Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2019 i frankie Magazine

Having a shit one? Why not let Japanese band CHAI shout you towards better self-esteem? “You are so cute! / Nice face! / C’mon, yeah!” they screech on the rousing two-and-a-half-minute track “N.E.O.”. Continuing in their native Japanese, they howl lines like, “Small eyes, flat nose, thick legs – all right!” over a rumbling bass and chaotic guitars. The aim is to spread their message of ‘neo-kawaii’. It’s CHAI’s all-inclusive definition of ‘cute’ – one that celebrates imperfections and pushes against a narrow Japanese beauty standard that prizes big eyes, a thin figure and pale skin. “From birth, I’ve always felt bound by Japan’s definition of kawaii,” explains Kana, the band’s guitarist. “I think it’s something all Japanese women can attest to. It can determine your social status.” CHAI’s bassist…

In the past year, I’ve gotten my first tattoo – and then five more – and my first facial piercing. I’m 30 years old. You might be wondering why I’m behaving like a teen when I’m old enough to be a parent. Well, bear with me – it’s been a long journey. Growing up in a conservative Vietnamese family, my sisters and I were taught that tattoos and piercings were the domain of Bad People, and if we ever got any, we’d be written off the family tree. Earlobes were fine – my GP dad took to my sister’s with a piercing gun when she was only a few months old, and mine when I was 10 – but anything else was a big no-no. As a kid, I thought…

August 21st was my anniversary. Not the date I got into a relationship – I don’t even remember when that would have been – but 365 days since I’d become single. Exactly a year earlier, I’d finally ripped off the band-aid I’d been picking and pulling at for months and broke up with my boyfriend. It was the best decision I ever made. We spend our lives subliminally ingesting the message that romance is something to aspire to. In high school, I saw it every Valentine’s Day, when the names of girls with flower deliveries to collect from the front desk were called over the PA. As the rest of us watched, they’d strut over to pick up their roses, an exalted class of the loved and wanted. Later, it…

LISTEN UP Everyone arrives at their political opinions in their own way, so when you find yourself in a discussion that leans away from your personal beliefs, try not to arc up immediately. It’s worth listening to what your conversation partner has to say, so you can understand how they got to where they are. Allowing them the opportunity to explain their position is a critical part of a respectful discussion – so, if you find you’re talking at a million miles an hour and not letting them get a word in edgewise, slow down and zip your lips for a minute. Really take in what the other person is saying. You might even learn a thing or two, or find something to mull over. KEEP IT CIVIL When a…

It’s so rare to find practical pockets in women’s clothing that discovering them in a modern-day dress feels like striking sartorial gold. Back in the 16th century, though, pockets meant power. Walter Fyshe, tailor to Elizabeth I, sewed pouches into the queen’s clothing as part of a political pageant that displayed her wealth and status. Elizabeth was a woman in a man’s job, so she used her costly, magnificent fashions to show how people scrambled to meet her desires. If she wanted pockets in every garment, from nightgowns to riding cloaks, she could damn well afford them. Conversely, inside-out pockets have pantomimed poverty for centuries. As men swapped doublets and jerkins for dapper three-piece suits, their garments continued to have pockets sewn in – often decorated with fancy bindings and…

There was only one person with Down Syndrome in the town where I grew up. His name was Brian and he lived with his family near my high school. Our paths didn’t cross much, but when they did, I never knew what to say or how to act around him. Fear of saying the wrong thing usually prevented me from saying anything at all. My discomfort remained intact and unchallenged in my 20s – a lump in my throat that I knew was there but did nothing to budge. I suppose shame was where this work began. My aunt suggested I call her cousin Lois to discuss a project with her daughter, Alyssa. And Holland Has Tulips was a multimedia journal: a collection of thoughts gathered over six months about…

Longest biscuit-dunking relay. There’s nothing like a quick cuppa and bikkie before getting down to some serious business. Especially when surrounded by 394 of your closest chums. In 2017, 395 members of the Shivganga Roller Skating Club in Belgaum, India, smashed a casual world record before kicking off their class – specifically, the longest-ever biscuit-dunking relay. Intel on their choice of cookie and beverage is scarce, but it sounds like a scrummy time, regardless. Longest line of garden flamingos. It takes a whopping big backyard to break a record like this one – or an expansive stretch of parkland in Buffalo, New York. The folks from Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy placed 1500 garden flamingos in a meticulous row, then, when their record was confirmed, they adopted the pink birds out,…

Dear frankie, I’ve been feeling like a complete ball of stress lately. I’m studying and working full-time. I’m always on the run; I feel like I barely have time to breathe. What’s more, I’m addicted to my phone. I flick through my feeds and check my emails obsessively, and I never truly disconnect. Frankie is the one thing that makes me stop for a minute, sit down in the sun, and take a breath. Thank you, Genevieve Dearest frankie, I could not agree more with James Colley’s write-up about Coco Pops in the road test in issue 91. My family has a rule that Coco Pops must not be indulged in unless we’re on holidays or camping. This simple rule has left a real impact – not only on me,…

When I was in year 5, Michelle Cheng had a Miss Universe-themed birthday party. There were the traditional layers of competition (though the adults wisely spared us from attempting the swimsuit round). Being a 4-foot-5 nine-year-old with the showbiz energy of Rhonda Burchmore, naturally, I won. But at some point during the crowning ceremony, a jealous competitor came up behind me and pulled on my silky red maxi-skirt, interrupting the acceptance speech of a lifetime with a dacking that still scars me to this day. Ever since that tragic moment, I’ve been imagining the monologue that could have been; standing in front of mirrors rehearsing hypothetical Academy Award acceptance speeches, Grammy acceptance soliloquies, Best New Talent ARIA thank yous. Working at a corporate training centre a few years back, a…

Every evening, after the sun has popped on her nightcap and gone to sleep, I become a member of a not-so-exclusive club. I never formally asked to join this secret society, but it’s been a significant part of my life for years now. You might even be a member, as well: it’s the unenviable club of Bad Sleepers. I don’t remember the exact point sleeping became so difficult, but it was at least six or seven years ago. What used to come so naturally, like breathing, blinking or being attracted to Cate Blanchett, slowly became harder and harder. I’ve tried medications, lavender, meditation, countless apps, doctors, yoga, special pillows and, oh god, this is so dull, I’m sorry, but maybe just complaining about it will bore me enough to get…

After 10 years of back-to-back albums and touring, you’d forgive Bat for Lashes – real name Natasha Khan – for wanting to drop off the face of the Earth for a bit. Sail around the Bahamas. Dabble in wine-making. You know, some regular celebrity stuff. But somehow Natasha’s exit plan (leave her native London to go paint, read and explore Los Angeles) quickly became fuel for another album. “It’s almost become a joke with my inner creative child,” she says of her newest record, Lost Girls. “I pretend we don’t have to go through this whole cycle again; that we’re just going to enjoy life. Then she’s like, ‘Oh, but I want to make something now.’” To be fair, Natasha is loving LA. When she arrived, she had a ball…

Hi Lisa! Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became an artist. I’ve always wanted to be an artist – ever since I was a kid, making stuff has been my happy place. After school, I studied fine art at COFA (now UNSW Art & Design) and went on to work in fashion and interiors. About seven years ago, though, I decided I wanted to focus on my art practice full-time. At first glance, your works look painted, but it’s actually coloured pencil! How did that become your medium of choice? It was about 11 years ago when my daughter was born, and I was asked to be part of a group show. I wanted to work in a way that was really easy (with paints, there’s…

BONNY V. IN A SENTENCE: Unique pressed-flower goodies for homebodies and brides // WHAT WE SELL: Pressed-flower frames, phone cases and bridal arrangements, with wedding-day bouquets transformed into a special keepsake. I also run workshops where you can learn the art of flower-pressing // PRICE POINT: $30 to $800 for pressed-flower frames and $30 for phone cases // WHAT MAKES THE SHOP SPECIAL: Everything is lovingly made from scratch – it takes from two to four weeks to press the flowers and create an arrangement // FIND US: Online at bonnyv.com JAC & HUGO IN A SENTENCE: Precious metals shaped into keepsake jewellery // WHAT WE SELL: Solid silver and gold rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets // PRICE POINT: From $85 for a personalised bracelet to $2250 for gold stacking…

KATE MCCARTNEY WRITER, DIRECTOR AND ACTOR Fail very hard, do it often, and do it with gusto. I’ve learnt buckets more from my failures than my successes. (I am, of course, talking about my creative failures. I’ve never put a foot wrong in my personal life, and I’ve definitely never fallen sideways off a train platform because I wasn’t paying attention.) Anyway, to approach your own failures with kindness and love for yourself is completely liberating. No one gets things right the first time. When you arse something up, just have a cry, then rejoice in your failure. Hold a parade for it. Take it to dinner. Because failure means an opportunity to learn and do whatever you did again, a little bit better. MICHELLE LAW WRITER AND SCREENWRITER I…

Lauren Jarrett has always been an artist. As a youngjarjum, or child, her earliest memories are of making ‘bush pictures’ in the sand with sticks and stones, crafting tiny sculptures from bits of plants and feathers, weaving local native grasses, and singing in Gumbaynggirr language with her aunties and grannies. Back then, the elders had a knack for seeing each child’s unique gift. “Love was just paramount,” Lauren says. “They’d study us quietly – they knew who you were and they’d guide you towards that, whether it was healing, art, dance or whatever.” Lauren spent those early years in the lushmuruy(rainforests), bindarray(rivers),gaagal(oceans) andmarlalbang(mountains) of her ancestral country, which spans from the northern end of Byron Bay down to Kempsey in New South Wales. But at the age of nine, her…

I started my business, Tibi, nearly two years ago, where I work as an access consultant for live music events and venues, promoting a spirit of inclusivity. The aim is to open up gigs and events of all sizes to everyone, removing barriers faced by people with disabilities. I originally studied to become an artist manager, but realised it wasn’t for me. It wasn’t until I went to the Splendour in the Grass festival that I met an accessibility liaison and realised that was an actual job. It was a light-bulb moment for me: I’m in a wheelchair and I go to concerts and gigs where accessibility isn’t the best. I thought, “I need to start a business from this perspective.” It’s tough, because accessibility is not a high priority…

Dylan River is a bush baby, a proud Kaytetye man and a filmmaker. He was born and bred in Alice Springs, surrounded by a family of media trailblazers: his dad is Warwick Thornton, the bloke behind cinematic gems like Sweet Country and Samson and Delilah; his mum is Penelope McDonald, a film producer and director who headed Screen Territory up until a few years ago; his sister is Rona Glynn McDonald, the brains behind Common Ground – an online resource for First Nations culture and history; and his nan is Freda Glynn, the founder of Australia’s first-ever Aboriginal radio station. You could say creativity is imprinted in his DNA. From tagging along to film school with his dad after childcare to growing up on film sets, Dylan was surrounded by…

HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940) Truthfully, most gender-swapped remakes are ill-conceived cash grabs designed to exploit a new market. Maybe it’s because I’m cynical, or maybe it’s because I wrote an original supernatural-comedy screenplay for four unbelievably talented comediennes, but no, they had to go and do Ghostbusters. Anyway, I’m over it. I do think, however, there’s value in assessing whether a gender swap might actually elevate the story. Such is the case with His Girl Friday: a remake of 1931 screwball comedy The Front Page, which follows two men – a newspaper editor and a crack reporter – trying to cash in on a big story about an escaped murderer. By opening up the role of reporter to actress Rosalind Russell, director Howard Hawks heightens the tension, giving the characters…

HELLO PETAL Designed for the modern bohemian, our sustainable seeded paper greeting and business cards will grow into beautiful daisies once planted. You’ll also find dreamy art prints for sale in our store – created to help you slow down.hellopetalcards.com.au LOVERLYBONES Spread the good vibes! I make art prints, zines, pins, totes and hand-sewn craft to remind you of your strengths. You’re not alone; there’s magic in the world; everyone has their own story. These are some of the affirmations I hope will enrich your life.loverlybones.etsy.com PRISM + FLEUR DESIGN STUDIO Calling all modern mystics! Our products, including the Accurate AF tarot deck, Velvet Mindfulness journal and lunar calendars, are designed to encourage self-understanding. We also consult on design for established brands and businesses.accurateaftarot.etsy.com BASK AROMATHERAPY I’m an aromatherapist making…

Go looking for love and you’ll find it in the darndest of places. Like in the middle of a two-acre farm in suburban Melbourne, where every month, a bunch of eager singles collectively pull up weeds in an effort to find romance or friendship (or better yet, both). The unusual event is called ‘Weed Dating’, and was created by farmer Emily Connors. After seeing a similar concept being trialled overseas, she decided to roll it out at her workplace, Joe’s Market Garden – an offshoot of CERES, aka the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies. “I liked the idea because it really aligns with our farm’s mission, which is to get people to fall in love with the Earth again,” Emily says. “We just added the opportunity for…