Tag: Art 2021

Chiaroscuro is an Italian term that literally translates as “clear-dark”, although within the world of art, it is more usually referred to as “light-dark”, and references the use of strong contrasts between darker and lighter colours or shades in images, be they paintings, drawings, sketches, photographs – even video and film in the modern era – and which is intended to give a sense of volume and three-dimensional depth to an image through the use of lighter contrasts within the subject of the composition, and the broader contrast between the subject and the background.

It’s a technique that is all around us in art (just look at almost any portraiture or painting by the European painters of the Renaissance, for example or modern photographic portraiture or even graphic novels), and its use extends into visual mediums such as the stage, and more latterly, advertising, television, and film (for example, Francis Ford Coppola uses the technique extensively within The Godfather trilogy – just take a look at this still of Al Pacino from the first film in the series). However, it also doesn’t have to purely the contrast between “dark” and “light”; Andy Warhol, for example, utilised the technique extensively through his use of really bold colours contrasted against lighter tones rich in brightness.

In music, Chiaroscuro again emphasises contrast, combining a brilliant sound referred to as squillo with a dark timbre called scuro to produce a sound that has considerable depth and warmth. It is perhaps most notable in its use within opera, although again, many compositions, from classical through to the modern era also use it.

I mention all of the above, because it is the richness and depth of contrast suggested by Chiaroscuro that Vita Theas embraces in her exhibition of the the same name that opened at Aneli Abeyante’s La Maison d’Aneli arts centre on Wednesday, May 26th.

Set within a space created by Vita that enhances the idea of contrasts  (dark brick wall and heavy wood roof timbers over which sits the inverted bowl of a glorious sunset itself beset with darkening clouds lit by the lowering Sun, the marvellous murals she also presents on the walls – look at the sense of movement contrasted with the relative calm of the ships beyond in the “waterfront” piece, for example), this is a collection that embraces the idea of Chiaroscuro in art, image, and life.

From monochrome images – perhaps the “simplest”(if such a word might be employed) expression of the use of contrast through to avatar studies that reflect the use of chiaroscuro both in modern photographic portraiture (Lost, If Only…, Hope), to pieces evocative of classical portraits of the likes of the Dutch Masters (And Then He Was Gone), this is a collection that also celebrates the broader use of the technique in  landscape photography (where again, we might not actually be aware the technique is present) pop art (the quite brilliant Warhol-esque Seduce), and more.

These are images that also illustrate the essential vitality of life that is evident through contrast. As Vita herself notes, the interactions of light and shadows, brightness and darkness, warm and cool colours and shading, all work together to give these pieces a visual and emotional depth, a reminder that chiaroscuro isn’t just a technique, it is a part of the fabric of life. Just take a look (again) at And Then He Was Gone and both Regret and the exhibition poster; all three present a powerful sense of emotion through the contrast of pose and background, or that between the overlaid focal image and backgrounds.

A truly powerful and evocative collection, Chiaroscuro offers an engaging selection of art that can be appreciated for its visual appeal and composition and for its ability to get the grey matter working.

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• Chiaroscuro, La Maison d’Aneli (Virtual Holland, rated Moderate)

May 16th 2021 saw Desideratum Gallery, operated by Péru (PERU Venom) and Algezares Magic, open its doors to its latest exhibition, featuring the work of one of my favourite artists (and a friend!) Melusina Parkin.

Melusina’s work is unique in its blending of detail, space and minimalism brought together in elegant, crafted pieces that offer a richness of narrative and emotion; pieces that offer insight into life through their framing and focus.

This is perfectly reflected in the perfectly-named Kinds of Minimal at Desideratum. Comprising 25 of Melu’s images, the exhibition presents visitors with a marvellously diverse collection of ideas and themes, all framed by Melu’s skill in using both open space and confined areas and / or angles to capture the attention.

These are pictures that sit as the covers of books, hinting at stories within their depths, together with comments on life and the living – although it is entirely up to us, the observers, to allow our imaginations to unwrap whatever each piece might have to say to us.

Take, for example, Minimal 8. Set within a room it offers a simple view of a hat and cloak, perhaps on a stand, with the hint of shadow beyond, perhaps cast by an open door, suggesting they have just been hung in place. but who might their owner be? And what is this room? A warm lounge to which they have returned after a walk outside? A place of work?  How might it be furnished? The questions are myriad, as are the stories they suggest – including whether or not the cloak and hat are indeed hanging on a stand, or whether there might yet be a figure still wearing them – and if so, who might it be?

Just along the wall is Minimal 6, a piece richly evocative for calling forth a variety of stories – and even songs (anyone for Springsteen’s 57 Channels And Nothing On?) and / or thoughts of everything from the desert mid-west of America, Roswell, trailer parks, and even nuclear testing.

Then upstairs is Minimal 20. Who might live on the top of the steps within the doorway  it features? And who is the figure on the top of post? A repairman who has scaled the footholds that climb it, or a local mischief-maker who has scaled the ladder we can also see in shadow form? Or is it a person at all, or just a trick of the light falling against a pole-topped transformer box or somesuch to cast a human-like shadow?

And that’s the secret to this exhibition: not only are the images exquisitely frame in their minimalist presentation, both in terms of image and in story, offering just enough for the imagination to take flight.

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• Kinds of Minimal, Desideratum Gallery (Isle of Bliss, rated Adult)

I hopped back to Carelyna’s ArtCare Gallery this week to take in the latest round of art exhibitions, and once again found a rich mix of art from Second Life and the physical world to appreciate.

I was initially drawn back to the gallery with the announcement of new exhibitions by Kimeu Korg (Kimeu) and Matt Thomson (MTH63), both of which are located on the lower level of the gallery space, although a trip to the upper level of the gallery also reveal art that captures the eye.

Kimeu is, for me, Second Life’s most noted surrealist artist. His work easily matches the likes of Max Ernst and René Magritte, and is unique manner in which it can so often blend elements from the physical world and Second Life to create vignettes – although at ArtCare, Procrastination focus solely on pieces produced within Second Life. These are simply delightful, each one a story unto itself, featuring Kimeu’s distinctive character, frequently laced with a gentle humour.

Matt Thompson built his reputation as a landscape photographer in Second Life, but has been spreading his canvas – so to speak – and with New Journeys presents a series of abstract paintings, the title doubtless a nod to this being a further expansion of his artistic expression. As Matt himself notes, abstractionism oft comes with convoluted explanations as to what each splash and swirl of colour represents (perhaps not always postulated by the artist), which can get in the way of simply enjoying the mix of colours and the suggestions of of life, motion, patterns and form.

And for those who care to read his bio, Matt has a wicked sense of humour (and a love of Douglas Adams, which makes him more than OK in my book 🙂 ).

The upper level of the gallery space features exhibitions by LikaCameo, Downboy (MarcJersey), April (Agleo Runningbear) and Jolie (JolieElle Parfort).

Known as April Louise Turner in the the physical world, Agleo is a woman of many talents – artist, shaman, teacher, poetess, to name but four. Here she presents a series of the most engaging paintings of animals what might be considered spirit paintings of the creatures involved. In the neighbouring hall, Jolie offers images from Second Life that have been processed to resemble paintings, forming another engaging collection.

However, and with due respect to Jolie and April, both of whom have been covered several times in these pages, I was particularly drawn to the exhibitions by LikaCameo and Downboy, both of whom are artists I’ve not previously encountered in Second Life.

Downboy is another artist who seeks to tell stories through his images – all of which have been produced in Second Life. However, his work is particularly attractive for the manner in which he uses soft tones, an almost brushed monochrome, and depth of life.

Lika, meanwhile, presents a series of the most incredible true life studies and portraits that deserve to be seen first-hand, as witnessed by the hero image at the top of this article.

I’m not sure how much longer the installations by April, Jolie, Lika and Downboy will remain at ArtCare (as noted above, Matt’s and Kimeu’s exhibitions have just opened and so will be around for about another month), so I do recommend dropping in to see them sooner rather than later.

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• ArtCare Gallery (Prychek, rated: Moderate)

Currently open at the Itakos Project Art Gallery, curated by Akim Alonzo, is Golden: A Journey into the Art of a Dreamer, featuring the work of Paola Mills.

Spread across the two levels of the gallery are some 29 exquisite avatar studies that incorporate a range of themes, and are linked by the fact that each one forms a single frame story.

From fantasy to what might be considered beauty shots and going by way of touches of sci-fi, horror, edges of transhumanism, and even a homage to a classic film (Hitchcock’s classic North by Northwest (see:Follow the Ageless Tide), these are all stunning pieces. Many carry a degree of subtext through title to further drive their story, although equally, a fair number are untitled – but they still speak clearly to those who study them.

This is because all of the pieces offered here, produced in both colour and monochrome, are marvellously crafted, rich in detail and composition. Within them are to be found stories centred on a range of subjects: identity, love, life, sexuality, emotions, loneliness, memory and more.

As well as the individual images mounted on the gallery walls, Akim has included an animated slide show system that pages through copies of all of Paola’s pieces in the exhibition. It’s an approach that will a new feature with exhibits at the gallery. Here, with its smooth, gentle animations and cross-fades, the slide show brings together the images in such a way that the transitions from one to the next presents a feeling of shifting dreams in keeping with the sub-title of the exbition. Further, several times during the show, the transition from one image to the next naturally suggests a broader story spanning the art than might be found when viewing in the individual images around the walls.

It is really hard to write about this exhibition, as the pieces are so rich in narrative that they really should be seen first-hand, rather then through the intervening eyes of and thoughts of another. Nor are they pieces to be simply seen; they deserve to be given the time to speak and tell their stories. As such, I strongly suggest paying a visit through the month the exhibition will be available.

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• The Itakos Project: Golden: A Journey into the Art of a Dreamer (ATL, rated Moderate)