Hi-Fructose Magazine

Known for her hyperrealist sculptures of fleshy, humanoid creatures, Patricia Piccininirecently created an enormous fantastical character in the form of a hot air balloon titledThe Sky Whale. Commissioned by the Centenary of Canberra, the majestic Sky Whale recently took flight over the Australian countryside for the first time. Driven by the desire to spark a sense of wonder in her viewers, Piccinini designed the otherworldly creature as a disruption of the mundane. Take a look at videos by Blueboat of the Sky Whale’s first flight and Piccinini’s studio, as well as some photos of the Sky Whale below courtesy ofTolarno Galleries.

MORE: http://hifructose.com/2013/05/14/video-patricia-piccininis-sky-whale-hot-air-balloon-sculpture-takes-flight/

Jeremy Enecio‘s dimly lit paintings and illustrations take viewers into a ritualistic space that doesn’t seem to belong to any specific cultural setting. Placid, empty-eyed characters appear statue-like; their actions, however simple, appear secretive and significant. The spaces they find themselves in glow with color-saturated light as they enact these inexplicable behaviors. Enecio chooses to cultivate suspense, allowing us to fill in these people’s stories with our own imaginations. Enecio has three new works up in “Vanguard” group show currently on view at Thinkspace in Culver City. Take a look at more of Enecio’s latest work below.

MORE: http://hifructose.com/2013/05/10/new-occult-paintings-from-jeremy-enecio/

Argentinian artist Gerardo Feldstein depicts men in jet black suits with extremely exaggerated gestures. These bald characters with big outstretched hands embody humorous narratives as they point, climb, reach, and grab at the unknown. The strikingly long bodies defy gravity and seem to stretch before the eye as they balance tediously on white pedestals. His work is reminiscent of the bold works by Swiss sculpture Alberto Giacometti, who came to be regarded as one of the leading surrealist sculptors in the 1920s through the 1960s. Feldstein’s detailed sculptures are a combination of resin, wire, and an array of other materials. See more of these bizarre sculptures below.

Australian artist Joel Rea creates cinematic paintings pulsing with the intensity of the wind and ocean waves. Rea captures the dynamic motion of natural elements, placing human protagonists into environments that make our species appear minuscule in comparison to the elemental forces. Rea’s dramatically-lit works transmits a sense of vertigo as one watches his characters (both human and canine) tumble and fall through the clouds or confront tumultuous waters. Take a look at some of Rea’s paintings below, images courtesy of the artist.

MORE: http://hifructose.com/2013/05/07/joel-reas-high-velocity-paintings/

In Japan, the word “cute” or kawaii can be stamped on just about everything when it comes to aesthetics. Cute dogs, dolls, cartoons and cars are the accepted standard. Now picture human bodies with wolf heads tearing each other apart. Pigs crowded around a dinner table salivating over their roasted brethren. Japanese artist and Tokyo resident Ryohei Hase illustrates beautifully disturbing scenes with obsessive detail. Cannibalism is at times a running theme in his work. Using Photoshop and other software, Hase creates digital art that almost challenges traditional painting if not coexisting without notice. Take a look at some of his work below.

MORE: http://hifructose.com/2013/05/07/ryohei-hases-morbid-digital-artworks/

French artist Emile Morel creates candy-colored digital artworks brimming with detail. Setting the stage in fantasy landscapes that appear to be somewhere high above the clouds, Morel blends a sense of whimsical fantasy with an underlying perverseness and even forbidden sexuality. The light and airy works captivate with their myriad characters and lofty landscapes. Take a look at some of Morel’s artwork below.

MORE: http://hifructose.com/2013/05/09/emile-morels-candy-colored-digital-artworks/

Coinciding with his current exhibition at Fifty24SF, Barcelona-based street artist Aryz recently painted a mural in San Francisco in collaboration with public art organization WallspaceSF. Titled “The Style is the Limit,” Aryz’s solo show explores the idea of artists setting limitations on their own creativity in order to develop an individual style. The show features new paintings as well as studies and a sculpture. These small-scale works inform Aryz’s process in creating his enormous, surreal outdoor works. Take a look at the completed mural and some process shots below and check out some of Aryz’s other recent murals and photos from his studio below.

Known for his appetizing yet dangerous-looking sculptures, mixed-media artist Scott Hove will debut a new body of work at San Francisco’s Spoke Art this Thursday, May 2. Titled “Guns & Ecstasy,” Hove’s latest body of work was created with heavy topics borne in mind. Presenting candy-colored assault weapons decorated like extravagant birthday cakes, Hove uses the tension between the violent and tantalizing aspects of his work to probe issues surrounding America’s gun policies in light of the recent tragedies that have occurred around the country. In addition to the gun sculptures, Hove will debut an elaborate, labyrinthine installation. Take a look at a sneak peek at the installation and some shots from Hove’s studio courtesy of Francis Zera and check out the show at Spoke Art May 2- May 25.

MORE: http://hifructose.com/2013/04/29/preview-scott-hoves-guns-ecstasy-at-spoke-art/

Ashley Mackenzie tackles complex questions about the relationship between mind and body, creating conceptual, illustrative works that stand at the cross-section of the philosophy of the mind and neuroscience. “As our knowledge of the brain becomes more comprehensive, it seems like the idea of the soul exists only in the gaps of our understanding,” Mackenzie writes on her website. Bodies melt like pools of liquid in these placid, sparsely-detailed illustrations as they visualize the inner workings of the mind. Take a look at some of Ashley Mackenzie’s works below, images courtesy of the artist.

MORE: http://hifructose.com/2013/04/30/the-philosophical-illustrations-of-ashley-mackenzie/

Curated by Nathan Spoor, the group show “Suggestivism” takes on its third incarnation, this time at the Casa dell’Architettura / Acquario Romano in Rome after two previous installments in the Los Angeles in 2011 and New York in 2012. Featuring many artists we’ve covered in past print issues and on our website — including Volume 22 cover artist Winnie Truong, Chris Mars (Hi-Fructose Collected 2), Dan May (HF Vol. 9), Martin Wittfooth (HF Vol. 19 cover artist), Michael Page (HF Vol. 19), Nicola Verlato (HF Vol. 11), Hi-Fructose co-founder Annie Owens and more — the exhibition attempts to unite artists with a similar interest in the surreal and absurd despite their different aesthetics. The exhibition will run May 3 – May 30.

The complete list of artists includes: Esao Andrews, Mia Araujo, Julian Callos, Cam de Leon, Ron English, Yoko d’Holbachie, Charlie Immer, Kris Lewis, Jason Limon, Chris Mars, Dan May, Jeff McMillan, Yevgeniya Mikhailik, David Molesky, Brendan Monroe, Heiko Müller, Nathan Ota, Annie Owens, Michael Page, Joey Remmers, Eric Richardson, Scott Scheidly, Greg Simkins, Nathan Spoor, Winnie Truong, Christopher Ulrich, Joe Vaux, Nicola Verlato, Heather Watts, Martin Wittfooth, Sam Wolfe Connely and Chet Zar.