Ornate Porcelain Skulls by Katsuyo Aoki, The Predictive Dream Series.

Japanese artist Katsuyo Aoki has been working in ceramic for several years. Her Predictive Dream Series was brought to my attention by the fabulous Gblog. The series consists sculptural skulls rendered as intricately worked porcelain pieces that are simultaneously demonic and delicate.



















Artist Statement:
Currently, I use ceramics as my material in my method of expression, incorporating various decorative styles, patterns, and symbolic forms as my principal axis in creating my works.

The decorative styles and forms I allude to and incorporate in my works each contain a story based on historical backgrounds and ideas, myths, and allegories.Their existence in the present age makes us feel many things,; adoration, some sort of romantic emotions, a sense of unfruitfulness and languor from their excessiveness and vulgarity.



And on the other hand, they make us feel tranquility and awe that can almost be described as religious, as well as an image as an object of worship. By citing such images, I feel I am able to express an - atmosphere- that is a part of the complex world in this age.

In fact, the several decorative styles and forms I cite simultaneously hold divine and vulgar meaning in the present age, having an irrational quality that contradict each other, which I feel express an important aspect in the contemporary age in which we live.

Also, the technique of ceramics has a tradition that has been a part of the history of decoration over a long time, and I feel the delicateness and fragile tension of the substantial material well express my concept.



Katsuyo Aoki is represented by Roentgenwerke Gallery

A Macabre Mouthful. Beautiful Silver Skull Spoons By Tom Sale aka Pinky Diablo.

Combining the imagery of death with an instrument used to nourish is an artistic juxtaposition found in the hand-crafted spoons by Dallas artist Pinky Diablo, aka Tom Sale. He has taken vintage silverplate and sterling silver spoons of various sizes and creatively turned them into Skull Spoons, or Skoons, if you will.






The original and individual skulls spoons vary in size, texture and some even have engraved words on the back. Some have a twist in the handle, some are teaspoons, others are serving spoons. And in addition to the human skulls, Tom has created cow and cattle skull spoons as well. Each has what appears to be either a bullet hole or a gash in the heads of the skulls (undoubtedly the cause of death).








Now, I wouldn't attempt to eat peas with these suckers, but you can display them in a shadow box, on a table or simply suspend them from a string like the artist has exhibited them:



If you'd like a spoonful of spookiness, the individual pieces of flatware, which are only $45 a piece, can be ordered directly from the artist via e-mail. He will choose the skull spoon for you. I can't wait to see what he sends me!

all images in this post are courtesy of artist Tom Sale

The 100 Hour / 38 Day Skull Drawing.

Illustrator Jacob Dahlstrup took 38 days and 100 hours to complete this pencil drawing of a skull made up of detailed floral and plant life.




video:


Pencil on paper. duration: 38 days/100 hours.
175cm x 150cm
High Quality Poster B1 format 200 grms (100x70cm)
kr 40.00
buy it here (paypal only)

http://www.jacobdahlstrup.com

SKULLMATES By Luke Twigger

Okay, so there's another yet artist who has created a series of skulls. Big deal, right? But Luke Twigger's Skullmates also function as tabletop storage. More than just a decorative item, the glazed earthenware skull has a removable 'brain' made of vintage fabrics.



Embellished with high quality transfers and the occasional spot of gold lustre, the skulls can hold anything from buttons to pasta.




Note that they are not dishwasher safe, so if you choose to eat from them, you'll have to hand wash them.



Each Skullmate is lovingly handmade and comes numbered and signed.




'The Skullmate' (2009), shown above is made of glazed earthenware, ceramic transfers, gold lustre, vintage fabric, stuffing and measures 4.5" x 5". You can buy it here.

The Skullmate/City Edition celebrates and reflects its surroundings, this could be cultural, mythical or just purely beautiful.



The first in a brand new series of Skullmates, The Skullmate/City Edition/Nottingham nods its head toward the City's most famous darling, Robin Hood. Using gorgeous, forest green, vintage woolen fabric to create the cushion, complete with natural feathers; it's definitely more stylish than his band of merry men:








To inquire about purchasing The Skullmate City Edition Nottingham, contact Luke Twigger.

• Also worth nothing are his wonderful wall mounted vases, "All Deer, No Antlers" in which you can place flowers where the antlers would be on a earthenware mounted animal head.

All Dear, No Antlers (pink), 2009:


All Dear, No Antlers (romance), 2009:


Both the above are created in editions of 9 and are available from Opus Interiors.

See more of Luke Twigger's work here.