Although I’m often recognised as an illustrator of stories, in private I see myself primarily as a painter of landscapes, particularly the suburban streets in which I grew up and continue to spend most of my time. This world is the bedrock of my imagination – a shoreline of light, space, restless silence – and my suburban paintings of the past twenty years are perhaps more self-defining than anything else I’ve created as a book or film maker. Collecting them together under the roof of Fremantle Arts Centre (a place I visited often in my youth seeking inspiration and direction) is a terrific privilege and opportunity. I hope that exhibition visitors might enjoy the same realisation as I have during my local wanderings with a sketchpad or paint-box: that the most ordinary places can also be the most mysterious. Shaun Tan, 2012

Shaun’s exhibition is opening tonight and if you’re one of the lucky ones who have registered for his (fully booked) artist talk, screening of The Lost Thing and Q&A, you’ll meet him in person tomorrow.

Shaun Tan: Suburban Odyssey
Fremantle Arts Centre
Opening Celebration Friday 18 May, 6:30pm
Exhibition runs until 15 July 2012

Meet Shaun Tan (artist talk, screening, Q&A) - FULLY BOOKED
Saturday 19 May
4.30–6.30pm
Tannock Hall, Notre Dame

Shaun Tan, Endgame, 1998

Shaun Tan, Fifth Avenue Mt Lawley, 2004

Shaun Tan: Crows fighting behind a supermarket, 1998

First up is the Brigitte Bardot: named after the screen siren because she’s a generous supporter of Sea Shepherd, they of the whale hunt scuppering fame (they don’t just fight the cause of whales, as this page explains). First impressions of this boat: small, bit cramped and didn’t feel, er, that seaworthy… which doesn’t seem to bother the crew much as they gleefully tell of dodging icebergs, aggressive Japanese ships, and presumably more than the odd whale. However, it does look like an awesome weapon from the outside.

Brigitte Bardot

Bunk beds double as food storage

The Boat Manager in the enormous crew lounge area

Next up the Carl Vinson, the US aircraft carrier that parked itself off Leighton Beach, blocking the view of the Indian Ocean Awesome to behold from the outside; completely unfathomable from the inside. The aircraft hanger is so long you can’t actually see to the other end of it (seriously). We were taken on a tour that lasted three hours and which probably covered 1% of the ship. I was amazed at how relaxed they were on board, letting us wander about taking photos, looking through doors, pressing red buttons. The crew were very friendly too, it was a bit like being in a small town in the mid-west. I read the wiki about this boat and impressive as she is, there is something slightly odd about these giant machines of war that float around the world’s ocean never having to be shut-down or even refuel.

On the approach

About halfway down the hanger

They let us explore the bridge too

The view - imagine having to park all those planes

Makes Perth Airport control tower look pretty tame.

We even got to exit through a gift shop

Some stats (sort of)
Number of crew Bardot = 12ish. Vinson = 6000ish
Speed Bardot = 35km/h. Vinson = 65km/h
Range Bardot = 3500 miles. Vinson = 25 years without refuelling
Weaponry Bardot = some nets, ropes and pointy stick. Vinson = see all those planes?
Worthiness of mission? Don’t even go there

Many thanks to Melissa Parke’s office for the invite out to the Carl Vinson, and thanks also to the crews of the Bardot and Vinson for being so obliging and showing us around.

*The body of Osama bin Laden was buried at sea in May 2011 from the deck of the USS Carl Vinson.

The Line Up

12:00pm-1pm- dj-oxygen -outside stage

1pm- valiant – inside stage

1:45pm- carnie-outside stage –raven mad

1:50pm-dj oxygen-outside stage

2pm- like junk-inside stage

2:45pm- carnies-outside stage- tealse merkin

2:50pm-dj oxygen-outside stage

3pm- buzz kill vamps-inside stage

3:45pm-carnie-outside stage- violet riot

3:50pm-dj oxygen-outside stage

4pm- hollywood graves –inside stage

4:45pm- carnie-outside stage– lady black betty

4:50pm-dj oxygen-outside stage

5pm- mongrel country-inside stage

5:45pm-carnie-outside stage chelsea bunz

5:50pm-dj oxygen-outside stage

6pm-finish winners of competition madame rouge

Madame Rouge will intro every performance

Sean lives and works in Fremantle and a large part of its appeal for him is its colourful history and unique architecture. Its also its industrial past and how the working port continues to be its beating heart. His family have lived in the area for generations, going right back to his Great, Great, Great Grandfather who came to Fremantle as a convict in the first ever convict ship to Fremantle, the Scindian, in 1850. And because of this, has an amazing ‘insiders’ view of the City.

Sean has worked on a series of pastel paintings, capturing these architectural and industrial ‘details’. The exhibition will be the culmination of 9 months of work and showcase 20 original pastel artworks. The style of the work is quite graphic and bold, drawing influence from Sean’s design understanding. Rich colours from the pure pigment pastels bring the images to life in an almost super-real way.

“I hope people will appreciate the work and find it visually appealing, but also discover the amazing architectural elements which might not have been considered and maybe even view the city in a different way.”

The exhibition is at Kidogo Gallery on Bathers Beach, Fremantle. A very fitting location, being a fine example of the amazing architecture and history Fremantle has to offer. As well as original works, short run fine art prints will also be available during the exhibition. So get down there early enjoy the sunset before you head inside.

The exhibition opens Friday 27th of April at 5.30pm and continues daily until the 2nd of May 2012.

What’s really nice about it is that it’s quiet. There’s not a lot of traffic in the area so despite the fact that there’s a car park right on its door step it makes for a really relaxing place to hang out.

The breakfast menu is simple but interesting, expect goats curd (mmm curd), avocado, smoked salmon, sourdough bread. The coffee is good and the staff are genuinely friendly.

The Cool Room,
114b Holland Street,
Fremantle, WA 6160.
Ph: 04 2203 9482