New Zealand artist Misery with her vibrant BLUNT umbrella design
The first BLUNT artistic collaboration for 2023 is a joyous way to celebrate the Lunar New Year, with a limited-edition design by New Zealand artist Tanja Jade McMillan (aka Misery).
Renowned for her vibrant wall and pop art, Misery’s distinctive creations have been exhibited around the globe including Berlin, Taiwan, Paris, Hawaii, and Los Angeles.
Her most recent collaboration (and her second with BLUNT) is a joyous celebration of the Year of the Water Rabbit, with the design influenced by her Chinese heritage and true to her signature style.
The result is a highly collectable BLUNT umbrella available online and in-store now.
Based on a black canopy, it features bright pops of colour, with playful rabbits, goldfish, and vibrant Lotus flowers amidst flowing waters. There’s also a nod to Misery’s sense of fun, with carrot and daikon characters hiding around the umbrella and adding an irresistible touch of humour.
“I love the Chinese symbology around rabbits; they are peaceful souls representing mercy, beauty, elegance, and sensitivity,” she says.
The Auckland-based artist has enjoyed drawing and painting for as long as she can remember and loves the opportunity to collaborate with New Zealand brands she admires.
“When I was a teenager, I got into graffiti and street painting — that’s where ‘Misery’ was born, and from there, things unfolded into exhibitions, a clothing label, and various different commercial collaborations.
“In my mid-late 20s, I realised I just needed to make art and be an artist first and foremost, rather than a brand, and be selective about who and what product I felt fit my values and I was excited to collaborate with.
“I’m so thrilled to collaborate on a second BLUNT umbrella. BLUNT produce exceptionally beautiful, high-quality, well-designed umbrellas. I get complete creative freedom (gold for artists). It’s a super fun-shaped canvas to see my artwork on. I love collaborating with a New Zealand brand and seeing our umbrella loved by so many.”
Images supplied