George Yepes
March 23, 2012 § 1 Comment
Highly prolific and esteemed Californian painter George Yepes blends an intoxicating mix of beautiful women, religion and muertos with a plethora of styles to create a diverse portfolio. Above I’ve picked my favourite laydeeez;
La Pistola y el Corazon (Top left), Irma (Top right), Public enemy (Bottom left), Day of the Dead I (Bottom right)
Nicola De Jager Calavera Embroidery
March 19, 2012 § Leave a Comment
South African artist Nicola De Jager creates these intricate hand embroidered Calaveras. Above form top to bottom; Jesus – Ernesto, Guliana, Ramona. She says of her work;
“My inspiration comes from the collaboration of many elements: cultural significance, life and death, music, colour, tribal art. I would love to change society’s take on skulls being associated with dark and negative elements and instead for them to see them in a more positive light. I embrace embroidery as an art form as there is something powerful about creating something so intimate. The use of thread as a medium and embroidering as the application grounds me and slows me down to become more aware and present.”
Tatty Devine’s Sugar Skull S/S 2012 New Collection
February 13, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Is it too obvious for me to say WANT IT!!! Just loving the new mexican influenced Spring/Summer 2012 collection from London and Kent based design team Tatty Devine. Their trademark bright acrylic jewellery lends itself perfectly to the folkloric colours of Day of the Dead.
Ryan Conners
January 24, 2012 § Leave a Comment
In Ryan’s own words; ‘I paint happy cat folk art!’ – what’s not to love? (esp. when they are cats with skeletons all dressed up for the Dia de los Muertos celebration). See more of Ryan’s work here.
Anatomification of Barbie
November 29, 2011 § 1 Comment
I didn’t have a Barbie myself (I was a Sindy girl – it’s a British thing. Barbie is American and Sindy had slightly less outrageous proportions and is Bristish). However, it seems there’s a wave of working out the anatomy of Barbie, possibly because a normal person would need to have 6 ribs removed to look like her, but ultimately because she’s meant to be beautiful…. and we all know beauty is beneath the skin right?
Above, from top to bottom;
Clare and her sisters Barbie doll (That’s the spirit Clare. Hope her sister likes it!)Source
The amazing Jason Freeny (of course) does it again. Source
Yup, there’s an ‘Altered barbie‘ website, of course! ….and the video is their show
Lady Gaga ‘Born this way’ Barbie Doll by Chuck Belich
Lastly, I love this Day of the Dead Barbie, but can’t find who did it – anyone know?
Wellcome Trust ‘Charms and Miracles’ exhibition
November 7, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Coinciding with the opening of the Wellcome Trust’s ‘Miracles and Charms‘ exhibition, this weekend saw their Day of the Dead event (above), with sugar skull decorating, papel picado, pan de muerte, marigolds, face painting, Mariachi band and a chance to make ofrendas for their altar to Henry Wellcome.
As part of their Miracles and Charms exhibition, Felicity Powell had taken inspiration from Edward Lovetts collection of 1400 amulets. One of her pieces was a film of MRI and CT scans of her own body overlaid with images drawn form the Lovett collection (below);
HALLOWEEN WEEK 4: Decorations
October 27, 2011 § Leave a Comment
For the Day of the Dead traditions (celebrated 1st and 2nd November), Ofrendas (offerings) are set up often in the form of an altar, to remember and honor the memory of those that have passed like the one shown below left and right;
These altars are typically decorated with pictures of the deceased, foods including Pan de Muerto, Marigold flowers called cempachucil, Papel Picado (such as the beautiful ones shown below by mexicansugarskull.com);
and of course, wonderfullly decorated sugar or papier mache skulls (such as those shown below by mexicansugarskull.com);
HALLOWEEN WEEK 3: Costumes
October 26, 2011 § Leave a Comment
The Day of the Dead traditions of Mexico seem to still be inspiring the anatomically inclined…
Ladies, take inspiration for Gayla Partridge’s photography; Summer Muertos, Spring Muertos, Winter Muertos and Autumn Muertos (clockwise from top left), making La Catrina from the Mexican day of the Dead traditions ultra glamourous. If you’re wondering what you might look like all painted up like a calavera – take a look at Jenny Brough‘s ‘Hasta La Muerte (Till Death)’
Want to vamp it up a bit more?
What about following the styles of; Brian Viveros, ‘Smoke of the Dead’ (top), Sylvia Ji, ‘Catrina’(middle), or Gustavo Rimada, ‘Strength’ (bottom).
And finally, start ‘em young that’s what I say! I just love this ‘Little Catrina’ by Luis Montemayor.
Making an exit
July 15, 2011 § Leave a Comment
In this book Making An Exit, published by Coptic Publishing, London, author Sarah Murray explores how different cultures dignify the dead. Her travels in this book include a Balinese royal cremation, Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations, a Czech chandelier made from human bones, a weeping ceremony in Iran, and a Philippine village where the casketed dead are left hanging in caves. She even goes to Africa to commission her own Ghanaian coffin.
Skeleton Mexican Papel Picado
May 27, 2011 § Leave a Comment
If you want more of an ‘edge’ to your bunting, try some Mexican Papel Picado. Available from Milagros, London, these paper cuts are used to decorate the festivities in Mexico. Particularly beautiful are these skeleton panels used for the ‘Day of the Dead’ celebrations. With paper cuts becoming more and more popular (thanks to artists such as Rob Ryan), these are bang ‘on trend’ for an alternative style with bars like Barrio North, London, using them to add add latin flavour.
