animation « looking post

Posts Tagged: animation

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2
Jan 10

Me, I’m a taker

santigold

My life is a bit more complete now that I’ve experienced the creative monstrosity that is Santigold. I come late in the game– the album dropped in October and they’ve been around for a few years besides– but it’s never too late to recognize greatness. And in this case, greatness comes in a collage of 80’s pop and a lil’ punk with a dash of dub all mashed together by hot genius Santi White and producer John Hill.

From the website:

This is better than good; this is gold— SANTIGOLD!

Santigold is a survivor of a half century worth of living along musical evolution’s most cutting edges. Already receiving weighty club rotation and airplay in urban Afghanistan and downtown Beirut, Santigold is the first act of the century to boast a post-war following on the International Space Station Mir. Following a live performance broadcast from three thousand miles off the Cape of Good Hope last June, inmates at Leavenworth Penitentiary received Santigold with a celebratory confetti parade. Just another first for the modern super group that knows no bound.

Composed of absolutely no members, Santigold is also the first musical outfit capable of claiming the planet’s broiling collective consciousness as their front woman. Longtime collaborator, singer and songwriter Santi White says of her work with Santigold, “We began trying to write pop songs to sell, which made us depressed, so we started writing songs for ourselves instead.” The results of that self centered conceit is the songwriting work heard for the first time on the full length self-titled Santigold album.

I don’t even know what this shit means but I know I like it. Now I’ll quit blabbing for a second and politely suggest that you LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN.

Santigold – Creator
Santigold feat. Spank Rock – Shove It

If you’re liking… check out the video! Santigold, Pharrell, and Julian Casablancas of the Strokes join forces for Converse to deliver some sweet music via sweeter animation. Please disregard the fact that it’s an ad.

Of oceanic proportions.

underwater museum 2
Lately it’s been hella rainy.

This has gotten me thinking about water in general and the ocean in particular. I have enormous respect for it. It’s the most terrifying and humbling presence in my life… for several reasons which I will list.

I live 3 blocks from it and I’m a terrible swimmer
The recent tsunamis/typhoons that wiped out so many lives and livelihoods in the Asia Pacific.
That very real possibility of entire countries being swallowed up by it.
There’s a worldwide drinking water shortage and the ocean is the only growing body of water… yet drinking from it will kill you. Ah the terrible irony.

But I’m not even trying to be a downer. Cos as much as the ocean can destroy, it creates. Think about how much life there is down there that we haven’t even begun to grasp. We try though, and I always enjoy people who try.

So this post is dedicated to the ocean and the artwork it inspires.

The pics above and below are from Mexico’s Underwater Museum, lifted from the UK Telegraph. According to the BBC, the museum is intended to raise environmental awareness by serving as an artificial reef. Apparently tourists were trampling on and destroying the real coral reef.

underwater museum 1

Shots from The Life Aquatic, directed by Wes Anderson. The scenery and animation are fantastic… the film itself is highly mediocre. In fact I’m only a fan cos I secretly dream of living at sea. But I digress.

life aquatic 3

This is one of my favorite things to witness at Ocean Beach: older Asian men, fishing in rubber pants. It’s calming and reminds me of my dad, who also happens to fish. Photo minus said older Asian man.

ocean beach

Isle of the Dead, made in 1883 by Swiss artist Arnold Böcklin. From Wikipedia:

Böcklin himself provided no public explanation as to the meaning of the painting, though he did describe it as “a dream picture: it must produce such a stillness that one would be awed by a knock on the door.”

isle of the dead

artworks — No Comments
10
Dec 09

Graphic designers have feelings too!

HILARIOUS! But not really, cos it seems to happen a lot. Not that I’m hating.

artworks — No Comments
1
Dec 09

I’ve got a paper cut

paper cut
There are several reasons why cutting stencils is the shit. It’s the perfect excuse to (1) hold a knife (2) put my anal-retentiveness to good use (3) liberate my closet psychosis (3) use words like psychosis, which are otherwise unnecessary in my daily life.

Speaking as a stencil head, I can’t help but get all sexcited when I come across the work of my fellow paper cutters. Above is work by Bovey Lee, an artist who intertwines the personal and the political via intricate rice-paper webs. Her apocalyptic visions– images of atomic destruction, natural disaster, and industrialization– are chillingly offset on translucent paper lace. From Hyphen: “she forgoes the use of color, common in traditional paper cutouts, in order to emphasize linearity and the interplay between solid and void.” Somehow, such abstract wordage– which would normally cause my eyes to glaze over– makes sense when describing something so otherworldly and fragile.

The animation below, by Annie Poon, is similarly lovely. It reminds me of my little sis and how kids are able to create possibility and adventure out of the most ordinary things. Just the other day I saw a toddler playing with a bus cord for the longest time, all the while cackling with joy. Moments like this make me feel optimistic, cos this kid knows something you don’t.

artworks — No Comments
18
Nov 09

Giant in the mental

on stilts
Art is by Christopher De Leon, from the Tabi Tabi Po Po exhibit at 1AM SF (which is, incidentally, the same place that breeds vandals). The show is an art benefit for victims of Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng, and features the work of Filipino artists from the Bay to Norway to the motherland. I fell in love with this guy’s work and felt compelled to share. He also happens to be good at making really cool stuff out of burnt wood. Not jealous at all.

Above is a corner mural, and below is an aptly titled piece, Giant in the Mental.

giant in the mental
A nice lady gave me some background to the show, which I promptly forgot but have since recovered thanks to the gallery blog:

Tabi Tabi Po (pronounced Ta-bee Ta-bee Poe) refers to Filipino superstitions- particularly when someone is entering a locale where ghosts and goblins may be living. It is a way of saying “excuse me” or “pardon me” when entering or passing a territory where these creatures inhabit for fear there will be unforgiving consequences if the creatures are not acknowledged or given respect. It can also be translated as “move to the side, sir”.

And finally, a fun animated trailer to the exhibit, which is going on through December 12th.