Chaos Constructions Graphics Compo Review: An Artistic Assessment

Chaos Constructions Graphics Compo Review: An Artistic Assessment

(c) bjorn 2k+1

Let's begin not from the first places but from the general impression and from the worst, imho, works. I think this compo had shown that there is quite sufficient average level on the graphic scene. That is, there are artists who after a year will start to compete with nowadays leaders, what couldn't not please.

Moreover, it's pleasing to see that some kind of preselect took place, however I would drop out several more pictures - conversions "Escape" and "Shadow", second picture by Reitser.

 ________,-----,
 \__          /----,____,----,__  _____,----,____,----,___,----,
   /    /____/    /    /\/    /   //
  /____/    /    /    '   _/    '____/   _,    /    /__ _/
 /    /    /    /    /    /   <   /   \ /    /    /    /
/____/________./____/\___/    /    /    /\___/
    /____/`----'    /____/K-0s/____/    /____/

Now directly about works, firstly about ones which weren't placed at places they deserve in my opinion.

06 "Sensual Girl" by Crazy Digger/Intruders
This picture is simple technically, but there are very precise contours and glares like at photo. Could one draw at such level on Spectrum, one who released only two pictures in 1997, which, despite of good parts here and there, were partial conversions?

The answer arrives with ease - no, and I think I won't be wrong if would say that this is just a sleeky conversion, though quite qualite. Though to be completely confident I should see intermediate stages.

09 "Escape" by Z00m
Like I already have said, in my opinion this is explicit conversion and it's a pity that it was ranked higher than really good works.

11 "Sunset" by Slavka Kalinin
Or NEWART/N-Discovery, how is stated in the first bytes of the picture. Too simple thing for such place. From such kind of pictures only legendary "Strelka" by Mixer/SG stays the best.

12 "Orc" by Deather/Intruders
Analogically to place #06. If one could paint such contours by hands so precise, that is simply could paint, then it shouldn't be hard to him to fit textures and colors well, even on speccy.

I don't want to continue, it would be better to mark works which took undeservedly low places:

17 "My world" by Alone Coder/Invaders
26 "Way to..." by pROF/4D
33 "Lisa" by Kasik/Sinclair Club

These pictures along with "Born of Blue Flower" by Deadie/HS/CPU and "6omj" by Clown/DT should be placed in top10, from 6 to 10.

And these pictures, like ones which will follow below, are handmade.

"My World" - more than cool for the first try. Despite of childish style and naive theme, I like it. Only PheeL and Gas 13 distort and amplify perspective, so it was suprisingly to see something like this in the first work of Alone Coder, I ain't even confused stubbly attributes on houses.

"Way to.." - imo, pROF is explicitly progressing, and this picture deserves maybe even 5th place. You won't see a lot of surrealism in spectrum gfx compo, and here the whole screen is filled completely, in full and harmonical way, only non-bright colors are missing, for blackingout of background.

"Lisa" - as could be seen from hidden text, it was painted for Paradox'2001, but due to some reasons didn't arive there, but on cc it wasn't ranked good, but in my opinion it is quite realistical and original.

18 "World" by JV Graphics/GDC
I suppose that the picture is quite old, otherwise why to paint the same that Gas 13 drew in "Who?". Probably, "World" was painted earlier, but even great technics (the picture is very realistic owing to it) don't saves it - firstly, idea was already released, secondly, background is missing or something else, for complete picture.

19 "Lover" by Dimidrol/Mild group
Quite serious work from Dimidrol. Though I think that big face on the first plane would look better and more logical. There are no bright colours, the shadow on big face is anfractuous a bit, therefore the face itself looks anfractuous :), but in general this is interesting.

23 "Sila Zvuka" ("Power of sound") by Psychotron
Funny picture. Unfortunately there are few funny pictures, lack of Yerzmeyey. Psychotron is progressing destinctively. It's a pity that background doesn't exist.

23 "AquaLove" by Surv!v0r/Jumble
However much you would wave off from Survivor with his weird creations, there is something in them, something misterious, every time pixels are more and more regularized and connection between content and title is traced more and more distinctive, though it still stays unavailable for me :).

25 "Joy-Ride2: The other hand" by Berg
This is already 4th work by Berg. This artist has quite peculiar technics, I think there are too many textures.

27 "Triad" by Relict/PHT/K3L
Orthodocsal nocopy minimalism. I like it.

31 "Killed Love" by Cannibal/TL
This picture also was submitted to this year's Paradox, but didn't arrive there, though was published in works pack. On cc it also weren't appreciated, though in my opinion this is almost serious work, only colours are non-usual.

Now about top10 works:

10 "Born of Blue Flower" by Deadie/HS/CPU
I did waited more from Deadie, remembering cc000. It's easy, to develop technics by copying. If you draw nocopy, then it will cost you years till you'll reach something, but it will be worth it. In my opinion this work is rated as average only at the first sight. In the reality - this is almost cult thing :), causing interesting associations.

08 "6omj" by Clown/DT
Eh, if only Clown had more than 8 colors! Third his work. Getting better every time.

07 "Vranov" by hANNAh/CZT
Hannah is possibly already a veteran of graphics compo, and imho, 7th place was taken quite deservedly. Though here you won't find fastidious technics. Simply water, simply swans and simply reflections.

05 "Polar Star" by Bjorn
Quite realistically, but, as always, without special sense and again - copy, though it's pleasing to know that it's non-scene copy. Background is missing, logo looks washy.

04 ";-(" by ZSV/CTL
ZSV measures up my expectations - 100% handdrawn roxx. I would place it to the 3rd place or on 2nd with "X-zema". No one drew faces and arms in such way, generally, the whole picture is unrepeatable, soulful, beautiful, piercing.

03 "Among Us" by Gas 13
Great detalization of face, technics isn't super, but Gas is master of it, idea presents, but doesn't touch me to much, one of his best screens.

02 "X-zema" by Paracels/PCB
Oh, how much I like to lose to such works :) I don't know how would I live if there weren't somebody who is constantly ahead, always outrunning you on several steps. In this year I can't arraign to Paracels' work, technics is ideal. The one thing which is missing - idea, but I think it isn't needed here. Transparent spheres rule, undoubtedly.

01 "Prisoner of Time" by PheeL/PHT
So, we have reached the first place. I think comments aren't needed here, no one argue, because no one could combine PLOT with TECHNICS in such a way. And while we will be discussing this first place, PheeL will have done one more step ahead.

I wait with impatience for another compos to look how Berg, Clown, Cannibal, Deadie, Relict, Survivor, Psychotron, Dimidrol, Alone Coder will develop and to enjoy the participation of pROF, Paracels, Gas 13 and, we will be lucky, ZSV and PheeL. And more, I wait for Lifeforms, to value Paracels at his full.

Author: bjorn
Translation: iliks, iliks@mail.ru