Curated for Ad's Sake #10: Andrew "AJ" McLaughlin
Witticisms, cynicisms, hot takes and pure arrogance ๐โโ๏ธ
Great people in and around advertising have great taste in art.
I wanted to know what turns them on, so I asked them about their artistic fascinations and inspirations.
๐งโ๐จ Youโre welcome.
AJ describes himself as an 80โs sitcom personality stuck in the body of an Art Director. Originally from Dublin ๐ฎ๐ช heโs now based in Melbourne, and after taking out the Victorian prize in Award School 2023 he only went and won the National Prize as well! What a bloody clever clogs. His Subway Google Docs integration and Baggage weight concepts are absolutely ๐ฅ So do have a look after perusing this gorgeous curation of artistic delights.
Letโs craic on! ๐
๐ง Troye Sivanโs RUSH.ย
Local boy Troye Sivan put this video out a few weeks ago and I reckon I count for at least 90% of the 11M views. The colours, the expression, the sound are all unapologetically queer.
Gordon Von Steiner leans into the parts of Queer culture that most artists supplement with limp wrists and the colour pink. Brim full of promiscuity and the highs of queer nightlife my Mum would hate to see.ย
Itโs also named after a pretty iconic brand of amyl. So thereโs that.ย
๐จ Darren Sylvester: Carve a future, devour everything, become something.
We like to call ourselves commercial artists. Darren takes that a step further. I think itโs about consumerism filling this void in our lives. Beautiful falsehoods inspired by pop culture.
Old McDonaldโs burger wrapper designs have been transformed into upholstery for a pair of psychiatristโs couches.ย It used to be on display at the NGV when I first moved to Melbourne. But you can pick the book up here.ย
โ๏ธ Oscar Wilde - Only Dull People Are Brilliant at Breakfast.
If Oscar Wilde had a twitter page, this is what youโd get. Wilde is much of what I aim to be; an Irish, gay, professional provocateur. The pages are just full of witticisms, cynicisms, hot takes and pure arrogance.ย
๐น American Beauty - Plastic Bag Scene
An incredibly powerful piece of cinema. My English teacher showed us this back when I was in 5th year (thatโs Year 11 for you Aussies) and I come back to it more often than my Othello textbook.ย
โ Grey Area Project - SUBSETย
Dublinโs grey on itโs sunniest days. But thatโs not any inherent fault of itโs own. The city council imposed strict restrictions on street art, resulting in a city that boasts a vibrant history of fostering artists, stories, and culture, now looking like Weetabix (Weet-bix for you Aussies).
The Grey Area Project emerged from the collaboration of a group of 20 artists known as SUBSET. They essentially started playing a game of cat and mouse with the Dublin City Council, using grey murals as a platform to advocate for artists, the homeless and push for the repealing of the 8th amendment which pertains to the equal rights of pregnant women and the unborn.
Attention. Advocacy. Anarchy.
Thanks AJ ๐ Now look at his powerfully excellent work๐ฉธ
Who would you like to see curate one of these? Donโt be ashamed to suggest yourselfโฆ
DMs are open! ๐
Follow along on Instagram ๐
My pockets are stuffed full of the things I have collected.
๐ฉโ๐ณ Chefcore
๐ต The perfect Pixies parody
๐ค Texas Tom
๐ถโโ๏ธStalker: Full Movie
๐ Why does everyone on TikTok talk like that?
Thanks for reading!
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๐ Jonathan