Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Volkswagen Type 2 - Volkswagen T1 Samba Bus (2 sets of 4)

Introducing ‘Volkswagen Type 2’ collection by Serge Averbukh, showcasing convergent media paintings of some of the coolest and most sought after Volkswagen Type 2 models.  

This collection of digitally-signed and dated open edition (OE) giclée fine art prints could be found in my 'FineArt America', 'Mobile Prints' (former InstaPrints) and 'The Untapped Source' galleries. 






The Volkswagen Type 2, known officially (depending on body type) as the Transporter, Kombi or Microbus, or, informally, as the Bus (US) or Camper (UK), is a cabover panel van introduced in 1950 by the German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model. Following – and initially deriving from Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1 (Beetle) – it was given the factory designation Type 2.


As one of the forerunners of the modern cargo and passenger vans, the Type 2 gave rise to forward control competitors in the United States in the 1960s, including the Ford Econoline, the Dodge A100, and the Chevrolet Corvair 95 Corvan, the latter adopting the Type 2's rear-engine configuration. European competition included the 1960s FF layout Renault Estafette and the FR layout Ford Transit.
Like the Beetle, the van has received numerous nicknames worldwide, including the "microbus", "minibus", and, because of its popularity during the counterculture movement of the 1960s, Hippie van/wagon, and still remain iconic for many hippies today.
Brazil contained the last factory in the world that produced the T2. Production in Brazil ceased on December 31, 2013, due to the introduction of more stringent safety regulations in the country. This marks the end of an era with the rear-engine Volkswagens manufactured (after the 2002 termination of its T3 successor in South Africa), which originated in 1935 with their Type 1 prototypes.
The Volkswagen Samba, in the United States also known as Sunroof Deluxe, was the most luxurious version of the Volkswagen Transporter T1. Volkswagen started producing Sambas in 1951. In the sixties this version became popular as a hippie bus.
Originally Volkswagen Vans were classified according to the number of windows they had. This particular model had 23 and later 21 windows including eight panoramic windows in the roof. To distinguish it from the normal 23 or 21-window Volkswagen van the name Samba was coined.
Instead of a sliding door at the side the Samba had two pivot doors. In addition the Samba had a fabric sunroof. At that time Volkswagen advertised with the idea of using the Samba to make tourist trips through the Alps.
Sambas were standard painted in two colors. Usually, the upper part was colored white. The two colored sections were separated by a decorative strip. 

Monday, March 28, 2016

Chinese Masks - Large Masks Series (set of 3)

Introducing “Chinese Masks” collection by Serge Averbukh, showcasing meticulous convergent media paintings paintings of various masks originated from the region. Here you will find framed and wrapped/stretched canvas fine art prints, featuring the Large Masks Series (Set of 3). 



This collection of digitally-signed and dated open edition (OE) giclée fine art prints could be found in my 'FineArt America', 'Mobile Prints' (former InstaPrints) and 'The Untapped Source' galleries.

Peking opera or Beijing opera (simplified Chinese: 京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court. Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
While the cultural meaning and symbolism of color in China has been significantly influenced by the principles of Feng Shui, the masks of the Chinese opera use color to offer a more expressive point of view. Elaborately decorated with color and patterns, masks have been used in Chinese opera for over a thousand years. However, it was during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) that the colors began being used consistently to represent certain personality traits and human characteristics. In Chinese opera color takes the audience on a magical journey where it not only lights up the stage with an array of radiant hues; it also stirs up specific emotions and allows the audience to feel and understand the story being told. Color is used to quickly connect the audience to each character’s traits. In fact, the audience often feels such an instant and intimate understanding that you might even say that the colors are the characters. Red in Chinese opera, like in Feng Shui, carries a traditional well-loved radiance. The color red in an opera is understood to symbolize positive traits such as intelligence, heroism, integrity and loyalty. And when the art or costume director tires of red on stage, he or she can bring in the slightly less utilized color purple. Purple conveys the same positive perception as red, but with the added attributes of respect, sophistication, nobleness and a sense of justice