Cajsa's Choices: The Surrealist, Kahlo-esque Second Life Images of Halfwraith

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

The poet André Breton, the founder of surrealism, described it as a “fusion of elements of fantasy with elements of the modern world to form a kind of superior reality.” To see where fantasy and surrealism intersect, you only need to take a look at Halfwraith’s photostream. You can also see the influence Mexican surrealists Remedio Varas and Frida Kahlo in the rich colors and the way she surrounds her subject with evocative objects that create a story. It was no surprise to learn that both Varas and Kahlo were among her favorite artists when I interviewed her.

How do you describe your style of photos?

I think my style attempts to tell stories - with varying degrees of success. I wasn’t a natural at SL photography, when I started off in 2011 I was pretty terrible and did not know Photoshop. I am a blogger in SL that definitely has improved over time.

Who do you think may have most influenced your aesthetic?

I studied printmaking in RL both as an apprentice and at art school. It had a lot of influence on how I use form and compose images.

Who are some of your favorite artists in SL and/or RL?

My favourite RL artists are Dürer, Goya, Hogarth, Chagall, Kathe Kollwitz, Remedios Varo, and of course Frida Kahlo. My favourite SL artists that have influenced me are Duchess Flux and Kynne L. both who have been kind to me and I learned a lot from observation of how they set-up images. Other photographers I love are Loverdag, Nekotto, Rainbow Mubble, Alles Klaar, Awesome Fallen, and many others.

Much more Halfwraith below!

I notice you often place your avatar near the center with other elements orbiting or radiating. How do you approach composing your photos?

I like dramatic composition. I don’t have any fear of centering a figure in an image—I really go by what pleases my eye and I often am moving props around my subject while I am positioning a shot. I didn’t study graphic design or photography so I’m not scared of symmetry which I feel can give weight to an image. My RL art often has a dominant and centered female figure.

Another thing I notice about your work is a color duality - either deeply saturated and rich colors, or muted and diffused colors. Is this a function of mood or an exploration of color and its effect.

I prefer strong colors and often have to tone down and cool my images. I also like to experiment with different windlights and colors.

How do you think your art expresses your personality? What is it in you that draws you to this kind of expression?

I don’t build and I am not a creator in SL, so one way I can be creative in SL is by taking photos. My personality is expressed in my choice of themes and my somewhat whimsical approach.

Fantasy is a big element in your work, do you roleplay in SL? What draws you to the fantastical?

No surprises here but I am a fan of fantasy fiction and sci-fi. I came into SL as a graduate student, and stayed because I liked the fantastical aspect of SL. I loved that I could play in fantasy realms and talk to werewolves and dragons when I first was in SL. I don’t wear RL clothes in SL—ever— just fantasy clothing. I personally don’t have any desire to mirror my RL in SL through fashion. I have roleplayed, but unfortunately most of the sims I used to roleplay in are gone. I recently returned from a two year hiatus from SL so maybe I will start looking around soon for new places.

What advice do you have for other photographers? What is your process like in going from inspiration to finished product?

I get inspired by the amazing items that are created in SL. I think there is both creativity and discipline in coming up with interesting and original ways to tell stories with these items each month. Sometimes I get a very clear idea with an image—and these are often my most successful shots. I can spend a long time setting up an image to give depth to a scene, or spend very little time. Most of my images are done in my water front studio. I don't use green screens that much, and mostly take in-world images. I sometimes upload Creative Commons Zero images that I have edited to use as a backdrop. I love playing with WindLights and often combine different WindLights as layers in Photoshop to give more depth to the image. I also think you should have fun and take risks—be willing to take a not so great image sometimes to try something different. I consider myself primarily a blogger in SL.

Do you do art in your first life? If so, how does it differ from your SL art? How do you think RL and SL interact in your art?

I know I will return to RL art at some point, but right now my RL is too busy with f/t work and parenting. I am a frustrated artist in RL so SL is my artistic outlet. In terms of style, the mediums are quite different so my images in RL don’t resemble those from SL, other than my RL art usually has a central female figure and my use of colour is similar.

What would you like to share about your first life?  

I am a mom and librarian in RL and in the summer (I am located in Canada so have limited warm weather) spend as much time outdoors in my spare time as I can.

What is your favorite of your photos? What did you want to express? What was your process in creating this photo?

I think my favorite photo that I have done is an old one—The Maid’s Dilemma [above]—it took me ages to set up but I had a really clear vision that was fun and it turned out fairly close to what I was intending—which rarely happens.

I really love Ophelia (above). So often, she is portrayed in soft, romantic colors such as the painting by Waterhouse, but your Ophelia is bold, Ophelia by Kahlo almost. How did you come to reimagine her in this bold and vibrant way?

I am really obsessed with archetypal female imagery. In terms of Ophelia she has been the subject of many artists and interpreted in many hues. I think that she (and other female archetypes and characters) can be revisioned in so many ways—there is no limit. In this case when I was editing the image I was playing around with color ranges and it came out very vibrant but I thought it worked.

Cajsa Lilliehook joined Second Life in 2007 and has been enjoying the art of SL ever since. Disliking the common practice of critiquing poor photos, she decided to highlight good ones and explain why they work in hopes of inspiring with praise instead of criticism. Follow Cajsa on Flickr, on Twitter or on her blog.

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