Vintage visual
Chloe Dewe Mathews (British, b. 1982) Vebranden-Molen, West-Vlaanderen 2013 Soldat Ahmed ben Mohammed el Yadjizy Soldat Ali ben Ahmed ben Frej ben Khelil Soldat Hassen ben Ali ben Guerra el Amolani Soldat Mohammed Ould Mohammed ben Ahmed 17:00 / 15 mutiara234.com/.12.1914 From the series Shot at Dawn © Chloe Dewe Mathews
Dr Marcus Bunyan is an Australian artist and writer. His art work explores the boundaries of identity and place. He curates Art Blart, art and cultural memory archive, which posts mainly photography exhibitions from around the world. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from RMIT University, Melbourne, Master of Arts (Fine Art Photography) from RMIT University, and Master of Art Curatorship from the University of Melbourne.
Vonnegut was a prisoner of war in Dresden when what he called ‘possibly the world’s most beautiful city’ was destroyed by incendiary bombs, and struggled to write his war book for almost 25 years. Kawada was a young photographer working in post-war Hiroshima when he began to take the strange photographs of the scarred, stained ceiling of the A-bomb Dome – the only building to survive the explosion – that he would eventually publish on August 6 1965, 20 years to the day since the atomic bomb was dropped on the city.
Theatrical artwork
Behind the scenes, theatre is a complex art form rooted in ancient traditions that continue to evolve. The foundations of theatre art were laid in Greece, but throughout history, it has adapted to reflect the changing tastes and cultural narratives of societies around the world. Modern theatre continues to explore new narratives, methods, and technology, thus constantly redefining the boundaries of performance and audience engagement. This persistent transformation keeps theatre a relevant and dynamic form of cultural commentary and creative expression.
Theatre has a long-standing relationship with societal commentary, and that hasn’t changed. Now, the focus frequently shifts towards contemporary social issues, and cultural representation has become a crucial part of modern productions. Theatrical pieces openly tackle subjects of restoration and change within societies, leveraging the intimate connection between actors and spectators to prompt reflection and dialogue.
Venues increased in size, too. Covent Garden Theatre had a capacity of 1,000 when it was constructed in the 1730s, making it the largest theatre London had ever seen. By the end of the century, after several rebuilds, capacity had increased to 3,000.
In a theatre production, the hierarchy of roles from the director to the stage manager orchestrates the ensemble of actors and actresses to breathe life into the performance. The theatre company encompasses a collection of individuals, each with specialized tasks, managed and unified by the director to achieve a coherent vision.
Garrick, in particular, paid close attention to artworks such as the Raphael cartoons (which were on public view at Hampton Court Palace) and developed a large repertoire of poses from them for the stage. This was key when it came to pioneering his bold, new style of acting.
Vintage graphic
America artist Shag, aka Josh Agle, has carved a career creating slick paintings in the style of early 60s advertising. Populated by sharp businessmen and skinny women drinking martinis, his retro illustrations have attracted the eye of big-name clients like Disney over the years.
When he isn’t creating or commissioning stunning artwork for movies and magazines, The Church of London creative director Timba Smits can be found making retro illustrations for an eclectic range of projects. His portfolio is packed with retro posters, logos, graphic design and vintage illustrations.
Nebraska-based Matt Carlson regularly updates his Dribbble account with inspiring retro and vintage-inspired artwork. The freelance illustrator and graphic designer specializes in warm, nostalgic scenes with charming color palettes and stunning textures.
Emulate the look with a warm color palette of oranges and browns, and mix photography in with vector graphics for a look that feels authentically seventies. This flyer template plays up the nostalgic qualities of the era, mimicking the look of an old-school record sleeve.