Thursday, September 29, 2011

Life Lines


I marvel and rejoice at the rich intricacies of Etsuko Fukaya's finely detailed etchings. 
These small worlds are lovingly crafted celebrations of the beauty of nature, 
peopled by an incredible variety of animals, vegetation and lush natural patterns. 
Please click on the pictures to see them enlarged, and take a bit of time 
to discover all the creatures that inhabit them.




Full view and detail of Shofuku, an etching containing 84 animals.

Such incredibly complex imagery is painstakingly achieved by this young Japanese artist:

"I want to draw what is alive" says Fukaya - and for her, this means that capturing every
 hair of an animal's fur, every platelet of a fish's scales, every marking on a flower's 
petals is essential to her pursuit. Thus, she chose etching as her ideal medium, favoring 
its ability to create the most precise linework. Pushing this medium to its limits, 
Fukaya achieves the finest lines. Yet, maintaining that "a magnifying object would be 
an obstacle between herself and her work," Fukaya relentlessly overworks her own 
naked eyes to produce artworks. In imparting such intense energy, her creatures appear
 to sing with an overflowing vivacity." (from Azito online gallery)







As you can see the originals are quite small, around 12 x 12 inches.



In this video interview Fukaya's gallerist Yuko Yamamoto discusses her work process
and inspiration. Where noted, images are copyright to Yamamoto Gendai art gallery.


Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Gagarin





After fliesearthworms, and ants, another funny Russian video featuring little creatures.
This animated short was created by Alexjij Kharitidi at Second Frog animation group.
It won awards at Cannes, Annecy, and other major festivals, and was nominated 
for an Academy Award in 1996. Many thanks to Irina Troitskaya for sharing it with me! 

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Sunday Safari - Does & Fawns



Anne SiemsPet Doe

I have always loved deer, aside from the fact that when I lived in California
they would get into my garden and eat all the flowers and vegetables!
If you love them too and would like to see some more, 
visit last Spring's Safari featuring stags and bucks

Kiki Smith, Fawn


Jennifer Davis, Fawn


 1960s brass deer at Fears and Kahn


 Mirko Hanák, illustration from Joyce Stranger’s Book of Hanák’s Animals,
thanks to liquidnight

 Jozef Baláž, illustration from Tupfel im Brunnen, thanks to 50 Watts


Ikko Tanaka, thanks to Gurafiku

Hella Jongerius, Nimphenburg Sketches Animal Bowl, thanks to Agnes Szucs at iiiinspired



Yoshie Watanabe, illustration from Brooch

Friday, September 23, 2011

Grandma Wolf



Danuta Imielska-Gebethner, 1963, thanks to hipopotamstudio

After the meeting in the forest, here is the second part of Animalarium's 
iconographic celebration of one of the most popular and enduring folk tales.













The tension is building...
We'll be back soon with the scariest scene!

By the way, I have to say that my idea is in no way original!
There are many nice Red Riding Hood picture collections around the web, 
for example you can find them herehere and here.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The Wild Side of Pino




As promised, here is another installment on the wonderful Pino Pascali.
After exploring his adventures in advertising, I am dedicating this post
to the animal-themed artworks that he created between 1962 and 1965.








 Works from the Africa series, mixed media on acetate, 1964




In the same period, Pascali designed this panel for a mosaic at the FAO headquarters in Rome.

See you again soon with Pino's very Pop sculptures!

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