July - September 2021 | Year II, Ed. 3
Colecta Cover
gakushu Tanaka Born and based in Fukuoka, Gakusyu Tanaka started learning Japanese Calligraphy when he was 7 years old. During his 20s, he encountered avant-garde calligraphy, which pushed his focus beyond the characters themselves. This freedom of expression and the possibilities of creativity impacted him greatly. As a Japanese-calligrapher, he continues his earnest journey towards mastering the great traditions and techniques of his medium. As an avant-garde calligraphy artist who pursues new expressions for setting himself free, he keeps on expanding his horizons for himself and his works. @ tanakagakusyu
2
Untitled TK, 2021 Ink on Paper | 2021
Whereabouts, 2021 Ink on Paper
3
Whereabouts I, 2019 Acrylic and Ink on Paper
Work-3.21, 2021 Ink on Paper 2021 |
Brazilian artist and fashion designer - Ronaldo Fraga Terra de Gigantes’ SPFW 2021 Collection
| 2021
Photos by Augusto Pessoa
editorial
Art
Connections July is the month where everything
blooms under the Summer sun in Europe, Asia and the Northern Hemisphere, and is also the most colorful month in Florida. Thinking about the connections that art can provide us, we prepared an edition full of artistic, gastronomic, fashion and multicultural experiences to launch Edition 3 of Colecta Magazine. This July’s Colecta Magazine opens with our Lorenzo Rudolf interview, where he discusses the revolutionary new art fair concept. He transformed Art Basel from a classical trade show to the flagship exhibition of the art world. And with the creation of Art Basel Miami Beach, the leading art fair on the American continent, he made the Swiss event the first global player of the international art market. We also tackle the news on new technologies that are moving the art market, such as Blockchain, Crypto and NFTs. A special fea-
ture with Miami Dade College recounts digital experiences in education and their importance to socioeconomic and cultural development for the community. Our correspondents in Europe, through IT Mondo, continue to bring news in the realm of wearable art, hyperrealism and the arrival of new talents on The House of Arts platform. And, from Brazil, Ronaldo Fraga shows us poetry, fashion and activism in the adversities of such a plural and complex country. An act of resistance and courage in the face of the challenging situation facing Brazilians. In the ‘Out & About’ section, the traditional tour of museums, art galleries, gastronomy and personalities that inspire us. Celebrate life, allow yourself to be part of the “positive collective consciousness.” Art cannot stop. Enjoy your reading!
Editor-in-chief @giu_brandao
2021 |
5
T h e
Editor-in-Chief
A r t
Ma g a z i n e
Contribuitors
Giuliana Brandao
Art Expression Business Interview Art History Hyperrealism Special Featured Transcending Art Technology Art and Animation Architecture Out & About The World Outside Wearable Art Art & Social Art Photography
ART CURATOR & DIRECTOR Jade Matarazzo
Graphic Art Director Vivian Lobenwein
Business Development Managers Giuliana Brandao Jade Matarazzo
SPECIAL THANKS Flavio Iryoda Karo Delgobbo
Content Writer
Simone Piva Jade Matarazzo Jonatas Chimen Ibtissam El Azami Bruna Amorim Igor Sampaio Rodrigo Faustino Mauricio Ferrazza Marta Kasznar Bruna Amorim Luciana Lewis Ronaldo Fraga Bruna Amorim Alex Korolkovas
Bruna Amorim
DIGITAL
Available year-round at colectamag.com
On-demand printing available at www.magcloud.com/user/colecta Worldwide delivered at your door
CONTACT US
Questions or comments? info@colectamag.com
CONSUMER SERVICES
COLECTA Magazine is a quarterly digital and print on-demand publication focused on Art Expression, Fashion & Art, Art Editorials, Art & Design, POP Culture, Art Tech, The Art of Living, Art Gastronomy, Art & Purpose, Out & About, and Featured Artist by The House of Arts. Founded in December 2020 with main operations in Miami and Sao Paulo, Brazil with a wide network of collaborators distributed across the globe.
publisher
AVESSA Media Group LLC Brickell - Miami, FL 33130 United States of America A Proud Member of B R A Z I L I A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L
i n t e r
ASSOCIATION
© 2021 AVESSA Media Group LLC, a Florida limited liability corporation. All rights reserved. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.
| 2021
summary
10 art Expression IT M OND O + Th e Hou s e of A rts
32 Business Inte rv ie w Lore n zo Ru d olf
44 Art History Th e Ne w B a b ylon ia n G e n e ration at th e Cu s p of th e G re at R e s et
51 Hyperrealism Hyp e rre a lis m Ste a ls Th e R e a lity Sh ow
54 special featured C h ris tia n E s cob a r
58 Transcending Art Th e Sev e nth A rt
7
62 Technology B eyon d th e D igita l F rontie r
69 Art and animation A rt + T e ch n ology + Story
76 architecture Th e A rt of Se llin g
81 out & about E x p e rie n ce lif e
99 wearable art “ T e rra d e G iga nte s ”
106 ART and social C e le b ratin g B re a kin g B a rrie rs
112 ART photography Su rre a l Ne w York
2021 |
IT MONDO + The House of Arts
Art Expression
10
| 2021
The p ur p o s e of a r t i ts e l f i s to ta k e v i e w e r s o n j o ur neys thro ug h exp e r i e nc e s , ti m e , a nd p l a c e s . A r ti s ts a r e o ur g ui d e s thro ug h the i r tho ug hts a nd i d e nti ti e s , w hi c h they exp r e s s i n the m o s t va r i e d ways . Co l e c ta M a g a z i ne , thro ug h o ur i nte r nati o na l ef fo r ts , a i m s to ta k e yo u a l l a c ro s s the wo r l d to s e e the f ul l ka l e i d o s co p e of hum a n exp e r i e nc e . By Jade Matarazzo & Simone Piva
Art exchange across borders is the defining feature of the 21st Century global art scene. What was once clustered around a few specific cities has been slowly opening up to include every corner of the Earth where an artist has access to a computer. It is in this spirit of exchange and expansion that The House of Arts and IT Mondo partnered to create accessibility and exposure opportunities to artists all over the world, bringing their art and their stories together in this new global stage. Art often acts as a bridge between people, as it enhances not only our knowledge of another person’s experience, but also adds to our own. In an ever more connected and yet more divided world, these bridges are fundamental to our understanding of one another.
11
romania
Cristian Stefanescu Fusion #07
London based artist Cristian Stefanescu was born in 1968 in Bucharest. After years of a successful career in Engineering and Technology, he left Romania in 2018 to open his own studio in London and dedicate himself to his passion for photography, which bloomed in his early college years. He has always been fascinated by emotions and ideas, challenging concepts through each of his art pieces.
2021 |
Art Expression
12
JinYu A tranquil night
China JinYu is an artist currently living in Beijing. He cites his cycling trip across Tibet, which took over four months, as a defining moment that helped him discover a spiritual dimension of thought between the mysterious land and his creative process. According to JinYu, “painting can only be done through thought, imagination and fantasy, combined with the real self-expression.” To him, the expression of personality and spiritual outlook in art are extremely important.
| 2021
Art Expression
Pakistan Born in 1994 in Thatta, a historical city of Sindh. Sidrat graduated in Fine Arts with honors in painting from CEAD MUET Jamshoro in 2017. She plays with experimental, minimal, and large-scale abstract composition in her work. Currently, she also works as an art educator in The city school and lives in Thatta, Pakistan. Describing her art, Munteha states that she aims to “experience the joy of life through the enchanting art of infinite lines.” Her abstract form suggests that the line and shape have a principal role in the overall composition of the image.
13
Sidrat Ul Munteha Untitled 7
2021 |
Art Expression
14
Margarette Mattos VENUS
brazil Margarette Mattos is a Brazilian abstract painter who currently resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her contemporary pieces reflect her innovative technique of mixing iron ore fines with acrylic paint. Her paintings are characterized by bold colors and texture contrasts incorporated into geometric and abstract shapes that often resemble windows.
| 2021
Art Expression
brazil With experience in the area of design and architecture for 26 years, with works institutional, residential, commercial and clinical, Rico Mendonça has participated in Shows such as Casa Cor, Casa & Cia, Home & Art. Affective memory is the conductor of his actions and his art, and he seeks to bring living references to his work, which welcomes the environment, living atmospheres, mixing modern with the old in a contemporary dialogue.
15
Rico Mendonça Mulher Nuvem
2021 |
Art Expression
Fabiana Gadano Besieged Orange necklace detail
16
Argentina
wearable artist
Fabiana Gadano was born in Argentina in 1963, and she lives and works in the city of Buenos Aires. Fabiana is an industrial designer and art curator. Through her work investigating the expressive possibilities of PET plastic from recycled bottles, she has set herself the challenge of developing thought provoking jewelry out of this material.
Fabiana Gadano Wounded Pale Blue Brooch
| 2021
Art Expression
brazil Priscila Schott originally worked the technology area for 15 years, and the beginning of her artistic career came as a hobby. Her works are exhibited in her studio and in galleries in New York, Miami and Brazil. Her signature style is abstract art, and she develops her work in canvas, glass, acrylic, aluminum and recycled material. She uses oil paint, acrylic, texture, collage, glass, plaster and natural elements to build her work.
17
Priscila Schott Spring
2021 |
Art Expression
18
Monica Mattedi Deep Ocean
| 2021
Art Expression
brazil Born and raised in Brazil, currently residing in the USA, Monica Mattedi has been painting for over 20 years and her work has been exhibited in prestigious galleries and private exhibitions around the world. Monica states: “I realized every time I paint I have to let go of any preconceptions of what my art should be, so I can create something totally unique that I have never seen before.”
2021 |
19
Art Expression
brazil Alexandre Almeida was born in December 1975, in the city of Guarulhos, State of São Paulo, Brazil. He was raised in the suburbs of the city of São Paulo. He worked in advertising agencies as an illustrator until he was 21, when he moved to the city of Florianópolis, in Santa Catarina, in the South of Brazil, where he resides now.
20
Alexandre Almeida Baptizati Sumus
Alexandre Almeida O Fecundo
| 2021
Art Expression
brazil As a fashion designer, Jay Boggo has always been well-known for merging art and design in pieces that endorse the continuous nature of movement of both the spirit, mind and soul. He applies these same principles to the journey of sharing his art with the world.
21
Jay Boggo Japonismo Em Mim
2021 |
Art Expression
22
Anas Abro Tangled 2
Pakistan Anas Abro (B. 1993) is a Visual Artist based in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. He graduated from the Centre of Excellence in Art and Design, Jamshoro, Sindh in 2016, majoring in Painting. Abro has displayed his works nationally and internationally in various Art galleries including London, Spain, Dubai, Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Hyderabad.
| 2021
Anas Abro Tangled
Art Expression
korea Kim Jin-Nam was born in South Korea in 1965, and he graduated from M.F.A. Graduation school of Fine Art, Hongik University, Seoul. Kim has many solo exhibitions in important art spaces in Korea, such as the Hongik Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul.
23
Kim Jin-Nam Curiosity 1’
2021 |
Art Expression
24
Messi Schneider WouldYou
BRAZIL Messi Schneider is a photographer who has the gift of extracting the best of his subjects, making them attractive to those who admire his images. After living in more than 15 countries, he took up residence in New York City, where he works alongside the biggest names in photography of the world. His fine art pieces are based on themes that have always been part of the photographer’s professional life: Art, Fashion, Destinations, and Portraits.
| 2021
Art Expression
Joel Rocha Yellow
brazil 25
Joel Rocha is a Brazilian photographer and artist. He has had three individual exhibitions in Curitiba and one in Florianópolis to date. He lived in the United States for a year, and produced a series of photographs that are part of his Temporality project, which explores issues related to the passage of time.
Joel Rocha Backlighted Tulips
2021 |
Art Expression
brazil Pedro Diniz Kubitschek was born in Belo Horizonte, 1984 - where he lives and works. His art is a continuous search to provoke the viewer to pay attention to details, colors, shapes, and textures in an world that is increasingly fast paced, in which all that is delicate is crushed.
26
Pedro Diniz Kubitschek Orchid`shapes (15 pieces)
| 2021
Art Expression
27
Silvana Soriano Every Piece
Silvana Soriano Solitude
brazil Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Silvana Soriano is a visual artist, art teacher, and illustrator currently based in Miami, Florida. Soriano has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Brazil, Spain, France, the USA, and Cuba, including having her work featured at Pinta Miami Art Fair. She has also illustrated several books, spanning from children’s literature to poetry and publishing an art magazine online.
2021 |
Art Expression
28
brazil
Livia Ferraro Sogno dell’ Anima
Livia Ferrano is a multifaceted Brazilian artist: architect, artist, and chef. Her childhood was influenced by her Italian descent, which brought the inspiration to create recipes mixing ingredients in the same way that she mixes the paints in her paintings, committed only to her inspiration and sensoriality. She chose to study architecture as another form of artistic expression and thus worked for 12 years, without ever abandoning her other two passions. The constant female presence in her works, often marked by traces of African origin, represents her connection with the black culture lived in Brazil. In her art, the women are the vehicle for the conduction of the pleasures and pains of this world.
| 2021
Art Expression
brazil Matheus Almeida (B. 1985) is a Visual Artist based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a multifaceted artist, but also a Chinese Medicine Practitioner. Almeida practices Traditional Chinese Medicine and is selftaught in traditional Chinese painting style XieYi, merging it with modern techniques. 29
Matheus Almeida Color Boom 12 2021 |
Your next Experience December 2021
During Art Basel Week
M edia Partners
T h e
A r t
Collaboration
Ma g a z i n e
Pa u l B l en k h o r n - S en s o r y A r t H o u s e
He n r i k D on n e s t ad
Business
Interview COLECTA Th e a r t wo r ld , a nd e s p e c i a l l y the a r t m a r k et , is u n d er g o i ng m a j o r c ha ng e s . H ow ca n it s a c tor s s uc c e s s f ul l y a c t a nd p o sit io n t h e m s e l v e s i n s uc h ti m e s ? CO LECTA sp o k e w i th Lo r e nzo Rud o l f , k n ow n a s o n e of the m o s t r e now ne d t h o u gh t le a d e r s i n the i nte r nati o na l a r t wo r ld a nd a r t m a r k et.
32
By Jade Matarazzo COLECTA- Under your direction Art Basel was transformed through revolutionary new concepts into the world event as it is up to today: A top brand, a museum-like art experience, an exclusive social event, a successful business, and the role model for all international fairs. And creating Art Basel Miami Beach you made Art Basel the first real global player of the international art market. What does the future hold for the art market and, especially, for art fairs? Lorenzo Rudolf- Virtually all art fairs in the world have been hit extremely hard by COVID, no one knows when or how they will be held again. But even if we all suffer extremely from the pandemic, we should not forget three decisive points: First, sooner or later, we will overcome the pandemic and return to “normality”. Second, many problems of the art market did not arise from COVID, but existed before and were “only” massively aggravated and made visible by the pandemic. And third, with and after the pandemic crisis, a lot of cards will be reshuffled in the art market as well. We should always be aware that the art world, the art market and also the art fairs are ultimately always a reflection of our economic, geopolitical and social reality. In this respect, today’s situation reminds me strongly of the late 1980s / early 1990s. There was no worldwide natural disaster like now the pandemic, but the international art market was in one of its biggest crises, nobody had confidence in it anymore. And at the same time the world was
| 2021
Meric Dagli | Unsplash
33
Art Basel Miami
Jakob Rosen | Unsplash
34
| 2021
Business
in a massive upheaval. Technical achievements like the mass expansion of communication - just think of the worldwide expansion of cell phones - and the internet, played an important role in the development of a neo-liberal economy and of globalization. And the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, the end of the communist era and the dominance of the US as the only remaining super power, led to the worldwide establishment of a free trade economy. Against this background, and with the conviction that this would result in a massive strengthening and expansion of the commercial side of the art world worldwide, we created the “new” Art Basel at that time. Maybe we should learn a In fact, our expectations were far exceeded; contemporary art really exploded as a new form of investment, and artistic production suc- bit from the Chinese: when cumbed to financial power. written in Chinese, the Since then, however, the world has changed continuously, while the word ‘crisis’ is composed art industry once again proved its resistance to change. It continued to turn in its once so successful structures and dogmas, and increasof two characters, one ingly, unfortunately, in circles. And so it was hit twice by the panrepresents danger and demic, on the one hand directly, of course, like countless other industhe other represents tries, on the other hand, its years of failures were now also brutally exposed. And now everyone is talking about necessary innovation. opportunity. Absolutely right, but so far I haven’t noticed much of a real rethink or new way of thinking. Rather, it seems that the international art market is primarily concerned with getting through the pandemic more badly than well. And this according to the well-known art market tradition of either burying one’s head in the sand and hoping that it will be over as soon as possible, or, even more typically, convulsively giving the impression that the art market is far too stable and solid not defy COVID. At the same time, practically every day more and more actors are threatened in their existence, be it art fairs, galleries, artists, museums, etc.. In other words, of course we have to do everything to get out of this terrible pandemic-related situation with only a black eye, but at the same time we should take the chance to honestly question ourselves whether we are really prepared for the time after COVID. Of course, this pandemic crisis is serious threat and horror. But maybe we should learn a bit from the Chinese: when written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters, one represents danger and the other represents opportunity. COLECTA- You talk about the art market and art fairs being a reflection of the economic, geopolitical and social realities. Can you give us an example? Lorenzo Rudolf- Practically in all Western societies we observe how the elite becomes more and more wealthy, powerful and detached, while the middle class is more and more eroding; this tendency is additionally massively reinforced by COVID. The gap between the elite and the rest of society is getting bigger and bigger and more and more unbridgeable. A dangerous development! But don’t we see the same thing also in the art market? Don’t we have to ask ourselves here, too, how we can better bridge the ever-widening gap between the few dominant, globally omnipresent mega-players, be it galleries, art fairs, or even collectors, the financially mighty top brands, and the many economically weaker, but all the more committed middle-class players who are increasingly excluded from international market access and market acceptance and therefore often struggle to survive? Instead of visiting the individual galleries, international collectors and art buyers increasingly concentrate on international top events, mainly art fairs or auctions. How can most galleries increasingly deal with the double burden, on the one hand with as many partic-
2021 |
35
Business
36
ipations as possible in expensive art fairs - certain galleries generated over 80% of their turnover at art fairs - and on the other hand with their very labour- and cost-intensive traditional gallery business? Many galleries no longer manage this balancing act, and the art fairs, which are increasingly affected by this development, do not know how to react. Yet we all know that a sustainable and prosperous art market needs a healthy, balanced, diversified and innovative gallery scene. It needs a healthy, strong and innovative middle class, otherwise it will lose its basis and breeding ground. As well as in society, without a prosperous middle class there is no flourishing elite, and vice versa. The same applies by the way to the art fair market. Another example? For two and a half decades, unlimited growth and unlimited profit were regarded as the supreme maxims; neo-liberalism preached the salutary effect of absolutely unrestricted markets. Unfortunately, we had to make the (logical) experience that there are never winners without losers at the same time. Today, no one talks about unrestrained economy and What counts in the future is no more a zero-sum game, but growth anymore. Instead, it has become painfully clear that economy and growth must above all be sustainable. humility, cohesion, a sense The same applies, of course, to the art market. The times of unrestrained greed for profit, power and new records of responsibility, greater will probably be over for a long time to come. What counts attentiveness, stronger in the future is no more a zero-sum game, but humility, focus on the essential and cohesion, a sense of responsibility, greater attentiveness, stronger focus on the essential and deeper devotion. In this deeper devotion. context, we should certainly also reflect on the ideological divide between the commercial and the non-commercial part of the art world. As a result of the neo-liberal economy, the art market has reached an unprecedented dimension and dominance and has become more and more the decision-making authority over art. Just as today there are discussions everywhere about the necessary right interplay between free market economy aimed at maximizing profits and sustainable politics aimed at the well-being of people and a necessary intact environment, so too in the art world we should think about a healthy, more balanced equilibrium and co-operation between commercial and non-commercial. In addition to artistic quality, a sustainable art world, including its market, requires diversity, contradiction and confrontation - styling, fashion and saleability are not sufficient -, otherwise we risk stagnating in a beautiful, uniform, monotonous and flat mainstream. COLECTA- What about globalization of the art world and the art market? Will there be a reversal? Lorenzo Rudolf- Certainly not, globalization is unstoppable and will also continue in the art world and the art market. But the notion of contemporary art as a “Western activity” is no longer the only acceptable standard. Artistic centers are no more limited to certain Western capitals, but widely dispersed all over the world. Due to economic development, and as a consequence, social and political liberation, and due to global networking, artists no longer emigrated to the West and new independent art scenes and art markets steadily grew. New booming cities and artistic centers like Sao Paolo, Mexico City, Moscow, Dubai, Mumbai, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul or Singapore became urban metaphors for the truly tectonic shifts in the cultural, economic and political landscape. And with China we had for the first time a non-Western art scene where global taste has been forged. But even today, the global art market is still totally dominated
| 2021
Jene Stephaniuk | Unsplash
37
Art Stage Singpore
2021 |
Business
38
COLECTA- Many experts talk about the art world and especially the art market becoming regional again. Do you agree? Lorenzo Rudolf- Yes and no. Let’s not forget that we live in an increasingly interconnected world, where even in the remotest corner, every piece of information is available and retrievable virtually simultaneously. Nevertheless, we should analyze and reflect how we strike a healthy and successful balance between global and regional. Despite the fact that the art world, and in its wake also the art market, have become more and more global, and global events have become the measure of all things, regional markets will experience a strengthening, this due to ecological reflection, political developments like the fragmentation of the world community into nationalistic individual states, trade wars, etc., and, currently, additionally through COVID. Threfore the challenge will be, how the art market can resolve this discrepancy in a meaningful, successful and sustainable way. On the one hand, we surely have to continue to think globally and at the same time to increasingly act regionally, but not in the way of a multinational company, simply having regional branches “making the whole world happy” with the same view and the same products; an art work is a piece of culture and not simply a product. On the other hand, we have to think about how to increase the more and more necessary global dialogue and exchange, and we have to do it openly, pluralistically and with mutual respect, and certainly not, as has unfortunately happened all too often in the past, in an arrogant, monistic or even totalitarian way.
| 2021
Ernest Tarasov | Unsplash
by US and European players, be it art fairs, auction houses, galleries, collectors, etc.. Do we not have to ask ourselves how we can overcome the still prevailing Western supremacy and achieve a more balanced art world, and especially a more balanced art market? A sustainable international art market respects and pays tribute to the new scenes and markets, most of them proud and self-confident of their origin and their culture, if not it will increasingly be confronted with negativity and accusations of colonialist paternalism. Let’s not forget that the biggest growth potential of the global market is in the „New World“. But to be successful there, we have to take it as a serious and equal partner and not to see or treat it as a naive and clueless outlet market for mediocre works not sold or not sellable in the „Old World“.
Business
COLECTA- Digitization is the topic at the moment, will this be the future of the art world and especially the art market? Lorenzo Rudolf- Everyone is aware that digitization will play an increasingly important role in all areas. That’s why it has been an important topic in most industries for quite some time. So the current digital hype in the art world, and especially in the art market, shows first of all that this issue has been seriously neglected in the art industry. It practically took the massive restrictions of the pandemic to finally wake up. New digital platforms and formats are now being overzealously developed and launched everywhere. But are these as successful as they are being celebrated? New digital initiatives, platforms and formats are now being overzealously developed and launched everywhere. But are these as successful as they are being celebrated? Some simply try, without any innovative reflection, to copy the more or less successful analog reality 1:1 digitally; that this usually does not work was impressively shown, for example, by Art Basel Hong Kong with its viewing rooms. Others jump on every digital bandwagon - the new technology will fix it! - and often forget the most important thing, the customer. Certainly, there are also very interesting and promising initiatives, but logically, in such a short time, we are still in a discovery phase, from which the best initiatives and products will emerge and establish themselves. Many other industries show that these will not necessarily be the traditional, analog established and successful players. The key to the mediumand long-term success of digital platforms and formats is surely not only to compensate for the massive limitations and losses caused by COVID, but also to attract new customers and expand the market. The art market in particular is increasingly confronted with a new type of buyer and collector, an affluent, sophisticated, but volatile clientele with limited knowledge, for whom buying and collecting art is one of several exciting leisure activities that should guarantee them both social and cultural recognition as well as a rewarding investment. The digital art market of course has its own digital logic, digital concepts and digital business models, a lot of new things for the hitherto very traditionalist art market, but the expectations and demands of buyers and collectors are the same as in the analog market; people will not change. As in the analog market, perhaps even more so, the most
2021 |
39
Business
important thing in the digital market is trust; trust in the provider or seller, that is, the customer wants to be sure to deal with a top and trustworthy supplier, ideally a top brand, as well as trust in the object of purchase, that is, the customer wants to be sure to purchases a top top work of art to the best conditions. These are very high demands on the art market, where transparency is traditionally anything but the focus. And let’s not forget that the customer is at the seme time also a social being who expects personal contact, approach, exchange and integration, in short a feeling of belonging, as well as an emotional being who looks for pleasure, joy, fun, entertainment and, last but not least, recognition. In terms of digitization, the art world and the art market still have a lot of catching up to do and a lot of problems to solve. No doubt, this will happen, and it will bring more and new possibilities and opportunities, but also more and new competition and probably also more and new inequalities and dependencies. Fairness and responsibility will become more important than ever. 40
COLECTA- At the moment Non Fungible Token (NFT) art is on everyone’s lips, a real hype has arisen. What do you think about it? Lorenzo Rudolf- Digital art is nothing new, and it has already been sold before, classically, with a certificate issued by the gallery. Even if digital art becomes more and more popular and accepted, I’m quite sure that it will continue to be a niche and will ultimately be integrated into the art market, just as it used to be with photography, video or multimedia.But now we have this hype and these platforms that have generated a new attention, not least, of course, because of the recent auction of a digital artwork for 69 million US Dollars. The author of the work, the artist Beeple, is also a shareholder of the company that bought his artwork. This is nothing new, this has also happened in classical art; think only at Damien Hirst, who bought his own artwork to drive up the price. Also the media preparation and staging of the auction of this digital artwork by Christies is not new, but admittedly perfectly done. In this respect, this NFT system and the art market fit together very well. But is this the breakthrough in the art market for digital art, which has been extremely difficult to sell up to now? I’m not totally convinced of it yet, even with today’s technology the amount of computing required
| 2021
Business
to turn a normal image file into an original and link it to the owner’s name is still gigantic, the transaction costs are still much too high and the environmental side is still quite a disaster. But what is certainly an extremely interesting prospect for the art world and the art market, is, per se, the tokenization of artworks. Tradable ownership shares in a work of art not only contribute to a certain democratization of the nevertheless very elitist top art market, as many people who were previously excluded due to their financial limitations now have the opportunity to become co-owners of an outstanding work of art, but also enable owners of top works of art to make money by selling shares in them without giving up the work; a highly interesting matter not only for museums. COLECTA- Last but not least: What lessons should the art world and especially the art market learn from COVID? Lorenzo Rudolf- What the pandemic has taught us for sure is that big problems can only be solved together. This ultimately means more solidarity instead of rivalry, more exchange instead of egoism, more participation instead of exclusion, more cohesion and cooperation instead of separation, more respect instead of intolerance, more equilibrium instead of polarization, more support instead of fight, more dialogue instead of monologue, more sustainability instead of shortterm thinking and acting, more pluralism instead of monopolization and, last but not least, more depth instead of superficiality.
Lorenzo Rudolf, born 20.05.1959 in Bern, Switzerland, began his career in the art world when he took on the role of Director of Art Basel in January 1991. With a revolutionary new art fair concept he transformed Art Basel from a classical trade show to the flagship of the art world, and with the creation of Art Basel Miami Beach, the leading art fair on the American continent, he made the Swiss event the first global player of the international art market. As a consequence he was appointed in 2000 Director of the Frankfurt Book Fair and led the world event of the global publishing industry for three years. After several projects in the US he co-founded and directed the first international top contemporary art fair in Asia, ShContemporary in Shanghai / China (2007). With Art Stage Singapore in 2010 and Art Stage Jakarta in 2016 he put Southeast Asia on the global art map and aroused a Southeast Asian consciousness. Today Lorenzo Rudolf lives in Lugano, Switzerland, and works as an advisor and keynote speaker worldwide. (more info about Lorenzo Rudolf on www.peak-lorenzorudolf.com) Maria Elena and Lorenzo at Art Stage Singapore
2021 |
41
Art History
The New Babylonian Generation at the Cusp of the Great Reset 44
“ N OW IS T H E BE S T T I ME TO BE ALI VE ” By Jônatas Chimen, MFA
| 2021
Above, Artistic digital rendering of Babylon. Next to, David of Michaelangelo.
While this claim sounds incredibly bold, the chief qualifier of this statement is not the simple act of being alive – but of being alive as an active thinker and creator at the cusp of the Great Reset. The Great Reset is a term that scholars and theorists refer to as the “essential renewal of the social contract,” which will take root in a post-Covid-19 World. The idea has been promoted by influential agencies and individuals such as the World Economic Forum, Prince Charles, Klaus Schwab, economist Thierry Malleret, and John Kerry, and it is expected to change capitalism at its core from the Laissez-Faire model to a more responsible one.1 The Brookings Institute describes the Great Reset as a three-point plan, which includes “Response, Recovery, and Reset. For the near term it involves response, and in the medium term it involves ‘rebuilding economic and social activity (in a manner which protects public health, while promoting societal healing), and the preservation of the environment.’” Artists,
authors, cultural movers, and creative visionaries should rejoice over the possibility of the Reset, as its implementation can only happen through the harnessing of our applied ‘collective imagination.’”2 This gargantuan creative effort must be channeled pragmatically and within an adaptable structure, guided by a sense of purpose, which can ultimately produce the vehicle necessary to deliver humanity’s most promising common goals. For this to happen, one must first challenge the very notion that Humanity holds no universal values, and that History has ended – as postulated by post-Modernism. Instead, one must recognize that many Gen Xers, Millennials, and the majority of the TikTok Generation have become hyper-aware of their fragility through the advent of the Great Pandemic. This is likely how they rationalize a much-needed defense of their existential right to seek meaning, intention, and purpose in all endeavors. Thus, an important awareness of this gen-
¹ The Great Reset. World Economic Forum. (2019.). https://www.weforum.org/great-reset/. Khan, Z., & McArthur, J. (2020, October 20). Rebuilding toward the great reset: Crisis, COVID-19, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2020/06/19/rebuildingtoward-the-great-reset-crisis-covid-19-and-the-sustainable-development-goals/.
2
2021 |
45
Art History
Andy Warhol Marilyn, 1967 Pertence ao acervo do Museum Of Modern Art (MoMA) de Nova York
46
eration’s role in the collective has been raised, which leads to the transformative understanding that one’s actions, thoughts, and choices do matter in the grand scheme of existence – and therefore, in the writing of “future history.” As it happens, very few generations are aware of their importance in the bigger picture, and even fewer have lived through paradigm-shifting eras – especially when cultural production is matched with technological advancement and upward economic mobility. That is why this climactic moment holds more similarity with the rise of Babylon than with the dawn of the Renaissance, for even the Renaissance did not occur on a global scale – unlike our current schism which is of a universal magnitude. Considering that the politic, cultural, and economic concerns of the East are now more than ever resounding with the West (i.e. the U.S. and European response over the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict of mid-2021), and that an ever-growing artistic bridge is being strengthened between both sides of this spectrum (see the Andy Warhol exhibit curated by Amir Rad at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
in Iran, and Jada’s Art Fair curated by Ginat Salman at the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Museum in Israel, schedule for 2022) – one may certainly start referring to this generation as the New Babylonians. They are the latest breed of globalized and creative thinkers, prone to be digital nomads, art professionals, stock-savvy day traders, major social media influencers, authors of new ideologies, and prolific cultural producers, whose intent is to change the world in form and function. These New Babylonians are fit to bring about the Great Reset precisely because they carry within themselves the very ideas that are provoking this upcoming Era. They have proven to be aware of their collective potential as powerful agents of change within whichever sector they choose to act. Sometimes driven by idealism, and other times by sheer desire. For instance, Malala Yousafzai and Emma Gonzalez – both survivors of gun shootings from Pakistan and the United States – both came from a seemingly politically disinterested generation who, once called upon, became leading voices in human rights advocacy and the fight against gun violence. They did so by restructuring their initial victimhood status to that of active protesters, moved by a deep sense of immediacy, fueled by a sincere idealism, and propelled by the great social media machine. And so, their advocacy grew into international movements. Also noteworthy is the band of Millennial stock traders, who in January of 2021 through a Reddit message board “executed a short squeeze to lift the price of GameStop stocks from $20 to $483 in a matter of weeks. The upward manipulation is said to have been provoked by a sense of “nostalgia and endear-
Khan, Z., & McArthur, J. (2020, October 20). Rebuilding toward the great reset: Crisis, COVID-19, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2020/06/19/rebuildingtoward-the-great-reset-crisis-covid-19-and-the-sustainable-development-goals/.
3
| 2021
Art History
ment” for the video game store of their childhood – as Game Stop is for Millennial gamers what Blockbuster is for the Gen-Y’ VHS devotee.”3 The Great Reset relies specifically on this kind of group thinking and the ability to self-organize. Its topmost driving force is the unnegotiable commitment to engage motion with emotion, by attaching self-fulfillment opportunities to life’s most mundane choices that deal with work, housing, learning, and relationships. The New Babylonians, therefore, have the necessary character to fulfill their redeeming role. While they are free of inhibitions, they take time to defend the building of new struc-
tures, and the shattering of antiquated models and hierarchies (such as the end of the middle agent). Since the mid-2020s, this need to work in alignment with one’s creative and spiritual compass has been heightened, as an observable shift in mood occurred within various sectors of society (from Wall Street to Main Street). The current rejection of irony and skepticism in Meme Culture, for instance, is just one example – as Memes are increasingly embracing more themes related to romance, vulnerability, and the angst for self-realization. It is no coincidence that those themes are central to the plots of Millennials’ favorite sitcoms and TV shows. Just think of shows such
Gen-z Parents Art | Ps Magazine
2021 |
47
Art History
The Great Reset aims to reassess Capitalism and realign worldwide economics.
| 2021
the making of revolutionary creative acts. Their artistic development is occurring within the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution, which is defined by hyper connection, the Internet of Things, and quantum computing – among other radical advances. Thus, the Great Reset will be brought by makers and thinkers who are not defined by limitation, but by an endless sense of confidence in possibilities. For the first time since the end of the Modern Age, creatives will reclaim their role in the writing of future histories by sincerely upholding their belief in artistic exceptionalism. That is when the nihilism of Art for Art’s sake will be no more, and creatives will audaciously shout that NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO BE ALIVE. Courtesy WarnerMedia
48
as Seinfeld, Saved by the Bell, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Boy Meets World, Friends, Dawson’s Creek, 30 Rock, Freaks and Geeks, Gilmore Girls, Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother, Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, Gossip Girl, Breaking Bad – among so many more. The 2021 episode of the Friends franchise titled “The Reunion,” is yet another testament that nostalgia and familiarity hold a sacred value for Millennials. One can easily recognize that this comeback installment of Friends is nothing more than a complex #TBT (Throwback Tuesday, or Time) for the Great Reset generation – as the Friends’ main cast simply re-enacts celebrated scenes at their beloved apartment, the Central Perk coffee shop, and at the show’s iconic water fountain. This choice of the Friends’ re-enactment episode versus the making of another installment is a stark declaration that Millennial audiences are more interested in familiarity than in novelty. Perhaps this can be explained by the trauma of losing over 2.4 million lives to the novel CoronaVirus in less than 24 months. Thus, while time is of essence, it is also necessary to focus on healing. Sincerity, familiarity, and a structure of emotion are exactly the kind of Chicken Soup for the Soul that the New Babylonians need to fully engage with the unleashing of the Great Reset. Once whole, these Metamodern creatives are poised to play an important role in
“Friends” originally aired from 1994 to 2004, and the cast recently participated in a reunion episode in 2021.
S t
| 2021
Sculpting the Paralle Sculpting
Hyperreali the Parallel: Hyperrealism Steals Steals The Reality Show The Reality 51
B o r e d o m o r s ur v i va l i ns ti nc t. By Ibtissam El Azami For decades now, man has worked towards creating versions of himself in a singular God-complex habit, and one can only wonder what leads us to reinvent our world and attempt to create an alternative to our known life so tirelessly. Animatronics, robots meant to serve us, and a florilège of dystopian TV shows and movies related to the taking over of machines tired of taking orders from humans, are in proper bloom and have been for quite some time.
2021 |
Hyperrealism
52
Duane Hanson Supermarket Lady
Sergey Piskunov Wearing Mask, 2016
On a normal day, we wake up, have breakfast, her mouth, slippers, and torn-off tights are the perfect hop in the car, and off we flow along the current of mixture of social downheaval, uncovered one scalpel the day. Hyperrealism is not something that most of flirt at a time. Some of his other sculptures, Houseus think about when our minutes swirl around at painter I, Queenie II, or Security Guard, lead the viewwork, buzzing. Why would you recreate life? What is er to ponder on “classic” jobs and ordinary people it that attracts the brushes and scalpel of reality-hun- trying and succeeding - or not - to live the American gry artists? Dream. Hyperrealism, as an art Hyperrealism brings our atstyle, defies our brains with the tention to social matters that In hyperrealist artworks, recreation of an ultimate reborrow from psychology and it is interesting to note ality that sheds light on much philosophy: am I a consumer, or greater issues. Social matters am I being consumed? Do I exist how far the sculptors are unveiled through the shapbeyond the act of purchasing? and painters of the genre ing of materials as trivial as Who am I? How do I relate to are willing to go to bring wax, plastic, and acrylics. this world filled with other “I’s” American sculptor Duane who are also trying to become goosebumps to our necks. Hanson (1925-1996) strikes “someone” by making themhard on hyperconsumerism selves look more attractive? with his Supermarket Lady, a 1970 thorough depicOne would do well to linger on the matter of tion of a late-night shopper with an overflowing cart whether a reproduction of our everyday reality, no and rollers stuffed in her hair. A stunningly lifelike matter how detailed and hyperrealistic, can be considsculpture born during the consumerism boom and ered as art or a philosophical skill. the blooming of criticism of American materialistic In hyperrealist artworks, it is interesting to note society through the eyes of Hanson. The cigarette in how far the sculptors and painters of the genre are
| 2021
Hyperrealism
Photo Cortesy Google
Tjalf Sparnaay Kaasboterham II
Ron Mueck Wild Man
willing to go to bring goosebumps to our necks. Hairs, veins, pimples; the human body and its environment are judged and reproduced to almost perfection. While artists like Duane Hanson use their art as a weapon towards the consumerist labels of society, others such as Ron Mueck sculpt the weakness of man on an inhuman scale that plays on oversized and undersized measurements. His Wild Man (2005) shows a naked bearded man holding onto a stool on which he is sitting, his eyes filled with utter fear. Other artists like Patricia Piccinini study the normality of the human body through their artwork, crossing the features of our flesh with mutant parts of animal-looking bodies, resulting in hyperrealism with a science-fiction feel to it. In the context of ever-so-booming production of industrialized goods, hyperrealism’s first artworks date back to the early 1970s, when Isy Brachot, a prominent Belgian art dealer, titled one of his exhibitions in Brussels “L’hyperréalisme” in 1973. A mere sixty years have allowed artists to recreate and transmit fear, anxiety, quietness, and a state of latency in their subjects that can only intrigue and trigger awe. In simulating life and substituting something that never really existed with emotion-enticing sculptures, hyperrealist artists succeed in bringing around thoughts and questions. Is it not one of art’s main goals to make you think through shapes and colors, and adjust your life according to the essence you’ve extracted from a work of art’s message? Ron Mueck Mask II, 2001 2021 |
53
special featured
CHRISPAPITA By Th e H o u se of A r ts + I T M o nd o
54
The partnership between The House of Arts and IT Mondo always aims to broaden art lovers’ artistic horizons, reaching out not only to artists of international backgrounds but also to those who create using non-conventional mediums and styles. Perhaps the resurgence in interest on hyperrealism is a result of the surreal feelings brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread lockdowns -- perhaps it is simply a response to the neverending cycles of reinventing art movements. Nonetheless, The House of Arts’ newest resident artist Chrispapita is no stranger to hyperrealism. Christian Escobar, “Chrispapita” in the art world, is a self-taught artist from Guatemala passionate about various contemporary artistic movements. Hyperrealism and realism are what he’s best known for, inspired by the human figure and applying features of urban cultures and their relationship with nature and science. His artistic and life philosophy is the baroque ideal of Memento Mori, which means “Remember that you will die”, which motivates him to create works where the main theme is celebrating life, living in the present, learning from our past and future.
| 2021
55
Chrispapita Vahalla
2021 |
special featured
Chrispapita The Three Graces
| 2021
special featured
57
Chrispapita Awakening
Chrispapita Illusions 2021 |
The Seventh Art
58
| 2021
Peter Olexa | unsplash
Transcending Art
Black Panther Cast | Getty Images
59
On e of t h e gr e at fa sc i nati o ns of cine ma is it s in c r e d ib le a b i l i ty to cre at e a n d r e c r e at e sto r i e s that ope n br id ge s to d if f e r e nt r e a l i ti e s of eve r y d ay lif e . A ltho ug h w e of t e n k n ow w h e r e the f i l m i s he ade d , t h e jo u r n ey le a d s us to believe t h at t h e ex p e r i e nc e w i l l be wor t h ex p e r ie n c in g. S i m i l a r l y , this y e a r , t h e b igge s t p a r ty i n world c in e m a m a n a ged to w r i te a n e w s c r ip t , a d d in g in i t a nothe r ch apte r c h a m p io n in g the e nd of ine q u a lit ie s . A s it ha s d o ne i n previo u s y e a r s, H o lly wo o d ra i s e s fla gs a n d co u ra ge ous l y s e e ks solu t io n s to r e so lve w hat i s no lon ge r a c c e p t e d a s “ no r m a l . ”
By Igor Sampaio Recently, we have seen (or better, heard) many voices calling for women’s and racial rights to be highlighted in the media, as their absence leads us to the error of putting them aside, giving a lesser degree of attention to battles faced by minorities, who, as well as women and blacks, have obstacles put in their paths daily. With that in mind, the Oscars 2021 fiercely carried out its activism in the way it is most familiar with: turning everything into showbiz! Taking minority groups such as the physically disabled, the elderly, and black people into the big screens, without necessarily addressing the subjects in a revealing way while using these egalitarian agendas as a background and reflection within the film narrative, provides the general 2021 |
Transcending Art
alyze cinematographic art in its essence. Since its origin in 1878 in the experiment of photographer Eadweard Muybridge, cinema has as its original function the verification and analysis of the world, seeking to arrive at new discoveries and conclusions. Defending a new way of thinking and acting is nothing more than cinema doing something as natural as entertaining. And that is perhaps why the movement that Hollywood has made is so significant. Having a segment of the arts that questions the environment, and doing that on themes to be studied to achieve a better world, is an action with the possibility of bringing real results, which would hopefully be positive. When Sidney Poitier won the Oscar in 1964 for Best Actor, becoming the first black actor to win it, the world questioned the decision. Not the actor’s ability itself, but the strangeness of the achievement, and whether or not it should have happened: whether racism and segregated societies were right. The symbolism of his conquest opened spaces for questioning. Years later, we encounter new characters in new scenes investigating new questions, such as in the recent film Black Panther. The first superhero blockbuster with a black protagonist, played by a black actor may seem redundant, but this would not be so obvious in prior years.
Getty Images
Silver Screen Collection Shutterstock
60
public with a more immersive perspective. This process is consequently more efficient than just screaming and marching. Hollywood is upgrading, and aims to continue to be a centerpiece in the life of the society. Helping to build reflections on common, but often questionable, concepts and habits. In 1940, Hattie McDaniel made history by winning an Oscar and being the first black actress to achieve such an achievement. This event broke taboos, questioning society and the film industry itself, which had in its modus operandi ghastly laws such as the Hays code, which imposed a series of restrictions on Afro-descendent actors. And more than 80 years later, we still see the need for inclusive measures that aim to encourage and honor discriminated people. Hollywood, more than being a film production line, is an indulgent weapon against evil, making magic by bringing reality to fiction, and the reverse as well. This shows that, even with the evolution of technology and the popularization of film media, which is now available in the hands of any child, Hollywood still has the power to form opinions in society. The interesting thing about witnessing this new militancy in Los Angeles, which at first glance may seem like a fad or a desperate attempt to adapt to new customs, is when we an-
Black Panther Oscars
Gone With The Wind | 2021
Shutterstock
Courtesy Associated Press
Transcending Art
Getty Images
Sidney Poitier
61
Chadwick Red Carpet
Hattie McDaniel
Chadwick Boseman broke decades of a Nordic stereotyped image of the class that held superpowers. Black Panther, as well as Gone With the Wind, have part in the same “cinematographic-realistic” arc, in different historical phases they ask questions and bring new perspectives. Society evolves when the media evolves and has the courage to address nuisances. In the same way done by hashtagged challenges on Instagram and Tik Tok, they manage to create behavioral waves in millions of users around the world, the fusion and dissemination of the film elemen increasingly appears to be a co-participant in people’s lives that allows high degrees of empathy. This is true not just in cinema, but in any and all video publishing platforms, even if they don’t realize it. They are
already part of this new world, where what is filmed is no longer restricted to fiction or reality. In 2021, we live in a filmic matrix, immersed in a world where we no longer know which one is more real: what I see in front of the mirror every morning, or the one that appears on the screen of a cell phone for the entire planet. Within this perspective, the medium of video or film gains more power of interaction and interpellation with the real world, closing the arc started in 1878. This arc where cinema has to verify what is real, and if this reality is questionable morally, as it is the reality of the most disadvantaged social groups. And in this role, Hollywood still presents itself as a beautiful protagonist of the current world, playing as a fighter of social causes, and having an Oscar as its weapon of war. 2021 |
T e ch n o l o g y
Beyond the Digital Frontier Photo courtesy Zevi G
62
| 2021
Courtesy of Zevi G
Th e q u e s t io n o n ev e r y b o d y ’s m i nd s r i g ht n ow is s im p l e : w hat a r e N T Fs a nd w hy sh o u ld d e signe r s thi nk a b o ut c r y p to a r t? By Rodrigo Faustino
As we begin to settle into the highly use screens as the canvas to express an aesthettechnological 21st Century, it’s possi- ic idea are now earning huge amounts of money ble that designers are experiencing a renaissance by selling their works to large audiences. These in digital art with cryptoart. The prefix ‘crypto’ unique audiences are keen on collecting and must be familiar to many people in and outside exclusivity, seeking to acquire some of the new of the art world as conversations about crypto- digitally owned, authenticated certificates NFTs. currencies take the media by storm. Put simply, And this scenario is not just around the artworks cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are digital curren- sold by Christie Hammer, but also a plethora of cies that usually only exist virtually, but can be websites that are exploding with exhibitions by cashed for other virtual or physical tokens. Now, unknown artists and online collections breaking this concept has been applied to the art world as the communication industry by introducing the well, and once this movement is observed, it’s easy universe of fine arts. It is precisely the elements of portable excluto see why it might be very appealing for many. sivity that make NFTs so popular. This technology NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and cryptoart have also grants digital art access been gaining popularity in into a world that has existrecent weeks with a host of The advent of NFT’s ed for centuries: the world high-value pieces. has given many artists of collecting. Certain works This medium presents a of art and objects gain value brand new frontier for the a new space to create and status for being excluart community. NFTs are exciting works of art, sive, unique, and impossible irreplaceable, undestroywhile utilizing the many to replicate. NFTs, therefore, able, and uncopyable virtual can make digital art incrediitems, which can be stored benefits offered in the bly valuable. digitally on e-wallets or any digital canvas. The advent of NFT’s has devices. They come with an given many artists a new authenticity stamp and can space to create exciting works of art, while utilizbe sold and resold, always rewarding the origiing the many benefits offered in the digital canvas. nal author, thus giving artists unlimited earning Artists are now able to add digital elements like potential every time the piece is sold. It is an insound, colors, movement and other components teresting initiative for futurist creators who can’t to their art that are not possible in the real physfind material input to bring their projects to life ical conditions. A bold venturer of his own, artist except through virtual reality and NFTs, for exZevi G has been recognized in the art world for ample. Architects, designers, artists and other crecreating (in real life) large sculptures that further ators, even for brands are finding their way out his positive messages of the need and importance into the future. As this technology expands and progresses, of happiness and joy, all a part of his imaginary digital creators, designers and visual artists who 456 Land. The digital world is an exciting new 2021 |
63
T e ch n o l o g y
64
prospect for the artist, especially in the realm of augmented reality, virtual reality, and in the creation of 3D pieces. And it is undeniable that the newness of the medium combined with the broad reach of the internet will eventually inspire new conversations among audiences who, either due to geography or interest, could only be engaged with through the online sphere. As real life becomes evermore intertwined with the online space, the growth of digital art is inevitable. Zevi G, like many other artists and collectors, believes that NFTs are an important outlet for this inevitable process. He is boldly diving into the medium, planning to create
| 2021
his 456 Land and its signature characters in the online world. His first NFT release happened in June during a solo exhibition, and there is much more on its way. And it is also important to note that, though these virtual platforms are currently experiencing a boom in popularity, digital has been around ever since artists figured out how to translate their creation to fit the screen. This new movement marks the valuation of the medium more than anything else, as the inherent exclusivity of NFTs might be the missing key to the true appreciation of digital art.
Photos courtesy Zevi G
T e ch n o l o g y
ompensation is on everyone’s minds. In times like these, where the economy is marked by the convoluted politics of a world-wide pandemic, a lot of artists are often underpaid and struggling. Now, they are seeking new horizons. This reality combined with the previous undervaluation of digital art and other reasons, make NFTs sound like a Renaissance for digital art, rooted in a global-scale mission to better financial scenarios for creatives in the digital world. It’s a question of pushing the boundaries on a digital level. It’s time to move forward and embrace something new that could open many
doors. I think the likes of masters of the fine arts would be doing the same. It is undeniable that NFTs are making quite the splash in the art world. Perhaps the use of this technology will become commonplace, and collectors will carry their art in their pockets everywhere; a Monalisa in their wallets. Or perhaps, like countless new inventions that come and go, NFTs will create their buzz now and disappear again in a few years. Only time will tell where the industry is headed, but it is an undeniably exciting time to be involved in the arts.
Zevi G is a rising artist who believes that integrating the digital space into his portfolio will spark new conversations, stir emotions, as well as open the door for a new demographic of art enthusiasts. 2021 |
65
miamidda.com
Dow tow Mia
wn wn ami
Explore diversity. Taste the exotic environment. Lose yourself in Downtown Miami. You won’t just see it, you’ll feel it.
| 2021
Art and Animation
Art+ Technology+
Story 69
P rof i l e of M a ur i c i o F e r ra z z a Chairperson at the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex President at MIA Animation, LLC Designer
Both art and technology define and continue to reshape the world we live in. Re-imagining what we know as real or as a solid ground pushes our opinions and understandings of nature to the limits. And with new mediums and advance in technology, both the mind and the body, the language, and the world itself seems to be making room for a fresh set of rules. Governed by a broad access to new possibilities, the virtual, the scientific and the logic that is beyond belief, technology in art challenges our perceptions and that is what creativity and science are all about.
“Oranges and Limes” - Miami’s 125th Anniversary Celebration, downtown Miami. 2021 |
Art and Animation
70
Art and technology have a complex but meaningful history of working together and influencing one another. In many ways, they have evolved alongside each other to arrive at their place in the world today; a digital age where they constantly overlap and portray new ideas. Technology and access to different media platforms allows stories to be told to different audiences in different ways - it has shifted not just the way we tell stories, but also who tells those stories. The capacity to connect with an audience on an emotional level, to find the hook that grabs the viewer or reader by the throat, can now be done in immersive or augmented worlds, through social media or on a mobile phone, on different formats and exciting platforms. What’s the best technology to tell a story? All of them, according to Mauricio Ferrazza, who uses different ways to tell different stories to different audiences. Mauricio Ferrazza has been working with animation production for film and TV, and game design simulations for over 30 years. With a masters in computer animation, he specialized in particle simulation and dynamics, creating motion and recreating natural phenomena through the application of the principles of physics. Storytelling and technology have always been present in these past years, providing an array of ways different audiences can be reached.
“Different audiences need different triggers and motivations, from traditional animations to mobile AR games, the goal is always to tell the story.” – says Ferrazza. In 2009 he founded MIA ANIMATION and launched the MIA Animation Conference & Festival, designed
| 2021
“Flying Dolphins” - Miami’s 125th Anniversary Celebration, downtown Miami.
Art and Animation
“Panther’s Roar” - Miami’s 125th Anniversary Celebration, downtown Miami.
to be a forum for active networking and practical information exchange with strong commitment and emphasis in education while developing and nourishing new talent. MIA Animation produced its last conference in 2017, it now operates as a production studio for animation, gaming and immersive experiences. In 2015, Ferrazza inaugurated the Miami Animation and Gaming International Complex (MAGIC) at Miami Dade College. MAGIC is the first facility of its kind at a public higher education in Florida. Modeled after a feature production studio — MAGIC has positioned itself as a new animation and gaming industry hub and has gathered enthusiasts, studio executives, software specialists, artists and others from around the country to collaborate in different initiatives. MAGIC has produced several animated short films, many with Nickelodeon, video games and immersive simulations, partnering with museums and local institutions to create community centered solutions using available technologies. This past January, Ferrazza launched “Dig & Learn” in partnership with The Friends of The Underline, Miami’s ten-mile linear park and urban trail. The mobile game is a virtual scavenger hunt and uses augmented reality to allow visitors to learn about cultural and historical figures, native flora and fauna, cultural artifacts, and buildings and neighborhoods representative of Miami’s vibrant and diverse history and residents. Users can ‘dig’ for objects and learn about Miami co-founder Mary Brickell, the Native American tribes of Florida and discover fossils hidden in the Florida oolite coral limestone, among other interesting facts and pieces of history. Designed primarily for kids, the augmented reality com-
2021 |
71
Art and Animation
72
“Turtle’s Dive” - Miami’s 125th Anniversary Celebration, downtown Miami.
ponent triggers and motivates the user to navigate the narrative, learning facts about Miami and its history. Currently in development, Ferrazza is working on a fully immersed virtual reality experience of a post disaster scenario for nursing students, addressing student learning needs in the areas of triage, disaster management, assessment, delegation, management of care, and critical decision-making, providing and offering the opportunity to apply theory to practice. Technology can enhance storytelling in education, recreating realistic scenarios for professional training. This initiative is being funded by Epic MegaGrants, to support game developers, enterprise professionals, media and entertainment creators, students, educators, and tool developers using Unreal Engine or enhancing open-source capabilities for the 3D graphics community. Ferrazza’s next art+tech+story project, and maybe the most challenging in scope, will be to animate downtown Miami, designing and animating its history, as part of the 125th anniverFrontier City” - Miami’s 125th Anniversary Celebration, downtown Miami. | 2021
Art and Animation
“Dig & Learn” - Mobile AR Game at The Underline.
sary celebrations of the city on July 28th, 2021. The animated story of Miami since its creation in 1896 will be projected on the old Miami Dade Courthouse on Flagler Street, a 28-story building in downtown Miami. The project is being developed by the Miami Downtown Development Authority and Christina Crespi, executive director at the Miami DDA, is the lead and creative mind of this initiative. Projection mapping is a video projection technology in which video is mapped onto a surface, turning common objects – such as buildings, runways, stages and even water – into interactive displays. These surfaces become a canvas, with graphics being projected onto a surface, playing off of the surface’s shape and
textures to create a delightful experience of light and illusion. Technology has been providing creatives with original ways of expression since its beginning. The major shifts, like the transition from the analogue to the digitally created expression, or to even go back further in time, the birth of Impressionism, the famous silkscreen prints of Andy Warhol would not be possible without technology and science. Why do we tell stories? “To share information, to share inspiration, to share in the entire experience of being human. Stories connect us to each other in profound and moving ways.” – Mauricio Ferrazza.
“VR Patient Triage Simulation” - Virtual Reality simulation for medical students. 2021 |
73
A r ch i t e c t u r e
VISUAL MERCHANDISING:
The Art of Selling Through Art 76
By Marta Kasznar The most important prerequisite develop Visual Merchandising (VM) activities is having a good notion or basic knowledge of Fine Arts, Interior Design, Architecture, Fashion, Marketing, Window Display, Visual Communication and Scenography. To build vitrines and promotional exhibitions in PDV in retail establishments, it is necessary to apply techniques of composition (symmetry, asymmetry and variations) and product exposure (clusters, overlap, verticalization, horizontal, plans and promotional spaces) considering promotional architecture, always aiming to increase sales volume. Different techniques and aesthetic knowledge, as well as visual perception, are applied in the creation and development of sketches, using materials and decorative elements with colors. Furthermore, colors are important vehicles in creating visual stimulation for the customer within the store. Just as color psychology inBasket design at Loewe. Courtesy of Loewe.
| 2021
77
Yokohama Bayside UNIQLO store. 2021 |
A r ch i t e c t u r e
Gentle Monster stores at SKP-S, Beijing.
78
fluences a customer to buy and/or recognize a store through the idea of a brand, sensory marketing and branding, essential parts of VM in turn also impact consumer buying behavior. The intersection of retail design and art is a way to move beyond traditional trends. It is important to escape the predictable, the sameness. The artist/Visual Merchandiser’s duty is to surprise, to create something not seen before or a “déjà vu”, it is to innovate. Standing out from the competition remains fundamental in retail. An attractive and well-lit artistic showcase, an aesthetically well-crafted store with an inspiring ambience: this is what is called a bespoke solution. Customization will make the POS (point of sale) environment unique and exclusive. This result is achieved through combining commercial design and art, such as dealing with and negotiating partnerships with local artists to create exclusive pieces or interventions in the store. It is important to note that events and works of art must follow the profile or be in tune with the brand’s target audience. To enrich products, brands and the stores themselves are part of the Visual Merchandising strategy that, by combining visual communication and marketing, also unites concepts of architecture and interior design. VM is in everything: in the establishment, the decoration, the music, the aroma inside the store, the layout, the entrance, the façade, the dressing rooms, and even in the service of the sales team through their appearance (endomarketing). Enabling a positive and memorable shopping experience for customers to retain them is one of the most important tasks of the VM professional. Therefore, we can say and conclude that VM is the art of organizing the sales space well, it is the art of involving the customer, and the art of setting up a showcase as if it were a work of art. | 2021
Louis Vuitton storefront. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Chanel Immersion by Chanel. Courtesy of Chanel.
A r ch i t e c t u r e
79
Note from the author: Since the land of Retail and therefore Visual Merchandising is the United States,I traveled every year to participate in the Big Show of the RNF National Retail Federation at the Javit Center in NY. There, I witnessed everything that is new in Global Retail, and obviously the best stores with special attractions and unparalleled shopping experiences. Among the physical stores that seduced me most was the American apparel group Anthropologie, with approximately two hundred shops in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom. Anthropologie often partners with artists, designers and employees around the world to create collections of clothing, accessories, home products, furniture, beauty products and gifts.
2021 |
Courtesy by Marly
Space for sculptures created before 1850. | 2021
O u t & Ab o u t
Experience
Life
81
Cr e at ivity , F r i e nd s hi p , Cu lt u ra l Jo ur neys , Th e A r t s, a nd C l a s s e s . D is cove r a n i nte r nati o na l co m m u ni ty co nne c ti ng c u lt u r e s a nd a r t fo r m s t h ro u gh i m m e r s i v e ex p e r ie n c e s i n a p l atfo r m a c c e s sibl e to a l l .
Wonderlust is the defining word of the post-lockdown world. Human being’s natural curiosity has been heightened after such a long period where our senses were suppressed, and it is no surprise that most of us are eager to take on new adventures. And as social creatures, we have the power to take each other on journeys through different worlds and ideas without ever needing a travel ticket. Colecta Magazine’s Out and About aims to inspire wanderlust, acting as a spark to the future journeys you may take, be it at home or out in the world. This edition counts with the experiences of Luciana Lewis, a specialist in wanderlust who takes us through Miami. And from the East Coast, we take you across seas to Europe and Asia to truly ignite your curiosity.
2021 |
Cortesy Benesse Art Site
Getty Images
O u t & Ab o u t
82
| 2021
O u t & Ab o u t
The Louvre Museum
83
Getty Images
The Louvre Pyramids; lines to see the Monalisa at the Louvre after its post-Covid reopening; Egyptian funerary serviteur; One of the Louvre’s luxurious rooms oom 66 – Royal Jewels and Crowns
Photo by Vivian Lobenwein
It is impossible to understate the importance and fame of The Louvre. As quite likely the most famous art site on the planet, the Musée du Louvre is not only a historic monument of Paris, France, but also the largest museum in the world. The building itself was a landmark from the moment it was built, serving as a home for different kings many times until it was turned into a museum to display French masterpieces during the French Revolution. The building is divided into three wings, Richelieu, Sully and Denon, and also features two magnificent gardens, the Carrousel Garden and the Tuileries Garden. It is a widely known fact that the Louvre is incredibly extensive. There are currently 35 thousand works on display within its walls, which renders it impossible to see every single piece in one visit. In fact, according to Marcel Widjaja, a tour guide with GetYourGuide Originals, it would take you about 200 days to see the entire museum, and that is only if you stand in front of each piece for just 30 seconds. It would be quite the walk too -- “if
2021 |
Photo by Vivian Lobenwein
84
| 2021
Photo by Vivian Lobenwein
O u t & Ab o u t
Above, objects of French royalty; Louvre painting room. Next to, indoor Louvre pyramid; Room of Spanish paintings.
you took the many levels of the Louvre and stretched them out, room after room, the museum would measure eight miles, or the length of the Seine,” according to Daisy de Plume, founder of THATMuse. Unsurprisingly, the sheer size of the museum can be overwhelming for some visitors. It is a privilege to visit the Louvre once for most people, so planning a trip can be quite difficult and tricky. For those who aspire to walk among the world’s most prized pieces of art, make sure to consult the Louvre’s website for tips for your trip! As with any other museum, recommend that you become familiar with the Louvre’s hours and adjust your time accordingly. The museum itself has a few suggestions on how to navigate the exhibitions and make the most of your time there. First, they suggest that you become familiar with their masterpieces, which are works such as the Monalisa by Leonardo da Vinci, the Venus de Milo, the Raft of Medusa by Theodore Gericault, among many, many others. Some say that these are the works you must see at least once before they die. If you’re a big fan of pop culture, you might be interested in their second suggested route, which guides you through every piece shown in Beyonce and Jay-Z’s iconic ‘APES**T’ music video. Those who love both Art and History might be inclined to use the route dubbed the “Journey Along the Nile,” which takes you through one of the largest ancient Egyptian art collections in the world. As the world opens up for travel once more, any lover of art should have the Louvre in their travel bucket list. And since the museum is so extensive, even those who have already had the privilege to walk through these historic hallways should consider it once more if they find themselves in Paris! This seeming endlessness of art, culture and history is what makes the Louvre so singularly special as a landmark, but also what makes it so magical as a human achievement. See you by the Monalisa!
2021 |
85
Benesse Art Site Naoshima, Japan
86
Some museums provide such an incredible experience that they could be your entire travel destination. It is a well-known fact that places such as the Louvre in Paris are so big that one would need weeks -- maybe even months! -- to see every single piece within their walls. Similarly, other museums might offer an experience that goes beyond simple sightseeing. While they may not be international institutions of their own like the Louvre, it is still worth considering a special detour to be fully immersed in their curated universe. One such museum is the Benesse Art Site Naoshima, which blends the experience of an extensive gallery and hotel complex in Naoshima, Japan, an island town overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. This art site functions almost like an archipelago of exhibitions, interlaced by architecture and nature that are themselves as stunning as any works of art, upholding their philosophy of treating the island itself as a canvas. Much of the structure of the site was designed by the Japanese architect Tadao Ando, though others have contributed to the stunning constructions that house both art and visitors. The museum hosts artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Cai Guo-Qiang, Hiroshi Sugimoto, among many others. Since the scenery of the Benesse Art Site is so intrinsic to its experience, it is important to know that the time of year in which you visit the museum will certainly impact your trip. Each season and time naturally paint a different picture of the site, so every visit is truly unique. And once you feel that you have fully explored the Benesse Art Site, you will be delighted to find that the surrounding islands also house stunning museums just as stunning as the Benesse. Naoshima, Teshima, Inujima and Megijima, all part of the Kagawa and Okayama Prefectures in Japan, are a hidden gem in Asia for art lovers!
| 2021
Cortesy Benesse Art Site
O u t & Ab o u t
1
2
Cortesy Benesse Art Site
O u t & Ab o u t
87 Cortesy Benesse Art Site
Photo by Iwan Baan
3
4 1. Chichu Art Museum; 2. Oval Residence by Tadao Ando; 3. Sphere 2.2 meters in diameter and 27 geometric shapes of gilded wood, created under the direction of Walter De Maria; 4. Teshima Art Museum Cafe.
2021 |
O u t & Ab o u t
Cortesy Cinemateca Brasileira
CONTRASSENSO IN “CON TRA S E N S O ” , IN DIV IDUAL EX H IB IT IO N AT PIN A COTECA BE N EDI CTO CAL IXTO , IN SAN TO S , SAO PAULO , G ILBERTO SALVADO R PRE SEN T S WO RKS FR O M HIS MOS T RECE N T PRODU C T IO N . By Antonio Carlos Cavalcanti
88
“Contrassenso” is Gilberto Salvador’s first solo show since 2018. It marks the 50th year since the artist’s first public exhibition, which took place in 1966 at the Teatro de Arena Gallery, in São Paulo, held at the invitation of Gianfrancesco Guarnieri. Contrassenso gathers 20 unpublished works, all of which were created by Gilberto Salvador in a studio he set up in his home amidst the unusual and emotional climate of the Covid pandemic. With these pieces, all of them in acrylic on wood, the artist reinterprets his own work over the last 50 years. “Being enclosed forces us to introspect,” he says. Gilberto Salvador, now 74 years old, is an architect who graduated from the College of Architecture and Urbanism of the University of São Paulo (FAU/USP). He worked professionally in the field for a few years, but since the early 1960s, he had been working as a visual artist. In 1967, he participated in the 9th São Paulo International Biennial, with the work “Dialectical Action on ...”, featuring drawings addressing the Vietnam War. Over almost 60 years of his artistic career, the artist has already held more than 50 individual exhibitions in Brazil and abroad, in addition to having participated in countless
| 2021
collective exhibitions, headlining more than ten International Biennials. He was one of the exponents of the Nova Figuração artistic movement. Later, his explorations in color and support led him to sculpture, a segment on which he concentrated for about fifteen years. During this period, he created important sculptures based on constructive language, installed in public spaces in São Paulo and other cities. Gilberto Salvador’s two-dimensional work – like the works he presents in the Contrassenso exhibition – continues his constructive language and expresses a three-dimensional logic, a sculptural vision. Visually, they are related to the concept of three-dimensionality, reminiscent of sculptures due to the artist’s artifice of painting on cut-out bases. When describing his work procedures, the artist reveals that his creative process has been essentially the same for 50 years. “It is in the morning that the process of free ‘geminal creation’ takes place. I start by drawing shapes in the newspaper. Then I cut out what interests me; I put it in a notebook and only much later did the development of the work in the studio begin, transported to covered wood, to be painted in acrylic paint at the end. I always work on three or four things at the same time.”
Gilberto Salvador Il Punto!, 2020 89
Gilberto Salvador Boa tarde, 2020
Gilberto Salvador Prisma Violeta, 2020
2021 |
O u t & Ab o u t
Gilberto Salvador Borboleta, 2020
90
The following is a statement by the curator, Antonio Carlos Cavalcanti: This series of cutouts by the artist Gilberto Salvador are from his most recent production, in which compositions using geometric elements follow a logic in varied perspectives, not establishing a pure concrete character, but rather creating a possible sculptural reading of a two-dimensional object. The sculptural suggestions are evident, visually generating the sensation of three-dimensionality in the audiences’ minds. However, in
most of these works, there are organic contrapositions represented by gestures and flowing of paint, which create an energy of rash geometry, as if the two expressions contradicted each other, causing the works to shift from sculptural to pictorial gestures and graphic. (...) These contrasts are commonplace throughout the artist’s work. They could already be seen in the sculptures presented at the 1969 Bienal de São Paulo, in a collection called Robótica, which is now part of the collection at the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo. The exhibition Contrasenso, by Gilberto Salvador, will be open to the public from May 6th to July 11th, 2021. The Pinacoteca Benedicto Calixto is located at Av. Bartolomeu de Gusmão 15, Boqueirão, Santos, phone. (13) 3288-2260. Or digital tour via Facebook:
fa c ebook . c om / F unda c a oPi na c otec a Benedi c toC a l i xto
Gilberto Salvador Per Mondrian III, 2020
| 2021
For those with a vision. Duek Lara Group is elevating real estate in South Florida. Leveraging the marketing platform of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, we offer our clients global exposure, with innovative technology and unrivaled services. In one year, we have expanded our presence in one of the most competitive markets in the world. This remarkable story has been one of ambition, foresight, and inspiration… and it is only getting started.
Let’s have a conversation about your real estate vision. dueklaragroup.onesothebysrealty.com | info@duek-lara.group | 305.935.0300
O u t & Ab o u t
The World Outside 92
As Ame r ica n s a r e encou ra ge d to go a n d experie n c e e nt e r t a in m ent ou tside o n c e a ga in af t er month s of lo c k d ow n s an d qu a ra nt in e s , so m e may be a b it lo st w h e n wonde r in g w h e r e to start. W e a r e d e ligh t e d to intro d u c e t h e n e w e s t additio n to o u r t e a m : ou r g u id e to h e lp yo u navigat e t h e wo r ld ou tside . Luciana Lewis is Brazilian, married and with 2 children, and has lived in Florida, US, for 18 years intermittently. She has a Graduate degree in Fine Arts, and Postgraduate degree in Interior Design and Shoe Design. In her last job in the corporate world as an interior designer and director of corporate events, she learned that, when people love what they do and not simply do what they love, they are able to do it well; even if they don’t have the training for it. At 50, she decided to change up her life and venture into the digital world by giving tips on
| 2021
her Instagram (@lulewismiami) about the city she chose to live in: Miami. Today, she has a website where you can find all these tips: www.lulewis.com Luciana always says: “We, 50 year-old women, women of the 21st century, are a new generation. We cannot - and even if we could, we should not - behave like our mothers. We still have a lot of life ahead of us! ” From this edition on, she will give us her Miami tips. Stay tuned!
O u t & Ab o u t
93
1
KUSH RESTAURANT @kushwynwood Kush’s burger is considered one of the best in Miami. The house is also known for its variety of craft beers. Matt, the owner, believes that “a well-crafted beer is a work of art not unlike a painting by Purvis Young.” Kush ‘s mission is to unite quality craft beers, cuisine with local foods and works created by local artists, all under one roof. In their own words: “KUSH is more than a pub, more than a bar, more than a restaurant - it is an experience!“
2021 |
O u t & Ab o u t
The World Outside
2
GUITAR HOTEL – HARD ROCK @hardrockholly
94
An icon since its conception, Hard Rock’s Guitar Hotel has a unique design in the shape of a guitar, featuring light fixtures as its strings. A true masterpiece of engineering, it is 450 feet (137m) high, thus redefining a new horizon for South Florida. The Hotel features a daily show of LED lights that are programmed to change color and intensity, choreographed with different songs. The projection of the lights reaches around 20,000 feet in height - about 6 thousand meters - up to the sky, thus forming the imaginary strings of the guitar.
Guitar Light Show Schedule Daily: 9 & 9:30PM Time is subject to change due to COVID. Inside the complex there is also a concert hall, Hard Rock Live, with capacity for 7 thousand people; The Comedy Club, a space for stand-up comedy, where you will receive weekly acclaimed comedians; 20 bars and lounges as well as the DAER nightclub / dayclub.
| 2021
O u t & Ab o u t
3 4
VIZCAYA MUSEUM AND GARDENS @vizcaya_museum Vizcaya Museum and Gardens - formerly known as Villa Vizcaya - is a Renaissance palace that started construction in 1912 and was completed in 1922. Its architecture and gardens have a strong influence from Veneto, the Italian Renaissance, and it was built on Mediterranean models. Its gardens are a spectacle apart: the whole area of the village has an extension of 50 acres (200,000 m2) and of these 50, 10 are just gardens. Its gardens are spectacular on their own: the whole area of
the village has an extension of 50 acres (200,000 m2) and of these 50, 10 are just gardens. The palace has 3 floors, and a beautiful collection of decorative arts from the 16th to the 19th century. For many years it was the home of James Deering, a businessman and art collector. It is located in Coconut Grove, on the edge of Biscayne Bay. You can rent the venue for events - I went to a wedding there myself. IT IS WONDERFUL!
Beyond Van Gogh @vangoghmiami It opened on April 15th and runs until July. You can’t miss out on it! Beyond Van Gogh is an interactive, creative exhibition that uses projection technology and graphic design to create an immersive journey into the world of Van Gogh. The exhibition uses his words, dreams and images to lead us to an experience marked by light, color and moving shapes. You can move through his art and dive into his world. Unframed masterpieces come to life: enter this journey with me and delight in the images of this genius.
2021 |
95
98
| 2021
Photos by Augusto Pessoa
Wearable Art
Small Communities, Giant Impacts “Te r ra d e Giga nt e s” R ev e a l s the Kn ow le d ge a n d H a b i ts of M a s te r s of th e Ce a r e n se Cu lt ur e
By Bruna Amorim
The intersection of Art and Fashion has broad borders, as it is easy to freely stretch the definition of each realm to incorporate even more information. Still, one name stands out among others, especially in the Brazilian scene. There is no art student, fashion lover, or any person culturally engaged in Brazil who hasn’t heard of Ronaldo Fraga at least once, even if briefly. Fully immersing himself and his audience in this artistic intersection, Ronaldo Fraga opens the 51st edition of São Paulo Fashion Week in June with his Terra de Gigantes collection through a worldwide video stream. The common thread of the stylist’s work here is the culture of Cariri Cearense. 2021 |
99
100
It is no secret that Brazil currently travels turbulent waters and struggles to grapple with the tides as they shake the nation’s very core daily. At such a difficult time in Brazilian history, the collection signals points of resistance: a loving resistance and a cultural resistance. For Ronaldo Fraga, the northeast represents the great amalgamation of Brazilian culture, with Cariri Cearense, at the foot of the Chapada do Araripe, as its epicenter. “In Terra de Gigantes, I talk about the typical miscegenation of the region, of the children who are the fruit of the most varied mixtures: Kariri Indians, slaves, Malian Africans of Muslim origin, young Christians and Jews fleeing the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal. A mixture that is also the basis of all Brazilian people”, says the stylist. Made from a single base of 100% linen fabric, the collection features much embroidery and few prints, giving way to an explosion of colors in reference to the multicolored Cariri Cearense. These details are surprising, as Fraga is well-known for his mastery of creating and applying prints to his pieces. As the result of the work developed by Ronaldo Fraga alongside students and professionals from Senac Ceará, Terra de Gigantes collection uses the Museus Orgânicos Project and
| 2021
Photos by Augusto Pessoa
Wearable Art
Photos by Augusto Pessoa
Wearable Art
101
2021 |
Wearable Art
102
| 2021
the Masters of Culture of Cariri as a reference, shining a light upon and strengthening the authorial fashion and the culture of the region. Launched in 2018, Museus Orgânicos, a project developed by Sesc Ceará in partnership with the Casa Grande Foundation, allows direct contact with the master himself, his traditions, family and stories. The artisans’ houses and workshops are open to the public, revealing memories, affections, photographs, clothing, objects; in short, everything that permeates the daily lives of those who transmit popular knowledge, in the most diverse forms of art. There is no better moment for the creation of such a project, as it highlights the importance of local culture through interactions with and support of real people who are truly connected to their craft. Both the project and Fraga’s newest collection express a yearning for the appreciation and celebration of Brazilian culture not as a single homogenous mass, but as the plural puzzle of human experience that it truly is. Through this political collection, which is by now par for the course for Fraga, the stylist shows that protest can take the form of something akin to a love letter in its fondness for the subject it wishes to protect. Subtly, but openly, he reminds us to embrace the dichotomies of our cultures and ourselves, taking this diversity not as our weaknesses, but our biggest strengths. 2021 |
103
art and social
106
Celebrating Breaking Barriers A s t h e Uni te d State s s e e m s to m ove fo r wa r d f ro m the h a r d m o nths of the COVI D -1 9 Pa n d e m i c , m a ny a r e e a g e r to f in d r e a s o ns to c e l e b rate . MAH P e o p l e M a g a z i ne at t e n d s to thi s e a g e r ne s s t h ro u g h the i r p ub l i cati o n a n d a c ti v i s m s ur ro und i ng t h e L GBTQI A + co m m uni ty d u r in g 2 02 1 ’s P r i d e M o nth. By Bruna Amorim
| 2021
Photo by Tommy Chung @tommychungphotography
107
One way or another, art is fundamentally about the human experience. Whether we refer to something classically understood as a piece of artwork such as a painting or a sculpture, or something contemporarily seen artistically such as fashion or design, art always centers humanity. This intrinsically personal medium unsurprisingly serves as a vehicle of both silent and bold self-expression, the latter of which is often tied to outward messaging and activism. Just as there are many forms of art, there are several ways in which individuals and groups can create and interact with art to express different messages. Sometimes, certain messages are as simple as “I exist.” To proudly take up space in the world is far more difficult than one might expect -- especially for those whose identities are not widely accepted, much less celebrated. Art naturally becomes an outlet for them, be it to express grief, joy, or any thought
2021 |
art and social
Photo by Tommy Chung @tommychungphotography
108
Alessandra Gold and Bo Khasamarina, editors in Chief of Mad As Hell People Magazine and Creative Directors of Mad As Hell People (Innovative / Genderfree lifestyle brand).
that crosses their mind. And thus it is unsurprising that so many artists and art lovers are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Perhaps it is due to a history marked by persecution over centuries that the LGBTQIA+ community is well versed in celebration, which is a defying art on its own. It is through celebration that members of the community demand space for their identities and lives, and this joie de vivre is what rests at the core of Pride month. This celebration period is fundamental to queer people not only to magnify and live their own most authentic identities, but also to learn and honor their history as queer folk. In 2021, with | 2021
more reasons to celebrate than ever after such difficult times, June Pride has been adopted as the stage for several social projects, including a collaboration between The Phluid Project and Mad As Hell People to create a platform for LGBTQIA+ voices in business and fashion: the Mad As Hell People Magazine. MAH People Magazine is an exercise of celebration that connected artists, designers, performers, activists and inspiring members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Local to Miami, Florida, MAH People is spearheaded by Alessandra Gold and Bo Khasamarina, who platformed several local influencers and social entities for the magazine’s first edition. Both of the founders themselves are designers, so it was only natural that the project centered fashion as a means of self expression. Khasamarina has enjoyed many years as an activist in the area, and they decided to pair with Unity Coalition | Coalicion Unida (UC|CU) to advance equality among queer, latinx and indigenous folk, exploring the intersectionality of their activism. The Phluid Project completes the venture, a brand which stands out in the global market as one of the pioneers in genderless apparel and inclusive business practices. Under the leadership of Robert Garret Smith, The Phluid Project and its stores have made a name for themselves not only for their genderfluid clothing, but also for their constant push to bring the apparel industry as a whole to the 21st century. Their portfolio counts with several collaborations with major retailers — including names like Nordstrom, Macy’s, Sephora, Target, among others — to bring inclusivity into mainstream stores, as well as political campaigns to advocate for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people all across the United States. Rob Smith’s tight merging of his personal ethos of equality and inclusivity with the company’s projects is evident in any action they undertake, and it is no different with this newly launched magazine. What makes the MAH People Magazine project so strong is precisely this spirit of collaboration that permeates through the publica-
art and social
Photo by Alberto Vasari
Photo by Tommy Chung @tommychungphotography
109
Rob Smith, founder of The Phluid Project.
Juan Bettancourt wears The Phluid Project jumpsuit by “Khasamartini,” a collaboration by Bo Khasamarina and artist Chloe Martini, and Genderfree Dual Sizing Boots by Mad As Hell People.
tion itself and the real-world actions that surround it. From partnering with local coalitions to spread knowledge and award community members, to national involvement in business, the Magazine’s goal for the future is to continue to engage with the LGBTQIA+ community, focusing on inclusivity and innovation. Through this relentless support, it is easy to foresee how the community around them will flourish, which in and of itself is a reason to celebrate!
Check out their instagram @madashellpeople or their website madashellpeople.com for more information.
2021 |
MEDIA G ROU P
W W W. AV E S S A . M E D I A
| 2021
Art photography
S u rre al
New York by
Alex Korolkovas
2021 |
| 2021
115
2021 |
| 2021
2021 |
Photographer Alex Korolkovas @korolkovas Styling & Art Direction Elvis Maynard @elvismaynard Hair @carolinemcneillhair Makeup @ksavijoshi Model @femme_aletheiam Agency @fentonmodela Shoes @avemshoes Fashion @ladron.deguevara
| 2021
2021 |
MEET T H E TEAM
Our Contributors giu branDAO
JADE MATARAZZO
E d i to r-i n -C h i ef Giulia Lima is a renowned expert in strategic brand management and market research. During her journey through communications and fashion marketing, the Art World was always an important aspect of her 20+ years of experience in the industry, as well as her personal life. Lima believes in the power of connecting people with a purpose, acting locally to make a difference globally.
Ar t Curator & Dir e ctor As an artist, curator and cultural entrepreneur, Jade Matarazzo felt the need for cultural exchange in broader and more creative platforms. For the last 15 years, Jade has developed many international projects and partnerships in the USA, Asia, Europe, as well as South America, always transcending barriers using art as a universal language and common denominator.
Ronaldo fraga
BRUNA AMORIM
Brazilian born Ronaldo Fraga is considered one of the most important names in the history of fashion in Brazil. He stays true to himself instead of being a slave to trends. He appreciates comfort and subtle sensuality instead of more obvious and clichéd eroticism. And above all, he has a unique way of telling moving and unusual stories through each collection.
VIVIAN LOBENWEIN Grap h i c ar t d i r r e c to r Vivian is a graphic designer with a passion for editorial design. She has been in the publishing industry for more than 15 years, and has directed more than 50 publications, including magazines, books, catalogs and newspapers. Art is present in all aspects of her work, and she believes that art has the power of arising unique feelings in each person.
| 2021
Wr iter and trans lator Bruna Amorim is a young writer and translator, currently pursuing a B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology with honors. Throughout her life, her passion has been the exploration of different languages, countries, and cultures, with particular attention to individual people and their own stories as well as larger social dynamics and struggles.
Alex Korolkovas Alex Korolkovas is an awarded Brazilian photographer currently residing in the US. He has held numerous solo exhibitions all across America and abroad. Alex is a resident photographer at New York’s SOHO, Flying Solo. He also collaborates with magazines such as Dreamingless, Ellements, GMARO, Huf, iMirage, iMute, Maximo, StyleCruze to name a few.
Flávio Iryoda
Flávio is the founder of AVESSA Media Group, a global digital publishing company focused on contemporary fashion, beauty and art. Coming from a Big4 audit, tax and consulting firm, Flávio brings over 15 years of strategy and operations experience and industry-leading practices from the management and technology consulting space.
Simone Piva Her multidisciplinary education gave the grants to create her curatorial and art dealer company IT MONDO, which in partnership with galleries, artists and curators, promotes art exhibitions and events in Europe and America, striving to bring together artists all over the world.
Jônatas Chimen Igor Sampaio Cultural producer trained in cinema, with experience in several areas within the audiovisual field. As a screenwriter, director, designer and film producer, as well as a photographer, his passion for images and stories is the basis of his work. Without discriminating choices, every form of art attracts his attention and stimulates his imagination, allowing him to constantly experiment with new artistic expression.
Rodrigo Faustino Rodrigo Faustino is a designer and founder of the award-winning international Commgroup Branding, with a specialty in brands’ design, curator on topics related to innovation, sustainability, and technology. Faustino is also a judge at the WOLDA + Worldwide Logo Design Award, ICMA + International Creative Media Awards, Award, and Best Brand Awards.
Jônatas Chimen is a Brazilian-American Symbolist artist, author, academic, and public speaker. His work explores personal and collective identity amidst an everchanging cultural landscape. The artist’s exploration of identity is often drawn from his own family’s history of migration, adaptation, and cultural hybridization.
Ibtissam Ibtissam, aka Azami or The Burn Out Brand in makeup artistry, is a fashion make-up artist, content and copywriter, and a social media manager. Her attention to detail allows for unique works of art, focused on finesse and graphic shapes. After the conquest of Paris and London, she is now in Rome, where she lets the sun inspire her day in and out.
2021 |
E d
0
t
2
Ar
ISSUE three
n io
S p
ia l
t
2 1
c
i
e
e n e S c
@colectamag