GRACIA + LOUISE ARTWORK
Hila Shachar
Desktop magazine, 19th September, 2011

The Melbourne-based creative duo, Gracia Haby and Louise Jennison, have been designing and producing some original limited edition artists' books, prints, zines, postcards, and other beautiful pieces. Called Gracia + Louise, their studio is based on their mutual fascination with the adaptable possibilities of the medium of paper. Gracia favours the process of collage-making, while Louise is adept at watercolour art and illustration.

At the heart of both their designs however is a whimsical approach that combines incongruous beings and worlds. Postcards written by animals, stars travelling across different landscapes, people interacting with inanimate objects, narratives of fantasy and fairy tale, far-off lands and adventurers. These are just a few of the things and beings that populate their art. What is particularly appealing about their work is the way that it combines a philosophy with their design focus: the animal. As they describe in their own words:
"The animal is ever present and easily detectable, the centre of our paper stage. Hard to miss, over here and over there, the animal runs up hills, scales rooftops and passes through a scene new or more familiar. For us, the animal is there to question our very behaviour, those moral principles one governs the self by, and to explore the relationship with the natural world."

This is an approach they bring to their many projects, including their design and artwork for the recent book, Dear Dad, a collection of poems for and about Dads in collaboration with Australian Poetry and Relationships Australia. Alongside contributions by Alan Brough, John Clarke, and Chris Wallace-Crabbe, sit Gracia and Louise's carefully created collages, providing the perfect accompaniment to the touching words. The inquisitive and intelligent philosophy behind their focus on the figure of the animal can be felt in this book, with numerous layers of imagery acting as a form of sympathetic engagement with poems that explore our deepest relationships. Whether small enough to hold in your palm, or large enough to hang on your wall, their art is lovingly created and beautifully conceived. Their work is available for purchase from their online store.

Hila Shachar

Desktop magazine is the leading publication for design, covering a vast array of creative fields including animation, advertising/branding, digital media, illustration, packaging, photography, post production, typography and web design.


Louise Jennison
Crimson topaz (Polytmus guainumbi)
2012
drawing