thewordoftheartists

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#ice

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D!NG TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY !! Special issue with Ana Lucia Negri, Christophe Denys, Daniek Dijkstra, Emre Celikcan, Esther Vandenbroele, Eva Donckers, Fatime Molnár, Gert Scheerlinck, Hishaam Eldewieh, Janina Schipper, Jeroen Van der Fraenen, Jolan Berard, Katy Strange, Lars Duchateau, Lola Pertsowsky, Lucia von Sprecher, Luna Khods, Mariana Fuentes Zamorano, Marlies Martens, Maud Gyssels, Maxim Ryckaerts, Miles Fischler, Philippe Michiels, Polien Boons, Siem Lasseel, Tamara Dees and Tanja Mosblech

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Oranbeg NET 13: The Dark is Light Enough Selected Artists:  Adam Bellefeuil, Alex Nelson, Erik Hagen, Chris Ridgway, Jennifer Timmer Trail, Christine Rogers, Colin Stearns, Carl Gunhouse, Hollis Johnson, Kyle Tata, Matthieu Litt, Nat Ward, Nich McElroy, Robert Warren, Sarah Malakoff and Jay Muhlin. Thanks again to curator Lindsay Metivier!  Check out the Slideshow and the PDF.

 Also, send in a submission for Oranbeg NET 14: a new glass with curators Roxana Azar and Ginevra Shay. Read the prompt here. This one the curators are looking for work in any medium! 

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What is Republishing. Colored pencil, graphite, and watercolor on paper, 67” x 45”, 2014. Courtesy of Platform Gallery.

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The word of… Rita Gomes

Me.

"My work is an exposure of my inner self, my authenticity, my honesty, my views and my realness. No one is more inside my head than myself. My work depends only on my existence, and without me it wouldn’t exist."

Observer Wasted Rita, alias Rita Gomes, is an artist from the beautiful city of Lisbon, her HQ when she is not travelling. Her works are mainly based on illustrating through words, the reality and people she meets, listens and observes. Heralds of information, that she filters through her mind, which becomes a container to host magic & ghost stories and stage to process them into illuminating creativity.

Words that reflect different aspects of life, like a day, they are sometimes very romantic, sharp and other even ‘hurting’. As Rita says in this video made by ‘Like knows Like’ “ it’s a positive hurts that makes you grow”. I couldn’t agree more, and it is also very courageous from her to throw these wordy-facts in front of our eyes!

Another insight that Rita promotes is the importance of keep moving.  A need, that Rita has herself. “If I don’t move, I will end up in having no ideas and feeling very empty.” It is the richness that surrounds us: people, places, conversation and unexpected encounters that colour and upgrade our life. Those are all the raw material, pivotal for her artistic explosion.

Wasted Rita defines herself as “a graphic designer and illustrator. She is a natural born agent provocateur, sarcastic as needed and a full-time thinker who must write about life, human behaviours and play with words in order to keep breathing. She had her work exhibited in Paris, London, Berlin, Bochum, throughout Portugal, and freelanced for a variety of worldwide clients such as Ginza Magazine, Doolittle Mag, Hurley, Samsung, Delta and Diário Económico.”

You can meet Wasted Rita on Facebook, Tumblr & Instagram.

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The word of... Sonia and Mark Whitesnow

Together.

“Creativity comes from our hearts, sometimes our works are electrified,

we live each day consciously and very attentive to each moment of our

life, keeping delicate attitude to life, to every part of life, to

each other. We can say we transfer our vision of being to our

artworks.

Everything is mutual and together, we are two parts of the whole.

We are in one's element.

 Because beauty lies in lover's eyes!”

Sonia and Mark photos are so peaceful and energetic, simply intriguing. Praise to pure beauty, an enchantment for your eyes. At least for mine for sure! 

They artistic practice deals with eternal youth.  Sonia & Mark creations represent the inner world of teenagers, focused on themselves, sensual and indrawn. They are not models, but simple teens from the street.

Sculpturesqueness, purity and aesthetics are exaggerated and accentuated with static and constrained poses.  Afterwards they are cut from the context and put into a neutral anonymous space, where the individuality is expressed.

Sonia and Mark are young artists living in the Russian province. They admirably THINK to be unbelievably lucky people in everything. And they ARE a very positive, loving and creative couple. They are quick off the mark and interested in all knew things. 

Mark was taught to be a biologist and Sonia a psychologist. As they don’t have a special artistic education they create their intriguing pieces of art “following the inborn sense of –authentic- beauty”. 

They would love to talk about art in particular modern art and photography, they’re hearts would be filled with delight, refreshed and inspired for further creations.

Enjoy the moment, talk to Sonia and Mark about art, feel the beat of the passion! 

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[thewordoftheartists]

The word of… Rita Gomes

Me.

"My work is an exposure of my inner self, my authenticity, my honesty, my views and my realness. No one is more inside my head than myself. My work depends only on my existence, and without me it wouldn't exist."

Observer Wasted Rita, alias Rita Gomes, is an artist from the beautiful city of Lisbon, her HQ when she is not travelling. Her works are mainly based on illustrating through words, the reality and people she meets, listens and observes. Heralds of information, that she filters through her mind, which becomes a container to host magic & ghost stories and stage to process them into illuminating creativity.

Words that reflect different aspects of life, like a day, they are sometimes very romantic, sharp and other even ‘hurting’. As Rita says in this video made by ‘Like knows Like’ “ it’s a positive hurts that makes you grow”. I couldn’t agree more, and it is also very courageous from her to throw these wordy-facts in front of our eyes!

Another insight that Rita promotes is the importance of keep moving.  A need, that Rita has herself. “If I don’t move, I will end up in having no ideas and feeling very empty.” It is the richness that surrounds us: people, places, conversation and unexpected encounters that colour and upgrade our life. Those are all the raw material, pivotal for her artistic explosion.

Wasted Rita defines herself as “a graphic designer and illustrator. She is a natural born agent provocateur, sarcastic as needed and a full-time thinker who must write about life, human behaviours and play with words in order to keep breathing. She had her work exhibited in Paris, London, Berlin, Bochum, throughout Portugal, and freelanced for a variety of worldwide clients such as Ginza Magazine, Doolittle Mag, Hurley, Samsung, Delta and Diário Económico.”

You can meet Wasted Rita on Facebook, Tumblr & Instagram.

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[thewordoftheartists]

Hey there,

Exciting news! The Internet Slowdown net neutrality protest planned for September 10th is really taking off. This morning, a dozen of the world’s largest websites announced that they’re joining in a big way. Sites you know and love like Etsy, Kickstarter, Wordpress, Vimeo,...

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Illustrator Hiller Goodspeed captures Tolstoy’s notion of “emotional infectiousness" as the defining characteristic of art.

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The word of Qing Qing Mao,

Intimacy.

“My Leaf City project is about intimacy, about revealing the personal and private world of a person, and about building a form of communication to connect to that inner world. It’s about telling your personal stories. It’s about sharing. It’s about opening up. It’s about chance. It’s about being in your own skin.  I think my approach to photography is similar to my approach to this project. I’m trying to capture the personal, the emotional, the intimate and the distant aspect of the moment in life.”

See more at The Artist and The Others. 

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Catharsis.

From the greek katharsis κἁθαρσις, meaning “purification”.

“... For me Art is catharsis, personal and collective. It’s a fact-finding process for those who practice it and those who observe it. It’s a sort of cleansing ceremony, a magic ritual that gives people the opportunity to express their own emotions without being overwhelmed from “intelligently hearing” and 'emotionally understanding'.

It is an ‘Orphic’ catharsis that frees the soul and spirit of the unrestrained and irrationality of passions. It creates myths and facilitates their recognition. This catharsis helps the man to escape from the dark cave of ignorance, which Plato talked about.

Meditation was born in the Orient; likewise those who practice art are given the opportunity to keep in touch with a similar elsewhere. Where we are free to leave aside the rational thoughts and reconcile them with the irrational thoughts through careful observation and purification ..."

The contact with Emila’s creations embraces the observer elevating him on different level of catharsis, which nowadays has been defined ‘Rebirth’: 'buzz, venting, expression, freedom'.

Her art contains softness and energy, delicate and sharp lines: Images that enchant and intrigue the spectator. Its stories and elements create an interesting game based on transparency thanks to their developments on several levels. This links us, the viewers, to nowhere—where we are allowed to get lost.

Emila is originally form Bulgaria, but she lives and works in Italy since 1993.

Graduated in Fine Art  at the Academy of Brera. In 2012 she had two solo exhibitions: Mare Caelo Miscere at Belgioioso Castel, Belgioioso (Pavia) and One Shot Exhibition, curated by Benedetta Crippa and Martina Moglia at Cascina Cuccagna in Milano.

Emila worked as initiator, performer and custom designer for Turpiacque & Tree, a series of performances curated by Nila Shabnam Bonetti, accomplished in 2010 and 2011 at Museum of Science and Technique “Leonardo da Vinci”.If you have been in Rome, maybe you had the pleasure to ride on the tram that Unicredit  bank offered to Emila for the Contemporary Times Project (2012).

For a cathartic moment. (However I warmly advise you to admire her drawings in reality)

www.emilasirakova.com

www.emilasirakova.tumblr.com

www.emilasirakova.blogspot.com

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The word of… Luis Mendo 

Drawer. 

“There is something mysterious about this word. For me, that’s it. Probably someone more clever than me can come with etymological reasoning behind it, but the fact that DRAWER is so many things: one of those boxes inside a cupboard, some kind of underwear to cover your lower region and also (although we hardly use this word for it), an artist who makes drawings. One word being all this, makes a magical word to me.Of course the act of drawing is even more magical. If you’d follow the point of a pencil on a surface with a camera (very close), you have no idea what the drawing is going to be like. As I see it, drawing is a random act, leading the pen on a page can be such a volatile matter: go a bit to the right and you have a disproportionate nose, go too short to the left and the ear is not going to fit under the hat… I believe in accidents and probably that is why I do not draw in pencil first or make sketches before doing the final drawing. Just start and let destiny determine how beautiful or ugly the piece will be. That makes me, I have come to realise, a kamikaze DRAWER”.

I believe in coincident too and the creation of this post is the proof!

Last week I was wondering – again? Yes I know… but I always wonder - about who nowadays is an artist… A graduated from the fine art academy with a diploma that certificate that she/he is an artist, but after the academy that is it… A person who trained her/himself in a studio of a renowned artist/creative, as used in the history? Anyone who just feel it? Anyone who just want to be?

While these questions were turning round and round in my head, I have seen Luis presentation: I became an Artist and so can you.

Triggered by the title I watched it and I found it so inspiring. Luis loves to draw since he was little. Following his passion he became a graphics designer. As some of you, might know, working as graphic designer – takes you a lot of time - sometimes is an overwhelming profession… “No time for nothing” Luis said.  As almost burnout designer, Luis decided to take a break and flew to Tokyo.

There he suddenly realized… “I had nothing to do” so in an urgent-need of an assignment he gave himself a task… Making a diary and draw in it something special that happened in his every day life.

 Since that moment he started to draw more and more, funny, honest and expressive little art works. Following his passion Luis painted his career with a more artistic nuance.

What touched me by watching his presentation was how he sincerely invites us to follow our passions. “It does not matter if you wants to bake cookies or talk on the phone, or talk for hours to friends… he might hide the treasure behind… Maybe you can become a partner consular or open a pastry shop”.

The best thing his words taught to us is to really listen yourself! Try to do what you are happy to do. Do not hide your passion inside yourself, but let them shine and just do it.  You never know where they can bring you!

Thanks Luis to share with us your experience and to give us a little ‘push’.

Luis Mendo is an artist and editorial designer with a bouble life as drawer! He moved form Barcelona to Amsterdam, were he founded GOOD Inc.®. He has been nominated in the ‘Top 10 best Art Directors in The Netherlands’.  Two years later he created the  Goodfellas Network. He decided to follow his passion for drawings and became artist as well. He found the way to let it go… you can see his expression of art and also his soul on:  Luis Mendo.com. 

I wish you all to be brave enough to follow your passion and make, out of it, a successful career.  

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The word of Renske de Veld

Over Herinneringen.  

"Memories are made up of stories, smells, colors and images. We carry these memories with us, either as a weight on our shoulders or as fond memories that warm our hearts. Memories change as we go through life: every phase gives them a new dimension. Stories and memories dance around us and give color to life."

                                  Kind- droomdeken tabula rasa

                                  Je bent wit, zacht en onbeschreven,

                                  ik draag je met me mee.

                                  Met jou de toekomst in,

                                  zullen we mooie dingen beleven.

                                  Mijn dekentje van dromen.

                                  Met mijn ogen dicht

                                  zie ik de beelden al komen.

                                  Je brengt mij warmte,

                                  samen maken wij nog herinneringen.

                                  Slaap zacht, lieve deken.

                                  En als het dan morgen is,

                                  waar zullen we beginnen.

Renske graduated from the ABK – Maastricht with a very interesting project about memories.

Renske is “ … Het meisje met als achternaam het uitzicht uit haar slaapkamer raam. Het meisje wat niet kan zonder de maas. Het meisje wat het liefst mooie dingen maakt, een ander daarmee graag een glimlach wil bezorgen. Het meisje dat zelf ook erg graag glimlacht.…” 

You can find & try her jewelries at the following shops:  Feito con amour, St. Anna 17, Breda, and Leugels en Teugel 17 Rechtstraat 90 and at the Young Culture Gallery in Maastricht. 

She really makes meaningful jewelry, which reflect into a delicate and simple design, that makes the different! She also design the present for my brides mates! Lucky them!!

Worthy to peek into http://www.renskedeveld.com

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The word of… Niky Roehreke

Sensibility and honesty.

“There is actually no word for this certain ‘something’ that is important to me, so I had to allow myself to at least use two words. I think what is inside of me or anyone is fragile and very specific, and to choose words to express that is very restricting and often the sensibility and honesty of that certain emotion gets lost along the way.  There are so many communication tools nowadays, but I think a lot of them are fake and sad. I believe that for us humans, hands are the most honest, direct and universal communication tools and no technology can replace that. Hands are able to maintain the sensibility, which for me is the beauty of what makes us human.” 

I always loved the human gesture as a way of communication. When I have met Niky’s works, the hand motif attracted my attention.

For me as for Niky, hands are very important. Hands ‘act’ our authentic thoughts, emotions and feelings…that is why “hands remain the most powerful and honest, sometimes magical way to communicate”.  

Niky likes to use colour combined with collage and pensile drawings, techniques where her hands have a leading role also in her art.

Hands cannot lay, you can immediately see ‘what kind of person you have in front’ by observing his/her hands! So…watch out! J

In her creative process she never makes drafts! She let herself go into the inspiration of the moment.

Quite difficult for a contemporary artist…

Niky promotes the importance of the instant. She directly draws her ideas on paper, without worrying too much about how it should look like.

She is challenging the rational brain to do not control in advance the final result.

Niky also told how creative she was without the use of the –stolen-in front of her eyes- computer.

Sensitivity and genuine creativity, this is what I think makes her artworks authentic.

Niky is a German/Japanese freelance illustrator working in Brooklyn, New York.

Since her graduation in 2008 from the Central Saint Martins Graphic Design in London, (almost) every day she creates something new! A doodle, a drawing or a collage, for fashion, magazines, musicians and good causes…or just for herself. 

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The word of… Patrick Leyendecker

Color.

"I couldn't imagine living in a world without color. There is no joy with out it and since I was a kid, I always choose the most colorful toys and products to play with. Now as an artist I want to bring more color in this world. I love to play with different combinations and contrasts and make people happy with my art."

See more on The Artist and the Others.