Blasphemous

To understand each other, what we are seeing can (and is) considered computer art or Computert Art.

Computer Art is defined as any art created by a computer, it can be image, sound, animation, videos, video games, websites, etc. *1

In this work we take reference from a variety of artistic expressions achieved by computer, which are regularly shared on the Internet.

Within the artistic exchanges on the web through forums, networks and blogsposts, a new format defined as “retro, 8-bit, pixel-art” gave rise. This new category gained its place by remembering productions in video games and 8-bit CD-ROMs while adapting current works to their most primitive form. But it didn’t end there, it also became popular in music by adapting or creating songs. This gave him enough fame to reach the world of video games, where he was well received thanks to deliveries such as “Blasphemous” (a game from which we took reference to create the work). This, like many, has a “metroidvania” influence and its graphics are based on pixel art (*2) but its history has its origins in the culture, art and customs of medieval Spain.

Referring to the image of the Virgin Mother of the 7 Sorrows in this adaptation, I seek to recreate the sensation of a simplistic graphic, where the shadows give contour and shape to everything. The background, as ordinary as possible, manages to generate distance, enhancing the focus on the woman. It also tries to capture the pain that she carries, pain that is represented by the 7 swords that are stuck in her body. Repeated shapes are used to generate a background on which to shade, giving little by little, a vaguely defined but understandable image.

References

[**] One of the representations of the Virgin Mary that regularly appears in the game is the image known as The Seven Sorrows of the Most Holy Mary. Its origin dates back to the 14th century.

[**] Francisco de Goya

[**] Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

[**] José de Ribera

1 - “Brief (and messy) anti-glossary-or dictionary of topics on electronic art.” Computer art. Never say “computer art.” In general, English terms should preferably be used. “Computer art is any art in which computers play a role in production or display of the artwork. Such art can be an image, sound, animation, video, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, video game, website, algorithm, performance or gallery installation…”

2 - Pixel art. It is often said that the computer is simply “a tool”, which can be used exactly the same as any other. Naturally, this is simplistic, and proof of the misunderstanding it leads to is what we could call pixel art - and translate it as electronic watercolorism. Whoever uses the computer as if it were a paintbrush can reach this type of aberrations (painting a pointillist portrait by “coloring” pixel by pixel).