King of Senses

Unfolded Photography: Anatoly Zenkov

2013-12-26T12:38:00.000-05:00

Russian interactive designer Anatoly Zenkov was initially known for his DIY art software which transformed the movement of your mouse into pieces or art (check IOGraphica, I'm using it as I'm writing this post). In this series, entitled "Persistent Pyramids", Anatoly takes art into a more controlled environment by manipulating landscape images and transforming them into simple and minimalistic interventions. Inspired by the work of Francisco Infante-Arana and Nonna Gorunova, Zenkov takes the mechanics of broken mirrors and forces them into beautiful and ephemeral spaces in a deliberate but delicate manner which make the landscape literally unfold before your eyes.

For that corner of your brain where everything is possible: The Photography of Anatoly Zenkov

Anatoly Zenkov
(All Images used with permission of the artist)

Elapsing Passages: The art of Derek Stefanuk

2013-12-08T14:06:00.001-05:00

You cannot step twice into the same river; for other waters are continually flowing in

-Heraclitus of Ephesus

Born in Saskatchewan and turned into a Montrealais, Canadian painter Derek Stefanuk seems to bring the Pre-Socratic philosopher into his practice in a very current way. As he expresses on his statement:

"I want to relate the human drama to the larger context of nature through painting. Nature, which is constantly changing and us, being one with nature, are in a continual state of change or flux".

His often distorted characters reflect this transition or passage, capturing them in ephemeral scenarios which often present us with various moments in one image. I feel there is a voyeuristic pleasure in exploring these paintings. They all seem to convey an ongoing action, sometimes just fragments of it, leaving room for past and future moments still to be imagined or dreamed. Some of the images have an erotic charge and some others just a quiet stillness. Either way, they offer an interesting glimpse of the artist's perspective of realism intersected with abstraction. Subject merged with its environment. A real visual treat.
For your ongoing flux: The paintings of Derek Stefanuk

Derek Stefanuk
(All Images used with permission from the artist)

The Pictoric Fashion: Miss Aniela

2013-12-03T16:42:00.001-05:00

Fashion is one of those fields that are in the center of the debate on whether it should be considered an Art or not. Design, Advertising, Landscaping, etc. are other examples of this debate. The trend now is to finally recognize Fashion and other commercial disciplines as forms of art. Proof of this is the various exhibitions that world-class institutions have hosted, like the Alexander McQueen exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum in New York or the Jean Paul Gaultier's at Le Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal.

At the center of this hurricane, photographers are the keystone holding up the massive weight of fashion creation and its subsequent commercial exposure. The Art of creating images for this industry has evolved to very refined, even baroque levels of craft and techniques, and the list of amazing photographers within its ranks is immense. However, I found the work of Natalie Dybisz, a.k.a Miss Aniela, standing out of the ocean of images with a delicate yet bold language that borderlines with surrealism and maximalism.

In my opinion, this is the result of a refined intuition towards esthetic values and norms: Mixing the opulence of the French Courts and English Naturalism with the current industry standards and taking it to a whole new level of contextualization and detail. That intuition could be explained by the fact that Miss Aniela is a self-taught photographer and her work seems to be freed of academic rigor. There is, however, a classic pictoric quality to her work that relays a theme or a story and serves her with high-impact visuals, sophisticated ambiance, and a way to deliver a concept and a message. Her characters seem to be immersed in the worlds she fabricates for them, more than just posing for a portrait, and this makes it almost anecdotic and relatable. For your surreal and most fashionable eyes: The Art of Miss Aniela

Miss Aniela

(All Images and Videos used with permission of the artist)
Images: © Miss Aniela

The Pixel Mirror: Interactive Art by Daniel Rozin

2013-12-02T12:06:00.002-05:00

With only a few exceptions from the animal kingdom, "Self Awareness" is mostly a human quality. Humans can recognize themselves as individuals by looking at themselves in a mirror and identifying unique features that differentiate them from others (in case you were wondering, whales, dolphins, and some apes can do this too). In this series of interactive installations entitled "Mechanical Mirrors," it is the individual who activates the art piece and becomes the subject of an ever-observing eye that captures his image and reflects it back at him in a reorganized and metaphoric way.

Standing in front of these installations, you see a version of yourself that has been processed and transformed into pixels constructed from different materials (wood, rusted metal, chromed spheres, pieces of garbage, and even fans), taking self-awareness to a whole new level. The added components in your image evoke different states of self-identification: For instance, a mirror assembled with colored trash found in the streets of New York, brings into the equation the metaphor of us reflected in what we consume and discard. Can you recognize yourself within the consumer society we live in?

I also found very interesting the fact that we are now obsessed with High Definition images and amounts of dots per inch. This body of work, however, relies on Lo-Fi images constructed many times with non-reflective materials that deprive the user of the ever-sought crystal clear image.

For your pixelated self: The Interactive Art of Daniel Rozin

Daniel Rozin

(All Images and Videos used with permission of the artist)

Beauty from the Dark Side: Diana Dihaze

2013-11-28T12:53:00.004-05:00

Good and Evil. Light and Darkness. Angels and Daemons. Topics have been explored and combined by artists from all disciplines over the centuries. In this case, one merges into the other into one interesting composition thanks to the seamless manipulation of this talented Ukrainian Photographer. Death and beauty seem to converge in this vampiresque imagery that is bountiful in visuals and generous with delicate details, where the erotic embraces the morbid and vice versa. Reminiscent of gothic novels and victorian imagery, these images awake the voyeur we all carry within. For your tonight's nightmares (or wet dreams?): The photography of Diana Dihaze.

Diana Dihaze

Ottawa Diva: Mélissa Laveaux

2013-11-24T17:31:00.001-05:00

I confess. I have a soft spot for female voices. Especially when their voice seems to come from some deep core or nucleus of energy. I'm sure your ears have perceived this from Billie Holiday, Nina Simone or Big Mamma Thornton, but I get them all together when I listen to Mélissa Laveaux. Born in Montréal from Haitian background, and raised in Ottawa in an anglophone environment, her music is a collage of soulful rhythms, mixed with folk, blues, pop, and root melodies. From covering pop star Beyoncé to singing Haitian lullabies, her soothing and raspy voice crowns beautifully a very impassioned songwriting that just makes my ears happy. For your beautiful senses: La voix de Mélissa Laveaux.

Mélissa Laveaux

The Modern Illusionist and his Box: Bradley G Munkowitz

2013-10-18T16:46:00.002-04:00

Project-mapping taken to extreme levels of planning, technical expertise, robots interacting with humans and -ultimately- pure and simple beauty. All of this can be found in this experience created initially as a Technology Demo happily turned into this work of art where many disciplines converge so gracefully and elegantly. Minimalistic graphic design mixed with a delicate choreography of man and machine.

The mastering of optical illusions to create ephemeral spaces and their acrobatics combined with a Film Noir style in five acts: Transformation, Levitation, Intersection, Teleportation, and Escape, just left me speechless.

For your 21st Century brain: Box by Bradley Munkowitz for Bot & Dolly.

Box from References 4 You on Vimeo.

Bradley G Munkowitz

Life Illustrated - Jean François Martin

2013-10-06T15:50:00.001-04:00

I find illustration a very complex art. Drawing in a way that can be compelling and provocative is a task very few know how to accomplish. And from those few, only a handful can transmit emotions and ideas. I found this french Illustrator who has been working for newspapers and editorials and who I find dramatically powerful yet very simple, witty, and humorous. He has also collaborated with the design studio 2 Œufs Bacon P'tites Patates, for corporate branding and illustration for book covers. He also conceptualized, and art directed a short animated film for Canal+ in France, entitled "L'inventeur" or "The Inventor," which will catch you smiling alone in front of your screen. For your crayon colored eyes: Jean François Martin.

2 Œufs Bacon P'tites Patates

Costume3pieces

Creating ephemeral moments: The Collage Art of Alexandra Ethell

2013-10-05T12:00:00.001-04:00

I love collage artists. Recently I came across this artist from Melbourne who creates quirky and dreamy collages, freezing impossible moments with so much beauty and elegance. She says she is a self-diagnosed insomniac who started creating these "moments." I assume she is just dreaming while awake while craftily sharing those dreams with the world. Let's just hope that insomnia continues. For your subconscious mind: the art of Alexandra Ethel.

Alexandra Ethel

SuperHistory by Agan Harahap

2013-10-04T10:04:00.001-04:00

This Jakarta-based photographer (known for his pictures of animals roaming the aisles of grocery stores), comes back with a new series where he uses photographs from historical moments (mainly from WWII) and forges them with iconic comic heroes and villains. The forgery is reminiscent of the methods used during the war by both sides (and later during the cold war), to manipulate public opinion. An ironic and eerie reminder of how the media can be deceiving and easily controlled by hidden agendas (in this case, Darth Vader's). For your manipulated brain: Agan Harahap.

Agan Harahap

Crayon photography: Christian Faur

2012-10-14T20:46:00.001-04:00

On my last visit to New York city I visited Kim Foster Gallery and saw this Christian Faur exhibition that I found playful, beautiful, and full of craftsmanship.

Faur explores the power of the pixel in photography by substituting them with crayons. The result is photographs that end up being sculptures, perhaps giving a step back from the so-desired super HD quality photography. I'd love to grab a piece of paper and just rub it in front of one of these and see what happens. For your beautiful trained-to-complete-the-image brain: The art of Christian Faur.

Kim Foster Gallery
Christian Faur

Cartoon Carnage: Sam Gibbons

2012-05-01T20:26:00.001-04:00

This artist based in Baltimore brings together elements taken from human sentiments like lust, greed, corruption, etc, and mixes them in cartoon debauchery that reminds me –in some cases– to the Aztec Calendar and the symbology associated with it. The emphasis on symmetry creates an interesting psychedelic effect, and his illustrations are reminiscent of the early work of cartoon artists. For your fucked up childhood memories: Sam Gibbons' cartoon art.

Sam Gibbons

Ephemeral beauty: Myeongbeom Kim

2012-04-30T18:46:00.001-04:00

Like taken out from a dream, the work of this Korean artist is a mix of surrealism and everyday objects and situations. Nature and man-made objects get together in satiric and playful ways that evoke otherworldly and dreamy scenarios. I wonder what Salvador Dalí or Luis Buñuel would have thought about this. For your gorgeous dreams: The art of Myeongbeom Kim

Myeongbeom Kim

Sculptural Drawings - Becoming the object: Tomohiro Inaba

2012-04-29T13:00:00.002-04:00

I'm back! Sorry for abandoning my beloved blog! I've been working on my own beautiful things. Anyways, to continue with the thread....I just came across this amazing Japanese sculptor who creates beautifully stylized objects that seem like drawings that have come alive as volumes. The movement, and the lightness of the images are a great contrast to the weight of the materials. I think that the brain-completing-the-image trick is fantastic as it leaves room for everyone to imagine and fantasize about them. Wish I could see them live, but here's a preview I found just googling him. For your beautiful brain: Tomohiro Inaba

Tomohiro Inaba

Movie Directors and their Operatic Debut: Sky Arts Opera Shorts

2011-03-22T21:26:00.000-04:00

I was browsing one of my favorite music genres on Youtube and came across this. The English National Opera and Sky Arts teamed with 3 outstanding visual artists: Dougal Wilson (Director of music videos for LCD Soundsystem, Coldplay, Goldfrapp, etc); Werner Herzog (Director amongst other things of "My son, My son, What have ye done", a new version of Aeschylus' Orestia, originally performed by a killer during the 70's which I personally didn't love but found interesting) and Sam Taylor-Wood who recently directed "Nowhere Boy", a movie about John Lennon's childhood.

Descriptions and curricula aside, these guys made three short films for the English National Opera Season and brought the good old fashioned genre to the XXI century videoclip format. For your beautiful eyes and ears: Sky Arts Opera Shorts.

www.eno.org

www.skyarts.co.uk

Sunday Mix - Music for your beautiful ears: M-2011

2011-03-13T03:23:00.001-04:00

Today I took some tracks I've been listening to lately and tried to mix them into a 1-hour compilation. I'm not a professional DJ, but I think it went pretty decent. I used Traktor Pro, and it worked like charm. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did doing it. For your beautiful senses: M-2011 Mix by The King of Senses. Enjoy!
PS: There's a limited number of downloads....so Hurry up!

Track List:

1.- Rain of Gold (French Horn Rebellion Remix) - Young Empires
2.- I Am The Beat (Treasure Fingers Remix) - Señor Stereo
3.- Invisible Light (House of Stank Remix)- Scissor Sisters
4.- Holidays (Sam Sparro and Golden Touch Remix) - Miami Horror
5.- I Follow Rivers (The Magician Remix) - Likke Li
6.- Spaceship (EDX Remix) - Benny Benassi Ft. Kelis & APL & Jean-Baptiste
7.- Take Me Over (Flight Facilities Remix) - Cut Copy
8.- Inviters (Lipelis & Simple Symmetry Remix) - Pompeya
9.- You Can Dance (Gemini Club Remix) - Chilly Gonzales
10.- Hot Mess (Duck Sauce Remix) - Chromeo
11.- Metropol (Original Mix) - Christoph Andersson
12.- Bad Gal feat Robyn - Savage Skulls
13.- Don't Turn The Lights On (Christina Martin Remix) - Chromeo

Book Dissection: Brian Dettmer

2011-03-11T13:00:00.001-05:00

This artist from Chicago takes surgery to a whole new level. He manipulates the pages and spines of different books and then dissects them using surgical instruments. The catch? He doesn't add anything new...he just removes parts of the book to expose what's already there. In an era where information is shown in digital formats in real-time and can be accessed by clicking rather than turning pages, these books show a new way of interaction with the traditional media. It is also a way to reveal -or build- new stories out of old ones.
"My work is a collaboration with the existing material, and its past creators, and the completed pieces expose new relationships of the book’s internal elements exactly where they have been since their original conception" Brian Dettmer.
For your dissection coffee table: Brian Dettmer.

www.briandettmer.com/

Psychedelic Painting: Holton Rower

2011-03-10T20:17:00.001-05:00

I just came across this New York Artist. His paintings are a bit Psychedelic but what I found more interesting was the process itself. By pouring paint over solid objects, he creates a beautiful effect similar to that found in old marbled papers. Look at the artist in action and enjoy the ride: Holton Rower

www.holtonrower.com/

Chile's brightest star: Altaïr Vineyards & Winery

2011-03-07T22:15:00.003-05:00

It was time for me to write about one of the things I enjoy the most: Wine, and I decided to start with one of my favorite south American vineyards. Altaïr is located in the Cachapoal Valley on the slopes of the Chilean Andes. The fresh air that comes down the Andean mountains and the dry soil make the perfect combination for the grapes to stay longer in the vine and develop the distinctive subtleness and delicate flavor that gives life to this resplendent jewel. That's on the side of nature. On the side of man, the craftsmanship and attention to detail of the wine harvest or "vendimia", is a key factor in this winery where quality prevails over quantity.

Altaïr is the brightest star on the constellation Aquila, and it represents a Greek myth where Zeus transformed himself into an eagle to kidnap Ganymedes -a beautiful young man- to make him the God's cupbearer.

Delicate, brilliant, and extremely elegant, the Altaïr's wines are the brightest star in the Chilean Andes' night. Try to find it near you or in online stores. You can find it in two presentations: Altaïr and Sideral.

Sideral is a sophisticated and complex blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Carménère with some hints of fruits and earth.

Altaïr uses the same blend but with an accent on the Carménère stock (this grape, originally from Bordeaux, was considered lost and extinct until it was found in the New World, specifically in Chile and Argentina), and it's a very good example of a fine Chilean Wine, with beautiful crimson color and hints of red fruits and smoked wood.

For your anxious taste buds: Enjoy the shine of Altaïr.

Altair Wines

Worlds within worlds: Hugo Lugo

2011-03-04T17:51:00.001-05:00

Just discovered this Mexican artist, and I'm in love with his work. The way his sketches cross the barrier between reality and, well...other realities is just amazing. The carefully presented objects and the way his characters interact with them make you think twice about their context and show how easily this artist offers an alternative world... a world within worlds. For your beautiful brain: Hugo Lugo.

Hugo Lugo on Artsy

Almost Alice: Maggie Taylor

2011-02-27T22:56:00.001-05:00

This American artist makes digital collages by scanning old pictures and different objects and then creating fantastic environments for them. She is the Queen of Photoshop, and her work is detailed and beautifully finished. I just found this series, "Almost Alice," inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Enjoy!

www.maggietaylor.com

Family Portraits: Travis Louie

2011-02-26T17:18:00.001-05:00

I just bought a book called Curiosities from New York artist Travis Louie. He took a whole catalog of fantastic and grotesque characters and portrayed them in a Victorian fashion with some hints of Film Noir. They all look like family portraits that you could easily hang on one of your walls, along with that picture of your great grandmother or that aunt that survived two world wars. I'm sure that in many cases –like mine– they resemble many non-fictional crazy families. This guy created a world for himself where monsters look friendly, and candid and destroyed that horrible prejudice that the media has created around them (like sharks or snakes). In the book, he also includes a small biography of each character. In any case, I want one to hang beside grandma's picture, although I'm not sure if she would appreciate that. For your family album: Travis Louie's Curiosities.

www.travislouie.com

Lucky Charm: The Bahia Chair

2011-02-24T20:45:00.001-05:00

This vintage chair was reupholstered in yellow velvet and redesigned by London Studio 20Age to include more than 5000 “fitas” or Brazilian ribbons that are used -literally- In remembrance of the Savior of Bahia. They come in every possible color and are imprinted with the phrase “Lembrança do Senhor do Bonfim da Bahia”. In the 18th century, the Fitas were used as necklaces with the name of a saint embroidered as proof of a miraculous cure or healing. “Fita” means “measure,” as its size corresponds to the length of the arm of Christ’s statue at the Senhor do Bonfim Church. Nowadays, they have returned as a lucky charm. If you go to Bahía, you should bring some back home and give them as a gift to a close friend. Then you have to put the ribbon around their wrists and tie 3 knots. Which each knot your friend should make a wish. When the ribbon wears off or falls -naturally-, the wishes are granted by the Senhor do Bonfim.

With this chair, you can ask for 15.000 wishes, but you’ll have to wait a bit until all the ribbons disintegrate. Good luck and enjoy The Bahia Chair!

Alphabet Love: Luca Barcellona

2011-02-23T22:05:00.002-05:00

It is not too often that you get to see calligraphy artists in action. I found this video where the Italian calligrapher Luca Barcellona is caught working over a blank canvas. Very easy when you type anything on your keyboard, but it goes to the other extreme with just a felt tip marker and white paper. Somehow I always picture calligraphers like old monks illuminating bibles in some old monastery...not at all the case here. Enjoy the beautiful calligraphy of Luca Barcellona!

http://www.lucabarcellona.com/

Master of Darkness: Ray Caesar

2011-02-22T23:12:00.002-05:00

This is one of my favorite artists. Not only is his work elaborated and with exquisite detail, but it is also charged with eroticism and a rather sinister ingredient that makes it irresistible. He takes the Regency era to another level by picturing Marie Antoinette-styled women, always with a twisted side (that probably was present at the time, before the French monarchs lost their heads à La Bastille). In other pictures, the trend is more 50's or even Victorian. All of them are true eye candy. Enjoy Ray Caesar's work.