Tag: Art 2024

Looker Lumet at NovaOwl in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
NovaOwl Sky Gallery, September 2024: Looker Lumet – Sea Views

Open through until late October 2024 at the sky gallery space at NovaOwl Social Corner and Gallery, is an exhibition of photographic art by Looker Lumet. Entitled Sea Views, it in part features – unsurprisingly, given the title – images of coastal settings, seascapes and bays; however, to assume such images are the sole focus of the exhibition would be a mistake; rather, Sea Views offers a glimpse of Looker’s broader photographic and artistic talents, making it a thoroughly engaging portfolio of works in which to immerse oneself.

I’ve covered exhibitions featuring Looker’s work in the past, but these have tended to be shared exhibitions, rather than solo offerings; and while I’ve always admired what I’ve seen in his work, Sea Views is the first time I’ve actually been able to visit an exhibition that offers such a complete and engaging selection of his work.

NovaOwl Sky Gallery, September 2024: Looker Lumet – Sea Views
Looker Lumet is a Belgian photographer who found the pleasure in sl of taking pictures, back in 2007, which was an extension of his hobby in real life. It is also from 2007 that he has learned to work with Photoshop, and is still evolving by learning the skills of post processing every day. Thanks to the evolution in second life, where the avatars were better looking, the landscapes were more detailed, the pictures became more and more realistic. Throughout the years in second life, Looker Lumet has been first an artist of the Avatrait Gallery, before he was giving the opportunity to manage the gallery for three years. His works has been displayed in several galleries since then.

Looker Lumet biography

The lower level of the gallery space focus on Looker’s landscape and seascape photography. In all 10 pieces are presented, and whether the locations within them are instantly recognisable or not as popular public locations past and present within Second Life doesn’t matter; each is striking in its own way, thanks to a combination of Looker’s ability to compose and / or frame a shot and / or for his skills in post-processing.

NovaOwl Sky Gallery, September 2024: Looker Lumet – Sea Views

Eight of the ten clearly feature  coastal and sea views, be they sandy shores, coastal fens (Autumn Trace, if I’m not mistaken), or sailing vessels at anchor in a bay or with sails unfettered and in full career as they head to sea; and each is alive with a sense of Nature’s beauty and expanse. The remaining two pictures do not feature the sea directly, but both strongly suggest it, with Cloud Edge being captured from such an angle that even though the region itself presents a location high up upon a mountain range, the way clouds roll up against the peak directly before the camera within the image, strongly give the impression of sea-spray foaming up over rocks as waves roll against an island’s flanks following the ebb and flow of the tide.

The upper level of the gallery space offers a selection of eight pieces representing another aspect of Looker’s work: that of a portraiture artist. Seven of the pieces are rendered at black-and-white pieces, with one a self-portrait carrying with it subtle hints of chiaroscuro (in which it is joined by the two pieces immediately to its left as you look at it), whilst all capture their subjects both uniquely in terms of pose and angle, and expressively. The remaining image, offered in colour, stands as a broader portrait of a couple, offering a superbly framed and composed single-frame story ready to be told to the eyes and ears of anyone viewing it.

NovaOwl Sky Gallery, September 2024: Looker Lumet – Sea Views

Recommended.

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Blip’s Black and White World in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
IMAGOLand Galleries: Blip Mumfuzz – Black and White

Currently open within the Suburbs sky gallery space at Mareea Farrasco’s IMAGOLand, is an exhibition of photography by Blip Mumfuzz. Entitled Black and White, it is perhaps a slight departures from Blip’s past exhibitions in that – as the name implies – Blip eschews her usual lean towards a richness of colour palette and explorations of tone and colour within her landscapes and images, as seen with the likes of Exaggerations (reviewed in 2022), or for capturing the mood and tone of entire regions, as seen within Images of Skrunda (also reviewed in 2022) in favour of a dive into the world of black-and-white photography / image processing.

And it is another tour-de-force demonstration of both images capture and processing; the section of images found within the two hangers  of the gallery space (and outside on the tarmac!) are simply eye-popping in their depth and content.

IMAGOLand Galleries: Blip Mumfuzz – Black and White

I’ve long admired Blip’s art because of her many abilities and approaches. She has, for an example, an eye for creating images that hover between offering a complete scene whilst simultaneously encouraging the eye to focus down with macro-like intensity onto individual elements – a pot apparently tossed aside here, a towel draped over a bath there, and to on – imbuing the completed image with a layer of prompts which may prompt the imagination to create a story.

For example: who hung the cap on the handle of a garden fork? Was it the gardener taking time out to mop his or her brow, or a youngster who has decided they don’t want the encumbrance of the hat whilst playing?  Or is it simply, like the sheets hanging on the line behind it, just set out to dry in the day’s sunlight?  And what of the corner of an old building (or barn?) where a door stands open, the darkness inside beckoning? What might we find on stepping through? At the same time her compositional skill can produce images that blur the line between the digital and the physical to the point the eye can be tricked into thinking it is looking at a scene from the latter rather than the former.

IMAGOLand Galleries: Blip Mumfuzz – Black and White

In other words, Blip has an innate ability to draw us into her images, to not so much see them, but experience and explore them; and this is more than evidenced within Black and White. Admittedly, not all of the images presented are necessarily new creations; there was at least one I recognise for certain from Blip’s Images of Skrunda and one I seem to recall from Urban and Industrial Images (2021, and reviewed here), although I’m not 100% certain on the latter.

But the fact that these images may well reply of post-processing to achieve their monochromatic finish doesn’t matter. Black and white photography / processing is in many respects a lot harder than working with colour; it is an unforgiving mistress prone to highlighting errors and imperfections – and this is true when converting colour images to black-and-white; yes, often the software will do the basics for you, but to get the genuine look and tone of a black-and-white image, with its clarity of line, light, shadow and so on, takes time and practice. And as these piece show, Blip has an artist’s skill in bringing this factors to the fore such that the pieces in this collect stand more as monochrome “originals” that anything that started life in the world of colour-.

IMAGOLand Galleries: Blip Mumfuzz – Black and White

In being completely honest, I could have perhaps done without the nose and wing of a 747 being shoved through the the roofs of the hanger galleries – by a quick right-click derender soon eliminated that such that it did not intrude on my enjoyment and appreciation of this collection – and as such, I again strong commend it as being well worth viewing.

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Onceagain’s Memento Mori in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Memento Mori – Onceagain, September 2024 – click any image for full size

Onceagain (Manoji Yachvili) has redressed her public / gallery region of Onceagain for the autumn, bringing to it something of a reverential and in places a personal design that is captivating to the eye and provocative to thinking. Entitled Memento Mori, it sits as a both a reminder of our mortality and the essence of life and the need to appreciate all it has to offer; how we might best use our time, whilst also presenting the works of a number of artists as they reflect upon life and death.

‘Memento Mori’ serves as a constant reminder that everything, even our closest affections, are temporary. Reflecting one’s mortality can help increase gratitude, set priorities, improve awareness and guide us in leading a life that is more fulfilling and authentic. It also encourages us to consider what our impact on the world will be when and if we are remembered, inspiring us to make a positive impact on others.
How true for you is this?

– The introduction to Memento Mori

Memento Mori – Onceagain, September 2024

The reminders of our mortality are everywhere within the region, all of them surround the near-central landing point. This is located within a chapel raising a steeply-pitch roof towards a sombre sky as it sits atop a hill overlooking the semi-desolate landscape. Separated from the rest of the landscape by a ring of water crossed by a number of bridges that are themselves artistically styled, the chapel is beautifully laid-out and I very much recommend spending a little time there and reading the introductory dedication / taking the notecard Onceagain provides for visitors. There’s also the opportunity to fill-out the guest book and / or answer a question set by Onceagain, while for those wishing to visit Onceagain’s personal gallery spaces, a teleport board is set alongside the doors to the chapel, but as the main exhibition to go with this theme is located on the ground level, I will be focusing on that.

To be fair, at the time of my visit, Onceagain was still in the process of working on the region and in getting her invited artists set up; as such things may well change from the writing of this piece and any visit you might opt to make. However, at the time I dropped it, the ground level featured a selection of images by Melusina Parkin as they capture the essence of the region in a series of monochrome images produced in Melu’s aways captivating style. These are to be found a a board propped against a tall standing stone located a short walk from the steps leading down from the chapel.

Memento Mori – Onceagain, September 2024
I’m getting older and things are getting more confusing; what will I leave behind when I die? Will I leave some good memories to someone? In the meantime I’m full of memories of dear friends who left me alone in this world; and this year will be the tenth anniversary of one … who is no longer with me … So this is how this project was born and I’m happy that some friends have decided to put their vision on death.

– From Onceagain’s notes on the personal nature of Memento mori and its art.

At the time of my visit, two other core exhibitions had been set-up; the first by Onceagain herself, and the second by the inimitable Eupalinos Ugajin. In addition to these, Onceagain informed me whilst visiting the region that Moki Yuitza, Sole Krams and Vic (Victoria Worbridge) are also due to exhibit, and hopefully Karma Weyman and Maddy (Magda Schmidtzau).

Memento Mori – Onceagain, September 2024

Eupa’s exhibit can be found to the south-west of the region within a building sitting atop another hill. Entitled Smells of Playground, it is very much a light, bright celebration of what we come to regard as the most joyous part of life: childhood, as well as a reflection on creativity and design. The photographs offer a strong counterpoint to the the general region design, as does the music to be heard within the exhibition space.

Located in chapel ruins below and to the west of the landing point chapel, Onceagain’s display features a series of works on memorials found within the Cimitero monumentale di Staglieno (the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno) in Genoa, Italy. As well as being one of the largest cemeteries in Europe (covering more than a square kilometre), it is most famous for its memorials and sculpture, and within the chapel ruins at Memento Mori, Onceagain presents half-a-dozen photographs she captured within the cemetery, all of which have been post-processed for a specific finish.

Memento Mori – Onceagain, September 2024

More of Onecagain’s work is to be found scattered across the setting, as are 3D pieces from various creators which are in keeping with the core theme, further adding to the general ambience. These are also joined by a second small interactive installation by Eupa (touch the guide rope around the exhibit), whilst the alter on the hill (I’ve leave you to find it) is also interactive  – so exploring on foot rather than simply flycamming / camming between the exhibits is strongly recommended.  Be sure, also, not to miss the small memorial garden to the south of the setting.

Best viewed under the supplied shared environment and with local sounds enabled, Memento Mori a setting and art theme that encourages introspection as well as offering the chance to appreciate the art presented. I look forward to hopping back over the several days and viewing the work of the other artists who will be participating. And if you haven’t done so before, do use the teleport board at the chapel landing point to bounce up to Onceagain’s personal galleries.

Memento Mori – Onceagain, September 2024

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Frank’s Echoes of Illusion at Nitroglobus, Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
The Annex, Nitroglobus, Sept / Oct 2024: Frank Atisso – Echoes of Illusion

Frank Atisso makes a return to The Annex at Dido Haas’ Nitroglobus Roof Gallery for September  / October with Echoes of Illusion, a selection of bold – in a literal sense – images that offer a series of challenges to be considered; some of which are intentional on the part of the the artist – as he states as much in his own introduction to the exhibition – others of which, given the nature of the world in which we currently live might well not be entirely the artist’s intent, but which may nevertheless resonate with those viewing the pieces.

Frank explains Echoes of Illusion thus:

The images I created … reflect and amplify the deceptive nature of concepts like peace and freedom.
I chose the combination of black, white, and red as it best represents the stark contrasts and underlying truths of these dark themes, highlighting how illusions and false promises resonate and reverberate through society.

– Frank Atisso, introducing Echoes of Illusion

The Annex, Nitroglobus, Sept / Oct 2024: Frank Atisso – Echoes of Illusion

Thus on offer are nine very large images presented purely in red and/or black and/or white. Each one can be interpreted both directly and indirectly, and many carry the idea that contrary to the general (and mistaken) perception that white is akin to purity and goodness and black and red are so often associated more with anger, violence, darkness and death, as with many things in life, things are not so clear cut, and the purity of white can veil much that is itself harmful or hold harmful intent. Within them is also that broader commentary on the current state of society to which Frank alludes, and the increasingly pervasive dangers of false promises and the use of disinformation to blind people to realities that could so easily entrap them.

The best way to appreciate each image is to right-click it and view the title, and then allow it and the title to permeate your thoughts. In this way the core meaning of an image is readily identified, whilst the mind is free to consider it in light of the aforementioned boarder state of increasingly polarised (particularly western) societies: the echo chambers of social media; the aggravation of ill-conceived “injustices” as a means to foment anger and resentment under the guise of bringing hope, strength and security; the false realities of so-called wealthy “thought leaders” and their thirst for authoritarian control of those they seek to persuade and the reality that they care little for the welfare of those same followers, other than then heed the call and be ready to spread divisiveness and inflict chaos, no matter what the cost to themselves or their own rights.

The Annex, Nitroglobus, Sept / Oct 2024: Frank Atisso – Echoes of Illusion

It is because there is so much potential here, coupled with the fact that outside of Second Life I hold very particular views concerning those leading the extreme right and the realities of their words and deeds which has already potentially biased my commentary, that I do not want to inflict my own views further on this exhibition. Instead I urge you to go along and spend time within it and allow it to speak to you.

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A return to LiThO Café and Gallery, and a forest walk in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
LiThO Art Gallery, September 2024

I found it hard to believe – and had to check twice to be sure – that it’s been a year since my previous visit to LiThO Gallery, the tiny art(ist) Café, operated by Lizzy Swordthain and Tom Willis. I owe both any apology for this oversight on my part, and hope this piece goes some way towards making up for it.

A lot has changed in that time (unsurprisingly), so while I was particularly drawn back by the September 2024 exhibition at the Gallery, I’ll also be covering more about the location and some of its expansion.

LiThO Art Gallery, September 2024: CK Ballyhoo – Willows

The exhibition in question is CK’s Willows, a small but engaging selection of pieces by CK (Ceakay Ballyhoo). CK is one of the driving forces within the Corsica Southern Coasters community of artists with whom LiThO is associated, as well as being an accomplished artist. With Willows she presents an engaging collection of images celebrating the passing of summer in the northern hemisphere and the arrival of autumn.

The collection comprises twelve images, each of which offers a unique view of an autumnal day or an expression of autumn. From the orange-tinted beauty of a sunset reflected in water, to studies of leaves as they turn from green to brown to paintings of an almost abstract natures, these are all engaging pieces, neatly spread through the café-come-galley’s rooms, with the titular Willows perhaps being my favourite due to the serenity and harmony it evokes.

LiThO Art Gallery, September 2024: CK Ballyhoo – Willows

All of the pieces are available for purchase and as ever, the coffee house presents s cosy place in which to view them and pass the time. However, the art is now all that is on offer.

Since my last visit, LiThO has become a part of a network of local attractions operated by Lizzy and Tom  under (I believe I am correct is saying) the Fine Art and Music banner. These include the outdoor event space I noted back in September 2023, and which appears not to have been turned into a hang-out space called Little Wiskeria, the HeArt and Soul Gallery (which will be featured in a future piece in these pages), and which has the Fine Art Office and the Trip The Light Fantastic Dance Club flanking it to either side, and all of which  – again, I think I’m correct in saying – opened after me previous visit to LiThO. Then there’s a radio station and the place I particularly want to note here, the Forest Art Walk.

LiThO Forest Art Walk, September 2024

The entrance / landing point of the latter sits immediately to the south of the LiThO Art Gallery, and essentially loops around the rear of the Gallery’s location, dipping down through woodlands as it does so before returning to the roadside on the north side of the Gallery by way of a path passing between the Gallery and Little Whiskeria.

Along the way, the trail presents the opportunity to discover various 3D pieces of art and passes by multiple places to sit and pass the time. I saw a couple hover text elements offering rentals, so I assume that there are spots along the walk artists can rent to display their work – but check with Tom or Lizzy, just in case I’m jumping to incorrect assumptions. As you follow the trail through the woods, you might find your way into the adjoining Dark Forest, another of CK’s works. This offers its own looping walk complete with 3D art elements for people to explore, as well as its own wildlife. Signposts through both the Forest Walk and the Dark Forest help with navigation, although I did wander off-trail a couple of time and strayed into a neighbouring parcel, prompting a quick reversal of course, but nothing that caused alarms bells to sound (I hope! 😀 ).

LiThO Forest Art Walk, September 2024

In all, LiThO and its surroundings continues to make for an interesting visit, and I’ll endeavour to keep more abreast with exhibitions there – and at the HeArt and Soul gallery!

Note: all images taken here utilise a personal EEP setting.

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Zeeva’s In Dreams in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
From NovaOwl Social Corner and Gallery

In Dreams is the title of an exhibition of Second Life images by Zeeva Quintessa being hosted at the Ground level galleries spaces at NovaOwl Social corner and Gallery through September and October 2024.

While Zeeva and I have not met, we are something of kindred spirits on some respects, as I noticed on reading her biography. We’ve both found a strong attraction in seeking out, exploring and spending time within art regions and regions designed expressly for public exploration and photography – with both of us being drawn to photograph said regions.

NovaOwl Social Corner and Gallery, September 2024: Zeeva Quintessa

We’re also both keen SL sailing and flying afficionados, enjoying time out on the waters of Blake Sea or flying over it (and elsewhere!). However, there is one aspect of our SL lives where we are very different: Zeeva is an accomplished Second Life photographer-artist, instilling the images of the places she visits with a depth of feeling that is simply marvellous and well beyond anything I can achieve.

This is very much in evidence within In Dreams, which occupies both of the ground-level gallery buildings at NovaOwl, presenting as it does a photo-journal of Zeeva’s travels through Second Life, expressed both artfully and with a depth of emotion that is by turns captivating and breath-taking. While each image might be particularly personal to Zeeva, as she notes in her biography, such is the richness of expression to be found in them, I have little doubt they will resonate with anyone viewing them.

NovaOwl Social Corner and Gallery, September 2024: Zeeva Quintessa
These images and the process were (still is) always an emotional experience for me, often times bringing tears to my eyes for some feeling that was brought to surface by the location, the image and the music playing at that time. My photos are mainly done for me, as it can be very therapeutic…however it was wonderful to find out others were also taking notice of some of my creations.

– Zeena Quintessa.

Zeeva is also one of the few photographer-artists whose skill extends to producing simply gorgeous panoramic images captured from within Second Life. Not since Ziki Questi have I come across an artist able so thoroughly able to make this format / approach to SL photography so visually impressive. It’s an technique I’ve never really grasped myself, and find it both admirable and distinctive when so perfectly embraced as seen within Zeeva’s images.

NovaOwl Social Corner and Gallery, September 2024: Zeeva Quintessa

As noted, In Dreams will be open throughout September and October, and I have no hesitation in recommending it to all.

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