More cut ups and preparing for nfcastles 2022
Had an epic meeting last night with Sam and Jakub and brainstormed a million ideas. We settled on the proposal below for creating a unique NFT that would exemplify all of our strengths in a creative process.
SOLOS would like to propose the following piece for inclusion in NFCastles 2022.
SOLOS is an artist collective focused on the intersection of physical and virtual media. By bridging these two worlds we create new cultural artifacts that transcend and transform what is “real” and what is digital. This intersection is at the heart of our practice.
Drawing upon Dvořák’s own travels and how they informed his work, as well as his symphonic poems which transformed poetry into music, we’d like to work in a similar vein, transforming one of Prague’s most well known locations into a virtual environment with an accompanying musical piece.
We are a team of three artists who share a similar vision. Jakub Grosz (CZ) (3D and Interactive Media artist), Sam Gittis (US)(Music Producer) and Jeremiah Palecek (CZ/US)(Painter). We will create an interactive virtual environment, that transforms both Prague’s streets and one of Dvoraks symphonic poems into a contemporary composition. We seek to educate those attending the exhibition about Dvořák’s contemporary approach to music, focusing specifically on his symphonic poem Zlatý kolovrat. In poetry, an ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a work of art. Dvořák worked in the opposite manner, transforming poetry into sound. Sam seeks to create his own composition based upon Slavonic rhythms and cadences from Dvořák's Goblins' Dance, with a contemporary twist. MIDI files from Dvořák's pieces will be used as a point to launch off from, and the composition will be transformed into electronic music. In addition to this, textures from Jeremiah’s paintings will be infused into the digital environment itself, illustrating the thin veil which separates art and reality.
Similarly, Prague’s Zlaty Ulice (Golden Street) itself will be 3D scanned and integrated into a VR environment. It will be presented both via a VR headset and on a large screen (Jakub can provide the one in the picture above). A video navigating this world will also be made available as an NFT. We choose to work with Prague itself because it is the thing which binds us together, as well as Dvořák himself. So the collaboration is one that spans both nations, and time. We choose a site near the Lobkowicz Palace to further establish visitors sense of place, since they will be physically present near the same place where the virtual environment is located. This will give viewers a distinct sense of place, and how it relates to virtual environments as well as those that are “IRL”. This digital identity is often very important to how people see themselves today, and how they form their identities. The internet, and VR can both expand and inform our sense of place and identity. Blockchain will allow us to preserve this creation in perpetuity as well, giving us a snapshot to both the event itself, and its location, as well as the artists involved. It is truly a medium which examines the cultural stories that bring us together. Just as during Dvořák’s trips to the US, and the knowledge he gained from being there, we seek to look at Prague, and use our own artistic interpretation to transform and bring our own disparate pasts into a single artwork. One created by a music producer, painter, and 3d artist.
Cut out paintings
Today I got back into the cut out paintings. This is where the whole concept of solos was birthed. Solos is a project I did with Dennison Bertram where images of my paintings were cut up into different sections and then rearranged generatively in order to create new unique works. The projects was an extremely successful nft project that pivoted my life into new directions. After a few years, I've got back into my big duffle bag of these cutouts. Been digging on using the existing contours to create shapes and the illusion of depth. Something I didn't exploit fully first time around.
I also did a new video of five to follow, which is a series of short one minute videos highlighting five living painters I think everyone should be following. I make these videos because I find it really hard to find good resources online that expose one to new contemporary painters. Instagram and tiktok are great but also flooded with content. There's also a lot of these short videos highlighting people's favorite albums on tiktok so I'm kind of riffing on that with contemporary painters.
The painters I suggest are, Anna Park, Sean Norvet, Jordan Casteel, Camilla Engstrom, and Salman Toor.
Painting on my scanner
I painted on my scanner today. Was thinking about the lines of digital art and painting and how I've probably been too precious about painting in the past. However there is obviously also something physical and irl based about painting. However one could also ask the question why we don't call the internet, or digital media “real”. A better descriptor would likely be physical VS digital.
Dažbog
Dažbog was a good of the sun that was particularly important within many Slavic cultures. The name was derived from the “Dat” (To give) and Bog (God), which means that this is a God of fortune, and giving. Just as the sun gives daily without asking anything in return. He is also known for driving a flaming chariot across the sky which makes it quite similar to Greek myths as well.
In painting this I began with a sigil, or a magical symbol of sorts which is a very simple graphic depiction of an idea. Personally I've always had a soft spot for Dischordianism and Chaos Magic, and I couldn't help but think of what these types of simple symbols meant to those who would see them. Did they see them in daily life, on the walls of their house? Similar to how we see a cross. Or were they reserved for more official state sanctioned uses? No idea. But one thing I do like abut chaos magic is this concept that belief can be a tool for change, and that change can be manifested through the use of symbols that reinforce and remind us of the beliefs we wish to have control over and change.
Polednice
I painted a Polednice today. My dad suggested the theme of Bohemia for September, and I went with it because I also had a conversation about my upcoming piece for an exhibition held in conjunction with NFCastle event in November. Which is focused on maintaining and preserving cultural identities through blockchain technology. Much of the work present on the exhibition also relates to the Czech Composer Dvorak, who created a series of symphonic poems related to Erben’s collection of Folklore in his book Kytice. Among these stories is one of the Polednice, which is a woman, sometimes old, sometimes young, who appears on the hottest day of summer, and sometimes in the night. She torments passers by with difficult questions, and steals the lives of children who misbehave.
I plan on continuing the theme of Bohemia throughout the rest of September and am also interested in other ideas besides Folklore.
I've also had an idea to begin archiving all of my work by month, and just selling collections as opposed to individual pieces. I can create custom crates, or boxes that contain all of my work from one month, and make that entire collection available for purchase. I haven't totally thought it out, because sometimes people just want a single piece, so maybe I'll do like one piece throughout the month that's available individually and the rest is a collection.
Cut up painting
Getting back into these cut up modular paintings would be cool to find a way to manufacture them en mass. Perhaps with a kids version too. Dennison and I got drinks late into the night in Zizkov and tread on our old stomping grounds. Talking about plans to make these cut up paintings more widely available. Could definitely use a bigger studio and a laser cutter or cnc machine.
Also been working on a phygital sculpture for the nfcastle event here in Prague. Working on that with Sam Gittis and Jakub Grosz. Being able to collaborate on projects is an unexpected treat I didn’t foresee. We came up with a couple different ideas for the piece. Since the exhibition is focused on culture and identity we are looking at ideas ranging from the culture of underground techno parties, to Erbens fairy tales. I’m partial to the golden spinning wheel. A tale about a young pair of twin girls. One catches the eye of a prince so the other gets jealous and dismembers her with her mom in the forest. We’re meeting this Sunday to finalize our idea and submit it. We’ve only got a mknth to make it, which is a very short time frame.
Stan
Searching gestures
