October 25, 2002

5:33 AM

Manimals - discover the strange and unsettling world of photographer-digital artist Daniel Lee and his darwinian art.
posted by madamjujujive (15 comments total)

darwinian art? blasphemy!


intelligent creation art
posted by quonsar at 5:47 AM on October 25, 2002

I loved that TV show. No, wait, I hated it. Still, these links are cool.
posted by Fabulon7 at 5:50 AM on October 25, 2002

Juror no.9 (Snake Spirit) is a beauty. The others are a bit intimidating.
posted by ginz at 6:40 AM on October 25, 2002

Very cool post!

"Darwinian" art and phrenology go a long way back. My favorite:

Things like this from Charles Le Brun (17th century; scroll down for more.) (Also here.)

Jean Isidore Gerard Grandville (19th s.): Man Descending Towards the Brute (more here--scroll down to bottom page). More of Kermit's kin here.

Wells is cool (also 19th s.) (More here-scroll down.)

Le Brun again on the cover of Physiognomy and the Meaning of Expression in Nineteenth-Century Culture

Can ya tell I was thinking of a similar post? Maybe later...
posted by Shane at 7:01 AM on October 25, 2002

AND some fun stuff to top it off (more here)...
posted by Shane at 7:24 AM on October 25, 2002

Personally, I don't find this distrubing in the least. I think it's right cool, actually. Reminds me of the cover of Great Apes by Will Self
posted by Ufez Jones at 9:36 AM on October 25, 2002

Hey, I liked that show when I was, y'know, 7. Back then, a good concept was all it took, regardless of execution.

Oh, and cool post.
posted by mikrophon at 9:49 AM on October 25, 2002

Reminds me of the cover of Great Apes by Will Self

Which, of course, Daniel Lee did. :)

Thanks for all these links; I love this stuff. James Balog's book Anima works a slightly different vibe: gorgeous photos of naked humans and chimps together.


posted by mediareport at 9:49 AM on October 25, 2002

Great post, very disturbing. This guys work is in the latest Adbusters. This definitely falls into the "uncanny valley" territory. Now if I could only get a Manimal mask in time for Halloween...
posted by iamck at 9:54 AM on October 25, 2002

I think it's cute how the site keeps referring to "book jeckets," like Boris Badenov is writing copy for the site.
posted by mikrophon at 10:12 AM on October 25, 2002

Now if I could only get a Manimal mask in time for Halloween...

My vote for an anthropomorphic Hallowe'en costume: Frank the Bunny from the film Donnie Darko (seen in the 1st link taking in the Evil Dead with a couple of his friends). Creepy.
posted by Shane at 10:15 AM on October 25, 2002

Oops, I should have linked to a pic of Frank in action: click on the red bullseye (warning: mild sound effects ensue).
posted by Shane at 10:19 AM on October 25, 2002

Shane, thanks for adding all these great links - some very cool stuff! I really like the Wells link that has the phrenology illustrations. You added some great dimension and perspective with your links - neato.
posted by madamjujujive at 12:42 PM on October 25, 2002

Which, of course, Daniel Lee did. :)

Thanks, mediareport. I thought it looked awfully similar.
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:47 PM on October 25, 2002

Shane, thanks...
Thanks for a cool post, Julie! Glad you enjoyed Wells's humor ("Hog/Hoggish, Donkey/Ass"). I couldn't work out my links into a post, so I'm glad they rounded out yours. Chances are Lee is famliliar with Le Brun, Wells et al. He's great--compelling!--I could stare at "Nightlife" alone for an hour.
posted by Shane at 2:03 PM on October 25, 2002