CHARD International

Our illustration for the opera ‘Otello’ part of West Australian Opera 2023 program.

Otello is a tragic hero who succumbs to the power of manipulation through speech, jealousy and love, letting his emotions overwhelm and dictate his life.

The handkerchief plays a pivotal role in the opera and we used it as a device in the illustration to obscure his vision. It symbolizes different things to different characters. Since the handkerchief was the first gift Desdemona received from Otello she keeps it about her constantly as a symbol of Otello’s love. Iago manipulates the handkerchief so that Otello comes to see it as a symbol of Desdemona herself—her faith and chastity. By taking possession of it, he is able to convert it into evidence of her infidelity. But the handkerchief’s importance to Iago and Desdemona derives from its importance to Otello himself. He tells Desdemona that it was woven by a 200-year-old sibyl, or female prophet, using silk from sacred worms and dye extracted from the hearts of mummified virgins. Otello claims that his mother used it to keep his father faithful to her, so, to him, the handkerchief represents marital fidelity. The pattern of strawberries (dyed with virgins’ blood) on a white background strongly suggests the bloodstains left on the sheets on a virgin’s wedding night, so the handkerchief implicitly suggests a guarantee of virginity as well as fidelity.

Our illustration for West Australian Operas show “Into the Woods” coming 2023

“Be careful what you wish for” seems to be the ongoing theme in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Brothers Grimm inspired musical, Into the Woods. The story follows The Baker and his wife who wish to have a child, Cinderella who wishes to go the King’s Festival, and Jack who wishes his cow would give some milk. When the Baker and his wife are visited by the neighborhood witch, who reveals to them that she placed a curse on their family, the two set off on a journey into the woods to reverse the curse. Also in the woods, we meet Little Red, who is trying to visit her grandmother, the Wolf who loves tasty little girls, the Witch’s daughter Rapunzel, and the Princes chasing after their loves. By the end of Act I, everyone has gotten their wish and will seemingly live happily ever after. But in Act II, when Jack’s beanstalk brings them a visit from an angry Giant, we see how the consequences of their actions haunt them in disastrous ways. The community must come together to save each other and their kingdom, but sacrifices must be made. Our illustration captures the moment when Little Red discovers happy ever after isn’t quite what she thought.

Closed and open - concealed doors make small spaces more functional. In this Exciting new project recently completed in Burleigh Heads. Complete renovation of two part top floor apartment in a classic red brick three storey building overlooking the beach. The design is based around the two apartments being able to be lived in both as one large suite or two separate spaces.
Photo: Kristian van Den Beek
Build: Barlow Building

Exhilarating 6 hour hike to Puig de Ali. Body challenging but rewarded with stunning views of the north east of Mallorca.