Colossal | A blog about art and visual ingenuity.

Adele’s ‘Rolling In the Deep’ Played on a Chinese Guzheng

Adeles Rolling In the Deep Played on a Chinese Guzheng instruments

A masterful cover of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep (previously) played on a plucked Chinese zither called a Guzheng. (via the awesomer)

By Christopher on March 19, 2012 • instruments

Light Skeletons and Figures Painted in Camera by Janne Parviainen

I’m really enjoying the whimsical nature of these light paintings by Helsinki-based photographer Janne Parviainen who has been drawing skeletons and other kinds of light figures in camera for over four years. See much more here.

By Christopher on March 19, 2012 • anatomy long exposure

Snow Monkeys at the Jigokudani Monkey Park

One of my favorite recent additions to the 200 or so photographers I keep up with on Flickr is the work of Kyoto-based Kiyoshi Ookawa who has been capturing these wonderfully intimate portraits of snow monkeys. The monkeys live in a sanctuary at the Jigokudani Monkey Park which is at an elevation of 850 meters (2,788 feet) meaning that the ground is covered in snow for a third of the year. The monkeys congregate at a hot springs in the facility and if you’re lucky you might even catch them on their live webcam (no monkeys at press time).

By Christopher on March 16, 2012 • animals Japan monkeys zoos

Callum Cooper: Sculpture for the Moving Image

Callum Cooper: Sculpture for the Moving Image video art

London/Melbourne-based artist and filmmaker Callum Cooper (I think he has the best artist home page in the history of time, some of you will get vertigo) creates bizarre sculptures with embedded cameras meant to capture video from pretty astounding angles. His Full Circle piece creates the illusion of a jumprope that shifts space and time on every jump. Here’s another called Paradoxical Planes:

And if that’s not enough for you there’s another pretty fantastic one that creates a similar effect with bodies of water called Sink or Swim. I’m reminded of the Hula Hoop GoPro that was making the rounds a few weeks ago, but find these works by Cooper even more enchanting and watchable. (via booooooom)

By Christopher on March 15, 2012 • video art

Electroluminescent Light Suits Create the Illusion of Stop Motion Dance

Electroluminescent Light Suits Create the Illusion of Stop Motion Dance light dance

Wrecking Crew Orchestra are a dance crew out of Japan consisting of eight men who in these videos are seen dancing with perfectly synchronized electroluminescent light suits designed by iLuminate. Keep in mind, what you’re watching is live and unedited. The second video above is a recent commercial for Experia and here’s a little bit of behind-the-scenes footage from that shoot. So much fun. (via mefi)

By Christopher on March 15, 2012 • dance light

A Hand-Painted Typographic Experiment by Tien-Min Liao

A Hand Painted Typographic Experiment by Tien Min Liao typography gifs animation

Handmade Type is a typographic experiment by designer Tien-Min Liao wherein shapes painted on her hands are transformed by gestures to create letterforms. However she gave herself a unique constraint: the painted figures on her hands for each individual letter had to be utilized for all variations of the letter, both upper and lowercase and sometimes even italic and handwritten. See more examples and the full alphabet over on Behance.

By Christopher on March 14, 2012 • animation gifs typography

A Mind-Melting Animation for Good Books International

A Mind Melting Animation for Good Books International stop motion books animation advertising

Loaded with visual references to the writing of Franz Kafka and Hunter S. Thompson this incredibly slick animation was created by String Theory for online bookseller Good Books International that donates 100% of its profits to Oxfam. There’s another version including narration of Hunter S. Thompson that probably explains the visuals a bit better, but I personally found it a bit distracting. (via vimeo)

By Christopher on March 14, 2012 • advertising animation books stop motion

Remarkable Animals Painted in Ink by George Boorujy

Remarkable Animals Painted in Ink by George Boorujy illustration animals

Brooklyn based artist George Boorujy creates impossibly detailed ink paintings of North American birds and other animals, often pouring numerous photographs and visiting zoos where the animals are kept before embarking on a piece.

Boorujy challenges the viewer to confront both the animal and their preconceived notions about it. Through their gaze an interaction evolves with the wild that otherwise would have to be sought out or birthed from happenstance. However fleeting our exchanges with the wild are, an impression of their presence marks our memories. There is something mystical at play; a silent exchange that either moves us towards awareness or heightens our fear of the unknown.

George’s latest solo show, Blood Memory, opens at P.P.O.W. gallery in New York on March 15. (via the very nice davidsketchbook)