Phantasmaphile

MN

Hello, Phantasmaphiles:  

I am in marvelous Minnesota visiting the Freemonster's family and eating fried delicacies at the State Fair.  Blogging will commence upon my return, after Labor Day.  Have a great long weekend all.  

XO,

Pam

Fredrik Söderberg

 Fredrik Söderberg  "The Eastern Sorcery"  2007      

Fredrik Söderberg, where have you been all my life?  Regular readers of this blog will not have any cause to wonder why this work speaks so strongly to me, but for those visiting for the first time, I'll run through my list:  Does it deal with mystical/magical themes with a fresh, sophisticated eye?  Check.  Is it crafted with exceptional skill?  Check.  Does it make my heart feel like it's suddenly floating at my throat?  CHECK.

Julie Heffernan show

Julie Heffernan  "Self-Portrait as Broken Home"  2008

The inimitable Julie Heffernan has a shiny new show up at Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco, through September 27th.  Here, her work takes a bit of a departure from her more literal self-portraits and rococo rooms, by stepping back and more holistically exploring architectural elements and dwellings.  Skyscrapers and spheres are swollen to bursting with tiny visual vignettes and abundant details.  As such, each painting is an ornate microcosm unto itself.

Alexis Duque

Alexis Duque  "The Gift" 

I just love when grown-up themes are rendered in a children's book style.  Alexis Duque creates paintings which are much less innocent than they look at first glance.  There is a psychological depth to them that enhances their immediate prettiness.

Jamie Vasta

Jamie Vasta  "The Knife"  2007

Ohhhh, someone get me a damp towel, cause I am feeling feverish over the work of Jamie Vasta.  The medium she works in is glitter.  Glitter.  I can only imagine what it must be like to see these sparkling storybook scenes in person.  I hope I get the chance someday very soon.

Via and via

Kelsey Brookes

Kelsey Brookes  "I Remain and Wait" 

I've said it once, I'll say it again: you DEFINITELY need to click on this image, and bear witness to all of its psychedelic intricacies.  Kelsey Brookes has a fascination with Hindu and Tibetan deities, and his modern interpretations feel absolutely kinetic and electric.  I would love to stand in front of these someday, and absorb their charge.  For now, I should head to the splendid Rubin Museum, and get a more immediate Himalayan fix.

Via

R. Martin Abeyta

                 R. Martin Abeyta  "El Nino Perdido"  1993                                    

The paintings of R. Martin Abeyta are a beautiful blend of Baroque style and Latin culture.  I wish I could find larger examples of his work, because the detail and colors are truly succulent.  But for now we'll have to settle for the intriguing pieces on his site (I'm wondering if anyone knows if there is more recent work by him as well?)

Kate Eric

Kate Eric  "No No Bug War II"  2007

Kate Eric's (actually two people, Kate Tedman and Eric Siemens) paintings, to me, feel powerfully female.  Gauzy forms, petals, and embryos all undulate in a fierce and vivid homage to the life force.  Beautiful, yet totally badass.

Kanako Sasaki

Kanako Sasaki  "As a Bird"

I love Kanako Sasaki's muted photographs of young women and nature.  There is a misty quality to them that makes me feel like whispering.  Have a look at her Wanderlust series in particular - each picture is like a secret being shared with the viewer.

Zofia Kulik

Zofia Kulik "Wspaniałość Siebie I"  1997

I am wild about Zofia Kulik's mysterious black and white photo collages.  It seems like she uses a similar gridding technique to Gilbert and George, albeit with more mandalas and archetypal symbols.  I'd love to see these on transparency, with back lighting, like some sort of strange stained glass windows.

Go to 53rd Street!

Justine Kurland  "Battlefield"  2001

I've been meaning to hit up the MoMA and the American Folk Art Museum for ages now, and finally got to go yesterday.  There are some glorious exhibits on now that are not to be missed.

At MoMA on the 2nd floor is the aforementioned "Wunderkammer: A Century of Curiosities" show which is a small but tasty survey of modern pieces that riff on the idea of curiosity collections.  The top floor has a blockbuster exhibit called "Dali: Painting and Film" which is to die for.  Dali paintings and sketches are juxtaposed with the films they relate to, resulting in a madcap and inspiring multi-media experience.  The highlight for me was finally getting to see the mythical Dali-Disney animated short, Destino, in its entirety.  I watched it three times in a row, and would have sat for even more had I had the time.  It is beyond special. 

The American Folk Art Museum has a delectable show up called "Dargerism" which is a showcase of contemporary works inspired by the work of reclusive outsider artist Henry Darger.  Lots of favorites are included here, including Amy Cutler and Justine Kurland.  As one would guess, themes of girlhood, nascent sexuality, and woodland ambiguity abound.  While you're here, also be sure to check out the arresting heads and busts sculpted by tragic art figure Asa Ames.  (I accidentally discovered that if you view them from the foot of the staircase leading up to their level, they appear as if they are floating, which adds even more to their sad mystique).

Both of these museums are on 53rd Street, so go ahead and make a day of it.

Yang Yang

Yang Yang

It always kind of bugs me when people say China's art scene is exploding.  Presumably phenomenal artists like Yang Yang have been doing their thing for years, and it's only our fickle media that has decided this area of the world is worth paying attention to recently.  Nevertheless, I will admit I am extremely happy to have found this work, mysterious and elegant as it is.  Stylistically, it reminds me a little of my beloved Aeon Flux animated series from many moons ago.

Via

Dances of Vice Festival II

The next incarnation of the Dances of Vice Festival is nearly upon us!   Phantasmaphile is a proud sponsor of this decadent weekend.  Get your tickets now. 

Here is what is in store:

"The Dances of Vice Festival II, to take place from August 22-24, 2008 in New York, will be held in the extraordinary context of a "time-travel" costume ball with an 18th and 19th Century flair (all period costumes nevertheless welcome), inspired by the adventures of Baron Münchausen.

Included among the festivities and spectacles featured are:

• Performing headliners Voltaire (full band), The Deadfly Ensemble (CA), Fern Knight (PA), Desert Sin (NY/LA), Mistress of Harspichord and her Baroque quartet (NY), and Charites (NY).


• Two elaborate time travel "fashion theatre" shows featuring Victorian, Steampunk, Fantasy, 1920-30s and Baroque & Rococo inspired fashions by Kathleen Marie Couture, Azrael's Accomplice, La Metamorphose, & To Die for Designs.


• Additional special guests: Morella & The Wheels of If (NOLA), Starkall (GER), Pirate Brian, Adriano the Pitiless, Stumblebum Brass Band.


• An exhibition of fantastical inventions, fine art, & photography


• Sensational dance & performance art


• Live fencing demonstrations & instruction by the NY Fencer's Club


• Short plays inspired by the Marquis de Sade by Mr Burton


• VIP Absinthe Party and menu sponsored by LUCID Absinthe Superieure


• A Victorian Picnic & Meet-up at the New York Botanical Garden


• DJ music from the 18th to early 20th Century, New Romantic, Neofolk, New Wave, Neo-Classical, Avant Garde - by His Masters Voice and DJ Patrick (Salvation)

...with much more to be announced."

See you there.

Scott Saw

Scott Saw  "Love Birds"  2008

While we're on the topic of love, I just had to share this new piece by artistic visionary Scott Saw (and definitely click on the image for full detail).  Saw's work has a deceptively cartoonish quality which, upon closer examination, belies a complicated and colorful exploration about modern mysticism.  It's a difficult balance to achieve, but Saw pulls it off brilliantly.

Lladró

From the "Re-cyclos" Collection by Committee for Lladró.

Porcelain house Lladró recently had contemporary artists guest design some pieces, and the results are glorious.  I especially love these flowery reinterpretations of the classic couples series that Committee did, and "The Fantasy" series by Jaime Hayón.  Lovely.

Absinthe

The recent US absinthe explosion has been widely reported on, much to my delight.  Everything about this spirit, from the history to the aesthetics (just look at that label on La Fee Absinthe) to the ritualized way of imbibing is highly phantasmaphilic in nature.  You can drink it the classic way, diluted with water and sugar, or in one of the many cocktail combinations floating around on various recipe sites.  As luck would have it, I live near the marvelous Borisal Liquor & Wine Shop, which is the largest absinthe retailer in the states.  I love this place because it is a bit clandestine:  beneath its humble decor is an exquisite selection, reasonable prices, and knowledgeable, warm staff.  If you can't visit them in person, do go to their site anyway and order yourself a bottle or twelve.

Zoe Lacchei

Zoe Lacchei                                       

To me, Zoe Lacchei's work screams abundance and dark beauty.  I am especially in awe of her vampy Geisha series, adorned as the subjects are with spirit animals and bones.  Lacchei has also done design work for the magus of mayhem himself, Marilyn Manson. 

Via

Jessica Joslin

Jessica Joslin "Arabella" 2008

Speaking of the talented Joslin family, Jessica Joslin creates her own version of Frankenstein monsters, combining mechanical and organic parts into brand new, eccentric little beings. As endearing as they are freakish, they would be equally at home in a sci-fi film or a 17th century cabinet of curiosity.

Jared Joslin show

Jared Joslin  "Moonlit Starlet"  2008   

California, you have done it again.  You are hosting yet another incredible show I would swallow a live goldfish to see.  Jared Joslin's "Shadow of the Silver Moon" will be opening at Timothy Yarger Fine Art in Beverly Hills on August 14th.  The series is an homage to celluloid stars and theatrical characters of the early 20th century, decked out in glamourous garb and glittering secrets.  Stunning, no?

Du Xinjian

Du Xinjian

It feels almost like blasphemy to post this painting by the miraculous Du Xinjian, as virtually all of the other ones much more prominently feature the artist's signature totem animal, the fish.  But what can I say, I'm a sucker for winged people, so this is the one I chose.  All of the pieces are astounding though, so do take a look.

Via

Claire Brassil

Claire Brassil  "The Susans"  2006

There are so many things I love about Claire Brassil's work, from her vacillation between black & white and color in the same piece, to her enigmatic, psychosexual vignettes.  I discovered her through the very neat blog, Moon River, which I found once again through Lori Field's online beauty buffet.