Hyperrealism is the genre of painting or sculptures that resemble or portray real life and offshoot of photorealism.  Photorealism is a painting, drawings or other graphic medium in which an artist tries to replica a photograph.  These movements were born with Pop Art in the 60’s and 70’s.    Ron Mueck creates hyperrealism sculptures, and what sets him apart is his use of scale.

He grew up around dolls and puppets in his parents business, and became a model maker and puppeteer for children’s television, films such as Labyrinth and worked in Jim Henson’s Muppet Workshop.  Then in 1996 he started creating fine art sculptures. Mueck uses resin, fiberglass, silicone, and many other materials, constructing hyperrealistic likenesses of mostly human beings, while playing with scale. When asked why Mueck plays with size he said:  Life-size figures … never seemed to be interesting. We meet life-size people every day. Altering the scale makes you take notice in a way that you wouldn’t do with something that’s just normal.

It is interesting that this concept of scale with the human form resonates in our human psyche.  Take for instance, the TV show Land of the Giants or the stories Thumbelina, The Little Peach Boy, Gulliver’s Travels, Alice in Wonderland or as far back The Odyssey.  All of these stories have the theme of large and small.  Is it our biological fear of being prey that has us pondering size especially in contrast to us? When we play with scale particularly with our human form we end up observing things that are commonplace in a new way.  This is the beauty, awe and sometimes horror and disgust of looking through a magnifying glass, microscope or telescope.  Playing with scale not only has us observing the ordinary and everyday closer, but it also has us questioning our place in the Universe. And that is a great exercise with this kind of art.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it’s a big week for you.  And please share.

 

*Aries – Death

The Death card is an appropriate as you head into the winter months.  This week has that feel of slow natural change that happens each season.  This card asks you questions like: What cycles are you starting up again? What ideas or projects do you want to store and work on next year?  What do you want to let die or finish before spring?  This week start mulling these questions in your head, so by winter Solstice you will have a good strategy and platform for 2019.

 

*Taurus – Strength

You are going to need your strength this week.  Not because the outside world is trying your patience, but this week is more about your internal struggle to get things done. This card wants you to assess how you hold yourself back.  Do you think you are not strong enough? Or are your opinions and expectations too strong?  Does your will power not let you rest or does it drag you down into inertia?  The Strength card shows up right before one needs to gather their strength to create momentum with the material goals in life. While the rest of us are hibernating, winter will be the perfect time for you all to kick ass, so use this time to garner your strength.

 

Gemini – Six of Pentacles

The Six of Pentacles is the mini karma card.  Be careful this week, for what you do and say will have lasting effects.  The good aspect is every positive thing you put out this week will come back to you three-fold, but this also works for any negative energy you send out into the world.

 

Cancer – Two of Wands

Last week Temperance asked you what harmony looks like in your life.  It reminded you that harmony is not all good or bad but a combination of the two giving you an overall pleasing effect. The Two of Wands continues this theme of balance and harmony.  The only added focus this card brings is how will this sense of harmony play into your future?

 

Leo – King of Wands

Last week, the High Priestess challenged you to get in touch with your instincts and combined it with your intellect. The King of Wands continues this theme of contemplation and seeking answers in the mysteries of synchronicity.  However, this King also pushes you to open up to more creative and out of the box thinking.  The answers are there if you put enough faith and imagination in finding them

 

*Virgo – Hanged Man

The Hanged Man challenges you in two ways, and you can choose which way is the best for you.  One way is to spend time with yourself internally contemplating on your existence.  The other avenue is choosing literally or figuratively different paths experiencing the eternal especially ones out of your ordinary existence. This week is about challenging the big question: Who am I?

 

Libra – Six of Rods

The Six of Rods basically heralds that you are in the right place doing the right thing this week. Take time to real enjoy the good tidings that arrive this week, for this card also foretells there are more battles to win in the near future.  However, this week is a time to relax into your laurels.

 

Scorpio – Knight of Cups

The Knight of Cups warns you not to wear your heart on your sleeve.  This week can bring some affecting waves, so try to see yourself as a surfer of these emotional tides rather than a deep-sea diver.

 

Sagittarius – Magician

The Magician is your first birthday card for the coming year, and a great one too.  This card pushes you to bring the divine down , using your unique self as a conduit and create.  If that isn’t challenge enough, it also asks: how can you do this to benefit others. That means this coming year can be pretty amazing in the creation department.  So the only down side to this creative energy is not focusing it.   Think of this coming year as a series of lightning strikes if harnessed you can illuminate anything you choose. But if not focus it can not only burn you but burn others around you. So the first step this week is having a focus on what you want to create.

 

Capricorn – Knight of Swords

When the Knight of Swords shows up, it is telling you to slow down.  This is not a week to rush around in your typical Capricorn fashion. This week take your time and look both ways before moving forward.  Also a side note:  this card can foretell you physically hurting yourself.  So watch where you step, don’t lift heavy objects without thinking, and chop vegetables slowly.

 

Aquarius – Page of Swords

The Page of Swords is the card of information.  This card advises that the best way to find out information is asking questions and listening to the answers.  Information will come to you in a variety of forms some straight forward and easy to read and some will be hidden between the lines and therefore needing more investigation.  The best way to be this week is eyes and ears open and keep your opinions to yourself.

 

*Pisces – Chariot

Change is in the air this week.  The beauty and beast of the Chariot is that you are in total control of it.  So if you do not have a direction of where to go you will end up going in circles. If you do have a direction then use the Chariot’s momentum to move you forward into the future that you not only desire but you create.  This can look as simple as having directions to where you are going already in your Google Maps and your gas tank filled or as complicated as finding yourself lost and literally or figuratively navigating with the stars.

 

May light be on you, around you, and within you,

Nina