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Let Yourself to be free. fall in love with charcoal

Charcoal drawing is a unique medium that allows you to let go of your fear of white paper, perfectionism, and the fear of starting or finishing a piece. It might make your hands dirty, but that is exactly what you need to let go of control and fear. Everywhere will be messy, and that is part of the process. You can use every kind of charcoal, whether it is a stick, inside the lead of a mechanical pencil, or in powder form, to create dramatic and powerful pieces. You can even mix it with black ink or watercolor to create a dreamy fantasy land. 

There are many good quality charcoal brands available, such as Nitram, General’s, Derwent, and Conte. Each brand offers a range of charcoal types, including vine charcoal, compressed charcoal, and charcoal pencils. Vine charcoal is soft, fragile, and great for laying out initial drawings. Compressed charcoal, on the other hand, is denser and provides a more intense black tone. Charcoal pencils are a combination of vine charcoal and compressed charcoal and are great for detail work. 

When it comes to techniques, one way to start is to hold a piece of charcoal in your hand and put a big enough piece of paper in front of you, one that makes you a little scared. Start by scratching the paper with the largest part of the charcoal. You’ll notice that it produces a dark shade, which is perfect for expressing any negative energy. Then try rubbing the charcoal from here to there with your fingers until your fingers and the whole paper turn black. If you are angry, use the charcoal again and again until you feel better. 

At some point, you might discover some patterns inside the blackness. You can make them more permanent with another piece of charcoal or a lighter eraser. Don’t be afraid to trust your inner being and let your ideas flow naturally. With each stroke, your self-expression will become more apparent. 

If you catch yourself judging your work or yourself, gently rub your other hand and tell yourself to relax and let go. Then, apply more pressure to the charcoal piece over the area where you were judging yourself. Remember, the more you listen to yourself and trust your instincts, the more natural the process will become. Trust the journey, and you’ll find yourself creating self-portraits and expressive pieces without even realizing it. 

In conclusion, charcoal drawing is a powerful medium that allows you to express yourself freely without fear or limitations. With different types of charcoal and techniques, you can create dramatic and powerful pieces that speak to your innermost thoughts and emotions 

Charcoal is a versatile medium that can produce a wide range of effects, depending on the technique used. One of the simplest ways to use charcoal is to simply pick up a stick and make broad, gestural marks on the paper. These marks can be used to establish the overall composition and to create a sense of movement and energy in the drawing. By varying the pressure and angle of the charcoal stick, you can create a range of values, from light to dark, and use this to add depth and dimension to the drawing. 

Another technique that can be used with charcoal is blending. This involves using a blending tool, such as a stump or tortillon, to smudge and soften the charcoal marks. Blending can be used to create a smooth, subtle shading effect or to blend colors together for a more painterly effect. Charcoal can also be combined with other mediums, such as pastel or watercolor, to create unique effects. 

Another popular technique with charcoal is to use a kneaded eraser or a chamois cloth to create highlights and remove areas of charcoal. This can be used to create sharp, crisp edges or to add texture to the drawing. By combining this technique with other techniques, such as blending or layering, you can create a wide range of effects and styles in your charcoal drawings.

It’s also worth noting that there are different types of charcoal available, each with its own unique properties. Vine charcoal, for example, is soft and easy to blend, making it ideal for creating broad, expressive marks. Willow charcoal is slightly harder and produces a darker mark, making it better for creating detailed lines and fine details. Compressed charcoal is even harder and produces a very dark, almost black mark, making it ideal for creating deep shadows and contrast in a drawing. 

Overall, charcoal is a medium that offers a lot of creative possibilities. Whether you’re looking to create bold, expressive marks or delicate, detailed drawings, charcoal can be a versatile and rewarding medium to work with. So why not give it a try and see where your creativity takes you

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I cheat on Time, The joy of working with Acrylics

Acrylics are a versatile and popular medium among artists due to their quick drying time, variety of colors, and ability to adhere to a range of surfaces. However, their quick drying time can also be a disadvantage in certain situations, and it is important to use a middle to good quality acrylic to ensure the best results.

In addition to the traditional methods of painting with acrylics, such as applying it straight from the tube or using a brush, there are a variety of techniques and ways to approach using this medium.

One technique is to use acrylics in a watercolor-like manner, by diluting the paint with water to create translucent washes. This technique is great for creating subtle gradients and layering colors. Another approach is to use acrylics as a glaze, by layering thin, translucent layers of color over a base layer to create a luminous effect.

Acrylics can also be used for impasto painting, where thick layers of paint are applied to the surface to create texture and dimension. This technique is great for creating dramatic, three-dimensional effects, and can be achieved using palette knives, brushes, or other tools.

Another way to approach acrylics is to experiment with various additives and mediums. For example, using a gel medium can add texture and depth to a painting, while a pouring medium can create a smooth, glossy finish. Acrylics can also be mixed with other materials such as sand, glass beads, or even food items like coffee grounds or spices, to create unique textures and effects.

Acrylics can also be used for printmaking, as mentioned earlier, with the added benefit of being able to create multiple prints with the same plate or stencil due to the quick drying time. Screen printing, monoprinting, and linocut printing are all techniques that can be used with acrylics.

Overall, acrylics offer a wide range of possibilities for artists to experiment and create. Whether using traditional techniques or exploring new approaches and mediums, acrylics are a versatile and exciting medium for artists of all levels

How to Open A Metamask Wallet

How to create a MetaMask Wallet

MetaMask is a cryptocurrency wallet used to interact with the Ethereum blockchain. It can be accessed through an app or through a browser extension.

Step 1: Download MetaMask wallet
Go to https://metamask.io/ and click on “Download”. Choose your preferred browser or mobile application and install the MetaMask extension.

MetaMask supports iOS, and Android native apps along with Chrome, Firefox, Brave, and Edge browser extensions.

Step 2: MetaMask wallet installation
Click on the MetaMask extension and click on “Get Started”.

You can either import an existing wallet using the seed phrase or create a new one.

Step 3: How to create a new MetaMask wallet
Click on “Create a Wallet” and on the next window click on “I agree” if you would like to help improve MetaMask or click on “No Thanks” to proceed.

Step 4: Create a strong password for your wallet.

Step 5: Securely store the seed phrase for your wallet
Click on “Click here to reveal secret words” to show the seed phrase.

  • MetaMask requires that you store your seed phrase in a safe place. It is the only way to recover your funds should your device crash or your browser reset. We recommend you write it down. The most common method is to write your 12-word phrase on a piece of paper and store it safely in a place where only you have access. Note: if you lose your seed phrase, MetaMask can’t help you recover your wallet and your funds will be lost forever.
  • Never share your seed phrase or your private key to anyone or any site, unless you want them to have full control over your funds.

Click on “Next”.

Step 6: Seed phrase confirmation
Confirm your secret backup phrase by clicking on each word in the order in which the words were presented on the previous screen. Click on “Confirm” to proceed.

Congratulations! Your MetaMask wallet has been set up successfully.
You can now access your wallet by clicking on the MetaMask icon at the top-right-end corner of your preferred browser.

NFT Open Call Policy

NFT Exhibition Pollicy

Commencement Date means the date on which this Policy shall commence as specified in 1. Schedule

NFT means Non-fungible Token, a unit of data stored on a digital ledger, called a Blockchain, that certifies a digital asset to be unique and therefore not interchangeable;

 Purpose means the limited purpose set out in Schedule 1, for which the Matigan is authorized to use the Art pursuant to this Policy.

Schedule means Schedule 1 to this Policy.

2. Interpretation

2.1 The clause headings are for ease of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation or construction of this Policy. Any reference to an enactment includes reference to it as already amended and induces a reference to any repealed enactment which it may reenact, with or without amendment, and to any future re-enactment and/or amendment of it which modifies, consolidates, or replaces it in whole or in part whether expressly or by implication.

3. Grant of License

3.1 1n consideration of the payments to be made by the Matigan to the Artist under clause 5, the Artist grants to the Matigan unlimited permission to Create an NFT with the above-described Art in perpetuity without expectation of receiving additional compensation.

3.2 Artist retains the right to aim for original authorship of the Artwork as it was created. Matigan will provide credit to Artist whenever possible. Artist relinquishes, the right, to reproduce Artwork as any additional NFT format if found in violation, Matigan may use all options under the law to recoup what it may consider lost revenue.

3.3 Artist can’t sell those pieces as NFT mentioned in the Policy while holding this contract with the gallery.

3.4 This Policy shall automatically terminate with the death of the Artist or the Gallery becomes bankrupt or insolvent.

4. Conditions of Use

4.1 The Matigan undertakes that:

(a) It shall use the Art only in relation to the Purpose specified in Schedule 1.

(b) It shall conform to any statutory or other regulatory requirements in respect of them which may be applicable from time to time within the Territory  including without limitation securing all third-party permissions and clearances as may be necessary to enable the Matigan to exercise the rights granted under this Policy;

(c) It shall not amend. adapt, use or position the Art so as to suggest that the Artist or any of the persons appearing in the Art endorse any commercial product or service or any political party or belief or use tobacco or alcohol or drugs;

(d) Will not distribute, sell, license, or sub-license, let, trade, or expose for sale the Art (other than the NFT) to a third party,

4.2 Nothing contained in this Policy shall entitle the Matigan to use the Art as part of any corporate business or trading name or style of the Matigan.

4.3 The Matigan shall not alter in any way the Art except to the extent absolutely necessary to exercise the rights granted under this Policy provided always that any intellectual property rights arising in respect of the alterations shall vest in the Artist.

4.4 The Matigan shall accord credit on any use or reproduction of the Art in the name of the Artist and shall agree with all other parties who display the Art for the NFT sale that they shall accord us the same credit, However, any inadvertent failure by the Matigan to accord such credit and any failure by any third party to accord such credit shall not comminute a breach of this Policy by Matigan provided that the Matigan uses reasonable endeavors to remedy any such failure that the Artist make the Matigan aware of, as soon as reasonably practicable and on a prospective basis only, provided that the Matigan i, not required to recall any print or other material already ordered nor incur any legal costs or expenses.

4.5 The Art, in its original state, may be photographed or re-produced by Matigan for advertising and marketing purposes. Matigan agrees that all promotions shall be dignified and in keeping with the Artist’s reputation as a respected professional

4.6 The Artist irrevocably grants Matigan the exclusive right to include the Image in its Catalog(s), postcard(s), educational material(s), and inclusion on its website, and for other promotional materials and opportunities.

4.7 The Artist shall have no artistic control over the Matigan’s adaptations or alterations to the Artwork as it relates to this Policy. All adaptation/ alteration decisions shall be made solely by Matigan’s representatives for the purposes of the application outlined in the Scope of Work in this Policy.

4.8 In case of the security issue, hacking, either on Matigan’s website or Rarible’s website the Matigan has no responsibility for any harm occurring.

(a) TERMINATION OF CONTRACT. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Policy, this Policy may be terminated at any time by either Gallery or Artist, by means of notification of termination from either party to the other. Upon the notification of termination, all accounts shall be settled and all unsold Artworks shall be returned. In the event of the Artist’s death, the estate of the Artist shall have the right to terminate the Policy. 

5. Payment

5.1 The fee for participating in the NFT exhibition is 16 euros for the pieces that already participated in the BlackLivesMatter Matigan Online exhibition in 2020. The works would be on sale for an unlimited time until the Matigan or the Artist decides to stop.

The fee covers the time and online space on Matigan.com website,

5.3 After the final sale, the gas fee based on the updated version of Blockchain, the percentage of the Raible and Matigan, and the vat Tax would be deducted, hence the Artist when considering a price for each of the pieces, she should have that in mind. The Artist can ask for suggestions from Matigan.

5.2 The license granted under this Policy will not commence until the receipt of the payment under Clause 5.1 above by the Artist.

5.3 Matigan will have no additional financial liabilities or royalties due to the Artist outside of the agreed-upon license fee and commission.

5.4 The Matigan will receive 22 % of the sale price from the sale of the NFT and Rarible 2.5 %. The Matigan is not responsible for market fluctuations within the Blockchain.

5.5 The Matigan will hold the sale proceeds for the Artist after the sale. The Matigan is required to make payment to the Artist within 7 days from the date of receiving the sale proceeds (after deducting the commission.

5.6 The Fee and Commission set out in Schedule 1 is exclusive of VAT. If the Matigan is obliged by law to deduct a withholding tax on the Fee it will provide the Artist with a valid deduction certificate to enable the Artist to obtain the benefit of any relevant double taxation treaty.

5.7 Artist can set a percentage of loyalty for her works and Matigan will take 0.7 percent.

After the sale, the artist will get the payment in digital currency on the Raible website uses.

6. Warranty and Indemnity

6.1 The Artist warrants and undertakes that:

(a) That the Artist is the exclusive owner of any and all rights in and to the Art and that no other individual or entity may claim any rights, title, and/or interest in and to said, Art;

(b) The Art will contain nothing that will infringe any rights of any third party, nor be contrary to any law, nor does it contain any obscene, blasphemous, or defamatory matter, and its exploitation shall not place any person in contempt of court nor in breach of any provision of any statute; and

(c) The Artist is not aware, having made full and reasonable inquiry, of any claim by any third party that the Art or any preexisting material incorporating the Art or included within the Art, or the exploitation of the Art by either party, has infringed or will infringe any rights of any third party and the Artist agrees that the Artist shall immediately inform the Matigan if the Artist becomes aware of any such claim

6.2 The Artist undertakes and agrees to identify and hold the Matigan harmless from all and any claims, actions, proceedings, demands, obligations, liabilities, losses, costs, charges, damages, fines, judgments, assessments, penalties, and other expenses, incurred or suffered by the Matigan as a result of or arising from any act or omission of the Artist under this Policy, or at law.

6.3 Artist hereby waives in favor of Matigan and all its assignee, and successors in the title all moral rights in the Art to which the Artist may be entitled under the relevant intellectual property regulations as amended from time to time to the extent necessary for us to exploit the license granted under this Policy

7. Ownership

7.1 The Matigan recognizes that the Artist is the sole and exclusive owner in the Territory of all right, title, and interest in the Art and all copies of the Art; and shall not at any time do or suffer to be done any act or thing which is likely to in any way prejudice the Artist’s title.

7.2 The Matigan further agrees that:

 (b) It shall include in its advertisements and other media statements to the effect that the Artist is the owner of the Art.

8. Assignments and Other Dealings

8.1 Neither party shall have the right to assign this Policy without the prior written consent of the other party.

9. Entire Policy

9.1 This Policy contains the entire Policy between the parties regarding the subject matter of this Policy, and there are no other promises or conditions in any other Policy, whether oral or written.

10. Severability

10.1 Each provision of this Policy and each part of any provision shall be severable.

10.2 If any provision or term of this Policy shall become or be declared illegal, invalid, or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever the term or provision shall be devisable from this Policy and shall be deemed to be deleted from this

10.3 If any provision or term of this Policy shall become or be declared illegal, invalid, or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever the term or provision shall be devisable from this Policy and shall be deemed to be deleted from this Policy provided always that if the deletion substantially affects or alters the commercial basis of this Policy the parties shall negotiate in good faith to amend or modify the provisions and terms of this Policy as may be necessary or desirable in the circumstances (such Policy not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed by either party).

11. Waivers and Amendments

11.1 No failure or delay by the Artist in exercising any right, power, or privilege under this Policy including (but not limited to) the right to terminate this Policy under clause 13 shall operate as a waiver of that right, power or privilege, nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Artist of any right, power or privilege preclude any further exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

11.2 The rights and remedies provided for are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights and remedies provided by law,

11.3 No provision of this Policy may be amended, modified, waived, discharged or terminated otherwise than by the express written Policy of the parties to this Policy nor may any breach of any provision of this Policy be waived or discharged except with the express written consent of the party not in breach,

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

12.1. The parties shall use all reasonable endeavors to resolve any dispute amicably and in good faith. This document is governed by and is to be construed in accordance with German law. All disputes controversy, differences, or claims arising out of or in connection with this document, including any question regarding its existence, validity, or termination, or any dispute regarding non-contractual obligations shall be finally settled under the arbitration rules of the Berlin Court of International Arbitration by one or more arbitrators appointed in accordance with the said rules. The seat of Arbitration shall be Berlin.

Matigan Art and Culture NFT Exhibition Open Call

Matigan Art and Culture NFT Exhibition Open Call

Matigan Art and Culture announces its NFT call for artists, creators, musicians, poets, writers, and researchers for a juried online NFT art exhibition! Our theme for this exhibition is What Your Heart sings It’s a free theme and you can use this as a way to express or dream freely, so from wherever you are on this planet, and in whatever medium you are working on, being writing, drawing, painting, sculpture to digital art, photography, video art, music, sound installation, dance, and performance art, you are welcome to send us your artworks, it can be a cry of hopelessness or a sign of love and hope. We make the selected ones into NFT and we present them on our NFT platform Rarible and our other social platforms and website.

This online showcase provides an opportunity to challenge physical art gallery norms as we introduce our new online exhibitions. With an online show, we are able to open up this Artist Call around the world, broaden our art network to include artists across the planet, and extend our experience at Matigan Art and Culture

The jury is considered the pieces in the process of arriving so it’s an ongoing exhibition.

It’s free to participate and the chosen ones will be introduced via our website and social media platforms.

Entry Process:

All entries will be submitted via Email matigan.art@gmail.com, after the jury decides on pieces the pieces will be on Matigan Account as an NFT for sale. Please read our policy for more details and how to open a Crypto wallet the easiest way.

Questions may be directed to Visual Arts Exhibition Manager matigan.art@gmail.com

Deadline: 22/09/2022

ELIGIBILITY:
-Open to any age, working in all traditional and non-traditional 2D and 3D media

-All artwork must be original in concept, design, and execution.

All forms of art in any medium can be sent in digital form
[including text, painting, drawing, illustration, collage, sound recording, multimedia art, photography, vocal poetry, installation, polyphony, dance, performance, sculpture, sound design, textile art]

-Image files should be saved in universal .jpeg format for entry and should be between 1400 pixels and 4000 pixels longest dimension at 300PPI (pixels per inch). Video files should be saved in .mov or .mp4.
-sound/music compositions (preferably on Sound cloud, WAV files preferred, or mp3 320 if longer than 15 min)


-All works will be presented with a picture that must be followed by a description of the work.
-We are accepting up to 7 submissions per artist.
-There are no special qualifications required for entry.

– Matigan Art And Culture is dedicated to exhibiting works of fine art that promote the artist’s artistic ability, vision, and creativity within the traditional and no traditional art forms of 2D and 3D works. In this respect, all artwork should be original and created from conception to completion by the artist’s own hand. No artwork copied from other artists’ work or published photos, or created in an instructional setting is eligible.

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The Berlin Best Art Supply Shop

I’ve been meaning to do this for a long time! Students frequently ask me where they can get art supplies in Berlin. I’m writing it, so I can reassure you that you can have good quality art shops, very cozy and humble in the heart of Berlin.

There are two cute little shops specializing in drawing and painting supplies in Kreuzberg Berlin. they are there for 35 years and they are usually happy to advise you on what to buy, and their prices are reasonable. The Planufer street store specializes in drawing, whereas Dieffenbachstr specializes in painting. If you need to visit both locations, it’s only a couple of minutes short walk.

They have various quality oil paints, acrylics, pastels, color pigments, ink, cardboard, and all sorts of canvases from cotton to linen and the good thing is that they cut them for you. You don’t need to buy the whole roll.

The first time I wanted to buy oil paint, I went to different shops in Berlin, but somehow this shop was where I bought my canvas and oil paints. they are super friendly and very knowledgeable about the artistic process and they even give me the last drops of their Terebentin so I can try out and experiment with making oil paint from pigments.

In addition to all the above, Kreuzburg itself is one of the most Berliner vibe neighborhoods. If you go to the shops you can walk around the streets. There is an open market with middle eastern foods nearby on Fridays, the is a river that can walk along it so many Berliner cool and cozy cafes.

• Planufer 96 & Dieffenbachstrasse 16, 10967 Berlin Kreuzberg

• Telefon: 030 / 691 29 43

• Hours: Mo-Fr 10-6pm, Sa 11-4pm

http://www.cym-kunstmalerbedarf.de/

Black_Lives_Matter_Matigan_Exhibition_Video_Photography_Design

This is Gallery B where you can see the collection of video art, photography and design. Click on Gallery A for seeing the collection of painting, drawing, sculpture and mixed media and on Meet The Artists for getting to know our artists.

Execution of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 in the middle of the day and in front of the whole world was one of the clearest evidence of racism and brutality based on color, in 21 century. We clearly saw that human beings are still being tortured and killed for what they are and they didn’t choose themselves, it was such a shock for the humanity for the simple fact that it was captured on cameras.

Discrimination is utterly ugly and wrong but clearly on paper because in reality people are still being targets of it in any form.  We hope that in time human beings and mostly political systems reach to an understanding of how to stop this violence, but until then at Matigan as always we tend to translate the common universal feelings through art and the heart of our artists.

Sylvain Souklaye

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

This is not a performance. This my life, maybe yours.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

This is my first memory of my first police contact, it may also be yours.

”More”

After church, I was running back home, I was just a child.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

I was just there. I was me. I was breathing. I was alive.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

For them, I was not a minor, I was an error.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

I relive it every time I cross the path of an officer.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

Police protect your safety at the cost of your liberty.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

Police is the constitutional weapon of governmental policy.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

Governmental policies against me, you, the former migrant.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

The outcast, the outsider, the foreigner, the other.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

The faceless, nameless, anonymous, insignificant, the many.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

Because good people just talk, never act. I am the enemy.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

Many times has my head hit the ground, I thought I would die.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

How many have died? How many will die?

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

Some can’t take it anymore and commit suicide.

It is not a safe space. We are not safe. I’m not safe.

Legal terrorism. Casual genocide.

Breathe for the forgotten.

Breathe for you.

Breathe for those who can’t.

Breathe for us.

And do not stop.

“This is our space. This is our time. This is our fight.

For all the bodies, minds and souls that don’t follow the right corpus.”

”Less”

Barry Despenza

  1.  Animation_Of_Digital_Human_Face
  2.  Psychical Distance

Alice Mason

Black Lives Matter Protest 2020.

Maundy Mitchell

Maundy Mitchell is an internationally acclaimed portrait photographer and Associate Level Photographer with The Portrait Masters International. She runs her portrait studio, Maundy Mitchell Photography, in Plymouth, NH. Her photos have been published in magazines, on billboards, and online nationally and internationally.

”More”

She is a member of the Professional Photographer’s Association of America, the National Association of Professional Child Photographers, the Magic Hour Foundation Photographer Network, and the Women’s Caucus for Art in New Hampshire. She holds a trademark on the phrase, “People are Beautiful”, which is her core belief as a photographer.

”Less”

Jota Ramos

The title “Spricht Dieser Körper Deutsch?” makes reference to the book “Spricht die Subalterne deutsch?” organized by Encarnación Gutiérrez Rodríguez, Hito Steyerl (2003) that traces narratives about post-colonialism and the idea that, even today, theoretical and artistic approaches that come from the history of migration and minority are almost never taken into.

Tzen Xing

The recent killing of George Floyd on May 29th by a racist white cop sparked the largest uprising for racial justice in America.  Over 20 million Americans marched in 2000 cities to protest the brutal killings of Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many other black people.

”More”

 The media reported that over 17,000 protestors were arrested in the first 2 weeks in June for mainly non-violent actions like curfew violation.  Many of the protests lasted for days, even months.  Although it took awhile for me to overcome my fear of the corona virus, I was determined to join the protestors out in the streets. I could no longer be a spectator.  Resisting in the streets was liberating; it felt like the right thing to do. 

Protesting and photographing out in the streets for Black Lives Matter were incredibly visceral experiences, intense, immediate and dangerous. The police reacted with violence, treating us as the “enemy” rather than civilians with the right to protest, protected by the 1st Amendment.  They shot tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and projectiles at us with little or no provocation. They bull rushed and beat us, often without warning. All of us were attacked, “moms and dads,” doctors, nurses, teachers, military veterans, the media, medics, students, workers, anarchists, progressives, young and old. Many of us were afraid, and badly injured, but we kept protesting. Trying to photograph the protests was a real challenge. I quickly discovered that all I had learned about street photography was useless. I relied on my instincts to keep photographing while I was running, my eyes burning with tear gas.  The situations were volatile, chaotic and unpredictable. One moment, we were marching peacefully down the streets, shouting “Black Lives Matter.” Moments later, we were running, screaming, choking and crying while tear gas and flash bang grenades exploded in the streets  It was terrifying and disorienting. I don’t know how I managed to keep photographing through the thick fogs of tear gas, smoke and stun grenades in the streets. I guess I was lucky..  I hope my images of the BLM protests help to tell our story, our history, our fight for justice.  We lit the fire, and we will keep it burning.

”Less”

Antonis Tsarouchas

Masks of life   This piece showcase the masks that people of color must wear, in order to function under the systemic racism and oppression of society. Covered in black and white hiding every culture and emotions that dont “fit” in the society.

White America I dont think that i have to explain that photo. I think it says it all.

Iris Houkes

The series INEQUALITY has arised from my interest in ‘the current zeitgeist’, in which race, gender, se xuality and class still are mayor issues. The technique I use is based on the ‘paper waving’ technique which was part of the schooling methods of Friedrich Fröbel, founder of the first ever ‘kindergarten’, in 1837. He believed in divine unity in nature, at which he applied physical training as a fundamental principle.

”More”

According to Fröbel, ‘Paper waving’ was an excellent method to get toddlers acquainted with abstract structures. By applying this technique in this series, the contrast between form and content is strengthened. Fröbel, ‘Paper waving’ was an excellent method to get toddlers acquainted with abstract structures. By applying this technique in this series, the contrast between form and content is strengthened.

Series/ INEQUALITY
Image 1 and 2/ Kids aren’t born racist (2020)
5600 x 4200 mm / 1600 gr / Paper on MDF board
Form and tekst ask attention for the childlike innocence within the subject ‘equality’.

Image 5 and 6/ Take action (2020)
3400 mm x 1900 mm / 400 gr / paper on cartonboard
Form and tekst challenge to take action.

”Less”

Marieke-Vreeken

Oath of dishonor”

“Oath of dishonor” depicts the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor, spelled out by the names of people of color who have fallen victim to police brutality in the United States. It explores how hollow those honorable words ring, when mourning communities are forced, yet again, to #saytheirname. It provides an ugly glimpse of the systemic oppression of those who are already dealing with plenty of ancestral scars, at the hands of those who are meant to serve and protect. Perhaps even more painful than the stark contrast between words and actions that this piece reflects, is the realization that the names portrayed are merely the tip of the iceberg. This juxtaposition between “what is” and “what should be” visualizes how far we have strayed from the embodiment of those honorable words, or how, perhaps, we were never truly there to begin with. 

Upcoming Exhibitions

Matigan is having an exhibition in Berlin this summer. This exhibition will feature various artists working in the mediums of photography, painting, drawing, printmaking, and digital art. Time and date are to be determined, stay tuned for details.

Apply For Virtual Exhibitions

The Matigan is now welcoming submissions for its upcoming online exhibition. This exhibition will feature works by artists in the mediums of painting, drawing, installation art, printmaking, performance, photography, digital art, sculpture, video, mixed media, textiles, and sculpture of any medium. If you are interested in contributing to our online exhibition, please contact us via email at Matigan.art@gmail.com. In the subject of the email, please write “Virtual Exhibition”. In the body of the email, provide us with detailed information of who is applying for the virtual exhibition and share with us your art and your ideas for a possibility to not only collaborate with Matigan, but to sell your art worldwide.