Menu
The New Contemporary Art Magazine

Ceslovas Cesnakevicius’ Surrealistic Photos of Wild Animals in the City

Vilnius, Lithuania based photographer Ceslovas Cesnakevicius says that he first got into taking pictures for the purpose of creating his surrealistic photo-manipulations. A browse through his Facebook page will transport you into a dreamy other-world where magic is real; old-timey explorers ride hot air balloons made of puffy white clouds, while men in top hats enjoy a sunny afternoon snooze in paper sail boats. His latest series titled "The Zoo" imagines what it would be like if we shared our every day world with wild animals in whimsical black and white images.

Vilnius, Lithuania based photographer Ceslovas Cesnakevicius says that he first got into taking pictures for the purpose of creating his surrealistic photo-manipulations. A browse through his Facebook page will transport you into a dreamy other-world where magic is real; old-timey explorers ride hot air balloons made of puffy white clouds, while men in top hats enjoy a sunny afternoon snooze in paper sail boats. His latest series titled “The Zoo” imagines what it would be like if we shared our every day world with wild animals in whimsical black and white images. Animals like giraffes, elephants, hippos and herds of zebra join masses of pedestrians crossing busy European streets, patiently standing in line at the subway station, or going record shopping, minding their own business. People pass by them and take no notice, unjaded by their appearance in the city streets and go about their lives in perfect harmony with nature. Cesnakevicius, who took the original photos during a recent trip to London and Amsterdam, says the series reflects his impression of the diversity in those cities, compared to his hometown of Vilnius, where being “different” is not widely accepted. His series serves well to remind us how natural diversity is, and how without it, we would be living in a world of boring “oneness”.

Meta
Share
Facebook
Reddit
Pinterest
Email
Related Articles
Kat Toronto, a.k.a. Miss Meatface, shows her stirring blend of performance art, photography, ceramics, zines, and more in a new exhibition at The Untitled Space in New York. The multidisciplinary artist, who was featured in Hi-Fructose Vol. 47, is offering work that the gallery says spans several years. The gallery says her works “explore cultural ideals of feminine beauty and the objectification of women in a feminist society by toying with the push and pull of dominance and submission, as well as the acts of revealing and concealing.” Her exhibitions runs through July 13.
As a kid, dropping your ice cream on the sidewalk was a moment of bitter disappointment. Michael Massaia makes us remember this childlike feeling of sadness with his photographs of melted ice cream — a feeling that you know is petty yet still breaks your heart. The artist simply places popsicles on black plexiglass and watches them melt over time. The original shape of a Spiderman or Spongebob pop turns into a swirling, oil slick-like pattern of pastel colors. The melted sweets evoke a nostalgic longing for carefree summers on the playground. Ice cream pops, something we hadn't previously given much thought to, turn out to be a pretty powerful sensory symbol.
In Klaus Pichler's intimate and occasionally humorous series "Just the two of us," the photographer costume enthusiasts in their homes. And whether spending time as creatures alongside their own domestic creatures or having a morning coffee, each of the subjects create a surreal scene in their everyday environments.
Korean-American multimedia artist Debbie Han tackles the standard of beauty in her photographs of Neoclassical women. Using photographic manipulation, she combines Greek sculpture with her own subjects to make this parallel. The resulting images bring to life familiar figures to any museum-goer, but bubbling with their own personalities and a special bond, like close girlfriends. Han's work not only makes us think twice about the perception of beauty, but also explores issues of race, culture and identity.

Subscribe to the Hi-Fructose Mailing List