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29

Apr

Liu Bolin’s Out of Sight Optical Illusions

by Janine Boylan on April 29, 2013

Optical Illusion from Liu Bolin, showing the artist's creative process of hiding himself

Hiding in the City No. 71 – Bulldozer, 2008 Photograph
Courtesy Eli Klein Fine Art, © Liu Bolin

A Layer of Paint Hides This Invisible Man

A photo of a bulldozer seems pretty unremarkable.

What about a wall full of toys?

Optical Illusion from Liu Bolin, showing the artist's creative process of hiding himself

Hiding in New York No. 7 – Made in China, 2012 Photograph
Courtesy Eli Klein Fine Art, © Liu Bolin

Look again.

Did you say, “Oh, I see!”?

Over the past several years, artist Liu Bolin has been creating a photo series, “Hiding in the City,” in which he becomes an invisible man of sorts.

Liu Bolin’s Creative Process

To prepare for these optical illusion photos, Liu finds the perfect, everyday background and photographs himself there. He works with a team of assistants to select the exact paint colors and note all the lines, curves, and shadows of the setting.

Then he and his team go to the site again, and he stands for three to four hours while his assistants painstakingly paint him to match each detail of the background. They work together through the process, taking photos, talking, matching the background, talking more.

When he seamlessly blends with the environment, he stands perfectly still, and they capture the image—his shape barely visible. (There is no computer retouching to these images!)

Optical Illusion from Liu Bolin, showing the artist's creative process of hiding himself

Hiding in the City – Beijing Magazine Rack, 2011 Photograph
Courtesy Eli Klein Fine Art, © Liu Bolin

Liu did a number of photos in front of magazine racks around the world, like the one above. Watch this video to see Liu and team create the optical illusion for an image in front of a similar magazine rack.

http://vimeo.com/59981487

If the video does not display, watch it here.

His Invisible Protest

Liu Bolin got his inspiration in 2005. At that time Liu and over a hundred other artists had studios and homes in Suo Jia Cun, an established community. Then, suddenly, the Chinese government declared the community illegal. Within 12 hours of the government’s decision, bulldozers had destroyed the first buildings.

Liu’s Oh I See Moment: he was an invisible man to the government. So, in response, he started the photography series in which he blends into his surroundings until he is almost out of sight.

Liu explains, “I decided to melt into the environment.  Some will say that I disappear into the background; I would say that it’s the environment that has taken a hold of me.”

Optical Illusion from Liu Bolin, showing the artist's creative process of hiding himself

Hiding in the City – Panda, 2011 Photograph
Courtesy Eli Klein Fine Art, © Liu Bolin

How the Invisible Man Has Made His Mark

In time, Liu expanded his series. He took optical illusion photos in Italy and New York. He included others in his images, ranging from a family in front of the Chinese flag to fashion designers in the middle of their work. He even recently did an ad for Ford in which he painted cars to blend into their backgrounds and an album cover for Bon Jovi with the band painted into the background.

Ironically, it is Liu’s ability to become invisible that draws our attention. Now that you have seen some of his work, I’m sure you will want to see more from this talented man.

He may be out of sight, but he is not out of mind!

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

 

China/The World's Photography

22

Apr

Claudio Garzón’s Recycled Art: It’s Full of Trash

by Janine Boylan on April 22, 2013

Claudio Garzón at work, showing his creative idea for recycled art

Claudio Garzón carefully paints one of his sculptures.
© Claudio Garzón

A Creative Idea for Ocean Plastic

Claudio Garzón cherishes the waterways around his home. He walks along the L.A. River nearly every day and collects things that catch his eye. But he’s not picking up colorful rocks or interesting shells—he’s picking up plastic garbage.

Ocean Plastic Facts

Most of the trash in the ocean and on the beaches is plastic. Unlike paper or wood debris, most plastic never completely biodegrades. Instead it breaks into smaller and smaller and smaller pieces until it isn’t easily seen. But it’s there.

plastic trash collected by Claudio Garzón, which, with a creative idea, will become recycled art

Garzón picked up this plastic from the banks of the LA River—in one day.
© Claudio Garzón

Fish can ingest the plastic debris, and, since they cannot digest it, it stays in their stomachs. Sea creatures can become entangled in plastic and get harmed or even drown. And it is likely that the chemicals in plastic are being transferred to marine life, which in turn can pass to you through the food chain.

baby turtle by Claudio Garzón, showing a creative idea for recycled art

A tiny turtle-bot
© Claudio Garzón

An OIC Moment

This type of information concerns Garzón. Not only does he want to keep the plastic out of the ocean, but he wants to educate others about its harmful effects.

As Garzón was preparing to instruct a summer art class, he remembered reading about a soldier who created art from bottle caps. It was Garzón’s Oh, I See moment—he could incorporate environmental education into his lessons by having students create art from trash.

This course developed into several others, including a multiweek class for children in the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles.

He simultaneously began turning his own creative ideas into PlasTikobots, science fiction robots, created entirely from the plastic he found. Study his sculptures closely, and Oh, you’ll see the plastic Legos, bottle caps, combs, and more.

hammerhead shark by Claudio Garzón, showing a creative idea for recycled art

A hammerhead shark made of over 70 different kinds of plastic pieces.
© Claudio Garzón

Many of Garzón’s PlasTikobots are modeled after sea creatures, particularly turtles and sharks, reflecting his passion for the ocean. As part of his education programs, his nonprofit organization, Save Oceans and Seas, helps spread the word about protecting these sea creatures from the trash that his art is made of.

pre-painted art by Claudio Garzón, showing a creative idea for recycled art

Before paint is applied
© Claudio Garzón

The Creative Process

When Garzón is inspired or commissioned to make a creature, he heavily researches the real animal to understand how it is shaped and how it functions. Then, when he has a clear vision, he searches his garage full of found plastic for just the right elements to cut and build. The final step is to meticulously paint the creature. He explains that he spends a lot of time on the turtle eyes to give them perfect wise and soulful looks.

leatherback turtle by Claudio Garzón, showing a creative idea for recycled art

A leatherback turtle created for a charity auction
© Claudio Garzón

Making a Difference

While Garzón displays his work regularly at art galleries and donates his work to charities like Heal the Bay, his passion is teaching children how they can make a change and keep the ocean clean.

Through his Oh, I see moment, Garzón uses creative ideas to turn trash into recycled art and educational opportunites.

How will you be inspired to make a change this Earth Day, April 22?

baby turtles by Claudio Garzón, showing a creative idea for recycled art

Turtle hatchlings
© Claudio Garzón

Garzón’s students will be displaying their work on April 26, 2013, at the Gallery Expo 4321 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA from 4-8pm.

To reuse plastic you may accumulate, download these 10 Practical and Creative Ideas.

 

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

 

Making a Difference/The World's Art & Design

15

Apr

Sunny with a Chance of Cherry Blossom Petals

by Janine Boylan on April 15, 2013

Japantown Cherry Blossom Festival, showing Japanese cultural traditions

cherry blossoms in San Francisco’s Japantown
© Janine Boylan

The Beauty in Japanese Traditions

This time of year, many families in Japan are not checking weather sites for weather but for sakura, which are cherry blossom forecasts. This is the season for hanami, or picnics under the pale pink blossoms.

The Cherry Blossom Custom

Centuries ago, emperors and elite began the practice of cherry blossom viewing. Over the years, more and more people adopted the custom, and, in the 1700s, Shogun ruler Tokugawa Yoshimune planted cherry trees specifically to encourage the tradition. Now viewing cherry blossoms is a deeply-rooted part of the Japanese culture.

Like many of the Japanese customs, viewing cherry blossoms is meant to be an appreciation for beauty and detail. It’s the same attention to detail that is required for other Japanese arts, such as complex origami, precise flower-arranging, and flawless zen gardens.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, showing Japanese cultural traditions

cherry blossoms
© Janine Boylan

A Local Celebration

I was not ready to notice any good details when I arrived at the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco’s Japantown. It had taken some serious strategy to wrestle a parking spot, and the sidewalks were packed with people shoulder-to-shoulder. On top of all that, my camera wasn’t working, and I had to rely on my loyal, but less high definition, phone to document the day.

I rushed past a blur of trees, top-heavy with pink blossoms, to view the performance arena.

On stage were the San Francisco Taiko Dojo. The performers were magically pounding the front, back, and sides of giant drums. The rhythm quickly beat out the frustration I had felt on the journey to this spot.

taiko drums at Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, showing Japanese cultural traditions

Taiko drummers display energy, rhythm, and grace.
© Janine Boylan

And then I noticed the petals. The delicate pink cherry blossom petals were gently wafting through the taiko performance, as if they were sprinkling their approval.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, showing Japanese cultural traditions

Falling petals are sprinkled in a fountain.
© Janine Boylan

It was a classic Oh, I See moment. This is what the festival was about: noticing the details and beauty around us. I needed to keep my eyes open for that.

Taking Time for Tea

A tea ceremony after the drumming reinforced this lesson.

Japanese Tea Ceremony during Cherry Blossom Festival, showing Japanese cultural traditions

Accepting the bowl of tea
© Janine Boylan

Like the tradition of appreciating cherry blossoms, the tea ceremony has been part of the Japanese culture for hundreds of years.

It is a meticulously planned event which includes carefully chosen utensils and perfectly arranged flowers.

During the ceremony, a trained host prepares tea for guests by following a procedure that has been studied and practiced for years. The beauty in the ceremony is in how gracefully the host moves, the inlaid decorations in the tea scoop, the selection and arrangement of the flowers, and hundreds of other thoughtful details.

Japanese Tea Ceremony during Cherry Blossom Festival, showing Japanese cultural traditions

The hostess prepares tea during the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
© Janine Boylan

Reconsidering the Day

It forced me to think back to my morning and appreciate all of the details I had missed in my hurry.

Sure, getting parking had been a hassle for a few minutes. But the spot I found was very close to the festival and just perfect.

Yes, I didn’t have my bigger camera, but I at least I did have a phone camera, so not all was lost.

And I was reminded to stop and smell view the flowers.

Turns out that participating in the Japanese cherry blossom cultural tradition had yielded a perfect day, down to the last detail.

If you would like to attend the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco, the event continues April 20-21, with the Grand Parade on Sunday afternoon.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

 

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/On the World Stage/USA

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