The Amazing Stuff

Starting in 2013, the people of Sydney, Australia, began to notice something a bit odd around their city. There were some strange (and often very funny) signs popping up in public spaces. They probably made a lot of people smile, but most people didn’t have a clue who was behind them.

That person is Michael Pederson, and he uses his background in art, film, and music to inspire his funny, conversational signs. Take a look at some of his work and try not to smile.

Okay, this one is a little unsettling.

Because they’re exposed to the elements and to other people, many of Pederson’s pieces don’t last more than a month. But that’s okay, he says. In that time, plenty of people see them, and there’s something nice about the fleeting nature of this public art. It teaches people to look more carefully, but also not to take anything for granted.

With signs like this, half the fun is how official they look. Some people might not have even noticed this!

If you’re feeling stressed, seriously try this. It works! It’s public art and a public service.

So why do all this if the pieces aren’t even going to stay put? For Pederson, it’s more about helping people notice their surroundings. “I think we travel through urban space without really seeing it most of the time,” he explained. “I like the idea of interfering with the overly familiar background blur.”

Admit it. You’ve needed this.

And we’ve all been in situations where we’ve wished for an emergency exit.

(via BoredPanda)

You can see more of Pederson’s work on his website. We recommend looking through the whole thing.

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You would be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn’t agree that photographer Kirsty Mitchell is dedicated to her craft. Her project Wonderland, which sees fantastical, opulent costumes in beautiful natural settings, took her six years to complete.

Mitchell began the project after the death of her mother in 2009.

She created this collection in her honor.

The series, which Mitchell describes as a “storybook without words,” was inspired by the memory of her mom, Maureen’s, love of books.

Mitchell worked slowly and carefully, sometimes waiting up to a year for the right weather and plant growth to roll around.

The various seasons show the passage of time.

The characters were inspired by the fairy tales that her mother read to her as a child.

She made it her mission to channel Maureen’s amazing spirit.

Mitchell’s friends helped her stage the shoots.

No additional makeup artists or stylists were used in the production of this collection.

With a background in art history and fashion, the eccentric photos came together in what Mitchell describes as a “natural process.” She channeled the joy of her memories and the pain of her loss to create them in a natural, intuitive way.

Although the project stemmed from sadness and grief, it helped Mitchell heal.

She’s aware that there’s an air of sadness in some of the photos, and she allowed it to remain.

She wants every photo to feel authentic.

(via Ufunk)

You can see much more of Mitchell’s photography on her website, including the rest of Wonderland, and you can check out her other collections while you’re at it. If you love this series, order a copy of the photo book through Mitchell’s Kickstarter.

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The installations of artist Wolfgang Stiller take everyday objects and turn them into powerful, unsettling images. Such is the case with his Matchstick Men installation, which is comprised of human-sized matchsticks that are topped with blackened human heads.

They’re at once serene and mysterious, but their charred appearance also makes them seem a bit frightening. So what do they mean?

Stiller isn’t big on explaining his art. He’d rather inspire viewers to come to their own conclusions.

His installations are site- specific, meaning that the arrangement is based on the space itself.

The matches were made using bamboo beams and a few head-shaped molds that were left over from an earlier project.

They almost look like totems when they’re all lined up.

The serene face of each piece is at odds with its charred appearance.

The pieces definitely bring to mind images of death.

Standing, lying, and leaning in the exhibition space, the Matchstick Men seem otherworldly. They remind us of memorials, grave markers, and sign posts. They’re human, but not quite human enough.

Are they designed to strike fear into us, or are they meant to incite calming contemplation? Are they a literal representation of being burnt out, or are they merely interesting works of art?

Stiller sometimes arranges them into specific configurations, like this tally design.

These arrangements add different dimensions to each cluster.

The addition of other objects has a similar effect.

If you look carefully, you can even find some un-charred heads lying on the ground.

(via Beautiful Decay, Fubiz)

An installation like this has no definite meaning. Viewers are left to their own devices when it comes to drawing conclusions about the work. If you’re not interested in getting too mentally or emotionally involved, you could simply appreciate the craftsmanship of these strange, eerie sculptures. You can see more of Stiller’s work on his website.

While most of us share photos of our food on Instagram, or post those awkward bathroom selfies that flatter no one, artist and graphic designer Jati Putra Pratama does something amazing.

Using various editing programs, the Indonesia-based artist turns everyday scenes of cities and people into dreamlike compositions that ignore the laws of physics in the most beautiful ways possible.

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Oct 2, 2015 at 7:06am PDT

In his photos, Pratama takes familiar images and puts a surreal spin on them.

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Sep 22, 2015 at 6:33am PDT

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Jun 14, 2015 at 10:37am PDT

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Jun 21, 2015 at 3:00am PDT

Many people compare his compositions to the imagery in the film Inception.

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Aug 29, 2015 at 5:47am PDT

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Aug 7, 2015 at 10:51am PDT

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Aug 5, 2015 at 12:41am PDT

Most of Pratama’s images are presented with little text, so it’s up to viewers to draw their own conclusions.

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Aug 3, 2015 at 2:40am PDT

And honestly, coming up with elaborate stories about these photos is half the fun.

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Jul 30, 2015 at 7:45pm PDT

But you could just sit back and enjoy their visual beauty if that’s more your speed.

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Jul 13, 2015 at 5:57am PDT

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Jul 11, 2015 at 11:11am PDT

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Jul 4, 2015 at 10:39am PDT

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Jul 3, 2015 at 5:09am PDT

A photo posted by Jati Putra Pratama (@jatiputra) on Jun 30, 2015 at 9:35am PDT

You can see much more of Pratama’s work on Instagram. If you browse his social media accounts, you’ll also find his illustrations and design projects…as if he weren’t already talented enough, right?

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Two years ago, at the age of 19, photographer Edward Honaker was diagnosed with depression. The news came after a frightening and disorienting experience of losing who he used to be. “All I knew is that I became bad at the things I used to be good at, and I didn’t know why,” he explained in an interview with the Huffington Post.

Everyone deals with depression, clinical or otherwise, in a different way, and no two experiences are the same. So when faced with his diagnosis, Honaker did what he loved most: he picked up his camera.

He developed a series of surreal self portraits that attempt to capture his feelings while going through depression.

The images are unsettling in their dreamlike atmosphere. We can relate to his feeling of loss, unease, and worry, because we’ve probably all felt this way at some point.

In many of the images, Honaker’s face is obscured or distorted, reflecting the loss of self he felt while depressed.

“Your mind is who you are, and when it doesn’t work properly, it’s scary,” he says.

The images are uncomfortable, but there’s also a solace in knowing that someone else may be having the same feelings.

Honaker hopes that these images, even though they deal with a dark subject, will help people be more able and willing to talk about mental illness and to be more empathetic and accepting towards those struggling with it.

Honaker even says that through creating this series, he’s become more empathetic himself.

“I’ve still got quite a ways to go, but the whole experience made me a lot more patient and empathetic towards others,” he says.

He also hopes that for those dealing with their own illness, the photos can be a way of letting them know they’re not alone.

“It’s kind of hard to feel any kind of emotion when you’re depressed, and I think good art can definitely move people,” Honaker says.

(via Bored Panda)

Honaker’s focus on depression is also important for men, in particular, as they’re statistically less likely to speak up about or seek help for mental illness issues or suicidal thoughts. Remember, if you or someone you love is struggling, please seek help!

You can see more of Honaker’s work, including some cheerier subjects, on his website, Tumblr, and Instagram.