Anatomy of Heaven: Dino Valls
Dino Valls is a Spanish painter of exquisite, piercing surreal works which explore the human body as representative of the psyche, medical analogies, religious imagery, and sexuality. Beautiful and photorealistic, his paintings have a sense of classicism and an incredible technical virtuosity that will blow you away.
The figures often have a beautiful, heavenly cast to their faces, reminiscent of classics by old masters and medieval religious paintings. In these beautiful and disturbing works, the body is portrayed as fragmented, segmented, doubled, vivisected, deformed, and androgynous – both oddity and sacrosanct vessel. Body parts are displaced and represent the damaged state of the whole person. Scores of needles adorn the figures.
These images illustrate powerful statements about the way that the modern body is invaded, pried into, operated upon, examined, measured, and manipulated, making a commentary on the impersonal, objectifying treatment of modern medicine. There is often a disembodied hand taking hold of the subject in a possessive way, evoking the cold, clinical, authoritative touch of doctors, with sexual and sinister overtones. The surgery they perform on the people is symbolic and laden with dark meanings.
I love the genius way in which Valls uses anatomical symbolism and naked, human vulnerability to create such powerful, resonant images, and the way that he both perverts and glorifies the human form and human spirit.
Lots and lots of pictures below.
Tags: anatomical-themed, art nudes, classicism, medical-themed, religious imagery, twins/doppelgangers/doubles, vivisected
Una Burke’s Medical Armor
I’m probably the last person to blog about this since it’s made the blogosphere rounds, but I thought I would anyway, just for the record. This is Una Burke‘s “medical armor,” a conceptual collection of artwear inspired by prosthetic devices and medical braces and the process of healing from trauma, titled Re.Treat. The warrior-like body armor is reminiscent of medical corsetry, and also of wearing human flesh as a shield against psychological harm. The means of protection also become a means of entrapment, binding the body tightly. She cites a few of her influences as Hans Bellmer, Alexander McQueen, and Erwin Olaf. On her Website she states the pieces were made from “undyed vegetable-tanned leather which is reminiscent of Caucasian flesh” – I couldn’t help finding that last part a little funny.
Tags: avant-garde, collars, corsetry, erwin olaf, fetish, hans bellmer, historically inspired, medical braces, medical-themed, sinister arts and crafts, trauma, una burke
Doll Parts
by Marmite Sue/Eli Effenberger
Tags: dolls, injuries, medical-themed, sweet/melancholy
Emilie in Her Wheelchair
This is one of my favorite live pictures of EA.
from her “Erotic Medical Burlesque” show at KinKats, Munich, March 2009Isn’t she divine?
Awesome wheelchair, too.
Tags: burlesque, emilie autumn, insane asylum aesthetic, medical-themed, steampunk, wheelchair
The Lunatics Are Taking Over the Asylum
I just like this image.
Photograph by Gregory Brown
Tags: art nudes, black and white, dilapidated structures, insane asylum aesthetic, medical-themed, wheelchair
Prosthetic Doll Leg
I blogged earlier about Marina Bychkova‘s doll creations. She sometimes tattoos her porcelain dolls with the most intricate and interesting designs. I’m just posting this, a doll leg painted as a vintage prosthetic, because it’s so cool.
This doll is based on the tragic literary figure Anna Karenina (if she had survived her ultimate suicide attempt with major damages to her body, consequently having to wear an orthopedic corset, arm brace, and prosthetic left leg). Images of the rest of the doll after the cut.
Tags: dolls, marina bychkova, medical-themed, porcelain, prosthetic
Body Remix/Goldberg Variations
I really like this medical/”handicap”-themed dance routine from Compagnie Marie Chouinard:
reposted from Haute MacabreTags: ballet dancers, crutches, medical braces, medical-themed
Heaven by Felice Fawn
Two incredible images, titled Heaven and Purgatory, respectively, from Felice Fawn:
Tags: amazing makeup, art nudes, felice fawn, medical-themed, otherworldly photography, religious imagery, virgin mary, white hair
Inspired by Brian M. Viveros
A photographic tribute to Brian M. Viveros by Xutomu Photography
Tags: brian m viveros, injuries, medical-themed, military-themed, pinup, retro
Medical Fetish: Freyagushi
Freyagushi is an indie fashion label that makes corsets and related separates and accessories, including mini-hoopskirts, bloodied wrist cuffs, flowery collars, and Victorian-inspired black lace blouses. They have a frilly, cute, and playful edge. Designer Pinkindus says, “The Freyagushi medical experimentation line is the result of [my] wish to portray the duality of human beings….Many of Freyagushi’s creations combine nightmarish visions of death and blood with the delicacy of lace and feminine shapes.”
Tags: freyagushi, medical-themed, victorian
Categories
Search
Contact
© 2010-2011 Synesthesia Garden