A JOURNEY INTO THE FANTASTIC WORLD OF DIGITAL ART

Is it still art if it’s mostly digitally generated? With AI bursting onto the art and design scene and changing how designers around the world do their work I have been pondering that question. How do you assess an image? How much of the artist’s idea has gone into the image and how much of it has been dreamt up by the machine? No easy answers here. And, judging by the heavy discourse around this topic, answers that are not coming any time soon.

So, I finally abandoned the academic thinking and decided to share one of the artists I recently discovered and whose work caught my eye - thanks to, you guessed it - IG algorithm. It may not be Mona Lisa but it is something that is sure to brighten my day, and that means something. Here he is - and I hope you enjoy his colorful and playful work as much as I do.

Franck Gerard, according to his own website, is a self-taught French visual artist who lives and works in Angers, France. Building on his own computer graphics background, he started to showcase his personal vector graphics work on Instagram in 2020 and quickly built a strong following. Dipping into his passions - art in all its forms, architecture, fashion and technology - for inspiration, he explores multiple digital techniques to create art: vector illustration, digital painting, manipulated photography, 3d, artificial intelligence and computer coding. The resulting artworks are "retro-futuristic." His inspiration? Frank Stella, François Morellet, Paul Klee, Piet Mondrian, Vassily Kandinsky, Donald Judd, Yves Klein, Andy Warhol. Some pretty big names in the art world!

Franck initially caught my eye with his “la fille en jeune” series of simple, minimalist architectural structures inhabited by a single female figure. Solitary, yes, but also somehow optimistic given the bright and cheerful color palette.

From then on, I have followed and appreciated his colorful reinterpretations of Piet Mondrian, his futuristic headdresses, face paints or Pucci-esque clothing that is bursting with color. Most recently, his “ghost” series has been interesting to watch.

So, as we get closer to the end of the year, set your own thoughts about what constitutes “true” art and just enjoy this playful collection. I sure do. Franck’s art is accessible at his instagram.

Have fun!

BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHY HIDING IN AN OLD LAUNDRY ROOM

Whenever I come back to Prague, I make it a point to explore the burgeoning arts and culture scene here. This time was no different. And one of the stops was the intriguing photography show of works by Alžběta Jungrová. I will admit, this show is not new. In fact it opened earlier this spring. But, just seeing glimpses of it in my social feed, I put it on my “must see” list during my most recent visit. And I was not disappointed. In fact, I am hard pressed to recall when I saw such an interesting installation in Prague (and yes, I have been to David Cerny’s Musoleum as well - but that will be another post).

Why, you ask? Well, several things. First, there is a lot of black and white portrait photography. And that is my sweet spot. Something I have always enjoyed. Knowing that alone was reason enough.

Second, it’s the location and the format the author chose. Alžběta installed her photographs quite unconventionally - in a now defunct laundry room of a hospital on Karlovo náměstí. The choice of the place creates a really interesting atmosphere with its somewhat raw architecture (and the entrance is from the Faust house that is subject to mystery and legends known to all Prague citizens).

In addition, she experimented with materials and the presentation. You can find photos printed on metal mesh curtains, large-format plastic plates, projected on an old glass door, placed in a piece of furniture or partly showing the underlying old hospital tile. Those who are not afraid of heights can climb to the elevated platform that’s been purpose-built in the space and admire the views from a different perspective. This is helpful, because the photos are hung at different heights, a number of them well above natural eye level. So, if you’re willing the brave the slightly rickety ladder, do it. You will enjoy the views.

Thirdly, the title itself. “I believe...” What exactly? In today’s polarized world, many could start arguing the matters of faith at this point. But that’s not exactly what we’re talking about here. According to the author, that the leitmotif of the exhibition is "Where reality ends, fiction begins". As others have written, looking at the photos, it's hard to tell which of these worlds it is. They intertwine. As the photographer does not name her photos, it is entirely up to the viewer to process them him/herself, including the emotions they evoke. And those emotions can range from joy to shock to sadness and melancholy. Whatever your mood, you are likely to find something that will speak to you. And if all of that is not enough, and you are looking for something more, why not wake up your inner child and find joy on the little swing set that’s been installed in the space. You will have fun and see the photos from yet another vantage point.

Ready to go? You still have plenty of opportunity. The show runs at the current location at Všeobecna fakultní nemocnice in Praha 2 (VFN, U nemocnice 2, Praha) through October 15.

Like photography? You might enjoy my blogs about Vincent Peters or Bruce Weber’s photography

THE COLORFUL LIFE OF A NEURON

One of the things I have always loved about New York is that it engages you. Choices abound and art lovers like me literally have something new to go see every day.

This time, my inner nerd came to surface and suggested a show that gets in your head - literally. Created by ARTECHOUSE Studio in partnership with Society for Neuroscience (SfN) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of SfN, the show is the first of its kind to use data to bring key neuroscience principles to life. The show allows visitors to walk into a real-life 3D model of a human prefrontal cortex neuron — the “thinking cell” of the brain — and see it grow from birth through death.

While I have been to Artechouse’s tech-powered shows before (last year they had a great one co-created by Refik Anadol), this one felt even more mesmerizing. Watching an artfully presented depiction of the goings-on of a human brain is interesting enough on its own, but combine it with vivid, pulsating color, ever evolving shapes, simple yet evocative sound cues and mesmerizing digital animation and suddenly, you’re transported into a whole new world. Neural pathways coming to life in front of your eyes resembling Brazilian rainforest, forming and re-forming, reflecting joy and play and changing again at signs of stress and trauma. It is fascinating and I loved it.

ARTECHOUSE, located in NYC’s Chelsea market, is the nation’s first innovative art organization dedicated to the intersection of art, science and technology. It produces technology driven exhibitions using the largest seamless megapixel count projections of any cultural institution and integrating Hyperreal Sound technology. The current show runs through November 13.

THE IMAGINATIVE LANDSCAPES OF FRENCH PHOTOGRAPHY

Corinne Mercadier: Angels

Sometimes you want to step out of your daily reality and explore a different world. For me, the answer lies in the imaginative landscapes of French photography. I have admired it ever since I brought one into my home. Let me introduce you to one of my favorites.

THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF CORINNE MERCADIER

I first came across Corinne Mercadier’s work a few years back when I discovered the dreamy scenes of her 2009-2015 Solo Series. The darkened images, staged and shot on the Southwest Mediterranean beaches of Corinne’s childhood evoke memories and are full of playful props. The almost monochromatic landscapes reminiscent of lunar surfaces can feel solitary, but they still pull you in. Step in and see if you, too, can push that ball, twirl that stick, make magic. It’s only appropriate in a world where photographs carry mysterious names such as “Fata Morgana” and “Toute Pensée”. I fell in love with “Magnetik” and it still brings me joy every time I look at it in my home.

A few years later, I had a chance to revisit Corinne’s work. (Well, I never really left it, I kept returning to her website to see what she’s been up to.) She’s added more color while keeping the mystery and intrigue. The more recent (2015-2017) series aptly named “Le ciel commence ici” (“The sky begins here”) is busier, more theatrical and full of energy. Your eye can’t help but notice all the action: A sphere flying through the space, geometric objects that cast double shadows, nondescript people moving through the space. At times, it’s hard to see what’s suspended in the air and what’s moving at full speed. I like it just as much, if not more, than her previous work. I have a feeling I will be adding to my collection. The only hard choice is figuring out which piece I like the best.

In recent years, Corinne’s moved back to a more monochromatic theme with her “Espace second” work that walks you through emptied mansions, down darkened hallways and past imposing doorways that invite you to take a peek what lies behind. And, as is now to be expected from Corinne’s work, throughout it all, your companion and guide remains anonymous, leaving you to imagine what story they would tell if only they could speak.

Corinne Mercadier started her photography career with a Polaroid SX70, which she used until 2008 before moving to digital photography. Her work continues to captivate audiences and she’s won awards for her celestially inspired work, including the Prix Altadis in 2001 and a finalist position at the Prix de l’Académie des Beaux-Arts Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière. Her photographs are in the collections of the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris; FNAC, Paris; the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris; and the Polaroid Corporation Collection. You can also find her work at the Galerie Les Filles du Calvaire in Paris, and at the Alan Klotz gallery in New York. You can also explore it directly on her website. I love Corinne’s work and I hope that you will, too.

All photos in this post are by Corinne Mercadier.