The Art of Vitaly Medvedovsky

(via)

Vitaly Medvedovsky's paintings are the very definition of picturesque. A Ukrainian-born alumni of OCAD and Concordia University, Medvedovsky aspires, and succeeds, in cultivating a rich inner mythology coursing all throughout the body of his work.

Arctic labyrinths, impossible attic spaces with no end, and the husks of bi-planes strewn about empty airspaces littered with the remnants of a long-dead world. It's as if his subjects reside within a truman show-esque simulacra of half-reality that's nested within the foggy borders of a half-forgotten dream. Occasionally, from time to time, an inhabitant might manage to peek past the curtain to catch a fleeting glimpse of the edges surrounding this whimsical paracosm of otherworldly delights.

The muted vibrancy of Medvedovsky's colors and the elegant simplicity of his compositions bring to mind comparisons to Jonathan Blow's upcoming video-game The Witness. Beautifully impressionistic, pop-surrealist storybook illustrations underscored with an almost rockwellian aura of poignance and solemnity. Check past the break for more of his work over this past year, with more paintings in-progress to come!

Woodkid - "The Golden Age"

Woodkid has always been an artist recognized, if not best known for his visually audacious music videos and thundering orchestral production. The visuals for his previous singles Iron and Run Boy Run were windows into an alternate epic fantasy world of feudal warfare and childlike whimsy, while I Love You toned down the fantasy elements in favor of a more somber meditation on loss and devotion.

The Golden Age gathers up all those thematic threads and, for the most part, strips away the excess to pierce at the heart of the song's namesake; Childhood. The Golden Age is a beautiful, eleven-minute epic bemoaning the loss of innocence yet celebrating its existence, all the while punctuated by Lemoine's gorgeous track.

Borrowed Light

Recent art school grad Olivia Huynh directed and animated the subdued, childlike short entitled Borrowed Light.  A young thief of a girl goes around stealing people and businesses of their lightbulbs.  The loss of electric light, one of the most life-changing inventions that we absolutely cannot live without.  Or can we? I loved how touching, and innocent this short is, and really plays on Huynh's self-described childhood influences. In what appears to be a style emphasizing a distinct, washed out watercolor look, it pairs perfectly with the subtle sound treatment and innocent plotline.

Walt & Vervain - "Babe's Lair"

This dreamy music video was created to become the music video to Walt & Vervain's single 'Babe's Lair.' I absolutely loved the ethereal, dream-like atmosphere, and the silhouette style, obviously drawing some inspiration from the game Limbo.  The almost other-worldly track feels very modern, but with a touch of something that feels more vintage, and almost childlike.  There's a definite sense of adventure and mystery, and it's all very hypnotizing to take in.

Hug by Saki Iyori

Tokyo-based Tama Art University student Saki Iyori created a really innocent, and colorful animated short with 'Hug.' A rather clingy girl is shown with her big bear, before being sent out among some other members of the animal kingdom, where she tries to spread her message of love (or again, maybe she's just clingy). There's definitely a real child-like quality to the short, but it's also slightly uncomfortable at the same time. My vote is for the scratchy record audio effect. Definitely love the bright colors, and +1 for multi-colored llamas.

Le Zizi á Suzy

It's a story that's probably familiar to a lot of us: Little boy and little girl, curious to see the other in their, um, true form.This rough, simplistic yet bright animation from Loic Espuche and Xavier Sailliol is short and to the point.  It's a sweet and charming little piece that's sure to brighten up your day.  Well, maybe the whole day is over-reaching, but it'll make you crack a little smile, and perhaps remember the time when you were an inquisitive yet innocent little person.

Tag by Andre Avillanoza

Canadian animator Andre Avillanoza is the dude who we credit today's awesome animated short with. Tag is the colorful, whimsical story of two preschool/kindergarten-ish age kids playing with a variety of shapes. Well, fighting over them is more like it. The ending is a bit on the bizarre side, but it definitely comes around full circle. I especially enjoyed the childlike influences, such as crayon and colored pencil. Even with the bright colors and variety of shapes, there's something about it that seems somewhat understated. It pops without being overbearing.