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LUKE TAAFFE IS AN ARTIST/GRAPHIC DESIGNER/SURFER FROM NSW, AUSTRALIA. I CAME ACROSS LUKE WHEN LIVING NEAR BYRON BAY ON THE EAST COAST. THERE WAS A GREAT GALLERY MY BOYFRIEND & I USED TO VISIT NEARLY EVERY DAY CALLED 'RETROSPECTS GALLERY', WITH SOME BRILLIANT ESTABLISHED & EMERGING AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS & DESIGNERS. TAAFFE'S WORK WAS BEING EXHIBITED AT THE TIME, & I WAS INSTANTLY DRAWN TO THE VIVID COLOURS, THE ORGANIC SHAPES & HIS CLEAR LOVE OF THE OCEAN.
TAAFFE MAINLY WORKS ON "WEATHERED WOODEN BOXES & PRE-LOVED MATERIALS" HE FINDS IN TIPS OR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. USING MEDIUMS SUCH AS ACRYLICS & INDIAN INKS, THE COLOURS IN HIS PAINTINGS ARE STRONG & RADIANT, CONTRASTING AGAINST THE WOODEN BACKGROUNDS THAT ARE OFTEN USED.
THE STATEMENT BELOW FROM THE RETROSPECTS GALLERY SUMS UP HIS STYLE EXACTLY...
" THE ERODED AND OFTEN FOUND MATERIALS HE PAINTS ON, REFLECT THE SALT DECAYING EFFECTS OF OCEANSIDE LIVING AND HOW IT IMPACTS ON MANS DESIRE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS. IN CONTRAST, THE VIBRANT COLOURS AND INK DETAILS HE USES SHOW THE FUN & PRIVILEGE ONE HAS TO BE RAISED NEAR THE SURF. "
BY DAY HE WORKS FOR ROXY/QUIKSILVER WHERE HIS WORK CAN BE SEEN ON SURFBOARDS & SKATEBOARDS. LUKE ASLO CREATES PRINTS FOR ROXYS SWIMWEAR, BOARDIES & DRESSES THAT ARE BOLD & BEAUTIFUL. WHEN I WAS IN BALI LAST MONTH THE ROXY SHOPS WERE AWASH WITH HIS GRAPHICS & YOU CAN TELL HE'S STARTING TO GET A PRETTY BIG FOLLOWING IN AUSTRALIA.
COMING FROM ENGLAND, IT'S A PLEASURE TO STUMBLE UPON SUCH COLOURFUL & ENERGETIC DESIGNS FOCUSED ON THE OCEAN & SURFING WHEN TRAVELLING. AS MY PERSONAL STYLE IS COLOURFUL & PLAYFUL LIKE LUKES OWN, IT'S INCREDIBLY EASY FOR ME TO DRAW INSPIRATION FROM HIM. I REALLY HOPE TO SEE A LOT MORE FROM HIM IN THE FUTURE.
WHEN ASKED TO DESCRIBE HIS WORK, TAAFFE SAID IN AN INTERVIEW ON MESURF.COM.AU: "MY WORK IS LIKE PITCHING A TENT ON A REMOTE BEACH SURROUNDED BY PERFECT WAVES WITH A BEAUTIFUL GIRL AND WAKING UP IN THE MORNING AND THINKING FARRRRK...HOW DID I GET HERE."
AND I THINK IT SUMS UP HIS WORK PRETTY NICELY!
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