PLEIX

PLEIX THE FILMS
"Pleix is a virtual community of digital artists based in Paris. Some of us are 3D artists, some others are musicians or graphic designers. This website is the perfect place to share our latest creations." Taken from the website www.Pleix.net February 18th, 2007.

Contact:
leti@pleix.net


The Itsu film was part of the Creative Review / Warp competition.



Several videos created by Pleix convey virtual modernity with a message. They can be intriguing and disturbing creating an allure and an addiction amongst the viewer. The video entitle "E-baby" Produced by Pleix / Chased by Cowboys. Music: Bleip. 2003. evokes these emotions. However, why do the artists behind Pleix want to evoke these emotions? What is their purpose? And how does it affect artists and my art?

Pleix uses two main characters in this digitally created video. There is a baby who takes on the role as an e-baby. This electronically created baby allows a “real” viewer to have a virtual experience with a simulated infant. The baby seems to be incubated and the viewer in the video is able to place their hands through two wholes. Their hands are then enclosed into two black gloves. These black gloves give an eerie feel to the video, almost as if black is used to symbolize something malevolent. If this is the case the simulated viewer who has placed their hands into the incubator and is now touching or caressing the baby may be seen as evil.

It is under the assumption of the audience that the virtual viewer in “E-baby”, has purchased a restrained amount of time to spend time with the virtual baby. Because the title tells the audience that the baby is not real and that time is limited the virtual viewer has either some sort of virtual game. The virtual viewer then proceeds to caress the baby and becomes intrigued by its humanistic qualities. The audience also becomes intrigued by the baby’s appeal.

However, the baby’s image begins to blur and fade out indicating that it is dying or game time is coming to an end. This harsh virtual scenario is intended to evoke sadness amongst the virtual viewer and the audience. This in turn creates a feeling of intrigue and addiction to try and stop the baby from disappearing. In a sense the audience begins caring for this virtual baby that does not really exist. Perhaps the concept of the virtual world becoming more of a reality in modern society is the message Pleix is trying to unveil to the audience.

Furthermore, how does this concept affect artists as well as myself? Pleix uses an innovative artistic technique to display their talent and concepts in today’s technologically driven world. The artistic virtually based creators are able to poke fun of the modern technologically-crazed, money-driven society, by using art as an outlet but also by ironically using technology to display their message. Other artists can use Pleix’s technique as a model of what new age art is, that being technology as its canvas. Artists can also refer to Pleix’s traditional technique of poking fun of the industrial or business run society through the means of art. Messages through the medium of art have long since been a great way for artists to express and rebel against aspects of their society they disagree with.

Arts & Culture in the New York Times

The Arts & Culture section featured in the New York Times

Christo & Jean-Claude

Who are Christo and Jean-Claude? Two revolutionary artists who have the ability of tying science, history, and innovation into art. (But, of course they're French and Bulgarian, what else could zey bee?)

http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/otr.html

Kara Walker

I found modern art to be of disinterest, but things have changed. I am really into Kara Walker who I discovered through the Rubell Collection. Check out an interview she had with MoMA

Napoleon and Picasso

Ma Revolution

What's your revolution? How do you plan on impacting your Universe let alone your environment? Artists use their art as their voice. Take Pablo Picasso for instance in Geurnica...

Picasso believed in socialist and communist ideals. At a time when fascism was on the up rise especially in Europe, groups such as the Popular Front were deriving ways to speak out against fascist authorities. Picasso had begun a portfolio of etchings that were directed towards social radicalism in fight against fascism. The first etching of this political imagery is known as Dreams and Lies of Franco.

To add to the up rise of fascism came the Spanish Civil War, which began in July of 1936. Liberals by which whom did not agree with the Catholic Church had presently run Spain. This created a division between the leftists and the rightists, and in 1933 the rightists took over only to increase the division inside the country. In 1936 tensions rose and the outbreak of a civil war took over Spain.

Geurnica is a city located in the Basque region of northern Spain near the French border. Hitler had designated the town as a place for bombardment for war exercises. The bombardments occurred for three hours and resulted in many casualties and destruction. Under the orders of Hitler the fascist nazi, General Francisco Franco was to blame for the bombings on the town.

Throughout the Spanish Civil War, Spaniards were divided amongst their culture. Those that were republicans were battling against the fascist Nazi General Francisco Franco. Picasso decided to put his anger into artistic expression in order to ridicule the general as we have seen with other artists in the past such as Hogarth or Daumier.

During the period that Picasso painted Guernica was in the midst of the Surrealism movement after a split from the Dada art movement. The surrealist movement, during the 1930s, was just taking flight and a predominant theme seen in surrealist paintings are the topics of war and the loss of faith in humanity, but also the subconscious, imaginative, and subconscious thoughts that led to revolts against the political, social, and personal realms of society and culture

Guernica was painted to be seen and be exhibited in the Spanish Pavillion in the World Fair that took place in 1937 in Paris France. During the mid 20th century, Spain was suffering from enraged civil wars taking place throughout the native country of Picasso. Although the outbreak of civil wars was going on, another essential factor took its toll on the little village of Guernica.

At an International art and sciences fair where the theme was of modern technology Picasso was able to use the this fact is synonymous of the impact this piece had on art. Guernica was a painting that led the way for future artists and movements that dealt with the horror of war as their theme. Not only was his choice of themes a break from traditional styles but his use of technique and art forms were significant to the history of art and the .......Picasso’s use of political imagery represents a moment taken out of history. He was able to also impact the method of anti-war messages through artistic expression, by ridiculing political leaders, showing the travesty of war, and by speaking using art as a universal discourse.

This painting was the beginning of using art to convey social radicalism especially during the surrealist movement at the time of World War II. Today the painting has made such an impact that it has been used throughout the world, and by major organizations such as the United Nations as a symbol of the ugliness of war.Picasso’s use of political imagery represents a moment taken out of history. He was able to also impact the method of anti-war messages through artistic expression, by ridiculing political leaders, showing the travesty of war, and using art as a universal discourse.


http://www.pbs.org/empires/napoleon/


http://www.napoleon.org/en/home.asp


http://www.napoleonguide.com/

"Media Art in the New Millennium"

Dr. Michael Rush, Director of the Rose Art Museum gave a talk on the period best defined in Art History as Conceptualism. This period ranges from the 1960s to today. Such artists as Nam June Paik, Chantal Ackerman, Robert Wilson, Jim Campbell and the Fluxus movement were included in Dr. Rush's talk about Media Art.

The key element that distinguishes Media Art or Conceptual Art from traditional art is the emotion that an artist can create. They allow the spectator to enter an alternative way of feeling, viewing, and thinking by inviting and even seducing people into places of change from the automated or habitual way of life that people are accustomed to.

This invitation or seduction is a way of engaging people. Another important point Rush spoke about was the cleverness of artists in their capability of displacing perception and creating the feeling of disruption, this in itself is art.