Welcome to your September edition of Signified

Art serves as a wonderful topic for discussion. Why not share this newsletter with someone who shares your passion for art?

Exciting News! Our editor, Remy Dean, has been acknowledged for maintaining high standards at Signifier and has joined the Medium Boost Nomination Pilot team. While Remy can nominate articles on art, design, and media from across Medium, submissions to Signifier are more likely to catch his eye. If you are a writer with a compelling story suitable for Signifier or a creative looking to exhibit your art in our : six : shot : gallery, guidelines can be found at the end of this newsletter.

Sri Prabha on ‘Resonator — Reanimator’

> “Like Carl Sagan would say, ‘we are made of star stuff.’ This work references all the cosmic events that shaped us. It emphasizes that we can draw on these elements to embark on new experiences that are uniquely our own, rooted in the universal aspects we all share…”

Continue exploring the art at : six : shot : gallery.

‘The Ghost of Oyuki’ and Her Twin

In this section, we delve into the portrayal of Japanese ghosts and examine how one artist has influenced their depiction for centuries. A notable feature is their lack of legs, where the ghostly form fades before reaching the ground, suggesting a severance from the physical realm. This belief traces back to an era when ghosts were widely accepted as real.

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Dürer and Jerome: Being Human

Dürer was a master at maximizing the potential of his medium to create remarkable artworks. His engravings are still lauded as some of the finest ever produced, setting a standard for future artists. The Humanist, Erasmus, remarked that Dürer’s monochrome engravings depict the ineffable—fire, rays of light, and storms.

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‘Dark Beauty and Almost Spectral Luminosity’ — the Art of Harry Clarke

The Geneva Window (1930) was initially commissioned for the International Labour Court in Geneva by the Irish government but was rejected due to its risqué content. This piece showcases figures from Ireland's literary heritage in striking blues, reds, and intricate details, blending history with fiction.

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Ferrous Friend or Foe?

Those familiar with Disney's 2014 film Maleficent will recognize that iron is harmful to fairies and can restrain dragons. Iron was once favored for children's beds, believed to protect infants from being taken by fairies. In folklore, iron bands around the coffins of witches or vampires were thought to prevent their escape.

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Kachina Dolls: Ancient Spirits, Modern Art

Kachinas embody the spirits of living beings and natural events, as well as complex abstract ideas. They dwell among ancestral ‘ghosts’ who possess vital ancient knowledge and bestow blessings on their descendants. Central to various Native American cultures, especially among the Hopi, Zuni, and other Pueblo tribes, Kachinas are viewed as benevolent elemental spirits.

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Walking the Line (off the page and into the world)

While Paul Klee was teaching at the Bauhaus, his idea of taking a line for a walk had a significant impact. The Bauhaus metal shop was the first to utilize tubular steel for furniture, notably the 1925 design by Hungarian architect, Marcel Breuer, known as ‘The Wassily Chair,’ approved by Kandinsky.

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Bent into Shape: the Ant Chair

Arne Jacobsen preferred the title of architect, believing furniture design was integral to architecture. He gained international acclaim for his high-profile projects and maintained that the same design principles should apply across all environments, aligning with Bauhaus philosophies.

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Are You Sitting Comfortably?

In 1950, Herman Miller introduced the Armchair, followed by the Side Chair in 1951. The latter was more challenging due to the absence of armrests for support. While resolving issues with the armless Fibreglass Side Chair, Charles Eames drew inspiration from the honest design of steel wire products like trays and baskets.

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Our Redbubble online store features three collections of artistically curated items, including a button badge of our unique Signifier/Signified diagram for media theorists and semiotics students!

If you know anyone who appreciates “imaginative fiction at its best,” consider recommending or purchasing their latest novels from the series, This, That, and The Other, authored by Remy Dean and Zel Cariad, published by The Red Sparrow Press.

“Bursting at the seams with magic!”

> “Will be enjoyed by fantasy fans of all ages, especially those who cherish classics like the ‘Narnia’ saga.”