It can be beautiful, strange, intriguing, riveting, and emotionally moving – or a combination thereof. And sometimes contemporary art is the perfect medium for spreading awareness about the environmentally and socially conscious messages the masses need to hear.

Below we’ve chosen four artists to feature who have dedicated their life’s work to raising awareness for social and environmental issues. From illustration to photography to sculpture to fashion, every artist cares passionately about his or her issue, but each method is uniquely their own. 

Jeff Hong

Imagine an illustrated Ariel, covered in oil as she crawls forth from a photograph of the ocean slick with pollutants and petroleum and then you can begin to understand Jeff Hong, the man behind the Unhappily Ever After project who takes iconic Disney princesses and characters and implants them into very real, very modern day situations that are more like realistic struggles than fairytale fantasy.

Plastic surgery, global warming, drug addiction, animal overpopulation and testing, homelessness, and poverty are just a few of the sensitive subjects this artist captures by superimposing illustrated images of Disney characters into the scene of a real photograph. Self-described as a “big Disney fan,” the animation storyboard artist originally from Los Angeles is currently residing in New York City. He has worked as an animation artist on the films “Hercules”, “Mulan”, “Tarzan”, and “The Emperor’s New Groove.”

Marina DeBris

Much like her name implies, Marina DeBris (debris) uses washed up trash to create her works of contemporary art. After moving to Venice Beach, California from Bondi Beach, Australia, DeBris was appalled by the condition of the local beaches. Every day that she went for a run on the beach was another day that she found herself also collecting garbage in an effort to help the growing trash problem. DeBris quickly realized that this was barely making a dent in the effort to solve the issues and was then inspired to make objects using what she had been collecting.

Some of her works include 2D “posters” and “postcards” that use photographic images of several highly polluted strips of California beaches, and goes so far as to inject a bit of sarcasm and humor into these pieces, making mock advertorials advertising all of the individual found items, like sunglasses, cameras, and paintbrushes, as being “for sale.” DeBris has also created numerous 3D sculptural works from found garbage and several pieces of “trashion” (trash + fashion).

Aviva Rahmani

Aviva Rahmani is an ecological artist who currently works with scientists to restore degraded environments, but is heavily influenced by her early life, as well. She was an activist performer in the sixties and had interests in feminist art and city planning from a young age. Rahmani also claims that “dreams, intuitive and ritualized strategies” are a part of her modus operandi. According to her website, the talented multimedia artist’s “presentational means have ranged from found sound mixed with bel canto singing, virtual and digital technologies, to painted murals of geomorphic relationships.”

This artist has even developed her own theory that is the grounds for her scientific collaborative works. DeBris refers to it as “Trigger Point” which she describes as meaning the application of “traditional aesthetic tools for the analysis of small, carefully chosen areas of degraded coastal landscape to leverage large landscape healing.” Her work ranges from a beautiful moment captured in time to an awareness inducing photograph of a landscape in need of repair.

Aurora Robson

Probably my personal favorite, Aurora Robson is a multi-media artist who is best known for her work intercepting the waste stream, with her practice focusing on eliminating the negative and paving a new way for more positive idealisms. Not only are her sculptures and artworks stunning, but she has also worked to found Project Vortex, which is an international collective of artists, designers, and architects who also work with plastic debris.

“Dedicated to intercepting the waste stream,” Robson has honed her craft beautifully and has created colorful and lively sculptures, larger than life installation, junk mail collages, and abstract oil paintings. To put it into perspective, Robson created one on piece titled The Great Indoors for the Rice Gallery in Houston Texas that looks like an ethereal enchanted forest comprise of approximately 15,000 PET bottles cleaned up from the streets of New York.

It’s refreshing to know that contemporary art can be both beautiful and socially and environmentally conscious, because sometimes it takes a unique approach to spread awareness.

Do you have a favorite artist from this list? Have you ever been inspired to dabble in recycled art of your own? Let us know your thoughts on the EcoSalon Facebook page! 

Related on EcoSalon

11 Boho Chic Ideas for A Home Off the Beaten Path

9 Stunning DIY Wall Art Projects That Won’t Break the Bank

Wall Stencils Are The New Paint: Where to Buy, How to DIY

Image of Paint and Brush via Shutterstock

The post Contemporary Art That Beautifully Raises Awareness appeared first on EcoSalon.

Slow Art is a contemporary art movement that celebrates craft, technique, materials and the process of creating.

Since its beginnings, the Slow Movement has been spreading at an appropriately slow and steady pace across disciplines and geographical boundaries. You’ve probably heard of Slow Food, Slow Money and Slow Fashion, but how does this movement’s principles apply to art? A recent exhibit at Stockholm’s National Museum of Fine Arts was entirely dedicated to the concept of of Slow Art, celebrating this contemporary movement where technique, materials and process are considered especially important.

“Broken Shadow” – raw silk & leather dress by Helena Hörstedt, 2008

Silk & linen embroidery by Suzy Strindberg, 1999

Over 30 pieces from the museums permanent collections were included in a curated showcase of unique, handcrafted silver, textile, glass and ceramic artifacts by artists from the past three decades. The slow process is characterized by a certain respect for the audience — something often lacking in our society dominated by mass production and consumption. “Few people remain unmoved by an artwork that demonstrates superb craftsmanship. The care that goes into producing the work and the persistence of the artist are a source of fascination to many.”

“Ur Anor” – steel necklace by Lotta Åström, 2010

“Red” – paper & glue bowl by Cecilia Levy, 2011

“The considerable time required to make these works has not always been a cause of frustration for artists or craftspersons,” curator Cilla Robach writes in the exhibition catalog. “On the contrary, they have valued time and regarded slowness as a central element in their artistic process. Many practitioners have put special emphasis on shaping certain details, without having to fear the mental boredom or physical pain of repetition. Instead, the viewer suspects that they have found tranquility in the monotonous and slow work stages that were required to create a specific piece. Several of the practitioners have developed their own techniques to achieve the particular expression they were after. Others have chosen to use the same methods and tools as artisans and craftspersons have been using for centuries.”

Paper & steel wire necklace by Janna Syvänoja, 2003

“Shadows” – machine embroidery by Malin Lager, 2004

Spending considerable amounts of time making something using time-consuming techniques and processes can often be seen as somewhat provocative. We’ve become so accustomed to always taking the path of least resistance that we may have forgotten that it is not always merely about the end-result.

Eggshell, 24k gold & sweet water pearl necklace by Helena Sandström, 1997

Cotton & linen embroidery by Pasi Välimaa, 2001

“The fact that a few people have nevertheless chosen to develop their artistic creativity by devoting themselves to one or more crafts could be hard for the world at large to understand, or even a bit frightening or provocative,” says Robach. “For what is it these slow artists accomplish with their relentless, slow and complicated work, full of repetitive movements that frequently cause physical pain? What drives Helen Dahlman to make her monumental embroideries in thin cotton thread, despite having to wear double plasters to prevent the blood from her pricked fingertips from staining the fabric? What does Renata Francescon get out of thumbing porcelain clay into rose petals hour after hour, day after day? Why does Tore Svensson continue, year after year, to forge bowls out of cold iron, when his body can’t take the immense strain for more than a couple of hours a day? What does Lotta Åström achieve by winding wire into a tight spiral that she then saws into tiny rings, which she links together to make jewellery resembling chainmail? Why does Sebastian Schildt spend several weeks on shaping a flat silver plate into a jug with a hammer, instead of using a machine to create the same object in a fraction of the time? There are no simple answers to these questions — apart from the certainty that the artists get a satisfaction from something other than profitability through rational manufacturing.”

“Boa” – silver necklace by Petra Schou, 2000

“Sub Rosa” – porcelain sculpture by Renata Francescon, 2004

Common to all the artworks featured is a sense of playfulness and spontaneity. These artists have developed a deep, genuine knowledge of the materials and processes they utilize to create their art, and this enables them to experiment and organically adapt their works as they progress. This way of surrendering control and not being solely focused on a specific outcome is not possible in mass-manufacturing, and it’s what gives these pieces soul and character. The slowness in production itself becomes an artistic value.

“Egypten” – titanium, 18k gold 18k & silk collar by Helena Edman, 1983

Although the National Museum’s Slow Art exhibit closed at the beginning of February, you can experience it from right where you are by downloading both the exhibition app and catalog. On the app (available free for iPhone and Android) you can view pictures of all the art, read the texts and listen to exhibition curator Cilla Robach talk about each object. The exhibition catalog is available to download, also for free, and gives you an incredible overview of the Slow Art topic, as well as beautiful photographs of and statements about each artwork. Give yourself some time, because you definitely don’t want to have to rush through this one.

All photos courtesy of National Museum, Stockholm

The post Slow Art – Celebrating Craft, Technique, Materials and Process appeared first on EcoSalon.

Because nothing says “I Love You,” like a piece of art from an emerging artist.

Unlike Virginia, (Art Basel) Miami is not for lovers. Unless said lover is a sultan. If you and your lover are but mere tax-paying mortals with a mutually keen eye for emerging contemporary art, an online resource puts you in good Company, with a capital C.

Company describes itself as “a curated secondary art market and community, for collectors, by collectors.”In celebration of the pinkest day of the year, Company is showcasing its more romantic museum quality prints, including the gutsy bunny above. The work, titled Little Pinky Split and painted by Hanna Chung, is called “a phantasmagorical representation of one of the most beloved characters in story books and fairytales.” An innocent bunny, that just wants to skip some rope with its entrails. Hmm, it is rather like spilling your guts to a longstanding crush.

Our Gay Wedding by Melodie Provenzano celebrates the July ’11 decision legalizing gay marriage in New York State, making it the 6th such state to come to its senses.

Adam and Steve stand side by side atop a champagne glass pedestal with flowers at their feet. Ceramic lovebirds and an eclectic wedding band accompany. It’s an exquisite detailed tribute to diversity and civil rights, and a smart Valentine’s Day purchase.

A solitary, naked woman casting flower petals into the sea as an ominous volcano threatens to erupt in the distance.

Lauren Matsumoto’s Volcano Lover is about to embark on one hell of a romance.

Have you got your eye on someone? Yeji Jun keeps it literal with her work I Remember You. Jun prominently features eyes in most of her artwork adding enchanting messages like, “I remember you because I have sparkling eyes.”

All of the works above are available via the Company site, a buying and selling juncture for collectors and artists alike, a place to discover new talent before they become rich, famous, jet set and trop cher. A resource for getting free and objective advice on art, without dollar signs twinkling in their eyes. Because they have no eyes, being the virtual grassroots gallery that it is.

The post Love, Heartbreak and Eviscerated Bunnies: Just in Time for Valentine’s Day appeared first on EcoSalon.

Welcome to Art Nocturne: Where moon worshipers buy high art.

Art Basel can keep the sunshine. On the shores of the Belgian coast, Art Nocturne is one of Europe’s most prestigious international fine art and antiques fairs. Held between August 6- 15 in CC Scharpoord and Hotel La Réserve in a place called Knokke, the event takes its namesake from its nocturnal habits: it deals in Van Gogh’s exclusively during the dusky hours of 4pm to 9pm.

Perhaps I’m suggesting this because I’ve just concluded my Sunday evening ritual of True Blood and tea, but this ­– otherwise, an informal fête – tweaked my imagination because it strikes me as an event where jet-setting moneyed vampire types like sexy (yet cute and vulnerable, Eric Northman go antiquing.

Allow me my fantasies.

Much of the art at this year’s Nocturne will be contemporary. Nevertheless, the 50-plus fine arts and antiques dealers from around the world will also be showcasing specialized treasures ranging from Asian art to art deco.

Not just anyone can sell, unless you made a cameo appearance in Interview With a Vampire or Dracula (sorry, Twilight’s a bit too tweeny for this crowd). Participants are hand-selected by an international forum that considers the dialogue between ancient and contemporary art in good taste. Nocturne is considered a buyers’ fair, rather than an exposition.

Some vampy finds I could sink my teeth into include this selection from De Pauw-Müller, which trades in “Haute Epoque Sculptures,” and works of art from the 14^th to 18^th centuries.

As well as this fine piece of hedendaagse kunst (contemporary art, silly mortal) from Galerie van Campen & Rochtus.

The early period furniture and objets d’art from Jan Roelofs Antiquairs are worth a fair maiden or two (even a Sookie).

Finally, this TK from Sem Art Gallery in Monaco just about says it all.

A fang-bangers paradise?

For sure.

The post Art Nocturne: Antiquing With Bite appeared first on EcoSalon.