News From Venice

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The Venetian Spritz (pronounced "spriss"): 2 parts Pinot Grigio + 1 part Aperitif/Campari + a heavy splash of sparkling water + ice + 1 lemon slice

Other than loving the lack of cars and abundant Venetian Spritzes, Big Kahuna Imagineering’s Managing Director Will Colhoun is doing his country proud in preparation for the Venice Biennale. As the sole Australian installer among Hany Armanious’ Venetian entourage, Will says the Australian Padilione (that’s “Pavilion” for us English speakers) is looking great thanks to the talented Mr. Luca, who succeeded in inadvertently giving the team an early quitting time the other day after “slathering on about four litres of the most noxious, toxic evil two pack urethane paint containing at least 300% Toluene in addition to the isocyanate cocktail that no one could smell!”  But what the hey? They’re expecting over 300,000 art-lovers to tread those steps in the next few months so the Pavilion has to look schmick.

Hany’s über-regarded curator, Anne Ellegood, arrived last week from LA to give special attention to the artworks’ placements around the two-tier pavilion.  Will reports that he has helped shift Hany’s pieces about 40 times so far, but “we’re very close now as the lighting is being directed soon, and this ‘should’ cement the arrangement.”

“What’s really funny,” Will says, “is that the pieces we strived to realise cleanly back at BKI, only to have Hany come along and dust-up and get all filthy (forwarding the desired effect, of course) are once again being treated with kid gloves (well, white cotton conservator’s ones anyway!)”

When Will isn’t battling in the continuous struggle for Australia to gain worldwide recognition as a power force of modern art, he’s teaching Venetians about planking. He’s even thinking about forming the “Safety Conscious Fun Planking Association” in the hope of keeping this credible art form from being obliterated by irresponsible plankers.

Here’s a few snapshots of some very safe planking by ours truly…

Safe

(Note: Boat is not moving!!! It was stationary and tied up to a floating extension of a café by a canal).  

Safer

Safest

More to come!

One thought on “News From Venice

  1. Stewy

    Hey bro, us kiwis invented that plunking thing eh. Looks like you’re having a ball, I owe you a call but cant figure out the time diff. Will send you a text message so we can synchronise watches

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