Virtu: Scheltens Abbenes

virtu \ vuhr-TOO; vir- \ , noun;
1. love of or taste for fine objects of art.
2. Productions of art (especially fine antiques).
3. Artistic quality.

This is a feature of mine--in which I showcase designers/artists/architects (though not limited to those) that have been influential to me in some way. I love discovering new artists, so if I can introduce just one person to something inspiring, that resonates, that's enough for me.



Scheltens Abbenes are a couple, and also collaborators. They are a photographer and visual artist who work together in order to create photos that are very abstract, textural and graphic--all out of very simple, unexpected items. Since it seems more relevant to my blog (though I suppose neither of my previous Virtu posts were much related) I've chosen to pull compositions of theirs that were created out of clothing items.



I am in absolute awe of the textures, color combinations and the nit-picky nature of their work. The simplicity and quality of the craft speak for the photos themselves. Everything is truly edited down to what is necessary.







I also adore their work with furniture as well as their collages/displays that they've created independent of one another. Their website is incredibly clean, functional and easy to peruse. And I would recommend that. Because if doing this feature has taught me anything, it's that it's incredibly hard to choose in order to represent an artist as a whole.

So please, Scheltens Abbenes. Click :)

Virtu: Atonement (Book & Film)

virtu \ vuhr-TOO; vir- \ , noun;
1. love of or taste for fine objects of art.
2. Productions of art (especially fine antiques).
3. Artistic quality.

I want to make this a weekly feature--in which I will showcase a specific designer/artist/architect that has been influential to me in some way. I love discovering new artists, so if I can introduce just one person to something that they never knew about before, that resonates with them, that's enough for me.




Apart from the fantasy series’ I hold close to me (Lord of the Rings & Harry Potter), I can say confidently that Atonement is my favorite novel and Ian McEwan my favorite author. I picked up Atonement to use as my carry-on book for my trip, thinking I could just casually read through it, since I have read it numerous times. Yet I found myself once again, completely immersed in the world that McEwan dexterously paints—I relate to the creative controlling need of Briony Tallis and Cecilia’a realization of love for a best friend. McEwans’s writing is full of delicate imagery, his characters, scarily autonomous and self-aware.

I have spoken before of my love for simplicity. McEwan’s plot twists are fewer than in other novels, but well placed and well chosen. The writing lingers on the details and the experiential qualities of a given moment or place. The careful mix of Briony’s inner dialogue (she is a character I find myself able to fully step into) and a love story is far too much for me to resist becoming emotionally drawn to. With the novel, McEwan makes a clear statement with the story itself, but also about the art of writing and the role one plays as an author.

I have only watched the film in passing—unable to pay much attention to it, but the photography is gorgeous and the imagery both romantic and rich (it does McEwan's writing justice). I seriously recommend giving the book a read. For me at least, it was quite casual. I finished it in only 2-3 real sittings. But I will leave you today with a few screencaps that appeal to me. (All were taken from here)

Virtu: Maya Lin

virtu \ vuhr-TOO; vir- \ , noun;
1. love of or taste for fine objects of art.
2. Productions of art (especially fine antiques).
3. Artistic quality.


I want to make this a weekly feature--in which I will showcase a specific designer/artist/architect that has been influential to me in some way. I love discovering new artists, so if I can introduce just one person to something that they never knew about before, that resonates with them, that's enough for me.

Whenever it comes to anything design related--be it graphic, interior, fashion, or anything else rooted in the visual arts, I have always been drawn to minimalism: to an artists ability to make one simple decision that gives life and character to the design. One of my favorite Architects is by far, Maya Lin. Possibly because she precariously straddles the line separating fine art and architecture, maybe because I can identify with her because of her race. But more than anything, her aesthetic speaks strongly to mine.



She is involved with a lot of landscape architecture, which is what I want to focus on this week. Her first and most widely recognized work is the Vietnam War Memorial in DC. At the time, the design was incredibly controversial. I could write a whole post about the project, honestly. But that's not what this is about. If you want to learn more, there's a documentary called "Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision" that I know is available on Netflix. In the memorial, she cut into the earth instead of building. She has a deep fascination with natural lines and shaping the ground.



Her website has a lot more photos of her work, along with brief descriptions of each project.