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All auctions / Sports & Leisure / Æ (XX-XXI) - BUNDLE!! Totoro: Wonder · Stillness ·...
BUNDLE!! You are bidding on a set of 3 individually hand-finished mixed-media artworks by Æ, inspired by the magical world of Totoro and reimagined through the visual language of vintage Japanese publishing, underground print culture and monochromatic graphic art. Wonder · Stillness · Encounter — Three moments. One magical presence. Each artwork is individually worked and finished by hand by the artist using spray paint and pastel crayons over the original ink-inspired composition. These hand-applied interventions create subtle differences in texture, density, markings and tonal character, making every example a unique variation within an exceptionally small limited edition of only 4. ◉ Set of 3 hand-finished mixed-media artworks — total size 37 × 66 cm; each artwork measures 37 × 22 cm. ◉ Individually hand-finished by Æ using spray paint and pastel crayons. ◉ Very limited edition of only 4 unique hand-finished variations — no two examples are exactly alike. ◉ Each artwork is hand-signed and individually numbered by the artist. ◉ Created on acid-free Hahnemühle rice paper for Sumi-e (Japanese black-ink painting), selected for its delicate texture and expressive response to ink and mixed media. ◉ Authenticated by an included Certificate of Authenticity with holographic security seal. ◉ Officially registered in the artist’s catalogue with its corresponding individual catalogue/registration ID. HAND-FINISHED — ONLY 4 UNIQUE VARIATIONS These artworks are not simply reproduced images. The ink-inspired foundation of each composition is subsequently worked individually by hand, with Æ applying spray paint and pastel crayons directly to the surface. This manual finishing process introduces subtle variations in marks, textures, tonal density and surface character. Every artwork therefore develops its own physical identity, making each three-piece set a unique variation within the edition. With an edition restricted to just 4 hand-finished variations, this is one of the artist’s smallest editions, combining a consistent visual concept with the individuality of direct hand intervention on every piece. TOTORO — WONDER · STILLNESS · ENCOUNTER Some imaginary worlds are remembered not for spectacle, but for atmosphere — rain falling through trees, a quiet room, flowers in the forest and the unexpected appearance of something impossible. This three-piece series approaches Totoro through precisely those moments. Rather than presenting the character simply as an icon of animation, Æ places Totoro within three intimate environments exploring wonder, stillness and encounter. In the first composition, Totoro waits beneath an umbrella in the rain. Surrounded by dense vegetation and the quiet atmosphere of a rural bus stop, the scene evokes one of the most recognizable sensations associated with the character: the extraordinary appearing naturally within an ordinary moment. The second composition moves deeper into the forest. Totoro emerges among flowers and organic forms while the surrounding graphic patterns become increasingly dreamlike. The image exists somewhere between a woodland encounter, a childhood memory and a page from an imaginary vintage Japanese publication. The third artwork brings Totoro indoors. Sitting quietly within a domestic room beside a child, the enormous forest spirit appears completely at ease among furniture, books and everyday objects. Here, the fantastic does not invade ordinary life — it simply becomes part of it. Together, the three works form a progression from rainy encounter to forest wonder to domestic stillness. Æ reinterprets these gentle scenes through a deliberately tactile monochrome aesthetic influenced by Japanese graphic design, vintage manga publishing, underground e-zines, woodblock print traditions and analogue print culture. Large Japanese typography, distressed blacks, halftone textures, imperfect ink, cross-hatching and worn printed surfaces give the images the appearance of pages discovered in an unusual archival Japanese publication. This rough visual treatment creates a deliberate contrast with the warmth and innocence of the subject. Totoro remains immediately familiar, but the surrounding graphic language gives the character a more mysterious and timeless presence. Across all three compositions, nature and domestic space become equally important. Trees, rain, flowers, wood, furniture and quiet interiors establish environments where the boundary between everyday reality and imagination becomes almost invisible. At the centre of each scene is the same calm presence: Totoro — enormous yet gentle, mysterious yet reassuring, fantastic yet strangely familiar. The resulting set sits somewhere between Japanese storybook, underground e-zine, vintage manga page and remembered childhood dream. Wonder · Stillness · Encounter. Three moments. One magical presence. ABOUT THE ARTIST Artist and designer Æ (Spain, b. 1977) holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Design and Multimedia Technologies (Barcelona, 2004) and a Bachelor’s Degree in East Asian Studies. Deeply influenced by Japanese graphic design, science fiction, conceptual art, underground publishing and the visual language of late-20th-century popular culture, he has developed a distinctive monochromatic aesthetic combining contemporary composition with analogue artistic techniques. His hand-finished mixed-media artworks are characterized by strong black-and-white contrasts, distressed surfaces, carefully selected imagery and direct hand-applied interventions. His work explores the dialogue between light and darkness, familiarity and mystery, nostalgia and imagination. Æ’s artworks can now be found in private collections in more than 30 countries worldwide, including The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Every artwork in this set has been individually hand-finished, hand-signed and numbered by Æ, giving the collector not simply another identical example from an edition, but one of only 4 unique hand-finished variations of the work. * All photographs represent the artworks as accurately as possible. Slight variations may occur due to differences in lighting and monitor settings. ** Immediate shipping after payment, with appropriate insurance and tracking. Please do not hesitate to contact me for any additional information. *** The frame shown in presentation photographs, if present, is for display and framing inspiration only and is not included. Combined shipping is available when purchasing multiple artworks to help minimize shipping costs. We are a PRO and TOP seller with 100% positive feedback, so you can bid with confidence. Every artwork is carefully packaged with protective materials and extra care.
Estimate:$1.13
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Estimate:
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