Monday 6 February 2012

Magical Cinna Monday - Inspiring art

 
Zoren Gold & Minori, 'Object that Dreams', 2006


Nicola Yeoman, 'And Then.......', 2011


Pipilotti Rist, 'Underwear Chandelier', 2010


Jacqueline Gallagher, 'A Well Trimmed Bush', 2010 (91,5x122cm)

Saturday 4 February 2012

Temporary Tattoos - Skin art - Ariana Page Russell


Ariana Page Russell, 'Seethe', 2010 (76x51cm)

Ariana Page Russell is a Brooklyn, New York based artist. In 2005 she got her degree in photography from the universaty of Washington, Seattle. Ariana was born with a rare skincondition, dermatographia.
Dermatographia literally means 'writing on the skin'.

There are various degrees of severity of this condition, this is what Ariana writes about hers;
 "My skin is very sensitive and I blush easily. I have dermatographia, a condition in which one’s immune system releases excessive amounts of histamine, causing capillaries to dilate and welts to appear (lasting about thirty minutes) when the hypersensitive skin’s surface is lightly scratched". 


Ariana Page Russell, 'Sail', 2011 (102x76cm)

The special thing about Ariana Page Russell is that she transformed this condition into the source of her artwork. She actually challenges her skin by drawing on it, causing the involuntary reaction to appear, but only in the shape that she has created.
The drawings are often made by using templates and a blunt knitting needle. 
This video gives an idea about Ariana's drwing method.


Intervieuw with Ariana Page Russell on ABC News, 2008


By combining several skin-paterns Ariana Page Russell also designed some special wallpapers.
At first glance it seems like a relatively normal wallpaper motif, but then it becomes clear that the dots really are little pigment spots and the pink colour is the colour of skin, of flesh.


Ariane Page Russell, 'Belle Etoile', 2008 (12x16) Custom Wallpaper

In 2010 Ariana created the photo series 'Save Face'. The use of material by Ariana is truly beautiful. She printed photo's of her flushing skin on to thin foil (vinyl) and wore it on her skin. Ariana worked really subtle with shaping and compositioning this material on her body. Sometimes it's not quite sure wich piece is foil and wich piece is real skin.

Ariana Page Russell, 'Radiate', 2010(76x51cm)
Ariana Page Russell, 'Rant', 2010(76x51cm)






















Ariana Page Russell, 'Gush', 2010 (76x51cm)
Ariana Page Russell, 'Rave', 2010 (76x51cm)
























If there was a cure for dermatografia Ariana Page Russell wouldn't take it. Because the condition doesn't hurt her and she thinks it's a lot of fun to be able to draw with your own skin. Let's hope Ariana can keep her skin under control like she does now and can keep on making wonderfull photography !