Since its inception in 2001, Faesthetic has grown from a photocopied zine into a high-quality Arts magazine with international participation and readership. Originally an annual, they now release three issues a year. Never to be taken too seriously, Faesthetic is made by artists, for artists (BAFA vice FUBU). Not so much eye candy, as it is brain candy, Faesthetic supports making art for art’s sake. From day one, their aim has remained the same: to provide an affordable, original and accessible showcase for some of the best creativity and new art the world has to offer.

As their community and circulation continue to grow, so does their commitment to quality and concept. Faesthetic invites everyone to take a look at their finely crafted magazine, check out the blog, and even buy some of the stuff in their store. Having just stumbled across this great slice of the intertubes, we at HC2 have already made this one of our favorite regular destinations. Props to the people that make Faesthetic what it is…awesome!

What will alien lifeforms make of our obsession with bumper stickers and related paraphernalia? That is the question of the day. I can still remember my first introduction to the Jesus fish, and subsequent versions including the Darwin fish, Linux shark, and evolution monkey-fish-frog. You’ve probably seen them all hiding in plain sight, but have you ever seen a radical person vandalizing an automobile with a Darwin fish on it? Many crimes are committed in Walmart parking lots, and being a witness to such an event is always a great way to make friends with the authorities. Enter in the newest deviation, which is a rocket ship-shaped fish, with the word “science” displayed for all the world to see. Something tells me the evolution, linux and Darwin emblem owners aren’t going to have a problem with this one.

I can’t remember the last time we unearthed art that was this dark and disturbing. Like a moth that is morbidly attracted to a light, we can’t get enough of Ryohei Hase. This Japanese illustrator has worked with the likes of Mercedes Benz UK, Baileys, 3M, as well as on video games including the popular title Soulcalibur3. Considering the quality of his work, it’s no surprise that he’s been hand picked by such a diverse range of clients, however it’s somewhat surprising given the violent and depressing trend that runs through most pieces. Not the sort of marketing tool one typically uses to sell automobiles and alcohol.

Hase admits that “he wants his work to have certain contrary elements. His characters are grotesque, but also somewhat beautiful. They are sometimes scary but otherwise adorable. Your impression of his work depends on how you look at it.” I suppose it all comes back to the fact that his work is painstakingly crafted, and symbolic of much more than the initial waves of violence depicted on the surface. In any case, we dig it!

Wow, is it 80′s week at HC2? Not a bad idea, but this is purely a coincide I swear. Today’s feature comes from Olly Moss, an English graphic designer who decided to pair two of my favorite things: 80′s film and television villains, and firearm targets. I’m sure you’ll agree that this is a match made in heaven. Aren’t we so over shooting those Osama cutouts? Time to upgrade to Darth Vader, Freddy, Godzilla, Agent Smith and so many more! That said, and I hate to be the voice of reason, but I doubt any firearm in the world could ever knock any of these goons out. I mean Godzilla would squash you, Freddy controls your dreams…so your gun would turn into a fish the moment you pulled the triger, and Agent Smith would simply go all bullet time on you. Still, for those of you living in the real world…

Today’s post is pretty self explanatory. The best example of marketing embedded in a movie in the 1980′s would have to be awarded to a little film called E.T., where the lead pined for a little treat known as Reese’s Pieces. At the risk of dating myself, I can still remember seeing this movie at the drive-in many moons ago, and it (as well as Reese’s Pieces, and Drew Barrymore) still hold a special place in my heart. Without further adieu, Scott Campbell has unleashed E.T. on the likes of Soundwave, Hungry Hungry Hippo, He Man and more. Check out his amazing prints over at Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight. If only I could decide which one I want to order for my office. They’re all really awesome!

Excerpts from the Fecal Face vs Mike Giant interview to follow. Needless to say you either love or hate tattoos, but regardless of where you fall, you have to appreciate the artists behind the ink. Mike Giant is one that you won’t soon forget, as his work is simply the best. Often imitated, but never duplicated. Regarding the plagiarism of his work, Mike “can’t be mad at biters anymore. Being a biter is it’s own punishment. To me it just shows a lack of depth and history. Copycats don’t get props. OGs get props. If you don’t come with your own shit, you’re wasting your time. Of course, taking influence from the things around you is cool, and important. Biting to me is really particular. It’s so obvious, and childish, and unenlightened.”

Regarding whether or not the trappings of the hipster are played out, Giant Mike says: “I’m a “grandpa hipster”, and it suits me just fine. And after dedicating almost 20 years to writing graffiti, I hope it never dies. And as for track bikes, there have been hip, cocky young men and women riding them around the streets of San Francisco for over 100 years! Look it up. None of this stuff is played out, dead, or otherwise. It’s ongoing. You’ll see for yourself as you get older. The next thing will simply be a remix of shit from the past, because none of us are really all that imaginative anyway.” Check out the full interview at Fecal Face.

I have to admit that it’s been way too long since I actually played a first person shooter, or any game on the computer since going through my HL2 phase a few years ago. Friends would call, and I would make up excuses such as washing my hair, counting my loose change and so forth. Needless to say I was weaned off of the headcrab teet, and now I only casually game with my Nintendo Wii. To think of all the time I have to blog, and experience real life now that my virtual crowbar has been safely stowed in the overhead compartment. In any case, I came across some sample footage of “The Unfinished Swan“, which is essentially a black and white first person shooter that is unlike anything I have ever seen. Violence doesn’t even factor into the equation, as the design is truly breathtaking.

By now you’ve seen and maybe even worn the popular Obama design by Obey Giant’s Shepard Fairey. It became the most recognizable endorsement from the artistic community at large, as it exploded across mainstream media channels, and ended up in my wardrobe. As the excitement climbs over Obama’s inauguration, another sub-cultural icon has produced the next generation of Obama’s artistic image. Dubbed, Abraham Obama, Ron English’s work is a brilliant mashup of Barack and Abe Lincoln. You can bet you’ll see Abrham Obama all over the place, although maybe not as much as Fairey’s perfectly timed election image. Even so, it says great things about the potential so many people see in the President-elect. As a special treat, we’ve also added another image (artist unknown) that depicts what Abraham Lincoln would look like if he didn’t have a beard. Less cuddly than the bearded man you know and love.

Chuck Anderson is a freelance designer with an busting list of impressive clients, or should I say, happy customers. From CD artwork for performers including Lupe Fiasco, Fall Out Boy and Kaskade, to Threadless tees, as well as ads and products for brands such as Upper Playground, Reebok, Absolut, SXSW, Jackson Hole Film Fest etc… he’s done it all. His style isn’t something that you can easily define, as it is a mix of cartoon pop, vector funk and glowing photography. Safe to say that each piece stands out from his overall body of work, and is certainly the “inspiration” for numerous marketing teams around the world.

Anderson has just released a new book titled “Wandering Off Into Space“, which is essentially a glorified coffee table book containing 64 pages of his finest work spanning 2005 to 2008. That might sound harsh, but I would have liked to have seen more amplifying text, explaining his work, process and general philosophy on life. The fact that this product does not kick start your brain beyond pretty visuals might deter fringe enthusiasts from purchasing it. Otherwise, for die hard and new found fans, at $25 a pop, Wandering Off Into Space is a painless addition to your collection.

While browsing the threads at Magic Pony last summer, my partner came across an amazing tee with a gigantic deer rampaging some urban metropolis. The shirt has stood up well, and received numerous compliments, however we were never able to pin point the origin of the art work. Recently we received a hot tip that Pietari Posti might be responsible for the design, and after some quick digging around we were able to put a name to the design. The urban deer is one of many pieces produced for his GIANTS! exhibit.

Posti art is created for editorial, publishing, products and advertising. A graduate from Lahti Polytechnic, he worked at a few firms before setting off on his own, and now boasts a client list that includes: The New York Times, Playboy, Wired, Dwell, and many more. So, even if you don’t necessarily recognize his work, it’s probably safe to say that you’ve probably been exposed to something he’s made. Check out his site for a more in depth look at his growing portfolio and modest shop.

Laurie Hogin engages with topics of continuing interest to her, including a discussion on the meanings of representation, beauty, the history of painting, and a critique of various other cultural mythologies. Representations of nature, animal life, consumerism, advertising and the media are all present. Laurie Hogin’s allegorical canvases of faulty fauna, mutant fruit and brand-loyal monkeys suggest the lavishness and opulent detail of the 17th through 19th century European traditions to which they refer, but these painterly flourishes and delicate details belie subversive cultural critique.

Frequently humorous images of snarling bunnies, fabulously feathered bird-creatures, mutant deer and fashion model monkeys are encoded with political and cultural messages that are meant to critique commonly held attitudes and cultural beliefs in our contemporary consumerist culture. Hogin contends that the history of European painting, since the rise of the merchant class in the 16th century, represents the history of Western attitudes towards the subjects depicted, including beauty, wealth, domestic life and romantic transcendence, as well as human dominion over nature. These attitudes persist, even as our means of representing them has expanded, and are part of our daily cultural currency. Hogin’s mission is to employ a seductive exposition of nostalgic, painterly celebrations of beauty, romantic allegory and pastoral idyll in order to reveal the ideologies in these visual forms.

Here is an incredible papercraft recreation of Han Solo’s famous ship, the Millennium Falcon. The detail is extraordinary and true to Lucas’ cinematic vision. This is a great project for inmates with a penchant for science fiction, or any young Jedi who has no desire to kiss Wookies in his teen years. If you’ve got all the time in the world to pull this off, we are both jealous and sad that you will miss out on all there is to do in 2009 and beyond.

Some sculptors work with marble, while others use less expensive materials ranging from paper to discarded refuse. As it is the new year, and seeing how we’re always about featuring things that are shiny and new, Vinti Andrews custom sculptures are ripe for a feature. His work is truly awesome, but the most important aspect of his sculptures is the material he relies on. Running shoes! With recent works including ‘The Dunk Dog’ and ‘Air Max 90 Dog’, you can bet you’ll be seeing more of him in the future, but just get your hopes up about buying anything he’s made. Unique usually means pricey, although I am certain that there are enough people that would pay to have their Nike’s made up into a scorpion or chihuahua. Check out some more images here.