'THE Memphis Lounge' is an interactive space created by Ararat-based artist and designer, Jiah Harrison presented at the Ararat Regional Art Gallery until March 28.
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‘The Memphis Lounge’ celebrates all things Elvis. It’s a little bit Jailhouse Rock, a little bit Blue Hawaii, and a little bit Memphis.
The installation’s design elements reference both modernist and vernacular mid-century American interior design, as well as bright and graphic elements informed by 1980s Italian design firm, Memphis.
Jiah’s has created a series of design elements that are featured in a large mural and in printed cloth used in the upholstery of the furniture featured in the space.
‘The Memphis Lounge’ welcomes visitors of all ages and quietly encourages their engagement with art, design and music.
A program of events has been developed for the space, though visitors can also just drop by and play with the dress up box, create their own felt art on the walls or just sit back and relax in style in the lounge area.
Community members are welcome to use the space during the day for informal meetings of up to six people.
Jiah Harrison is a surface pattern designer who operates the Ararat-based design business, ‘Elephant and Rose’ (www.elephantandrose.com).
She studied Textiles at the Australian National University and graduated in 2010 with a bachelor of arts in visual arts and an honorary diploma of design from the Design Institute of Australia.
After specialising in digital printing for textiles, she started Elephant and Rose to utilise these skills and complement her work in Interior and Furniture Design.
Elephant and Rose products incorporate colourful, contemporary prints, which are created from original drawings, and adopt imagery from a variety of sources.
‘The Memphis Lounge’ is presented as Ararat Regional Art Gallery’s contribution to Ararat’s Jailhouse Rock Festival, alongside Polixeni Papapetrou’s exhibition, ‘Elvis Immortal’.
‘The Memphis Lounge’ complements ‘Elvis Immortal’ - an exhibition of photographs of Elvis Presley fans, notably those who pay tribute to the late music icon each year at the Melbourne General Cemetery on the anniversary of his death.
Anthony Camm
Director,
Ararat Regional Art Gallery
