Cosmic Gallery: Inside My Digital Art Collection #1 (1-4)

After a three-week hiatus of posting on the blog, I have decided to come back with a new series of posts titled 'Cosmic Gallery' - a series which explores my digital art collection. The series will cover roughly four paintings a post, and will hopefully serve as an introduction to a plethora of new artists and collections. 

1.) He Could Not Breathe (Mark Pino - 2014)

This first painting is a recent discovery whose artist's name might ring a few a bells, Mark Pino being the percussionist for the brilliant Could Shepherd, a Do You Even Psychedelic? favourite (read our interview with Mark, and the rest of the band, here). The painting consists of acrylic on Masonite board and seems to depict a skeletal figure writhing around on a brown backdrop. I am particularly fond of the imposition of the cool colours of the figure's body on the warm reds and browns of the background, creating a sense of movement and volatility. I find this painting is best enjoyed with an accompaniment of Ennio Morricone's classic For A Few Dollars More theme (here).

2.) The Endless Way To You (Friedensreich Hundertwasser - 1966)

Moving onwards, the next piece turns the clock back somewhat as we go back to a decade known for its cultural and artistic vibrancy, the 1960's.  In keeping with the era, The Endless Way To You is a vibrant piece utilising organic forms, a scorching colour palette, and contrasting striped compositions. In doing this, Hundertwasser invokes an alternative way of looking at an everyday mundane activity like driving, whilst also crafting a feeling of mystery and eternity.

3.) Le Cap des Tempetes (Rene Magritte - 1945)

The third piece is a lesser known painting that is still recognisable as it was used as the cover artwork for the classic existential essay, The Myth of Sisyphus, by Albert Camus, put out on the Penguin Classics range.

The work pivots on the contrast between the boulder in the background, and the man sleeping in the box in the foreground. The boulder is an imposing monolith, and is almost 2D in its depiction, standing in stark contrast to the much more detailed wooden box housing a the red blanket and bald, monk-like man.    

I would pair this painting with The Myrrors' 15 minute epic, Mother Of All Living. 

4.) Bee Top (Don Van Vliet - 1970)

Don Van Vliet, otherwise known as Captain Beefheart, is a widely known name, and a much-loved favourite of Do You Even Psychedelic?. 

Bee Top is in Vliet's classic, playful style which mixes abstract forms into an explosive composition. John 'Drumbo' French recently said that the picture is actually a portrait Don did of him, which is certainly believable considering French's appearance in the early seventies. 

The painting appears on the front of the new Rhino Records release, Sun Zoom Spark, which I recently condemned (here). However, the release, although unethical, features some fantastic Beefheart and the Magic Band music, which goes perfectly with the image. I suggest the instrumental take of The Witch Doctor Life (here). 

The concludes the first of the Cosmic Gallery series, and the coming instalments will feature art from more fantastic artists such as Brian Lucas, Edouard Manet, and Frida Khalo.