May

Yoga Poses Take This Optical Illusion Out for a Spin

by Janine Boylan on May 6, 2013

creative process for human motorcycle optical illusion with yoga poses

Progressive International Motorcycle Shows ad campaign
photo © Holland Norkoski

The Creative Process Unlocked

What do yoga and motorcycles have in common?

San Diego advertising firm, i.d.e.a., brought the two together and added a bit of paint. Presto! Human motorcycles.

Oh, I see the optical illusion! Do you?

But how did they come up with the concept of a human motorcycle?

Forming the Plan

i.d.e.a. was given the task of creating an ad campaign for Progressive International Motorcycle Shows. They wanted to represent the different types of bikes at the shows but in a modern and racy way.

Ryan Berman, i.d.e.a.’s founder and Chief Creative Officer, reflects on the first part of the creative process, “The concept really stemmed from us trying to get in the mindset of the people that actually go to the Progressive International bike show and why they hit the floor.”

Julie Messing of Advanstar Powersports adds, “When we began brainstorming on this, we didn’t make a conscious decision to make something edgier, but this is what evolved, and this is what we thought would work.”

The Harder Part

Thinking of a creative idea can be hard, but executing the plan can be even more difficult. i.d.e.a. had a great concept, but without the right team they were just spinning their wheels.

Berman credits body painter Trina Merry for bringing life to this sculpture.

Merry researched bikes and motorcycle culture. She sketched several ideas, but then “It got to a point where I felt like I couldn’t sketch it. I really needed to work with my hands, and so I called up my friends and said, ‘OK, let’s see if we can make a motorcycle.'”

The creative team had yoga gurus ready to form the vehicle.

Yoga models practice the poses before being painted.
photo © Holland Norkoski

What about the rider?

Event host and motocross reporter Erin Bates shares, “I had kind of thrown it out there that I wouldn’t be opposed to being body-painted myself….I didn’t really know what I was signing up for, but I just knew that this was a once in a lifetime experience that I really didn’t want to pass up on.” And so she became the human motorcycle’s rider.

painting during the creative process of human motorcycle optical illusion with yoga poses

Trina Merry paints Erin Bates.
photo © Holland Norkoski

The 18-hour photo shoot began with practicing the human sculpture but then became a series of posing, painting, and photographing in six minute cycles.

As you can imagine, positions like the tail pipe were so tricky that the model could only hold it for ten seconds at a time!

Bates, who also rides bikes, helped get the details like handlebar postion just right while Merry transformed the models with her exhaustive paint jobs.

creative process of human motorcycle optical illusion with yoga poses

Models hold the pose in the middle of the painting session.
photo © Holland Norkoski

Watch this video to see the creative process at work.

If the video does not display, watch it here.

Oh, I see! The creative process is the key to unlocking a great idea. And it takes a great team, even if your work is all an [optical] illusion.

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

Janine Boylan Comments

The World's Photography

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?

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!)

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.”

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.

Janine Boylan Comments

China/The World's Photography

Apr

Random Acts of Kindness Flow with “Suspended” Coffee

by Meredith Mullins on April 25, 2013

man drinking large coffee after receiving a random act of kindness of a suspended coffee

Coffee warms the heart and spirit
© Fuse Collection

Starting the Day Off Right

“I’ll have a decaf espresso, a caffe latte, a double decaf cappuccino, and a caffe sospeso.”

This could be a scene from LA Story, a barista’s nightmare, or a reminder of how coffee drinking has taken us into a labyrinthe of choices.

It could be all those things . . . but in this instance it’s an order at a coffee shop, sprinkled with a random act of kindness.

Caffe Sospeso: “Suspended Coffee”

The hidden gift in this order is caffe sospeso, an Italian tradition born in Naples that is taking hold around the world.

Caffe sospeso is not an extravagant new coffee concoction. It means, in literal translation, “suspended coffee.”

In practice, this custom is a heartwarming “pay it forward” story. When people buy a coffee, they pay for an extra coffee (or two).

This suspended coffee “offer” then waits for someone in need, someone who asks if there are any suspended coffees available because he or she can’t afford to buy one.

man drinking european coffee after receiving a random act of kindness of a caffe sospeso

Cafés use a coupon system, bottle caps, or tokens to keep track of the available suspended coffees. They post a suspended coffee sign in the window to let those in need know a hot coffee might be available through a stranger’s generosity.

A Cup of Coffee for All Humanity

The suspended coffee idea is a reminder that we can help people who are less fortunate in many ways—modest or mighty. An important Oh, I see moment.

The original Neapolitan proverb said it best—”This is a way to offer a cup of coffee to all humanity.”

Man in furry hood drinks coffee after receiving a random act of kindness of suspended coffee.

This coffee “movement” has now taken root from the UK to Bulgaria to Australia to the U.S. Word is spreading that this tradition is a simple way to offer kindness to strangers.

The “Suspended Coffee Supporter Facebook page has more than 76,000 fans and keeps people updated on cafés that are joining the caffe sospeso community (or, if you’re in Taiwan, the “suspended noodles” community).

Pay It Forward

The beauty of this kind of movement is that it inspires other acts of kindness. Grocery stores and restaurants are also following this path. Spontaneous “pay it forward” moments are becoming legendary in many countries.

People pay for the next person in line at a drive-in.
A man performs 65 random acts of kindness on his 65th birthday.
An 8-year-old boy opens a lemonade stand to help a neighbor whose house was damaged in a storm.
A competitor carries her injured opponent over the finish line.

The stories are (thankfully) endless.

In a time when bad news often seems to outweigh the good, random acts of kindness can help to shift the balance and make us feel good again about humanity.

The gift can be as simple as a cup of coffee.

Hot coffee warms the soul . . . for the one drinking and for the one who has given an anonymous gift. A little kindness can go a long way.

hands holding coffee and cigarette after a random act of kindness with a suspended coffee

If you like the idea of suspended coffee, talk with your local coffee shop and start the coffee flowing.

And, if you’d like an extra random act of kindness, take a look at this video. It’s not coffee-related, but it will sure make you feel good.

If video does not display, watch it here.

Today is International Pay It Forward Day, so visit the Pay It Forward Foundation site to see what you can do.

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

Meredith Mullins 5 Comments

Clever Ideas/Italy/Making a Difference

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