DISCOVERING ART THROUGH EXPLORATION
In November a team of Onikenbai performers travelled to Sydney to perform as well as conduct workshops. For those not in the know Onikenbai is a traditional Japanese dance. Although they are dressed like warriors – wearing oni (demon) masks and carrying katanas (swords), it is actually a Buddhist-inspired dance that acknowledges their ancestry, and... Continue Reading →
In February I was given the exciting opportunity to travel to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to play with TaikOz. A huge honour, considering I'm not one of their more dedicated students. It was a unique advenutre and a bit of an insight into the life of a professional touring musician, and it... Continue Reading →
I was given the opportunity to sell some paintings. I wasn't sure what to charge as it puts a bit more pressure on you when it's commissioned work. But the brief was pretty open as long as it related to taiko music. So I came to an agreement if they let me experiment I won't... Continue Reading →
As several of you know I am a student of Japanese taiko drumming, and over the last month Australia's TaikOz and Japan's very own Kodo have been touring the country together. To explain how exciting a prospect that is, it would be like the Avengers teaming up with the X-Men. I did promise myself not to... Continue Reading →
One of my pleasures these last few years has been learning taiko. It is a Japanese drumming practice which spans thousands of years. Not only are the taiko, or drums, beautifully crafted generation after generation in Japan, this style of drumming is an art. It not only requires great technique but an insight into Japanese... Continue Reading →
I've been crazy busy lately, and cannot fit in as much drawing as I'd like. One small project I usually work on around this time of year is my TaikOz Student Concert tshirt and programme design. I like to give it some thought and time, but only had an afternoon to come up with something.... Continue Reading →
Creating music opens wide the doors in terms of how hands can be manipulated to play a multitude of instruments - striking, stroking, plucking, strumming, shutting, dampening, stretching... It is a very skill-orientated domain and what you can see in the hands are the technical demands (and years of practice) an instrument needs in order... Continue Reading →
Hello February! This is going to be a crazy period for me - I have Chinese New Year commitments coming up for a few weeks so will find it difficult to do much sketching. But I hope to at least get some decent research material for it. I also just returned from a 4 day... Continue Reading →