Belio takes part again as member of jury for another art awards... Yes! This time we put our faith and desire to reward those most talented, fresh and original artists in the urban art and graffiti scene. The proposal comes from France, with the second edition of Artaq, Urban Arts Awards.

The call for submissions is open to any kind of street artist or graffiti writer (tags, stencils, graffiti, wall painting, performance, painting, installation, digital art ...), registration is free, there is no money-prize but you have the chance to see your work included in the Artaq Bookzine and be part of the exhibition to be held in Angers, Paris or Berlin. The purpose of these awards is to give visibility and promote young artists outside the traditional art disciplines. In the first edition of these awards artists such as Roa, L'Atlas, 2501, Rezine, Sabotajealmontaje, etc. were honored with a prize. The deadline to send your work is the 18th of February!

We have enjoyed this audiovisual installation very much. It’s called RE: and it’s the kind of art that we use to love, a kind of art-game about the audiovisual media talking about itself. Something funny and complex at the same time.

RE: is an audiovisual installation by Bram Snijders and Carolien Teunisse and was part of “Borderless Reality”, an exhibition co-organized by Art Center Nabi, ISMAR 2010 and V2_Institute for the Unstable Media.

It explored a borderless world developed from the point where physical reality and virtual layer become entangled in augmented and mixed reality technologies.

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Yesterday in our video section among other gems we presented you an extraordinary video starring by a "U" (is for Ubermensch). The author of this clip is Daniele Manoli, Swedish by birth and now living in Hong Kong, who has developed a visual and audio tour from A to Z, which demonstrate his great talent for motion graphics. And here we leave you one of our favorite examples: Q (is for Quadrilateral). But you can check out the rest of letters on his website or on his vimeo profile.

The german artist Amrei Hofstätter, better known as Vertico's Puppets is releasing her new site. Not only does it present a revamped image for her digital portfolio, much more minimalist and focused on her most recent works, but also gives us a preview of what's to come: the collection Gold Is Made In Supernovae which has been her main subject during 2010 and of which you can see parts at www.verticospuppets.com.

With these new works she follows the evolutionary path that began in The Promised Place and (Un)Fold. We can trace the origin on her personal universe mixed with a digested influence of Japanese visual culture. She reinvents the ancient origami in shapes and compositions ever more complicated and baroque. A unique and colorful world that hides cryptic stories full of magic.

Behind the cut you can see some of her new works and you can also find an interview with the artist in our special issue Belio X10 published for our tenth anniversary.

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Rob Voerman is one of those unique artists that we like to keep track of. Dutch, born in 1966 and represented by one of the most leading galleries from the Netherlands: Upstream Gallery, undoubtedly one of our favorites. His work is a mixture of pseudo-architectural installations and dehumanized illustrations of those same spaces that Voerman imagines, projects and builds sometimes. His most recent works are now on display at Upstream Gallery until February 18. And for those who can not pass through Amsterdam, you can take a peek behind the cut.

In his exhibition After the Goldrush at Upstream Gallery, Rob Voerman is showing a giant installation and new sculptures together with new works on paper (watercolours and prints). A couple of works in the exhibition refer to Unité d’Habition, a residential complex dating from 1952 designed by Le Corbusier. It is a utopian and groundbreaking design of a townhouse, existing of 18 levels, which stands as an icon for modernism. Voerman combines ideas and ideals from that period with 2011 reality. Some works of Voerman refer directly to Le Corbusiers designs, but show a grimly overtone. The use of cardboard with Chinese and other foreign inscriptions refer almost directly to this extensive globalisation and the change our society has gone through.

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As you probably know Belio’s next book will be an adrenaline rush. As you probably know extreme sports like skateboarding, bungee jumping or parkour can give you a good shot of adrenaline. As you probably know the adrenaline is a hormone produced by our own body when we live a dangerous situation.

The urban historian and photographer Steve Duncan has his own way to get his adrenaline rush exploring the undercity. As you can see below in the video that was filmed with Andrew Wonder: Undercity.

As Steve told us: “I try to peel back the layers of a city to see what's underneath. From the tops of bridges to the depths of sewer tunnels, these explorations of the urban environment help me puzzle together the interconnected, multi-dimensional history and complexity of the great metropolises of the world.”

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The contemporary art world seems to us like a vast ocean where we can snorkel (go to art fairs, visit galleries, wild-surf on internet...) and find treasures. The only regret is not having more time, more money and more resources to share all those artists who amaze us daily with our readers. This is the case of Jonas Burgert, which we discovered three years ago at Art Forum Berlin, where his gallery had just one and gigantic canvas. Since then Burgert has been one of those artists who keep in our archives, waiting for the perfect occasion to be publish in our pages.

From December 11 can be visited at Kunsthalle Tuebingen (Germany) the first major solo exhibition dedicated to this young Berlin artist in a public exhibition space. More than thirty large canvases that resume the quick development and success that Burgert has garnered in the recent years. His work is a mixture of surreal illustration, mysterious atmospheres and baroque scenes with a dark touch but still full of life and color. His style could be compared with big talents like José Hernández or the recent Daniel Muñoz (SAN) published in our Die Young Collection.

If by any chance you pass by the southern part of Germany do not miss this chance, the exhibition will be open until March 6. Below you can see some of his most representative works.

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From the beginning of time man has loved to hide behind a mask, either physically or metaphorically. Man has always wanted to be what is not and hide what it is. Masks have been used in rituals and festivals of nearly every culture in the world and are part of the art history until today.

Maybe is an irrational attraction or it could be because the stories that every mask has. At Belio we really love masks and the artists who use them in their art-works. As is the case of Stacey Rozich’s illustrations.

Stacey Rozich was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and studied Illustration at California College of Arts in San Francisco. Her work varies from bold folk art in watercolor and gouache, to simple pen and ink line drawings. Slavic folk tales seem to be the biggest influence on her art-work. In a nod to her Yugoslav background, Stacey works traditional costumes and folklore into a storybook world of warrior women and ghoulish monsters. Stacey enjoys doodling, cats and Miyazaki films.

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The members of Mirafiori Reworks keep surprising us with their separate careers, both Sergio Membrillas and Mik Baro are fervent workers, each developing his style and personality with highly interesting projects.

On this occasion Mik is responsible for Insanity Toons Vol.1, a folder that contains 10 lithographs published by Pusilánime where we can find a dozen lysergic creatures inspired by the famous American characters. One idea that will surely continue in a second collection.

This is the fourth edition of the Pusilánime Collection, a project led by Marta Pina. This series of trading cards/postcards/collections brings together the most diverse disciplines, with one thing in common: the self-publishing through a traditional and hand-made process. You can find them for sale on a select number of stores in very limited editions.

Check out the entire collection behind the cut and the photos of the process at Mik's blog.

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A few months ago we published in our video section the trailer and now you can see the entire documentary that Rodrigo Calvo has made about Arduino, a home technology revolution in the style of the DIY (do it yourself) proposals that we love at Belio.

Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. You can find much more information, news and tutorials on their website: www.arduino.cc

These days the Belio team will take a few vacation days, enough to rest and come back with renewed energy and new ideas for the next year. For this reason we want to advise you that all the orders received at our on-line store during these days will be shipped on Monday 3rd January.

As a Christmas present we post this video (and another four more at our video section) by the Londoners Treat Studios.

Belio team wish you all that you have a happy Christmas and a happy and creative New Year. PEACE, LOVE & HAPPINESS for 2011.
(^_^) + (^_^)

The still fresh Belio 032 contained a special article featuring three of the most prominent video artists nowadays, one of these is the always amazing and ineffable Jimmy Joe Roche. A unique character, Dan Deacon's soul mate in great battles, glitch fan, datamosh addict and experimental noise performer. His videos are a twist on American pop culture, something like the scene "are you talking to me?" in Taxi Driver revisited on LSD.

Some would say birds of a feather flock together. It is no coincidence that the new Jimmy Joe's solo exhibition takes place at Rare Gallery, a New York gallery that we have pointed out several times at Belio (no doubt: one of our favorites). The exhibition, titled Under Pressure, which runs from January 6 through February 3, will feature four new videos, a hand-cut paper wall sculpture, and a mixed media floor sculpture. If you decide to start the next year in the Big Apple... Do not miss it.

We recently announced the theme of our next Belio (adrenaline) and now it's time to announce the subject for the photo submissions. The Flog section of Belio. And this time the tittle is: Zero Gravity. A large, suggestive and ambiguous subject... you can find more information and instructions on how to participate at our page collaborate!

Remember: The deadline for your submissions is on February 28, 2011.

Cyriak is an english artist that we have been following since a while. Each new video or animation that he uploads to internet blows up our mind. We have posted his videos at our video section several times. Today we dedicate this entry on the home page of beliomagazine.com to the video that he has created for the new Eskmo’s album on Ninja Tune. It's a mad, crazy, sick and brilliant video. Enjoy it!

Url relacionada: http://www.youtube.com/user/cyriak

On your marks, get set... ready... go! Full throttle. Something like this is gonna be our next edition of Belio, an adrenaline rush on paper. So, here we invite everyone to participate by submitting your works, could be illustrations, designs, graphics, lettering, collages, etc. The submission call for BELIO 033: ADRENALINE is now open (until February 28!!!). You can find more information on how to participate and a brainstorming on our page: collaborate! What are you waiting for?

The Christmas season is approaching and it's time to make special gifts to our friends and loved ones. At Belio we have prepared some offers and gifts for the occasion! (^_^)

Take a look to the brand new arrivals: the book Belio 032: Neo-Psychedelia, the book "Reality" by the photographer Jeosm and the book "The Long Shadow" by the illustrator Josep Solé. You can get all of them, at a special price in our online store. The first 15 people to buy the book Belio 032 (since December the 15th) at our on-line store will get a gift: a copy of the book "Reality" by Jeosm.

         
We have the last copies of the Belio 10 th anniversary limited edition 240 pages book, that also includes a t-shirt, a cloth bag, four bottons and a collection of stickers. Now only for 20 euros! More information on the link.

The Belio Super7 Pack which includes all Belio Magazine issues from 022 to 028 for 15 euros. 994 pages of art, design, graffiti, illustration, photography, ...

The PencilBreak book with artists, designers and illustrators such as Devoner, Droon, Dzgnbio, Elzo, FFF, Ian Liddle, Inkcore, Jan Rohlf, Jinpow, Marco Microbi, Neon Skullz, Niark1, Nikibi, Pastee, Pix-Hell among many others. We offer it again for just 15 euros!

         

The Monztaaah! book, a classic on urban art and illustration edited by Belio with artists like Botlek, Cool Jo & Ciou, Dave The Chimp, Derrick Hodgson, D'Face, Jon Burgerman, Koadzn, Magmo The Destroyer, Mentary Brothers, and many more for only 5 euros.

The Fadings book by the German publisher Publikat, a graffiti and design book that includes a DVD! Its official sale price is 45 euros, now you can get it for only 25 euros!

Find the electronic music compilation BELIO:CD:WAR with bands like Asphalt!, Proyecto Mirage, Matka, End, and Black Lung, just for 6 euros.

        

And if you think that all these offers are not enough, we give you a free t-shirt from the Belio collection on purchases over 30 € (shipping not included).

If you follow our web regularly, probably you already know that some months ago the organizers of Illustrative and Young Illustration Award 2010 (YIA) invited us to participate as part of the jury of their award. The resolution of this award was announced on November 5 with a party that presented the winners, supposedly chosen by a jury. But... We have NOT voted anyone. So, what happened?

Here you will find a resume of the conversations and events that happened during the past month between Belio and Illustrative. Please, draw your own conclusions:

1. As they communicated us in their terms of participation, each member of the jury was supposed to vote between the 1st and 2nd of November through a web link that they would facilitate us. But, we never received any link or notification to proceed with said vote. And even more significant: before November 1 there was a list of nominees already published on their website.

2. On November 1, we contacted Illustrative to clarify the situation and correct any error before they will announce the election of an uneven prize. Their answers and explanations did not arrive until a week later after the winners had already been announced. Before that, we had already sent several e.mails in which we cordially asked to resolve the situation (at days 1st, 4th and 5th of November). We finally heard back from the director, Pascal Johanssen, only when on November 7 we warned them via e.mail that if we do not receive an explanations we would publish all those irregularities.

3. The response from Illustrative was: It was an human error, sorry, please understand. But at no time they proposed a solution to this problem, an irregular vote. They neither clarified how it is possible that the nominees were published before the alleged vote. Therefore, we kindly asked them to "assume responsibility" and offer a solution to such problem.

4. Days later their only answer still was "what's solution????!", But they neither offered a proposal, nor response to the irregularities. At November 12 and after further warnings to publish all these issues, their answer was: To delete the website of the jury. And send us the following message: "You have been deleted from the Jury's list. Feel free to publish what you want. If I read something in blogs that is affecting us, we will inform the people that you and Belio Magazine are blackmailing people."

5. Facing such threats and concealment of information (Are they going to deny that we were part of the jury?) we replied them with a copy of the webpage, before it was deleted. And we reiterated that our intention is to clarify this issue by peaceful means. This was never meant as an attack on Illustrative, but a request to find a solution to a problem.

6. Illustrative finally offered a solution: A free booth at the Illustrative exhibition for Belio and two hotel nights. But still no response to all the irregularities.

7. Our intention is NOT to gain personal profit from an "error" and that's why we finally proposed them a solution that regarding our opinion could satisfy both sides and avoid the loss of their supposed prestige:
- Let us see the documents with the jury's votes.
- Give us an answer to the question if and why the voting took place before the previously scheduled dates (1st and 2nd of November).
- Give us access to the same documents voted by the jury and let us select 5 artists who can be part of the exhibition.

8. From this point, time passes and the only answers are vague excuses, "the director is on vacation", "I have no access to such information", "I just have to finish some other projects and then I will work on that", etc. Therefore, after waiting for a whole month to their responses, we have decided not to insist again, to patiently wait for their response and to publish all this until the board of Illustrative and YIA 2010 will clarify this whole issue.


Why did we decide to publish all this?

We consider this issue a lack of respect towards our organization and towards all participants who have paid to submit their work in a competition endowed with a cash prize and which boasts certain international prestige, to develop with such a lack of professionalism and with so many mysterious irregularities. From our perspective they have abused our image to give credibility to these awards and therefore we feel the need to raise awareness within the community of artists and creators about the malfunction of Illustrative and Young Illustration Awards.

To whom it may concern:

For all those who have participated in Illustrative / YIA 2010 (after payment of 30 euros for) can find at the link below a PDF document with the full e.mails exchanged between Belio and Illustrative and a copy of the web where we appear as part of the jury, as evidence of what happened.

PDF DOCUMENTS (5 MB)

If you follow our web regularly, probably you already know that some months ago the organizers of Illustrative and Young Illustration Award 2010 (YIA) invited us to participate as part of the jury of their award. The resolution of this award was announced on November 5 with a party that presented the winners, supposedly chosen by a jury. But... We have NOT voted anyone. So, what happened?

Here you will find a resume of the conversations and events that happened during the past month between Belio and Illustrative. Please, draw your own conclusions:

1. As they communicated us in their terms of participation, each member of the jury was supposed to vote between the 1st and 2nd of November through a web link that they would facilitate us. But, we never received any link or notification to proceed with said vote. And even more significant: before November 1 there was a list of nominees already published on their website.

2. On November 1, we contacted Illustrative to clarify the situation and correct any error before they will announce the election of an uneven prize. Their answers and explanations did not arrive until a week later after the winners had already been announced. Before that, we had already sent several e.mails in which we cordially asked to resolve the situation (at days 1st, 4th and 5th of November). We finally heard back from the director, Pascal Johanssen, only when on November 7 we warned them via e.mail that if we do not receive an explanations we would publish all those irregularities.

3. The response from Illustrative was: It was an human error, sorry, please understand. But at no time they proposed a solution to this problem, an irregular vote. They neither clarified how it is possible that the nominees were published before the alleged vote. Therefore, we kindly asked them to "assume responsibility" and offer a solution to such problem.

4. Days later their only answer still was "what's solution????!", But they neither offered a proposal, nor response to the irregularities. At November 12 and after further warnings to publish all these issues, their answer was: To delete the website of the jury. And send us the following message: "You have been deleted from the Jury's list. Feel free to publish what you want. If I read something in blogs that is affecting us, we will inform the people that you and Belio Magazine are blackmailing people."

5. Facing such threats and concealment of information (Are they going to deny that we were part of the jury?) we replied them with a copy of the webpage, before it was deleted. And we reiterated that our intention is to clarify this issue by peaceful means. This was never meant as an attack on Illustrative, but a request to find a solution to a problem.

6. Illustrative finally offered a solution: A free booth at the Illustrative exhibition for Belio and two hotel nights. But still no response to all the irregularities.

7. Our intention is NOT to gain personal profit from an "error" and that's why we finally proposed them a solution that regarding our opinion could satisfy both sides and avoid the loss of their supposed prestige:
- Let us see the documents with the jury's votes.
- Give us an answer to the question if and why the voting took place before the previously scheduled dates (1st and 2nd of November).
- Give us access to the same documents voted by the jury and let us select 5 artists who can be part of the exhibition.

8. From this point, time passes and the only answers are vague excuses, "the director is on vacation", "I have no access to such information", "I just have to finish some other projects and then I will work on that", etc. Therefore, after waiting for a whole month to their responses, we have decided not to insist again, to patiently wait for their response and to publish all this until the board of Illustrative and YIA 2010 will clarify this whole issue.


Why did we decide to publish all this?

We consider this issue a lack of respect towards our organization and towards all participants who have paid to submit their work in a competition endowed with a cash prize and which boasts certain international prestige, to develop with such a lack of professionalism and with so many mysterious irregularities. From our perspective they have abused our image to give credibility to these awards and therefore we feel the need to raise awareness within the community of artists and creators about the malfunction of Illustrative and Young Illustration Awards.

To whom it may concern:

For all those who have participated in Illustrative / YIA 2010 (after payment of 30 euros for) can find at the link below a PDF document with the full e.mails exchanged between Belio and Illustrative and a copy of the web where we appear as part of the jury, as evidence of what happened.

PDF DOCUMENTS (5 MB)

Today we present the book published by a regular contributor of Belio: La Larga Sombra (The Long Shadow) by Josep Solé. A dark and decadent book, but also romantic and full of fantasy. A recommendable book for fans of illustration and poetry, which you can get at our on-line store.

La Larga Sombra (The Long Shadow) tells the story of a fantasy world that is very, very similar to ours. Beings who inhabit it are torn between the pages and the real world, looking to define themselves in a white background and without walls, where words are whispers and almost fail to be heard.

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The book "Reality" by the graffiti writer and photographer Jeosm is now on sale at our on-line store. Jeosm has joined passion and professional work in this 118 pages book, a collection of portraits from the spanish urban culture and hip hop scene.

"Reality" is a very personal work with high quality photos which immortalize some of the most important references and characters from one of the strongest cultural movement of our time. Artists like Nach, SFDK, R de Rumba, Duo Kie, Dobleache, Frank T, Darmo, Zpu, Legendario, Zenit, Artes, Sen2, Sholo Truth, Elio Toffana, Zeta, T Cap, El Cerebro, Rapsusklei, Latex Diamond, Mitsuruggy, San, Snow, chema Ama, Ivan Nieto, JC Moreno, Besdo Garsia, etc, etc.

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