Charlayn von Solms
@charlayn.bsky.social
Sculptor, lapsed academic
I use assemblage to create contemporary art based on the compositional strategies of Archaic Greek oral-formulaic poetry.
https://charlaynvonsolms.com/link-in-bio
I use assemblage to create contemporary art based on the compositional strategies of Archaic Greek oral-formulaic poetry.
https://charlaynvonsolms.com/link-in-bio
Pinned
Charlayn von Solms
@charlayn.bsky.social
· Aug 16
For #BlueSkyArtShow a compilation image showing every sculpture in the series "A Catalogue of Shapes". A collection of assemblages constructed to explore compositional, structural, and interpretive similarities between Homeric poetics and sculptural assemblage.
#pieces #shapes #ancientbluesky #art
#pieces #shapes #ancientbluesky #art
Reminder: technology is not always inevitable.
December 3, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Reminder: technology is not always inevitable.
One of the weirder fantasy paintings out there: "Holiday Time in Cape Town in the Twentieth Century, in Honour of the Expected Arrival of a Governor-General of UNITED South Africa" (c. 1899) by James Ford depicts an imagined, Victorian era, utopian future version of Cape Town.
December 3, 2025 at 1:37 PM
One of the weirder fantasy paintings out there: "Holiday Time in Cape Town in the Twentieth Century, in Honour of the Expected Arrival of a Governor-General of UNITED South Africa" (c. 1899) by James Ford depicts an imagined, Victorian era, utopian future version of Cape Town.
Since the invention of Cubism, audiences have grown familiar with art-forms that are premised less on communicating clear and coherent messages to passive audiences in a uniform medium and style, than multiform arts that elicit active and participatory interpretive processes.
A Catalogue of Shapes
A Catalogue of Shapes
December 1, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Since the invention of Cubism, audiences have grown familiar with art-forms that are premised less on communicating clear and coherent messages to passive audiences in a uniform medium and style, than multiform arts that elicit active and participatory interpretive processes.
A Catalogue of Shapes
A Catalogue of Shapes
Collage of the day:
"Always Look on the Bright side of Life - North Korean Edition" by There I Ruined It
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifLq...
"Always Look on the Bright side of Life - North Korean Edition" by There I Ruined It
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifLq...
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - North Korean Edition
YouTube video by There I Ruined It
www.youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Collage of the day:
"Always Look on the Bright side of Life - North Korean Edition" by There I Ruined It
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifLq...
"Always Look on the Bright side of Life - North Korean Edition" by There I Ruined It
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifLq...
"What’s missing now is the imagination to reject art that trades in well-worn formulas, stock emotions, and immediate comprehensibility and pursue work that expands the possibilities of human perception. Doing so requires creators to strive for complexity, ambiguity, and formal experimentation"
Restoring cultural invention doesn’t require upending the current industries—it just needs a small vanguard to change its direction, writes W. David Marx:
21st-Century Culture Has Hit a Wall. Here’s How to Break Through.
Even failures and half steps will be more interesting than the boring stuff.
bit.ly
December 1, 2025 at 6:59 AM
"What’s missing now is the imagination to reject art that trades in well-worn formulas, stock emotions, and immediate comprehensibility and pursue work that expands the possibilities of human perception. Doing so requires creators to strive for complexity, ambiguity, and formal experimentation"
My flea market find of the year: a green enameled Salter No.50 shop scale in working condition 😁. Got it for the bargain price of R150! (that's $8,77!).
Look at that pressed enamel dial and those sensuous Art Deco hips!
An oracle in minty green 💚
Look at that pressed enamel dial and those sensuous Art Deco hips!
An oracle in minty green 💚
November 29, 2025 at 4:35 PM
My flea market find of the year: a green enameled Salter No.50 shop scale in working condition 😁. Got it for the bargain price of R150! (that's $8,77!).
Look at that pressed enamel dial and those sensuous Art Deco hips!
An oracle in minty green 💚
Look at that pressed enamel dial and those sensuous Art Deco hips!
An oracle in minty green 💚
To be fair, it is a rather tricky dragon to draw.
November 27, 2025 at 8:40 AM
To be fair, it is a rather tricky dragon to draw.
As Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi (the now former dormant volcano) erupts for the first time in 12 000 years, here is Salpeterkop, one of South Africa's two official dormant volcanoes. (Pilanesberg comprises the root zone of an extinct volcano).
Dear geologists, Lion's Head just looks like one, right? 🌋😬
Dear geologists, Lion's Head just looks like one, right? 🌋😬
The Salpeterkop Volcano - Dr Mike de Wit
YouTube video by Geological Society of South Africa
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:30 PM
As Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi (the now former dormant volcano) erupts for the first time in 12 000 years, here is Salpeterkop, one of South Africa's two official dormant volcanoes. (Pilanesberg comprises the root zone of an extinct volcano).
Dear geologists, Lion's Head just looks like one, right? 🌋😬
Dear geologists, Lion's Head just looks like one, right? 🌋😬
Reposted by Charlayn von Solms
New research suggests the vast 3,000-year-old earthwork of Aguada Fénix in Tabasco was designed as a monumental cosmogram mapping pre-Maya concepts of the cosmos.
buff.ly/DPWHHjL
buff.ly/DPWHHjL
November 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
New research suggests the vast 3,000-year-old earthwork of Aguada Fénix in Tabasco was designed as a monumental cosmogram mapping pre-Maya concepts of the cosmos.
buff.ly/DPWHHjL
buff.ly/DPWHHjL
Family portrait: Mnemosyne and her daughter Melpomene
November 17, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Family portrait: Mnemosyne and her daughter Melpomene
Reposted by Charlayn von Solms
Artist William Kentridge discussing Philip Guston's "The Studio" (1969):
"it's a double self-portrait. You've got the artist painting the artist, painting the artist. So it's a painting about what happens in the studio."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_0a...
"it's a double self-portrait. You've got the artist painting the artist, painting the artist. So it's a painting about what happens in the studio."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_0a...
William Kentridge responds to Philip Guston’s 1969 work, ‘The Studio’
YouTube video by Hauser & Wirth – Art Gallery
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Artist William Kentridge discussing Philip Guston's "The Studio" (1969):
"it's a double self-portrait. You've got the artist painting the artist, painting the artist. So it's a painting about what happens in the studio."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_0a...
"it's a double self-portrait. You've got the artist painting the artist, painting the artist. So it's a painting about what happens in the studio."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_0a...
"These armors were what supercars are today. They were made for the elites. It was an honor to own one. They were like jewelry for men. They were expensive and carried a metaphysical symbolism that united the wearer with the divine."
(Dimitrios Katsikis)
www.thecollector.com/historically...
(Dimitrios Katsikis)
www.thecollector.com/historically...
November 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
"These armors were what supercars are today. They were made for the elites. It was an honor to own one. They were like jewelry for men. They were expensive and carried a metaphysical symbolism that united the wearer with the divine."
(Dimitrios Katsikis)
www.thecollector.com/historically...
(Dimitrios Katsikis)
www.thecollector.com/historically...
"The image of Maladamatjaute, the "Hindoo" snake charmer of European and American renown, had begun a new life as the primary icon for Mami Wata, an African water divinity with overseas origins, joining and sometimes replacing her manifestation as a mermaid."
(Henry John Drewal, 2008).
(Henry John Drewal, 2008).
November 15, 2025 at 1:05 PM
"The image of Maladamatjaute, the "Hindoo" snake charmer of European and American renown, had begun a new life as the primary icon for Mami Wata, an African water divinity with overseas origins, joining and sometimes replacing her manifestation as a mermaid."
(Henry John Drewal, 2008).
(Henry John Drewal, 2008).
"Be pleased and show your pleasure, children of Zeus, by giving me a lovely song."
(Hesiod, Theogony 104)
(Hesiod, Theogony 104)
November 14, 2025 at 2:54 PM
"Be pleased and show your pleasure, children of Zeus, by giving me a lovely song."
(Hesiod, Theogony 104)
(Hesiod, Theogony 104)
"Kleio Play"
In Hesiod's catalogue of Muses in the "Theogony", the first Muse he names is Kleio. Her name derives from 'kleos' a term that denotes an account of significant events that a singer receives from the Muses (who witnessed it) and transmits to an audience (who imagines it).
In Hesiod's catalogue of Muses in the "Theogony", the first Muse he names is Kleio. Her name derives from 'kleos' a term that denotes an account of significant events that a singer receives from the Muses (who witnessed it) and transmits to an audience (who imagines it).
November 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
"Kleio Play"
In Hesiod's catalogue of Muses in the "Theogony", the first Muse he names is Kleio. Her name derives from 'kleos' a term that denotes an account of significant events that a singer receives from the Muses (who witnessed it) and transmits to an audience (who imagines it).
In Hesiod's catalogue of Muses in the "Theogony", the first Muse he names is Kleio. Her name derives from 'kleos' a term that denotes an account of significant events that a singer receives from the Muses (who witnessed it) and transmits to an audience (who imagines it).
As threatened, here is a very non-slick video of Melpomene in action.
November 12, 2025 at 3:33 PM
As threatened, here is a very non-slick video of Melpomene in action.
Melpomene Act:
Target acquired,
Revs her pink Cadillac.
Target acquired,
Revs her pink Cadillac.
November 12, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Melpomene Act:
Target acquired,
Revs her pink Cadillac.
Target acquired,
Revs her pink Cadillac.
Reposted by Charlayn von Solms
"They are the Olympian Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus. They were born in Pieria. The father was Zeus, son of Kronos. Their mother, who mated with him, was Mnemosyne [Memory], who rules over the heights of Eleuther."
(Hesiod, Theogony. 50-55)
(Hesiod, Theogony. 50-55)
November 12, 2025 at 7:06 AM
"They are the Olympian Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus. They were born in Pieria. The father was Zeus, son of Kronos. Their mother, who mated with him, was Mnemosyne [Memory], who rules over the heights of Eleuther."
(Hesiod, Theogony. 50-55)
(Hesiod, Theogony. 50-55)
Melpomene Act
Objects used: Trivet, injector, whistle, brass sphere, brass ring, Dazey No. 8 Butter Churn gear box, rotary saw blade, chandelier components, anniversary clock weights, mandoline grater, embroidery, ring, enamel paint, gold leaf, varnish.
Objects used: Trivet, injector, whistle, brass sphere, brass ring, Dazey No. 8 Butter Churn gear box, rotary saw blade, chandelier components, anniversary clock weights, mandoline grater, embroidery, ring, enamel paint, gold leaf, varnish.
November 11, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Melpomene Act
Objects used: Trivet, injector, whistle, brass sphere, brass ring, Dazey No. 8 Butter Churn gear box, rotary saw blade, chandelier components, anniversary clock weights, mandoline grater, embroidery, ring, enamel paint, gold leaf, varnish.
Objects used: Trivet, injector, whistle, brass sphere, brass ring, Dazey No. 8 Butter Churn gear box, rotary saw blade, chandelier components, anniversary clock weights, mandoline grater, embroidery, ring, enamel paint, gold leaf, varnish.
About bloody time.
November 10, 2025 at 11:58 AM
About bloody time.
I'm on the hunt for not one, but 2 of these extremely rare Polygraph drafting templates. Preferably to be found in South Africa (the Rand is too weak for me to look elsewhere).
All leads and snarky comments welcome (that would be you @fuzzybunny.org).
All leads and snarky comments welcome (that would be you @fuzzybunny.org).
November 4, 2025 at 11:59 AM
I'm on the hunt for not one, but 2 of these extremely rare Polygraph drafting templates. Preferably to be found in South Africa (the Rand is too weak for me to look elsewhere).
All leads and snarky comments welcome (that would be you @fuzzybunny.org).
All leads and snarky comments welcome (that would be you @fuzzybunny.org).
The most famous "folk star chart is the depiction of the heavens by the North American Skidi Pawnee, whose ancestors were believed to be the descendants of the stars ... these images did not represent the heavens in a photographic manner ... but on the basis of their beliefs."
Emília Pásztor, 2014
Emília Pásztor, 2014
(PDF) Hungarian Archaeoastronomical Research I. Astronomical Relic of the Bronze Age, the Nebra Sky Disk
PDF | I was delighted to read Gábor Sánta's article in the summer issue of the online publication of Hungarian Archaeology about his archaeoastronomical... | Find, read and cite all the research you n...
www.researchgate.net
November 4, 2025 at 7:54 AM
The most famous "folk star chart is the depiction of the heavens by the North American Skidi Pawnee, whose ancestors were believed to be the descendants of the stars ... these images did not represent the heavens in a photographic manner ... but on the basis of their beliefs."
Emília Pásztor, 2014
Emília Pásztor, 2014