lucy dyson
Lucy Dyson's worlds are both dead and alive. Pulsing with vibrant patterns, and saturated in the technicolor of yore, Dyson offers realms rich with movement, life and a compelling dark force. Each image presents an uncanny tableaux: coiffed pushbutton phone androids follow a tin-man robot and his Toto down a psychedelic brick road; bees and dandelion seeds are drawn through space, pulled into the hypnotic vortex of bakelite telephone dials circling the earth.
Telephones feature heavily in Dyson’s new work, and the instruments are given a broadway musical treatment - choreographed into swirling blooms, like precision synchronized swimmers. These dancing phones hark back to the excitement and promise of early technology, but are remodeled to imply the tone of a death knell. The result is a surreal tension between a nostalgic celebration of the past and an ominous prediction of the future. These bells toll a warning – that the ever increasing desire for newer, faster and better technology will come at a price. As we continue to mine the earth for minerals and oil to keep pistons churning, TVs dancing and the capitalist economy show rolling on, the buzz of the humble honey bee is being drowned out by polyphonic ring tones.
Lucy Dyson is a Melbourne based artist and animation director. Deft with a surgical blade, and an avid collector of vintage anatomy and animal kingdom books, Lucy’s work often explores the dark and mysterious with a wry and humorous twist. Since graduating with Honours from RMIT Media Arts in 2006, Lucy has honed her knife skills with regular exhibitions and animation work.
Recent animations projects include music videos for Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males, Gotye, Bird Blobs, TZU, The Stardust Five, and an award winning music video for Sarah Blasko.
| 1981 |
born Melbourne, Australia |
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Education
| 2006 | Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – Media Arts RMIT Melbourne (animation) |
| 2002 | Bachelor of Arts - Media Arts RMIT Melbourne (specialising in experimental animation) |
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Grants and a wards
| 2008 |
British Council Realise Your Dream Award - Winner |
| 2008 |
SOYA 08 Qantas Spirit Of Youth Awards, Shortlist |
| 2008 |
SoundKILDA Music Video Audience Award |
| 2008 |
Telstra Big Pond / Australian Film Commission Great Moments in History Animation Initiative Finalist |
| 2007 |
SOYA 07 Qantas Spirit Of Youth Awards, Shortlist |
| 2007 |
SoundKILDA Best Music Video Animation - for [explain] Sarah Blasko |
| 2006 |
British Council Realise Your Dream Award - Finalist |
| 2006 |
City of Melbourne Arts Grant – Young Artist Category |
| 2003 |
Shepparton Shorts Film Festival – “Laika Space Dog” Best Animated film |
Solo Exhibitions
| 2007 |
Looking back at some dead world that looks so new – red gallery Melbourne |
| 2006 |
Of Monkeys, Mice and (Space) Men - Bus Gallery Melbourne – March 2006 (As part of the 2006 Next Wave Festival) |
| 2005 | Slide Gallery - Gertrude Contemporary Spaces, Melbourne |
| 2002 | Boxed World - First Site Gallery RMIT, Melbourne |
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Selected Group Exhibitions
| 2010 |
Winter Highlights - Jenny Port Gallery, Melbourne |
| 2010 |
STICK IT ! Collage in Australian Art - National Gallery of Victoria |
| 2009 | It all fits together – Jenny Port Gallery, Melbourne |
| 2008 |
While you were sleeping - Kick Gallery, Melbourne, Curated by Lucy Dyson |
| 2007 |
Northern Exposure, Kick Gallery, Melbourne |
| 2007 |
The Contemporary Collage, John Buckley Gallery, Melbourne |
| 2007 |
Breathing Space, Jenny Port Gallery, Melbourne |
| 2007 |
The Last Vestige Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |
| 2005 |
RE/Thinking - Bus Gallery, Melbourne |
| 2005 | Glory Box - George Paton Gallery Melbourne Uni |
| 2004 | Un-Natural Histories - Start Community Art Gallery Collingwood |
| 2004 | Pet Cemetery - Seventh Gallery Melbourne |
| 2004 | Domestic Bliss - Spacement Gallery Melbourne – As part of the 2004 Next Wave Festival |
| 2003 |
No Excuses - FAD Gallery Melbourne |
| 2003 | Bong On ’03 - Bus Gallery Melbourne |
| 2002 | The New Collectibles - First Site Gallery RMIT |
| 2002 |
Noisy Minor - RMIT Project Spaces |
| 2000 | Static - First Site Gallery RMIT |
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music video directing
| 2010 |
Wish, Still Corners, Indie UK, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
| 2010 |
Sad Sun, Teeth & Tongue, Crystal Chain Records, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
| 2010 |
Beautiful Trash, LANU, Tru Thoughts UK, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
| 2009 |
Goodtown, Wagons, Directed and Animated by Lucy Dyson |
| 2009 |
The Wealthiest Queen, Luluc, Directed and Animated by Lucy Dyson |
| 2008 |
The Time It Takes, Holly Throsby Spunk! Records, Directed by Lucy |
| 2008 |
Lupus, Augie March,Directed and Produced by Lucy Dyson |
| 2008 |
The Minotaur, The Drones, ATP Recordings, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
| 2008 |
Persist, All India Radio, Minty Fresh Records US, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
| 2007 |
Thanks For Your Time, Gotye, Lucky Numbers Records, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
| 2007 |
I Will Release Myself Unto You, Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males |
| 2006 |
Explain, Sarah Blasko, Sony Music, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
| 2006 |
Pussy Got Your Tongue, Stardust Five, EMI Music, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
| 2006 |
Drowning In The Fountain Of Youth, Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
| 2005 |
Drunk On Election Night, Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males, Infidelity/Shock Records, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
| 2005 |
She Gets Up, TZU, Liberation Records, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
| 2005 |
If I Could Kill, Bird Blobs, Unstable Ape Records, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
| 2002 |
Sunshine In My Eyes, Dave Ong, Festival Mushroom Records, Directed by Lucy Dyson |
Short Films
2002 – “Laika Space Dog” – Dir Lucy Dyson
Screenings
| 2010 |
Goodtown, National Film & Sound Archive, Canberra |
| 2010 |
Goodtown, SoundKILDA, St Kilda Film Festival, |
| 2010 |
Goodtown, NGV Ian Potter Federation Square |
| 2010 |
Thanks For Your Time, Ian Potter Federation Square |
| 2009 |
The Wealthiest Queen, SoundKILDA, St Kilda Film Festival |
| 2009 |
Persist SoundKILDA, St Kilda Film Festival |
| 2008 |
This Is Not Art Festival, Tape Projects, Newcastle, Australia |
| 2008 |
Thanks For Your Time, Fest Anca, Slovakia |
| 2008 |
Explain, Fest Anca, Slovakia |
| 2008 |
Persist, Melbourne International Film Festival |
| 2008 |
Thanks For Your Time, SoundKILDA, St Kilda Film Festival |
| 2008 |
Explain, Sustainable Living Festival, Melbourne |
| 2007 |
Thanks For Your Time, Gotye Mini Orchestra National Theatre Tour |
| 2007 |
Explain, Digital Projections, Australian Centre for the Moving Image |
| 2007 |
Explain, Digital Projections, Sydney International Film Festival |
| 2007 |
Explain, St Kilda Film Festival National Touring Selection |
| 2007 |
I Will Release Myself Unto You, SoundKILDA, St Kilda Film Festival |
| 2007 |
Explain, SoundKILDA, St Kilda Film Festival |
| 2006 |
Drunk On Election Night, SoundKILDA, St Kilda Film Festival |
| 2006 |
Drunk On Election Night, Realm Of The Senses Festival |
| 2006 |
Pussy Got Your Tongue, 123TV Melbourne |
| 2005 |
If I Could Kill, 123TV Melbourne |
| 2005 |
If I Could Kill, Technikunst Festival, Melbourne |
| 2003 |
Laika - Space Dog Noise On Screen, ABC TV |
| 2003 |
Laika - Space Dog JJJ Moonlight Cinema Frame Breaks Film Festival, screened nationally |
| 2003 |
Laika - Space Dog Girls, Boys Machines, ACMI Federation Square Melbourne |
| 2002 |
Selection of experimental animated shorts FLY TV, ABC TV |
bibliography, interviews, talks
| 2010 |
SOMA magazine, filmmaker profile |
| 2010 |
Interview Sesame Magazine Online |
| 2009 |
Big-screen sound and video, Interview with Patrick Donovan, The Age, May 25 |
| 2009 |
Sound and Vision Interview with Rowena Robertson, Screen Education, Issue 54, Pg 39 |
| 2008 |
Dream's Alive Interview with Suzanne Robertson, Melbourne Yarra Leader, Oct 1 |
| 2008 |
Film Buff's Forecast Interview with Paul Harris, Triple RRR 102.7 FM Melbourne |
| 2008 |
The Breakfast Show Interview with Robbie, Marieke and The Doctor, Triple J Radio Australia |
| 2008 |
While You Were Sleeping, Visual Arts Review by Penny Modra, The Sunday Age, Aug 10 pg. 27 |
| 2008 |
Published artwork ELLE Girl Magazine, Korea, July Issue, Pg. 75 |
| 2008 |
RMIT Student Film Awards Judge |
| 2008 |
Pecha Kucha Night, Blue Diamond Bar Melbourne, Guest Artist Speaker |
| 2008 |
RMIT Arts Law / Arts Business Week Seminar Speaker |
| 2008 |
MX Magazine, interview, St Kilda Film Festival Feature |
| 2007 |
Forepaw Gallery, Melbourne, Tape Projects Artist Talk |
| 2007 |
24 Hour Arty People, Artist Profile Yen Magazine, Feb Issue |
| 2006 |
Published writing, SummerWinter Magazine Jan Issue #5 |
| 2006 |
Space Shuffle Ready To Launch Interview MX Magazine, March 20, Pg. 8 |
| 2006 |
Fame Lurks In Unusual Places Interview with Craig Mathieson, The Age, EG, March 17, Pg. 9 |
| 2004 |
Their art's in the right place, Interview with Blanche Clark, Herald Sun, May 22, pg 112 |
| 2004 |
Smart Arts Interview with Richard Watts, Triple RRR 102.7 FM Melbourne |
| 2004 |
Domestic Bliss, Visual arts review by Simone Ubaldi, Beat Magazine, May 26 |
| 2003 |
Moonlight Cinema Frame Breaks Film Festival Judge |
| 2003 |
Interview with Meagan Spencer Triple JJJ Radio |
| 2003 |
Film Buff's Forecast Interview with Paul Harris Triple RRR 102.7FM Melbourne |
| 2003 |
Space Pooch Inspires Rachel Kleinman, Melbourne Yarra Leader, Feb 24, Pg. 13 |
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