Category: Art in Second Life

Sunday, June 12th saw the cobwebs dusted away as Cica brought a new installation – Keys – to Second Life, which replaced Arachnid (see my review of the latter for more). It’s another delight from Cica, and also one of her little enigmas which always draw one into riddling what might be represented.

Across an undulating landscape, its services looking not unlike the rough ground of a construction site, Ranged across this is a gigantic network of pipes, steel frames, drums, huge iron grids and container-like cages which either sit on slender poles or are suspended from the steel frames. And then there are the keys – dozens of them, huge and differently styled, hanging from steel frames on great chains.

“Keys and locks,” Cica confided in me as she, Caitlyn and I discussed the installation. “Answers and questions. “A key is like answer or solution we all look for sometimes.”

And like questions and answers, often finding the right answer might mean seeking it out from many possibilities – hence the single lock and multiple keys. A further reflection of this idea can be found in the keys themselves, many of which are emblazoned with an initial; thus they encourage visitors to seek out “their” answer – the key bearing their initial.

Sometimes, as Cica also noted to Caitlyn and I, the answer doesn’t seem obvious; we simply cannot see it among the many possibilities. “It’s like we’re trapped in a room,” Cica said, “Just a feeling of being locked in.”

This idea is reflected through the presence of the giant containers. Within each one stands or sits a lone figure, lost in contemplation. They are anonymous in look and dress; they could be the same person, or they could be anyone.

Here also lies the suggestion that sometimes the answers to our questions are a lot closer than we might think, as symbolised by the keys already being in the doors of the containers; all that is required is a gentle push against the door, and all will be revealed. Elsewhere, a figure trapped under the gridwork covering some of the ground stares helplessly skyward to the keys overhead, reminding us of that sensation of having the answer we seek so tantalisingly close, at the very edge of out thoughts, but remaining just beyond our mental grasp.

Keys is another marvellous, layered installation from Cica set within a Windlight environment ideal for the photographer and videographer. When exploring, keep an eye out for places to sit and the various moving parts which bring this landscape to life, and please do consider a donation towards this and Cica’s future work.

SLurl Details

• Keys (Rated: Moderate)

Thursday, June 9th saw the re-opening of Galerie 17 in Second Life after a three-year gap, featuring an ensemble exhibition with works  by Angelika Corral, SheldonBR,  Rage Darkstone, Christy Underwood and Flor Nachtigal, the gallery’s owner / curator.

Located in a modern 2-storey structure from the Fanatik range, the gallery offers for main display areas split two to a floor, with the lower level also providing a large, airy lobby space which is also used for displaying art, with the upper level also providing a lounge area.

Rage Darkstone’s vivid abstracts (top image) occupy the lobby area, together two of her very striking portraits. Naturally lit by windlight, these are superb pieces well suited to the display space, enticing the visitor to step forward and explore.

The two gallery spaces on the ground floor are given over to a shared exhibition by Angelika Corral and SheldonBR – two artists I greatly admire. One again, Sheldon’s penmanship and Angelika’s photography powerfully contrast and perfectly complement one another, presenting a series of monochrome studies of the female form, which have been beautifully set against the gallery’s lighting, and to a quote from Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida.

Upstairs, the two display spaces are split between Christy Underwood and Flor Nachtigal. Christy presents a set of her entirely computer-generated paintings, which she produces with pen tablet and painter software, much as an artist may use paints and canvas. The results, abstract in nature are striking to both the eye and wall.

Flor’s images comprise two sets of nude or semi-nude monochrome avatar studies. The firs comprises two images taken from a series entitled Adriana, which I assume refers to the model’s name.   These stand on either side of the entrance to the display room, and are quite distinct from the remaining four images, drawn (or forming) a set called Odalisque.

This is a term generally taken to mean a chambermaid or a female attendant in a Turkish harem, particularly the court ladies in the household of the Ottoman sultan, but who were not themselves concubines. However, it can also mean, “an exotic, sexually attractive woman”, and it is perhaps into this latter category that the four images offered here would fall, offering a hint of submission within them, together with an echo of the days of Ottoman.

Taken individually, each of the displays at Galerie 17 offers excellent viewing; taken as a whole, and as indicated by the positioning of Rage’s images in the lobby area, they form a complementary theme of avatar studies and abstracts which carries the visitor through the gallery.  My congratulations to Flor on the re-opening, and on such a superb exhibition to mark it!

SLurl Details

• Galerie 17 (Rated: Adult)

Now open at Dathúil Gallery, operated by Max Butoh and Lυcy (LucyDiam0nd), is Landscape Anatomy, an exhibition by Cicciuzzo Gausman. It is perhaps the most extensive exhibit Dathúil has mounted for a single artist – fully 40 images are in display, offering visitors a visual feast in terms of content, style, format and subject.

Taking a quote from Mark Twain as his lead, “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus”, Cicciuzzo presents a mix of landscape and avatar studies which he describes as, “A journey … exploring landscape photography, ranging from its natural scenery form to the shape of a body.”

The landscapes occupy the lower level of the gallery space and encompass both monochrome and colour. On offer are images of locations across Second Life, many of which will be familiar to the seasoned virtual traveller, and all of which present evocative views of their subjects, drawing the eye into them.

The mezzanine level is home to 20 avatar studies, again presented in both colour and black and white, many of which include nudity, so should be considered NSFW. Here again, the depth of presentation is mesmerizing, each image finely composed and balanced. There is a nuanced look to each of them which really does present them both as studies of the human for and studies of the human landscape; the latter encompassed in the gentle slope of a breast, the valley between thighs,  the meandering sweeps and curls of tattoo ink over bare flesh.

Both sets of images are at once singular to themselves, but they are entirely separated one from the other. Within the untitled landscape images one, and one alone, features an individual. Tall and slender, she stands within a sea of wheat, looking away from us towards s distant horizon. As we follow her gaze into that distance, so our eyes are inevitably drawn upwards to the images on the mezzanine. Thus a bridge is formed between the two sets of images, allowing us to naturally cross from one to the other.

I would have perhaps preferred it if there were slightly fewer images. Forty is a large amount to fit within Dathúil’s walls, such that they can be a little overwhelming. But make no mistake, Landscape Anatomy is another superb display of art from another of Second life’s outstanding talents, and should not be missed. It will remain open through until the end of June, and you can see more of Cicciuzzo’s images via his Flickr stream.

SLurl Details

• Dathúil Gallery (Rated: Adult)

In the summertime when the weather is hot
You can stretch right up and touch the sky
When the weather’s fine
You got Windlight, you got Windlight on your mind
Take a pic, have a try
Go out and see what you can find!*

OK. so that’s not entirely how Mungo Jerry sung their debut single about the carefree days of summer in 1970. But over the decades it has come synonymous with the idea of hot summer days, time on the beach soaking up the rays, rides and walks in the countryside, picnics in parks and gardens, sailing boats against azure skies or swimming in crystal clear waters, and so much more.

From now through until 23:59 on Thursday, June 30th, Windlight Magazine is offering you the chance to capture in a picture what summer time means to you, and perhaps win a cash prize for doing so, with their In the Summer Time Photo contest.

On offer is a prize pool of L$5,000, comprising:

• A first place prize of L$2,000, 1 double page ad in Windlight Magazine, with your picture printed in Windilght Magazine and on the Windlight website
• A second place prize of L$1,5000,  with your picture printed in Windilght Magazine and on the Windlight website
• A third place prize of L$1,000, with your picture printed in Windilght Magazine and on the Windlight website
• A fourth place prize of L$500.

For the full set of rules, please refer to the competition entry guidelines on the Windlight website, but in brief:

• The goal is to take photos of summer scenes, think beach, bbq’s, sailing, fishing, you name it – but the image must include a summer time theme
• Only one entry per user, which must be made to the official Windlight Flickr contest group, no later than 23:59 on Thursday, June 30th. Flickr timestamps will be used to determine times of submission
• All submissions must be labelled “Summer Time Photo Contest” followed by your SL name (do not use Display Names) and must include SLurl of the location in the description
• All submissions should be new and original, but can be submitted to other groups
• Nudity, if tasteful and suited to the scene, is allowed; adult behaviour and acts are not
• Editing within external software is permitted prior to submission.

All entries will be judged using the following criteria: creativity, originality, technique, interpretation of the theme, adherence to the submission and guideline rules (again, please refer to the link above to confirm the guidelines).

So, should you choose to enter – good luck! And as I’ve quoted Mr. Dorset and Mungo Jerry at the top of this piece, it’s only fair they play this article out.

*With apologies to Ray Dorset!

I was alerted to the re-opening of the University of Texas, San Antonio ArtSpace gallery by Bryn Oh.  This marks the first new exhibition within the gallery in a new of years. It marks a reconnection of the university’s virtual presence with Second Life arts, which has been spearheaded by curator Constructivist Solo, with the very able support of Igor Ballyhoo and Rebecca Bashly.

Together with Bryn, Rebecca and Igor are three out of the five artists who will be exhibiting at the facility through until the end of July, the remaining two artists being Eupalinos Ugajin and Ini Inaka. In addition, works by Artée (Artistide Despres), Sasun Steinbeck and Afrika Burton can be found with additional piece by Igor and Rebecca within the broader region.

The new ArtSpace gallery complex is designed by Igor, towering over the tropical reaches of the region and supplies an appreciable amount of exhibition space. Just outside of it, and dominating the region, is a massive (and still under construction) DNA model, part of a long-term project for the region. Linked to this are a number of platforms bearing further art exhibits and facilities, most of which can be reached via a map-based teleport system.

The region is described by Constructivist Solo as a “virtual exploration of interdisciplinary and culturally situated STEM education.” However, with the integration of visual and physical art into the region, it is fair to say it embraces STEAM, a movement to place equal emphasis on the Arts as on the traditional STEM areas of science, technology, engineering and maths, correctly seeing all of the arts as a vital element within education, learning, development and innovation.

SLurl Details

• UTSA ArtSpace (Rated: Moderate)