Review: Chaos in Order, by Igor Ballyhoo
Posted: January 7, 2012 Filed under: Igor Ballyhoo, Reviews 2 Comments »
I am again visiting a work by Igor Ballyhoo, this time Chaos in Order, which can be seen at UWA Winthrop. Igor received two UWA awards for this work in January 2010 (http://uwainsl.blogspot.com/2010/01/igor-ballyhoo-patch-thibaud-truimph-in.html). This work is a large white box, in which is contained a moving grid. In this grid move around three creatures, each has a head (with several eyes on it) and four tentacles. Watching this, following the creatures swimming within the grid, one soon finds oneself in a trance-like state. Brilliant. According, to Igor, this work was inspired by J.S. Bach. Here is one of the many machinima, by C.D. Schultz, that was made about this work:
Go and check out Chaos in Order, by Igor Ballyhoo, it can be found amongst other works by artists who won awards at UWA. Here is the slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20Winthrop/121/137/24.
Also, this is a good a time as any to make you aware of a future event involving the works of Igor Ballyhoo. A permanent Ballyhoo Tribute will be established at Nordan Art within the next few weeks. This is a collaborative effort between Rebeca Bashly and myself. Please be on the lookout for announcements.
Review: Axis Mundi by Igor Ballyhoo
Posted: January 2, 2012 Filed under: Igor Ballyhoo, Reviews 3 Comments »
I am at Igor Ballyhoo’s Axis Mundi at UTSA ArtSpace. As most of you are aware I think, sadly, UTSA ArtSpace will close its doors at some point in the unforseen future. Soon, this work, and others by Igor Ballyhoo, will no longer be on display in Second Life. Axis Mundi is another one of those works by Igor that integrates superb craftsmanship and technique, producing a result which is nothing short of poetic. This work consists of contrasting black and white trees, birds and leaves; it depicts the connection between heaven and earth, the center of the world. Head over to UTSA ArtSpace and take a look before this magnificent work is gone:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UTSA%20Roadrunner%20II/145/145/39.
Metamorphosis Opening
Posted: August 2, 2011 Filed under: Guest Bloggers, Igor Ballyhoo 65 Comments »
Due to RL matters I was not able to attend Igor Ballyhoo’s Metamorphosis opening today. When I just returned to SL, I found out that the event was apparently being griefed, some sort of pro-SaveMe Oh protest was in full action. Below find an impression of the opening by guest blogger, Huckleberry Hax. Photos above by Huckleberry Hax.
The opening to Igor Ballyhoo’s ‘Metamorphosis’ is packed, with visitors wanting to explore the ex-SL artist’s work numbering well above 30 – and often 40 – at any given moment.
Arrivals rezz on a floating chessboard: black and white squares that are missing in some cases and obscured in others by red, fluid stalagmites that drip blood upwards into the air. The first of three pathways of floating hexagonal stepping-stones departing from the board – each tapered underneath to a downward point (a shape repeated many times in this vast work) – lead to a square platform where two pairs of detached, mechanical legs drive a metal comb round the cylinder pins of a music box mechanism. At this platform, I meet up with a couple of my long-term SL buddies, Hypatia Pickens and Karli Daviau. “Igor outdid himself,” Karli comments, as we watch the slighty hypnotic circle walked by the legs. “I’m just stunned by this,” Hypatia tells me in IM. “I love seeing these installations by artists who know how to use the best of SL to express its melancholy, ecstasy and wonder. There’s something about the robotic that works so well in second life. It expresses how we are in essence puppets too…and digital creations.”
The walking legs can be found on many other platforms here – some isolated from the main structure, some connected by a series of complex walkways, looped and winding across the sky like dark ribbons (a simile strengthened by a number of Igor’s trademark scissors flying in lazy, snapping circles below). On one platform, two pairs with revolving hatchets trace the ovals of a figure of eight (or an infinity symbol, or maybe an hour-glass silhouette); on another, a third hatcheted pair wonders around the spinning clockwork innards and hands of a timepiece, joined by two more that have spines and – in one case – a head.
This exhibition is enormous. There is so much intricate detail to dwell on; don’t expect to spend any less than an hour (absolute minimum) exploring. Two hours after I arrived, I feel I still haven’t taken in even a quarter of it. Its scale, coupled with Igor’s recent departure from SL leaves me with the feeling I am experiencing a late artist’s masterpiece.
As I return to the chess board, there are still over 30 people present. But several now are wearing tutus in protest at the recent banning of SaveMe Oh, and more of these are being handed out and worn by the visitors. Protest signs and various prim paraphernalia are rezzed and suddenly the atmosphere of awe is evaporated. Is this, I wonder, the purpose of performance art?
Just before the sim gets restarted, I notice that the blood stalagmites appear to have gone, as though they have all dried up.
Grand Opening: Igor Ballyhoo’s Metamorphosis
Posted: August 2, 2011 Filed under: Igor Ballyhoo 8 Comments »
A few weeks ago, I had the great privilege of being the first one to write about Igor Ballyhoo’s Metamorphosis (see blog post from July 11, 2011). Since then the space has been open to the public, but there was never a formal opening. Thanks to the tireless collaboration of UTSA ArtSpace’s ConstructivIST Solo and Rebeca Bashly, the grand opening of Igor Ballyhoo’s Metamorphosis will take place today, Tuesday, August 2, 2011, between 1 and 3 PM SLT at the UTSA ArtSpace. This promises to be a great opening event that you do not want to miss! Here is the slurl to UTSA: http://slurl.com/secondlife/UTSA%20Roadrunner%20II/113/121/3958.
Quan Lavender on Forgotten Memories
Posted: July 20, 2011 Filed under: Guest Bloggers, Igor Ballyhoo Leave a comment »
I’m happy to introduce to you another Nordanomjorden’s Blog guest blogger, Quan Lavender. In Second Life, she is writing travelogues for Deutscher Info-Dienst and SL Guided Tours. Quan is also a TV presenter at the German broadcast ITS Media. She visisted the current Forgotten Memories exhibit by Igor Ballyhoo at Nordan Art. Below please find her impressions.
I am standing again on the roof of the Nordan Art gallery in front of the photo series “Forgotten Memories” of Igor Ballyhoo. As some of you may know, he is a Real Life photographer but 3D artist in Second Life. So why did he bring these photos here? In every picture you can see old dolls, mostly naked, with matted hair, partially broken and one even painted. The typical sad end of dolls. Actually, one might not see them anymore but Igor moves them to the center of attention combined with technical parts and other items from old times. From where are the large gears? Also victims of the sometimes destructive curiosity of a child? I see a black doll. Such a doll I earnestly desired as child and was happy as I finally got one. I always kept as secret why I had this wish. I’ll tell you. Inspired by a book I planned to marry a black man and have black babies. Life is not fair. I never felt in love with a black man, so had to abandon the plan. Another doll reminds me of the gypsy dolls sitting on the sofas of elderly women when I was a child. Under no circumstances I wanted to become such a cheap-looking woman. Oh, and not to forget, Barbie. I hardly could forgive my legs that they seem to be not even half as long as hers. Not to talk about the rest! In former times playing with dolls has been completely misjudged. Dolls are not the test-babies of potential parents. Psychologists nowadays know that dolls are models for trying new roles. And when the RPG is maxed out, then doll ends up in the corner. And because my whole life long I am getting new ideas, I play with dolls again. Today, one is enough for me, because it has the potential to be all that I ever could imagine: My avatar. Yes, “Forgotten Memories” belong to Second Life. Look at the pictures and reminisce. Are they really forgotten? No, they sleep deeply in our hearts, still waiting for their chance. And maybe they had already in Second Life or will get in the future. Check out these works here http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nordan%20om%20Jorden/43/112/45.
Photo by Quan Lavender
Igor Ballyhoo’s Metamorphoses at UTSA ArtSpace
Posted: July 11, 2011 Filed under: Igor Ballyhoo, Reviews 10 Comments »
I feel privileged to be the first one to write about the Metamorphoses, a new work by Igor Ballyhoo, at UTSA ArtSpace. This is the project that Igor has been working on for months and it has not been open to the public. I had stopped by now and then in the past, always stunned by the new works he had created since I had last visited. There are so many things to see here, I don’t really know where to begin, I will not be able to cover it all, you will have to come and see for yourselves. The first thing one sees when one enters is blood dripping upwards on an unfinished chessboard. From this board, there are paths, one of them leading to a tall, black, cylinder shaped tower, The Miracle of Love. When you click the walls of the tower, it slowly opens and exposes a dark, rotating shape enveloped in greenish laser beams. All of this was created using exquisite textures, so very characteristic of Igor’s work. Another path takes me to a moving sculpture; two legs walking in a circle, attached to a musical instrument, which are in turn connected to a wooden guillotine-like frame. This particular pair of legs will be moving to the music of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, Second Movement. I walk through a tunnel, beautiful with its detailed walls. The tunnel takes me to the brain. Good god, how can I even begin to describe this to you. This is a pulsating brain, secured by eight bright red veins to the walls of a glass container, i think it contains water. The glass container is held in place by an intricate brown frame. As I leave the brain I look down and see delicate green seagrass shapes, amongst them, snapping in air, a group of Igor’s by now well-known scissors. Then there is the scissor doll with an exposed brain in the bell tower. Incredible. I move along on the path and suddenly stand in front of Blueprint For Disaster, a fantasy creature of sorts. As I walk on, I enter another tunnel, surrounded by gorgeous rotating shapes. I start flying around and see things Igor had never shown me before, things with spines walking and parts of clocks. My last spot is the cage with the clockwork and the walking babies with wings. So very beautiful. This is the playground of a true creative genius, a masterpiece that has not yet been fully completed. And when I asked Igor to comment on Metamorphoses this morning he simply noted, “it is not finished, it will never be finished.” Check it out at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/UTSA%20Roadrunner%20II/113/121/3958. Many thanks to Constructivist Solo and Rebeca Bashly for their consultation in regards to this blog post. Igor Ballyhoo is currently also showing his photography work, Forgotten Memories, at Nordan Art until September 10, 2011.
Bottom photo by Rebeca Bashly.
Review: Snowcrash Revisited
Posted: July 6, 2011 Filed under: Igor Ballyhoo, Reviews 5 Comments »
There have been some new additions at Snowcrash at UTSA, the sim created by Igor Ballyhoo and Rebeca Bashly. First, there is a whole electrical light system being established. The work on this just recently started, but the plan is for it to span over the entire sim. Light bulbs are hanging from cords, which in turn are attached to thin poles. The cords all come together at small, black and yellow striped electrical power stations bouncing gently in the water. I can just imagine what this will look like when its finished! Set to midnight for best effect. Then, there’s the cyber shark. I think this is one of my all time favorite Igor Ballyhoo creations. There had already been several cyber sharks on the sim, but underwater so nobody really noticed them. But here it is now for all to view, caged in a glass container filled with water, which in turn is suspended in air, connected to a huge metal crane standing on a platform. This large creature, translucent, with some veins showing, parts of it internal cords and connections fully exposed, is swimming in circles in its small box, restless. The photo does not make the cyber shark any justice, go check it out in person. Then, there are numerous rat-things created by Rebeca Bashly. These are large fantasy creatures (mentioned in Snowcrash, by Neal Stephenson), made of metal, with tails and legs, seemingly frozen in the landscape. Beautifully crafted. They are spread all over the sim; on platforms, cranes and sheds, go take a look. Finally, a work by Artistide Despres. This is a group of four different sized abstract shapes. Each is a static oval with straight lines stretching vertically in the middle. There is a horizontal pin moving across. In front of this group, one single chair. These represent four cellos, so hauntingly beautiful in their simplicity. Set to region default for best effect. Go and revisit this fantastic sim with its new additions: http://slurl.com/secondlife/UTSA%20Roadrunner%20II/47/79/21. Igor Ballyhoo will exhibit at Nordan Art from July 9 to September 10, 2011. Please be on the look out for announcements.
Second photo from bottom by Igor Ballyhoo.
Bottom photo by Rebeca Bashly.
Awards: Nordan Art Prize April 2011
Posted: May 1, 2011 Filed under: Awards, Igor Ballyhoo 6 Comments »
I am pleased to announce that the Nordan Art Prize of the University of Australia (UWA) 3D Open Art Challenge April 2011 round was awarded to Igor Ballyhoo for his work “Dance of the Fukushima Angels.” Congratulations Igor! Below please find the Nordan Art rationale for this selection:
Igor Ballyhoo’s work “Dance of the Fukushima Angels” consists of two green-white fetus like angels with transparent wings tied together with an umbilical cord. They are floating, or dancing, in a black space in a black box. Standing in front of this work, there is an immediate sense of transcending into some sort of hypnotic state as one watches the little angels dance a seemingly never-ending dance. But then, at some point, one is overcome by the devastation of this image; the nuclear accidents in Fukushima and the effect it has had on the unborn. Igor’s work stands out to Nordan Art because he is able to integrate superb craftmanship with a powerful social message. This work effects the viewer on a deeper level, it leaves one thinking and wondering. Igor masters using the symbolic as a mode of creative expression.
Interview: Igor Ballyhoo
Posted: January 8, 2011 Filed under: Igor Ballyhoo, Interviews 23 Comments »
I caught Igor Ballyhoo online and he came over to Nordan Art for an impromptu brief interview. I know he is very busy both in Second Life and Real Life at the moment, so I felt very fortunate to get an interview on the spur of the moment. Igor is the creator of the Nordan Art build. Photo above by Igor Ballyhoo.
Flora Nordenskiold: What is in your opinion the magical quality of Second Life that keeps us coming back?
Igor Ballyhoo: Long legs, great looking tits, ease of creation and surprise when ppl like shit I build.
Flora Nordenskiold: You are one of my absolute favorite artist in Second Life, its no secret. What inspires you to create art?
Igor Ballyhoo: Hmmmm… dunno…ok, first of all, you keep calling it art, I never clame it to be. I talk through my works. I leave marks around for ppl who can read them. One day I see something on street and it provoke me to make some work, other day I dream, again sometimes someone from this world say one word and it inspire whole new build. U know Van Gogh sunflowers? Well, he wanted to decorate one of his rooms with flowers when his friend Gauguin was supposed to visit him… so he painted sunflowers! So much about inspiration.
Flora Nordenskiold: What are your thoughts on the Second Life art community?
Igor Ballyhoo: It sucks big time, most of shit around that ppl call art cant be called art by any definition. As Bryn once said, art in sl is simply RPG – ppl play roles of artists coz they have nothing better to do.
Flora Nordenskiold: You have been in Second Life for a while, since 2007. What are your thoughts on art and creativity in Second Life? And are things different now, in 2011, than they were in 2007?
Igor Ballyhoo: Things are better. Some ppl who were just on beginning of creation become brilliant at it, unfortunately, I could count them on fingers of one hand. This hand full of dreamers are worth coming regularly to sl for.
Flora Nordenskiold: You have been doing some commercial work lately. What was that like?
Igor Ballyhoo: Commercial work was big pain in ass. I didnt enjoy it much, but I did enjoy taking ppls money for it. I never had any money in sl, now I am filthy rich.
Flora Nordenskiold: Thank you, Igor!
Review: Ice Caverns Gallery
Posted: November 11, 2010 Filed under: Igor Ballyhoo, Reviews 2 Comments »
I went to the Ice Caverns Gallery to check out the joint Betty Tureaud and Igor Ballyhoo exhibit. Truthfully, I was not crazy about this gallery. The layout is confusing and the textures are not great. Even though there were plenty of arrows to point the way, I ended up getting lost and had to backtrack to find my way again. But the art, of course, was magnificent. What a great idea to have Betty and Igor exhibit together! Betty’s colorful and very playful work worked well with Igor’s darker and more surrealist style. Great contrasts here. Go and see these incredible works when you have a moment: http://slurl.com/secondlife/MeetingSupport/140/158/41. Also, make sure to visit Betty Tureaud’s solo exhibit at Nordan Art from January 22 to February 22, 2011.
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