Metamorphosis: How a visual artist became an opera designer
Artist-come-designer Mark Thompson has created the sets and costumes for Opera Australia’s new production ‘Metamorphosis’, based on Kafka’s iconic novel
Detail of self portrait, Mark Thompson; courtesy of the artist
It is not unusual to slide between professions in the arts. Visual artist-come-opera set and costume designer, Mark Thompson successfully works across both career personas, and describes himself as, ‘a bit of sheep in wolve’s clothing’.
Thompson has created the sets and costumes for a new Opera Australia production that will be performed – in a first – at the Scenery Workshop within the company’s headquarters in Surry Hills (26-29 September), and next month in Melbourne (25-27 October).
Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's Senior Contributor, after 12 years in the role as National Visual Arts Editor. She has worked for extended periods in America and Southeast Asia, as gallerist, arts administrator and regional contributing editor for a number of magazines, including Hong Kong based Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. She is an Art Tour leader for the AGNSW Members, and lectures regularly on the state of the arts. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW.
Instagram: fairleygina
