Made from bits of Renaissance masters in the permanent collection of Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, ‘Self-Portrait In A Convex Manner’ is an animated 3D collage by artist strayltd.
The convex swing of a camera uncovers a wildly awkward creature tentatively consoling their inner refinement, and giving centre stage to the imperfections that are the signature of the artist’s psyche. With crudely cut and haphazardly assembled collage pieces that find their partners through free association, this collage is a perfect example of the consistent working practice of strayltd. And, in a progressive step forward, pieces of collage have also been folded and stretched through 3D space and manipulated with code to create an artwork of great expression.
‘Self-Portrait In A Convex Manner’ is also a reimagining of the similarly titled ‘Self-Portrait In A Convex Mirror’, by Renaissance painter Parmigianino. Showcasing his talent and impressing wealthy benefactors, Parmigianino subverted the perfection of the High Renaissance by painting elongated and outsized limbs; traits that became synonymous with Mannerism. ‘Self-Portrait In A Convex Manner’ has been created to mirror these historical traits to showcase the talent of strayltd, subvert the precision and perfection of our modern digital age, while shamelessly trying to impress the museum’s jury.
Parmigianino did not succeed in his attempt to gain favour with the Pope, but his self-portrait did go on to be included in the collections of Alessandro Vittoria, Emperor Rudolf II, and the Habsburg imperial collections in Vienna.
Self-Portrait In A Convex Manner is the winner of the KHM Wien portrait open call, marking an important step for cryptoart and the museum, as well as for the artist and his collectors. The first edition of this artwork will be held in the permanent collection of Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, while the second edition will be available at auction for one lucky collector.
Discipline:
Digital collage, 3D animation and a line of code
File type:
MPG4 video
Resolution:
3840 x 2160
Source material:
Jupiter and Io - Antonio Allegri, gen. Correggio
Maria and Child - Antonello da Messina
Summer - Giuseppe Arcimboldo
Adoration of the Magi - Jacopo da Ponte, gen. Jacopo Bassano
Depiction of Christ in the Temple - Baccio della Porta, gen. Fra Bartolomeo
Fire - Giuseppe Arcimboldo
Lucretia - Paolo Caliari, gen. Veronese
Saint Justina, Venerated by a Donor - Alessandro Bonvicino, gen. Moretto da Brescia
Portrait of a young man in front of a white curtain - Lorenzo Lotto
The Three Philosophers - Giorgio da Castelfranco, gen. Giorgione
Laura - Giorgio da Castelfranco, gen. Giorgione
Saint Sebastian - Andrea Mantegna
The Orator Giovan Pietro Maffeis - Giovanni Battista Moroni
Maria with the Child and Saint Katharina and Thomas
Self-Portrait In A Convex Mirror - Francesco Mazzola gen. Parmigianino
Bow-carving Amor - Francesco Mazzola gen. Parmigianino
Susanna Bathing - Jacopo Robusti, gen. Tintoretto
The Madonna of the Meadow - Raffaello Santi gen. Raffael
Madonna of the Cherries - Tiziano Vecellio, gen. Titian
Bravo - Tiziano Vecellio, gen. Titian
Nymph and Shepherd - Tiziano Vecellio, gen. Titian
Ecce Homo - Ecce Homo
Mars, Venus and Amor - Tiziano Vecellio, gen. Titian (and studio)
Jacopo Strada - Tiziano Vecellio, gen. Titian
