Aleesha Callahan: How did you approach the integration of art into Curatorial House?
Megan Dicks: For Otomys, curating art for a home is not a three-pronged approach, it’s more than that – we certainly consider the architectural and interior design and the client brief but we’re attentive to those subtleties that build an emotive journey through a home. We appreciate the balance of beauty, curiosity, light, and dark and the emotional and cultural value of art aside from the aesthetic. Our art curation intends to highlight the overall character and experience of the home and this way the art collection in every home is unique.
What was the brief from the clients?
By the time Otomys was brought into the project, the client, Taylor Pressly Architects and interiors curator, Tyler Aspen Edmonds, had developed an exciting vision between them.
However, we were introduced early enough in the conversation to grow with it. Our role was to curate a diverse collection of contemporary art to harmonise and energise the level of sophistication and cutting-edge design.
Can you share any anecdotal comments about what art means to them and how they wanted to ‘live’ with it in this home? How involved in the process were the clients?
Initially, the client said she knew ‘very little about art’ and was happy for us as a team to guide her. Yet over the months it became apparent from her stylish fashion that she had a great appreciation of combining colour, pattern, texture and quality design, so her decisions on the art were immediate; she knew if she was drawn to the work or not – but she was also courageous to be taken out of her comfort zone.
When the project was ending, I asked her what she had enjoyed the most and to my surprise, she said, ‘the art actually … because I hadn’t expected it to be’.
Aesthetically how does the art complement the different spaces?
The functional elements in each space harmonise with the art … either because the space gives the art enough negative space to be enjoyed or because the space completely embraces the art.
The lobby is an example of the latter; the custom-scaled Latent series by Mark Roper and the timber wall sculptures by Anna Dudek look superb on the marble walls across from each other as well as with the serpentine forms of the sofa and angular character of the console – the conversation between these pieces is dynamic.
Whereas in the base floor wine cellar the moody pigment prints by Rebekah Stuart are more recessive, captivating the viewer to take a closer look at the imaginary landscapes.
What are the different types of art that were selected?
Sculpture in acrylic, timber, steel and glass, oil painting on canvas, mixed media with clay and timber collage on canvas, spray painting, automotive paint with glitter glue, pigment prints, chromogenic prints – For the scale of this collection we had to ensure that the mediums and genres were diverse.
Can you share specific details about some of your favourite pieces and the artists who created them? How did you ensure that the collection felt authentic?
Dutch photographer, Simone Boon has mastered her focus on movement of the abstract figurative form. In the casual dining area of blocked colours, the movement in Simone’s work could be felt.
The top floor has a swimming pool, spa and steam room which flows into a glamorous party room with a marble drinks bar – all with spectacular views over the city.
Greg Penn was invited to create a sculpture for the glass corner, and I love his steel upright work titled Vista. We teamed this with Anna Dudek’s dichroic sculpture to throw ever-changing colour across the room.
The stacked forms sculpture in burgundy by Ben Sheers for the formal living area was one of the most exciting commissions to watch evolve, from pencil drawings to cardboard and steel maquettes through to the final work which was craned into position.
Ben Sheers’ was a striking contrast with the graphic landscape by Eduardo Santos on the other side of the formal living room.
In one of the guest bedrooms we installed a large Greg Wood oil painting behind the bed, and two small abstract landscape oil paintings by Danielle Mooney above the sofa, so no spaces were left undressed!
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We think you might like this home in Perth, which also features a highly curated art collection – Coastal House by Decus Interiors