sidelong glances
DANISH QUAPOOR AND JOELI FISCHE
MADE. CREATIVE SPACE (TOOWOOMBA, QLD), NOVEMBER 2011
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Image courtesy Joeli Fische.
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"Like Nick Cave and Kylie: An odd pair, but they work together" - Danish and Joeli speaking in unison in the third people.
(Images courtesy the gallery, unless otherwise captioned).
(Images courtesy the gallery, unless otherwise captioned).
INTERVIEW
In lieu of an artist statement, Danish Quapoor and Joeli Eastell present: Question Time and other bollocks.
What’s with your name?
Danish: The pseudonym ‘Danish Quapoor’ originated from my time in art school amongst others with “–ish” suffix names, along with a sidelong nod to the prominent artist Anish Kapoor. I find using an alias very freeing, as the anonymity allows me to create a separate, more frivolous body of work, uninhibited by associations with my previous artworks.
Joeli: I’m a beautiful chocolate man.
What is your artistic intention?
D: I am interested in observing, decontextualising and recontextualising situations, words and visuals. I aim to stimulate recognition, empathy, nostalgia, and laughter. I borrow from everyday situations and pop culture in equal measures. Stylistically, I tend to create quirky imagery highlighted by repetitious patterns and intricate detail.
J: I aim to explore a social perspective on subjects such as youth, gender and popular culture. With my work, I strive to challenge the norm while not pushing the boundaries too far past people’s comfort zones. I especially focus on the role of a male in an increasingly androgynous society.
Is there an over-arching theme to your exhibition SIDELONG GLANCES?
Both (in unison): It’s all up in my peripheries.
D: For me, it is about things that exist on the edge, such as the edge of our vision. There is also the edge of reality, with our assortment of characters and creatures that may or may not exist in this dimension. There is the edge of your seat excitement when you look at our artworks. Also, like Gaga, we’re on the edge of glory.
J: Yeah, and the edge of our hearing, with recontextualised quotes and overheard conversations. I guess just observing people in general. Our theme is that it is frowned upon NOT to eavesdrop on those engaging in conversation around you. And sometimes, if you're sneaky enough, you can steal their material and regurgitate it to others to create the illusion that you are a deep and humourous person. Moral of the story, and theme of the exhibition: eavesdrop or be arrested.
What material/s do you like working with?
D: I am partial to the black uniball eye micro pen; it allows me to get clean, fine lines. I also like pastel coloured felt pens, pencils occasionally and anything that I can cut and paste. I also love brown paper and cardboard, but yellowed or white paper is fine too.
J: The feeling of discovering something that seems to be made especially for you is incomparable. For me, that discovery was gouache. I treasure gouache’s versatility, and its ability to be used with drawing AND painting techniques. I also greatly appreciate the fact that the brushes aren't ruined if you, for whatever reason, forget to wash them. For that alone, gouache is priceless. (But at the same time, quite reasonably priced). It is also easily paired with pencils, especially on paper. And I do like to pair up my materials; they call me Cupid.
Where are you based?
J: That’s a bit personal.
D: Without giving too much away, I am currently based in Queensland. I was born inside a whale in the Indian Ocean, but I don’t like to talk about it.
J: I have moved to Melbourne from Toowoomba. It’s like moving forward in time. The gender roles are far more blurred in the city, particularly among the youth, and trends are often practised by and marketed to both sexes. While there are still obvious interest gaps (sport for men / fashion for women), this is no longer uniform across the board; and even sub-cultures seem to be more accepting of each other in this world where everyone can access everyone else's niche interests in an instant. I aim to expand on this acceptance by further exposing the masses to unisex ideologies and androgynous aesthetics in a nonchalant, frivolous manner.
Many of your artworks are hilarious. Is that intentional? Does humour play a big role in your arts practice?
D: Yes, Virginia. I am interested in zany imagery, witticisms, humourous overheard conversations, misheard lyrics, and wordplay. You catch more flies with honey, allegedly. But you can probably catch more humans with humour, and then a big bag or something.
J: Humour is my window to the world; the pilot of the plane that is my life. It drives my mind, creativity and passion which is then physically represented in my work.
Where can I find more of your work?
D: I make and sell zines, and stationery products like notebooks and greeting cards. I stock these through made.’s shop, my etsy store and zine stores in Toowoomba, Melbourne and Sydney.
J: The streets of Melbourne. I make cool stickers and stick them around, like sticks. http://tinyurl.com/joeliart
How do you feel about collaborating and exhibiting with each other?
J: Pairing up with Danish is to pair up with that play on frivolity and humour; poking fun at the everyday.
D: I think it is important to collaborate with others and to push my boundaries. I appreciate Joeli as a friend and an artist, and I think our styles and viewpoints mesh well.
Do you have a parting remark?
D: I don’t speak German but I can if you like.
J: Drunk people are synonymous with clowns.
Joeli Eastell is represented by the Lonely Hearts Club.
Danish Quapoor is currently on hiatus from gallery representation, and is awaiting legal representation.
© 2011
What’s with your name?
Danish: The pseudonym ‘Danish Quapoor’ originated from my time in art school amongst others with “–ish” suffix names, along with a sidelong nod to the prominent artist Anish Kapoor. I find using an alias very freeing, as the anonymity allows me to create a separate, more frivolous body of work, uninhibited by associations with my previous artworks.
Joeli: I’m a beautiful chocolate man.
What is your artistic intention?
D: I am interested in observing, decontextualising and recontextualising situations, words and visuals. I aim to stimulate recognition, empathy, nostalgia, and laughter. I borrow from everyday situations and pop culture in equal measures. Stylistically, I tend to create quirky imagery highlighted by repetitious patterns and intricate detail.
J: I aim to explore a social perspective on subjects such as youth, gender and popular culture. With my work, I strive to challenge the norm while not pushing the boundaries too far past people’s comfort zones. I especially focus on the role of a male in an increasingly androgynous society.
Is there an over-arching theme to your exhibition SIDELONG GLANCES?
Both (in unison): It’s all up in my peripheries.
D: For me, it is about things that exist on the edge, such as the edge of our vision. There is also the edge of reality, with our assortment of characters and creatures that may or may not exist in this dimension. There is the edge of your seat excitement when you look at our artworks. Also, like Gaga, we’re on the edge of glory.
J: Yeah, and the edge of our hearing, with recontextualised quotes and overheard conversations. I guess just observing people in general. Our theme is that it is frowned upon NOT to eavesdrop on those engaging in conversation around you. And sometimes, if you're sneaky enough, you can steal their material and regurgitate it to others to create the illusion that you are a deep and humourous person. Moral of the story, and theme of the exhibition: eavesdrop or be arrested.
What material/s do you like working with?
D: I am partial to the black uniball eye micro pen; it allows me to get clean, fine lines. I also like pastel coloured felt pens, pencils occasionally and anything that I can cut and paste. I also love brown paper and cardboard, but yellowed or white paper is fine too.
J: The feeling of discovering something that seems to be made especially for you is incomparable. For me, that discovery was gouache. I treasure gouache’s versatility, and its ability to be used with drawing AND painting techniques. I also greatly appreciate the fact that the brushes aren't ruined if you, for whatever reason, forget to wash them. For that alone, gouache is priceless. (But at the same time, quite reasonably priced). It is also easily paired with pencils, especially on paper. And I do like to pair up my materials; they call me Cupid.
Where are you based?
J: That’s a bit personal.
D: Without giving too much away, I am currently based in Queensland. I was born inside a whale in the Indian Ocean, but I don’t like to talk about it.
J: I have moved to Melbourne from Toowoomba. It’s like moving forward in time. The gender roles are far more blurred in the city, particularly among the youth, and trends are often practised by and marketed to both sexes. While there are still obvious interest gaps (sport for men / fashion for women), this is no longer uniform across the board; and even sub-cultures seem to be more accepting of each other in this world where everyone can access everyone else's niche interests in an instant. I aim to expand on this acceptance by further exposing the masses to unisex ideologies and androgynous aesthetics in a nonchalant, frivolous manner.
Many of your artworks are hilarious. Is that intentional? Does humour play a big role in your arts practice?
D: Yes, Virginia. I am interested in zany imagery, witticisms, humourous overheard conversations, misheard lyrics, and wordplay. You catch more flies with honey, allegedly. But you can probably catch more humans with humour, and then a big bag or something.
J: Humour is my window to the world; the pilot of the plane that is my life. It drives my mind, creativity and passion which is then physically represented in my work.
Where can I find more of your work?
D: I make and sell zines, and stationery products like notebooks and greeting cards. I stock these through made.’s shop, my etsy store and zine stores in Toowoomba, Melbourne and Sydney.
J: The streets of Melbourne. I make cool stickers and stick them around, like sticks. http://tinyurl.com/joeliart
How do you feel about collaborating and exhibiting with each other?
J: Pairing up with Danish is to pair up with that play on frivolity and humour; poking fun at the everyday.
D: I think it is important to collaborate with others and to push my boundaries. I appreciate Joeli as a friend and an artist, and I think our styles and viewpoints mesh well.
Do you have a parting remark?
D: I don’t speak German but I can if you like.
J: Drunk people are synonymous with clowns.
Joeli Eastell is represented by the Lonely Hearts Club.
Danish Quapoor is currently on hiatus from gallery representation, and is awaiting legal representation.
© 2011
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SIDELONG GLANCES ARTWORK LIST
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1 Danish Quapoor, Do you like my hat? I found it on the ground
2 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Dearly departed 3 Danish Quapoor, For some reason she felt an affinity with the ice-cream 4 Danish Quapoor, (f)untitled 5 Danish Quapoor, Shock waves 6 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell , A little surprise 7 Joeli Eastell, Bare fight accident 8 Danish Quapoor, Angeling Jolly 9, Danish Quapoor, Sometimes, it hurts instead 10 Danish Quapoor, Palmed you off 11 Danish Quapoor, These are a few of his favourite things 12 Danish Quapoor, Cloudy with a chance of crazy 13 Danish Quapoor, Dad 14 Danish Quapoor, Up and at them 15 Danish Quapoor, Before the bloodbath 16 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Doorman 17 Danish Quapoor, Sidelongglances 18 Danish Quapoor, A prison for all the naughty penguins 19 Joeli Eastell, CRANK 20 Danish Quapoor, Vices & Virtues 21 Danish Quapoor, If my love was a Narwhal would you ride it out to sea? 22 Danish Quapoor, Jose, Gonzales 23 Danish Quapoor, There's always money in the banana stand 24 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Indian 25 Danish Quapoor, Dolls 26 Joeli Eastell, Probably Charles 27 Danish Quapoor, Epic turtleneck 28 Danish Quapoor, Took my tear ducts out for a while 29 Danish Quapoor, Crack rat 30 Joeli Eastell, Hanging Gardens of Babylon 31 Joeli Eastell, Connie's Fuschia 32 Danish Quapoor, NART! 33 Danish Quapoor, Lost his head but found some toast 34 Joeli Eastell & Daniel Qualischefski, Jason Schwartzman 35 Danish Quapoor, Well suited to his profession 36 Danish Quapoor, Torturing me with your eyes 37 Danish Quapoor, Bear, bear burning bright 37B Danish Quapoor, Gabba gabba hey 38 Joeli Eastell, Suckling teen 38B Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Plutarchan warlord 39 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Plumping 39B Kelly Marie Is worth much more than 40 Danish Quapoor, Maid creative space 40B Joeli Eastell, A pig in lamb's clothing 41 Joeli Eastell, Rape Punzel 41B Joeli Eastell & Danish Quapoor, When voldemort was a mime and had a bad hair day 42 Danish Quapoor, Jack of all trees 43 Joeli Eastell, More scared of you than you are of him |
44 Danish Quapoor, KFC
45 Danish Quapoor, The Funk 46 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Bulletproof kicks 47 Danish Quapoor, No one ever talks about henry ford's wife 48 Danish Quapoor, I'm judging you 49 Danish Quapoor, But she wasn't very good 50 Joeli Eastell, When sheep can't afford to be poodles 51 Danish Quapoor, Athlete's fleet of foot 52 Joeli Eastell, Helmet headed warrior 53 Danish Quapoor, Love yourself but not in that way 54 Danish Quapoor, Egyptian 55 Danish Quapoor, Hot chick 56 Danish Quapoor, Gym junkie 57 Danish Quapoor, Sequential muppet 58 Danish Quapoor, Release the hound 59 Danish Quapoor, Big ol' face of posh 60 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Illegal alien 61 Danish Quapoor, Coming into a village and riding off with the vicar, or why is woody allen riding meryl streep? 62 Danish Quapoor, (g)untitled 63 Danish Quapoor, Who who 64 Danish Quapoor, Love sick 65 Danish Quapoor, Less epic turtle neck 66 Danish Quapoor, You're a cat 67 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Omnipotent pug 68, Joeli Eastell, Neato fish 69 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Gaga suits chicken wings 70 Danish Quapoor, Artwork yet (dedicated to ethan soul man) 71 Danish Quapoor, No such luck 72 Danish Quapoor, Subwhat 73 Danish Quapoor, Holy Sphincter 74 Danish Quapoor, The impossible astronaut 75 Danish Quapoor, He seas what's happening and stubbles upon 76 Danish Quapoor, Dead Tired 77 Danish Quapoor, Whispering Smack 78 Danish Quapoor, Book of faces 79 Danish Quapoor, Sauce bath 80 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Uneducated, Hippie Astrologer 81 Joeli Eastell, Scar; Huh? 82 Danish Quapoor, Brain infestation 83 Joeli Eastell, Lunar growth for dummies 84 Danish Quapoor, Ache on Son 85 Danish Quapoor, JudgeJude 86, Danish Quapoor with Aidan Ross, The skeleton key to every girl's heart 87 Danish Quapoor, Last clean clothes 88 Danish Quapoor, Alexavier 89 Danish Quapoor, Look at it another way. You better look 90 Danish Quapoor, Bat Bat 91 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Conjoined Sins 92 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Surf and Turf 93 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Look, when we became famous artists they'll look back on this as our Tour de Force |
94 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Memoirs of a Moll
95 Danish Quapoor, Pussy cat cat 96 Danish Quapoor, Majestic Magenta Majella 97 Danish Quapoor, I am my hair 98 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Wheelised and the Spoke 99 Danish Quapoor, Beverley-Sue, Hyphen 100 Danish Quapoor, Rhiliesch me from my gender 101 Danish Quapoor, Backin' up 102 Danish Quapoor, Spiderman 103 Danish Quapoor, I see you 104 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Secret Rituals 105 Danish Quapoor, The cat lady 106 Danish Quapoor, For Harnarama 107 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Crimson Tide 108 Joeli Eastell, Im-Pussy-Bull 109 Danish Quapoor, BALDY! 110 Danish Quapoor, I am NOT your friend! 111 Danish Quapoor, Best-friends from the OPSHOP 112 Danish Quapoor, Paulie concealed threat 113 Joeli Eastell, It's getting warm inside my head 114 Danish Quapoor, Charmer (on, no) 115 Joeli Eastell, The Marovingian Mohawk 116 Danish Quapoor, I Couldn't care more & I certainly couldn't care less 117 Joeli Eastell, Well, I'm just RLI good-looking 118 Danish Quapoor, Jakey Gyllho 119 Danish Quapoor, Nerds United 120 Danish Quapoor, High priced meat 121 Danish Quapoor, The girl with the bird body 122 Danish Quapoor, Muff Nuff Buff 123 Joeli Eastell, Hannibal Lecturer 124 Danish Quapoor, A bush in the pants is worth two in the hand 125 Danish Quapoor, Sewerage Cruise 126 Joeli Eastell, Baby Baby Baby Bjorn (oh!) 126B Danish Quapoor, Quark-quark 127 Danish Quapoor, What's on? 128 Danish Quapoor, Golden Hare 129 Danish Quapoor, Fit comfortably in your back pocket 130 Danish Quapoor, You're the Juan! 131 Danish Quapoor & Joeli Eastell, Gene Hackman, you're the boss apple sauce 132 Danish Quapoor, Cigarettes and milk 133 Danish Quapoor, Mistaken Integrity 134 Danish Quapoor, Beef Eatin' 135 Danish Quapoor, Flights of Fancy 136 Danish Quapoor, Fab Babs 137 Danish Quapoor, Hungry Hungry Hungry 138 Joeli Eastell, Michael Jackson Fan Club 139 Danish Quapoor, (p)untitled 140 Joeli Eastell, I hope no-one notices my pins & needles |
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