New Zealand artist Tanja Jade McMillan (aka Misery) is renowned for her vibrant designs across wall and pop art, with her distinctive work having been exhibited around the globe, including Berlin, Taiwan, Paris, Hawaii, and Los Angeles.
Her most recent collaboration is a joyously eclectic celebration of the Year of the Water Rabbit, inspired by the 2023 Lunar New Year and is being showcased on a limited edition of Blunt Umbrellas.
Influenced by her Chinese heritage and true to her signature style, the new Misery design makes the equally iconic Blunt umbrella a highly collectible work of art and the result is available online and in store now.
Based on a black canopy, the design 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 some Misery 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,” says Tanja.
This is the versatile artist’s second collaboration with Blunt, her first an equally delicious design centred around dreamy fish and flowers in eye-popping colours.
With three daughters, Tanja delights in spending time with her girls, as well as making art and painting in a sunroom studio at the back of her Grey Lynn home.
“I love working here; it’s cosy with amazing natural light and leads out to our garden. I love being in our garden, I find it incredibly calming, the girls and I spend a lot of time here together. I also love to cook, dance, do yoga, listen to music, explore places in nature, and take photographs.”
The Beauty Book finds out more:
How did your creative career come about?
I think I’ve always deeply known I would end up doing something creative in my adult life. I’ve enjoyed drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. 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 – BLUNT definitely being one of them.
How are you celebrating the Lunar New Year and welcoming in the Year of the Water Rabbit?
With my family, cooking and sharing a fabulous feast together. We all love to cook, eat, and celebrate.
You collaborated with BLUNT back in 2019. What was the draw to create a second limited-edition design?
I’m so thrilled to collaborate on a second BLUNT umbrella. BLUNT produces 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.