Simploring 2018 (5) Bird People by Cica Ghost

To be able to fly (in the physical world) is an old dream of mankind and if we could fly we were free as birds, maybe we would be bird people. On Saturday, January 6th, I visited “Bird people by Cica Ghost“. Upon landing you’re asked to use region windlight and to switch the advanced lighting model and shadows (sun/moon + projector) on.

January 6th: Stepping into the world of “Bird People by Cica Ghost”

Where you land? In a bird cage of course. No worries, it is open and from here you can explore Cica’s Bird people. It is another very impressive art installation from Cica. Cica’s Bird People live in a dark and foggy world of metal bird cages, which are connected or accessed by stairs. Besides the cages, most of them are open, there’re large metal fences and frames, stell beams and some decorative ironwork. The ground is tiled with some islands of plants inbetween, the plants being in shadows of grey as the whole world of the Bird People.

Bird People by Cica Ghost in their cages

This time Cica gives away the central message of her piece of art “We are all living in cages with the door wide open (George Lucas)“. And yes, “Bird People by Cica Ghost” is full of metaphers. They are free yet they seek the protection of there cages, but they also seek to gather. Some of them have left their cages and gathered, maybe to talk or just to be close together. But they can always return to the security of their cages. Some do live alone in a cage, some as a family of two or three. Their world is dark and foggy and quite complex, structures are hard to reveal.

Bird People by Cica Ghost seeking togetherness

Some of the Bird people just observe the scenery from an elevated point, a higher cage, but they live in their cage like the others. Another thought came into my mind, Bird people could fly (they are birds!) yet they don’t. They could take advantage of their abilities, but they don’t. We learned to fly in the physical world, we can get over most barriers and frontiers but we don’t, we’re caught in our little world of cages, which offers security. And hence the world stays grey.

Diomita meets Cica literally in her installation “Bird People”

I met Cica in one of the cages a little bit apart of the main structure and with a good view on it. She was there with a friend or acquaintance and they were talking about the Bird People. And of course we exchanged as well about them. Cica Ghost’s art installations are always worth a visit and the Bird People is no exemption. I admire her creativity and art. You should get a look at the “Bird People by Cica Ghost“.
Thank you Cica. I enjoyed my visit!

Landmark to Bird People by Cica Ghost
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Imagine%20Hall/89/134/49

MetaLES to close its doors in Second Life

Just a few minutes ago I heard that MetaLES is going to close today after 8 years of providing space for the art in Second Life and featuring a lot of artists. I personally discovered MetaLES, which was run by Romy Nayar and Ux Hax, in July 2016 on a Saturday afternoon simploring tour and had a longer visit to it in 2017 (Simploring 2017 (45) MetaLes ..O.. ArT Virtual Space).
It’s sad that this art space is going to disappear but we have to be thankful for having it for such a long time. Thank you Romy and Ux, and good luck for your next projects outside of Second Life.
Inara has a way more detailed farewell blog post about MetaLES. Thank you, Inara.

Inara Pey's avatarInara Pey: Living in a Modemworld

MetaLES: Haveit Neox The Haul (2017)

On Monday, January 15th, Ux Hax and Second Life partner, Romy Nayar, announced that their art region, MetaLES, would be closing at the end of the day. The announcement came in a simple statement passed through a number of art group:

After 8 years of art, fantasy and work MetaLES ..O.. closes its doors. Many thanks to all the artists, bloggers, friends and visitors who made it possible, The decision is for the lack of time to dedicate to the project.

Kisses and hugs

Romy & Ux

“Yes today is the last day,” Ux informed me. “We are sad, but the art in SL will continue!” He went on to say that the lack of time mentioned in the notices is related to a new physical world project he and Romy are involved in. However, he refused to be drawn into providing any  specifics…

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Simploring 2017 (100) Binemust Snow

For my 100th simploring tour 2017 I looked up the SL destiantion guide and selected BinemustSnow: “This beautiful two-island winter wonderland is filled with surprises in all corners and under the surface. Explore Binemust now to see it covered in the loveliest of snow.

December 15th: winterly Binemust overview with ground desitinations

The name Binemust did ring a bell and yes, I visited Binemust before in August 2016 (read here). There have been some changes. It was really worth revisiting!

Impressions of winterly Binemust

The landmark of the destination guide BindemustSnow leads you directly to the winterly island of Binemust. The island is really photogenic. I roamed around, explored and discovered. First I didn’t recognize that I was here before but when I entered the church I did remember and recognized it as not much changed here.

Binemust: Residential home (upper left) / beach house inside (upper right) / the curch (lower left) / the curch inside (lower right)

Upon your landing you’ll get a welcome notecard from Bine Rodenberger, who created and owns Binemust.
“Welcome to Binemust – a 2 island sim with an underwater world and experimental decor sites in the sky. You landed on the ground. You can find your way to the Portal, from where you have access to all the experiences on Binemust. At the portal you will find doors and holes in the ground to the different scenes on the ground, in the water and in the sky.. When you sit on a door or a hole, you will be transported to that experience, and you can find your way back to the portals by returning the way you came, or use the Portals landmark”

Binemust Portals (upper left) / campingsite (upper right) / fairground (lower left) / art garden (lower right)

There are several doors and holes spread over the island, one hole is directly next to the landing point. I recommend to explore and discover the winterly island of Binemust first. I really love it. Bine succeeded to create an atmosphere that seems to be cold. But when you enter the farm house or the residential home opposed to it, it feels cosy and warm inside. After visiting the church, I took a door to the Portals. From here you can explore and discover the following destinations:
– on the ground: Horse field (landing point of BinemustSnow), Beach, church, Beach house, Light house, Farm house
– underwater: art garden, campingsite, fairground, waterford
– Skybox
and Vimmershavn

Cica’s hugging tree (upper left) / waterford (upper right) / art inside of waterford (lower pictures)

The underwater desitinations didn’t change much compared to my visit in 2016. I recognized the campingsite, the fairground and the the art garden. New for me was Cica Ghost’s hugging tree Close to the art garten. And new for me was waterford. Inside of this fabric building you find soem more art installations.

Binemust skybox (upper left and right) / interior of Lighthouse (lower left) / Beach house (lower right)

Binemust at the beach and Binemust lighthouse (lower right)

The skybox is a residential home and contains everything you need for a comfy home.

Completely new is Vimmershavn, a modern shabby town that is mostly abandonned. But there’re oases of life where nothing is abandonned, they are neat and clean. These oases give Vimmershavn a particular charme. It is ood to be in such an oasis and to look at the shabby abandonned town, that was taken by criminals and homeless people. Vimmershavn could be a great place for roleplay. I spent a lot of time there, it’s a really interesting creation.

Binemust: Impressions of Vimmershavn (1)

Binemust: Impressions of Vimmershavn (2)

Binemust and all the experiences is a great place for simploring. Bine Rodenberger has created something outstanding in Second Life. This time I also visited her website which contains a lot of additional information. Thank you Bine for providing Binemust to us all. I should return more often!

Landmark to BinemustSnow
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Binemust/53/110/21
Landmark to Binemust Portals
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Binemust/131/155/717
Bine Rodenberger’s website
http://www.bine.se
My first visit to Binemust
https://themaurers.me/2016/08/31/binemust/

Simploring 2017 (96) 5 artists at La Maison d’Aneli

Recently I got an invitation for the opening of an exhibition at “La Maison d’Aneli” presenting five different artists: Calypos Applewhyte, Moewe Winkler, Lagu Indigo, Stardove Spirt and MathieuL Bravin.
La Maison d’Aneli is owned and run by Aneli abeyante. With her gallery she supports the artists and contributes to keep art in Second Life alive.

I went to see the exhibtion at the opening day, November 29th, but had to return home just after a first short view, hence I revisited a few days later. The upside was that I had the exhibition mostly all for myself.

Right next to the landing point is the exhibition of Lagu Indigo. The golden colours will literally attract you, when you arrive at La Maison d’Aneli. Lagu Indigo is an artist from Wales in the UK. Lagu loves all styles of art and loves to paint Angels in acrylic. The exhibition at La Maison d’Aneli is called Angelic Peace: “Based on peace when we feel angels near , this time of year brings us closer to spirituality and feeling of angels. My paintings are in acrylic. I hope you enjoy and it brings you inner joy and peace at Christmas and all year, as life goes though many changes, have faith and belief.”

Lagu Indigo at La Maison d’Aneli

Opposed to Lagu Indigo’s Angelic Peace is the exhibition “Mystical Forest” of Stardove Spirt. In this exhibition the colour blue is dominating and it makes a nice contrast to the gold of Lagu Indigo. Stardove Spirt wrote this about Mystical Forest: “I have based my build on a mystical enchanted forest, a blending of textures, drawings in chalk and added program features, a slight blend of christmas and the spirit of enchantment. Believe in magic and dream in the spirit of nature and enchantment. Hope you all enjoy. Blessings of peace

Stardove Sprit at La Maison d’Aneli

The exhibitions of Lagu and Stardove are on the upper level of La Maison d’Aneli. Downstairs you’ll find the other 3 exhibtions. The stairway leads you directly into the exhibtion of Calypso Applewhyte:
A good picture for me is when it speaks of life, an emotion. I love specially minimalist photography vision but however intense. The Woman in SL is my favorite subject, but I also like to photograph beautiful landscapes of SL with a special angle that could express the soul of the place.”

Calypso Applewhyte at La Maison d’Aneli

Adjacent to Calypso’s pictures you can see the work of MathieuL Bravin. His pictures have not a single theme. Most of them are in black and white. They are intended to transmit emotion and should not be simple pictures. Mathieu says that when he closes his eyes after looking at them he can hear the music, the tones of the actors, he can dive into the scene.

MathieuL Bravin at La Maison d’Aneli

The last exhibtion is opposed to Calypso’s and MathieuL’s exhibtion on the ground level of La Maison d’Aneli. Moewe Winkler is painting and photographing in RL as well as in Second Life. In this virtual world she enhances her pictures by the means of 3D, scripting and sound-installations. Her art impresses by minimalism on one side and by colour and particles on the other side. I want to mention the shadow couple, which moves behind the screen. I also liked the the tree with it’s 3D effects a lot.

Moeve Winkler at La Maison d’Aneli

During my visit I had a private chat with slave kelly and she asked me to let her join. I picked her up at home and she accompanied me visiting the last 3 exhibitions. We were all alone, nontheless it had something like “fetish meets art”.

Fetish meets art: Diomita with slave kelly at La Maison d’Aneli

Thank you Aneli abeyante for providing your gallery La Maison d’Aneli for the art. I enjoyed my visit.

Landmark to La Maison D’Aneli
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Holland/9/139/2312

Simploring 2017 (89) Gem Preiz’ Chaos at The Eye Art Gallery

Gem Preiz’ “Chaos” – The Eye Art Gallery – November 2017 (1)

I discovered Gem Preiz’ art this year and wrote about it in this blog. I saw “No Frontiers” and I saw his exhibtion “5 years of Fractals“. A few days ago I got an invitation from Gem Preiz to visit his latest exhibition called “Chaos” at “The Eye Art Gallery“. Considering that Gem uses fractals for creating his Pictures, “Chaos” seems to be the opposite of what is underlying his art.
Gem wrote an introduction to his exhibtion “Chaos” that describes perfectly what he does and what it expresses:

Gem Preiz’ “Chaos” – The Eye Art Gallery – November 2017 (2)

Confronted with the mysteries of the origins and with the question of the determinism of the Nature, Mankind from Hesiode’s theogony to the most recent mathematical theories, wanted to tame the Chaos, first by naming and personifying it, then much later by putting it in equations, still unsolved.

Look for an underlying structure in the formless and for causes of the unexplained, here is the rock which the Man-Sisyphe pushes in front of him in his secular effort to understand the Universe and dominate it.

This exhibition displays 12 fractal “paintings” on the theme of the Chaos, which seem to illustrate its description given by Ovide : «a raw confused mass, nothing but inert matter, badly combined discordant atoms of things, confused in the one place», but arisen from mathematical functions and numerical calculations which make them pure products of a perfect determinism.”

You can look a few seconds or a few hours at each picture, you won’t recognize any system, any order or any equation that describes it – it looks like chaos. Just the knowledge that it is no chaos won’t help you solving this mystery. And if you neglect this fact and don’t search for the system, then you can see what your mind wants to see within the chaos. I saw landscapes, rocks and water, I saw vulcans and fire. Amzazing pictures, Gem! Thank you.

Gem Preiz’ “Chaos” – The Eye Art Gallery – November 2017 (3)

“Chaos” is presented at The Eye Art Gallery in November 2017. The Eye Art Gallery is owned by Mona (monabyte) and has a monthly changing exhibtion as far as I understood. Unfortunately Mona’s profile is in Spanish (maybe another language?) and I couldn’t find our more about the Art Gallery but I saw some names in the member list that sound familiar to me. Thank you Mona (monabyte) for enabling this exhibtion of Gem.

Landmark to The Eye Art Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cape%20Paradise/26/85/1252

Simploring 2017 (88) – Dissected Soul

“Dissected Soul” by Theda Tammas at Split Screen

My simploring tour of Friday, November 3rd, led me to Split Screen at LEA 15 again, which is a temporary home for Dividni Shostakovich’s Split Screen. Split Screen Installation Space is a curated place for artists to develop large installations, often not possible in the physical world.
My first visit was in August 2017 (read here) and it was inspired by a blog entry of Inara Pey. And now I came across Split screen again reading her blog entry “A Dissected Soul in Second Life“.

Impressions of “Dissected Soul” by Theda Tammas at Split Screen (1)

Right now Split Screen hosts an installtion of Theda Tammas “Dissected Soul“. Along with her work Theda give us some words from Fernando Pessoa, a Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic, translator, publisher and philosopher, described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest poets in the Portuguese language (1888 – 1935) (source wikipedia).
“…I don’t know how many souls I have, I’ve changed at every moment, I always feel like a stranger.I’ve never seen or found myself…”
In the above mentioned blog entry Inara gives her interpretation of “Dissected Soul” starting with Pessoa’s words about his soul. I can follow her thoughts and recommend that you read her blog post.

Impressions of “Dissected Soul” by Theda Tammas at Split Screen (2)

Theda Tammas’ figures in her installation are all different, some miss their head, some there limbs, some walk in a line following a goal, some are entwined on eachother. There are some veines that start at the figures chests and end in a hank, as if someone had teared the heart out of the body? The ground is covered with a mixture of water and blood. But nonetheless the installation is not scary. You get different views of the figures depending from where you look at them, different views on your own soul? And the barbed wire? Does it symbolize the challenges we face in live – or is it the protection that we build around our soul?

Impressions of “Dissected Soul” by Theda Tammas at Split Screen (3)

Theda Tammas’ “Dissected Soul” provides food for thoughts. A visit mustn’t take long, but it might stay long in your mind.

Inara Pey’s blog entry “A Dissected Soul in Second Life”
https://modemworld.me/2017/10/30/a-dissected-soul-in-second-life/
Landmark to Split Screen Installation Space “Dissected Soul”
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA15/142/129/551

Simploring 2017 (87) Land of Owls by Cica Ghost

Again I became aware of a new installation of Cica Ghost by floowing Inara’s Living in a modemworld blog. Thank you, Inara! She wrote about Cica’s “Land of Owlshere.
As every installation I saw so far from Cica, her Land of Owls is again outstanding and different to what I saw before from her, but you can see Cica’s style. Land of Owls is a barren island with uprising stones comparable to menhirs, trees without any leave, bamboo sticks and some tundra gras. All is covered in blueish light. But there’s more …. some islands of flowers, some (not as many as I expected) owls watching the scenerey and what is going on, a couple of Flamingos at one corner of the island and some squared stones with holes that seem to be owls homes.

Impressions of Land of Owls by Cica Ghost (1)

You can take a ride with a strange boat on weels and with an umbrella. It will take you around but to discover more you’ll need to walk. Spreaded around are also some benche where you dan sit and watch the scenery. Although it’s a barren island, it doesn’t feel cold nor scary, maybe due to the flowers that made me strangely happy. The owls seem to be in control and made it their place and the watch who is disturbing them. I felt that I have to be quiet in order not to disturb them, same with the Flamingos, bt they somehow look like just being tolerated like us human visitors.

Impressions of Land of Owls by Cica Ghost (2)

Land of Owls is another piece of art from Cica ghost to enjoy. Thank you Cica!

Landmark to Land of Owls by Cica Ghost
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Flocke/128/128/27
Inara Pey’s blog entry “Cica’s Land of Owls in Second Life”
https://modemworld.me/2017/10/31/cicas-land-of-owls-in-second-life/

Simploring 2017 (84) Floating

Inspired by Inara Pey’s blog post “Floating in Second Life” my simploring tour Friday, October 20th, led me to Floating . Floating is a LEA sim designed by Bryn Oh and Cica Ghost. As I saw already some of Cica’s and Bryn’s art and installations, just these two names attracted my attention.

Floating is build on rocks, just by the sea and has a yacht harbour. Everything is in shades of grey. At the landing point you can sit on one of 3 coloured umbrellas and being to float around getting different views on the town. According to the board at the landing point you can also use a ballon to float, but I did not try it. There’s also a game offered, Zap Gun. You can grab such a zap gun to shoot your friends. When you’re hit, you’ll be sent back to the landing point (supposed you accepted the expierence – otherwise you’ll be sent back to you home point). I didn’t try the zap gun, but I can imagine that it is fun.

Impressions of Floating by Bryn Oh and Cica Ghost (1)

Back to Floating, the grey in grey town with the yacht harbour. It looks strange as it’s houses are small and high but not skycrapers, more like squared lighthouses with no lights but with roofs instead. And they all stand very close to eachohter on the rock. All houses are just grey silhouettes. And you can’t look into them. Just a few windows allow a view inside. And this view is full of colour and show everyday scenes.

On one side of Floating, there are frameworks filled with barrels that look like eyes on the first view, on the second view they appear to be build for living, for those who can’t afford to live in the houses. And yes, one barrel allows a view inside and there’s just an ugly sleeping person inside. Below are some huts and agains you can have a look inside of one of them. The huts are not as small as the barrels but offer a bit more comfort.

Impressions of Floating by Bryn Oh and Cica Ghost (2)

I floated around and saw nothing else in they gray world. Nothing? No, I discovered one person that was not in a house, hut or barrel but walking around.

Inara had her own interpretation of Floating. She thinks that Floating shows a town with quarters for the wealthy and for the poor. I share her interpretation but that might be due to the fact that I read her blog before visiting. I also think that everything is just grey in grey unless there’s life, and life brings colour.
You might take the sim’s description text as a start for your own interpretation. The text reflects more on the floating with the umbrella or with the ballon:
Floating in the sea
You and me
To the sky you flew
But I will wait for you

Anyway, Bryn and Cica created another piece of virtual, temporary art. Thank you both.

Landmark to Floating (LEA13)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA13/121/105/21
Inara Pey’s blog entry “Floating in Second Life”
https://modemworld.me/2017/10/19/floating-in-second-life/

Diary 2017 (160) Sept. 22nd/23rd – Pirates, Lights, and a dress

Friday night, September 22nd, we had another party. The theme that Virgo picked was “Pirates”. We were just Virgo, Starry and myself in the beginning and hence I had time to get a fitting dress on the marketplace. I’m prepared now for the next “Pirates”-party. We had a very nice party with more guests later.

September 22nd: Friday night party “Pirates” – Baroness Capeleo, Diomita Maurer (upper pictures) and Della Randt, Starry, Virgo (lower pictures)

Saturday, September 23rd, I met with Mistress Jenny in the afternoon. She had announced before to take more control again yet I didn’t expect what she had in mind. We went to Restrained Freedom and she bought a sub suit for me. The sub suit is a quite elaborted restricting dress, that offers a lot of different designs, from a short unstricted dress to a full encasement with a hood – and a lot inbetween. Every single part of it can be coloured with a HUD in any Color and any material. Offering such a variety it is not that easy to set it up. slave Flo has one and I played with it several times. And now I own one, because Mistress wanted it for me. To stay honest, she also said that I may buy her one too. She will have the advantage that I can help her setting it up. I spent the rest of Saturday afternoon with setting up the sub suit and had it ready for Mistress Jenny at night.

September 23rd: Diomita Maurer wearing the “RF sub suit”

Saturday night we went attending a light show by Mario2 Helstein. I know Mario’s art and shows from visiting his LEA installation “Light Thoughts 3” (read here) and from visitng one of his former shows, the “Solstice Light Show” (read here). Mario had been busy working on the Sansar project and is back to Second Life now to do some events. He did a new “Equinox Show” at the Theatere On the Hill Saturday night and I had an invitation.

September 23rd: Impressions of Mario2 Helstein’s_Equinox_Show (1)

The show was fantastic again and I took about 100 (!) pictures again. For Mistress Jenny and slave Flo it was the first time seeing Mario’s light show and I’m glad they liked it as I did. Just amazing!

September 23rd: Impressions of Mario2 Helstein’s_Equinox_Show (2)

The show lasted over one hour and slave Flo went to bed when it was finished. Mistress Jenny and I went to The Secret house to wind down and we met Argi there. Soon later Kitty and slave slut cecy joined us. As it was already late we just chatted and caught up, then we brought slave cecy to Lochme, where she can hang around for a while.

September 23rd: Mistress Jenny, Diomita, Kitty and slut cecy at TSH and Lochme

What a varied Saturday night!

Simploring 2017 (77) 5 years of Fractals

When I read Inara Pey’s blog entry “Five Years of Fractals in Second Life” I remembered my visit to the installation “No Frontiers” by Gem Preiz at LEA in July (read here).
“5 years of Fractals” is an exhibition at the R&D Art Gallery that covers Gem Preiz’ artistical work of the last 5 years.

You can grab an information about Gem Preiz at the entrance of the exhibition and it is helpful for understanding what you see. 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.” In the notecard you’ll find a list of Gem’s work in Second Life and wihtin the LEA program – a long list btw.

The exhibtion is just great. It shows what you can do using fractals, be it related to nature or to Science Fiction, or be it simply fantasy. You will be captured in these pictures as you can discover so much. Many frames are slideshows presenting not just one picture but series of pictures. This way when you stand in one room of the exhibtion you can really dive into this world of fractals. It is amazing. There are links to youtube videos, that were taken at Gem’s former installations. I recommend watching them while you visit the exhibtion. It might change your view on the presented art as the videos add a third dimension and Gem selected fitting music.

The exhibition “5 years of Fractals” at the R&D Art Gallery is quite large and although I spent more than one hour there, I haven’t seen it all. Thank you very much, Gem. I had a nice time-out visiting your exhibtion.

I also looked up Gem Preiz’ profile and he found a nice way to interpret his Second Life name Gem:
“Gem like Gemini, which means twin: I feel so mach better when I’m together with my twin – Gem like Gemstome: I have a passion for minerals”
For sure Gem Preiz’ art is a gem of Second Life.
I also like what he states about his Real Life as it fits perfect to his art: “I spend more than half of my life dreaming of another life”

The R&D Art Gallery is at a sim with the name Diotima. The name Diotima means Zeus Honor, either in the active sense of a woman who honors Zeus, or in the passive sense of a woman honored by Zeus (source: wikipedia). On a sidenote: when I selected my name for Second Life I didn’t remember this name correctly and choose Diomita instead – funny coincidence.

Landmark to R&D Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Gigli%20Waves/146/198/34
Inara pey’s blog entry “Five Years of Fractals in Second Life”
https://modemworld.me/2017/09/15/five-years-of-fractals-in-second-life/

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