3rd Wave of Inspiration
Since 2003
Visual artist Mia Novakova uses the ambiguity of liminal spaces to create mysterious and thought-provoking artworks, absorbing viewers to interpret and question the state of reality. Wrapping objects is not new in art, but the way Mia does it triggers the concept of form cleared of function, meaning and time.
Looking closely at Aron’s art, you can feel that deep, unknown, earthly force that someone calls chthonic or hypochthonic. There is a strong connection with the unknown that makes you feel saddened and empty but engaged at the same time.
“The moody spaces of of American artist Aron Wiesenfeld thrum quietly with moments of melancholy and a deep sense of loneliness. His scenes are of dimly lit liminality: sparse, shadowy landscapes outside of borders where the wilderness and urban converge and paths or portals often appear. We don’t know whether the characters in them will take that road or make the leap beyond; they exist perpetualy at the threshold of thier own personal fable in the solitude of self reflection as they stare off into an enigmatic abyss.”
It is 2081, and an art student initiates research on the code artists of the century. AI randomly picks William Mapan’s name. “Dragons series of generated art is minted on fx(hash) in 2021.” - wow, they minted artwork before! In a Fx(hash)! A massive holographic gallery now hanging as the ephemeral cube above the great Pacific Data Breach Patch. Let’s dig in!
We are not falling into futuristic stories right now, but imagine this is the truth. Undoubtedly, more studies on Code as Art will appear soon, and more artists’ names will be revealed. William Mapan is defo a shiny gem among them.
Five years ago, he started creating generative art after realizing that his coding skills could be used to make art. Seeing the innovative works of artists like Vasarely and Vera Molnàr inspired him to explore the potential of using algorithms to create art. This led him to merge his different interests and develop his artistic practice. Engaging in other fields has helped him grow and become more sensitive, thanks to his natural curiosity.
Through the span of his last 4 years in NFT (remember it is equal to 9 normal years) William has been featured through a number of significant exhibitions and auctions including Sotheby’s, Christies, Unit London, Art Blocks and etc. Currently he shares a teaser for his next collaboration with Avant Arte platform.
“God is in details”, one can say about minimalistic approaches to creativity. But sometimes, excessive details drive a bigger picture for an artist’s imaginative world. If you come across Esra Elsen's artworks, you may understand the oversaturated level of detail. Painstakingly created sometimes following a “pixelboy’s” isometric grid Esra artworks hit you from the very first time.
Jérôme Oudot Trëz, seamlessly intertwines drawing and digital creation. His artistic journey began digitally, evolving into a successful career as a "Layout artist" for 3D animation films. A transformative 2009 exhibition (Materia Prima Art Factory, France) marked a shift in perspective, revealing the captivating allure of his creations to art enthusiasts.
Blending traditional and digital mediums, Jérôme digitally reworks paper drawings, creating animated GIFs and limited edition prints. Bridging classical and digital artistry, he masterfully expresses emotion in drawing and a mechanical essence in the digital realm.
Inspired by German expressionists Nicola Samori and Olivier de Sagazan, Jérôme infuses violence and deformation into his work. Influenced by Hans Ruedi Giger and Zdzislaw Beksinski, he combines organic and mechanical elements, reflecting a fear of pain and death. Dave McKean's creative vision further shapes his multifaceted approach.
Sofia Malemina’s video art piece Unknown Diary explores the theme of fantasies and illusions in our digital world. Drawing from Baudrillard’s concept of Simulacra and Simulation, the work explores the blurred line between online and offline, real and imagined, legal and illegal, reflecting on the contraries. The sound composition, filled with whispers, indistinct echoes, and the city noise, sharpens the feeling of unease and unknowingness, reinforced by the complex appearing and disappearing visual layer. The video’s continuous loop symbolises the endless, elusive quality of a dream, where start and finish often appear vague. Malemina, who directs and acts in the project, is looking inward, developing the amusement with oneself. She is examining surveillance through the prism of voyeurism by creating a replication and depicting the duality of this act through the lens of the camera.
Unknown Diary was featured in the December exhibition Dreamscapes (London, UK, 2023), inviting viewers into the vast terrain of human emotion and imagination. Each artist in this exhibition offers a distinct perspective, allowing us to venture into the endless landscapes of the mind. Dreamscapes celebrates the influential role of dreams in reshaping how we perceive the world around us.
Despite launching her career only four years ago, Sofia Malemina approaches complex, provocative ideas with confidence and depth that many artists often avoid. Her themes and methods push against traditional limits, especially as she grapples with subjects like surveillance and voyeurism, using unconventional approaches—topics confronting the uneasy relationship between privacy and self-awareness in the digital age. Malemina’s work uses these topics to question the authenticity of human experience, intentions and connections in a time when digital and physical realities are deeply intertwined.
This unflinching engagement with unsettling subjects positions Unknown Diary as more than an observation. It becomes a commentary on the fragmented self in a world where technology increasingly shapes identity. By pushing these frames forward, Malemina invites viewers to confront unconscious, uncomfortable truths about how our inner and outer worlds are curated, edited, observed, and redefined in today’s hyper-connected society. This bold thematic ambition reveals her willingness to dissect and reinterpret contemporary experience, marking her as a vital voice with a unique perspective within modern video art.
Introducing the OFFF 2024 creative campaign teaser: LIFFFE/FFFORMS. The concept unveils an abstract family of living forms derived from the feelings and emotions we share in our everyday lives as creative people.
The vision of the OFFF 2024 campaign has been brought to life by a talented global team: the visionary minds at ManvsMachine, responsible for the concept & creative execution, and Resonate, who masterfully shaped the sound design.
Dandelight embodies a graceful blend of art, nature, and innovation within our renowned 'Fragile Future' series. Each Dandelight is meticulously crafted using real dandelions handpicked during the annual DRIFT Spring Harvest, with every single seed delicately affixed to an LED.
This year's special edition is centred around a promising future, highlighting the potential of seeds and soil as they collaborate to foster fertility. DRIFT aimed for a sense of weightlessness through natural materials like sand and jute, while the base, cast in translucent white resin, encases dandelion seeds.
For a healthy new generation, we need to get the basics right! "This double dandelion version reflects a beacon of hope embodied in the promise of new life." shares artist Lonneke Gordijn, who is expecting her first child.
"Return to Eden" by artist Chelsea Jones invites viewers on a visual journey into a world where peace emerges amidst chaos. It reflects the artist's quest for sanctuary, using vivid colours and expressive brushwork.
The collection we love captures fleeting moments when the world fades away, leaving behind a self-fashioned sanctuary – a transient space where reality feels chilled and tranquillity fills the air. It intimately portrays the search for and cherishing of serene escapes within a turbulent existence. The collection’s warmth and inviting tone encourage each observer to uncover their transient paradise within.
Robert Dawson’s ceramic art blurs the lines between tradition and innovation, motion and permanence, and challenges conventional perceptions of craftsmanship.
Dawson's creation, Spin, beautifully encapsulates the essence of motion blur, reminiscent of the technique used in animated movies. Just as motion blur aids in creating fluidity in film sequences, Dawson's manipulation of glaze and design captures a fleeting moment, freezing it in time while alluding to movement. The Blue Willow pottery design combines fixedness and the illusion of movement, showcasing the artist’s skill.
The plates symbolise clay’s history and transformation. Dawson cleverly incorporates circularity, a fundamental principle in pottery, by showcasing the spinning process as a visible final stage in decoration. This extends the traditional concept of pottery time, inviting viewers to contemplate the craft’s evolution.
His plates honour and represent ceramic heritage while pushing boundaries..
The Paris Opera enlisted JR to transform the Palais Garnier's facade, setting the stage for an unprecedented performance choreographed by Damien Jalet to Thomas Bangalter's music (ex Daft Punk).
153 dancers took the stage or let’s say, each of the “pixels” of the facade grid, performing their enduring commitment to creativity and dance. They wore costumes designed by CHANEL during the show, including a custom outfit for Étoile dancer Amandine Albisson.
James Jean is a highly acclaimed Taiwanese-American artist, famous for his exceptional skills in illustration and fine art. He was born in Taiwan, but moved to New Jersey, USA, at a young age. Later, he attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
Jean gained significant recognition for his cover illustrations for the DC Comics series "Fables," which earned him multiple Eisner Awards, a prestigious accolade in the comic book industry. His artistry expanded beyond comics, delving into painting, drawing, and commercial work, showcasing an incredibly diverse range of styles and techniques.
Jean’s artwork blends surrealistic elements with intricate and detailed compositions, incorporating organic and geometric forms. His pieces are characterised by vibrant colours, intricate linework, and an ethereal quality that captivates the imagination.
Apart from his commercial success, Jean has held solo exhibitions worldwide, displaying his captivating artwork in galleries and museums. His contributions to the art world have earned him numerous accolades and a dedicated following of art enthusiasts.
James Jean's ability to seamlessly blend fantasy, mythology, and contemporary themes into visually stunning creations has solidified his position as one of his generation’s most influential and admired artists.
Pon Arsher, a self-taught artist, hails from Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. Since her early years, she found solace and a profound connection to her inner self through drawing, often opting for solitude over socializing with friends.
Her artistic focus has consistently revolved around humanity and the world of sensations. Her creations aim to acknowledge the trials of life, employing a harmonious blend of colour, texture, and motion to craft a captivating interpretation of these challenges. In essence, her showcased works mirror the universal concerns, inner struggles, and restrained emotions that touch us all.
Explore the enigmatic depths of the human psyche with captivating portraits and sculptures. With a focus on individual identity, Kinsella’s art invites you to dig into abstract concepts and discover the hidden realms of the self. Intricate geometric shapes are the core of a “fleshless portraiture".
These compositions meticulously peel away layers, exposing the uncharted nature of each subject's unconscious essence. Marked by a higher level of intricacy than previous works, "Anatomy of the Radiant Mind" showcases the artist's evolving practice, dedicated to shedding light on the elusive aspects of the subconscious self.
Jason Boyd Kinsella's second solo show with Unit London, Anatomy of the Radiant Mind, opens in one week.
En Iwamura's artistic exploration centres on transforming viewers' spatial experiences through site-responsive installations, drawing inspiration from the Japanese philosophy of "Ma." This philosophy, encompassing elements like distance, moments, and relationships, is a guiding principle in his work. Iwamura's installations allow viewers to engage with and discover their sense of "Ma" within the space.
In addition to installations, Iwamura creates ceramic characters infused with humour and serenity, inspired by the concept of "Ma”, which imbues tangible energy and emotions into his creations. These characters often feature repeated lines reminiscent of Zen Buddhist garden patterns.
He is an artist who enjoys exploring different styles and materials, such as ceramics. He likes experimenting with different colours and textures, sometimes mixing them by hand. He finds inspiration from various artists, including Ken Price, Katharina Fritsch, and Ugo Rondinone.
Iwamura sees ceramics as a universal cultural language, skillfully blending influences from Japanese traditional craft with a willingness to break conventions by infusing history with pop culture. He reimagines ceramics as a dynamic and evolving art form through his playful and skilful approach.
Ross+Kramer Gallery
Take a journey into the world of man, where exaggerated fantasies are brought to life through cinematic storytelling, shedding light on the pressing issues of gender inequality and sexualised exploitation of women.
This narrative explores men's fantasies and the roles of women forced to fulfil them. All the featured dreams are often anything but simple. Some seek praise, others crave dominance, some project issues linked to mother-son relationships, and some even reduce women to mere objects. Our goal was to illuminate this sexualised and objectifying world set within the unconventional backdrop of a brothel.
Every male fantasy can be instantly gratified with a button if money can be spared. It's a disorienting space, one you yearn to escape, much like the desire to break free from the constraints of societal roles and the preconceived notions about women that many of us struggle with every day.
SVOYA brand Antonina Vlasenko @svoyasvoya @smetanina__satan
Cast:
Dima Speranskiy @speranskiy
Roman Kyandzhaliev @Kyandzhaliev_ro
Asya Rylova @asyarylova
Leonid Kim @leoleoleoleokim
Aizhan Kulchukova @yes.aiji
Artemii Demidov @Enot_Comandir
Sassha Nachalas @sashanachalas
Irina Belskaia @irinabel_3108
David Gabuniya @davidgabuniya_
Fedor Polyakov @fedor.polyakov_
Nina Zvezdina @ninawww
Magina Xanki @xankiii
Maria Pronin @barkobulka
Director/ Idea/ Script – Maria Pronin @barkobulka
Director of Photography / Colorist / Edit/ Music – Yaroslav Dementev @deyaros
Art Director – Archi Manouche @arhi_manouche
Producer – Nikita Prokofyev @doprokofyev
Assistant Producer – Kato Litvinyuk @3_outsiders_spells, Anastasiia Kiseleva @kiselevva
Florist – Daria Sidorova @dasha.seed
MUA – Aizhan Kulchukova @yes.aiji
Production Assistant – Olich Aleha @lelkac
Helper – Kseniia Lavrova @_lavrova_ks
1st AC – Ilya Mayak @terracota_warrior
2nd AC / Steadicam Operator – Danya Byakov @danyabyakov
2nd AC / DIT – Maxim Syrykh @slggr
Gaffer – Irakly Vasilkovsky @white_martlet
Lighting Technicians – Egor Podvorniy @egorpodvorniy, Yura Pomomarev @Yura_raa, Mikhail Kononov @mikofilm
Special thanks:
CHAINSSELF @chainsself
Why Not Studio @why.notstudio
Arseniy Ponomarenko @ars_ponomarenko
Elena Gerulaytis @gerulaytis.el
Extra x Ordinary by Israeli artist Yuri Movshovich explores the beauty of ordinary objects through a lens of exaggerated saturation, intending to add an extraordinary flavour to the wholly ordinary and mundane. The intense saturation stretches the boundaries of the realistic behaviour of light, making the result look a bit real but also magical.
Are you familiar with Socmplxd? If not, you’re missing out on a talented artist who knows no bounds. Socmplxd is a visionary who seamlessly blends the worlds of film and fine art, creating unique and captivating pieces that are sure to leave a lasting impression. His artistic exploration revolves around capturing the ordinary facets of everyday life, resulting in digital realism that offers a unique perspective. Influenced by his experiences residing in Asia and the US, his distinct visual language draws inspiration from a blend of Eastern and Western cultures.
The artist’s creative focus is on contemporary still life and scenes, taking cues from a medley of traditions, pop culture, and the internet. Socmplxd’s background in the film industry as a set designer shines through in his latest series, where his adept use of staging and lighting takes centre stage. The hallmark of his digital art style lies in his graphic elements’ precision, simplicity, and sharpness.
Enter the captivating world of artist Eric Pause, where abstract figure paintings seamlessly blend multiple timeless moments into one stunning visual experience.
While most paintings capture a single moment, Eric Pause, an Ontario-based artist, aims to seize multiple moments in his striking figurative artworks. Drawing inspiration from the Italian Futurists, who merged time, place, and form, his art conveys motion and the passage of time through abstract shapes that overlap and intertwine.
Drawing various geometric shapes, Pause skillfully portrays figures in simultaneous states of activity and repose. His deliberate use of a restrained colour palette of blues, oranges, and white accentuates the composition's fragmented nature while providing a unifying element across his diverse acrylic paintings.
Andrés Gallardo Albajar, a Spanish photographer with a self-taught background, embarked on his photographic journey in 2013 by capturing the intricate interplay of silhouettes, colors, and shadows within the urban architecture of his hometown, Tallinn, Estonia.
It does not take long since his talent was mentioned by a London-based print house and ended as the “Urban Geometry” book release
As the son of architects, he spent his formative years growing up in Spain, immersed in a world of architecture books, magazines, and frequent visits to construction sites. The profound impact of this upbringing remained concealed until he stumbled upon photography as a hobby in 2012. During his childhood, art held no particular allure for him; his ambitions were firmly rooted in other pursuits.
The year 2018 marked a turning point in his journey. An invitation from a magazine led him to Seoul for an exhibition, a workshop, and a photography assignment. Then, he approached his boss, expressing the need for time off, and received an unexpected response. His boss encouraged him to follow his heart and commit fully to photography…
