Art in Second Life 2022 (59) “Freaking Beauties” by Maloe Vansant at Artsville Gallery #1

01 Jul 2022 1 Comment

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

Friday, June 24th, a new place for the arts has been opened – Artsville. Artsville consists of 3 galleries. The first exhibition at Artville is “Freaking Beauties” by Maloe Vansant.

The layout of the gallery space reminded me a bit of DixMix Gallery – 3 galleries, with space for around 10 pictures each and an event area in the center. The builder is Megan Prumier, who also built the DixMix Gallery.

“Freaking Beauties” shows pictures of – surprise – freaking beauties. The pictures are very colourful, most consisting of several layers. They focus on the kinkiness, yet the pictures are intriguing, not off putting. They invite the spectator to look for details. And the freaking beauties themselves look satisfied and proud. Each picture is an eye catcher!

Maloe Vansant joined Second Life in 2007, a new world for her who had never played games or joined any social network site: “After creating little Maloe, my barbie doll, my pixel soul, I discovered the possibility of making snapshots and I started to make a graphic diary of Maloe’s journey in Second Life, showing the emotions she experienced in this pixel world. I think I succeeded in doing this by using some post processing in Photoshop. I am not a woman of many words, I try to express myself, my feelings, my passion and probably my dark side through my pictures.”
Maloe has also a flickr account where you can see more of her artwork.

The virtuality blog published an interview with Maloe Vansant by Violet Boa back in August 2021. Violet Boa wrote in the introducing text about Maloe:
“Maloe belongs to the group of people who are strongly guided by feelings and she is blessed with ability to touch our souls with her photography.
With skillful game between light, shadow, color and composition she creates works that appeal to us not only on the quality level, but also write stories of life and with it catch our thoughts and hearts.”
Read the full interview on virtuality blog here.

Artsville is owned by Vally Lavender-Prodigy (Valium Lavender). Artsville was created in collaboration the Art Korner blog, owned and founded by Frank Atisso.

Thank you Vally and Frank for creating Artsville and providing the space for the arts. Thank you Megan for building the gallery. And thank you Maloe for your art, I enjoyed my visit.

Landmark to Artsville and to Freaking Beauties by Maloe Vansant
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ValiumSL/60/180/22
Artsville flickr
https://www.flickr.com/groups/14823986@N21/
Art Korner blog
https://www.artkornersl.com/
Interview with Maloe Vansant by Violet Boa in virtuality blog
https://www.virtuality.blog/interview-with-maloe-vansant/
Maloe Vansant’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/31954671@N08//

Art in Scond Life 2022 (20) Carpe Noctem by Maloe Vansant

22 Feb 2022 Leave a comment

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

I got an invitation to visit the lastest exhibition at DixMix Gallery, that opened February 19th: “Carpe Noctem” by Maloe Vansant.
Sometimes I come across an artist quite often in a short time, just to see nothing of the artist again for a longer time. Just recently I saw “Inside Maloe’s Mind” by Maloe Vansant, an exhibition that opened Sunday, February 6th (read about it here). I have written about Maloe’s art already before. The last time I came across her was in September 2021 when I visited her exhibition “Eternally” at DixMix Gallery (read here) that celebrated the tenth anniversary of Maloe Vansant and DixMix Source’s friendship.

“Carpe Noctem” by Maloe Vansant is showcased in room Amalfia at DixMix Gallery. It consists of 10 pictures mainly showing female faces or parts of it. There is no obvious story that connect these pictures. Each seems to have an own story. I was particularly attracted by the picture that is also used for the exhibition poster. It is called “Faux Andy” and is shown with four different colour filters at the exhibtion. For me it is amazing how different the the face and the expression becomes with a different colour.

Maloe also plays with other effects, like blurring or with several layers of different pictures. She plays with softenting, light and also with strong colour contrasts. Another favourite of me at “Carpe Noctem” by Maloe Vansant is “The crack in the mirror”. Maloe’s art is passionate and full of details, the pictures provoke the visitor to spin stories around them.

Examples of “Carpe Noctem” by Maloe Vansant – Faux Andy / The truth is mine / just a shadow left / The crack in the mirror

Maloe Vansant joined Second Life in 2007, a new world for her who had never played games or joined any social network site: “After creating little Maloe, my barbie doll, my pixel soul, I discovered the possibility of making snapshots and I started to make a graphic diary of Maloe’s journey in Second Life, showing the emotions she experienced in this pixel world. I think I succeeded in doing this by using some post processing in Photoshop. I am not a woman of many words, I try to express myself, my feelings, my passion and probably my dark side through my pictures.”
Maloe has also a flickr account where you can see more of her artwork.

The virtuality blog published an interview with Maloe Vansant by Violet Boa back in August 2021. Violet Boa wrote in the introducing text about Maloe:
“Maloe belongs to the group of people who are strongly guided by feelings and she is blessed with ability to touch our souls with her photography.
With skillful game between light, shadow, color and composition she creates works that appeal to us not only on the quality level, but also write stories of life and with it catch our thoughts and hearts.”
Read the full interview on virtuality blog here.

Thank you Dixmix for providing and curating the DixMix Gallery, thank you Megan for building it and thank you Violet Boa for the PR. The exhibition “Carpe Noctem” by Maloe Vansant shall stay open until March, 6th.

Landmark to Dixmix Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Madori%20Bay/46/213/22
Interview with Maloe Vansant by Violet Boa in virtuality blog
https://www.virtuality.blog/interview-with-maloe-vansant/
Maloe Vansant’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/31954671@N08//

Art in Second Life 2022 (9) Dreams by Megan Prumier

24 Jan 2022 1 Comment

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

I visited the latest exhibition at DixMix Gallery, that opened January 22th: “Dreams” by Megan Prumier.

I know Megan Prumier as builder or contributor to sims dealing with urban life, with mega cities, for example of Voodoo Land (read here), Kiyori (read here) and Skrunda-2 (read here). But I also covered some exhibtions of her like her part at La Maison d’Aneli’s exhibtion of September 2019 (read here). I know her as the builder of the DixMix Gallery where she also added to the interior design and where she contributes to exhibitions of other artists with her decorations.

Megan Prumier is a multimedia artist and resident in Second Life since 2010. Her skills are extended on the field of photography, mostly portraits on modern, minimal and even surreal Scenes.
“Dreams” by Megan Prumier at DixMix Gallery is a series of about 15 erotic pictures showing a model who exposes her body in a vintage setting of the 1920’s. Megan added elements of the setting to the exhibition space. The ceiling lights and the round seating furniture can be seen in the pictures and are used to decorate the exhibition space. Megan used light elements in form of bows and bands to further illuminate the space, to seperate her pictures and to provide an artistic light. The pictures were taken in Second Life and processed. The result is a fully fitting set up of art where space and featured pictures build a unit and allows the visitor for fully immerse into the pictures and the setting.
You can see Megan’s art also on her flickr page.

Examples and Imrepssions of “Dreams” by Megan Prumier at DixMix Gallery

Thank you Dixmix for providing and curating the DixMix Gallery, thank you Violet Boa for the PR. And thank you Megan for another impressing exhibtion. The exhibition “Dreams” by Megan Prumier shall stay open until mid February.

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

Art in Second Life 2022 (8) The secret life of mannequins and birds by Mrs. S.

18 Jan 2022 Leave a comment

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

I visited the latest exhibition at DixMix Gallery, that opened January 15th: “The secret life of mannequins and birds” by Mrs. S.

Mrs. S. (lauralar) wrote about her exhibtion in the accompanying notecard:
“One of the first objects I used to make installations were mannequins. I found them at Kowloon. The concept ‘Travelling mannequins’ (2009) was about mannequins visiting sims like Furillen and Poetik or places, like a swimmingpool, castle and mountains. Now they are back in the Winterretraite.
Art is a big part in my life, it’s one of my dreams to have a huge wall in my house filled with art. As we all know, anything is possible in Second Life, so I made an art wall with some of my favorites and some of my own. It can be seen at the Birdhouse.
Birds have always fascinated me, it’s why I like to combine them with other objects. Thanks to great designers like Keke, Vespertine, Dust Bunny and so many more it’s possible to make stories with their items.
Some of the stories can be seen in the Birdhouse.
The Birdhouse and Winterretraite can be visited after the opening at Dixmix Gallery.
I hope you enjoy the exhibition as much as I enjoyed making it.
Mrs. S. (lauralar)“

Mrs. S. (lauralar) is in Secondlife since 2012. She is on observer, photographer and decorator. The exibhition compromises 10 pictures, pictures of birds and other whimsical objects, pictures of her wall of art. Each picture has a name – and the name is exactly what you see. That made me smile. The four examples that I selected as an appetizer for you to visit the exhibtion are called: Not a party pooper, Wintermannequins, Treasures on the wall, Phalacrocoracidae on a chair

Examples of “The secret life of mannequins and birds” by Mrs. S. @ DixMix Gallery

You can see more of Mrs. S. art at her flickr page.

I went to the Birdhouse and the Winterretraite after visiting the exhibtion. Mrs. S. (lauralar) has her wall of art there and all the birds and whimsical objects that you can also see at the exhibtion – and more! It is a house full of art and details to discover. The exhibition was the perfect teaser to go there.

A visit to Mrs. S. (lauralar)’s Birdhouse and Winterretraite

Thank you Dixmix for providing and curating the DixMix Gallery, thank you Megan for building it and thank you Violet Boa for the PR. The exhibition “The secret life of mannequins and birds” by Mrs. S. shall stay open until begin/mid February.

Landmark to Dixmix Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Madori%20Bay/46/213/22
Mrs. S. (lauralar)’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/123839917@N06//
Mrs. S. (lauralar)’s Birdhouse and Winterretraite
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wisdim%20Isle/126/215/23

Art in Second Life 2022 (5) The other side of Me… by Lika Cameo

12 Jan 2022 Leave a comment

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

I visited “The other side of Me…” by Lika Cameo, an exhibtion currently featured at DixMix Gallery in room “Amalfia”.

“The other side of Me….” shows about 10 couples of a painting and a photograph, representing the “me” and the other side of me. Each of these couple comes with a thought or a quote.

The pictures are arranged at the walls of the room and on the both sides of a central extra wall. When you look into the room, you can read on the small side of the wall “The other side of Me…”. And you also look directly at two picture couples at the opposed wall.
Right next to the entrance on the left side is a text, the lyrics of the song “Otherside” of the US American singer and songwriter Avi Kaplan. You can hear (and see) it on youtube here. It is the perfect introduction to this artful exhibition:

Emerald ivy, wrapped around my skin
Pulls me deeper, drags me back again
Tangle me up in your vines
Take my spirit, take my mind
Take me over to that other side

“The other side of Me…” by Lika Cameo – view at the entrance of room “Amalfi” at DixMix Gallery

On the right side of the entrance you find a short text of Lika with her thoughts about her exhibition “The other side of Me…”:
“… There is always more than eyes can see and hands can feel… there is another world where i can be or i am… there is always another side of me…
Look in the mirror and see, look at your eyes and feel, you are about to enter another dimension of You …“

The pictures are very artful and fanciful, true eycatchers that invite to immerse deeper into them. In particular with the provided quote to each couple of pictures. I began to ask myself “Do I have a similiar picture of the other side of Me? Do I desire to be the other Me? Do I want to go to the other Me?” It are these thoughts that let me immerse into Lika’s art. “The other side of Me…” is a well made exhibition that combines a poem and quotes with pictures and pantings to help the spectator to visualise them.

Impressions of “The other side of Me…” by Lika Cameo @ DixMix Gallery

Lika Cameo (Likacameo) is in Second Life for more almost 4 years. She’s passionate about art, photography, architecture, travel, yoga and people. Lika has a flickr account with more of her art and she has an own gallery in Second Life, the Cameo Art Studio.

Lika Cameo’s art is unique and displayed very thoughtfully. I enjoyed my visit. Thank you Dixmix for providing and curating the DixMix Gallery, thank you Megan for building it and thank you Viloet Boa for the PR. The exhibition “The other side of Me” by Lika Cameo shall stay open until end of January.

Landmark to Dixmix Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Madori%20Bay/46/213/22
Lika Cameo’s flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/184680643@N05/albums
Cameo Art Studio
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bragg/105/230/2202
“Otherside” by Avi Kaplan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DArPxJDoIU

Art in Second Life 2021 (118) Somewhere Photos by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen

10 Dec 2021 Leave a comment

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

On Saturday, December 4th, a new exhibition was opened at DixMix Gallery in room “Amona” – “Somewhere – Photos” by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen.

The exhibition showcases 14 pictures and one video of the installation “Somewhere” by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen. I reported about this installation in this blog already (read here). This installation is still opened until Sunday, December 12th on the skyplatform “Womb” at DixMix Gallery. So hurry up, if you haven’t seen it yet! I added the post about the installation below once again.

Some examples of Somewhere – Photos by Theda and Iono Allen (1)

It is amazing to see the pictures of this installation. Each of them is a piece of art. Knowing the installation itself immediately brings up pictures in motion in your mind and you can literally see the motion, the dances and the figures when you look at the pictures.
But it you haven’t seen the installation itself, you might come to another interpretation. That is the amzaing effect of art, it produces different stories, it make you reflect about what you see, it produces different pictures and stories in each and everyone.

Some examples of Somewhere – Photos by Theda and Iono Allen (2)

There’s also a video screen at “Somewhere – Photos” where you can see the installation in motion. I enjoyed my visit and it motivated me to visit the installation itself again on the skyplatform “Womb”.

Thank you Dixmix for providing and curating the DixMix Gallery, thank you Megan for building it and for contributing to it. Many thanks of course also to Theda Tammas and Iono Allen for creating “Somewhere” and now for providing “Somewhere – Photos“.

Art in Second Life 2021 (99) Somewhere by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen

Saturday, September 25th, a new art installation at DixMix Gallery was opened on the skyplatform “Womb”: “Somewhere” by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen.

The Womb is a seperate platform in the skies above the gallery. The teleport is right next to where you land.
Once you’re on the platform you should adjust your viewer settings: graphics to ultra (or to the best your system can handle), enabled advanced lighting, shared environment (top menu “world” -> “environment”) and allow media to be played automatically.

The installation extends over 3 levels. “Somewhere” uses a lot of the different creative possibilities of virtual worlds. On the first level, where you arrive, is a big screen quite at the end of the platform. The floor is white, something between snow and sand, the sky is grey, cloudy and dark. The screen shows a film that seems to be made in this environment. A woman with a magnificent head of blue hair is dancing, she almost hoovers over the ground. And step by step other women, twins of her show up. When they are five, all dancing sychron, they disappear into the horizon before the video restarts.

Impressions of “Somewhere” by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen (1)

On the left side of the platform is a stair. It leads your to the 2nd level of the installation. The ground has some gaps through which you can see the 1st level below of you and in the sky you see the 3rd level frough even larger gaps. On the 2nd floor are several objects. The woman of the video now appears as animated dancing figure. She dances in or around the objects, she sits in a red net like being caught by it. She dances under huge gates and she watches herself dancing in other videos shown on 2 screens. The combination of light effects with the ground and skies, the videos, the 3D art ojects, the animated and static figures build a unique and permanent changing art installation. You can animate yourself to dance by clicking objects that look like bar stools on the first glance. And then let your mind wander …

Impressions of “Somewhere” by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen (2)

Getting on the 3rd level wasn’t that easy as I found no stairs. I tried walking through gates and all of a sudden got to the 3rd level. This level was obviously used for the opening event. Again you find different objects with the woman either dancing of being kept like a prisoner. Once free they dance, seek nearness to each other and follow a lead. They break out of their own prisons and limitations.

Impressions of “Somewhere” by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen (3)

Theda Tammas is in SL for more than 14 years. She has had already some exhibtions of her work. I couldn’t find out a lot more about her. If I interpreted it right, then she’s from Brasil (I might be wrong though). Theda has an own website where you can see a lot of her former installations.

Iono Allen is also more than 14 years in SL and not only from his profile I conclude that his main passion is making films, so called machimas. He has an own vimeo channel where I found a video about “Somewhere”.

Thank you Dixmix for providing and curating the DixMix Gallery, thank you Megan for building it and for contributing to it. Many thanks of course also to Theda Tammas and Iono Allen for creating “Somewhere“. Another great installation of the two. It is not the first collaborative artwork of Theda and Iono. Theda made the figures, the art objects and the setup of the installation, Iono made the video clips. Once again I enjoyed my visit.

Landmark to DixMix Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Madori%20Bay/46/213/22
Theda Tammas website
https://bytheda.weebly.com/
Iono Allen’s vimeo channel
http://vimeo.com/user2558273

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

14 Nov 2021 1 Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

08 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Art in Second Life 2021 (105) “Fusion Evolution” by Etamae

02 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

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

It’s been a while that I saw anything from Etamae. Last year I had quite some blogposts about Etamae and her art. I visited her Eta’s Feed Your Fetish Gallery (see my blogpost here) and her Extempore Gallery and Lounge (read here). I saw her contribution to the joined exhibition of April 2020 at La Maison d’Aneli (read here). I saw her “little boxes” at Hannington Art Foundation (read here), her “Memories of a Foreign Reality” at Itakos Project Art Gallery (read here) and in January 2021 I saw her exhibition “Waves of Silence” at DixMix Gallery. (read here).

Etamae is in Second Life since January 2016. She’s from the UK and began transforming her pictures from the things she has seen and loved in Second Life into something else, in digital art in 2018. Etamae is not defined by just one style or area of art, she plays with different patterns and tries herself out in a broader spectrum of art. Like all other exhibition of Etamae “Fusion Evolution” at the DixMix Gallery is once again something new. Etamae proves her attitude to try out herself and to further develop her art.

The exhibition “Fusion Evolution” is located in the room Abby at DixMix Gallery. It consists of about a dozen partly quite large pictures. The walls of the room and the floor is kept in black. At the walls you see reflections and light effects coming from two turning pictures located the corners of the exhibtion room. This way Etamae’s pictures develop a certain dynamic as the light effects mix into the pictures around.

All pictures are very colourful, and have strong colours thus contrasting to the dark black room, they a seem to be made of different layers. Some of the layers move and change so that your get permanently a different perspective. Although you can’t really recognize it, Etamae herself is the model who’s face you can see peek through in many of the pictures. She made herself part of her art, evolving through a feast of colours and abstract forms.

Impressions of “Fusion Evolution” by Etamae

Etamae showed again her ability to play with different techniques. I enjoyed my visit a lot. Her artwork is intriguing. Thank you Etamae!
Thank you Dixmix for providing and curating the DixMix Gallery, thank you Megan for building it and for contributing at it.
The exhibition “Fusion Evolution” by Etamae will stay open until mid of November.

Landmark to Dixmix Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Madori%20Bay/46/213/22
Etamae’s Flickr page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157802675@N08/?

Art in Second Life 2021 (99) Somewhere by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen

14 Oct 2021 Leave a comment

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

Saturday, September 25th, a new art installation at DixMix Gallery was opened on the skyplatform “Womb”: “Somewhere” by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen.

The Womb is a seperate platform in the skies above the gallery. The teleport is right next to where you land.
Once you’re on the platform you should adjust your viewer settings: graphics to ultra (or to the best your system can handle), enabled advanced lighting, shared environment (top menu “world” -> “environment”) and allow media to be played automatically.

The installation extends over 3 levels. “Somewhere” uses a lot of the different creative possibilities of virtual worlds. On the first level, where you arrive, is a big screen quite at the end of the platform. The floor is white, something between snow and sand, the sky is grey, cloudy and dark. The screen shows a film that seems to be made in this environment. A woman with a magnificent head of blue hair is dancing, she almost hoovers over the ground. And step by step other women, twins of her show up. When they are five, all dancing sychron, they disappear into the horizon before the video restarts.

Impressions of “Somewhere” by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen (1)

On the left side of the platform is a stair. It leads your to the 2nd level of the installation. The ground has some gaps through which you can see the 1st level below of you and in the sky you see the 3rd level frough even larger gaps. On the 2nd floor are several objects. The woman of the video now appears as animated dancing figure. She dances in or around the objects, she sits in a red net like being caught by it. She dances under huge gates and she watches herself dancing in other videos shown on 2 screens. The combination of light effects with the ground and skies, the videos, the 3D art ojects, the animated and static figures build a unique and permanent changing art installation. You can animate yourself to dance by clicking objects that look like bar stools on the first glance. And then let your mind wander …

Impressions of “Somewhere” by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen (2)

Getting on the 3rd level wasn’t that easy as I found no stairs. I tried walking through gates and all of a sudden got to the 3rd level. This level was obviously used for the opening event. Again you find different objects with the woman either dancing of being kept like a prisoner. Once free they dance, seek nearness to each other and follow a lead. They break out of their own prisons and limitations.

Impressions of “Somewhere” by Theda Tammas and Iono Allen (3)

Theda Tammas is in SL for more than 14 years. She has had already some exhibtions of her work. I couldn’t find out a lot more about her. If I interpreted it right, then she’s from Brasil (I might be wrong though). Theda has an own website where you can see a lot of her former installations.

Iono Allen is also more than 14 years in SL and not only from his profile I conclude that his main passion is making films, so called machimas. He has an own vimeo channel where I found a video about “Somewhere”.

Thank you Dixmix for providing and curating the DixMix Gallery, thank you Megan for building it and for contributing to it. Many thanks of course also to Theda Tammas and Iono Allen for creating “Somewhere“. Another great installation of the two. It is not the first collaborative artwork of Theda and Iono. Theda made the figures, the art objects and the setup of the installation, Iono made the video clips. Once again I enjoyed my visit.

Landmark to DixMix Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Madori%20Bay/46/213/22
Theda Tammas website
https://bytheda.weebly.com/
Iono Allen’s vimeo channel
http://vimeo.com/user2558273

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