« December 2007 | Main | February 2008 »
I had one of the most astoundingly marvelous sensory experiences of my life this weekend. After planning it for weeks, I finally got around to visiting Christopher Brosius' perfume shop, CB I Hate Perfume, in Williamsburg. I had been warned that his creations were extremely impressive and unique, but nothing could have prepared me for the sheer delight of being able to wander around, sniffing hundreds of vials of single notes such as "leather jacket," "English novel," "Ethiopian myrrh," "chocolate marshmallow," "dust," "first snow," or "roast beef," to name just a few. Furthermore, Brosius deftly combines these notes into some of the most ingenious and even, I would say, moving perfumes on the earth. "Greenbriar 1968" combines memory scents from his childhood:
"This scent is a memory of my Grandfather, the sawmill that he owned, and the stone house where he lived. It is blended with Sawdust, Fresh Cut Hay, Worn Leather Work Gloves, Pipe Tobacco, and a healthy amount of Dirt. There is also a faint whiff of cotton overalls covered in Axel Grease..."
And yes, in case you're wondering, it smells divine. Other favorites of mine which I will soon be acquiring are "Fire from Heaven," a blend of incense and ancient sacred oils, and "In the Library" which smells like the sweet paper of old books. But the perfume that came home with me that day was "Burning Leaves," a smoky, darkly syrupy scent which smells exactly like what it's named. Brosius also does do custom scents, though the price is understandably significantly higher for this service. After all, it is only through a Willy Wonka-like wizardry that he can bottle the scent of your first love, your dream of hothouse flowers in winter, or your nostalgia for your favorite aunt's tomato soup. Do stop by the shop, or order your own perfumes here.
Eric White "Joshua Chamberlain and the Angels of _________"
I have been a fan of Eric White's for years (as you can see, he was one of the very first posts I wrote on this site), and have been anxiously awaiting news of more solo shows from him since attending his amazing "Who Are Parents?" exhibition in 2004. In this grand interview, White talks about his influences, ideas, and plans for the future. A New York show in 2008 or 2009? Can't wait.
D. Haden just launched a veritable feast of a web site called Nu-Real: A Timeline of Fantastic Photomontage and Its Possible Influences. It is a most impressive and comprehensive chronology that covers the evolution of spiritualist, supernatural, and surreal photomontage. It's best viewed in Firefox, and do be sure to scroll all the way to the right, as it is quite extensive.
Marc Seguin "Femme et toutage" 2003
First of all, even though I link to this site all the time, I want to give an official shout-out to one of my favorite blogs, Traveling with the Ghost. It never ceases to introduce me to wonderful new artists from around the world. On that note, Marc Seguin's work has a mute beauty to it that is disturbing yet lovely to behold. While his pieces are intruguingly ambiguous, to me they feel as though they explore ideas of sadness, destruction, and ultimately, redemption.
Vania Zouravliov "DFS Cover"
Vania Zouravliov's portfolio is jaw-dropping. His lush linework depictions of Far Eastern beauties are examples of exoticism and dark fantasy at its best. I discovered him via the sumptuous cover art he did for the Mediaeval Baebes album The Rose
Umberto Chiodi "Semaforo II" 2006
WHOA. Umberto Chiodi is like an even more bizarre Henry Darger, and that's saying a lot. Chiodi's work is beautiful and perverse, and is in the same lineage as the psycho-sexual surrealists of the early twentieth century. Please click on this image to view it in all its detail.
Claude Verlinde "Aphrodite"
I'm sure you know of my intense love for mythology by now. So when I encountered Claude Verlinde's striking, quasi-contemporary (and rather Freudian) interpretation of Aphrodite's birth, I just had to share. The rest of his work is fabulous as well.
Anne Siems "Two Headed Sheep"
I am loving the world of beautiful oddities that Anne Siems creates. Here, females in phantom dresses commune with nature's wonders and abberations. Animals, flowers, keys, coral, fruit, and fragmented faces surround our heroines, like talismans or clues to some secret interior life.
Laurie Hassold "Stitch Ears" 2007
Laurie Hassold's wall sculptures are studies in imaginary organic forms. These science fictions are visceral yet coolly symmetrical, and remind me of a body turned inside out, or some sort of mechanical, metallic plantlife. Hassold could easily be HR Giger's artistic sister.
Dan Hillier "Mother" 2006
Dan Hillier's "altered engravings" use the wonders of modern technology to produce 19th century mutants. These graphic, fantastical works can be yours, as he sells prints of them here. I think he and Claudia Drake should be friends...
Thrilling news for New Yorkers: Alix Sloan, pop surrealist curator and art consultant extraordinaire is opening up her very own space on January 30th. The first show at Sloan Fine Art will be a 2-parter, spotlighting such lowbrow luminaries as Mark Ryden, Clayton Brothers, Joe Sorren, and Eric White:
Part 1, January 30 to February 16:
Works by Clayton Brothers, Vince Contarino, Nicholas Cope, Elizabeth McGrath, Kristen Schiele, Aaron Smith and Eric White
Opening Reception: January 30th, 6 to 9 pm
Part 2, February 20 to March 8:
Works by Andrea Aversa, Jud Bergeron, Marion Peck, Jean-Pierre Roy, Mark Ryden and Joe Sorren
Opening Reception: February 20th, 6 to 9 pm
And in the Project Room throughout:
“The Uplands,” video and works on paper by Bruce Bickford
I have no doubt this will become a prime destination gallery, as NYC is hungering for more blockbuster shows featuring phantasmaphilic pioneers. Welcome, Sloan Fine Art!
Xiaoqing Ding "Say I Love You"
I am swooning over the work of Xiaoqing Ding. By blending Eastern and Western mythology, she spins new tales all her own. Her new show opens at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery on January 12th. Can't wait to see her paintings live, in all their undulating pastel glory.
Phantasmaphile is proud to be an advertising sponsor of the upcoming Dances of Vice Festival in NYC! This is a two-day Neo-Victorian extravaganza featuring art, performances, and live music by decadent acts like the Deadfly Ensemble and Rasputina. Put on your peacock feathers, cause it's going to be a glorious weekend: February 8th and 9th. Tickets can be purchased here.
Ann McCoy "Hermaphroditus" 1996 (detail)
Please click on the image above to view it in its entirety. Ann McCoy's astounding drawings depict various alchemical processes and themes. This piece has particular resonance for me, as the symbol of the hermaphrodite is perhaps my very favorite - much more potent for me than the Eastern yin-yang.
David Inshaw "Mermaid" 1998
David Inshaw is a member of the Ruralists - an art movement Peter Blake founded and describes thusly:
"Simply, our aims are the continuation of a certain kind of English painting; we admire Samuel Palmer, Stanley Spencer, Thomas Hardy, Elgar, cricket, English Landscape, the Pre-Raphaelites, etc… Our aims are to paint about love, beauty, joy, sentiment and magic. We still believe in painting with oil paint on canvas, putting the picture in the frame and hopefully, that someone will like it, buy it and hang it on their wall to enjoy it."
Inshaw's work is at once realistic while occupying the realm of fantasy. In his paintings, nature is elevated to its most mysterious and most beautiful version of itself.
Recent Comments