Tanya Ljubic ARTIST

January in the studio

2025-01-23T02:13:00.001-08:00

Noxious, 2025, 40cmx50cm Acrylic on canvas.

Cuckooed, 2025, 40cmx50cm, Acrylic on canvas.

These works continue an exploration of the impact of colonialism on the environment.

You must be so proud

2024-11-14T22:10:00.000-08:00

The birds see it all. They are witnesses to the destructive force of humankind.

6 X Acrylic on canvas. 60cm x40cm

Decolonisation in Oceania

2024-06-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

Papua New Guinea 2023 60cmx80cm, Synthetic Polymer on Canvas
Timor Leste 2024 60cmx80cm, Synthetic Polymer on Canvas
Fiji 2024 60cmx80cm, Synthetic Polymer on Canvas
Bougainville 2023 60cmx80cm, Synthetic Polymer on Canvas

Ghost Birds 1&2 2024 60cmx80cm, Synthetic Polymer on Canvas

Happy Accidents

2023-03-07T17:45:00.001-08:00

There are always lots of test prints, discarded paintings and assemblages, and doodles that get out of control.

I often find there is a particular element from a discard that I am drawn to and just can't bring myself to throw away.

So I have begun a series with no end - Happy Accidents.

My Universe

Birdy

The 2022 Inner West Creative Trail - Opening my studio.

2022-08-15T15:46:00.002-07:00

Studios are places of work and can be cluttered, minimalist, messy or tidy, and everything in between. Most studios are not places you want lots of people traipsing through. However, for two days a year artists of Sydney's Inner-West clean up, tidy up, get their portfolios out and welcome the general public.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many lovely people, chatting about my work, the history of the Addison Road Community Centre, contemporary art, and sustainability.

3 highlights.

1. rediscovering some of my experimental printmaking in a portfolio I haven't opened in a few years.

2. Meeting a 4 year old in a pink tutu who gave me a twirl so I could admire their outfit. Then I watched as they chose one of my brooches to gift to Mama. Mama popped in later wearing the bright yellow and green dinosaur.

3. Catching up with a friend from art college days. We compared notes on parenting, the price of paprikas, and making art.

As tidy as it gets

how long will it take to mess it up?

The rediscovered work

Experimental printmaking.
Using an old hungarian embossed paint roller I bought in a market in Osijek, Croatia.

Hand carved stamp over monoprint with thread

Experimental printmaking.
Using an old hungarian embossed paint roller I bought in a market in Osijek, Croatia,
and a hand carved stamp I made from soft carve.

Experimental printmaking.
block print using soft carve over a monoprint.

Open Studio

2022-08-08T15:46:00.008-07:00

Visum Group exhibition at Stirrup Gallery

2022-05-31T17:54:00.001-07:00

Come join me at this group exhibition I'm a part of at Addi Road.

finished. Glorious Decay.

2022-05-06T00:27:00.001-07:00

Inspired by 19th century anatomy and ornithology illustration.

Catharsis complete?

2022-01-27T13:53:00.009-08:00

There is one more unfinished canvas floating around the studio. Not sure if I will finish it but I'll have a good clean up while I look for it.

Getting started on the under story.

2021-04-26T16:29:00.001-07:00

The Studio

2020-11-01T14:10:00.001-08:00

My studio was once soldiers quarters in an old army depot.

The Assemblage Sisters are here!!!!

2018-12-30T18:51:00.007-08:00

What have I been up to for the last month? This and that.

Well actually I've been setting up a new Art education business with my amazing assemblage sister, Lisa Bergan .

Come Visit us HERE

UPcycled @ Stirrup Gallery Nov 26-Dec 2 2018

2018-12-30T17:31:00.001-08:00

Upcycled- a group exhibition with Me, Fiona Arnold and Jack Lagan.

The Forest of

Poly Ethylene

Tanya Ljubić, 2018

Skeletal formula of a polyethylene monomer

Feeding

Reproduction

Flight

Bloom specimen 1

Bloom specimen 1 (with shadow of Feeding)

wide view with Single stem standing (Left)

Plausible deniability

(C₂H₄)_n Chamber

Ch-ch-ch -ch-changes

2018-11-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

Turn and face the strange

Ch-ch-changes

Don't want to be a richer (wo)man

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Turn and face the strange

Ch-ch-changes

There's gonna have to be a different (wo)man

Time may change me

But I can't trace time

Songwriters: David Bowie

Changes lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management

At the beginning of the month I left Reverse Garbage, where I was working as a Sustainability Education Officer, to concentrate on my art practice.

I started my relationship with Reverse Garbage as the Artist in Residence in 2015. I then continued working there as an Education Officer.

There have been some projects that have particularly loved working on. I have also had the pleasure of working with some great educators and artists.

In particular I want to thank Lisa Bergan, Artist, Art Therapist and Education Officer, Rachel Rothwell, Education Manager and science boffin, and Fiona Arnold, Assemblage Artist and educator.

POSSABILITY Ideas EXPO 2015

Making Superhero accessories with people with a disability, their families and carers visiting the expo to see, hear and try the best options to assist their life choices.

Hunter Creative Arts Conference April 2016

A professional Development Workshop developing innovation and creativity with reuse materials in the Primary classroom.

Musica Viva April 2017

Interacting with children and their parents was so rewarding. The thrill of being "allowed" to paint on a piano- what more could you ask for?

Dubbo South Public School May 2017

1 PD workshop, 8 student workshops in 2 days with the amazing, motivated kids from Dubbo Sth PS.

Turnbull's Spine August 2017

Working with Fiona Arnold in support of the YES campaign

RecyclingWeek November 2017

26 Waste Sorting Challenge Workshops for Primary Schools groups

STEAM Conference November 2017

At the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, working with

teachers to create Da-Vinci inspired Automata using reusable materials.

Sustainable House

A few thousand kids, a few hundred houses and many many Primary schools

What next? I am busy in the studio working on the finishing touches of new pieces for an exhibition at the end of this month at Stirrup Gallery, Marrickville. I have a few projects incubating at the moment. More about those another time.

What a Spectacle

2018-10-22T12:50:00.001-07:00

Last week I picked up my new specs from Dresden Optics in Newtown.

I am super excited to be able to see clearly again but the best part is these are specs made from recycled plastics in a closed loop system. Dresden recycle milk bottle lids into great cost effective eyewear.

Well, I am all about plastics - reducing and reusing in my sculpture. But the new container deposit scheme in NSW has cut off my supply of PET. Mustn't grumble. There is no shortage of other plastics.

Here is a video, CarbonLite: Inside the World's Largest Plastic Bottle Recycling Plant, for you to enjoy.

We did it!

2018-09-10T02:06:00.003-07:00

The students finished their assemblage.

6Y, This is Us, cardboard shoe boxes, acrylic paint, enamel paint, plastic, paper, pasta, 2018.

Here are their gallery notes

This term 6Y looked at the work of artist Louise Nevelson. Louise Nevelson was an assemblage artist from the United States of America.

Our sculpture represents the idea that our cultural identities are complex. We are individuals with our own feelings, thoughts and ideas. We each have unique physical features and styles. At the same time we are members of small and large groups, communities, and society.

Our boxes contain cultural artefacts that we think represent us. The white represents our shared identity. White is not a skin colour. It is all the colours of the spectrum. For example, we are all students and we are all classmates. Some of us are members of the same sports team. Others share interests like dance, gaming and eating pasta. Some of us speak the same 2nd language. Some of us have pets.

I think they did a great job, though if I am honest I could do with a stiff drink about now.

How long does it take to paint a shoe box white?

2018-09-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

Over the past 3 weeks I have been working with the Ninja Monkey's class to create a Louise Nevelson inspired assemblage for the student art show. Here is a link to an Nevelson's Bio. As is usually the case working in schools, we has a lot of students and very little time.

The students used acrylic to paint their boxes.

I asked them to bring in cultural artefacts that express who they are. These were glued into their boxes then spray painted.

I wasn't willing to have them spray painting at school as the weather was so unpredictable and I didn't have the time to create safe spray boxes so I took the pieces home to spray paint.

Some of the students came over for a working bee to finish the work. They were rewarded with a chance to use the hot glue gun and do some well supervised spray painting. One of the students brought over home baked chocolate muffins. These sustained them, though we had to keep an eye on the Ninja Monkey's father who was eyeing off the chocolatey goodness.

Bump in is tomorrow. I'll post some pictures if I have the energy.😅

180 students, 3 hours, 1 concrete slab

2018-08-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

Assemblage and more

Today I worked with the wonderful Fiona Arnold facilitating Assemblage workshops for 180 high school students. The workshops culminated in the construction of an as yet untitled work that will be exhibited at Art on the Slab at the Addison Road Community Centre in Marrickville for the next month.

Untitled Assemblage, Year 8, Burwood Girls High School, 2018

I explained to the students that the ubiquitous milk crate is a design icon for a generation of shared households. I have seen some brilliant milk crate furniture as I am sure you have. From the simple vinyl record storage unit to the queen sized bed base there is little a milk crate can't do. I think they thought I was mad.

A highlight for me was watching Fiona Arnold teach some of the students how to use a power drill.

Untitled Assemblage, Year 8, Burwood Girls High School, 2018

Students were also treated to a workshop with Sydney based DJ and Hop Hip artist Kween G.

The students wrote and recorded a rap. Check out Kween G on Facebook.

But Wait there's more..

the Habitat Tree

Students also toured the Addison Road Centre delivering donations to the Food Pantry and taking in the sights and sounds of addi Rd.

Do visit the ARCCO facebook page for the latest news and events.

Library late fees.

2017-09-26T01:35:00.000-07:00

Studio work ground to a halt today.

I have an overdue library book.

I tried to renew it, but couldn't.

The book is so trashy I can't bear to tell you the title.

I gave the ninja monkey the Ipad and some junk food.

I climbed into bed and finished reading the book.

Not a bad day's work.

Somewhere over the rainbow

2017-09-04T03:25:00.001-07:00

So I am working hard on my Forest of Poly Ethylene but also working with Fiona Arnold again on the Yes Garden at Addison Road Community Centre.

In Australia we have yet to achieve marriage equality. It is a sad state of affairs. Conservative politicians have abrogated responsibility for representing the electorate and we are faced with the farce that is the non-binding Marriage Equality postal survey.

Many members of the LGBTQI community have expressed fear and anxiety as the public debate has given some homophobes a platform to express their bile.

And so, the Yes Garden is dedicated to creating a positive creative space to express support for the Yes vote in the upcoming Australian Marriage Equality survey.

The Yes Garden is evolving each week. It reflects the cultural diversity of the Addison Road Centre.

Last week we ran a workshop for people to make Yes signs. It was a pleasure to talk to families, couples, individuals and friends.

The Yes Garden will continue to grow over the next few months.

Turnbull gets a spine

2017-08-17T03:56:00.002-07:00

Last week, I had the opportunity to collaborate again with fellow artist Fiona Arnold. Fiona was asked to create a sculpture on behalf of Reverse Garbage for James Brechney of DIY Rainbow. Specifically, James asked for a spine for Australian Prime Minister Turnbull. Fiona asked me to come on board to help create the spine.

The finished spine. Aug 2017

The constant struggle to just "let it go".

Artists communicate through their art and through their practice. Once a piece is completed and exhibited it is up to the viewer to interpret meaning. The viewer may see something or feel something the artist did not intend.

When completing a commission or selling a work the artist may discuss how the work will be presented, however, the commissioner or buyer will ultimately make such decisions for themselves.

In the case of "the Spine" we the artists were acting on behalf of an organisation and the intention of the commissioner was clear. The work was being used as a prop. This said it is not a simple matter for an artist. "The Spine" was developed and created like any collaborative art work. Lots of discussion about message, materials, and aesthetics. "The Spine" was created for a pro-marriage equality event; a civil rights issue we are both passionate about.  The turn around time was very fast.

The above factors coupled with some media attention created a very intense experience. Fiona was brilliant as always and spoke beautifully about the work and the issue of LGBTQI civil rights. James Brechney was absolutely wonderful. Sensing our angst about the work and further adornment of the piece James took "The Spine" to the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville for a little glitz and glam and a send off to Canberra. Curbing the enthusiasm and impulse to over adorn and bedazzle, James and the patrons of the Imperial showed more respect for Malcolm Turnbull's new spine than the Prime Minister appears to be showing the Australian public.

While "The Spine" was starting its journey Fiona and I were debriefing and decompressing. Four days later we sat in a garden with a coffee and I showed Fiona footage from the Facebook page of DIY Rainbow. James Brechney is a social media gem. He has chronicled the journey of "The Spine" brilliantly. So Fiona and I laughed a lot and cried a little and began thinking about where to next.

Stay tuned for our next collaboration.

Please enjoy the following footage courtesy of James Brechney and DIY Rainbow

The Forest of Poly Ethylene

2017-07-29T18:57:00.001-07:00

So the prototype for the first tree in the Forest of Poly Ethylene is finished. I managed to destroy one heat gun in the process but I have learned a lot about melting and moulding HDPE.

I have had a good supply of milk bottles from my local cafe Kelby's Cafe. Thankfully we are big coffee drinkers here in Marrickville so there is a steady supply of empty bottles.

140cm high, 80cm diameter.

Getting on with it.

2017-07-20T01:23:00.000-07:00

So this month has been a doozy. My entire household has been sick. This always sets me back. Deadlines become stressful. It is the nature of the beast. The Ninja Monkey always comes first but some compromises are harder to take than others. This week I missed a submission deadline by about 20 minutes as the boy was sick and I had to pick him up from school in the middle of the day.

So I sulked for a day then got back into it. This is another work in progress.

The forest of Polyethylene

Collaboration

2017-06-16T13:54:00.001-07:00

This week I had the opportunity to collaborate with fellow artist Fiona Arnold on a site specific temporary installation.

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Cooks River catchment, together with other Aboriginal people who have made it their home.

The work was commissioned by the Cooks River Alliance on the occasion of the Cooks River Culture and Country celebration.

The event celebrated Aboriginal communities’ stories, histories, traditional knowledge and associations with the Cooks River. Guest speakers shared their knowledge of new and comprehensive Aboriginal history of the Cooks River. There was an oral history exhibition featuring local contemporary Aboriginal people along the river. Participants explored the traditional life of the Cooks River in 1770 via virtual simulation. In addition, there were musical performances, bush tucker food, and a walking tour.

The 200 metre long installation ran through the Addison Rd Community Centre. It crossed a carpark, footpaths and an access road. It revealed the old freshwater creek that ran through the site.

Big Thanks to Reverse Garbage for donating the material.

To all the crew at Addison Road Community Centre. Your tireless support is much appreciated.

Thank you to The Cooks River Alliance for commissioning this work and congratulations on a successful event

The Cooks River Alliance is a partnership between five councils in the Cooks River catchment – Bayside Council, City of Canterbury-Bankstown, City of Sydney, Inner West Council and Strathfield Council. Alliance activities include: engaging with people living and working in the Cooks River Catchment, monitoring water quality, seeking funding, managing the construction of on-ground works, and advocating and lobbying for legislative amendments to help improve the health of the catchment.

http://cooksriver.org.au/

Musica Viva Family Day 21 April 2017

2017-04-22T13:56:00.001-07:00

On Friday 21 April 2017 I had the good fortune of running a Paint a Piano session for Reverse Garbage at the Musica Viva Festival Family Day. It was located at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The Musica Viva staff and volunteers were a joy to work with and the Conservatorium Staff were wonderful.

Preparation at Themes and Variations with Ara and Nyree Vartoukian and a team of Musica Viva volunteers.

As is often the case when working with children all design concepts went out the window as they embraced the activity.

At the end of the day when all the kids were tucked up in bed Ara Vartoukian from Themes and Variations sneaks in for a quick play on the pianos.