Appstrax – ‘A Meeting With The Bungie Boys’ – By Rudy Vogel
We are so delighted to publish the latest article by our very own ‘Renaissance Man’, Rudy Vogel, for his own unique Appstrax Column with us. In this article Rudy takes us into the abyss and explores the wonderful creative world of abstract art and uses one of his outstanding images and definitely a personal favorite of mine ‘The Bungie Boys Invade Kartoonid’ to express this in his characteristic wonderful and unique way. Over to you Rudy… (foreword by Joanne Carter).
‘Having cut my teeth with you the readership in my last column, I am now ready to take a plunge into the abyss with you the reader. The abyss I reference is the process of creating something novel in an abstract world. In my experience, I have found that a majority of readers of this and other columns, books and various other ephemera have a tendency of enjoying fiction rather than fact. And, like an abyss, there is a wide chasm between fact and fiction, while fiction is preferred since it is less demanding on our winsome minds. Now, if this hypothesis may be so, I have often wondered why viewers of art have a tendency of not applying this premise to their artful taste. In my experience, the majority of art-gazers prefer realism over abstraction. They quake from the groundlessness of the abstract. Fearful, they are. Why? Because in the fantasy conjured through a written story the mind is allowed to wander and create its own canvas. Yet, visually, the mind has a tendency to anchor itself in the stark reality of ‘self as a function of viewpoint.’
Visual abstraction to the onlooker may be disjointed, shapeless, stilted & tilted, without reference and therefore, causing an grave imbalance or, sense of risk in a mostly, truly unsafe world. Contrast this premise to a visual spark that has common points, definition, lines and shadows of comfort that are relative to the viewer. Factual imagery allows the ‘self’ to become real emanate – and thereby tangible. Conversely, abstraction causes ‘self’ to hang onto a wire without a net promulgated by the creator of the artistic vagueness. Woe onto the absconder of the net is their mantra! Well, my friends….call me a net thief! I for one, enjoy traversing the realm of the unknown, the obtuse, and the bombastic. For me, reality is abstract. To quote a world renown comic phenom, Robin Williams: “Reality….what a concept!”
© Rudy Vogel – ‘The Bungie Boys Invade Kartoonid’
Enter the “Bungie Boys.” Let’s briefly meet with them: These characters are grounded in a whimsical world created by Moi. Their creation comes from the mind of an iPhoneographer who has converted his iPhone into a “world generation machine.” Let the Bungie Boys take you, the reader into a new realization that reality as we see it is, in actuality, abstract. My reality is not yours and vice versa.
Even when viewing a still life for example, the fruits on the table in the bowl that bears them may or may not be appealing to me based upon their color, aroma, blemishes or, in their simple presentation. You, the reader, on the other hand may be completely enraptured with these orchard delights just because you feel that way. So, in actuality, your reality, even when discerning the merits of a simple bowl of fruit, may be completely different than mine. The “reality” of this fruit bowl and its contents may be factual but its interpretation is unique. Ergo, reality theoretically is abstract. Especially since a snapshot in time, in essence, is actually abstract since a nanosecond later the setting may become altered which naturally skews the vista. This world we traverse was created through abstraction and chaos.
Perhaps, it answers the question why so many of us ‘human beans’ prefer the grounding still life presents. It obliterates the chaos that naturally unfolds within our lives. The Bungie Boys, however, are grown from the seeds of chaos and I welcome you the reader to embrace them. Get to know them. The next time you pause to snap, app and then zap, they will help you view your subject matter in an altogether different way. They will help you realize that feeling a sense of chaos can be safe. Try a new vista; a different angle; a slightly altered sense of congruity; a chaotic app like Decim8, Tiny Planets or, iColorama. Stop using one of those camera substitution apps, even if just for a day and break your common code of image creation. Experiment. Disrupt. Innovate. Squeeze that brain juice into a bottomless cup. Take a creative risk, or two or, sixteen. One plus one can equal three in the appstractionist world; it doesn’t always have to be the reality of two. Bring some abstraction into your reality and witness the “newness” and awesomeness in your image creation. And then, when you have been depleted of your abstractional chaotic juices and revert back to your own personal sense of safe reality, you just may find a fresh approach when you snap, app and zap that fruit bowl the very next time. The Bungie Boys will be right there with you, springing forth from behind that melon. Holding out your abstract safety net and, beseeching you to embrace your alternate creativity!’
Rudy Vogel
Rudy has traveled the world on business and has thereby inculcated the exotic tastes, colors, and aromas of foreign lands from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe and the Caribbean into his work. Having grown and traveled with his father who was in the fashion business, Rudy learned some of his craft through osmosis and instinctually portrays some hints of textile, fabrics, lines and curves into his art. Rudy has had several private and public showings and his pieces have already worked their way into private collections. His work has been shown at various exhibitions and galleries around the world, including: The Annual Munson Massachusetts Spring Art Show; GaleriaZero, Barcelona, Spain & in Chelsea, London; The Forbes Galleries & The SOHO Gallery for Digital Art, New York, NY; The Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, The Orange County Center for Contemporary Art and, The Giorgi Gallery, in California; and, The Lunch Box Gallery, Miami Beach. Much of his recent work can be viewed at ‘the premiere iPhonegraphic Art Collective in the world’, Pixels At An Exhibition, with the url: www.pixelsatanexhibition.com
10 Comments
Janine Graf
Really interesting points you make Rudy! You know, you’re so right!
I find creating abstracts so incredibly difficult; just can’t get my brain to loosen up enough I guess. Maybe it’s because I know my creative weakness that I’m able to appreciate abstracts so much, and you sir are the Abstract King! Well done Rudy!
Rudy Vogel
Janine, I truly appreciate your words and remarks!!! All I an say is that the more one trys to do something the greater the probability of success!! Wishing you much real and not abstract success in your attempts!! Best, Rudy 😀
Cat Morris
I couldn’t agree more Rudy! You know I live in my own abstract world – one that is ever changing! Kudos!!
Rudy Vogel
Thanks so much Cat! And, you know I love you world since I am already one of its inhabitants!! 😀
JQ Gaines
I just love how you’re encouraging us to take that plunge. 🙂 Your Bungies Boys are simply gorgeous… and inspiring, to boot!
Rudy Vogel
Thanks so much JQ! Keep plunging….the water’s fine!!! BTW, lovin’ your column!! 😀
gina Costa
Rudy’s work is always an inspiration and revelation!
Rudy Vogel
You are most kind Gina!! Thanks so much! 😀
Robert Lancaster
Outstanding article Rudy! Made me smile … and kept me smiling.
And the abstract world is indeed a great place to spend a few hours. The possibilities are endless and the limitations boundless.
My path to abstraction has commenced and am I glad that this particular path revealed itself to me.
Thanks again Rudy. What an inspiration.
Rudy Vogel
So very glad Robert that you enjoyed the article!!! Keep pushing the envelope as you do!!! Thanks for the support! Happy Apping!
😀