Bondi Local | Daryl Hossack (Repost)

We are still in the aftermath of TEDxSydney and the throes of the newly relaunched REMO General Store. And so today is another repost, this one from August last year, when Melanie interviewed one of our favourite locals.
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Bondi Local | Daryl Hossack

We met Daryl soon after she arrived from South Africa. It really did feel like she belonged here in Bondi. She runs a charmingly ramshackle street-fronting art school on Jaques Avenue called “blankcanvas artscool” which is not a stone’s throw from where we live. It gives us great joy that both Lola and Roman have spent time making art in her space under her watchful gaze. She knows how to encourage and draw the best from her creative charges. Finally, we know that if we choose to walk home from the shops past Daryl’s joint that we need to have left time for the diversion. She loves a good chat.

Melanie spoke to Daryl today, and set out below is what she had to say.

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Daryl, what’s your back story?

We came to Australia [from South Africa] around 6 years ago searching for a safer place to raise our children.

I’ve run my own art school since I settled down when I was about 28 (after a 10 year gap year, don’t tell the teenagers!) During those years I was self-exiled. I lived in Brazil and Israel and went back to South Africa when Nelson Mandela was freed, and that was the only time that I felt I could live in South Africa. From when I could first leave, I left, but then returned after he was freed. I stayed for 10 to 15 years, excited about the new democracy; but the culture of violence got too much for me. My brother was here so we decided to join him.

I always had a little art school in South Africa.

In terms of this place here in Bondi, I was looking around for a space to teach and found this little venue.

Why Bondi?

Well, it was fortunate as I had family connections here in Bondi. We knew nothing about Sydney, but Bondi just made absolute sense. In terms of where we lived in Johannesburg, in a place called Yeoville and then Melville, Bondi – the atmosphere, the community – almost family – was fabulous and reminiscent of what we had in South Africa. So, it just makes absolute sense. I couldn’t have coped in any other suburb. People say that I dress like a Bondi person! Badly, scruffily. When I go to (say) Woollahra I feel like people are looking at me, whereas here I feel normal. The sense of community for me here is great – especially coming here as a (admittedly privileged) refugee. If I would have to start out in a suburb – is Bondi a suburb? - this urban, seaside village … I would have made my way here.

What’s your beat? What are your stomping grounds?

From the car park up to the studio to the Icebergs, and have I been as far as North Bondi? Yes, I have! Bondi Pav, Bru (for the porridge). Glenayr and down to Macelleria. La Piadina – where I get my buckets from. My buckets? I’m the “bucket lady” instead of the bag lady. Damiano and Fausto supply nearly all the buckets for my school [left over mozzarella containers] so I’m always walking around with dirty buckets, which I then spend my time cleaning!

Your work?

My work is mostly to facilitate creativity in others. Offering them a space to be natural, and to communicate with themselves, life or others, through materials. It’s always about the interaction with materials. It’s about finding your materials to express yourself – acrylics, oils, plaster, resin, clay – anything. It’s a happy little space.

What are you excited about right now?

Excited, in life? About writing – about the idea of narrative and fantasy. Creating space in my head. This little art space is always exciting. Everyday it brings its own sense of excitement. It’s always new, happy and boisterous.

What’s left to do?

In life? Become rich and famous! Ha! Maybe save Africa. There’s a lot left to do. Just carry on doing what I do to tell you the truth – I’m not overly ambitious – except for the saving of Africa bit – What am I? Miss World? World peace!! I would just be happy doing what I do until I’m 95.

It would be great to make my art school more affordable for some of the local people. Not everyone who would love to come can afford to come. I would love to figure out how to make that happen and still run a business!

What and where do you eat and drink in Bondi?

Beers in the studio (after hours!) Macelleria: Pete’s burgers are the best. Field to Fork: their take away stuff is great. And now newly discovered, Bonditony’s Burger Joint – so good. I dream of them!

What are your special places in Bondi?

Blank Canvas art school! My little sanctuary. I love putting the curtains down. Someone came in the other day saying “What’s going to happen to you?” I said, what are you talking about? (Did he think I had a disease I didn’t know about?!) “I heard they’re going to demolish the building!” – he had seen some council notices being posted. I said it won’t happen for at least 4 years. He said, “We live in Perth but we have an apartment nearby and you’ve been here since we’ve been here and it’s so important to us that you are here and we want to know what’s going to happen to you”. It’s amazing as he nor no-one in his family comes here – they are total strangers. I think it’s because there’s so much life and activity in here all the time.

What are you reading?

The Body Keeps Score by Bessel van der Kolk – psychologist on the body remembering anxieties, releasing stress through sensory motor based art therapy. I’m studying art therapy so a lot of my readings are about that. Also, I’m trying to read the Bible, as I’m trying to imagine another world, the hereafter. The biography of Frank Auerbach. I read a lot of theory rather than fiction. And I am listening to podcasts – like the BBC, William Gibson, Toni Morrison.

Will I come across as a crazy?!

What are you watching?

All the series have finished. Gone through Suits, Game of Thrones, True Detective, Orphan Black, Orange is the new Black. We’re out of hyper serials. It encourages me to write my own. My life!

What is your personal motto?

Not really but what I do say in terms of art is: “There is no reason to make art other than the absolute necessity to do it” (which I made up – I like it!).

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Full interview on SoundCloud below or HERE