Visualizzazione post con etichetta digital art. Mostra tutti i post
Visualizzazione post con etichetta digital art. Mostra tutti i post

martedì 7 febbraio 2012

"But men are lonely": interview to the mysterious 非(hi)

“I am (hi).
Live in Tokyo.
Painting with my pc.”

That’s all we know about the Japanese artist called , a digital painter that has totally caught our attention about a year ago. THIS IS SO CONTEMPORARY has recently began to promote his/her work and we’ve picked up a lot of positive comments so that we decided to have an interview with the artist to know more who’s behind those extraordinary artworks. 



Digital image, 2011


As a first question we’d like to ask you something that our people would love to know as a curiosity. , Are you a female or a male? 

I don't like myself too much, so I don't want to reveal my identity and let people know who I am.

Your digital artworks are so expressive that they might be taken for paintings at first sight. Tell us about when you began to use the pc to make art. 

Several years ago I began using this style. At that time I came to see a lot of work of other people on the internet, and I wanted to become able to create my favorite images, just for myself. The roots of my creation is still 'self-satisfaction'. By that time, I already had a tablet and Photoshop, so the basic instruments to make digital art were not missing. I've never wanted to make art in the traditional way. I don't draw on paper neither like it. Of course, I'm still very bad at drawing in digital but I can always retouch a little bit if there's something I don't like to see. 


Digital image, 2011

Another interesting feature of your work, is that the subjects are young males, all of them with elements (physical and not) that reveal some kind of fragility, typical of feminine gender. Who are these characters? 

There are many great paintings and illustrations where women are represented the most. It is strange for me. I don't feel attraction or story to women. Women are pretty, and their existence is happy in itself. But men are lonely. I don't decide who is the model of my picture, but they are the common teens, so poor at communicating and with more worries than fun. It's very usual.


Dalmatian, digital image, 2011

Your biggest influence artistically talking.

My art textbook is the internet. So my favorite artists are mostly living artists.
I must confess that I am totally ignorant about art, I don't know the artists or the works which are famous in history.

Digital image, 2012


We’ve been following you for a while and I’ve noticed that sometimes it takes months before you update your Tumblr with new works. How your work does articulates and how long it takes on average to start and finish a painting?

I am a really really slow painter. This is one of my biggest worries.
It takes about two or three weeks.

Digital image, 2010

The tune to listen to while you’re painting.

I tend to listen to music with lyrics. While I am doing art, I sing and cry sometimes. It must be a quite weird scene because I'm very tone-deaf.

How many followers do you have on Tumblr and what do you think about the art in the new media’s era?

Now about 6,000. It is a very big number for me. I thank all the people who are interested in my work. I think the art of nowadays is so convenience and friendly. I had the impression that the art is difficult, but now I can meet many great artists and can have people seeing my work easily on the internet. I really appreciate it.


Scrap, digital image, 2011

Are you interested in fashion? If so, what’s your favorite model?

I like the editorial and the show. My recent favorite models are Sylvester Ulv Henriksen, Victor Nylander, Dan Felton and Harry Daniels, among others.


Have you ever travelled out of Japan? Tell us about  your experience (if you had).

Only one time, to Taiwan. If I had the opportunity I would to go to various places. The world is beautiful everywhere. 


Lot of people that follow THIS IS SO CONTEMPORARY keep asking to us if your artworks are for sale so I’d like to turn the question to you: are your artworks available for sale somewhere on the web or at any art gallery around the world?

I currently don't sell data files or prints. If there are some requests, I will think about starting to sell.


Soon become useless, digital image, 2010



mercoledì 17 agosto 2011

An Otherworldly Journey - The Art of Paolo Guido



Even. (Triptych left side) 50 x 70cm, ed. of 2. Digital illustration on Hahnem
u
le. Available at Dorothy Circus Gallery, Rome.


Paolo, what means to you showing your work alongside those of Ray Caesar and Natalie Shau?

Alexandra Mazzantihas the merit of this combination: she is theexhibition designer and owner of Dorothy Circus Gallery. It all happened very quickly and i was very glad to accept the offer (simply saying 'yes').



Even. (Triptych central part)
50 x 70cm, ed. of 2. Digital illustration on Hahnemule. Available at
Dorothy Circus Gallery, Rome.

What's your cultural background?

I didn't attend Art schools or academies and i don't make a boast on this. Nevertheless, It was a deeply felt choice that has allowed me to have a less formal access to painting. It's obvious saying that Italy is a country rich in historical tradition and creativeness: even a child can feel it... just breathing the air of this wonderful land. But the word 'History' often implies that the 'Tradition' is subjected to a 'Transition' and sometimes to a 'Treason'. At the same time, i took away from the 'Culture', another concept that can be easily exploited. In the Bel Paese, well-educated people feed on the big names of culture, can gobble and manipulate their thoughts, without having any direct experience of them.

I prefer intelligence, cleverness and understanding capability! So, i prefer the stage of intuition: people can see marvellous things, can catch even their strength and their history, only looking each other in the eyes.


Even. (Triptych right side) 50 x 70cm, ed. of 2. Digital illustration on
Hahnemule. Available at Dorothy Circus Gallery, Rome.



Triptych.



Your works have a decidedly Renaissance imprint although they are the result of a digital experience. What comes out from this unusual "asynchrony" between techniques and characters?

The italian verb 'rinascere' (i.e. 'reborn', from which the term 'Renaissance') is a wonderful word! It sounds good to me! In the Renaissance the foundations for a recovery of classical cultural values were laid, but then they also suffered an evolution (in the 'Mannerism'). I think that in the early period, painting technique were more... hybrid than we can imagine. To be clear, many pictures that are catalogued ad oil paintings, were probably made with a mixture of egg tempera, oil, resin and other mediums whose recipes are very difficult to reconstruct. Digital painting give a great chance of experimentation, if you don't close it in a strict category. I have approached it especially for reason of space, i don't consider myself a digital artist. 'Viator' was born as a digital work, with marked graphic characteristics, then developed in traditional painting and sculpture. 'Viator' is important because it contains the last three steps of a rebirth. From this experience, i have realized that style and technique are sides of the same coin, whose thickness and weight you can value after a long time.



Viator. 35 x 70cm. ed. of 50.
Digital illustration on Hahnemule.Available at Dorothy Circus
Gallery, Rome.



Why are you "obsessed" by childhood? (the questions from one of our followers on facebook).



I never told this! I feel an attraction instead for what is small and for what is big. Abuse of power usually takes place at the exposure of the small ones. If considered in wildlife, it's a natural process, but not in civil society. In any case, this situation produces creativeness. At the moment, i think that Italy passes through a period of so intense degeneration that new interesting development can be introduced.


How long does it take to create an artwork? (on average).

If I should consider only the time factor, probably I can't make an entire work. Certainly, there are deadlines, too!
The triptych 'Even' - made expressly for the exhibition "Would you be my miracle?" - was carried out in a few weeks. I didn't try to hide problems, so time can be perceived as a symbolic presence in the picture.
But I also chose that it couldn't interfere too much: the magic words were "make haste slowly".



Titor. Digital illustration on Hahnemule.

Which aspect of your job You Most like to face? Which not?

The visual and the communicative aspect of a work can't be bypassed; it may happen to have more aptitude for one or sympathy for each other, but it is necessary to reconcile both of them. Rules are necessary. It's very interesting noting that in the 16th century, the so called Arte dell' Impresa developed in Italy. At the beginning of Renaissance, with the diffusion of printing, typographic logos became very popular in Europe. But in Italy they assumed a more esoteric character, such as a sort of secret language. The 'Impresa' (usually a coat of arms accompanied by a sentence) had its own rules: there
was a 'body' (the image) and a 'soul' (the motto). The latter had to be as light as possible: the perfect Impresa needed few words. The myth of 'Agalmatografo ille aphonos' (i.e. silent manufacturer of pictures) was born in this way. I like this definition of the painter such as a speechless poet: I think that a work must be designed to be immediately
understood by the beholder and the author should explain it only occasionally.

In the picture 'Vita nova' (made for the magazine 'L'Espresso', for the 150 anniversary of the Unification of Italy) a young Beatrice is suspended on an empty tomb and invites to the silence, with her finger resting on the lips. She remember us that words are not required to make the soul of a people lighter.



Vita Nova. 40 x 50cm. ed. of
5. Digital illustration on Hahnemule.Available at Dorothy
Circus Gallery, Rome.


What do you hope to accomplish in the next five years of your life?

Five years ago I asked myself the same question, and I can say that I'm satisfied, comparing my answers with the present day. It simply happens!

If you believe in your work, you can create affinities that bring to a realization. For the next five years, instead, I'd like to go beyond my personal working success, towards more vital goals: something like "merry marriages" and fruitful collaborations.

Aviator. 35 x 70 cm. ed. of 50. Digital illustration
on Hahnemule.Available at Dorothy
Circus Gallery, Rome.


Sources of inspiration. (movies, books, music, artists, etc..).
The world is rich in all we need. Perhaps, it can be so rich that make it difficult to know how to manage your own inspiration. Is it better creating a self-containeduniverse or inspiring to models?


I remember a funny cartoon character to which I was very fond... Mio Mao (Felix the cat, in the US). In his early comic stripes, he appeared as a slim and vagabond cat: his adventures were set in lean and surreal places, and he interacted with stupid animals and stupid people, on which he is able to prevail. When the first author of the comics died, a second one succeeded him: Mio Mao's temperament changed. Moreover, scenes became more complex and the cat seemed less smart, more puffy and inclined in the contact with man, almost in search of masters or home. The name of the two cartoonists was the same: Pat Sullivan. I find that this coincidence is magical! It's amusing that Mio Mao's two lives taught me to manage my inspiration: sometimes I feel like the earlier Mio Mao, sometimes I am closer to the last one. And it's funny thinking that the cats are said to have nine lives...

What are you currently working on?
Preparatory drawings.

One reason you make art.
I can't find a reason not to make it.





giovedì 25 giugno 2009

BJORN CALLEJA





Hi Bjorn, you wrote about yourself: “ I’m the infection… I’m unhappy… I’m unlucky… do avoid me”. This description seems to clash with most of the sources of your work such as children/ childhood, Saturday morning cartoons, comics, children’ s book, fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Right?


It doesn't really clash with them... the great thing about the cartoon and children stuff is that they are really mature, sa, violent and chaotic underneath but could never be viewed that way... them nursery rhymes killed humpty dumpty and jack... I might be an unhappy person with pretty happy art but the messages really lie beneath what could be seen... people have to feel my paintings in order to relate with them...





What are the cartoons you like the most?


I'm an 80's kid so i'm kinda hooked on 80's cartoons... from ren and stimpy and garbage patch kids to tom and jerry and mickey mouse, transformers and all those kiddie stuff... the weird the yucky and some cool stuff





Your works remind us of Alice In Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Little Prince; suddenly we have been catapulted into another dimension which is a mix of genres that also includes contrasting elements with those told before. What are they?


I'm not trying to retell their stories or interpret them visually... i usually extract characters from their stories and make new ones based on how i see them or relate them to how i see life... the elements just pop out of the canvas... most mean something and are based on people i know.





You’re from Manila, Philippines. It means that you’re so far from the crucial point of Lowbrow and Surrealism movement. How did you get in contact with those two?


The philippines have always been subconsciously influenced by everything western... from fast food to fashion and art... i wasn't really aware of the movement when i started painting but slowly i was being devoured by the history and culture of it and somehow localized and adopted where it stands... plus the internet makes the world pretty small...





On the contrary, how much has your origin influenced your artwork?


Guess it's the way i think... we all are products of our environment, we are the sum of all the people, places and events we have encountered in our lives.





Your paintings and drawings are full of nature. What is nature to you?


Nature is where our world is planted...





Any upcoming show? Ritual question.


Some group shows here in Manila, a 5 man beatles tribute in august and my second solo show in september.





Among your works there’s one entitled The Reality Show. It represents a family in which no one seems to be happy, they’re all just resigned. Please, tell me more about it.


The reality show was based on a local family man's life, social reality ... we have jeepneys and tricycles here for public transportation and these drivers don't really make enough to feed their families... we are a third world country and issues like poverty is so common to filipinos. I was a jeepney driver's son so i believe i have experienced this first hand.





What does make you feel good?

Making art that could be appreciated, music and long walks alone.


mercoledì 11 febbraio 2009

L' UNIVERS D' EMILE MOREL




Emile, je viens d’ observer attenctivement tes oeuvres publieés sur ton blog, http://emile.morel.over-blog.com/, qu’ on va conseiller vivement à nos lecteurs de visiter. Dès qu’on voit tes créations on arrive dans un monde des rèves. J’ ai eu le sentiment d’ etre dans des contes de fées, contes pour adultes évidemment. Qu’ est-ce que tu voudrais me diree à propros du choix stylistique de tes oeuvres?


J'ai un goût certain pour les contes de fée. Parmi mes préférés je pourrais citer Peter Pan, Pinochio, Alice au pays des merveilles, le petit Poucet et Hansel et Gretel. Mais avant tout je voue une véritable passion au genre fantastique et au merveilleux. Dessiner une rue avec des voitures ne m'intéresse pas...



Voudrais tu, S' il te plaît , me raconter de ton réve le plus incroyable?
Mes rêves sont d' une banalité totale, cependant j'ai le souvenir d'un que j' ai fait enfant. Je fottais dans un univers chatoyant de couleurs. Ce qu' il y avait d' unique dans ce rêve et qui ne s' est plus reproduit depuis, c' est cette conscience d' un rêve en couleur.



L’ ambience est prédominante dans tes oeuvres: dans une parfaite combinaison entre rève et cauchemar, peuplées par des personnages fantastiques, merveilleuses femmes avec des mains à la place des pieds, couvertes des tatouages, luxurieuses, des demi-monstres. Etres humains et animaux, animaux et etres humains. Et par fois, tous les deux ensemble. Quelle est la raison pour la quelle ces deux espèces sont toujours là dans tes oeuvres et souvent elles se mélent l’ une avec l’autre?


J' aime les monstres, l' étrangeté des créatures, leur pouvoir de fascination. Si je peux un peu fasciner le spectateur avec mes créatures et mes paysages, alors je suis content. Je travaille beaucoup sur l' idée du centaure, les proportions de cet être fabuleux sont à mes yeux parfaites. Simplement je le prersonnalise un peu, remplaçant son corps de cheval par celui d' un chien, animal à mon sens plus grotesque. Le fait de placer des mains au bout des pattes évoque pour moi une forme de dégoût. Quant aux nombreux tatouages, c'est une façon d' introduire un dessin au milieu du dessin, à la manière d' une fenêtre, d' une mise en abîme.





Il y a toujours une remémoration sexuelle dans tes cadres. Parfois implicite, d’ autres explicite. Toutefois toujours cachée par une elegance excellente dans le choix de la combinaison des couleurs. Quelle importance a ceci pour ton travail?


Je suis obsédé par le sexe, il est omniprésent dans mn travail. J' essaye cependant de ne pas l' aborder de manière trop frontale et de le disséminer un peu dans chaque parcelle du tableau. Mêler séxualité et merveilleux est pour moi naturel, c' est toujours cette idée de pouvoir d'attraction et de fascination.




Ton travail évoque des emotions formidables, chaque moment depensé en plus en regardant une de tes oeuvres porte à la découverte d’ un nouveau détail caché. Il y a une attention presque obsessive pour le détail. Où est-ce que tu trouves l’ insipation nécessaire pour obtenir ces résultats?


La myriade de petits détails, les mises en abîmes, sont autant de manières d' inviter le spectateur à venir voyager dans mes paysages, à s' y perdre, à s' évader. C' est pourquoi il est important de pouvoir voir mon travail à sa juste échelle.







Est-ce que s’ agit d’ une idylle ce que tu propros, ou bien d’ une peure?Ou tous les deux?


Je ne sais pas si la vie dans les mondes que je crée est idéale. Ce qui est sûr c'est que moi, je m' y sens bien.





Penses-tu que la societé moderne peut-elle se refléter dans ces oeuvres? Quelle est ton avis à propros de la societé contemporaine?


Je pense que ce n' est pas à moi de répondre à cette question. J' ai l' impression que mes images n' ont pas d' âge. Je le vérifie quand je vois qu' elles interpellent autant les vieillards que les enfants, les mères de familles ou les jeunes branchés. Quant à ma vision de la société contemporaine c' est un mélange d' incompréhension, de crainte, et de dégoût avec flottant de part et d' autre des îlots de beauté absolue.





Qu’est-ce t’ as en projet pour la prochaine année?


Il y a un projet d' exposition à Shangaï et en Corée du sud. En attendant mon travail est visible en permanence à la galerie Albert Bénamou à Paris.


Personellement, j’ ai eu le plaisir de te contacter après le visionnement de tes travaux digitaux, mais avant la découverte de l’ art digitale, c’ étatit qui Emile Morel?


J' ai toujours dessiné de manière obsessionnelle. A l' âge où les petits garçons délaissent leurs crayons de couleur pour aller jouer au foot ou à la bagarre, moi je dessinais et je ne me suis jamais arrété.





à partir de l' observation de tes oeuvres on voit qui' il y a des rappelles à L'infer décrit par le poète italien Dantes, est-ce que c'est correcte cette interpretation?



C' est pas la première fois que l' on me pose cette question. Je crois qu' il faut sérieusement que je songe à le lire...





______________________________________________________________________




Emile, ho appena terminato una lunga ed accurata osservazione dei tuoi lavori, pubblicati sul tuo blog che ricordiamo, http://emile.morel.over-blog.com/ e che consiglio caldamente a tutti di visitare. Fin da subito si viene catapultati in un mondo favoloso. Ho visto delle vere e proprie favole “materializzarsi” sotto i miei occhi. Certo, delle favole per soli adulti. Cosa mi vuoi raccontare a proposito della scelta stilistica delle tue creazioni?


Certo adoro le favole. Tra le mie preferite posso citare Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Alice nel Paese delle Meraviglie, Pollicino e Hansel e Gretel. Ma prima di tutto nutro una vera passione per il genere fantastico. Disegnare una via con delle macchine non m' interessa...


Saresti così gentile da raccontarmi il sogno più incredibile che hai mai fatto?


I miei sogni sono di una banalità totale, però ho il ricordo di un sogno che feci da bambino. Mi trovavo in un universo cangiante di colori. Ciò che c' è di unico in questo sogno è che non si è mai più ripetuto, di questo ne ho la consapevolezza.


L’ ambientazione è predominante nelle tue opere. A metà tra sogno e incubo, popolate da personaggi di fantasia, bellissime donne con delle mani al posto dei piedi, ricoperte di tatuaggi, libidinose, mezzi mostri. Esseri umani ed animali, animali ed esseri umani. E persino ambedue le cose insieme. Qual’ è il motivo per cui queste due specie sono eternamente presenti nei tuoi lavori e spesso si confondono l’ un l’ altra?


Amo le creature mostruose, la loro stranezza ed il loro fascino. Se posso ammaliare lo spettatore con le mie creature ed i miei paesaggi, allora sono contento. Lavoro molto sull' idea del centauro, le proporzioni di questo essere favoloso appaiono perfette ai miei occhi. Semplicemente io lo personalizzo, sostituendo il suo corpo di cavallo con quello di un cane, che risulta più grottesco. Il fatto di mettere delle mani al posto dei piedi evoca in me il disgusto. Quanto alla presenza dei numerosi tatuaggi sui corpi dei miei mostri, è un modo per introdurre un disegno al centro di un altro disegno, come fosse una finestra, "un sogno nel sogno".



C’ è sempre un richiamo sessuale nei tuoi quadri. Ora esplicito, ora implicito. Però sempre velato da un’ eleganza sopraffina nella scelta e nella combinazione dei colori. Quanto è importante per te questa componente?


Sono ossessionato dal sesso, è onnipresente nel mio lavoro. Tuttavia cerco di non affrontarlo in maniera scontata e distribuisco questo elemento all' interno del mio quadro. Mescolare la meraviglia con la sessualità è per me molto naturale, è sempre la stessa idea di potere d' attrazione e di fascino.


Il tuo lavoro evoca emozioni molto forti, per ogni istante in più speso su una tua opera, si aggiunge una scoperta, un particolare nascosto. C’ è una cura maniacale per il dettaglio. Dov’ è che trovi l’ ispirazione necessaria ad ottenere questi risultati?


Le miriadi di piccoli dettagli, le mises en abîmes, sono un escamotage per invitare lo spettatore a viaggiare nei miei paesaggi, a perdercisi, a fuggirne. Per questo è importante osservare il mio lavoro dal vivo, nella sua vera dimensione.


È un idillio quello che racconti o una paura? O tutte e due le cose?


Non so se la vita nei miei mondi è ideale. So per certo che io mi ci trovo bene.


Pensi che la società odierna si possa in qualche modo rispecchiare dentro a queste opere? Che visione hai della società contemporanea?


Penso che non sta a me rispondere a questa domanda. Ho l' impressione che le mie creazioni non abbiano tempo. Me ne accorgo quando vedo che raffigurano sia gli anziani che i bambini, madri di famiglia e giovani alla moda. Quanto alla mia visione della società contemporanea è un insieme di incomprensione e timore, guarnito di disgusto con da una parte il dubbio e dall' altra isolati modelli di bellezza assoluta.


Cosa c’ è per te in programma per l’ anno a venire?


Ci sono in cantiere una mostra a Shangaï e una in Corea del sud. Per ora il mio lavoro è permanente presso la galleria d' arte Albert Bénamou a Parigi.


Ti ho contattato dopo aver visto i tuoi lavori digitali ma prima di scoprire l’ arte digitale chi era Emile Morel?


Ho sempre disegnato in maniera ossessiva. All' età in cui i bambini abbandonavano i pastelli per andare a giocare a calcio o andare in bici, io disegnavo e non mi sono mai fermato.


È vero che nelle tue opere fai riferimento alle visioni dell’ Inferno Dantesco?


Non è la prima volta che mi fanno questa domanda. Credo che sia davvero il caso che inizi a leggerlo...