Art in Second Life 2023 (5) The Farigoule collection @ Nitroglobus The Annex

21 Jan 2023 1 Comment

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

Dido Haas drew my attention to a new exhibition in the annex of her Nitroglobus Roof Gallery: “The Farigoule collection”. The exhibition was opened on January 16th.

Together with the invitation I got a notecard with Dido’s description of “The Farigoule collection”:
“A while ago when meeting with Jules Farigoule in his loft, which is really a superb tastefully made place, I asked him if he was willing to exhibit his awesome art collection at Nitroglobus. At first he hesitated and told me he was neither an artist nor was this a ‘collection’, just images which he likes to have around him; a very subjective and personal selection. However, in the end he said YES. I am so happy he did.
The Farigoule collection a set of images, gathered from meetings, friendships and by chance, from the serendipity of Jules’s long second life (Jules Farigoule joined SL end of 2008). Jules explains in the notes which are hung on the walls of the gallery along side the art works shown, why or how these works touch him,, what he sees in them, the personality of their creator, or the situation that led him to acquire them.
Moreover, Jules constructed parts of his loft here in the gallery to give the visitors of the exhibition a more intense look and feel of his home and collection.“

The exhibition consists of 9 large pictures hung along the walls of the annex of the Nitroglobus Roof Gallery.  It is Dido Haas’ concept that the floor seems to mirror the pictures at the walls, an effect that intrigues me every time I visit the Nitroglobus Roof Gallery.
In the back of the exhibition are 2 rooms, which represent parts of Jules Farigoule’s loft in Second Life, as described by Dido in her notecard.

Impressions of “The Farigoule collection” @ Nitroglobus Roof Gallery / The annex (1)

You find texts about the artists and Jules’ thoughts about them, their art or his connection to them right next to the pictures. Some of the artists were not new to me, of others I never heard. And at least one artist has never had any exhibition in Second Life. The featured artists are: Baizzy Savira, Dido Haas, Caly Applewhyte, Tutsy Navarathna, Alix Figaro, Wicked Eiren, Blip Mumfuzz, Joss Floss (jossinta) and miu miu miu (miumiumiusecond).

Impressions of “The Farigoule collection” @ Nitroglobus Roof Gallery / The annex (2)

The two rooms are decorated with 3D angels created by Phenix Rexen. If you look at the exhibition poster, you may recognize that it shows part of Jules’ loft with a view trough the window. One wall in this loft is dedicated to the featured artists. It shows pictures used in their Second Life profiles (at least as far as I could find out)-

What made me smile was, that I personally have kind of my own collection of art. I got presents from some artists after publishing about their work and I also bought a few pieces. Like Jules I didn’t want to have the art just in my inventory, I wanted to see them, every day. Hence I created my own little “art park” at my homeplace. And that I like to take pictures in SL shouldn’t be any secret anymore. Anyway, I am for sure not the only one who has an art collection in Second Life. But also for sure “The Farigoule collection” is very well and professionally presented at the annex of the Nitroglobus Roof Gallery!

Impressions of “The Farigoule collection” @ Nitroglobus Roof Gallery / The annex (3)

Nitroglobus Roof Gallery is owned and curated by Dido Haas. Thank you, Dido for providing the space for the art and for enabling the exhibition “The Farigoule collection”. Thank you Jules Farigoule for the allowing a glimpse into your Second Life and into your personal collection of art pieces and memories. The memories we make in Second Life are not virtual, we take them with us into our real lifes.

“The Farigoule collection” ist the January exhibition at the Annex of Nitroglobus Roof Gallery. It shall be available for a visit at least throughout January 2023.

Landmark to The Annex of Nitroglobus and to “The Farigoule collection”
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunshine%20Homestead/166/41/1001 
Landmark to Nitroglobus Roof Gallery (main gallery)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunshine%20Homestead/38/22/1001
Dido Haas’ blog
https://exploringslwithdido.blogspot.com

Art in Second Life 2023 (4) Scribbled by Cica Ghost

19 Jan 2023 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , ,

Thursday, January 12th, Cica Ghost opened her newest installation: “Scribbled“. I visited comparably late on Tuesday, January 17th, as I had a short time-out of Second Life. Hence you might have to hurry up a bit with your own visit as Cica’s installations are often only a few weeks available.

 

Cica provided a thought for “Scribbled” with the landmark: “Every day is a new day”. This thought is very fitting when you know Cica’s art. You could interpret it as “Every day is a day to try out something new”. And “Scribbled” is different compared with Cica’s other installations, nonetheless you recognize the Cica and her style immediately.

As usual with Cica’s installation you shall use shared environment. You will get reminded upon landing. You should also set advanced lighting and activate shadows from sun/moon and projectors. The environment settings are part of Cica’s art – and important to experience “Scribbled” the way Cica intended.

Impressions of “Scribbled” by Cica Ghost (1)

From the beginning I had the impression to walk through a drawing. There’s no landscape, no colour, just a white paper and scribbled trees, paths, flowers, houses. I admit that it did confuse me at first. I began to walk along the paths and the longer I walked through the drawing, the more I noticed details and began to like it a lot.

Impressions of “Scribbled” by Cica Ghost (2)

Perhaps I liked in particular as I discovered the cat, that Cica added to “Scribbled“, right when I began exploring. The cat is kind of a running gag between Cica and me. I always look out for it and am happy when I find it!

In “Scribbled” you find a lot of old companions af Cica’s former installations, not coloured and in 3D but in black and white, scribbled counterparts. There’re monsters, elephants, snails, sheep, worms, deers, cows and butterflies to name just a few.

Impressions of “Scribbled” by Cica Ghost (3)

And all these companions made me smile remembering the former installations. Seeing the world with the eyes of children, discovering something new every day, being open for new experiences, being positive is what I interpret into Cica’s art. And walking through a drawing and recognizing all these Cica elements was this new experience for me.

Impressions of “Scribbled” by Cica Ghost (4)

Of course you can dance and sit as well as in all of Cica’s installations. It felt strange to sit on a scribbled chair – but it works. And in the drawing I was the only coloured being!
There is no shop at “Scribbled” but you can buy some of the scribbled companions, or even the frame with the two chairs to sit on. When you hoover with your mouse over the objects, you can see the “buy” symbol.

I am pretty sure, that you notice something new every time you visit “Scribbled“. It is full of details, that you might not see at first. Just look into the sky and see the scribbled clouds and the sun!

Impressions of “Scribbled” by Cica Ghost (5) – lower right shows Cica and Diomita

“Scribbled” was a new experience for me. I saw Cica’s world from another perspective. Cica succeeded in creating something new – for her herself and for the visitors. And Cica once again made me smile and allowed me to escape from everyday life for a bit. Thank you for another great installation, Cica!

As mentioned at the beginning, don’t wait to long with your visit to “Scribbled“, you never know how long it may stay – it is a temporary world.

Landmark to “Scribbled” by Cica Ghost
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mysterious/76/159/25
Cica Ghost’s shop on the marketplace
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/98471
Cica Ghost’s flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64860898@N05/

Art in Second Life 2023 (3) Lines of Light by Gem Preiz

13 Jan 2023 Leave a comment

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

I got an invitation from Gem Preiz to visit his newest installtion “Lines of Light“, that opened January 12th. I visited early on January 10th.
I follow Gem Preiz and his work for several years already. His installations and exhibition are unique. Gem works with fractals and his work has brought fractals closer and aroused my interest in this form of art.

Together with the invitation I got a notecard from Gem in which he wrote about “Lines of Lights“:

Lines of Light is the first of 3 installations that will be exhibited on SLEA 3 full sim grant during the first half of 2023.
It marks a new stage in the evolution of my work on SL. The fractals, although still present under a new aspect, continue to progressively give way to the build. The latter, invaded by lights and reflections in the spirit of “Borderless” (read my post about this installation here / this installation is is available for an visit here), revives the highlighted drawing of the “Anthropic Principle” (an installation I missed, you can read about it on Inara’s blog here), of “Skyscrapers” (read my post about this installation here) and of “Exoplanet” (read my posts about this installation here and here). It is directly in line with the Neon Art theme, using the popular pink and blue colour code and some very classic patterns.

Impressions of “Lines of Light” by Gem Preiz (1)

Lines of Light is an artwork focused on the structure and interior design. Though it is not a space station it has all the elements that we expect to see in a space station because of sci-fi films we saw: large halls with artificial colourful lights, strict geometric forms on the floors, walls and ceilings, long and illuminated corridors connecting the different rooms.

Impressions of “Lines of Light” by Gem Preiz (2)

It takes some time to understand the structure of halls and corridors. As you can see elements of the next hall through the corridors you’re literally attracted to walk through the corridors to see what’s in the next hall. One hall features 6 fractal pictures of Gem. This kind of pictures of Gem were new for me. They look like reliefs in the light (use Advanced lighting model) and it takes a while to recognize the picture in it. Another corridor has these relief pictures along the walls.

Impressions of “Lines of Light” by Gem Preiz (3)

The whole structure is held in black and neon colours (pink and blue). In the center is a large round room, the place to have events. And in the center you find the “resonating eggs” (in purple by the way).

Impressions of “Lines of Light” by Gem Preiz (4)

Gem Preiz “is educated in science and mathematics and is fond of anything related to Nature, Cosmos and Earth, from astronomy to geology. The world of fractals is, in the same way, ruled by Mathematics functions which, as Physics do in Nature, enable to create objects which features repeat themselves at every scale. There lies his passion for fractals: create thanks to the power and pureness of the Mathematical concept, images the complexity of which can suggest Nature beings, objects or sceneries.” (taken from an older notecard about Gem). To see more of Gem Preiz’ art take a look at his flickr page.

Impressions of “Lines of Light” by Gem Preiz (5)

I enjoyed my visit a lot and was impressed by the structure and lights that Gem has created. I look forward to seeing the next parts throughout the first half year 2023. Thank you Gem!

Landmark to SLEA3 – Gem’s Lines of Light
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLEA3/204/128/993
Gem preiz’ flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/187894176@N07/albums

Art in Second Life 2023 (2) Crowns by Calypso Applewhyte

10 Jan 2023 1 Comment

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

Owl (Owl Dragonash) invited me to see the first exhibition of 2023 at NovaOwl Gallery “Crowns” by Calypso Applewhyte.

Caly (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. I have seen her work already a few times and you can recognise her style, she has found her personal characteristic artistic style. Her pictures do tell stories, like good art does.
According to her profile Caly also blogs and has written articles for several magazines. And she also makes portrait pictures of course. You can see her work also on her flickr account.

Impressions of Crowns by Calypso Applewhyte @ NovaOwl Gallery (1)

Caly likes to choose a common theme for her exhibitions. The theme of this exhibition is “Crowns”. Crowns are a symbol of power and beauty and were and are used in several cultures. Hence you find quite some different forms of crowns. They might be formed by the hair only, they might be flower arrangements to decorate the hair, the might be used to enhance the face or the forehead or they can be classic crowns worn on the head. And you will find all these different crowns at the exhibition. Some of Caly’s pictures did really touch me as what would be quite an average face of an average woman – turns to be very expressive with a crown. I find that intriguing. And I enjoyed my visit a lot.

Impressions of Crowns by Calypso Applewhyte @ NovaOwl Gallery (2)

The NovaOwl Gallery is owned by Uli Jansma, Owl (Owl Dragonash) is the general manager. NovaOwl is an international community on the mainland continent of Corsica. NovaOwl is located on Novatron. It is a meeting place where events take place regularly. Thank you Uli and Owl for providing the space for the art and for enabling this exhibition. I enjoyed my visit.
The exhibition shall be opened throughout January, 2023.

NovaOwl Community Center and Gallery – Landmark to “Crowns” by Calypso Applewhyte
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Novatron/131/102/23
Caly Applewhyte’s flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calypsoapplewhyte/

Art in Second Life 2023 (1) Wrong Mirrors by Melusina Parkin

08 Jan 2023 Leave a comment

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

I visited Melusina Parkin’s newest exhibition “Wrong Mirrors” at Melusina’s Minimum Gallery.

I am a fan of Melusina Parkin’s art and have seen quite some of her exhibitions. Melu’s style is minimalistic. She usually takes her pictures in Second Life. The minimalism forces the spectator to focus on details, that might stay unseen when too much distracts the view.

“Wrong Mirrors” is once again an exhibition featuring something new from Melusina, something that I didn’t expect from her. Melusina played with Artificial Intelligence. Each exhibited picture consists of one bigger and four smaller images. My fist thought was that the big picture was taken in Second Life and provided the source for changes by the AI. But I was wrong.

I talked with Melusina about “Wrong Mirrors” and she revealed a bit more about her work:

Diomita: I’m curious ….. Is the large picture the one you took in SL and the smaller ones is what the AI made of it?
Melusina Parkin: All the images have been generated by AI, then I worked on them… I’ve thought to show them that way to put more similar images in the exhibit 🙂
Diomita Maurer: but the AI must have got initial settings, right?
Melusina Parkin: yes, they work after a “prompt” written by me. I describe the image I want to generate, adding some parametes about light, style, size and so
Diomita: Do you use Midjourney?
Melusina Parkin: Not only Midjourney, mostly Stable Diffusion
Diomita Maurer: The result looks very “Melu”-like. It sounds so easy, but it isn’t! In the end it is still the artist, who selects what to keep, what to further develop
Melusina Parkin: yes, AIs are totally driven by the author, who decide style, subject and other features
Diomita Maurer: well done, Melu. I like the result!
Melusina Parkin: Thank you!

As mentioned in the conversation with Melusina, the pictures clearly show Melu’s style even though generated by AI. And they made me smile. Imagine you’d look into such a mirror, what a surprise not to see yourself in the mirror but someone else, or your backside! Look for all the details and enjoy Melu’s art.

On the second floor of the Minimum Gallery is Melusina’s exhibition “Art Deco Symmetries”. I wrote about it in June 2022 (read here).

Melusina Parkin is in Second Life since September 2008. She has been a fashion manager, a journalist, a furniture creator, a builder, a decorator and a photographer. Her work as a photographer has been showcased in more than 50 exhibitions – from which I saw just a few. Melusina has a flickr account which counts more than 13,000 (!) photographs. Extensive collections of her photos can be seen also on her blog Virtual Exhibits and on some slideshows on Youtube (links also under this post).
There’s also an online book with her Second Life exhibits 2011-2019 here.
Melusina Parkin has an own gallery at Time Portal, “Melu’s Photo Gallery” and an own store for Art Deco furniture called “Melu Deco“. Melusina also owns a second place (Melu Space) with another gallery (Minimum Gallery), a bookstore and another “Melu Deco” inworld store.

Thank you for “Wrong Mirrors”, Melusina. I enjoyed my first gallery visit in 2023!

Landmark to Melusina’s Minimum Gallery and to “Wrong Mirrors”
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lunula/129/107/621
Melusina Photo Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Time%20Portal/248/101/1940
Landmark to Minimum Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lunula/130/107/621
Landmark to Melusina Parkin’s store for Art Deco furniture “Melu Deco”
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Time%20Portal/243/99/1930
Melusina Parker’s flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melusina_parkin/
Melusina Parkin’s Virtual Exhibit blog
http://meluphoto.blogspot.it/p/home.html
Melusina Parkin’s youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVzglBiqhrOLXnAp3Qt3Zjw
On line book Second Life exhibits 2011-2019
https://www.calameo.com/books/005997622f28dd58ca75d

Art in Second Life 2022 (104) La Maison d’Aneli Dec 2022 / Jan 2023

19 Dec 2022 Leave a comment

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

Aneli Abeyante invited me to see the new exhibition at La Maison d’Aneli. The opening event took place, Wednesday, December 14th. The exhibition features the art from Traci Ultsch, Yann Gyro (sempiternel),  ZackHerrMann, Thanos Runner and onceagain (Manoji Yachvili).

I started my visit with Traci Ultsch. Traci’s skybox at La Maison d’Aneli deal with the theme written in big letters on one wall: “As above so below”. Abstract forms, that remind me of the planet earth mirror in the floor, but the mirror image is not the same. It contains clouds and trees and other forms and invite the spectator to explore more deeply. As far as I gathered the skybox was also the place for the opening event.

La Maison d’Aneli Dec 2022 / Jan 2023 – Traci Ultsch

I didn’t come across Traci Ultsch so far. Traci is in Second Life since 2017 and I couldn’t find out much about her or him- Traci wrote in the accompanying notecard: “Traci is a rubbish artist who can not write a bio… also their music is bad…you can add that traci died in 2010 and is now run by Google Images… “fine i dont care” haha..“. You can see more of Traci on a flickr page.

Yann Gyro (sempiternel) is in Second Life since 2018. He is a photgrapher and designer. Yann has his own store on the marketplace. He also has a flickr account.
At his skybox at La Maison d’Aneli Yann allows us to have a look into his head. It’s a bit of a mess but that is how he creates. He doesn’t think, he creates!

La Maison d’Aneli Dec 2022 / Jan 2023 – Yann Gyro (sempiternel)

ZackHerrMann is a French psychedelik artist from the French Riviera. He’s in Second Life since 2012. He writes about his work:
“French artist, kind of an alien from the unidentified dimension! He draws wither by hand or by digital toos or both. He has been a nightlife creature, a cyber punk LGBT glam cosmic one. He likes to create sounds and bizarre music that he uses for many projects. He is the creature of a fictive heroin called Linda Cluster. He works a lot usings the Second Lide Metavers, he loves concets, he is THE concept!“

La Maison d’Aneli Dec 2022 / Jan 2023 – ZackHerrMann

ZackHerrMann’s art is quite unique. It is mostly in strong colours. Zack uses light effects and his installation is steadily changing. You can almost hear music, even when it is not turned on. Figures are dancing, everything looks full and rich. At La Maison d’Aneli his skybox is once again an own world to get lost in. 
ZackHerrMann has a little museum in Second Life – Zack Herr Mann Universum. You can also see more of his art at his flickr page.

Thanos Runner is in Second Life since 2009. He writes about himself: “I am a multiple artist, I practice in various disciplines, but drawing is above all my favorite discipline, because everything starts from drawing. It’s the idea, it’s the mood, it’s the choice, and all artistic work begins with a drawing. I draw for several reasons first of all I like drawing whatever it is, for me it is approach to the gift of self, and a visual communication, sensitivity, character, and sentimental of the individual provided that he is sincere.”  

La Maison d’Aneli Dec 2022 / Jan 2023 – Thanos Runner

His skybox at La Maison d’Aneli is a room in form of a sphere where his pictures are displayed in groups: “There are various drawings of the human body in all their sensibilities, and it is multiple, we are all unique and beautiful, and I try to bring out this through my works. There are very personal compositions and hence various portaits are also part of this exhibition.“
Thanos has an own website here.

onceagain (Manoji Yachvili) ist in Second Life since 2007. Manoji is Italian and lives and works in Tuscany, Italy. Manoji’s skybox at La Maison d’Aneli is dedicated to the Apuan Alps.
The Apuan Alps, also known as Alpi Apuane, is a mountain range located in Tuscany, Italy. The mountains are lined with the beautiful white Carrara marble. The light colored stone gives the mountain range a look as though they are covered in snow year round. The Carrara marble remains to be one of the more popular choices among building plans, interior decor, and sculptures.
Due to modern technology, the large-scale extractions of marble from the quarries of the Apuan Alps mountains are inflicting the worst environmental disaster in Europe, and are changing the face of these mountains.
In the accompanying notecard you can find more information. onceagain (Manoji Yachvili) also provided two links – here and here.

La Maison d’Aneli Dec 2022 / Jan 2023 – onceagain (Manoji Yachvili)

La Maison d’Aneli is owned by Aneli Abeyante. Through her gallery she brought together all forms of creativity in RL and SL and the featured artists come from around the globe. Aneli’s intention was 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.”

This is the last exhibition of La Maison d’Aneli and will stay open until January 2023. More than 12 years Aneli has curated her La Maison d’Aneli with an exhibition almost every month. Thank you very much for your work dedicated to the arts in Second Life. As always I enjoyed my (last) visit and I saw another great joined exhibtion, Aneli.
Stay healthy and enjoy whatever you do in RL and in SL. It was a pleasure featuring your La Maison d’Aneli in this blog regularly.

Landmark to La Maison d’Aneli
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Holland/23/71/22
Trace Ultsch’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/190734658@N07/
Yann Gyro (sempiternel)’ store on the marketplace
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/fr-FR/stores/211360
Yann Gyro (sempiternel)’ flickr
https://www.flickr.com/people/154701358@N02/
ZackHerrMann’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/people/7706
Zack Herr Mann Universum
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pop/136/214/243
Thanos Runner website
https://livlic-ateliers.netlify.app/
Apuan Alps
https://www.positive.news/environment/keeping-the-mountains-alive-saving-the-apuan-alps/
http://www.salviamoleapuane.org/chi-siamo/english.html

Art in Second Life 2022 (103) Michiel Bechir Gallery December 2022

17 Dec 2022 Leave a comment

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

 

I got an invitation from Michiel Bechir to see the latest exhibition at his “Michiel Bechir Gallery“, that had been opened yesterday, December 16th. It features the art of Maggie Runo, Tresore Prada Hawkins (tresore) and Michiel Bechir himself. Michiel, Tresore, Maggie and MsToya (Mstoya Bailey), who was the dj for the opening event, also build the team, that is running the gallery.


On the ground floor of the gallery are two exhibitions rooms, a third exhibition space is on the 2nd floor. Michiel, Maggie and Tresore Prada have a similiar approach in creating her art. All take pictures in Second Life and process them carefully. And all pictures shown in this December exhibtion have a touch of the current season, a touch of Winter and Christmas.

Impressions of Michiel Bechir Gallery December 2022 – Maggie Runo

The exhibition room on the left shows the pictures of Maggie Runo, an artist that I haven’t covered in this blog so far. Maggie is in Second Life since 2007.  You can find more of her art at her flickr account. 

The room on the right side features Michiel Bechir’s art. Michiel has started his long virtual journey into Second Life as a photographer in 2009. Michiel enjoys seeing new places, meeting new people from all over the world and expierencing the creativity in Second Life (just like I do!). Michiel discovered the possiblities of different tools to improve his pictures. By editing them he also tries to add a personal touch and feeling.

Impressions of Michiel Bechir Gallery December 2022 – Michiel Bechir

The 2nd floor shows the art of Tresore Prada Hawkins (tresore). Tresore is in SL since 2011. She writes about herself “I love SL because it allows me to explore, discover new parts of myself, be creative, connect and experience others. It enriches my life. I have found in photography and visual arts the perfect outlet for creativity.”  For the December exhibition Tresore presents a selection of her art, that clearly is related to the season. More of her art can be seen at her flickr account.

Impressions of Michiel Bechir Gallery December 2022 – Tresore Prada Hawkins (tresore)

The December exhibition is a real Christmas exhibition, full of the magic that Christmas develops also in Second Life. Thank you Michiel and the whole team (Maggie Runo, Tresore Prada (tresore) and MsToya (Mstoya Bailey) for providing the space for the arts and for your personal art. I enjoyed my visit.

Landmark to Michiel Bechir Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Embrace/26/226/2502
Maggie Runo’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/maggie_runo/
Tresore Prada Hawkins (tresore) flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/149003763@N08/

Art in Second Life 2022 (102) The 5th Season by Milena Carbone

15 Dec 2022 1 Comment

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

I got an invitation from Milena Carbone (mylena1992) for the opening of her newest exhibition “The 5th Season” at Artsville. The opening was yesterday. I visited early on Tuesday, December 13th.

Milena herself wrote about “The 5th Season”:
“The fifth season is a three-part installation that questions our tendency to follow a path of self-destruction. It is related to the imminent threat of dramatic consequences for all living species as a result of climate change. It tries to dig deeper into the roots of our denial.
The “fifth season”, is an imaginary season, which will replace the four seasons we have known. One season in a year, chaotic, devastating. A foul beast that humanity will have created. I sincerely hope that this work will allow us to go beyond good conscience, purely intellectual awareness or judgment to lead everyone towards a fertile, new reflection on ourselves, on our relationship to the world; and to our planet, the only paradise that is a closed garden whose walls we have hit.

The 5th Season is the final exhibition of a triology, consisting of “Blind”, “Africa” and “Heroes”. All three parts are shown at Artsville. Milena recommends to see “The 5th Season” in exactly this order.

Impressions of “The 5th Season” by Milena Carbone @ Artsville (1)

It is recommended that you use “Shared Environment” and “Advanced Lighting”. If your macine allows it, use shadows from projectors and sun/moon and allow media streaming.

I saw the first part “Blind” in June 2022 as a part of an exhibition at La Maison d’Aneli (read Art in Second Life 2022 (57) La Maison d’Aneli June/July 2022)

Blind explores our denial of the studied, validated, stated, detailed crisis of climate change for which we are collectively responsible : natural, economic, social and demographic disasters. And yet we do nothing, but continue our frenzy of senseless consumption and expend our energy in war.
Blindness is a recurring theme in myths, particularly Greek myths. Tiresias and Oedipus are well known examples. Blindness is both a punishment and a way to change one’ s view of the world and oneself.
The exhibition consists of five themes displayed in an original installation, thirteen images and seven short stories.

Impressions of “The 5th Season” by Milena Carbone @ Artsville (2) – part I: “Blind”

The exhibition is not set up as the one I saw at La Maison d’Aneli in June. There are 4 rooms titeled “Don’t Look Up”, “Don’t Look Beyand”, “Look Down On” and “Look Away”.
Milena’s art consists of texts, pictures and visual experience. Each room is dedicated to a story that you can download to read and that Milena illustrated with pictures and objects. In total you find seven stories … that feature Tiresias, Daphne, Oedipus and his daughter Antigone, Clarissa Dalloway, and George and Martha. Milena published the stories on her website,

“Africa” is the second part of “The 5th Season” and I saw it end of October 2022 at Nitroglobus Roof Gallery, (read Art in Second Life 2022 (88) Africa by Milena Carbone @ Nitroglobus Roof Gallery).

Milena wrote about “Africa”:
“Africa” takes a look at the African continent, both amazed and crude.
Amazed, because Africa is a fertile paradise of biodiversity and beauty and the cradle of humanity, born in the rift, the vagina of the earth.
Crude, because Africa is a continent raped, slaughtered, poisoned, looted with impunity by empires, in cynical disdain of its inhabitants. Africa is what started it all by the grace of evolution, and will end by the rapacity of man.

“Africa” consists of 13 pictures:
The story of Grace, in seven paintings, an Ethiopian orphan who, at age 33, inherits the home of her father whom she never knew. As she explores this strange house, she more or less follows the biblical journey from creation to paradise and God’s doubt one Sunday night (“Oh my God, I think I’ve screwed up so damn bad”). In this part, Milena Carbone clears God of predestination and gives keys to understand that, if he is at the origin of the Creation, he has created the conditions of free will.
The Twilight of Humans is the story of Abel, an African man whom Grace meets in her house. In six tableaux, he travels through the destruction of the African continent, ends up being the last man in the world and makes his own burial ground in the rainforest.

Again “Africa” is displayed different than at Nitroglobus Roof Gallery. I personally was more impressed of this part of “The 5th Season” the way it was presented at Nitroglobus Roof Gallery. The pictures at Artsville are presented at the walls. In the center are some 3D statues of African animals. Once you get closer, the statues vanish and texts appear instead. As always in Milena’s exhibitions, texts and pictures build one unit. While in “Grace’s wing” the texts deal with God, the texts in “Abel’s wing” deal with the plagues that mankind has caused on earth: climate change, extinction of species and forced migration.

Impressions of “The 5th Season” by Milena Carbone @ Artsville (2) – part II: “Africa”

Milena mentioned in the accompanying notecard that her writing style for the texts featured at the exhibition “Africa” is “more syncopated than usual, cutting the story with several levels of interpretation with inserts of scientific facts, memories or questionings of herself. I readily admit to having been amazed and inspired by the American author Jenny Offill.“

For the pictures Milena continued further expanding and broadening her style. She used the AI Midjourney again to create the backgrounds of her pictures. Milena had an exhibition of pictures created with Artifical Intelligence just recently: “Metamorphoses” (read here). The characters were added from Second Life.

The third part of “The 5th Season” is called “Heroes” and it was new to me.
Heroes tells 12 extraordinary stories of ordinary or mysterious people, all imaginary. The stories take place in the future, in all parts of the world. Milena’s intention is to set the stage for new myths. Myths structure our vision of the world. The myths of today are the same as those of ten thousand years ago: men dominant and superior, carnivorous and subduing the living, violent and cunning, explorers and conquerors in a world without limits.
We are facing the limits of our planet, our myths are no longer operative. We must create new myths, new imaginaries that allow us to find our place in an entirely new, exhausted and limited world. Each story features values compatible with this world, diverse heroes from all walks of life. They are written in a style reminiscent of the news stories found in the back pages of newspapers.

Impressions of “The 5th Season” by Milena Carbone @ Artsville (2) – part III: “Heroes”

When you approach one of the the 12 pictures it folds up into 3 parts – the picture in the center and the story on the left and right. Just one picture folds up into tow pictures and one text in the center. As it takes time to read the stories, there’s a chair in fron ot each of the 12 heroes where you can sit down and read – and get into Milena’s world of pictures and texts.

Heroes is the concluding chapter of the trilogy “The 5th season”. It is the hopeful part of the work.

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 has an own gallery, the Carbone Studio and she has a bookstore @ Noir’Wen City.
Milena has an own website, you can also find her on flickr here and you can read her texts here.

Artsville was created in collaboration the Art Korner blog, owned and founded by Frank Atisso. Frank is also the curator of exhibitions at Artsville.
Thank you for another great exhibition, Milena. I enjoyed my visit. Thank you Frank Atisso and the whole team at Artsville for enabling “The 5th Season” by Milean Carbone.

Landmark to Artsville and The 5th Season by Milena Carbone
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caribbean%20Ocean/62/97/3201
Landmark to The Carbone Studio
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Woiler/176/163/3287
Landmark to The Carbone Bookstore @ Noir’Wen City
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Noir%20Wen/243/203/32
Milena’s website
https://sites.google.com/view/thecarbonegallery/news
Milena Carbone’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/milenacarbone/
Milena Carbone’s writing
https://medium.com/@539568

Art in Sceond Life 2022 (101) Trolland by Cica Ghost

12 Dec 2022 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , ,

Saturday, December 10th, Cica Ghost opened her newest installation: “Trolland“.

This time Cica doesn’t provide a thought with her installation, instead she explains what a troll is: “A troll is a class of being in Germanic mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In Old Norse sources, beings described as trolls dwell in isolated rocks, mountains, or caves, live together in small family units, and are rarely helpful to human beings.”

Impressions of “Trolland” by Cica Chost (1) – around the landing point

As usual with Cica’s installation you shall use shared environment. You will get reminded upon landing. You should also set advanced lighting and activate shadows from sun/moon and projectors. The environment settings are part of Cica’s art. For “Trolland” she selected an dark and hazy sky with some clouds. It feels not really comfortable. The ground is rocky and the only plant growing are strange large mushrooms. Beside that, the trolls have built bizarre structures from the rocks. Some of the rocks are connected to the ground or between eachother with ropes.
Trolland consists of qutie some plateaus, some paths between them and quite deep gorges. Hence you have to be careful walking around. If you happen to end in a gorge, no worries in Second Life you can fly and flying is allowed at Trolland.

Impressions of “Trolland” by Cica Chost (2) – The two trolls

It took some for me time to find the 2 Trolls that stand together between some mushrooms and stone structures. On my way I found the first place to dance and I took quite some pictures of the bizarre structures, that the trolls have built.
Far away I saw something more lighting. I walked over there. It turned out to be the Trollstore. Cica sells the three trolls of the installtion for 500L each. They are artful beings!

Impressions of “Trolland” by Cica Chost (3) – Cica’s Troll Shop

The third troll is standing alone and cooking a mysterious soup like a druid. You can dance around the pot if your’re not scared. By the way, although the trolls look scary, they are harmless and I was simploring with a smile on my face, as always in Cica’s installations.

Impressions of “Trolland” by Cica Chost (4) – The druid troll

What else to report about “Trolland“? Of course you find places to sit. Just hoover with your mouse of places that seem to offer it and select a fitting pose. But there’s another extra: a Cica-Trollmobile. because of the steep and rocky land it is hard to drive around with it and I got stuck soon. I had fun with it nonetheless.

Impressions of “Trolland” by Cica Chost (5) – the Cica-Trollmobile

A visit to “Trolland” is a welcomed time-out from everyday life, a short trip to a fantasy mystery world. I enjoyed my visit to the trolls and their bizarre land.
Thank you for another great installation, Cica!
As always, don’t wait to long with your visit to “Trolland“, you never know how long it may stay – it is a temporary world.

Landmark to “Trolland” by Cica Ghost
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mysterious/236/163/24
Cica Ghost’s shop on the marketplace
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/98471
Cica Ghost’s flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64860898@N05/

Art in Second Life 2022 (100) Terra Merhyem’s sculpture exhibition “Mythologicals” December 2022

10 Dec 2022 Leave a comment

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

I got invitation to visit Terra Merhyem’s sculpture exhibition “Mythologicals“, that was opened Wednesday, December 7th.

The exhibition is on a sky platform, that is also used as a place to dance and for events.

Impressions of Terra Merhyem’s sculpture exhibition “Mythologicals” (1)

On the platform are 4 squared boxes, 4 spheres and a few other 3D objects. Please use “Advanced Lighting” to see the optical effects. The boxes contain a sculpture on each side,  so that there’re 16 sculptures displayed in total. The spheres contain also scuptures but also other objects. As the boxes turn permanently and as the inside of the spheres change permantently, there’s no exact equal impression ever.

Impressions of Terra Merhyem’s sculpture exhibition “Mythologicals” (2)

Terry wrote about “Mythologicals“:
“Mythologies abound with extraordinary creatures… It is as if the human imagination needed strange figures to feed itself – and to escape into the realm of the “non-ordinary”… Friend, come and discover non-ordinary beings in my sculpture exhibition… Come and meet my vision of “monsters”, my hybrid beings… evoked in myths and legends of ancient Greece and also in other, more “exotic”, cultures…“

Impressions of Terra Merhyem’s sculpture exhibition “Mythologicals” (3)

Terra Merhyem (TerraMerhyem) is in Second Life since 2016. She’s a “French 2D / 3D artist, makes phostos, machinima and performances, is a choreographer and curator. Leitmotiv in my life is “Beauty”, that’s why the sentence in my profile is a verse of “The Beauty” (Baudelaire): “I am beautiful, ô mortals, like a dream of (Dark)stone…”“
Terra also has several exhibtions at The Dove Rhoads Gallery. You also find her at flickr.
Terra Merhyem and Rage Darkstone, another artist who I have covered in this blog already, are partnered in Second Life.

The mytsic fantasy beings are quite impressive, I’m not a fan of fantasy but I admit that the figures can be attractive and are a feast for the eye. Together with the other 3D objects, with the light effects, they make a great exhibition. As stand alone objects they are great eye catchers and could decorate a sim perfectly and initiate a journey into a fantasy world.

Impressions of Terra Merhyem’s sculpture exhibition “Mythologicals” (4)

When you visit yourself, don’t forget to turn the sound on. Terra wrote about it that it is “expressive, powerful music which, if you let it penetrate you, will charge you with vitality, with energy!”

Thank you Terra Merhyem for this exhibition and the music. I enjoyed both and I really like your 3D objects.

Landmark to Terra Merhyem’s sculpture exhibition “Mythologicals”
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Terrage/121/135/3251
TerraMerhyem at The Dove Rhoads Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Jaxipun/85/90/21
TerraMerhyem’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/192279183@N07/albums

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