Here you go, folks! Some snapshots from my little trip to Sydney a few weeks ago. I took some lame photos of the Opera House as well, but for some reason I find it more interesting to photograph tourists who in turn photograph this highly overrated piece of archetecture, so no photos of that here... I learned however that the granite tiles that cover the building's roof is all imported from Sweden. Wow. Good to know. This trip to Australia's biggest city (not capital city) was a nice one, but confusing. The roads did not make sense and I constantly felt lost while trying to find the way to places. However nice the city was, I have to say, when comparing Ausralian cities, I'm TOTALLY Team Melbourne.
In high school I used to get obsessed with a couple of movies. They were beyond favourite movies and I could sometimes completely dissappear into them, I guess like a typical teenager who seeks escapism in a small town. I've been longing for a movie like that; a movie that could completely sweap me away, to take my mind elsewhere and send it into a new direction. I've been craving it. Which is why I feel so excited to tell you about this movie I saw the other day; Black Swan. What can I say other than that Natalie Portman deserves at least two Oscars for her performance. The story is quite simple; Nina is a ballerina. She gets the part as Swan Queen/ Black Swan in the ballet copany's new take on Swan Lake. She is the perfect pick for Swan Queen; innocent, perfect and beautiful. But to do the role as the evil twin Black Swan, she has to go into the scary territory of letting loose. Which turns into more than just a role, obviously. What I liked most about this film was the complexed yet simple psychology of Portman's character. I really didn't like Nina because she was so annoyingly weak, but at the same time I felt for her. She works so hard and she never gives up, you see her pain and feel her worries. As the movie builds up toward the end things get crazier and crazier. You wonder what's real and what's not real. Only because it explores the realities of a crazy person, and to some extent the mind of somebody creative who wonders into the darkness for the love of the art. This is a new take on Swan Lake but in the form of a psychologic thriller. Just like when "Oh Brother, where art thou" used The Odyssey as the base for the story. I just love it when movie makers does that; turn old and told stories in a new way and create lovely little analagies. It makes you see things differently. The familiar becomes forreign. As for the hero of this story, she is not sweet and innocent. In my opionion, the greatest moment of this movie is when the Black Swan enters the stage and change our perception of what a hero is.
Wohoo! Two thousand and eleven. Hells yeah! January. Summer. Hot weather at this time of the year is something that has never accured in my life before. But now I'm in Australia, so anything could happen. I reckon this will be a very interesting year. So many new things, changes and opportunities. I won't tell you what I'm up to this year just yet, because I don't wanna jinx anything. But I can tell you that I'm going to Sydney for a quick visit this week. It's a bit weird that I've been in Australia for almost a year and I haven't been to Sydney yet, so here I go. It's gonna be rad! Photo opportunities, exploration, inspiration, good food, maybe some beach time and meeting up with the best dude in the world. Did I tell you I'm pumped for it!
Christmas Eve (julafton) is the big deal if you're from Sweden. So we gathered some Swedes (and a few Aussies) at my friend Mikaela's place and enjoyed traditional Swedish Christmas food in the Australian sun. It was my first summer Christmas ever and probably not the last. Merry Christmas!
Christmas for me usually means making my own presents for the people I love. This year was no exception. I made almost every present myself, which in a way is very selfish since I love doing it so much. Here are some Thunder & Stingo t-shirts and a photobook I designed for my fam.
I saw this front yard in Brunswick yesterday. Don't really know if a crazy rubber Santa hanging from a tree in a rope around his neck would get me, or anyone, into the Christmas spirit...
Yesterday, Mikaela and I had our second market as Thunder & Stingo, and our first market with both of us present. It was good fun and we made some new contacts as well as getting inspired for new designs and products. Coming up next year is two months of markets at The Rose Street Market. I'll keep you updated...
Last weekend was all about the Folk Rythm & Life Festival, which was a pretty sweet getaway from the city. It was a rather small festival of circa 3000 visitors, with only one program that you had to take a picture of if you wanted to know what was on. The weather was perfect, the food was yummie, the music was awesome and the company was excellent. What more could you ask for...
It's been super quiet around this blog lately. For a good reason though. I've just been insanely busy starting a company. Yes, it's true! Mikaela and I have put words into action and started our own company. We call ourselves Thunder & Stingo and we print fun stuff together, like t-shirts, teatowels, pillow cases and much more. We recently had our first market stall and you will sure hear more from us in the future. A website is coming soon, for now you can follow us on this blog.
My last entry reminded me about this lovely tune by the likewise lovely Laleh. If you haven't come across her before, just check this video out and she will surely charm your socks off. Cute as a button!
A few things that makes me happy right now: - Summer in November (how fucking awesome is that!!) - Mikaela dear is in Melbourne. - My fear of dogs has suddenly disappeared and all kinds of random dogs has started to like me. They even come up to me at cafés to have me throw sticks for them (ah, but seriously, that dog was a little annoying).
