Hello May Lane

Before starting on this particular article it must be noted that all artworks shown remain the property of the artists and cannot be reproduced without their express permission. The 2095 chick is simply showing her photographs in order to share her experience.

The 2095'ers intro to May Lane was day that rained, where her brolly decided NOT to behave itself and her teeny tiny SX20 was somewhat new. 

Add to mix the 2095'er not being completely comfortable or familiar with the area at this particular moment in time, but any reservations or "fear" were abated  the instant her eyes clapped on the most magnificent wall of colour and detail.

The 2095 chick does not nor ever will enhance or over process images using software  

Trim yes, digitally destroy with over processing no

The 3D effect was mind boggling.  No matter what angle, no matter how far down the lane you went to achieve "the shot", it was pure perfection every frame. 

The 2095'er found the intricate detail so hypnotic she found herself thrust in to the "once I'm behind the lens I am completely in my own world" land.  And what a delightful place it is to be.

In an almost robotic manner, the 2095 continued exploring in wonderment, quickly realising that this is not a place where you "rush" through, for you may just miss something.

this piece remains intact for which the 2095'er & many others are most grateful

As with most "landmark" discoveries there are times when the 2095'er must simply shut up and allow emotions, heart palpitations and "oh my god" moments be shown via multimedia (nb: this clip does not comprise 100% Mays but also includes other firsts on her maiden Inner West voyage: thus becoming the impetus for the street-art revolution/obsession of the 2095'er)

It would also be remiss of the 2095 chick not to include her first introduction to the extraordinary world of Vexta.  The day was dark enough (with gloomy rain clouds) for the 2095'er to see exactly what this piece was in that it was designed to glow at night.

kindly reproduced with permission from Vexta

Like most discoveries or "first heart skipping moments", the need to return became unbearable.  Having to wait for another 12 hours was seemingly intolerable.  But given the location of the 2095'ers dwelling deemed it almost impossible to do otherwise.

But return she did and then some.  The beautiful thing about this particular place is that each week there will literally be something new, or a "work in progress" thus keeping it fresh and exciting. 

Nothing smells more beautiful to a photographer than that distinct aroma of paint. Clear indicator of new new new.

On one particular revisit as the 2095 wound her way on the direct route from St Peter's train station she noticed an artist and from a distance she pulled out this teeny tiny camera and got (well to the 2095'ers mind at least) a pretty good shot.

Confidence for once decided to be on the 2095 chick's side.  Walking up slowly and waiting until said artist was having a bit of a breather (literally), the 2095 struck up a conversation albeit it somewhat hesitantly at the start.

It revolved around folk going up at times, hurling abuse at him "why did you paint over what was there, we HATE it", to which the 2095'er replied "hell if they don't like they don't have to look at it" and from there the conversation flowed.  It wasn't until the end that he looked at me and said "we are actually 'connected' on flickr".

Jaw dropped: see the 2095 might know them by the street names rather than the "real world" names so it is always an incredibly humbling experience (and yes..even now the 2095 is always blown away when an artist walks up and introduces themselves then saying "oh your cap gave you away, everyone knows you wear a black cap") when someone whose work you admire from afar not only takes the time to talk to you but then says they already know you albeit by some form or other of social media!  No words can be found to describe that moment.

The piece below again is not strictly Mays and includes the immediate surrounds but hell, it's the 2095'ers blog....

Recently Mays has become Caroline but in an ever changing world there will always be one constant and for that we as photographers and lovers of art, (streetart, graffiti or whatever you wish to call it) are and will always be forever in your debt

May Lane Flickr Set

5 Questions with Bunkwaa

In the days when the 2095 chick had a teeny tiny Canon SX20 (which fit ever so sweetly in to the bag so the rapid "take it, shoot it, put away post haste"  routine was maintained at all times) she happened upon a funny little cartoon character stuck way up high on a corner in Cleveland Street. 

Such was her intense intrigue with this creature, little did she realise the act of standing still to study this little cutie, caused other folk (who ordinarily wouldn't have given it the time of day such is their need to get from A to B with eyes firmly planted on the ground: god forbid eye contact being made!) to stop & see what the 2095 was looking at. 

Amid a lot of "oh how cuuuute" verbal emissions, the 2095 realised her private discovery moment had been become public, whereupon she continued down Cleveland Street in pursuit of other street-art discoveries.

Not long after, another discovery was made and being somewhat more enlightened, the 2095'er was most confident with her self-talk: "yep, that's a Bunkwaa" 

Like most things, once you see one you see many, almost multiplying at the rate of new postcodes. 

Ok time to get real.  When one accepts that as a photographer one must embrace and acknowledge street-photography-whiplash'itis THEN you see these little nuggets of Bunkwaa gold appear more often than not.

Thus my 5 questions with Bunkwaa begin.

You are a man who wears many hats. When did the world of Bunkwaa begin: was it a style or a doodle that came to life or was it one of those lightening moments where it was AH HA!  THIS IS IT!

I've been Bunkwaa for over 10 years now, so bear with me while I ramble through my story. 

I've always drawn.  I was compelled to draw.  For me it wasn't choice, it just "was".  I had so many different styles and loved making comic books. From a young age I realised I was born to be a cartoonist.

I went to art school when I was older and decided to put away the cartoon drawing and focus on becoming a "real" artist.  For 2 years I put aside my cartoon drawing.  By my 3rd year of uni, I couldn't hold it back anymore: cartoon characters exploded out of me.  It was almost as if they had built up under the pressure of my resistance.

I couldn't stop.  I drew frantically.  I drew so quickly I remember the pencil flinging out of my hand many times.  I kept making happy  "accidents" as I drew.

One of those accidents was to dra the top lip through the eyes of the character: splitting eyes into eyeballs and teeth.

I remember looking at it thinking "this looks great!".  I refined it and over time, the characters have become   to be what is now known as the Bunkwaa's

What is that really triggers your creative side.  Do you find yourself getting delightfully distracted and simply continue to completion, or are you having to compromise your time in order to keep whatever projects are on the go, remain "on the go"?

My art is a very important part of my being.  If I look back at my life, my has been compromised too many times.  I like hiding in my cave (studio) and working on my comic book.  It's the one thing that keeps me going.  One day I will be dead, but I'd like this particular piece to continue living.  

The first issue is nearly ready.  I've made heaps of comics before, but this one is my opus.

It's a mix of 1984, a brave new world and adventure time!

Being somewhat tall, what has been on THE most bizarre places you have put the teeny Bunkwaa so as to ensure that street-photography-whiplash is in full effect when "on the hunt"

It's funny you should mention that as most of my characters I stick around the place are at foot level. I'll have to start taking advantage of my height. Thanks for the tip!

You (relatively) recently started BUNKWAAcomics: are you able to give a bit of insight as to its birth and possible future for both yourself and it?

A little while ago I decided to look back at to when I was kid and tried to remember thing I used to do.  I dug through old boxes and found a stack of old comics I had made.

Not having seen them for 20 years I surprised myself at how good they were!  I realised a had a natural sense of composition, timing and story.  

It was at that moment I decided to become a comic book creator.

I disappeared in to the bush recently to write scripts for all three parts of the comic.  It's my Star Wars Trilogy, I guess.  It deals with my angst for the world in a humerous way.  It Keeps me sane

In 5 words how would you describe the world of Bunkwaa

Interdimensional

Psychedelic

Cute

Cuddly Clawed

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Huge thanks to the man known as Bunkwaa  for not only sharing his time and allowing reproduction of some of his works! (and it would be remiss not to mention the fantastic t-shirt of Voyage to the Moon worn for this photo!)

BUNKWAAcomics