westfield Carousel in Perth, Western Australia.
This was such an awesome creative and artistic opportunity and challenge for me - to develop my artworks on a scale which I haven't done before, with the awesome aMBUSH Gallery curating the entire project.
With the company logo - 'MO' - being a boxing octopus (!!) it felt like a PERFECT match of MullenLowe's own creative branding, with my own penchant for watery, quirky sea creatures! Bring it ON :) My concept for the wall art, was to depict 'Mo' embracing various aspects of the agency, through the use of icons / symbols based on the digital & creative services Mullenlowe Profero create and provide worldwide. The title of the Wall Art therefore became "8 Embrace" Symbols and icons such as - iPhones, iPads, Email, Headphones, digital cables, wifi, cloud, brief / ideas, music, digital architecture / strategy graphs, world globe, and the companies signature 'punching glove'.
This project truly became a labour of LOVE. It was an absolute pleasure to be working amongst such a wonderful professional, dedicated and super creative company of people and to unleash my INK onto their revamped, designer walls.
PLUS!! they let me bring in my trusty helper hound 'Crumpet' - only the BEST, MOST FORWARD THINKING companies let you do that, right?! ;) Hahaha
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10am-to-3pm last Friday, I was all set up ready to create my 'Goldfish Ball' piece with easel and canvas. It was a lot of fun! I loved the atmosphere, meeting and chatting to people and saying hi to friends who came along on their lunch break from their offices, to see and support me. Thank you cherubs - you guys are the best! NANA X
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What an awesome guy! Welcome to Sydney Shepard. Such a RAD opening, wonderful to see all my buddies and fellow arty nutbags - Ben Frost, Ben Brown, James Jirat Patradoon, Justin Fox, Danielle Soglimbene and my darling Bill Dimas from aMBUSH Gallery.
Such a thrill to meet one of my idols and champion of low brow, street art, Shepard Fairey. #OBEY #ShepardFairey #aMBUSH
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It's OUT! Thank you MTV for the awesome opportunity to talk to my girl, Ainsley Hutchence from Sticks and Stones agency - about what it means to be a female Artist in today's creative industry. Very proud to represent CURVY, and redefining what it means to be "LADYLIKE". CLICK HERE to Watch Episode 2 of MTV-ITgirls.
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Very Excited and honoured to have been asked by Curvy_World and MTV to be interviewed and profiled as one of MTV's "ITgirls" - Women in the Creative Industry. I was interviewed by none other than the vivacious, fun-loving, lady-boss Ainsley Hutchence from Sticks and Stones Agency. To be aired on MTV on the 15th March 2017 - Stay tuned!
After nearly a full day of filming at the Nana Maxi-pad studio, with location, makeup touch-ups and wardrobe changes, courtesy of H&M - it was one heck of a RAD day! one even the rain couldn't dampen! ... Just hope I didn't screw it up with too much Nana-Babble ;) haha. Many thanks to my no.1 right hand man, talent extraordinaire Justin Fox for photographing and memoraxing this special day! X
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I was given the wonderful pleasure of being asked by the gorgeous ladies Meg and Lee, at Baby Likes To Pony, in Darlinghurst Sydney - to create an artwork window display for the launch of Bordelle's newest, stunning collection titled "Nami" (meaning "Wave"). The Collection reflects some beautifully crafted, intricately designed lace patterns inspired by 'Waves' - so it couldn't have been a more fitting collaboration for both of us, my own name "Nana-mi" meaning 'Seven Seas' in Japanese!
I have always been such a fan of the beautiful garments and accessories at Baby Likes To Pony - which are more like artistic, wearable sculptures! So it was my honour to help them show off their newest, uniquely designed 'NAMI' pieces xx
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My new capsule clothing collection has just been released with the awesome Canadian crew at Nuvango! Im very proud to be the selected Artist for November 2016, with a unique range of art inspired mens and womens clothing + accessories featuring my artworks Ink Pond, A Curious Embrace, Cable Cranes. Now available here: www.nuvango.com/collections/nanami-cowdroy Embrace the MONO-RIOT!
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With the big release of the Xbox Gears Of War 4 game, onto the market - I was asked to be 1 of 10 selected, International Artists commissioned to reskin and customise a physical replica of a Gears of War armor and lancer weapon. The newly designed pieces premiered during the live launch broadcast of the game, and shared across social media.
The program runs on Xbox.com and www.gearsofwarart.com and include voting from the public to select the most popular designs to be turned into an in-game skin, available as a DLC. Very Happy and excited to say my armor and weapon received the most votes internationally, to make it into the game!
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Large mural panel artwork commissioned by the good folk at Pusher Espresso Bar. Their good taste in coffee & food goes well with their taste in Art ;) Check it out when you get your next coffee to go! Shop 3/1 Oxford Street, Paddington, NSW, Sydney.
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My new metal watch collection @modifywatches has been released! Shop: www.modify.com/nanamicowdroy. Use Code 'nanami25' gets you 25% off today #wearyourpassion
]]>Nearly completed and newest artwork titled "Samuride". For the first time, I wanted to use to colour in this conceptual piece reflecting a Motorbike / Samurai armour hybrid. This work is a mixed media composition, using reflective gold coloured card, along with Japanese ink, Watercolour, Acrylic, Pen, Spray Paint and Pencil. Layers of paper has been applied on top of Watercolour, Cold-Pressed Sanders-Waterford paper.
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I've always worn my heART on my sleeve... figuratively, as well as literally as of now! :)
Nuvango has now ventured into women and men's clothing (skirts, tee's, tops, leggings) and household items (pillows), in addition to their arty, techie skin covers and framed prints! Naturally, creative worlds has no bounds. Nana x
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Retail giant - Westfield Scentre Group, together with the awesome guys at aMBUSH Gallery, approached me to create one of the biggest projects I've ever had the honour and thrill of working on! A 4 x storey high Art mural in Charlotte Lane, Chatswood (Entrance way into Hawker Lane), Both Men and Women's Amenities and Hoarding / Mural Art and Design throughout the interior of the brand new, Westfield retail complex in Chatswood Sydney.
Main Charlotte Lane, Mural
Hoarding Art
Amenities Artworks
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The Amazing Designer gang at 'This is a limited Edition UK' have raised the bar again - this time in the form of upholstery! My 8 armed mollusk artwork 'A Curious Embrace' has been made into a bespoke piece of furniture with 2 arms :) The 'Curious Embrace Wing-Chair'
Just a small Limited Edition of 33, made to order. Each chair is sequentially numbered with the Certificate of Authenticity printed on the bottom of the chair. What can I say Limited Ed?! I am so beyond Stoked to be Bespoke!! I hope you like it too, Nana x
]]>Happy to Partner up and collaborate with my friends at Modify Watches, USA.
I have created a collection of 4 inky time pieces for this launch, please hcheck them out.
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Launched at last! My ‘Tsuru’ MinusA2 model, Arty-Air purifier by the fresh, cool gang at Rabbit Air.
Time to breathe easy and unblock the Sydney Winter sinus… ahhh!
click here to find out more.
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GelaSkin’s has just released my latest artwork titled “A Curious Embrace” on a range of devices including iPhones, iPads, Laptops and more.
I’ve been working with Brian from Gelaskins from the very beginning and they’ve had my back all the way. By purchasing my GelaSkins you’re protecting your gear and supporting me at the same time.
Click here to view my “A Curious Embrace” GelaSkins (you can select which device/s you own) and click here to view all of my GelaSkin art.
]]>Rabbit Air will soon release this MinusA2 air purifier featuring my Tsuru piece. Visit: www.rabbitair.com
]]>Australia/New Zealand feature in this month’s SHOTS Magazine. Visit: http://www.shots.net
Magazine cover.
The main feature article cover.
]]>Gourmantic have just published a feature on last week’s Smirnoff Start Pure Gallery Launch. It’s not too late to visit the show (it ends this week!), for the full feature visit: http://www.gourmantic.com/2012/03/02/smirnoff-start-pure-gallery-launch-beastman-nanami/
More coverage on mecho.
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