Paul Walsh

In a quiet leafy suburb a lone figure walks through a park, crosses a stream, and enters a storm drain.
He walks through the ankle deep water and I follow as a feeling of claustrophobia creeps into me. I try to keep up but slip on some slime and water splashes my face in the darkness.
Paul Walsh is an artist who is totally at home in this subterranean world and as he walks he shines the torch on his phone into the void and gives me a running commentary of the graffiti artists who have tagged down there.
Finally we emerge into the light, at the end of the tunnel, as we reach the spot where Paul will do his piece.
It’s a fairytale world where tropical plants hang down graffiti clad walls and birds bathe in the water that runs through the storm drain while, bizarrely, bright orange goldfish swim in the pools that are cut off from the main flow.
All is silent apart from the birdsong, the sound of an occasional inner city train as it thunders overhead and the rattle of spray cans as Paul gets to work….This is not commercial art produced to sell but something crafted for the pure love of it and the need to create and be creative. A few hours pass by like seconds and then Paul is finished.
As we trudge back through the darkness shafts of light illuminate urban artworks rarely seen by the public walking above us. We say our goodbyes and I make my way back through the city watching commuters in suits hurry across town and teenage kids, still in their school uniforms, smoking on swings in the park.
Alone in the darkness of the tunnel the black and white face of Charles Bukowski stares out and his words echo eerily
“some people never go crazy, What truly horrible lives they must lead.”

Never Give UP

Never Give Up is a short artistic film that beautifully portrays, London 2012 Olympian and Professional Triathlete,
Helle Frederiksen’s inspiring outlook on life.
In 2007 after suffering a discus prolapse at the age of 26, London 2012 Olympian Helle Frederiksen, was told to give up. Missing out on selection to the Beijing Olympics and having to complete a large part of her master degree from her sickbed, Helle made a decision not to give up. She stood by her own self-belief; gained comfort from those that believed in her and pursued her own path to success.
“I was told to give up, I was 26 and had a dream that I wanted to fulfill. I was not going to give up. I made a choice, sacrifices and a commitment to myself that I would succeed, not just in sport but in life.” – Helle Frederiksen
Today Helle Frederiksen continues on a path, a direction in life that she loves. Helle’s story is one of inspiration and a fine example of success through determination and self-belief.
“Life is what we make of it; we are wrong if we think success in life comes easily. Whether it is in sport, business or life in general success does not come without sacrifices, hard work and determination.” – Helle Frederiksen
Never Give Up portrays Helle’s outlook on life through a combination of powerful scenes, epic landscapes and perfectly composed music. Helle narrates the film herself, providing a very personal yet powerful message about life and decisions in life that have made her who she is today.
Here’s to an inspirational girl and her commitment to follow her dreams. May we all pursue this path and fulfill our promise in life.

Roger Ballen

I find the photographs of Roger Ballen both fascinating and disturbing.
Like the work of Diane Arbus before him it is a contradiction in terms – both compelling and compulsive to look at yet focused on subject matter we all too often want to look away from.
Merging the boundaries between art house and documentary photojournalism he continues to inspires and inform and his ongoing collaboration with Die Antwoord has bought him a new army of followers.
The collaboration is a masterful achievement – more so because it flies in the face of current trends to partner young trendy groups with young, trendy image makers.
Aged 63, Ballen himself says…
“Because photography is such an easy medium to master technically, especially with today’s cameras, people don’t realize that it’s not just being able to pick up a camera.
When I lift that camera up to take a picture, I’ve gone through thousands of steps to get to that point.
That’s what you’re really seeing; it’s a complex view of the world, through my imagination and through my experiences.”
Long may he continue in his search for the photographic truth….

Helle Frederiksen

screen grabs from a recent commercial with Nike sponsored triathlete Helle Frederiksen