Art in Second Life 2021 (114) La Maison d’Aneli December 2021

02 Dec 2021 3 Comments

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

On Wednesday, December 1st, a new exhibtion opened it’s doors at La Maison d’Aneli. Aneli Abeyante presents 8 artists for the last exhibition of 2021: Adwehe, Calypso Applewhyte, Awesome Fallen, Sweet Susanowa, I am Free… (libbberamente), Tamashii (TamashiiRent Starsider), ZackHerrMann, and 9Volt Borkotron.
I visited the exhibition before it’s opening – and thus I had the opportunity also seeing Tamashii (TamashiiRent Starsider)’s work. Tamashii had to cancel his participation.

My visit began with Adwehe. Adwehe is still quite new to Second Life, she joined 3 years ago. What I saw so far from Adwehe was always very different as she tired out herself and the artisitic opportunities that Second Life offers. The last time I came across her was also at La Maison d’Aneli (read here). And once again Adwehe playes with lights, with line, beams of lights, with one motif, that migh be a dancer. She plays with colours and with a dark forest in which the scene takes place. You can see more of her art at her flickr page.

Calypso Applewhyte is not new to me. I wrote already quite several times about her and her art. Calypso Applewhyte is a SL Photographer from France, who joined SL in 2010. Her focus is the avatar itself as a means of expression to transport emotions. She processes her pictures with Photoshop. You can recognise her style, she has found her personal characteristic artistic style. Her pictures do tell stories, like good art has to do.
This time her skybox is quite dark and fog is covering the floor. The pictures are at the walls a little bit set back in alcoves. All pictures show a woman in fear, desperate and trying to retreat in her fear and pain. Caly uses facial experssions as well as the postures to express the emotions and she succeeds very well in it. The spectator can feel with the woman.
According to her profile Calypso also blogs and has written articles for several magazines. And she also makes portrait pictures of course. You can see more of her work on her flickr account.


I saw Sweet Susanowa’s art the first time at another exhibition at La Maison d’Aneli back in July 2019 and later once again in May 2020 (read here). Sweet joined Second Life 13 years ago without thinking about any exhibition at a gallery. She is a photographer now in real life as well as in Second Life. The 4 walls of her skybox at La Maison d’Aneli show 4 different themes: monochrome female portraits of women at different ages, monochrome snapshots of a couple in love enjoying each other’s touch, colourful scenes of party life with a touch of pop art and pictures of female display dummies that look like the bluprint of a female.
Now you can make a connection between the 4 themes. Do they show the different phases of life? As there are 5 pictures of each theme – are we looking at the scenes of 5 lifes? Or is Sweet just showcasting the different styles and techniques she had developed for herself? Anyway – intriguing.

I am Free… (libbberamente) is in Second Life since March 2018. She says about herself: “I am not a realistic woman, I am only a cartoon”. Her skybox at La Maison d’Aneli is full of things to discover, it’s a Metaverse in which she invites the visitor. I am Free… (libbberamente) wrote about her installation in the accompanying notecard:
“The theme is always the journey, constant in the life of the artist: the movement, the change, the exploration, emigration, until the banal transfer for work reasons. In Second Life she found another dimension to travel to especially walking on the streets and driving a locomotive on the remarkable heterocetera railroad. Impossible buildings alternate with
perfect reconstructions of reality, approximations are accompanied by detailed manifestations of maniacality. Everything existing in the world, or that has existed, that has been thought, imagined, filmed or sung in poetry …… And then she photographs the possible and tries to build the impossible and another fragment of dreamadds to the reality of Second Life”
Discover objects, science fiction, space ships, videos, structures … dive into the metaverse.

 

ZackHerrMann is a French psychedelik artist from the French Riviera. He’s in Second Life since 2012. He writes about his work in the accompanying notecard about himself:
“Early I was attracted by arts, nature was my first inspiration. Later I have discovered the Marvel Comics and that increase my drawning passion. I have done years of art school, than was trying to go to stylism school, but it was too expensive. So, I started to discover the nightlife, especially in the LGBT Community. There I got in touch with a ‘lil around Drag queen and the creature universe. I discovered the power of making creations with a PC, with Photoshop and other tools, with grapic tablet, etc.
With thoses new tools, a creature I made when i was younger was reborn, her name is Linda Cluster. In SL, I focus a lot of my Linda Cluster creations ’cause its probably the more advanced works that I’ve done in RL. With SL, I renew some works and give another light to my previous works!”

I have seen ZackHerrMann’s art before at La Maison d’Aneli and I could identify immediately that I see ZackHerrMann’s art when I entered his skybox. It is very impressive. The visitor is overwhelmed by the light, by the shine of gold. You feel like in an ancient treasure chamber. And it takes some time to adjust and to see the details. I enjoyed the luxury and the art, the many many things you can discover here. It’s nothing I can easily describe. I hope my pictures provide an idea – best is to see it yourself.

ZackHerrMann has a little museum in Second Life – Zack Herr Mann Universum. You can also see more of his art at his flickr page.

I came across 9volt Borkotron just once back in 2018 and also at La Maison d’Aneli. 9volt Borkotron is in Second Life for more than 13 years. His digital works are most influenced by the gradual and often musical stages of natural transformation in all it’s forms ranging from the macro/micro biological material to the quantum electromagnetic on all scales.
The installation for December 2021 is very colourful and you get great views walking up a spiral into the sky. At it’s end is a platform where you can sit and look down into the sea of colours. The textures and colorus, the constantly changing explosion of colours and lights are made specifically so that hearing impaired can also get the music. As the music is playedm the geometric shapes or bars pulse to the various tones. Hence make sure to have media enabled. For me it was very impressive.

I saw Awesome Fallen’s artwork in January 2021 the first time when I visited “Mind the Gap” at Itakos Project and Art Gallery (read here).
Awesome Fallen is in SL for almost 12 years, yet the profile does not give away much: “…… just another wave in the ocean …….”. Awesome has a flickr page tough with a lot of followers and I can understand why. The pictures are intriguing, invite you to take a closer look and to comprehend what Awsome wants to express or to make up your own story to the pictures.
In her skybox at La Maison d’Aneli Awesome showcasts 12 pictures. The space is kept in black and you barely see any frame or conture as the pictures melt into the black walls. The pictures comes 3 themes: clown faces, imprisonment in a small inescapable room and a young girl with a balloon visiting a fair. I can’t tell why, but I was fascinated by Awesome’s pictures and by the stories they tell for me.

Tamashii (TamashiiRent Starsider) is in Second Life for 12 years. Tamashii ‘s exhibition at La Maison d’Aneli is called “Surviving is an experience”. In the accompanying notecard Tamashii wrote: “It is the first installation in a series on the same theme that I believe I will be working on for the next few months. It will be enriched with new elements over time in the next installations. Most of the items you can see here will also be available for sale in my shop in the marketplace.
The theme of my works, even if it can vary, essentially expresses existentialist concept.”
Tamashii had issues with his pc and Aneli helped arranging the objects, but on a short notice Tamashii did decide not to particpate. I got an insight in his owrk nonetheless. I’m sure we will see more soon.

The skybox featuring Tamashii’s work featured a scene with 3 figures in front of a wall of stones and boxes. On the three remaining walls you could see pictures of the aforementioned wall with boxes and of the 3 figures as the artist began to create them in Blender. It might give an impression of how much work is behind this all.

La Maison d’Aneli is owned by Aneli Abeyante. Through her gallery she brings together all forms of creativity in RL and SL and the featured artists come from around the globe. Aneli’s intention is to “put her gallery in the service of artists, so that the world can be better, exchanges and meetings probably contribute even though it seems to be particles.”
Thank you for another great joined exhibtion, Aneli. As always I enjoyed my visit and writing about it. It inspired me.

Landmark to La Maison d’Aneli
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Holland/23/59/22
Adwehe’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/187796045@N03
Calypso Applewhyte’s flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calypsoapplewhyte/
I am Free… (libbberamente)’s blog
https://free-libbberamente.blogspot.com/
ZackHerrMann’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/people/7706
Zack Herr Mann Universum
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pop/136/214/243
Awesome Fallen’s flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/awesomefallen/
Tamashii (TamashiiRent Starsider)’s shop on the marketplace
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/119884

Art in Second Life 2021 (113) “… in there” by Awesome Fallen

26 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , , ,

I visited the exhibition “… in there” by Awesome Fallen at DixMix Gallery in room Abby, that opened November 20th. The exhibition consists of 13 pictures, which are all created digitally as far as I could see at least. Some of them or parts of them were created in Second Life.

“… in there” shows pictures of two or three different series. One series is about hands, gloved hands that hold something, that protect, that destroy or hurt, that hide or that touch.
The other series of 4 pictures show a glass picture frame that was just broken, thus exposing parts of picture to the evnironment. You can see the broken bits of glass next to the picture. The title “… in there” does fit to these pictures as you get closer to the picture itself when the glass is broken, you get to what is under the protecting glass, to what or who is “in there”.

I can connect the subtitle “… with the tip of my fingers, drawing smiles in the canvas of your feelings” only to a few pictures, that did make me smile. because some of the pictures did more disturb me, did make me think or even made me shy back – how cruel a finger or hand can be. But then, as with every peice of art, everyone has different emotions coming up when looking at it.

Impressions of “…in there” by Awesome Fallen at DixMix Gallery (1)

I came across Awesome Fallen in January 2021 the first time when I visited “Mind the Gap” at Itakos Project and Art Gallery (read here).
Awesome Fallen is in SL for almost 12 years, yet the profile does not give away much: “…… just another wave in the ocean …….”. Awesome has a flickr page tough with a lot of followers and I can understand why. The pictures are intriguing, invite you to take a closer look and to comprehend what Awsome wants to express or to make up your own story to the picture.

Impressions of “…in there” by Awesome Fallen at DixMix Gallery (2)

Thank you Dixmix for providing and curating the DixMix Gallery, thank you Megan for building it and for contributing at it. And thank you Viloet Boa for the PR, you are such a helpful and supportive being. I enjoyed my visit and seeing “…in there” by Awesome Fallen.
Usually exhibtions at DixMix Gallery stay open for 4 weeks at least, hence “… in there” should stay open until December 18th.

Landmark to Dixmix Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Madori%20Bay/46/213/22
Awesome Fallen’s flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/awesomefallen/

Art in Second Life 2021 (112) “FLYTE” The Dance of the Human Spirit by Jenna Dirval

24 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , , , ,

I visited “FLYTE” The Dance of the Human Spirit by Jenna Dirval at Second Life Endowment for The Arts Region 4. The installation was created by Jenna Dirval with the support of Bones Writer and was opened in October 2021.
You can reach “FLYTE” either with the direct landmark or from the central landing of SLEA (Second Life Endowment for The Arts).

Impressions of “FLYTE” The Dance of the Human Spirit by Jenna Dirval (1) – The landing point and the airship pier

The Land of Flyte is “a region that seems to defy the natural laws of the physics and gravity!” Embedded in a lovely environment with many forests and islands there are floating islands, floating rocks, that are used for several activities. Actually, the inhabitants only live in the clouds on the flying rocks. People move with airships and some of the floating islands are connected by foot suspension bridges. One big island is occupied by the Flyte Theatre, a large event hall.

The best way to explore and discover “FLYTE” is making a tour with the airship, that you find at the end of the pier after landing.

Impressions of “FLYTE” The Dance of the Human Spirit by Jenna Dirval (1) – Starting my airship tour

During my tour I had a tourguide who told me all about “FLYTE“

Welcome To Flyte’s Tour Shuttle! Please sit back and enjoy the beauty and wonder of our region! Long ago, our people happened upon a land land (volcanic in nature) that spews forth rocks and debris that not only increased in size but also become buoyant as they aged and grew!
Realizing that there was much potential in these floating rocks, our Ancestors set about to harness their special properties! As you can see this region is very volatile with rocks flying everywhere… not to worry! These rocks rarely “Hit” the shuttle… fingers crossed! Having harnessed the floating rocks into massive floating islands, our ancestors moved from the land and up into the clouds. As we rose into the clouds we also brought with us our love of all things Dance. Learning to dance is as much a part of life for Flyterians as is learning to fly or build a ship!

Impressions of “FLYTE” The Dance of the Human Spirit by Jenna Dirval (2) – The airshipyard, “Alice” – the “floating ballroom”, Bunny island and Dirval’s Corner

Just below you will find Writer’s Block Tavern and is a popular place to come together and share ideas.. many a new invention has poured forth from here – almost as freely as the beer!

Dancing and flying for the Flytorians is all one in the same… to dance is to live. We believe that “to live well, you must dance” and it is this “flyte of the human spirit” that drives them in all things. In just a moment we will be passing over what the locals affectionately refer to as “Bunny Island” due to it’s inexplicable lupine population!
Just off to our left you will see a small community of homes, please feel free to drop by there and visit!

As we come above and cross over the highest of our waterfalls you will note that we have harnessed the power of the falls to create energy from steam. Steam power makes all things possible!
We hope you will want to explore all of our beautiful islands. Bring friends back with you to dance or hang out and roast marshmallows over an open fire at The Glade, which is just below us.
Rising up through the clouds, you will see or famous airship-yard! Notably, we have a beautiful sister ship to”Alice” (hovering above) in the works. “Alice” is the first of her kind – a true dance ship meant to be a “floating ballroom” and is also home to FlyGearZ dance events. Alice is the largest ship in our fleet and can carry 80 dancing souls aboard!
We are now on our way to our final destination – Flyte Theatre! We will be offering many performances there including FlyGearZ shows, Live performers and workshops there.
(text from the airship tour guide)

Impressions of “FLYTE” The Dance of the Human Spirit by Jenna Dirval (3) – The “FLYTE” Theater

The tour ended at the “FLYTE“- Theater. From there I took the teleporter to visit all destinations and to get an overview. All is made with love for the detail. Yes it is Steampunk, but it is not overdone and just a great fantasy world. There are still some events coming up until the sim closes end of 2021.

Jenna Dirval in Second Life since 2008. She “is an award winning Choreographer (Avi Choice Award for Favorite Choreographer – 2016). She debuted as an dancer in SL in 2015 with Guerilla Burlesque. After a time; it became clear to Jenna that she preferred to dance with everyone rather be on a stage dancing for them. She was very fortunate to fall under the wing of a talented choreographer, Cordelia “Cordie” Cerise of Whymsee. With much encouragement from Cordie, Jenna created a steampunk themed show that got her audience out of their chairs and onto the dance floor. Thusly, FlyGearZ was born! FlyGearZ matured into an immersive and unique dance oriented event where all audience members are encouraged to wear cosumes and participate in the shows! Jenna is also an accomplished Ballroom Dancer in real life and brings that experience to every show and act she performs.”
(taken for the accompanying notecard)

Impressions of “FLYTE” The Dance of the Human Spirit by Jenna Dirval (4) – Writer’s Block, Dirval’s Corner, The Glade and Diomita parachuting

“FLYTE” The Dance of the Human Spirit is a lovely Steampunk sim with a lot of great view. For sure the events are fun – yet I just enjoyed the environment and the great tour with the airship.
Thank you, Jenna Dirval, for creating this world. Many thanks to Tansee for your work for SLEA. I enjoyed my visit.

Direct landmark to “FLYTE” The Dance of the Human Spirit
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLEA4/121/115/22
Second Life Endowment for The Arts – SLEA (central landing hub)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLEA7/23/26/57

Art in Second Life 2021 (111) The Art of Water and Colours by Sophie de Saint Phalle

20 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , , , ,

I got an invitation to see Sophie de Saint Phalle (perpetua1010)’s newest exhibtion “The Art of Water and Colours” at IMAGO Art Gallery that opened Nvember 5th.
I had visited IMAGO Land in April 2021 the first time (read here). IMAGO Land is a moderate homestead owned Mareea Farrasco. There are several skyboxes that are used for exhibitions. Saint Phalle (perpetua1010)’s exhibtion “The Art of Water and Colours” is in main IMAGO Art Gallery. If the direct landmark doesn’t bring you to the skybox, use the teleporter at the landing point to get to the gallery. And if you’re there – don’t miss out to see the other galleries and IMAGO Land itself.

I have covered Sophie’s art in this blog quite often already. The last exhibtions I saw from her was “Escape” at Nacotic Concept (read here).

“The Art of Water and Colours” consists of about 25 pictures presented at the walls of the IMAGO Art Gallery As the title implies there are all watercolour pictures, some of these pictures were already shown at ][Octopussy][ goes Cuba last month (read here). But the presentation at IMAGO Art Gallery is more compact, the pictures have a stronger connection with eachother, you recognize patterns, pictures that belongs together but still have their own character. Most of the pictures are related to female and male bodies, yes erotic in some way, but also just showing the beauty you might see in them, others deal with emotions.

Impressions of “The Art of Water and Colours” by Sophie de Saint Phalle @ IMAGO Art Gallery (1)

But there are also pictures, I had never seen before, they seem to belong to another phase of Sophie’s work. They are more classic watercolour pictures. I was very surprised seeing “Sophie as Baby”, a picture that doesn’t fit to the others. Also the pictures named “Namibia” are outstanding, probably they were made on the occasion of a vacation.

Sophie de Saint Phalle (perpetua1010) is a Austrian RL painter and book author. She mainly paints nude from models and abstract art. She loves to experiment with different kinds of paint and lithography. Her favourite materials are sand, plaster, glue, terracotta, stones, bones, ash, charcoal, natural pigments and more.
Sophie has made several book illustrations and was for many years political cartoonist for a well known satire magazine. She lived and worked in the Unites States, Australia, Rome and Monaco. Sophie de Saint Phalle (perpetua1010) has an own gallery, The “SUBCUTAN Art Gallery and Multimedia Centre“.

Impressions of “The Art of Water and Colours” by Sophie de Saint Phalle @ IMAGO Art Gallery (2)

Thank you, Mareea Farrasco for providing the space for the arts at IMAGO Land. Thank you Sophie for another great exhibtion of your artwork. The exhibtion will stay open until end of 2021,

Landmark to IMAGO ART GALLERY “The Art of Water and Colours” by Sophie de Saint Phalle
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Broken%20Mountain/114/162/621
Sophie de Saint Phalle (perpetua1010)’s “SUBCUTAN Art Gallery and Multimedia Centre”
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ocean%20Island/136/128/1002

Art in Second Life 2021 (110) “The Frayed Thread” by Armageddon

18 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , , ,

I visited “The Frayed Thread” at Second Life Endowment for The Arts (SLEA) Region 1. The installation was created by Armageddon (Day Silvercloud) and was opened October 31st.

Armageddon wrote about “The Frayed Thread”:
““The Frayed Thread” is a visual exploration, utilizing mesh and lighting, of the effect of individual perception and motivation on civilization formation and destruction, illuminating how the threads of personal experience and relationships weave together. So each strand starts somewhere…a location, a time, a person, an idea, and then it crosses the other strings as those ideas and resources begin to build to create a tapestry of their final product. It spans 1940s through 2020.“

Impressions of “The Frayed Thread” by Armageddon @ SLEA Region 1 (1)

When you enter “The Frayed Thread” you are asked to use shared environment and to set your viewer to advanced lighting. On the floor you see the number “1944”, the year the journey begins. The world is red, be it to symbolize blood, or just because it fits. Once you enter you see a black line with “1960” and furtheron lines with “1970”, “1980”….until “2020”. You further see giant thread spools and single threads connecting them. Like on a ropeway you futher see padlocks moving along the threads, sometimes as a couple of two, sometimes just one. The padlock might stand for the people who’s threads expands over the decades, some ending in a spool, other ending in a big net that almost covers the a big sphere, our planet earth. Furtheron, when you start your tour, you see a sign, giving a hint about the meaning of “The Frayed Thread“:
“There were two reason I was scared to let people see: The damage they could do, and the damage they would find.”

On the floor line above 2000 you see 2 big towers, the twin towers. The above mentioned net of threads, that covers the earth ends in a pond, it might symbolize the suffering of our planet.

Impressions of “The Frayed Thread” by Armageddon @ SLEA Region 1 (2)

The whole scenery offers a lot of light effects be it in the sky, at the sim boarder which’s texture looks like a snake, on the two towers or on the surface of the pond. The moving padlocks add dynamic into the installation. The padlocks that travel together are kept together by a paper clip, some threads lead through folder … and for sure there’re a lot more details that I didn’t see at my fist visit.

Armageddon (Day Silvercloud) is in Second Life almost 13 years. She’s an SL lighting and environment artist who regularly explores new visual (and movement, and auditory) limits to push and break until they are something else entirely.

Impressions of “The Frayed Thread” by Armageddon @ SLEA Region 1 (3)

“The Frayed Thread” convinces by the light effects and the perfect fitting environment settings, it offers quite some symbols, which might be interpreted as the visitor sees fit. It’s an intriguing installation. “The Frayed Thread” will stay open until the end of 2021.
Thank you, Armageddon, for creating this world. Many thanks to Tansee for your work for SLEA. I enjoyed my visit.

Direct landmark to The Frayed Thread
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLEA1/33/197/23
Second Life Endowment for The Arts – SLEA (central landing hub)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLEA7/23/26/57

Art in Second Life 2021 (109) Drawer by Bamboo Barnes

16 Nov 2021 8 Comments

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , ,

I got an invitation to see Bamboo Barnes newest exhibtion “Drawer” at Hannington Arts Foundation.

The provided landmark leads you to the central landing point at Hannington Arts Foundation (HAF) from where you can take a direct teleport to the exhibition “Drawer” by Bamboo Barnes. Right next to where you land at the exhibtion, you can grab a notecard from Bamboo Barnes and a notecard with the biography of Bamboo.

In the notecard Bamboo Barnes shared her thoughts about “Drawer” with the visitor:
Drawer that don’t close properly.
Drawer that you no longer use.
A faded picture stuck in the back, ton messed wrinkled one.
You’ve forgotten what was like but the smell comes back.
For the days you have loved close your eyes, close the drawer.

“Drawer” consists of about 20 pictures, in the typcial style of Bamboo. All pictures show female faces or upper bodies (just one shows several female bodies) under a layer of coloured abstract forms or objects or other pictures, thus providing several levels of how to look at the pictures. By the layers the pictures also develop a 3rd dimension. And – as you can expect it from Bamboo Barnes, the pictures are all very colourful.

Impressions of “Drawer” by Bamboo Barnes (1) – Spell (upper left), Breath (upper right), Bad habbit (lower left), Twin tails (lower right)

Looking a the pictures you can get lost in thoughts, trying to find the lowest layer, to grasp what is behind the objects. Instinctively your view is led to the spots where you can’t recognize what is behind and you try to add it in your mind, to fill the pictures. I like Bamboo’s comparision with a drawer, you try to open it to find out more.
I recommend that your hoover with your mouse over the pictures to see the name of each picture. That adds another thought of the the artist and yes, it fits!

Bamboo is in Second Life for over 14 years already, painting software & photoshop are her best friends. Bamboo had many exhibtions and appearances in the Second Life art scene and in 2018 she had her first exhibition in real life: “I create what I see but maybe you won’t, they are about people’s reality and  mind.” Bamboo’s art is a mixture of abstract forms, of people and photographs. Most pictures are colourful and it is in the eye of the beholder what we see in her pictures. I myself saw her work the first time at La Maison d’Aneli during the Holiday season 2019/2020 (read here). I also saw her exhibition “Marginal Mannerism” at DixMixGallery in April 2021 (read here), the exhibition “Meant to be” at Itakos Art Gallery last year (read here), I saw “Conjure” at FOCUS Magazine F.A.I.R Gallery in August 2021 (read here) and just recently I saw “Mindstorm” at IMAGO Land (read here). I also had a look at her flickr page.

Impressions of “Drawer” by Bamboo Barnes (2) – Orbit (upper left), The limit (upper right), Walls (lower left), Sonne (lower right)

Hannington Arts Foundation (HAF) is owned by Hannington Xeltentat. Thank you Hannington for providing the space for the art and for enabling “Drawer” by Bamboo Barnes. I enjoyed my visit.

Landmark to Hannington Arts Foundation
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Xeltentat%20Enterprises/122/126/3427
Bamboo Barnes’ flickr page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bamboobarnes/

Art in Second Life 2021 (108) The End of Innocence by Meilo Minotaur

14 Nov 2021 1 Comment

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , , , ,

I visited the exhibition “The End of Innocence” by Meilo Minotaur at DixMix Gallery in room Amalfia. The exhibition consists of about 12 pictures, which are based on SL pictures, I think at least.

I have come across Meilo Minotaur twice so far. Meilo is in Second Life since 2008 and she owns and a homestead named “Delicatessen” where she has different installations for about 10 years now. I visited “Delicatessen” in 2019 (read here).

Then I saw a piece of her art at the exhibition “Sinners and Saints” this year in August (read here). The piece she contributed was a 3D object of three angels, angels like the one featured on the exhibition flyer above. Several of these angels and a devil-like figure are shown in several of Meilo pictures in “The End of Innocence”.

Impressions of “The End of Innocence” by Meilo Minotaur at DixMix Gallery (1) – for comparision the lower right picture was taken at the exhibition “Sinners and Saints”

Most probably “The End of Innocence” has at least one potential interpretation, it could be meant religiously. Another recurring element at “The End of Innocence” is a group of 3 genderless figures. They seem to turn away from the angel, seduced by the devil? And then there’s this woman with the red scarf. Is she watching the scene? Are the pictures in her head only. Is she the sinner who lost her innocence?
I leave it up to you to interpret Meilo’s art. These are just my thoughts.

Impressions of “The End of Innocence” by Meilo Minotaur at DixMix Gallery (2)

I couldn’t get more information about Mielo Minotaur, I just found a flickr account of her. “The End of Innocence” is a very intriguing exhibition, for sure. Thank you Meilo.

Thank you Dixmix for providing and curating the DixMix Gallery, thank you Megan for building it and for contributing at it. I enjoyed my visit and seeing “The End of Innocence” by Meilo Minotaur. The exhibition will stay open until November 26th.

Landmark to Dixmix Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Madori%20Bay/46/213/22
Meilo Minotaur’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/meilominotaur/

Art in Second Life 2021 (107) “No Exit” by Milena Carbone

10 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , , , ,

I got an invitation to see the newest exhibtion of Milena Carbone named “No Exit“. It was officially opened on November 3rd at the main hall of Nitroglobus Roof Gallery.

I have covered Milena Carbone (mylena1992) already quite often in this blog and hence I was eager to see her newest exhibition. Dido Hass wrote about “No Exit” in the accompanying notecard that the pictures were not intended for an exhibition originally. Dido Haas selected them from Milena’s recent pictures and pointed out to her that they all show two characters, which made Milena think of the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre’s play “No exit” (“Huis clos” in french). Huis Clos is a play about three (not two) people who have nothing which connects them but the sole fact of being there, locked together in the same closed space. Through this play, Sartre explicitly tells us: “Hell is the others”. We are all the other of someone else, locked into a fictional room, i.e. a theater. In other words: we ourselves are hell.
And thus the story came to the pictures.

Impressions of “No Exit” by Milena Carbone at Nitroglobus Roof Gallery (1)

It’s true, there are always two caracters in each picture. But often it seems to the the very same person just in a different form. It makes you think and begin to interpret something into the picture. But before you do look at the floor in which Milena’s pictures are mirrored. The mirrored pictures are not the same. Little details are different – a bullet becaome a fish, a closed mouth is opened, or a head is replaced with a clock. Intriguing – and motivating the spectator to search for more differences and thus to immerse deeper into the picture and the story.

Impressions of “No Exit” by Milena Carbone at Nitroglobus Roof Gallery (2)

In the center of the exhibtion space you find a box. From the outside you see that there are some texts on the walls inside of the box, and there’s a dog. When you enter the box, you feel like caught in a closed room (the entrance is only transparent from the outside), you literally have “No Exit”.
The texts on the walls deal with “No Exit“, they confront the visitor/reader with incontestable truths, that have exactly one consequence and hence “No Exit” … Example: “The next planet beyond the solar system is nearly 41,000 billion kilometers from Earth. We are not sure if it is habitable. We would have to travel about 234,000 years to reach it with a spacecraft that would hurtle through space at 20,000 km per hour. There is nothing else. No exit.“

Impressions of “No Exit” by Milena Carbone at Nitroglobus Roof Gallery (3)

Milena Carbone (mylena1992) is a French artist and is in Second Life since mid 2019. She discovered its artistic potential and since then has devoted all her free time to creation, associating, as in real life, images and texts: “Milena Carbone is a fiction in which, as in any artistic work, biographical and imaginary elements are mixed.” Her creative process is iterative: some of her images inspire her stories and these stories modify the development of the image, which itself transforms the story.

Milena was very active in Second Life, owning and curating three galleries. She has decided to focus on just her gallery and to make the most of it. Hence she gave up her galleries at Noir’Wen City and at Serena. If you want to see more of her and her art, also her performances, then visit her own gallery: the Carbone Gallery (and become a member of her group there). You can also find her on flickr here and you can read her texts here. And finally Milena also has an own website where she covers her work and activities.

Nitroglobus Roof Gallery is owned and curated by Dido Haas. She has a speparete room at the gallery to showcase her own art, the main room is mostly dedicated to feature other artists.
Thank you, Dido for providing the space for the art and for enabling the exhibition “No Exit” by Milena Carbone, which will be open for the public throughout November (i.e. November 26th).

Landmark to Nitroglobus Roof Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunshine%20Homestead/38/22/1001
The Carbone Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Woiler/172/158/3316
Milena Carbone’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/milenacarbone/
Milena’s website
https://sites.google.com/view/thecarbonegallery/
Milena Carbone’s writing
https://medium.com/@539568

Art in Second Life 2021 (107) “Fools and Freaks” by Honey Bender

08 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , , , ,

I visited the exhibition “Fools and Freaks” by Honey Bender at DixMix Gallery in room Amona. The exhibition consists of 12 pictures based on SL pictures, all showing females in freaky or fetish outfits, not erotic on a first glance, yet intriguing and tempting on a second glance. Just one pictures shows a male and a female.

I had seen Honey Bender’s art at DixMix Gallery in April 2021 the first time. Her style is quite unique. I like the way she processes her pictures turning SL photographs into art. All pictures of “Fools and Freaks” are kept in dark vintage colours. Honey added shadows and light at the right spots. The spectator is tempted to look at details. Yes the women are freaks yet even more you want to satisfy your curiosity, you begin to make up a story. Why are they like this? …. are they as freaky as they look like? What makes them being a freak? And what is a freak? Do you have to be a fool to be a freak? And is it bad to stare at the deformed lips?

Impressions of “Fools and Freaks” by Honey Bender at DixMix Gallery (1)

Honey Bender is in Second Life for more than 14 years. She is a stylist and photographer in Second Life. Homey Bender owns or writes for AUDAZ, a website featuring styles and outfits, accessoires, art, fashion, photographs and trends.
Honey Bender also has her own store for particular and unique fashion. And – according to her profile – she’s rich in both worlds *winks*

Impressions of “Fools and Freaks” by Honey Bender at DixMix Gallery (2)

The two larger pictures on the short walls of the exhibition rooms are different. One picture shows a male and at female in an artful pose. This picture is – in my personal opinion  – not freaky, it expresses love and passion. The other one is freaky, showing just feet in incredible high platform heels. You have to be a freak or a fool to wear them.

Thank you Dixmix for providing and curating the DixMix Gallery, thank you Megan for building it and for contributing at it. I enjoyed my visit and seeing “Fools and Freaks” by Honey Bender. The exhibition will stay open until November 13th.

Landmark to Dixmix Gallery 2021
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Madori%20Bay/46/213/22
DixMix Gallery website
https://www.dixmixgallery.xyz/
AUDAZ website
http://audaz-sl.com
Bender store
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/200434

Art in Second Life 2021 (106) “Minimal” by Dido Haas

06 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , , ,

I got an invitation fom Dido Haas to see her exhibtion “Minimal“. It is shown at Dido Haas’ part of Nitroglobus gallery, which is owned and curated by Dido Haas herself.

“Minimal” consists of 8 large pictures all arranged along the walls of the exhibtion room. The pictures mirror on the floor which highlights the art in a particular way. In the center you see a levitating object named “Mother’s Lab” created by  Jadeyu Fhang.

Impressions of “Minimal” by Dido Haas (1)

Dido’s passion are portraits and avatar studies, most of them are black/white. For “Minimal” she tried out something different. When I read “Minimal” spontaneously Melusina Parkin comes into my mind, an artist that I covered in this blog quite often already. The eight pictures of Dido Haas have a similar minimalistic style, focusing on just a few details. But Dido did not refer to minimalism when she named her exhibition “Minimal”, she referred to a shop named MINIMAL. All of her pictures use objects from MINIMAL, objects that were given as free group gifts. Dido added herself to the objects, added a background – and kept it simple. The result is amazing! As the person in her pictures (herself) is just a small add on, the spectator instinctively focuses on it even if it is not the central and largest part ot the picture.

Impressions of “Minimal” by Dido Haas (2)

While I visited “Minimal” I met Mihailsk, an artist who has exhibited at Nitroglobus Gallery and who is a friend of Dido. Mihailsk has supported Dido in setting up “Minimal“. After my visit I went to the shop MINIMAL.
MINIMAL is owned by Jorge Fernández (Ors Quan) and offers skyboxes, buildings, home&garden equipment and gear, backdrops, single objects, jewelery, scenes and men’s clothes. I found the section with the free group gifts – and recognized those, that Dido used for her exhibition “Minimal“.

A visit to MINIMAL store and gallery

Dido Haas is Dutch and has been in SL for way over 14 years – and according to herself, she is still enjoying this virtual world. Besides her own art, Dido owns and curates the Nitroglobus Roof Gallery, which consists of two exhibition rooms, the main room and a part that Dido uses to showcase her own art.
You can find more about and from Dido on her blog and on her flickr page. The Nitroglobus Roof Gallery has an own flickr group.

Thank you Dido for all the work you invest into the Nitroglobus Roof Gallery and for your own art. I enjoyed my visit. The exhibtion “Minimal” will be open until end of November.

Landmark to Dido Haas’ part of Nitroglobus Roof gallery and to of “Minimal” by Dido Haas
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunshine%20Homestead/166/41/1001
Dido Haas’ flickr group
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dido_haas/
Nitroglobus Roof Gallery flickr group
https://www.flickr.com/groups/nitroglobus_gallery/
Dido Hass’ blog
https://exploringslwithdido.blogspot.com
MINIMAL store and gallery inworld
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/FresH/121/197/3494
MINIMAL store on marketplace
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/es-ES/stores/156471

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