All sorts of weird and wonderful distractions are abound during lockdown. That much is true. As the good folk of the UK (and far beyond) try to wrestle with/digest their individual and collective understanding of the ‘new norm’. As digital image retouching specialists, we’re no different. And have been striving to keep ourselves positive, productive, focused and healthy of mind, body and spirit throughout this extraordinary period.
Photographically-enhancing client’s image requests have of course helped us remain on the right side of preoccupied, it’s fair to say.
Famous Art Gallery Invites Self-isolating Creative Types to Reimagine Familiar Compositions. With the Help of Household Objects
Many of us have connected with our more creative sides, while others have chosen to test their cerebral resolve by quizzing their way through lockdown.
Some meanwhile have thrown themselves into completing the DIY tasks that they’ve been conveniently putting off for months, if not years. A large percentage of the British populace have pursued their exercise goals. Or rather, sworn themselves to following brand new physical training regimes. Having never really immersed themselves in anything other than briefly/vaguely fulfilling half-baked New Year’s resolutions involving gym memberships.
But DT is pleased to report that art has experienced something of a renaissance during this difficult time, as a raft of online challenges have jostled for our attentions.
Noel Fielding’s Twitter-based Saturday Art Club, together with a number of TV programmes (Grayson’s Art Club) suddenly appearing out of nowhere. Serving to rekindle our romance with a subject matter which some of us haven’t practised since GCSE Art. Or even before that, and in our Tony Hart-influenced days of yore, if of a certain vintage.
Gettying Your ‘Creative On’ Gets Digital Image Retouching Specialists Vote
Amongst the various creative endeavours and entertaining tasks thrown down to a (very) captive audience of late, is one dreamed up by such luminaries as The Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Well, almost (please read on).
The very same Getty Museum that’s widely regarded as one of the world’s best-loved museums,. According, we assume, to sources who have conducted some sort of poll to determine this at a past juncture.
At the beginning of lockdown the Getty Museum challenged art fans residing anywhere within the global village to recreate an existing, preferably identifiable work of art. Sourcing everyday objects lying around in the would-be contemporary artists’ homes. For ‘objects’ also read ‘people’ to hand. Those who might want to be an actual living part of such a wildly inventive composition.
The Rules of Art Club Are. You Talk About Art Club
Abiding by the three simple rules of engagement, the only real stipulations were as follows.
Firstly entrants should choose their favourite artwork.
Secondly, they needed to locate three things which just happened to be languishing around their familiar home surrounds to improvise as props.
Finally, they were asked to ‘reimagine’ the original piece of art in a new and hitherto unseen fashion.
Prior to uploading the subsequent work online, and shortly before comparing and contrasting with other like-minded/budding artist’s creative efforts.
It all kinda makes sense, given we can no longer visit our favourite art galleries and museums.
More especially at a time when we’re all in need of a little spiritual uplifting and inspiration of one kind or another. A thought echoed by Getty’s Assistant Director of Digital Content Strategy, Annelisa Stephan. She told one media source; “Our vision is to use digital to create community through art.”
Which is very admirable right now.
What’s the Uptake Been Like?
In a word – impressive.
The overall standard on the other hand, might not be described with equal gusto.
But God (other deity’s are widely available) loves a trier. As much welcome, light-hearted distractions go, Getty’s call to artistic arms has definately piqued the interest of bored fellow quarantiners. Many tens of thousands of whom/followers showing their love as we write. Extending to digital image retouching specialists like Digital Touch.
Although Getty isn’t the only artistically-inclined resource which has provided the platform in which to upload your compositional re-works on.
Indeed, the seeds of this idea were initially sewn by a Dutch Instagram account who (controversially) first had the idea. Elsewhere, the comically-named ‘Covid Classics’ (cited as a popular Instagram account comprising of ‘four roommates who love art… and are indefinitely quarantined’) is also claiming additional bragging rights for having set the ball rolling.
Despite the claims and counter claims, the ‘Getty Museum Challenge‘ is the one receiving all the plaudits as part of the bigger virtual picture.
Have We Not Seen Something Similar to This Before, With the Help of Photoshop?
Aha. Yes.
You obviously have great memories. And clearly read all DT’s blogs. Although last time round it was more a case of celebrities being superimposed – via Photoshop – on famous works of art.
But good call, nevertheless.
Is It Too Late to Join in the Fun?
No.
As right now we still have any amount of people across the globe enthusiastically transforming themselves – and their nearest belongings to hand – into instantly recognisable paintings. From Michelangelo’s, ‘The Creation of Adam’ to Edvard Munch’s, ‘The Scream’. And everything else in between by the looks of it.
Including Magritte’s more surrealist paintings and Frida Kahlo’s portraits.
Utilising a range of both elaborate (and makeshift) props to graphicise their creations. Toilet rolls, for example, to illustratively portray neck ruffles. And tangled laptop chargers as means of channelling Medusa’s mythical hairdo.
We’ll leave the last word to the Getty Museum though. Who says; “We wanted to offer up a creative challenge to find refuge from the uncertain state of the world and to spark excitement to get creative — no extra materials required.”
And we say bravo to that.