Italy
Wabi Sabi is a way of seeing the world that is at the heart of Japanese culture.
It finds beauty and harmony in what is simple, imperfect, natural, modest, and mysterious.
- Mark Reibstein, Wabi Sabi
Tibet
Tranquil simplicity,
rustic elegance,
imperfect beauty...these are qualities that wabi sabi embraces.
Wabi Sabi: the Art of Everyday Life, Diane Durston…
Who doesn’t love ‘em some Game of Thrones?
The epic cable fantasy series adapted from George R.R. Martin’s books delivers eye popping visuals, rich characterization and juicy storylines each week, all preceded by an impressive opening score.
That musical expression has been beautifully interpreted and performed by UW-Madison’s official carillonneur of nearly 30 years, Lyle Anderson. The UW-Madison’s Carillon, dedicated in 1936, consists of 56 bells ranging in size from 15 to 6,823 pounds. No word on how many of those were used in this performance, but every note is a triumph of (dare we say it?) majestic proportion. Well done, Mr. Anderson!
Enjoy!
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White Heat: Modern Hair Sculpture Part 1 – Andreas H
Stuff You Never Thought Existed: 18th & 19th Century Vampire Hunting Kits
Some artistic endeavors are better left untitled, unexplained. To get the most honest and intriguing interpretations, these particular pieces (in my humble opinion) should be delicately placed into a viewer’s eager eye line and left to percolate, organically, through their grey matter and reations-of-the-gut.
When I came upon this work by Noe Sendas, I knew it was one of those pieces. So I open it up to you: What do you think the artist’s intention was? What is its meaning? And if you were to caption said image, what would it say?
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If you liked this post, check out these Z & G Dark Goodies:
“Rain” by Nazar Bilyk (Sculpture)
White Heat: Modern Hair Sculpture Part 1 – Andreas H
Creating New Worlds: Photographer, Brooke Shaden
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Image courtesy of Noe Sendas
Vampires? Meh. They don’t turn my crank on any level, really. Movies, literature, comic books, funky costumes. None of it. Safe to say, I’m definitely not a vampirionado (though I am, quite obviously, a fan of making up new words).
One of my prized possessions may be an old painting my Hungarian Grandma was given on her wedding day depicting the dark mountainous border between Romania and Hungary, and I may have a freakish crush on Gary Oldman (the creepier he is in the role, the better, so his portrayal of Dracula in the epically awful Keanu Reaves flick did, admittedly, make my heart pitter patter. Seriously – odd bosomly-bunned up-do aside -, that, “I am…Dracoooooola“
…Swoon!!)
Still, in spite of those things, the Twilight franchise and fanged night demons as a whole don’t do it for me. What always has, is old stuff. (Check out my Vintage Mondays posts if you’re the same for some other goodies 
) Old weird stuff is even better. Which makes these 18th and 19th Century Vampire Hunting Kits pretty nifty in my opinion.
Happy Hunting!
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If you enjoyed this post check out:
Happy Halloween! Welcome to Z & G Dark!
Heady Fashion Pumps (Hair Sculpture)
“Rain” by Nazar Bilyk (Sculpture)
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If King Midas had poked a big, scary mother of a thick, black snake, what pray tell would have happened?
This!
Dubbed the “Alternate Materials: Gold, Adding the Midas Touch” photo editing contest, Worth1000.com laid out their rules, and received a doozy of a beautiful shot! (Actually, they got many gorgeous entries – check out the finalists here).
The golden serpent started out like this:
And although it would seem this entrant had the Midas touch, it turns out he fell a wee bit short, placing 2nd in the competition. Still, the altered photo has gained a different sort of notoriety: urban legend. The shot popped up in my Facebook feed late last year with the (completely false) caption:
The Golden Snake is only found in the thick, dense Amazon forest. Less than 10 are estimated to be alive. The Golden Snake’s saliva, venom and skin contain 24 carat gold. One strike from a Golden Snake can kill an adult within 5 minutes. Many have vanished in the Amazonian forest after setting off in pursuit of the beast.
Pretty creepy….and pretty cool!
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If you enjoyed this post check out this Z & G Dark gem:
Lot 246: Skeleton Rocking Chair
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Image and source, Worth1000.com
What happens when the best of artistic intentions get sucked into a vortex of bizarre? Clearly, some pretty freaky deaky book cover art. No genre or publisher is exempt from these serious lapses in visual aesthetics; from comic books to sci-fi to the beloved Golden Books we all had heaps of as children, each is as guilty as the next of producing…well…these, particularly peculiar – yet strangely captivating – covers.
My Kitten (and my dark, empty stare)
Who knew it was a “Mister”?
An army of…saggy, blue, old men
Alice tests the wrong rag doll
Best 6-pack and delicate fingers combo ever (on a brown bear)
Because who doesn’t wanna cook with…
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IF YOU LIKED THIS POST, TAKE A BITE OF THESE Z&G DARK TREATS:
Gnarly Nature: I’ve Got My (Doll’s) Eye On You…
Happy 2013! The Guest Dress Book at Z & G Dark’s Virtual New Year’s Eve Ball
Happy Halloween! Welcome to Z & G Dark!
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My Kitten image courtesy of Amazon
The Long Journey of Mister Poop image courtesy of Amazon
American Sci-Fi Collection image courtesy of Amazon
Creepy Alice image courtesy of BookMice.net
Labyrnth image courtesy of GoodShowSir
Cooking With Pooh image courtesy of Amazon
Happy Valentine’s Day!
To honour the day, I thought I’d share some “interesting” Cupid images that aren’t likely to get you any nookie, but may get a raised eyebrow…or smile, depending on what sort your Valentine is.
Peculiar Cupids
I originally thought I’d share this vintage V-day card image on Zen and Genki, but upon closer inspection, the featured fairy had just the right peculiarity of character to warrant sharing her here on the dark side, instead.
Yes, the ambiance of the card is lovely, the flowers beautifully done and fairy wings unique enough to really grab your attention and remark on their detail. But then, one notices the cherub-esque child. Something about the face, body and hair just don’t match up. Is it a girl? A boy? And just how old is this Cupid, anyway? The face seems oddly aged, yet that’s most certainly a little being’s body. Cute…but strangely peculiar at the same time.
Of course that’s nothing compared to this gem of a card that promises impalement for the holiday (who knew Cupid’s arrows drew blood?!)
Then there’s this little “darling”…where to begin?
(*S-h-u-d-d-e-r*)
And just when you thought things couldn’t get weirder*…
All those hearts and flowers are bound to make you hungry. Why settle for sweets when you can whip out your handy dandy cauldron and…well…
Perhaps a good old fashioned box of chocolates isn’t such a bad idea, after all.
*No, this one’s not a cupid, exactly. But she fits, quite nicely, into the post, methinks.
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For another Z & G Dark post that’s full of heart, check out Releasing Her Heart At Twilight.
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Peculiar Cupid image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy, LLC
Impaled heart image courtesy of source
“Darling” child image courtesy of chicks57
Cauldron image courtesy of Babble
LA-based photographer, Brooke Shaden‘s vast array of other-wordly self portraits are chocked full of whimsy and wonder. With degrees in both Film and English, it’s no wonder Shaden’s imagination and ability to weave rich, scenic visuals feature so prominently in her work; her aesthetic of arresting, unusual beauty implores the viewer to dive into the imaginary spaces she creates.
Sometimes jarring, always breathtaking, Shaden has said that in her pieces she attempts to “place herself within worlds…where secrets float out in the open [and]…the impossible becomes possible” [1]. Undeniably, she accomplishes this with a gifted hand.
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Images and [1] courtesy of Brooke Shaden
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Musical Steampunk: Elegant Insects
Portrait of Rosalinda (A Thousand Stories)
(Very!) High Art Meets Footwear
It’s been a while, dear friend!
Over at Zen and Genki, I recently shared some details about my ongoing hiatus (see The “Big C”: Diagnosis…And A Call Out For Help From You). My posting will remain sporadic for some time, but when I saw this little beauty, I knew I had to share it right away. Music’s long been universal healer. At this time in my life, healing has become something even more near and dear to me, so I thought this most unique portrait most fitting (for a larger view, click on the image). If you’re interested in keeping up with me while my posts are a little less regular than usual, please connect with me on Facebook here.
“The knower of the mystery of sound knows the mystery of the whole universe”
~Hazrat Inayat Khan
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For some more musical appreciation, check out my Zen and Genki post, Vintage Mondays: Violins and the Universality of Music
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image courtesy of imgbase
Sometimes, truth really is stranger than fiction.
Mother Nature tends to be the greatest author of these, most wild tales. Exhibit A: The Actaea pachypoda, also known as doll’s-eyes or white baneberry, this hideously “unique” flowering plant can be found in eastern North America and gives any Stephen King species a run for the money.
Fittingly, at 50+cm high, Actaea pachypoda not only looks like the ultimate heebie-jeebie inducer, it is, in the most literal sense: both the berries and plant are poisonous to humans and can lead to heart muscle sedation, cardiac arrest and death.
Gnarly nature at her very best.
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IF YOU LIKED THIS POST, CHECK OUT THESE Z&G DARK GOODIES:
“Rain” by Nazar Bilyk (Sculpture)
Dark Cuisine: Anatomy Cake…Head on a Platter (Annabel de Vetten’s Conjurer’s Kitchen)
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Image courtesy of Wikimedia ; Doll’s Eye facts courtesy of source
Happy New Year!
For those of you who frequent Z & G Dark’s parent site, Zen and Genki, you’ll know that I’ve been on an unplanned hiatus since mid-December. And though Christmas posts are always fun, what I was really looking forward to sharing here was a visual (virtual!) New Year’s Eve Ball Guest Dress Book. Just what sort of unique characters and wild attire might frequent an end of year, Z & G Dark soirée?
It may be a week late, but here are a few examples
Wishing you all a happy, healthy year full of unusual beauty and edgy artfulness!
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Masquerade Mask
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Dior Couture by Patrick Demarchelier
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Rami Kadi Bridal Gown
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John Galliano ’09 shoe
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Pratt & Ralph Pucci Paper Dress
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Rami Kadi Ball Gown
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Dior Couture by Patrick Demarchelier
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Viktor & Rolf “Use Your Illusion” dress
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Clothespin Dress by Sandra Backlund
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Top Hat Cat
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Top Hat Gal
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Stylish Dame (Dior Couture)
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Scarlet Hair Sculpture
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Back Corset Tattoo
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Masquerade Mask image courtesy of source
Rami Kadi wedding gown image courtesy of source
John Galliano ’09 shoe image courtesy of source
Rami Kadi ball gown image courtesy of source
Scarlet hair sculpture image courtesy of source
Use Your Illusion dress image courtesy of source
Clothespin dress image courtesy of source
Pratt & Ralph Pucci paper dress image courtesy of source
Top Hat Cat image courtesy of source
Dior Couture by Patrick Demarchelier images courtesy of source
Back Corset Tattoo image courtesy of source
Mystery Dame (Dior Couture) image courtesy of source
Houston born Omar Angel Perez is, primarily, a self taught woodworking artist and crafter of fine, upscale furniture. Says he of his chosen medium,
The color, texture , even the smell of exotic woods is intrinsically beautiful to me. Providing me a virtuously endless palette from which to choose, these rare woods bring not only vibrant color but the richness of burls and dramatic figures to my work. My challenge is to compliment this natural beauty
Enter Perez’s most recent artistic foray into an arena one may not think of when talking exotic woods and furniture: shoes. Stilettos, more specifically. Stilettos of absolute epic proportion and style.
Obviously not meant to be worn, but fascinating to observe, the towering heels, “explore the sadistic world of any fashionista’s shoe fetish”. Perez explains, “As an expression of appreciation, I offer my gratitude to all women who endure the torture of wearing such heels. Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed.”
Take a look at 15 examples of Perez’s meticulous attention to detail, curve and sensuality, below.
Which of these pieces is the most striking to you? Sound off in the poll at the bottom of this post.
“The Carolyn”
“My Shoes Are Killing Me”
“The Emmanuelle”
“Judy Jetson”
“The Lola”
“The Tasha”
“Trust No One”
“The Sahara”
“Bat Girl”
“Tux”
“Radinka”
“Black Widow”
“Mimosa”
“Dystopia”
“Void”
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Heady Fashion Pumps (Hair Sculpture)
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Images and artist info courtesy of Omar Angel Perez
Created by Ukrianian artist, Nazar Bilyk, this visually arresting, 6-foot tall sculpture is dubbed, simply, “Rain”.
Beautifully crafted of bronze and glass, Bilyk says, “The raindrop is a symbol of the dialogue which connects a man with a whole diversity of life forms. The figure has a loose and porous structure and relates to dry land, which absorbs water. In this work I play with scale, making a raindrop large enough to compare a man with an insect, considering that man is a part of nature. Moreover, this work concerns the question of interaction and difficulties in coexistence of man with environment.”
As the piece explores the delicate man-nature balance, so too does the figure appear to look imploringly toward the sky, seeking answers far from reach.
The sculpture is currently on view at Peysazhna Alley (Landscape Alley), Kiev Fashion Park.
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What do you think of “Rain”? Sound off in the comments, below.
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Images courtesy of tumblr and Nazar Bilyk
At le musée Gustave Moreau,Paris, in broad daylight, this stunningly constructed winding wood and dark metal staircase is a piece of art unto itself. But at night, without the benefit of high wattage lighting or sunshine, and flanked by old, thick picture frames and colourless, cracking masterpieces, we’re sure the twisting steps take on a much spookier quality. And that stark, lonely chair to the left? Well, that doesn’t help one bit. 
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Pretty Black Parasol: “The night walked down the sky…”
Lot 246: Skeleton Rocking Chair
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Image courtesy of World At Magazine
Settled comfortably between Marie Antoinette (“Let them eat cake!”*) and Alice’s Queen of Hearts (“Off with their heads!”) sits an uber talented, Jill of many trades, Annabel de Vetten.
And while Ms. de Vetten is not only a well respected artist, designer and enthusiastic amateur magician (she’s the artist in residence at Illusions Magic Bar in Bristol), she is also the owner, baker and creative mastermind behind Conjurer’s Kitchen.
Specializing in uniquely artistic pieces, it was Ms. de Vetten’s anatomically correct cakes that caught our attention. Bordering on the macabre, the cakes painstakingly showcase the human form (head, in particular, as seen below), sans skin and with a precision generally reserved for medical textbooks. Based on the late 18th century anatomical wax models from La Specola (Florence), these gruesome goodies may not be everyone’s cup of tea to look at…but baked in one of Conjurer’s Kitchen’s delicious flavours, they are easy to swallow
(For more information on Annabel de Vette’s various creative endeavors, including Conjurer’s Kitchen, see the links in the credits, below)
Annabel de Vetten, Conjurer’s Kitchen
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IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST CHECK OUT THESE Z & G DARK GOODIES:
Pretty Black Parasol: “The night walked down the sky…”
Watch Your Step (Do-Ho Suh Installation)
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Images courtesy of Conjourer’s Kitchen via Annabel de Vetten.
(*Note: It is still a matter of speculation whether or not the infamous words, “Let them eat cake”/”Let them eat brioche” were indeed uttered by Marie Antoinette.)
