I’m sure Canis Loopus has been getting a great deal of publicity since his recent feature on the fabulous io9 blog. But I have to give credit where credit is due. Anyone inspired by robots, Giger and marine invertebrates definitely deserves a place here.
This is my absolute favorite:
This pair is finally giving bacteria proper credit as virtuosos of the art world. So often we find that nature conjures up colors, designs, patterns and visions beyond the capability of human hands. The following is a very simplified example of bacteria left to their own devices on film negatives:
(Abridged) artist statement:
The artist has gathered bacteria samples from his own body. The bacterium destroys the film surface producing photographic images that are created by chance. The artist is removed from the process but, still at the same time, they are a product of the artist’s body.
The closest reference to Bacteriograms is the Rorschach inkblot test with black ink on white paper, in which only individual’s perception and psyche dictate the representation of the image, and therefore is supposed to reveal something about the viewer’s subconscious.
Bacteriograms are not even showing the bacterium that was used in the process to create them; they are merely showing traces of bacterial activity. These images are just a piece of degraded and therefore deconstructed film.
These pictures remind me of the mesmerizing film Decasia: The State of Decay in which director Bill Morrisson assembles a collage of film footage collected from deteriorating archives, and completes it with a detuned, decaying soundtrack. (Thanks to Ron for introducing me to this).
Sue Blackwell’s creations produce instant cognitive dissonance for me. As a rabid bibliophile, part of me instantly winces at the site of a gutted book. Yet I can’t look away…the beauty compels me. I’m impressed enough to want one (hell, ALL) of her pieces in my house.
On a related note, Thomas Allen creates book sculptures from vintage pulp fiction. I wish I could find more!
My fascination with the darker side of things began around the tender age of five. I loved my sticker collection and stuffed animals, but spent hours curled up in the corner of the school library reading Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. A huge part of the appeal was the inimitable Stephen Gammell who illustrated the stories (I wish he had a website showcasing all of his work).
The way he uses light and shadow, detail and omission, smudges and delicate line work…the result is truly fascinating, often terrifying.
I am indebted to Mr. Gammell for ushering me into the world of dark art. Little did we know…
I rejoice every time Camille Rose Garcia displays new art. I recently stumbled upon her Bird in the Hand exhibit at the Berlin branch of the Mary Karnowsky Gallery.
Incredible creations, dripping with sugar and poison.
Daniel Martin Diaz has been one of my favorite artists for years. Re-contextualized religious and alchemical symbols, a historical feel and LATIN. The mere sight of Latin in modern art awakens my inner geek like nothing else. His paintings are beautiful, haunting, and may leave you slightly uncomfortable (a testament to his talent).
Jinyoung Shin’s paintings resemble traditional manga…with a surreal, angular, undead quality…Vibrant colors and clarity paired with bony, disproportioned limbs, sweeping lines and impossible movements. Captivating.
Care for a spot of tea and a 9mm?
Yvonne Lee Schultz has created a wonderful set of porcelain pistols to match fine china.
Charles Krafft is another master of this technique, particularly in his Porcelain War Museum Project.
Some might say I’m a bit of a porcelain pistol myself.
I’ve been searching for an artist who could capture the essence of my nightmares after downing a half gallon of Breyer’s Cherry Vanilla and falling asleep. EUREKA!
Taste the rainbow of fruit PAIN!
Coming to the Jonathan Levine Gallery :
Ray Caesar is one of my all time favorites. He works with Maya software to create rich, vibrantly colored, unsettling images with incredible depth. Hybrids of pale skinned children, aliens and anachronistic devices…I could stare for hours.
And Adam Wallacavge :
His work is sure to meet all of your cephalopod-inspired lighting needs.
SheWalksSoftly 