Introspection and melancholy intertwine in the illustrations of Jiatong Liu, a Chinese illustrator based in London. His unique style is reflected both in his freehand drawings and digital art, juxtaposing warm and cool colors. Well-defined everyday atmospheres and a dreamlike dimension catapult us into Jiatong’s world, characterized by a delicate stroke and soft lines. Illustration has become Liu’s means of expression over time, his personal way of communicating with his audience.

Jiatong Liu’s characters – almost always with closed eyes – transition from everyday scenarios, whether alone or in pairs, to populating dreamlike settings. Not only an illustrator but also a visual storyteller, Liu used blue as the subject of research in Blue Things, an illustrated book for his thesis at Kingston University. In this project, Liu tells the story of blue, from the times when it was considered a negative color to its present association with morality, purity, and freedom.

To discover more of Jiatong Liu’s art here is his Instagram profile.

Ph. courtesy Jiatong Liu

When we look at Andro Pang‘s digital works, a feeling of familiarity pervades us. His surreal universe evokes images to which we are no strangers, allowing us to immediately empathize with the works. In fact, Andro Pang, an artist originally from Indonesia, stands out for his ability to create imagery that is new but rich in artistic, photographic and cinematic references. From Vincent Van Gogh‘s cypress trees to the stairways of The Truman Show, via Hopperian realism and elements borrowed from the Surrealist and Dadaist current. With a photographic edge and a voeristic point of view, Pang creates works with a strong aesthetic impact but concealing an emotional depth.

Andro Pang’s artistic consistency lies mainly in human non-presence. No body, no face appears clearly in his works. The human aspect is only evoked but is never explicit. The “metaphysical” desolation undoubtedly conveys melancholic and nostalgic emotions that tend toward a feeling of expectation. Something might happen or something has already happened. Each work conceals an enigma, a mystery to be solved. Elements such as stairs, chairs, doors and windows, thanks to their strong symbolism lead the viewer inside a kind of rebus. And this is how the artist creates a connection with the audience, delving into a dreamlike imagery with the intention of exploring the complexity of the subconscious and its mechanisms.

Courtesy Andro Pang

Among the most famous and fascinating artistic techniques, the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi undoubtedly stands out. It is a practice born from the idea of transforming an imperfection, a damage or a wound into something even more beautiful and perfect. Basically, this technique consists in repairing ceramic objects, even those of daily use such as cups and plates, using gold or cast silver to weld the shards. The final result gives the object a unique look and, what is no small thing, a much higher value than the original. It is precisely from the art of Kintsugi that the artist Glen Martin Taylor was inspired for his works. 

Like Japanese, Glen Martin Taylor repairs ceramics of all kinds, some made by him and others bought but replacing precious metal with everyday objects, from twine threads to metal elements. 

If in Kintsugi’s art the only important part is that of repair, for the artist the act of reassembling objects is as important as that of destroying them. Through these two phases, the artist frees his emotions and confronts them by creating objects that will eventually have lost their primary purpose, but not their importance. 

Discover all the works by Glen Martin Taylor on his Instagram profile. 

Props from Asteroid City, the new film directed by Wes Anderson, will be featured in an exhibition curated and presented by 180 Studios and Universal Pictures from June 17 in London. The film is set in a fictional American desert town during the 1950s and features a stellar cast, from Scarlett Johansson to Tom Hanks, Jason Schwartzman to Margot Robbie and many others. But, sure to steal everyone’s thunder is the alien, who appears for a few minutes but will leave everyone speechless.

The exhibit anticipates the dreamlike atmosphere and retro aesthetic of Anderson’s new film, exploring the props and costumes we can already glimpse from watching the trailer. A jetpack, a ray gun, a meteorite, a telescope, as well as colorful posters and much more. Visitors will even be able to dine inside the diner, faithfully recreated like the one in the film. The exhibition will be a true immersive experience in Asteroid City, amid the music and colors of the movie, which will accompany visitors as they await its theatrical release, scheduled for June 23, 2023. From the trailer clips, one can already sense the richness of the details and the meticulous care Anderson has toward the set. The colors and cinematography are also remarkable, almost succeeding in drawing attention away from the plot and focusing instead on the harmonious beauty of the shots. Indeed, the pastel palette, from blues to desert beiges, creates an almost dreamlike, at times metaphysical, setting that allows the viewer to relax.

In short, Wes Anderson’s touch is clearly discernible. His manic use of symmetry and refined framing enhance what is a set bordering on the surreal. Indeed, it is not the real American desert, but the Spanish landscape. The director preferred to recreate the setting outside Madrid, first also evaluating the Cinecittà studios.
So all we have to do is wait and, in the meantime, discover a few frames and catch a glimpse of the objects that will soon be featured in the London exhibition, open until July 8 and bookable here.