joe randel's art dump

Surrealism is something that I’ve always loved.  Particularly surreal sculpture and stop motion.  I pretty much had forgotten my love of this type of art until a music video came through on my 3DS.  The song is called The Rifle’s Spiral by The Shins and it’s directed by Jamie Caliri.  I watched the video and, while I really liked the song, I found myself mesmerized by the video it’s self.  Even though it’s just a short 4 min clip, I loved the magical theme that runs through it and the creepy characters the inhabit this world.

It reminds me sort of  Tool’s video for the song Sober.

That too is another one that I could watch again and again.  I don’t know why but I find it fascinating to watch and wonder about the characters in these types of videos.  In my mind I see the world as lost and old and the beings that live there are unsure about anything other then what you see them doing.  Sort of like prisoners with in their own character and with in this strange world.  I just love it.  I also love knowing that the imagery and symbolism probably goes deeper then what I realize which makes it fun to try and decipher it.  Other examples of this media are Closer by Nine Inch Nails and just about anything by Dave McKean.

Nine Inch Nails: Closer (Uncensored) (1994) from Nine Inch Nails on Vimeo.

I’m not able to do this kind of art.  Nor do I wish to try.  I just enjoy seeing others work in this area.  It scares me and makes me wonder all at the same time.  What are your thoughts on this style of art.