SOUND OFF » Celebrity

Puzzling

darlamarks — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:29:30 +0000

The goal of a puzzle is to fit each piece correctly together to form a picture. Brazilian artist Vik Muniz takes a bit of a different method with the same, if not more beautiful, result. Muniz uses unconventional mediums for his work, from garbage to puzzle pieces to create his pieces. In “Gordian Puzzles,” hundreds of single puzzle pieces from existing puzzles are laid out, layered in multiple directions, and rotated by degrees and color to fit other pieces to recreate the subject paintings that are themselves puzzling. The pieces are put together so immaculately, meticulously and seamlessly that from a distance, it’s hard to tell that each puzzle piece is actually there. Muniz does not simply use the puzzle pieces as his medium because it’s an interesting and fun way to create art, but the puzzle pieces also symbolize the complexity and depth of the subjects of each piece. Case in point: Blonde, complex, fragile like a puzzle, bombshell, Marilyn Monroe.

Via

Stenciled

darlamarks — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 03:31:47 +0000

Etsy user LowLevel‘s work is simple: “All stencils are handmade. I use spray paint.” But the series of posters he creates are anything but simple, not because the technique is complex, but the subjects he paints are. Each poster features a historical icon – from the Dic of all dictators Fidel Castro, literary iconoclast Jack Kerouac, blue-eyed crooner Frank Sinatra and many more. Each icon is stenciled with spray paint from a handmade stencil, offset with a bright, appropriately patterned background based on the specific icon. The colors are funky and retro, and they all have the gritty feel of a propaganda poster.

LowLevel also offers prints on t-shirts and bags, ya know, if you’re in to that kind of thing.

Via

Vanity Fair Mosaic

darlamarks — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:25:48 +0000

The most iconic and beautiful people always grace the covers of Vanity Fair magazine. Italian graphics site Village9991 has taken the covers of past issues and has created a beautifully executed recycled art project. Recycled art takes a special type of mind to think outside of the box to re-imagine the original medium. The magazines are pieced together in a mosaic to form other iconic images in a detailed reinterpretation of the original covers – from the most famous rodent around, M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E, to the notoriously beautiful, cell-phone wielding Naomi Campbell.

I love VF and I love a good mosaic. Perfect.

Via

Pop Faces

darlamarks — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:52:51 +0000

Such a simple idea with a pretty neat end result. Commercial photographer Joshua Scott has taken the title for First Place winner for “Food & Still Life Photography” at the 2010 APA/NY Awards, with his Pop Faces series. The creation process is interesting. For the series, Scott finds images of pop culture icons, crumples up the picture, and then photographs the now distorted image. Considered a type of abstract art, the series shows a different perspective of the “picture perfect” star that we typically see.

Via

More Gaga for Gaga

knock out — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:05:27 +0000

News broke that Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball tour [November 2009 - April 2011] is estimated to gross $200M worldwide according to Billboard, putting her in a league not of her own perse, but one shared only with the likes of the few including Madonna and u2. So I gotta ask, why are we so gaga for Gaga? Here’s a look back at some of the gaga that’s gone down this summer.

Slideshow of Gaga’s craziest dressed fans at her Mad Square Garden concert

Then, there was the NY Times bogus trend alert: Slate Magazine refuted a trend reported by the New York Times that “little monsters” everywhere were flocking to stock up on Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” inspired fashion lenses.

And then there was the Baby Gaga / Old Lady Gaga scandal/craze. Fans and critics alike questioned whether or not it was appropriate for a “baby” to portray Lady Gaga in this spoof of Telephone. After the video’s director and “Baby Gaga’s” mother were ambushed on national television during a morning show — criticized for their “poor judgement” — overnight viral sensation was yanked from internet sites–

– and the creators were quick to post a follow-up, Old Lady Gaga, performing a spoof on Alejandro.

What I find so utterly fascinating about all of this is how Lady Gaga has, in such an unbelievably short amount of time, lit up the music scene and already inspired spoofs and spoofs of spoofs– which usually doesn’t happen to an artist or work of art until after it’s run its course of relevance. And yet, she’s on schedule to earn $200M — Madonna and U2 numbers — for her global tour? I don’t think we’ve seen the end of Lady Gaga’s relevance yet.

Stars within the Stars

darlamarks — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:49:57 +0000

Sometimes you have to step back to see the world in a clearer perspective. Spanish graphic artist Mark Brooks has created a series of posters where you literally need to step back to see clearly. “Distance yourself from the stars and enjoy the view,” his tag line reads. Brooks intricately pieces together what seems to be only a cluster of black stars and dots when seen upclose. But when you step away from the image or tilt your computer screen back, this sea of tiny shapes works with your eyes to form the portraits of some iconic figures. Step back to see the stars within the stars.

Via

Altered Plates

darlamarks — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:26:17 +0000

Ever wondered what it would be like to eat a scone off Dr. Spock’s face? Yeah, me neither, but now you can find out…kind of. Beat Up Creations‘ “Altered Antique Plates” take classic decorative plates and use a transfer and heat technique to seal an iconic pop culture image onto them. They take “orphaned and unloved” antique plates and transform them into new, interesting, modern portrait plates. The images combined with the frilly, grandma-esque decor on the original plate work brilliantly together, in an oxymoronic kind of way.

Start your collection today and make your next tea party a lot more interesting.

Via

Minimally Popular

darlamarks — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:55:15 +0000

Thanks to ’round-the-clock news, world leaders, political figures and entertainers saturate the media and saturate our subconscious. Artist Ali Jabbar, located out of Dubai, has taken these prominent figures and created minimalist portraits in a series titled, Simple Public Figures, proving that some faces are recognizable, even without a face.

Via

Divas & Chicas

darlamarks — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:41:09 +0000

Without saying a word, young, Boricua street artist Sofia Maldonado portrays female empowerment through her paintbrush. The work speaks for itself and screams ”fierce” with a bit of a swagger – feminine swagger. Maldonando’s current works “Concrete Jungle Divas” and “Bling Bling Chicas“ celebrate hip-hop culture capturing female superstars in a strong, beautiful way by using good ol’ fashioned colorful acrylic paint and lively brushstrokes. Musical stars who inspired the pieces include this generation’s icons: Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, J-Lo and M.I.A. A gifted muralist who rallies community youth to contribute to the making of public projects and interior installations, Maldonado is as fearless, capable, and resourceful as the women she portrays.

Go ‘head, mami.

Via

Hello Kitty is taking over the world.

kimboalice — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 06:04:22 +0000

Are you a Hello Kitty lover? Well it’s pretty hard not to be! Hello Kitty is just so cute, and also secretly and aggressively taking over the world.
Check these out…

Hello Kitty Anti Virus

Hello Kitty Motor Oil

Hello Kitty Toilet Paper, pads, urinal target, condoms, and you know whatie..

Hello Kitty Riffle

Hello Kitty House

Hello Kitty Maternity Ward

Hello Kitty Transportation

Hello Kitty fire extinguisher

Hello Kitty Haute Couture

And Hello Kitty Food…