ArT ExploratioN
experience-explore-experiment
New York Islip Art Museum Exhibition 2012
Islip Art Museum N.Y. Recycled art Exhibition selected one of my sculptures to be in their show:
Islip Art Museum N.Y.
The Garbage Barge Revisited: Art from Dross
June 13 – September 2
Reception: July 29 from 1-4pm
Curated by Karen Shaw
This exhibition, is their annual Open Call invites artists to consider alternate ways to repurpose cast-offs, which might otherwise be waste.
ISLIP ART MUSEUM 50 Irish Lane East Islip, NY 11730 www.islipartmuseum.org (631) 224-5402
We hope to see you there !
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ArT ExploratioN international logo challenge (ongoing)
ArT ExploratioN official Logo
The ArT ExploratioN logo represents the space before the first line, the blank page before the first word, the moment before the first brush stroke, an instant of inspiration, thus there is a sense of overwhelming potential for creative thought and expression. The logo seeks to inspire, and challenge the viewer.
That being said, it’s more than a symbol that represents the company’s interests and brand, it’s an artistic concept, subject to endless exploration and discovery. It’s made to drive inquiry, curiosity, and to create a strong connection between the company and the individual.
The frame represents our creative limitations (that occur due to institutions, society, politics, cultural elements, economic status, and so on) but there is a way out of the frame. The empty core represents the space of full potential, and that’s where you come in:
- Do you think there is something missing from this frame? What is it? What would you create in that space? Show us ! You can use any medium you feel inspired by.
That is why we have this ongoing creativity challenge where we ask you to express yourself in any way you wish in that space and then share it with us. We publish ALL the submitted logos, and each month we select a top three based on idea, technique, and ability to articulate your concept. And in May each year we organise a gallery exhibition with the top 36 selected, in order to support, encourage, and celebrate the flow of creativity.
You are not creating a new Art ExploratioN logo, you are adding your vision to the existing one.
The only rule is that the logo frame must still be visible or at least recognisable.
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ArT ExploratioN is Creativity
Take on our challenge, and share your vision with us.
Print our logo, create something in that space, and then photograph/scan it, or work directly in your favourite software, but don’t forget to write on the right end corner your NAME, AGE, and CITY and then e-mail it to us at: emanuel.ciobanica@yahoo.com with the subject “Logo challenge month X”
and attach a few words explaining your creation.
Submit your work by the end of the current month, starting with June.
Top three selections will be published on the 1st of each month. And each year, the selected 36 will be exhibited in an art gallery.
The only rule is that our logo frame must still be visible or at least recognisable.
If you have any questions contact us.
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(R)
Copyright Emanuel Ciobanica (c)
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Starbucks mural project
Project proposal
The selected walls are located at Yonge and Davisville on the N-E corner(Toronto,On,Ca). The wall owner is Starbucks coffee. I was introduced to this wall due to proximity (I live in the neighbourhood), but my interest in the wall was due to other elements. The size of the primary wall is approximately six meters tall, and three meters wide facing east, the secondary wall is approximately four meters wide and 2.5 meters tall and is facing south. The surface on both walls is brown/beige painted brick, thus irregular and textured. My approach is to use wood panels painted and installed. The choice of using wood panels is due to the specific requirements of my project ( great detail, and creating a successful illusion of space extension). After close inspection, the state of the wall is good, no damage no water/heat damage, powerful direct morning sunlight and exposure to weather and salt during winter were issues taken into account when developing the project.
The primary mural was developed in order for clients to have a better experience in the outside seating area, eliminate the certain small, back alley, and improvised feeling. The secondary wall was developed in order to complement and support the primary, while also trying to avoid and eliminate, current and future vandalism.
This mural is intended, not only to capture interest of new customers, the passing viewer, contribute to the brand’s status as encouraging/supporting art, but most importantly to maintain the interest and respect of present mid/high class customers. As a result, the absence of the composition i’m proposing, would perpetuate the anonymity and the perceived pettiness of it’s current state. What inspired me to propose that this surface should be developed (painted), is the simple fact that even though it is a small outside area, it is a fairly large, one story venue, and such an artistic presence would be complementary, would raise it’s status and the community’s awareness, thus in the best interest of the business.
The theme that was chosen is that of a street perspective with historical buildings (imaginary) and several individuals having coffee/tea outside in a sunny summer morning (inspired by mid 1900s Seattle fashion, when Starbucks was founded), other elements are fresh flowers, architectural details, jazz musicians, diverse crowd, and historical atmosphere. The main focus is on the side view, of a woman in the foreground smiling, sipping from a cup of tea/coffee and talking to two other individuals. The imagery I chose was driven by the need for this small outside area to have the illusion of grater space, bring importance, grab attention, and inspire. The imagery is rendered is a realistic manner, slightly larger than natural size (for impact and monumentality). The desired pleasant impact on the customer is not only due to relaxing summer colours, beautiful scenery, and nature, but also due to the shift in the space’s meaning, historical feeling and how it relates to all the other buildings. It presents a relaxing scene that would change the grey industrial atmosphere for the customer, community, and is also not contrasting in relation with the other businesses and institutions that surround the venue (flower shop, youth clothes, school, pharmacy) and would show superiority to the coffee house competition across the street.
This project will greatly contribute to the community by showing interest, and respect for the area, trying to make it a pleasant experience for everyone, and investing not only for the business’ benefit, but given the imagery chosen, anyone can enjoy seeing this mural without perceiving it as advertising or a marketing technique, and appreciate its elements.
Primary wall
Secondary wall
Secondary wall close-up
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Media analysis
This media analysis is relevant to artistic practice in terms of learning how to dismantle (deconstruct) symbols in an image, developing critical thinking, and analysing regimes of representation. Mastering this will help you incorporate it in your creative process in order to better get your concepts across clearly to the intended viewer.
Deconstructing popular culture and media:
AIDS Campaign 2011
My analysis will be based on deconstructing the narrative behind each element present, and finding relevant signifier/signified symbols, that shock and influence the viewer into conforming with the self-discipline norms imposed by power/knowledge institutions. And in the end giving ethnographical examples to strengthen my theory.
The represented body here is a sexualized male body, that is presented as being attractive (in order to draw and keep attention) given the social norms and standards. The race factor (middle-east) plays in to the sexualized depiction through use of the oriental stereotype (sexual, volatile, irrational, emotional, instinctual) and is used to highlight and support the presented concept of, don’t be irrational, be safe, protect yourself from “disease”. Another element to take into account, is the picture on the wall representing a blindfolded man, the purpose of this is to get the message across even to the person who does not have time to analyse. The message being, the presumed state of illusion, ignorance, and confusion of the man who is dangerously not protecting himself from what is perceived as a clear threat (the scorpion, poison = AIDS ).
Some secondary objects we seem to disregard, are elements like the huge stack of books present at the far right. Which seem to symbolize the idea that you could very well be an intellectual, but if you don’t protect yourself, being smart is not going to help you “escape”. And the thrown pants, which are not only used in order to give a reality-like feel to the picture, but also to show the fast pace of which the detrimental choices are made. On the same note, there is the weird presence of very dirty feet, that seem to indicate that he has not taken the right path.
The scene is presented as clear, clean, white, and minimalist. The action is happening in broad daylight where everything should be seen “clearly” but is not, given that he is engaging in the dangerous act of sleeping with a scorpion. And so, the whiteness/purity of the room is there in order to contrast the negative symbols presented. To stress this further, the room is white: purity(light of reason, consciousness), the scorpion is black: impure (negative, evil, death), but the figure is mid tone between the two opposites, meaning that his “fate” is to be determined by his actions/choices (and so again the referencing of you and your choice, thus the presentation of the ideal self-disciplining individual).
They choose a male representation for this message because the female stereotype is passivity and temptation/attraction, and men are seen as the symbols of action. Thus, by using a woman, the image would have been read differently, the woman would have been seen as the victim of the scorpion rather than making the wrong choice. The position of his body was used in this case, to underline the action of (wrong) choice and (false) control.
The effect intended for this advertisement/campaign is to shock the viewer into conforming to the intended norms of self-disciplined sexual body, controlled and mindful. The effect it has on the passive viewer is unnecessarily violent and graphic. The point of this being, to create a psychological response of disgust through desire, realization, and awareness. The power/knowledge influence operating here, is the health institution of power, instructing citizens of the culturally constructed narrative/discourse of STD’s, by using their imposed position of specialist knowledge (which we are supposed to trust, and never question). Thus, they have the power over what is good and what is not, even in your private life (especially there).
An underlining idea, in this representation, might be that they are trying to regulate birth rate through the narrative of STD’s and protection. This being just a response to the over-sexualized body present in all advertisements, and commercials, that has had the effect of pushing people to want more and more pleasure, this campaign can be seen as damage control. This theory becomes very clear when they impose STD protection in married couples, and on top of that they do it even in countries where AIDS have not been recorded, like in some parts of Indonesia.
In the end, the scope of this advertisement is to create a response in the viewer through a violent image representing well-known signs like the scorpion meaning: deadly, poisonous, dangerous, unpredictable, gross, and scary (used as a metaphor for AIDS).While making aware, emphasizing, and reinforcing discourses of self-control, health, and hygiene. The effect intended is to manage the masses, normalize, and ingrain self-disciplining in personal life. All merging perfectly with foucauldian theory of institutional power, and specialist knowledge in the inescapable institutional mesh of influence.
Copyright Emanuel Ciobanica (c)
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“Geode” group Show
"A Geode is a special stone with hidden gems inside, so come discover local artists
and have a chance to take home their original pieces."
Where: “The Bear Pit”, beside Scott Library (York U, Keele campus)
When: March 7th and 8th, 9am to 7pm
You can see pictures from the event here
You can see pictures from the event here
Is art really dying?
Is creativity and personal relationship with the medium no longer appreciated or respected?
Is artistic expression dismissed on profit related grounds?
Is art seen as a useless commodity?
Is is it the fault of the modern artist because he pushed the boundaries “way too far” by making art something they believe “anybody can do” ?
Is art really dying?
I just had an interesting conversation with a business man wich happens to be a good friend of mine. Every time I talk to him about art and artists (and I usually avoid that at any cost, because he has a utilitarian and pragmatic approach to life) he leaves me thinking, “ok so what if all buyers think like that? I will end up having to change careers and do something I don’t like !?” ! He manages every time to induce a state of “lucidity” and make me see things from another perspective, I like and appreciate that very much. But when he said “nice work ! I bet a computer can do that better, faster, and cheaper haha” I just flipped out ! I thought to myself, why am I even going to university for this? Why do I want this lifestyle and career in art, when these are the people I have to work with ! Why oh why couldn’t I have been a contemporary with the big masters of the past, maybe in that time period, professional work BY HAND was still appreciated !! My only consolation is that they will introduce the time machine soon (just humour to keep me from sliding into a more unfortunate state) or that society will eventually change and the industrial revolution’s ideology and its damage will finally be discarded.
But these are the consumers right? these are the people who will, or will not reach into their pockets and appreciate my work, my passion. I wouldnt mind to never sell my work and just do it for myself, because that is my calling (as we know, Picasso didn’t sell too much during his life) that would be relaxing for me, not having to worry about anything related with marketing strategy. Nevertheless I have to try to make this creative drive work with society and try not to compromise my beliefs in that process. I can only hope that is possible.
Plan B can only be to teach other people how to explore their creative potential (assuming of course that they would still want to do so…)
Ken Robinson and Elisabeth Gilbert, both have a relevant presentation about the root, the cause that creates the current effect I was talking about:
>> Ken: Schools kill creativity (beware his wonderful humour )
>> Elisabeth: A new way to think of creativity
It’s hard to say it better than them, they are after all succesful academics, but there is this drive to say it yourself and in your own words. I guess the reason behind this is, that is the only way you can actually feel the relief that comes from the wonderful act of expression.
And so, at the risk of sounding relentless, I have to say that I know and have experienced every little thing they have discussed and have tried to write about it and focus my work around that understanding of creativity. I feel very comforted to know that there is a way to get out of the modern stereotypes, and try to just be what you feel like being. Getting rid of trying to fulfill the industrial/capitalist/political/economic/social need and demand, and instead focus on developing your inspiration and passion, and see where it takes you. I will continue what I have started and will not give up, I will not dismiss what I have achieved, and what I strive to become.
“The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.” Gustave Flaubert
I rest my case.
Copyright Emanuel Ciobanica 2012 (c)
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Art and meaning
Major power quotes from “Anonymous” (movie) that perfectly reflect some of my own views on artistic practice :
“Artists have something to say, otherwise they would make shoes !”
“Art is art because it means something, otherwise it would be decoration !”
Could not have said it better than this !
I barely have anything to add, but I want to say this. The main creative drive should come from a concept, something you believe in, something you want to express, or something that has caused a reaction in you. The medium and imagery you use will carry that message. The choice of imagery to fit, and get that message through is a crucial part of the project. I do sometimes go the other way around, I take my camera and start searching for things I want to talk about, things that should be discussed, issues that have not been addressed and then concepts emerge simultaneously. There is no one way to do this, but the only concern is not to create something just because it looks good, and it sells and then call it Art.
“I cannot stop the voices that keep emerging in my mind, until I write them on paper, yes maybe I am possessed ! But what I know is that I have to write them, otherwise I would go mad.”
Absolutely beautiful, sincere, and accurate description of what happens if you are in that state of inspiration. I go through this from time to time, and relax only after I have a rough sketch of the idea that “possessed” me (interestingly enough it usually happens on the subway, I guess public transit, and time lost on the road just gives me time to think).
“You can change the world with words”
I’m going to go ahead, as I did with the rest of them, to change the obvious reference to writing and see it as art in general.
Changing the world, well how much influence can you have, to change something at a social/political level with art today ? Well, if you get enough attention, and if your piece is outrageous enough (almost impossible to achieve in the post-modern age) you could cause some kind of effect. But the quote was good for the time period presented (16th century), back then they could still change the world with words. People reacted more to the world around them.
And the perfect one to conclude:
————–”It’s all ready if your mind is” ————–
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Collaborative Art installation
Organized by
- Visual Arts Student Association (V.A.S.A.) -
24 hours of redefining a gallery space.
Pure creativity and freedom
The overall experience was exhausting, but once you get in that creative trance you lose grasp of your hunger, back pain and other things. Your mind wanders into a vortex of infinite possibilities, you realize you can do ANYTHING when you are in this space, you have all the materials you want (we all brought and shared). You look around and all you see is waves of imagination, improvisation, people redefining the space around them using only ordinary objects. You see enthusiasm and friendship, you receive instant feedback and ask for outside opinion. It’s a unique overall experience.
The mission of this event for the past seven(?) years, is to gather artists in the same room, get them to create something together and not leave until it’s finished. By doing all that, at the end you find out something about yourself. All those hours tenses and relaxes your creative process, it shifts and bends as time passes. It starts with confusion and rigidity, followed by “what am I really doing here? “, but after that you start to see how experimental and unfixed it all is, and you take a shot at a random idea. After that it’s all wonderful and creative, you develop it, change it, bypass limitations of the medium (in my case newspaper, tape, modified hangers and string) and start to “fall” for your creation and it gradually becomes “that something great I once did”.
My work is a huge news paper head hanged on the ceiling between pipes, around it I placed a round frame with dangling pieces of red string and magnetic tape (photos).
The purpose of my part of the installation is to draw the viewer under the curtain and create an experience by seeing above you this intimidating expressionless face. I was also aware of where to place it into space and how to move the lighting in order to better see shadows on the sculpture and on the wall behind.
I’m not sure if I should comment or try to describe everybody else’s work because there are so many levels of analysis, but all I can say is that, all they have done is to push themselves out of the comfort zone, try to do something bold, crazy and make it work with everything else. They constructed and destroyed pieces they played with sound, structure, texture, material developed other people’s work and more.
I will come every year and find out how my ideas change, how my perception and creativity starts to become more free and experimental. How I become free from imposed standards, how the road of creativity becomes smoother not pushed and forced. I will come every year to rediscover and redefine something I thought to be lost.
For two days ideas were flowing, materials were explored and appropriated, contrasting visions were collaborating and negotiating, the space was morphing into something yet to be discovered.
We brought painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, performance art, time based art, video art .. ALL in the same room, all connected to each other. We experienced all the joy and challenge of working together. We created chaos and discovered new perspectives.
The whole installation looks quite chaotic and none of it seems to make any sense, but in its own world it has to be seen as an experiment and a visual exploration not something you have to necessarily relate to. It’s something you experience if you can be there in the gallery.
There is no way to fully experience this through photos alone.
But you can see photos here . And on Tongue & Groove
Eco art & media festival
The Wild Garden Media Centre team is hosting:
- 18th Annual Eco Art & Media Festival -
March 5th, 2012
The show will be in ZigZag Gallery
Opening Night festivities on March 6, 2012
Works submitted: Refulgence (series)
Content/Intention
(Very brief statement about the meaning or inspiration of the work):
The content of the photographs is abstract and minimalist. It presents a play of light and shadow, abstraction, texture, and space. The intention is to draw the interest of the viewer through detail, balance of composition, contrast, and colour.
For more information: Eco art & media festival
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