Fumi Mini Nakamura

It's hard to make art that describes the intricate connection the human soul has to the natural. Sure, you can say you relate to the power and majesty of the gray wolf, but try to depict that, most of the time, you're going to end up with some horrible piece of detritus like the three wolf moon shirt, of meme fame. Though, in tri-wolf's defense, the rules for wolf art have been clear cut since at least the early 70's: While one wolf is good, more wolves are better, and none should be depicted without accompanying tye dye, moon, monster truck, or dream catcher. The work of Mini Miku Nakamura, however, decides to break most of these rules in favor of a softness that captures the drama of this subject without the quaint crap. Each of her pieces, cleverly arranged in a whirlwind of color and line, contains a quiet contradiction in human life-- whether it is acceptance of death, the frustration of sex, the  realization of our role as a species among species, or the madness that emotions like love create in our classicly animalistic nature. The fact that these are all done in colored pencil only makes these more amazing. Enjoy.

These and more works by Fumi Mini Nakamura can be found at her site: 

http://www.miniminiaturemouse.com/

Simon Bent

In a world dominated by a constant stream of images and sounds, work, and "modern life", it becomes easy to simply stop thinking for ourselves, and allow a comfortable mindlessness to wash over us in in a constant high tide of consumer-driven media. A thinking life becomes an endless struggle against a system that has so much control over your being, your body, your soul. I cannot fault people for taking the easy way out.  This, however, makes those individuals that still grasp for a better understanding of the human condition all the more precious--wizard philosophers of untold understanding to whom few can relate, and ever fewer can understand. This is why I find the graphic design series "Science versus Delirium" of Simon Bent all the more mesmerizing. His psychadelic transformations of the scientific and philosopher giants of the past boosts them to an almost godlike state of adoration (or at least to the state of the Beatles circa yellow submarine, but I digress). In an era where love of football trumps the safety of children, and war is the answer to everything, it's important to recognize the great minds that have questioned our animalistic desires, our irrational fears, and our eternal ignorance, in hopes of reestablishing our place in Eden.

These images belong to Simon Bent, and if he had a website, I would post it here. Use your google powers.