Giant Carrot

 
So, remember a while ago, I mentioned something about a giant art piece for After Store? Yup. The news is out. I'm making a giant carrot! Now, this carrot ain't any ordinary carrot. it's gigantic and huge, approximately 7 metres lengthwise to be exact. For the past two days, I've been slogging away, drawing and painting in my Pajamas. I've been squatting and standing and kneeling and even lying down on the floor, just so I can cover every bit of my carrot. It's hard when a piece gets too huge and can't fit on any regular table. So, after all the up and downs, coupled with many awkward positions, I am embarrassed to report how much my bum and thighs ache. (Oh the signs of my lack of exercise!) But yup, no pain, no gain right? Hah! Anyway, I have now created a giant carrot. It's not finished just yet. Still quite a bit more to go. More patterning. ( Which by the way is getting a bit tough because I am fast running out of patterns to draw! Especially since I'm making them up as I go along ) Post patterning, I've also got to back it with cardboard so it's sturdy, attach wires, do up the back of it and of course, install it at After Store's windows! I have until next week to get it all done. Not much time, but I reckon I can work with it.

I know a lot of you have been asking me over instagram and Facebook, what this is for and why am I making it. Well, as part of the City of Melbourne's Look Stop Shop event, I've been invited to create a special piece for After. I had to full freedom of deciding what I wanted to create so I decided to combine my love for over-the-top giant-sized foods, along with not only After's amazing Mexican, African collections in store, but also, most importantly, the fresh food loving Victoria Market shoppers. So there you have it, a giant Aztec patterned orange carrot! The piece will be up and ready probably end of next week or the following week. I'll keep you guys posted. Also, a few of you have asked if this was inspired by the Carrot man on Gertrude street. Believe it or not, no! Haha. I only found out about him after creating the initial drafts. But I reckon I should be friends with him. Considering our common love for going about town with giant foods. I heard he's a pretty funny guy, running up and down the street with his giant paper ( was it? ) carrot. Now wouldn't it be funny if I could get him to do some sort of performance art piece with me and we could both carry this giant carrot through the Market?! Haha! Oh me and my silly ideas! 

And if you're wondering what am I going to do post window display. The super talented Tess McCabe has suggested I slice up my carrot and sell the parts as A3 art pieces. I think that's a mighty fine idea. Sure beats having to store it at home! And besides, it kind of reminds me of the kiddy story - The Giant Carrot, where everyone gets to share the huge carrot in the end. What a lovely idea Tess! Might just do it. Thanks for the suggestion!  : )