I mean, any post that starts and ends with giant cactus installations is a-okay by me! This is the jaw-dropping, sometimes inflatable, lose-yourself-inside-it work of Lyon based artist Cyril Lancelin. I love all of these crazy amazing pieces, but I think my favorite might be the first one… “Inverted Cactus”. Here’s Cyril’s description, found on his Instagram feed.

“‘Inverted Cactus’ : Installation with fake cactus. People can position themselves just under it. It feels like 2020… immersive at one point only, but feels more immersive than ever.”

You can say that again.

 

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If you could photograph poetry, I believe it would look a lot like this. Sigh. All of these photographs {that I swore were collages when I scrolled by them on Instagram} are part of an ongoing series titled “Reflection – 2” by Shanghai based artist Ziqian Liu… and yes, that’s her in every image. Ziqian’s personal work begins with self-portraiture because she believes keeping a ‘visual diary’ is the “best way for her to communicate with herself and to get to know herself better”. Here is her full artist statement:

“There are two main themes in her work. The first theme is about the symbiosis between human beings and nature. To some extent, it can be said that human beings and the rest of the natural world is equal, we live in the same world, breathing the same air, mutual tolerance. In her works, she tries to find a state of harmony between human and nature, and full of peace and emotion, because in this state of symbiosis, beauty will be most embodied.

The second theme is about perspective. Things we are familiar with often remain in a fixed image, but she is trying to convey through her work, to look at the same thing from different angles, there will be different findings. This is not only for things, but also for understanding others and our hearts. On the other hand, her deepest desire is for symmetry and perfect order, both in the appearance of things and in the patterns of human interaction, but this is too idealistic, after all, society is not balanced, some imperfections make it real. In her work, the image in the mirror represents the idealized world she wishes to live in, and the integration with the outside is just a reminder to respect and recognize the imbalance in the real world, but also to adhere to the order and principles of our hearts.”

See? Poetic.

{Found via TaxCollection}

Paper. No, seriously … allllll of it is paper. Even the chair, table, etc. I know, it’s a little bit too much for my brain to handle on a Monday morning, but alas, it’s true. This is the installation work of Massachusetts based artist Elizabeth Alexander. Here’s her artist statement to help explain these wonders:

“Cast paper, [she casts paper!?] sculptural collage, and altered objects are my methods for deconstructing domestic vignettes of traditional success and beauty. Long hours of unmaking and rebuilding found materials provide space to record memories and observations as I reexamine supposed truths within the domestic sphere. Repetitive processes become internal centering elements as I work to carefully break down these concepts. 

The ubiquitous notion of the American home as a symbol for status, power, values, and security has led me to examine my own relationship with home and consider its untidy qualities.  Living with and loving others who battle mental illness and chronic pain has complicated my experience with private space. I aim to unearth the human presence within our material surroundings and explore home as a place that is shaped by our stories and bears witness to our secret lives.” 

Beautiful. ps. Elizabeth’s work was recently selected for “Paper Routes – Women to Watch 2020” at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC… of course it was! The show runs until the end of January 2021.

Gasp! Glass mosaic, grout, copper pipe, thread, styrofoam… now that is a materials list! This is the work of Budapest based artist Zsófia Keresztes. Most of her sculptures and installations center around her interest in the intersection of the digital world and the body. The tears for example, “represent social media and its predatory claims on our sadness – and the sadness of others. They are toxic.” Well here’s something that will cause tears of joy… it’s just been announced that Zsófia will represent Hungary at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022! Amazing news! Congratulations, Zsófia… I hope I get to see your jaw-dropping work in person.

{quote via Elijah Wheat Showroom, NY}.

Aaaand that pretty much sums up 2020, no? I seriously considered saving this post for December 31, but I couldn’t wait! These acrylic paintings are the work of Rome based artist Romina Bassu. I love everything about this work, from their dreamy, muted color palettes to their very to-the-point titles {the painting of the woman facedown in the plate, for example, is titled “Monday”}. Okay, I’m off to cut the fingertips off any gloves I can find … hm, I’m definitely gonna need a manicure too.

 

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PORCELAIN. I thought these lovely deconstructed vessels were paper, or maybe painted wood? Nope. THEY. ARE. PORCELAIN. I’ll wait while you scroll back up in disbelief … Ok, great. This is the work of Massachusetts based artist Janice Jakielski, from two of her series –  “Books” and “Sliced”. Here are Janice’s words about her work:

“I create objects of curiosity; beautiful objects to provide focus, retreat and pause in an overwhelming world. Through the use of meticulous detail, familiar forms and uncertain function I coax my audience to draw near, closing the physical gap between viewer and object. In this way the details of my workmanship and the excessive fragility of the porcelain act as a whisper, flirtatiously demanding investigation.

This work began from a place of material exploration. I adapt and re-invent ceramic engineering processes and materials for application in the studio. This experimental approach to ceramics allows me to circumvent the constraints of a conventional clay body. By inventing a new way of casting and manipulating ultra-thin porcelain sheets I am able to create impossible objects. Cut, veneered, twirled and slotted my vessels have a material ambiguity that brings the viewer to a place of sensory uncertainty.

My pieces are inspired by iconic historic vessels. I do not replicate these objects but instead re-imagine them in ways not feasible using traditional ceramics. By removing the interior volume I am able to contemplate these forms divorced from function. They are vessels without voids, containers without containment. I use planes to playfully define, dissect and divide the spaces that they inhabit.”

‘Beautiful objects to provide focus, retreat and pause in an overwhelming world’ … ahhh, yes. I needed that. Thanks, Janice.

Sigh. These are some of the most recent mixed media paintings by Canadian artist Meghan Hildebrand. Anytime I write about Meghan, I make sure to include closeups because there is so much going on in every piece! Tiny houses, ghosts, forest animals… and is that a wizard three images up? I dunno, but what I do know is that I’d love to settle into one of those little log cabins for the next month or so. The final painting above is titled “Tucked In”, and yes I realize it’s only Tuesday, but that sounds like a great idea to me.

*Meghan’s work can be acquired through these galleries.

Gasp! “Frozen Flowers” by Japanese artist Makoto Azuma. This breathtaking piece is from 2018, but as we head into winter here in the Northern hemisphere, it feels very appropriate! I’m sure you’ve seen this artist’s work before, perhaps his “Botanical Space Flight” {flowers in space… seriously}. This final icy installation is absolutely stunning, but wait, there’s more! His ‘in progress’ shots {captured by Shunsuke Shiinoki} are just as beautiful. If you ever feel like you don’t have enough energy to head into the studio for an afternoon, let this insanity be your inspiration:

Now that is commitment. To learn more about Makoto Azuma, Shunsuke Shiinoki and AMKK – their co-founded flower and plant institute – click here. Happy Monday.

‘Oof’. That was the first thought/sound that popped into my mind when I saw the weirdly emotional ceramic work of Swedish artist Fanny Ollas. Emotional ceramics? Yeah, that must be a thing because just look at these vases, lamps and mirrors. They absolutely express how I’m feeling at the end of this crazy year. Oof. Here’s Fanny’s bio, and description of why she does what she does:

Fanny Ollas is an artist and designer based in Stockholm, Sweden, working primarily with ceramics and textile. She has a background within fashion but changed her career in 2015 to work with ceramics and sculpture. Fanny is interested in art and craft in relation to psychology and the emotional relationship we have with the everyday objects around us. In her practice, she uses clay to discover and explore visual storytelling and to give form to different mental states and emotions. She often works with scenography and with spatial installations where the objects interact with each other to create a mood or a story. She combines the playful qualities of the clay with a handmade expression to create a language that is both cute, humorous and sometimes sad at the same time. Her work can be described as to enter a surreal fantasy world in the borderland between an innocent fairy tale and a melancholic dystopia; a world in which the viewers are encouraged to discover and create their own stories. Fanny Ollas graduated with a master’s degree in ceramics at Konstfack in the spring of 2018 and has since been active in her studio in Gustavsberg.

Cute, humorous and sometimes sad… yep, all of the feels. Happy Friday.