There are a million ways to incorporate fine art into your home, and the visual extravaganza in Collecting: Living with Art is guaranteed to supply uber, ultra and utterly delicious inspiration.
A tapestry by American kinetic artist Alexander Calder hanging in Australian architect Harry Seidler’s study is the teaser page of this book that is a veritable banquet of art, design, architecture and energy.
Among the homes of 26 Australian collectors, no two examples of living with art are the same. This is a very personal exploration of how art is bought, displayed and thought about. It’s a deep dive into the passion and philosophy that drives these collectors (often artists or architects themselves), and a glimpse into houses that would stand proud on any international stage.
The aesthetic approach ranges widely: the luxurious minimalism in a philanthropist’s heritage-listed 1880s house; a baroque-style home where the canvasses breathe beneath decorative coffered ceilings; a townhouse apartment where commercial gallerists have turned their home into an art incubator beneath warehouse-style rafters. Each will find an appreciative audience and, with an artists’ list included for every property, wider discovery and a deeper understanding are just a Google search away.
Author Kym Elphinstone is an arts advisor and advocate of long-standing, and has managed to tease out quotes from her subjects that could be compiled into a dictionary of higher thought. “Whatever is in my home, whatever I have collected, it supports my vision of what I want Australia to be — a diverse community of people and perspectives,” says artist Angela Tiatia.
Albeit populated with revered names, including our own Billy Apple, Michael Parekowhai and John Pule who sit alongside the likes of global greats like Picasso and prominent players such as Jeff Koons, Elphinstone says the book is aimed at encouraging readers to embrace the joy of collecting — no matter the budget.
When you’ve finished admiring the inspirational pieces and places that only few can dream of, delve into the practical tips section which encourages those who don’t know where to start to follow your heart when choosing a work, and then move heaven and earth to achieve it.
Collecting: Living with Art by Kym Elphinstone with Jo Higgins (Thames & Hudson).
Words Claire McCall
Photography Dave Wheeler