On-line text / diagrammatic /visual / aural presentation of your work, demonstrating a critical understanding of digital arts and how your work relates to current thinking and research in Digital Arts
The Practical work resolved according to your proposal and presented professionally as part of a on-line group event
Supporting research material in appropriate form
On-line log documenting your role as a member of the exhibition/presentation team
A written report in two parts: artist’s statement – explanatory comment and critical evaluation of your own work in the context of current creative practice and reflection – a critical analysis of outcomes compared with intentions, a review of overall progress and outline plan for further development (1000 – 1500 words)
The practice and study of iconography was really helpfull for the creation of the digital icon and also the other outcomes of this research: I will continue traditional iconography and Byzantine Art research and the exploration of the possible interraction with the Spectacular digital Art: http://chrysanthosvoutounos.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/3w26/
I was enthusiastic every time i spottedan ecclesiastic monument and was about to photograph it.Sometimes the poor lens of the 2Mpixels of my mobile phone was seem enough with no prepaparations, no hustle, no worries, just the right focus, position, attachment. Sometimes a better camera would be an option like when photographing the proskinitari to create the image shown at the final show. I have been also waiting a cloudy day in sunny Cyprus in order to create a dramatic image. I will remember the construction of the Proskinitari and the difficult moments in my life that accompanied it. My camera would capture some photos that i love, like the following below, digitally altered creating Panorama photos:
I was very glad to meet many of the face to face and some online students and work for the built up of the show, Mosh, Day Yan, Nicolas, Katrin, Andriano, Suzan, Sharon, Lusy, Shawn, John…my tutors Andy and Jonathan for encouragement…and many others, Dominique, Ben… My work will show up at a wonder full place and i am happy that i contributed for the built up of the show, building plinths, moving chairs, tables, equipment, painting walls, tables…
The work on the ten iconographies turned out to be an open end study. Instead of really rush and finish the icons i decided to stop my work and continue studying for the really important step of the iconography for the faces of the Saints. The faces of the Saints are the A and Ω of Byzantine Iconography, a phase that must be studied carefully and with strong devotion of the Iconographer. I am satisfied of the Digital Icon result. I have acheived my purpose of creating my digital Icon of the Saints i love but the creation of the Byzantine icons with the traditional technique is a technique wich i feel that i am yet far away to master. My devotion to master this technique is true therefore this research turned to be a great pathway to study this art. Digital art has the advantage of fixing errors by undo – redo instead of the difficult to fix errors done when practising iconography.By trial and error i was able to focus on the right decisions avoiding mistakes.
The images are shown below:
The creation of the icon paintings was also hard because of trying to follow the technique of Photios Kontoglou and creating icons that differ in a way of the prototypes in order to follow my own style of work. These works were studied well and the next face of creating the Saints faces is the next goal of this open end research.
For example when i started Saint Nicolas i decided not to copy a prototype therefore i studied varius icons of Saint Nicolas including icons created with Renaissance technique and also icons created in Byzantine technique as shown below.Ofcourse imitating and copying the prototypes is not considered fraud or lack of expressing the personal style. Famous artists have copied other great masters because they loved their works and wanted to study a known image. In the case of iconography is the honored image of the Saints that is drawn and not an image to honour the iconographer.
The icons had also the size of 30×40cm therefore the size for creating an Icon for the three Saints Raphael, Nikolaos and Irene was a difficult work. The Icons drawn for churches are bigger so i will consider practising iconography on larger board in the future.
I have arranged my trip to England from 15 – 23 of June for the show built up. Unfortunately i can’t stay longer and engoy vacation at UK because of family obligations. My Godfather has invited me to stay at his home. It is great to visit London and see they way of life of my Godfathers family here.
I am working on the ten iconographies. After gold gilding the phase of painting the proplasmos – first layer of paint for Saints clothes and skin is difficult for a beginner. After the finish of the digital icon i realized that the work for traditional iconography wouldn’t be easy. Painting Saints clothes must be done carefully with the right selection of pigments in order to transmit the humble spirit of Byzantine art. I was using umber a lot for making the colors look humble, an instruction that i have taken from Photios Kontoglou “Ekfrasis”.
The first article analyzes the Othodoxy’s view on virtual reality.
“In practice, the problem of a Christian’s approach to virtual reality is solved, partially, by the fact that it shares well-known similarities with other forms of fantasia. Wherever there is lust, or anger, or greed, or gluttony, the images that incite these passions should be avoided or turned off: “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out” (Matthew 5:29). The virtuality of an act should be understood as old-fashioned fantasia. That is why the gunning down of virtual people in so-called “first-person shooter” games is so troubling.”
I have mentioned the issue of “Spectacular” in previous posts and this article is so relevant with the issue of Spectacle in art. Fantasia is a relative word to spectacle therefore the decision to keep my project on a less spectacular or impressive style was the the right one. Ofcourse the presence of a virtual chapel in Second Life is quite “modern” and alien to the Orthodox church rimes but it works in this environment and creates new ethics that assimilate with the standard. Its working in a simillar way that television broadcast the liturgy every Sunday. The flock has to choose between Going to Church on Sunday, viewing the liturgy on tv or stay and sleep in the cosy bed. The physical presence at the house of God is different than the comfort of sitting on the sofa. The Holy Communion also enables the believer to commune the Holy Spirit and receive the blood and flesh of Jesus Christ. But why not for a church to exist in a virtual environment. It can also commune the Holy Spirit to the receiver in a different level.
One day i logged in Second Life. I was hearing strange noises, and mans voice. Somebody left a robotic avatar looping inexpedient words just next to my chapel. Someones sick fantasia used virtual environment and knowledge to create something sick.
The second articles analyzes the research in helping patients overcome ills.
“Researchers are studying whether a video-game version of Iraq can help returning veterans cope better with post-tramautic stress disorder.”
“The evidence is still tentative, but experts on virtual worlds as well as health care say they see a lot of promise in virtual worlds as a forum for addressing real-world woes in a kinder, gentler environment.”
Therefore why not a virtual world that is relative to religion ethics not be able to offer similar benefits to people who suffer psychologically or bodily.
The video above is a presentation of my research at the college i work in Cyprus. It was presented to a group of students before my visit to England for the show built up. The image of the proskinitari which i will show at Camberwell was mounted on the wall showing the students the coexistence of a virtual chapel and a real – physical proskinitari. I have explained that sending a request to http://www.proskinitari.com is optional and it is addressed to people that are far away to a real orthodox church.
By touching – clicking on the fountain of the chapel the user can link to the webpage http://www.proskinitari.com . A label enables the user to go to the certain page.
Posted by chrysanthos 
Posted by chrysanthos 
Posted by chrysanthos 
