Category: Art in Second Life

I did not intend to write about another exhibition at Chuck Clip’s Sinful Retreat so quickly after my last arts write-up (see: Sheba’s mystical art in Second Life). however, after witnessing Isabel Hermano’s exhibition at the Janus II Gallery in the region, I could not help but put fingers to keyboard.

Given the breadth of her work that is on display, I’m rather surprised to admit that’s I’ve not previously documented Isabel’s art, as her digital images are truly  captivating to the eye.

Although entitled Living in a Steampunk World, the pieces offered through this exhibition feature much more than the style of retro-futuristic images we might normally associate with the idea of “steampunk”; while such elements  – the ideas of Victoriana, corsets, goggles, exotic mechanicals – present in several of the images, so to does the exhibition cast a wider net, capturing retro-modern elements, touches of Fritz Lang and Buck Rogers, hints of childhood, even a glimpse of contemporary science fiction.

This wider casting of the net doesn’t invalidate the title of the exhibition – rather, it enhances it, and offers a new twist.

Take Tinman, with its the image of C3-PO for example: whilst his appearance might bring to mind thoughts of a technologically advanced, spacefaring civilisation far beyond that of our own, his appearance as a “tin man” is not actually that far removed from the ideas of steampunk mechanoids.

Isabel notes that she likes to use bold colours  on account of the depth of passion they suggest, and that use of colour is clearly shown here – and I would argue that its presence in these pieces adds a further dimension to their narrative. And make no mistake, these are pieces rich in their ability frame moments and ideas that capture the eye and transport the imagination in the most marvellous of ways, whether or not the idea of steampunk are central to the journey.

For me, this sense of narrative is particularly strong with Radio City Music Hall, and The Sisters. These are also two pieces that may not immediately appear to be particularly “steampunk” in nature. The first brings to mind the era of Marlowe and hard-boiled detectives, whilst the latter richly mixes ideas. With the three female characters, there is a clear reference to Fritz Lang and Metropolis, whilst the airship above them both suggests steampunk airship – but set against a cosmic backdrop of a nebula cloud, it also carries that Buck Rogers vibe mentioned above.

Theses are also pieces that are rich in motif and symbol – the use of animals in several of the more “steampunky” pictures, the juxtaposition of modern technology with suggestions of the Victorian era, mechanical octopuses, and so on that can lead the imagination onwards in it journey – and the eye to the richness of detail within each of these pieces.

Open through until early April, Living in a Steampunk World is a captivating exhibition of digital art.

SLurl Details

• Janus II Gallery (Sinful Retreat, rated Adult)

When Sheba Blitz first arrived in Second Life, it was without any preconceived ideas about displaying her work.  However, after encountering the vibrant arts communities that exist across the platform she decided to give exhibiting her work a try – and I, for one am glad that she did.

Hailing from Australia, Sheba has studied art in a variety of styles over the years, gaining several diplomas in the process. However, throughout her time as an artist, she has found focus in painting mandalas – which she does so quite exquisitely.

For those unfamiliar with it, the mandala (literally meaning “circle” in Sanskrit) is a symbol with very deep religious, spiritual and even political meaning. It may be employed in spiritual guidance, focusing the attention of practitioners and adepts, as a means of establishing a sacred space and as an aid to meditation and trance induction. Mandalas are particularly used in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Shintoism. They also have new age symbolism, and were regarded by Jung as a means to explore “the fourfold nature of the psyche”.

I first encountered Sheba’s work five years ago and was immediately captivated. Specialising in painting quarternity mandalas, she works with gouache, acrylics and metallic paints on either canvas or paper, drawing on sources such as music, books, astrology and tarot symbolism as her inspiration. The finished pieces are all intricately beautiful, endlessly geometric, generally perfectly symmetric, and rich in symbolism.

All of this creative, spiritual beauty can currently be seen at the Janus III Gallery on Chuck Clip’s Sinful Retreat, where Sheba is exhibiting a selection of her work entitled Into the Mystic.

Across the two floors of the gallery one can find the most meticulous pieces of art that are utterly captivating.

Whenever I witness Sheba’s art and and consider the work that went into each piece, I cannot help but be put in mind of dul-tson-kyil-khor (mandala of coloured powders) in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. Like those painstakingly constructed sand paintings, there is an inherent balance within Sheba’s paintings in terms of symmetry and harmony that lifts the spirit whilst also speak to the depth of focus on the part of the artist.

Like the work of Tibetan monks, Sheba’s art is rich in iconography that combines geometric shapes and spiritual symbols.

However, unlike the Tibetan sand painting, which is intentionally impermanent, each piece ritualistically destroyed and used as an offering to water and life once the meditation of its creation is complete, Sheba’s art endures well beyond its creation. In this, while sand painting might speak to the impermanence of life and the cycle of creation, Sheba’s art reflects the enduring nature and balance of the cosmos around us.

This is art for which images on a page simply do not do justice. Each piece is so rich in form and intricate in detail, Sheba’s work deserves to be seen and appreciated first hand whether you are drawn to the spiritual symbolism of the mandala or simply drawn to art for its beauty and geometry So do take time to drop into the Janus III Gallery before this exhibition ends later in the month.

SLurl Details

• Janus III Gallery (Sinful Retreat, rated Adult)

Currently open at the Carmel Art Gallery, curated by Martha McFarren (Martha Damballar), is a cosy exhibition by Vanessa Jane (Vanessajane66), entitled Vignettes of Calas Galadhon – A Journey to the Spirit of Place.

As one might gather from the title, the subject of the exhibition is the Calas Galadhon estate, thirteen regions of fabulous open landscape that form a public park operated for all Second Life residents by Tymus Tenk and Truck Meredith and their dedicated team.

Now in operation for more than a decade (December 2021 actually marks the estate’s 12th anniversary), Calas Galadhon is one of the genuine gems in Second Life’s crown, and a place one can never tire of seeing. While its form may have changed over the years as it has grown (and occasionally shrunk), it has remained a place of endearing beauty; its regions both demonstrate the power of creativity in Second Life and the true magic of the platform’s ability to offer living, breathing spaces we can escape to and enjoy.

Rich in open landscapes and waters that can be explored on foot or horseback or boat, or flown over in a hot air balloon, the park contains many places large and small to discover, and is home to regular and seasonal events. While through its contiguous vistas, it offers a breathtaking sense of space and natural depth that is genuinely stunning to the eye. In this, it stands equal to any national park we might choose to visit – but with the added benefit that the freedom and magic are just keystrokes, not hours, away, and can be instantly enjoyed whenever we choose.

It is this sense of place that Vanessa has sought to capture in the pieces offered through her exhibition. Within the fourteen images presented in the gallery space, she reveals both the estate’s essential natural beauty and the hints of otherworldliness that is very much a part of its magic (and which is reflected in their names, drawn as they are from Tolkien’s mythology).

Offered with an artful touch of post-processing Vanessa presents these pieces as if seen through the eyes of a painter. Each one individually and uniquely captures an aspect of the park’s landscape, offering a hint of story for the observer to unfold. They are also collectively part of a whole, their individual stories coming together to offer an anthology of images that reveal the living spirit contained with the Calas regions.

Set within a space that Vanessa has also dressed in a manner that reflects the park’s glades and grasslands, Vignettes of Calas Galadhon – A Journey to the Spirit of Place richly illustrates the enduring beauty of Calas Galadhon and the manner in which it can capture the hearts and eyes of those who visit. As such, it is the perfect way by which those familiar with the park might recapture specific memories of their times within it, while for those who have yet to wander the park’s regions, the exhibition presents the ideal means to whet appetites and prepare the eye for all that might be revealed when exploring the regions themselves.

SLurl Details

• Carmel Art Gallery (McFarren, rated Adult)