Category: Art in Second Life

Currently open at Raging Graphix Gallery, curated by artist RagingBellls, is an exhibition by digital artist and storyteller Strand Starsider.

The exhibition is split into two chapters: Magic, Angels and Demons, which ran from February 1st through 14th, and Fantasy and Scifi, launched on February 15th, and which runs through until the end of the month, which features the images seen in this article and includes a special celebration of art and music that will take place on Saturday, February 22nd from 11:00 to 13:00 SLT.

Strand’s work covers multiple genres: fantasy, science-fiction, noir, erotica, romance, avatar portraiture, abstract, whimsical, and more, enfoldling his imagination, Second Life and the physical world (catch his renderings of Christopher Walken, Clint Eastwood and Heath Ledger as The Joker available on his Flickr stream, for examples of the latter) . Rich in compositing, his are more than just digital art, they are genuine tales, each one with a narrative reaching far beyond the frame in which it sits, many often with subtle details that only reveal themselves through considered examination, adding to the tale they have to offer.

The pieces selected for this exhibition all offer a reflection of this gift for embodying narrative through art, and his exceptional ability to  create entire worlds within each piece. To fully appreciate them, I would strongly recommend using the viewer’s camera control to focus in on individual pieces rather than trying to view them from a distance. In this way, the details of each piece in turn are brought to the eye, rather than multiple images in the frame of view each competing for attention.

As a master artist, Strand is comfortable enough in his medium to not only present his work for public exhibition in-world and through his Flickr stream, but also take us into his creative world, producing videos that reveal his compositing process from end-to-end. Take Moon Princess, for example, shown below as it appears on Flickr and at the exhibition; it is accompanied by a time-lapse video showing how the image progressed from initial idea to finished piece, including the flow of change and experimentation that form part of the real-time creative process.

I confess to wishing to be able to see Strand’s work displayed in a larger format than offered  – and I say that with no disrespect to RagingBellls; we all work within the space we can make available. It’s just that a larger format for the images would allow one to more easily focus on individual pieces.

However, and make no mistake, this is a stunning display of Strand’s art, and should not be missed, particularly if you’re unfamiliar with his work. Full kudos to RagingBellls for hosting it.

SLurl Details

• Raging Graphix Gallery (Killtower, rated Moderate)

Having opened at the Itakos Project, curated by Akim Alonzo, on Sunday, February 16th, Milena Carbone’s Agape in Pace is a fascinating exploration of art, love, hate, religion, politics  – all of which might be summed up as the human condition; together with reflections on quantum field theory – specifically the quantum vacuum state and the Casimir effect.

Spread over two floors of the gallery space, the exhibit presents a mix of images and text panels, which together present a layered, nuanced story.

Initially, the exhibition was inspired by the strangeness of the quantum vacuum: a vacuum that was the result of interactions of matter, antimatter and quantum fields that cancel each other out. The image of the Agape and Lilith twins represented the course of matter and antimatter that arises and rejoins almost simultaneously to disappear in the peace of emptiness.

As my work progressed, I drifted towards the two parallel stories: of Agape, oriented towards love and the search for peace; and of Lilith, oriented towards hatred of the other and the search for destruction. These are two postures towards the world. Not just the world of humans, but of all forms of life and the mystery of our existence. The two stories inevitably unite in death and forgiveness.

– Milena Carbone, describing Agape in Pace

The stories of Agape and Lilith are told on the lower floor of the exhibition, Agape to the left and Lilith to the right as you face the hall. Each can be followed individually, while each acts as a reflection of the other. Neither can actually exist without the other, yet should they ever meet, they will mutually annihilate one another violently and completely. But while they stay apart each might continue indefinitely, as symbolised by the mirror-like triptych at the end of the hall.

Further nuance is added through the examination quantum field theory. The popular idiom life doesn’t exist in a vacuum tells us that everything is in relation to it’s context; thus, neither Agape nor Lilith exist alone; they are intertwined – love and hate, light and dark – each giving life to the other; neither occupies a vacuum, and together, whilst never touching, they operate as an example of the Casimir Effect: their very existence as individuals means that between them, they generate a non-zero energy that effects the space (or others) around them.

On the upper level, the exhibition, Milena both continues her examination of the human condition whilst offering her own examination of Agape in Pace. In doing so, she offers insight into her creative process and her use of layering in her art as a part of her storytelling. Here as well, there are nuances and reflections on the nature of life and existence, religion, and an understanding of our place in the universe – indeed, the idea that life itself is a reflection of the physical forces at work throughout the cosmos.

Provocative in stimulating the grey matter, attractive in its art presentation, and ending on a pointed commentary on both the small-mindedness we are all too often witnessing in modern politics, and the reality of our tiny presence in a cosmos that small-mindedness presumes we own, Agape in Pace is a captivating exhibition.

SLurl Details

• Agape in Pace, Itakos Project (ATL, rated Moderate)

 

Now open at Savor Serenity is Dark Wood and Other Destinations, an exhibition of CybeleMoon’s always enchanting art. It offers a journey through her world, from woodland to coast, taking us past ethereal settings inhabited by children and creatures.

Cybele’s art ranges from portraits to landscapes, encompassing magical totems, hidden groves, wild glens, fairie circles, haunted woods, lonely shores and gardens of colour, light and shadow. Her palette offers us mixes of digital and real, gently mixed with tales and stories, children at play, picnic teas and enchanted children. All of which are offered within Dark Wood – and more besides.

Splitting the gallery into three spaces through the considered placement of wall hangings that carry images of their own, Cybele presents us with a gentle tour of her work. Within the centre area we are introduced to her waifs, a wonderful set of largely monochrome portraits of children, together with one of her marvellously layered digital pieces that comes landscape and child’s face to present a haunting story within, and video presentations of her work.

Bordering the central area are images of her woodlands and coastal scenes, her glades and more of her children – the latter often infusing several of her images with a sense of fae magic. For me, one of the attractive aspects of this exhibition is Cybele’s use of 3D elements with two of her pictures; these lead us into the art with which they are placed, making a part of their narrative. In this, it is exceptionally hard not to want to climb the wooden bridge in from of The Winter Path and attempt to follow the trail to see what lies beyond the distant bend that sees it pass behind shadowed trees.

Similarly, the use of a pool with small boat and lilies sitting upon the water that adjoins The Fairy Glen at Rosemarkie, adds a depth of narrative to the idea of fae folk the art presents, the face below the water suggesting a water nymph at play in the waters spreading outward from the glen and “into” the pool.

Evocative, rich in image, colour, tone and story, Cybele’s art is always a delight, and for those familiar with it or have yet to experience her work, Dark Wood and Other Destinations should not be missed.

SLurl Details

• Dark Wood and Other Destinations (Savor Serenity, River Hill, rated Moderate)

Pearls of Wisdom is the title of an art exhibition currently available in its own space at ArtCare Gallery, curated by Carelyna, and which opened on February 7th.

Produced by Tansee, it is perhaps best described as an examination of some of the viewer’s advanced rendering capabilities, notably Advanced Lighting and lighting projectors, together with surface environment and shine effects available through the Build menu, through the medium of art. It utilises both 2D and 3D elements and allows for audience interaction.

Given the above, it is necessary to have Advanced Lighting Model enabled in your viewer (Preferences→Graphics and check Advanced Lighting Model); failure to do so means that most of the exhibition will not work for you. Note that enabling ALM does not require enabling Shadows, which tend to have the most severe impact on viewer performance; however if you can run with shadows enabled, they do give additional depth to the 3D element of the exhibition.

This comprises a large hall with animated spheres – the pearls of the exhibit’s title, illuminated by projected lights and with shine applied together with animated textures. These are set against walls illuminated by projectors and a landscape of pearl-topped plants to create a soothing, alien-like setting in which visitors are invited to relax and spend time, either on the lidos on the floor or the floating cushions within an airborne sphere.

The L-shaped hall leading to the 3D element of the installation offers a range of 2D art, some of it using layering techniques and transparency settings, lighting projections to great effect, with some mixing digital images and techniques with images taken in the physical world. These again offer a sense of alien environments and ideas. It also includes the introduction to Pearls of Wisdom which should be read not only for the instructions on how to best view it, but also things to look for whilst spending time visiting the installation.

These pointers include hints at some of the element hidden within the images, and one notes the glittering pearls scattered throughout the exhibition. Touching these will offer pearls of wisdom in local chat. Further large silver pearls are scattered around the floor that use projected lights and can be pushed around by avatars when visiting, so “personal” lighting effects can be created as a part of the exhibition.

An eye-catching exercise in digital art, lighting and viewer capabilities, Pearls of Wisdom is an engaging installation to visit and witness.

SLurl Details

• ArtCare Gallery (Prychek, rated: Moderate)

I recently wrote about the The Phoenix Artists Collaboration (PAC), a group formed to support artists from across Second Life by providing large-scale exhibition spaces capable of supporting multiple artists free-of-charge (for up to 100 land capacity).

The group was founded by Robert73Miller and Luke (Marshmal), with artist Anibrm Jung curating the gallery. Set within a Full private region utilising the additional 10K land capacity allowance (so 30K total capacity), PAC offers a range of gallery and events venues, with some 42 artists currently availing themselves of the gallery’s core exhibition space, as I noted in The Phoenix Artists Collaboration in Second Life.

Unfortunately, PACs future is now uncertain. While Luke and Robert have funded the region through until the end of March 2020, due to personal reasons, Robert has had to withdraw his involvement in the project as a funder, and this has cast doubt on the group’s ability to meet the cost of region tier from April onwards.

However, rather than simply give up on the endeavour, Luke and Ani are hoping they can find assistance in continuing PAC’s work beyond March through the wider support of those within the Second Life community who might be willing to get involved in both the group and the running of the region. Specifically, they are very keen to hear from:

• Individuals or a group willing to:
  • Either take total ownership of the gallery and region, and meet the L$16,999 per week tier (and with Ani continuing in her role as gallery curator)
  • Or join with Luke and Ani in managing the group and gallery, and meet an agreed share of the region tier.
• Individuals or groups willing to sponsor the region and gallery for a fixed weekly amount, in return for advertising space within the region, and with all promotional material issued by the group for exhibitions and events.

Those interested in doing any of the above are asked to contact either Luke or Anibrm in-world, and at their earliest convenience to discuss ideas and opportunities.

SLurl Details

• The Phoenix Artists Collaboration (Serena Hyperion, rated Moderate)