Just some cow fun

[Guardian]

_http://www.youtube.com/user/cyriak#g/u

Either this dude has been eating 'shrooms out of a cow pattie, or he's psychotic?

 

[Al Today]

In watching some Cyriak animations I immediately thought of Monty Pythons Flying Circus. Perhaps because of my upbringing, but to this day I still don't get English humor, like Benny Hill. No insult to my English friends intended.
:) :) :)

 

[EGVG]

I'm pretty much a fan of Cyriak's animations. IMHO at its core it's simple surrealism in animated form. I think it defies our traditional views of what is "proper" and familiar in reality, by showing us weird images of everyday things, in order to expand our minds somehow. Just like Surrealism back in the day, it may not be considered appropriate, and some people may be disturbed or even disgusted by it, but it's still a legitimate expression of creativity and consciousness through modern art. There's a lot more animations on his Youtube channel if anyone's interested. :)

http://www.youtube.com/user/cyriak#g/u

I dunno Cesar -- I just took a look at several of those, and all I can say is that if someone I knew and cared about were creating these, I'd be pretty concerned about them. It doesn't strike me as simple surrealism at all -- some of them are pretty grotesque. You're right that it's an expression of consciousness, but it makes me really wonder about the state of that consciousness.

"simple surrealism" what's that supposed to mean?

 

[Path27]

"simple surrealism" what's that supposed to mean?

I mean something that fits this definition:

Surrealism style uses visual imagery from the subconscious mind to create art without the intention of logical comprehensibility.

Of course, perhaps that's exactly what Cyriak is doing -- in which case it is also "simple surrealism". The underlying point, though, being that if these animations are the product of Cyriak's subconscious, it makes you wonder what's swimming around in there.

Case in point, from one of the videos that I just randomly clicked on yesterday:

_http://www.youtube.com/user/cyriak#p/u/7/dZfmPREbTd8

 

[EGVG]

"simple surrealism" what's that supposed to mean?

I mean something that fits this definition:

Surrealism style uses visual imagery from the subconscious mind to create art without the intention of logical comprehensibility.

Of course, perhaps that's exactly what Cyriak is doing -- in which case it is also "simple surrealism". The underlying point, though, being that if these animations are the product of Cyriak's subconscious, it makes you wonder what's swimming around in there.

Case in point, from one of the videos that I just randomly clicked on yesterday:

_http://www.youtube.com/user/cyriak#p/u/7/dZfmPREbTd8

Sure makes you wonder, I hope making this videos gives the opportunity to that YouTube user to expres him/her self. I think that on that video you just saw, he or she is definitely expressing some heavy emotions. It's completely normal that when others get to see your subconscious mind expressed in reflections and interpretations of it, to think that they are messed up, or make comments wondering of their mental heath or consciousness status.

 

[Path27]

I think that on that video you just saw, he or she is definitely expressing some heavy emotions.

Actually, I don't get a very 'emotional' or cathartic feeling from it (or from the other videos) at all -- it strikes me more as more of a dispassionate sadism.

It's completely normal that when others get to see your subconscious mind expressed in reflections and interpretations of it, to think that they are messed up, or make comments wondering of their mental heath or consciousness status.

I think it depends on whose subconscious you're talking about. I've seen other abstract art that had disturbing qualities about it, but did seem to express real underlying pain. But in Cyriak's case, yes -- I think he's messed up.

I could be wrong, though -- when you watch his videos, what emotions do you think he's expressing? What emotions do you feel when you see them?

 

[EGVG]

I think that on that video you just saw, he or she is definitely expressing some heavy emotions.

Actually, I don't get a very 'emotional' or cathartic feeling from it (or from the other videos) at all -- it strikes me more as more of a dispassionate sadism.

It's completely normal that when others get to see your subconscious mind expressed in reflections and interpretations of it, to think that they are messed up, or make comments wondering of their mental heath or consciousness status.

I think it depends on whose subconscious you're talking about. I've seen other abstract art that had disturbing qualities about it, but did seem to express real underlying pain. But in Cyriak's case, yes -- I think he's messed up.

I could be wrong, though -- when you watch his videos, what emotions do you think he's expressing? What emotions do you feel when you see them?

Your giving me nothing with your responces! When I watched the video I felt disagreement against the mundane and the ordinary, I got a feeling of despair and a frenetic sensation of unhappiness covered in surrealism imagery.

FWIW When I saw the cow video, I honestly thought it was funny and out of the ordinary, didn't get disturbed or shocked whatsoever.

 

[Al Today]

[...] didn't get disturbed or shocked whatsoever. [...]

Me neither.
Although I thought the video a tad long, I thought they were jamming. Then again, some say I have weird sense of humor...
;) ;) ;)

 

[EGVG]

[...] didn't get disturbed or shocked whatsoever. [...]

Me neither.
Although I thought the video a tad long, I thought they were jamming. Then again, some say I have weird sense of humor...
;) ;) ;)

some say the same about me :)

 

[Path27]

Your giving me nothing with your responces! When I watched the video I felt disagreement against the mundane and the ordinary, I got a feeling of despair and a frenetic sensation of unhappiness covered in surrealism imagery.

FWIW When I saw the cow video, I honestly thought it was funny and out of the ordinary, didn't get disturbed or shocked whatsoever.

Starmie, I want to let you know that in being critical of Cyriak, I'm not being critical of you -- I get the impression that when I say what I think of Cyriak and his work, that you feel that I'm saying the same thing about you because you liked his cow video. That's not the case. There have been plenty of times when I liked something, but when I found out more about it I changed my mind.

I definitely don't get the same feeling from it that you do (especially after having seen his other videos), but like I said, I could be wrong. Since it's been brought up though, it seems like it's a good opportunity to examine both Cyriak himself and our responses to his work -- isn't that one of the purposes of this forum?

 

[EGVG]

Your giving me nothing with your responces! When I watched the video I felt disagreement against the mundane and the ordinary, I got a feeling of despair and a frenetic sensation of unhappiness covered in surrealism imagery.

FWIW When I saw the cow video, I honestly thought it was funny and out of the ordinary, didn't get disturbed or shocked whatsoever.

Starmie, I want to let you know that in being critical of Cyriak, I'm not being critical of you -- I get the impression that when I say what I think of Cyriak and his work, that you feel that I'm saying the same thing about you because you liked his cow video. That's not the case. There have been plenty of times when I liked something, but when I found out more about it I changed my mind.

I definitely don't get the same feeling from it that you do (especially after having seen his other videos), but like I said, I could be wrong. Since it's been brought up though, it seems like it's a good opportunity to examine both Cyriak himself and our responses to his work -- isn't that one of the purposes of this forum?

I don't feel like that at all. :) Thanks for sharing

 

[tykes]

I think that on that video you just saw, he or she is definitely expressing some heavy emotions.

Actually, I don't get a very 'emotional' or cathartic feeling from it (or from the other videos) at all -- it strikes me more as more of a dispassionate sadism.

It's completely normal that when others get to see your subconscious mind expressed in reflections and interpretations of it, to think that they are messed up, or make comments wondering of their mental heath or consciousness status.

I think it depends on whose subconscious you're talking about. I've seen other abstract art that had disturbing qualities about it, but did seem to express real underlying pain. But in Cyriak's case, yes -- I think he's messed up.

I could be wrong, though -- when you watch his videos, what emotions do you think he's expressing? What emotions do you feel when you see them?

Your giving me nothing with your responces! When I watched the video I felt disagreement against the mundane and the ordinary, I got a feeling of despair and a frenetic sensation of unhappiness covered in surrealism imagery.

FWIW When I saw the cow video, I honestly thought it was funny and out of the ordinary, didn't get disturbed or shocked whatsoever.

Hi Starmie, I am also curious about what heavy emotions do you think this videos are expressing.

It's completely normal that when others get to see your subconscious mind expressed in reflections and interpretations of it, to think that they are messed up, or make comments wondering of their mental heath or consciousness status.

I might be wrong, but this sounds as a subtle defense, like you were trying to convince yourself that maybe the other people who had expressed that they find this stuff disturbing and shallow could be wrong, and that it all comes down to a matter of tastes. Maybe this stuff is objectively disturbing and shallow, at least does not seem to add anything constructive.

Also, I don't think that Path27 is having to give you anything with his/her response. He's/ She's merely giving you some insights, if the feedback leaves you something that's great but if that is not the case I don't think that a reaction in that demanding way, it's the best way to go. Just my subjective opinion. :)

 

[EGVG]

I think that on that video you just saw, he or she is definitely expressing some heavy emotions.

Actually, I don't get a very 'emotional' or cathartic feeling from it (or from the other videos) at all -- it strikes me more as more of a dispassionate sadism.

It's completely normal that when others get to see your subconscious mind expressed in reflections and interpretations of it, to think that they are messed up, or make comments wondering of their mental heath or consciousness status.

I think it depends on whose subconscious you're talking about. I've seen other abstract art that had disturbing qualities about it, but did seem to express real underlying pain. But in Cyriak's case, yes -- I think he's messed up.

I could be wrong, though -- when you watch his videos, what emotions do you think he's expressing? What emotions do you feel when you see them?

Your giving me nothing with your responces! When I watched the video I felt disagreement against the mundane and the ordinary, I got a feeling of despair and a frenetic sensation of unhappiness covered in surrealism imagery.

FWIW When I saw the cow video, I honestly thought it was funny and out of the ordinary, didn't get disturbed or shocked whatsoever.

Hi Starmie, I am also curious about what heavy emotions do you think this videos are expressing.

It's completely normal that when others get to see your subconscious mind expressed in reflections and interpretations of it, to think that they are messed up, or make comments wondering of their mental heath or consciousness status.

I might be wrong, but this sounds as a subtle defense, like you were trying to convince yourself that maybe the other people who had expressed that they find this stuff disturbing and shallow could be wrong, and that it all comes down to a matter of tastes. Maybe this stuff is objectively disturbing and shallow, at least does not seem to add anything constructive.

Also, I don't think that Path27 is having to give you anything with his/her response. He's/ She's merely giving you some insights, if the feedback leaves you something that's great but if that is not the case I don't think that a reaction in that demanding way, it's the best way to go. Just my subjective opinion. :)

Hi, I was not demanding anything from Path27, what I was trying to say was that I didn't get the point of his responce, but from his last one I see what he means now.
Tykes I appreciate your responce and I agree that maybe I seemed a little defensive, but I was not trying to convince myself of anything.

 

[Etevarran]

It's funny how the title of this thread is "Just some cow fun". Maybe that was the point of that video, just having fun with images of cows. Or maybe there's this entire inner layer of intention and motivation behind cyriak's creations. I think it could be either. Only he could know for sure.

But I do want to add my thoughts to the discussion. I hope I'm not simplifying things too much, but surrealism often deals with an expression of the subconscious. The subconscious is often irrational--the counterpart of the conscious mind. That being said, the subconscious expressing itself on art or life is not always a bad thing per se IMO. It's not like everyone who has bizarre dreams and nightmares (surreal imagery) are mentally ill, right? That's just an expression of the unconscious mind. Some artists decide to express their unconscious mind with more freedom than others in other to release their creativity. I'm pretty sure much of the Art of any culture of any era has a flair of irrationality, and I think that's created much originality over the centuries. And I'm sure that many artists were called insane and deeply disturbed in their time, and yet they are considered great artists today.

So that's where surrealism comes from. It's safe to say it's not for everyone. At least in the case of cyriak, it's not like his images are violent or sexual in nature--they are simply breaking the normal sense of reality that we all share. And being used to that undisturbed reality for your whole life... of course images that distort that reality will be unsettling and "repulsive" (as in "offensive to the conscious mind"). That doesn't mean they have to be considered negative, maybe some people do, and others don't. Art affects emotions, and that effect varies from person to person. And thus opinions on art and artists are varied too.

That's my opinion anyways

 

[Path27]

At least in the case of cyriak, it's not like his images are violent or sexual in nature [...]

Cesar, have you watched the videos that you posted the link to? What about these:

_http://www.youtube.com/user/cyriak#p/u/13/1EZZhmNPGv8

_http://www.youtube.com/user/cyriak#p/u/5/-3JCESdFNyw

And I didn't have to try hard to find those -- it seems that Cyriak has very few videos that don't involve some kind of mutilation. I agree with your statement about surrealism in general -- and I've seen some work, categorized as surrealistic, that I do like. But this stuff seems to be sadism that just happens to be wrapped in a veneer of surrealism; to be honest, I find it hard not to see pathology here.