Art in Second Life 2023 (17) “Sans titre” by JadeYu Fhang / “Back to Back” by Dido Haas @ Nitroglobus Roof Gallery

10 Apr 2023 1 Comment

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

Dido Haas invited me to see the March exhibition at her Nitroglobus Roof Gallery: “Sans titre” by JadeYu Fhang. The offical opening will take place tonight, April 10th, at 12 PM SLT (9 PM CET).

“Sans titre” by JadeYu Fhang consists of 12 pictures and 5 3D art installations/objects. “Sans titre” is French and means “Without title”. So we can’t make out a common theme – at least from the title of the exhibition.

The arrangement of the objects and pictures is as convincing as always at the Nitroglobus Roof Gallery. The mirroring floor effect is impressesing and adds to the exhibited art.

Impressions of “Sans titre” by JadeYu Fhang @ Nitroglobus Roof Gallery (1)

JadeYu wrote an introduction to her exhibition to provide some food of thought to the visitor about how to find a title:
“The intention of this exhibition is not to impose any invasive and/or blocking ideas but give the visitor a look, a feeling.
This work is like a vibration, a desire to touch sensitivities, to initiate thoughts and feelings in each visitor and, perhaps, to get some response.
However, I was asked to explain in words an internal magma, which is so difficult to partition into verbal language.
Let’s call it a matter of violence inside bodies, facial expressions (3D) leading to the intention of erasing the other person, as suggested in the images (2D).

The papers around the women?
These papers indicate words, insults and other ignominy which are thrown in women’s faces throughout their lifes. Words loaded with hatred and violence “the killing words”. Nothing is written on the papers… it’s up to you to imagine what could be there.
Why women?
They are like the symbol, the mirror of those who through a brutality, a destructive will seek to destroy. To destroy everything that in no way corresponds to fluidity and natural roundness. Flexibility and openness is not the order of the day, the preference is for the square shape and it must be respected, locking up any will to exist outside the frame.

This work is an observation from the marks of my own journey. I have no lesson to give to anyone.
JadeYu Fhang 

Impressions of “Sans titre” by JadeYu Fhang @ Nitroglobus Roof Gallery (2)

The papers, JadeYu is referring to, are around the sculptured woman in the center of the exhibition. The women squirm as if they want to defend themselves against the papers (see picture above). The pictures also show women, most faces, but also their full body in other pictures. Yet there’s no clear picture, the spectator has to immerse deeply into JadYu’s pictures to get more insight, to recognise the facial expressions, or to even find it. I liked in particular the woman at the window in the upper left of the snapshot above. on a first glance you might think that you look at 6 copies of one of the same picture, but every picture is different and reveals another detail of the woman’s face. Next to this picture is a picture that changes between two stati permanently and also reveals a face.

JadeYu Fhang’s portrait / Impressions of “Sans titre” by JadeYu Fhang @ Nitroglobus Roof Gallery (3)

JadeYu Fhang writes about herself:
“Living in Paris, France, i followed the evening classes in academic drawing at Fine Arts School of Paris and was trained at the Applied Arts School of this city.

After these studies I completely stopped all artistic work. My journey is an atypical one, made of multiple experiences. I returned to artistic work when I was able to get rid of all the academic rigidity which I had been taught.
My experience on Second Life since 12 years allows me to continue and improve my work and extend it to 3D”

If you click on the exhibition poster at the Nitroglobus Roof Gallery you can get a notecard with her biography, her general approach to art and many links to JadeYu Fhang’s art, in particular to videos.

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 “Sans titre” by JadeYu Fhang. Thank you JadeYu for your art. Whatever I saw from you so far impressed me.
As it is the April exhibition at the gallery “Sans titre”” shall be available at least until the end of this month.

When I visited I noticed that Dido Haas has used her personal annex of the Nitroglobus Roof Gallery again for an own exhibiton named “Back to Back”. This exhibition should be available also until end of April.


To no surprise the exhibition is about “Backs”. Dido wrote:
“It was fun making these images with Mr. H. At different places, situations and times I suddenly asked him to ‘STAY’ and ‘Take off your shirt, mmm nah also your pants please’. He was patient and never complained. Therefore, my sincere thanks to Fleming for making this exhibition possible. The ‘theme’ of the exhibition which consists of 8 monochrome images is obvious: our backs nothing more, nothing less.
The large sculpture exhibited in the middle of the room is by the late Nitro Fireguard and called ipads. Other sculptures exhibited in the room are by Haveit Neox, Harry Cover (Impossibleisnotfrench), and Cherry Manga, Light art (the plastic spheres and the animated daisies) by Adwehe.“

Impressions of “Back to Back” by Dido Haas @ Nitroglobus Roof Gallery Annex

Although all pictures are not explicit, they are very erotic. They leave the room to picture the feelings of the man and the woman, the anticipation of what happens next, the excitement of love and togetherness. And the back of both genders can be very erotic, not only the bum, which is a fetish for many of us.
Thank you for your art, Dido. I love it.

Have fun visiting the Nitroglobus Roof Gallery and seeing these two great exhibitions!

Landmark to Nitroglobus Roof Gallery and to “Sans titre” by JadeYu Fhang
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunshine%20Homestead/38/22/1001
Dido Haas’ blog
https://exploringslwithdido.blogspot.com
JadeYu Fhang on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/JYuF-148115341865196/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Yann GYRO (sempiternel)’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/people/154701358@N02/

Art in Second Life 2021 (119) Clay & Seed

13 Dec 2021 1 Comment

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

Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori) invited me to the opening of a new exhibtion at her sim Akimori on Sunday, December 5th. I had seen there “The Borderless Project” this Summer and wrote a blogpost series about it (read here part I, part II, part III and part IV). The new exhibition is called “Clay & Seed“.

I could not attend the opening itself and went there already the day before the official opening party. Akiko had told me that the exhibition was already open. With the invitation I got a notecard with the landmark, a notecard about the exhibition and a notecard with information about each participating artist: Haveit Neox, Bamboo Barnes and Lilia Artis.

Clay & Seed is “a collaboration of art, utilizing 3D, 2D, and Text. For the Clay & Seed exhibit, Bamboo Barnes chose to focus on 2D artwork, Lilia Artis on poetry, and Haveit Neox on sculpture and architecture. The goal was to have these disciplines unite into a single work, which in this case of three like-minded artists, occurred organically.

Haveit’s galleries provide the supporting walls for Bamboo’s imagery, while Lilia’s poetry garnishes the windows of these clay buildings and thus closes the circle. During the process, each artist’s work contained a seed of inspiration for the other two. Being admirers of each other’s works for many years, it seems destiny smiled on these three with the opportunity to share their visions together and in an art region that inspired their creativity.

Describing the erosion of the environment and human relationships, the work of all three artists explores the fields of destruction, growth, abuse, hope, gratefulness, and loneliness.“

The landing is in the center of the installation on a little platform with three trees. A few chairs invite to sit down and to have a first view on the artwork. It is in the skies. Two big buildings, which reminded me of cathedrals, caught my eyes first. The two buildings are the galleries. Between the two buildings are several platforms in the form of dishes. They seem to be supported by many beings among others also mermaids. On the dishes are 3D art objects. You also see paths that lead the visitor around and along the paths are more 3D art objects.

Clay & Seed – Impressions (1): First views on Haveit Neox’ artwork

At the landing point you can grab presents from the three artists, art that you can use to display at home. I started to explore the installation. All 3D objects were made by Haveit Neox. In the accompanying notecard Haveit wrote about himself:
“I feel that I grew up in a garden. Nearly always a barefoot kid with stained feet from the earth, I constructed primitive cities with yard debris, mud, and twigs. Colorful paint and cutout pictures from magazines enriched the surfaces. Later I fashioned cities of fired clay and glazes. Interior and exterior spaces fascinated me as I observed bugs take up residence. I also drew cities on paper and long scrolls. The cities advanced from their mud origins to painted scrolls, and ceramics.
In Real Life, I have displayed my artworks mainly in Los Angeles, New York, and a couple shows in Paris. The theme is often based on urban settings of my own invention. In December 2009, I was led to the virtual world of Second Life. As a child, a strong and recurrent fantasy was miniature people populating my cities. Avatars fulfill that dream. The spaces I make in SL receive real people in their pixel guise. In the context of the city, the interior and exterior spaces hold my artwork, and are themselves a habitable exhibit.“

Clay & Seed – Impressions (2): Haveit Neox’ artwork

There’s a lot to discover and to see. For example you find the small clay cities, you find artful beings like horses, fishes, mermaids, fantasy beings, you find smaller 3D art pieces where several layers build the 3D effect. And the 2 galleries of course.

Some of Haveit Neox’ sims and buildings still can be seen in Second Life – something on my list of places to visit: Acc Alpha (also known as the city of Accentaury), QeddoQ, Sparquerry and Centaurs’ Hall.
On vimeo you can watch a video about Haveit’s RL clay artwork and about Accentaury: Accentaury Tour 2014. On the sim of ACC Alpha, Accentaury, City Center 2016.

At the entrance of both gallery buildings are storks that hold boards with the poems of Lilia Artis. As mentioned above, poems are also in the windows of the two gallery buildings. They aer kind of a connecting element between Haveit Neox’ 3D art and buildings and Bamboo Barnes’ pictures that are exhibited inside of the galleries.

Clay & Seed – Impressions (3): Lilia Artis’ poems

spit out

you look at me
showing yellow teeth
I see cities tumble
out of your open mouth
and remnants of corpses

your foul breath crawls
over my body that is locked in place
to witness you gobbling down empires
and spitting them out again
only to tell me who I am

Lilia Artis writes about herself:
“My RL artwork stepped into the background when I discovered the love of writing, which has become my main career. Coming into SL however, rekindled the passion for the paths of colours, light, pattern and structure. And so, I merge both interests into my virtual art, be it 2D, 3D or machinima. During my creative voyage all these years I noticed how much my virtual art inspired the exploration of my RL artwork and vice versa, often one leading to the other. In the beginning I was neck deep into painting with acrylics and water colours and drawing. When I later learned to weld metal and to sculpt stone and wood, I discovered my love of creating 3D objects. At first it only led to learning the goldsmith craft and creating my own jewelry. But I was hooked and seeing what you can do with prims in SL felt like such a similar process, minus the damaged fingers. I will never forget the joy of building my first simple virtual installations made of prims. Again several years later, learning to sculpt with 3D software led to learning to sculpt with clay in RL, something I would never have considered otherwise. But I wanted to create faces, something that fascinates me most…
I have done solo and collaborative exhibitions in galleries and at events in Second Life. For a while my main focus concerning artwork was on machinima. I teamed up with Haveit Neox and we expanded to RL art projects as well, which we will continue into the future. Since 2015 in SL I focused on building together with Haveit Neox the Arts & Entertainment region for Fantasy Faire.”
There are still video’s available of Lilia Artis’ machimas, which were made for the UWA art challenges, 2015 & 2014: ‘Tis an Egg, touching white and Striding – unknown Roads.

Clay & Seed – Impressions (4): Bamboo Barnes’ artwork

Inside of the galleries are Bamboo Barnes pictures. I never saw that many pictures of her than in this exhibtion. There are around 30 pictures in each of the two buildings.
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), I saw “Mindstorm” at IMAGO Land (read here), and just recently I saw her exhibition “Drawer” at Hannington Arts Foundation (read here). I also had a look at her flickr page.

Clay & Seed – Impressions (5): Bamboo Barnes’ artwork

The broad range of themes is intriguing. There are pictures that remind of Mediterrean cities painted in water colour and artfully processed in Bamboo’s way. There are faces under several layers so that the spectator has to dive into the picture, there are pure abstract cretions as well as pictures of art objects. You have to see them yourself – and you need time to get all the details. Each of the two buildings would be worth a seperate visit.
But that’s not all…. Looking down I could see another platform. It is connected to the art installation “Clay & Seed” with a long row of horses which winds up from there to the platform. I did not check if you could walk up and down, I think it is more another art object, that connects the world below with “Clay & Seed” in the sky. On the lower level is another art installation of Bamboo Barnes, this time in 3D. I didn’t find a name or anything about it. The installation consists of boxes, mirror boxes and ice cubes. As you could expect it, it hs very colourful. You can walk inside and suddently you’re completely in another world. Whereever your look at you see Bamboo’s art.
In the outside Bamboo added some geometrical forms and objects .. and you can sit down for a break and a chair. This chair is one of the gifts you could grab at the landing of “Clay & Seed” – and it is now also at my homeplace.

Below “Clay & Seed” – Bamboo Barnes’ Boxes

Visiting “Clay & Seed” made my Saturday an art day! I enjoyed my visit, reading about the artists and writing about this great installation. Thank you Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori) for your kind invitation as well as for providing the space for the arts. Thank you Haveit Neox, Bamboo Barnes and Lilia Artis for your artwork.
According to Akiko “Clay & Seed” will be availabe for a visit for several months.

Landmark to Clay & Seed @ Akimori
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akimori/189/86/1740

Haveit Neox Acc Alpha (also known as the city of Accentaury)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ACC%20Alpha/236/208/54
Haveit Neox QeddoQ
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/qeddoq/110/118/32
Haveit Neox Sparquerry
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sparquerry/128/128/28
Haveit Neox Centaurs’ Hall
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Verdigris/209/75/66
Haveit Neox RL clay artwork
https://vimeo.com/281525163
Haveit Neox Accentaury Tour 2014. On the sim of ACC Alpha
https://vimeo.com/115370393
Haveit Neox Accentaury, City Center 2016
https://vimeo.com/195723654
Lilia Artis ‘Tis an Egg
https://vimeo.com/143798263
Lilia Artis touching white
https://vimeo.com/144233680
Lilia Artis Striding – unknown Roads
https://vimeo.com/110392433
Bamboo Barnes’ flickr page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bamboobarnes/

Simploring 2019 (23) Avaloir – Eupalinos Ugajin

28 Feb 2019 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , ,

I came across Eupalinos Ugajin during my last visit to La Maison D’Aneli (read here). Saturday, February 16th, I visited Eupalinos’ sim – Avaloir.
Avaloir is french and translates to gully. Of course Avaloir is full of Eupalinos’ particular art. The landing is in a skybox which is itself worth seeing – zoom out to see it’s extraordinairy shape and the the planet with the outside with an attached paper. There’re also some interesting objects in the box. You’re asked to accept experiences – and I did. Then I used the very particular teleporter, that animates your avatar in a funny way. I got several destinations offered and selected “Catapult”.

Avaloir – the landing skybox

The catapult is on the ground level….
“Catapulte: Click the water planet above to select a projectile and Jupiter to fire the catapult.” I did and selected “bishop by Haveit Neox” …and a bishop dropped down into the catapulte and then was ejected by it. Haveit Neox? The name rang a bell. I just came across other pieces of art from Haveit Neox, when I explored Undertones, Art Oluja (artistik Oluja) place and gallery the day before (read here Simploring 2019 (22) Undertones)

Avaloir – Catapulte (upper left) / at “The Plant”

I continued exploring using the teleporter and visited all desinations. Avaloir is an interactive installation of various smaller art installations. Each of them is unique, surreal and mostly also funny. For example when you enter “The Plant” your avatar is animated to wait ….
“The Plant: Please switch off your AO and by the way are you wearing the safety equipment found at the entrance ?
Waiting room A: The manager is in a meeting. You have no choice but to wait 30 minutes (lucky for you converted in SL time this gives 30 seconds). Please enjoy some delicious background music composed by one of our employees in his spare time.“

Avaloir – the concrete kite

Or the bathtube …. once I sat in it, I fall …. and then I saved (clicked) the floating images as instructed and each gave a comment:
Aston Leisen: Diomita Maurer wants me to LIVE!
Alpha Auer: Diomita Maurer wants me to LIVE!
AM Radio: Diomita Maurer wants me to LIVE!

Avaloir – Zirkus (upper left) / Star! (upper right) / Library (lower left) / Play me (lower right)

I tried “Anything” and got my avatar floating agravic among other objects. I visited the “Concrete Kite”, the “Egg” and “Star!”. I had fun not only because of Euplinos’ particular humor but also with the little activities and by looking at all the surreal objects. Some of the installations have also a touch of steampunk – like the “Zirkus Bar”

Avaloir – Chutes d’Ima (bathtube) (upper left and right) / Anything (lower left) / Zirkus Bar (lower right)

Avaloir is a unique experience and hard to describe, particular for a non-native English speaker like me. But that results in what might be the best to do – see Avaloir yourself. My pictures should give you an impression of what to expect and should be a teaser. Enjoy!
Thank you Eupalinos Ugajin for creating and keeping alive your sim. I like your art and your humor. And a visit is for sure an experience you don’t make daily in Second Life.

Landmark to Avaloir
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ravage/128/129/3001

Simploring 2019 (22) Undertones

26 Feb 2019 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, February 15th, I picked “Undertones” from scoop.it SL Destinations. The short article and the short landmark description of “Undertones“ did tempt me:
“Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect – a public gallery, garden, music, videos, artwork, and little shops to explore, snap, and hangout. Welcome all friendlies!
On the docks: T3T Rez zone, gacha yardsale and random freebies 🙂”
In addition, I hadn’t heard or read before about the artist, who owns “Undertones”: Art Oluja (artistik Oluja)

Undertones – overview and entering the gallery

At the landing point you can grab some freebies and a landmark at a raft, that is close to the landing point (one freebie is the raft itself). Getting up the stairs you enter a labyrinth of connected modern buildings with a lot of space for the art. In the first hallway one wall is full of posters of galleries. Seems, as if I will never be able to discover and see all of them.

Impressions of Undertones – the art of Art Oluja (artistik Oluja)

Apropos missing – I looked up Art Oluja’s profile to find out about her art. She says about herself: “Addicted to mental stimulation, synesthetic appreciation, and art in all its forms. I admire creative processes, online and off, inside and out. Im an explorer and admirer of all the many creative experiences here, but sometimes I zone out enough to experiment myself :)”
I learned that Art Oluja had participated in the LEA program, having own installations and collaborated with other artists. I didn’t see any of it though.

Impressions of Undertones – featuring the art of Silas Merlin, Pearl Grey (pearlgrey) and Elle Thorkveld

At Undertones Art Oluja has exhibited her art as well as art from other artists. I came across Pearl Grey (pearlgrey), Klaus Bereznyak, Silas Merlin, Mistero Hifeng, Elle Thorkveld and Haveit Neox. I’m pretty sure, there’re more.

Impressions of Undertones – featuring the art of Mistero Hifeng, Silas Merlin, Klaus Bereznyak and Haveit Neox / Diomita posing at Undertones

I visited the garden, the event area, the shops and some nice spots to sit and enjoy. I had fun looking at all the art, there’s so much to discover that my one hour visit was by far not suffient. I grabbed some of the freebies, some of Art Oluja own work is given away for free as well, some are sold – and yes, I got one piece for my own collection of art.

Impressions of Undertones – featuring the art of Pearl Grey (pearlgrey) and Klaus Bereznyak / Diomita trying out the freebies (lower left and middle) and placing the art of Art Oluja (artistik Oluja) at home (lower right)

And at home, I had a look at the freebies – funny!
I enjoyed my visit to Undertones and seeing Art Oluja’s work as well as the work of other artists arranged thoughtfully and I had fun looking around. Thank you Art Oluja for sharing your place, for the freebies and for a very enjoyable visit.

Landmark to Undertones
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Catocala/149/86/22