Monday 3 October 2011

Mirka Mora


Mirka Mora is an example of an eccentric, bohemian artist whose work spans from painting and sculpture to doll-making. A noted symbolist and colourist, Mirka Mora often returns to reoccurring motifs, such as angels, dog, cats, birds and innocent wide-eyed children. Her unique child-like attitude that is so loved by her followers permeates her art and brings it to par with the best international examples.

ELECTRONIC SOURCES


Websites


William Mora is the son of Mirka Mora and her art dealer.  William is a well known contemporary art dealer and specialises in Aboriginal art.  Currently director of the William Mora Gallery in Richmond, Melbourne he overseas the Paddy Bedford Estate and the work of his mother, Mirka Mora.  William has been a significant promoter of Indigenous art and has given many artists such as Queenie McKenzie, Ginger Riley Munduwalawala, Willy Tjungurrayi and Brandy Tjungurrayi their first solo exhibitions. The gallery works closely with the aboriginal communities and community art centres to acquire works.  The William Mora Gallery also acts as the studio of Mirka Mora and residence for the Mora family.

Mirka Madeline Zelik was born in 1928 in Paris, France to a Lithuanian father and a Jewish, Romanian mother.  The Mora family was scheduled for deportation to Auschwitz but the family evaded capture for 3 years by hiding in the forests of France.  Mirka and her husband Georges migrated to Melbourne in 1951 and soon became one of Melbourne’s most well known and much loved artists.  Mirka and her husband Georges were also responsible for the re-establishment of the Contemporary Art Society in Melbourne in 1953. Melbourne has also acted as a public canvas for the work of Mirka Mora, the mosaic murals at Flinders Street Station and St Kilda Pier, and a painted tram have helped liven up the city and bring a piece of her bohemian style to the residents and visitors of Melbourne.  Mirka is the mother of the three sons, Tiriel, Philippe and William.  Her autobiography entitled Wicked But Virtuous was published by Penguin Books in 2002.

Blogs

This blog was started by a group of year 8 students from Toorak College.  The group of students were inspired by the work of Mirka Mora and her life story and chose her to conduct their Triumph Over Adversity school project.  The students made this wikispace and have included photographs, artworks and a transcript of the questions and answers of their interview with Mirka.  They have also included the telephone interview they conducted with the artist and there is also a section dedicated to their meeting with Mirka.  Mirka was so inspired by their project and mature interview techniques that the students were invited over to her house and studio for afternoon tea.  The students from Toorak College show great passion and genuine interest in Mirka Mora and their project and it is just another reminder of Mirka’s appeal to a diverse range of people and age groups.

Transcripts

Enough Rope was a talk show that aired on the ABC between 2002 and 2008.  It was hosted by Andrew Denton and re-defined the meaning of the talk show.  It was also produced by Andrew Denton and his Zapruder production company which aired 191 episodes and interviewed over 500 guests including Michael Parkinson, Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Clinton, Steve Irwin and Barry Humphries.  The final episode of enough Rope was screened on Monday 8 December 2008.

On the 23rd of July 2007, Mirka Mora was in the chair with Andrew Denton and it is one of the most extraordinary and interesting interviews with an artist.  Denton does not ask the usual, typical questions, he does his research and asks questions that get down to the core of the person, the soul of their work and their reason for being.  In this wonderful interview we learn about Mirka’s childlike playfulness through her pants dropping incident at Federation Square to her extraordinary childhood during the war and the family’s escape from the concentration camp and hiding in the French countryside.  We also hear about the bohemian lifestyle she lived in Melbourne and the European hospitality she brought with her and her husband Georges to the 3 restaurants she opened which became havens for the Melbourne art set.


PRINTED SOURCES

Monographs

  • Beier, U, & Cox, P 1980, Mirka, Macmillan, South Melbourne, Vic.
Published in 1980, this book by Ulli Beier and Paul Cox includes Mirka’s life story and also chapters on the symbolism of her work and what influences her to paint.  The book also includes her controversial erotic drawings and poems from friends who have been influenced and inspired by her and her work.  The photography by Paul Cox of Mirka’s studio gives us a glimpse into her chaotic, child like existence and shows us her world, built from her own works and numerous collected objects.  We are also introduced to Mirka’s intricate and delicate embroidery works inspired by books on ancient toys and her childhood memories.  We learn about Mirka the teacher and towards the end of the book we read about her 1980 world view through her distinguishable sense of humour and her religious dedication to painting and creativity.

This book is available from La Trobe University, Borchardt Library, Bundoora Campus, Melbourne, call number 709.94 M827Yb.

  • Mora, M & Carter E 2003, Love and clutter, Viking, Camberwell, Vic.
Published in 2003, Love and Clutter is a personal record of pictorial works and collected paraphernalia by the French/Australian artist, Mirka Mora.  This wonderful book is divided into various chapters with delightful names such as, The Pewter Ashtray, The Bath in the Studio and A Tribute to the Dead Who Nestle in My Heart.  Each chapter is accompanied by a photograph, drawing or painting by Mirka.
The artist goes into great detail about the objects she collects and which she keeps with her in her art studio.  Mirka surrounds herself with her vast doll collection and teddy bears.  We also learn of her close friendship with Marcel Marceau, the internationally renowned French actor and celebrated mime artist.  This book is the equivalent of discovering and reading a great artist’s diary, complete with works, desires, sorrows and hope.

This book is available from RMIT Library, Carlton Branch, Melbourne, call number 709.040944 M827.
  • Mora, M 2000, Wicked but virtuous, Viking, Ringwood, Vic.
Mirka’s book represents a vista of her life in the written form.  Her ultimate goal is that her work will encourage others to locate their own self expression and search for beauty and creativity in the great world around us.  A newly revealed written self-perspective and her reactions to life, art, people, places and love.  Art and the creative process are a fundamental spiritual reality to Mirka and a means by which she approaches the world.  Wicked But Virtuous is no ordinary autobiography.  It is a delightful recollection of an eccentric artist’s life and a rare glimpse into one of Melbourne’s much loved and rare treasures.

This book is available from La Trobe University, Borchasrdt Library, Bundoora Campus, Melbourne, call number 759.994 M827Xa1.

Journal article

  • Hart, D 1999, ‘Mirka Mora: icons, memory and metamorphosis’,  Art and Australia 37, no. 2, p. 245-51, viewed 22nd September 2011,  Art Full Text H W Wilson Database.
Deborah Hart discusses the work of Mirka Mora. Together with her husband, Mora migrated to Melbourne from Paris in the aftermath of World War II.  Since the 1940s, her work has covered a wide range of media, including drawing, painting, murals, doll-like sculptures, posters, and mixed-media icons. The message in her work is to find inspiration and imagination through personal journeys that shape the dream-life subconscious.
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