Birmingham artist Imbue makes Mona Lisa from 100 iPhone replicas
The 37-year-old spent months creating the project by printing the famous portrait on to laser-cut panels and placing them inside phone cases. "I'm not trying to hammer something home but I think people will smile and get the idea of experiencing things for real rather than looking through your phone," he said.
Imbue, who shares his creations with more than 90,000 followers on social media, said he had loved art since he was a child."I've always loved building things with my hands, it used to be Lego and cardboard boxes and art was the only subject I was good at."Now, he has been a full-time artist for nearly 20 years and is hosting his latest exhibition in Digbeth, Birmingham - in which the Mona Lisa work features - until 10 July.Named Lost All Meaning, it aims to highlight how developments in AI and social media has made people appreciate artwork less as it becomes more "throwaway"."People want to see things and go to destinations so they can take a photo rather than being there for what it is," he said.
Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE This is the troubling comment Kelly Osbourne made to me - and why she now faces a serious marriage dilemma after accepting her Slipknot boyfriend's proposal: RICHARD EDEN'S DIARY
Ozzy Osbourne 's concert in Birmingham on Saturday was historic not just because it reunited the original line-up of local heroes Black Sabbath for the first time in 20 years but due to it being the final performance by the heavy metal singer, who has Parkinson's disease. But for Ozzy's daughter, Kelly Osbourne, the night was even more memorable because her boyfriend, Slipknot musician Sid Wilson, proposed backstage at Villa Park.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Cierra Ortega exits 'Love Island USA' villa following backlash over resurfaced racial slur posts
Cierra Ortega, a contestant of this summer's 'Love Island USA' left the villa just a week before the finale of the hit reality series is set to air on Peacock. Her departure, announced Sunday, followed weeks of uproar from viewers after old posts from Ortega resurfaced that contained a racial slur against Asian people. The show's narrator, Iain Stirling, announced Ortega had departed 'due to a personal situation' early in Sunday's episode. Ortega becomes the second contestant this season to depart the show amid controversy due to past social media posts. Yulissa Escobar abruptly exited last month in the second episode after clips of her using racist language resurfaced online. Her departure was also not explained in the show. A spokesperson for the show declined to comment Monday. Ortega's family posted to her Instagram story Sunday evening following the announcement of her departure, asking the public 'for compassion. For patience. For basic human decency. 'While Cierra is not in the villa anymore, she is still away. She hasn't had the chance to process any of this or speak for herself," her family wrote. "But we know our daughter. We know her heart. And when she returns, we believe she'll face this with honesty, growth, and grace.' Her family said they, along with Ortega's friends and online supporters, have received threats, attacks and cruel messages on social media, noting that 'no one deserve that kind of hate, no matter what mistakes they've made.' 'Love Island USA' is an American spin-off of the original U.K. series and is airing its seventh season. The show airs daily except Wednesdays and brings young singles together in a remote villa in Fiji to explore connections with the ultimate goal of finding love. Couples undergo challenges and are encouraged test their romantic connections as new contestants are introduced. Islanders are routinely 'dumped' from the villa throughout the series as stronger couples form. The winning couple receives $100,000. The show, which strips contestants of their phones or access to the outside world, has previously asked fans to avoid cyberbullying contestants. Host Ariana Madix called for fans to stop doxxing and harassing the show's stars in a recent interview with The Associated Press. Ortega entered the villa at the end of the first episode as a bombshell, one of the first in a steady stream of new contestants who come in after the show began, often expected to disrupt existing couples and create new relationship dynamics. Ortega quickly coupled up with Nic Vansteenberghe, whom she remained with up until her departure. Her exit broke up one of the few consistent couples of the season. The couple had just announced a few episodes prior they were 'closed off,' a popular 'Love Island' phrase to indicate neither contestant was interested in exploring a connection with any other islander. 'Before Cierra had left, my mind was clear. I knew what the future would look like, and now, I'm lost,' Vansteenberghe said during Sunday's episode. Vansteenberghe stayed on the show as a single islander after Ortega left, and he ultimately re-coupled with fellow contestant Olandria Carthen before the end of the episode. Belle-A Walker, a contestant who was dumped earlier this season, took to Instagram to express heartbreak over Ortega's resurfaced posts. Walker, who is Asian American, said she is 'deeply appreciative' of the show's producers 'for taking a stand and making it clear that racism of any kind is not tolerated.' 'Asian hate is oftentimes overlooked and dismissed. But being a first-generation American, I have personally witnessed and experienced how real and hurtful comments like these are," Walker wrote on her Instagram story page. "It is my hope that this situation can help shed light on how big of an issue anti-Asian hate really is.'
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Belly dancer influencer arrested for ‘using seduction techniques' and ‘exposing sensitive areas' in viral online vids
A BELLY dancer influencer has been arrested for "using seduction techniques" and "exposing sensitive areas" in her viral online videos. Online sensation Linda Martino, originally from Italy, was arrested for "immortality" in strict Egypt two weeks ago - and is to remain in prison for another fortnight. 5 5 Linda - who has over two million followers on Instagram - moved to the North African country a few years ago and has built a successful career in belly dancing. Videos of her performing in popular clubs to various Egyptian hit songs have garnered millions of views across various social media platforms. But an investigation was reportedly triggered by one of her most shared videos, where Linda performs in a cabaret in a traditional belly dancing costume. The Cairo prosecutor's office accuses the young woman of having "used seduction techniques and provocative dances to incite vice". According to authorities' report, in some videos Linda "deliberately wore provocative clothing and performed dance movements with sexual allusions" They say she therefore disrespected "public decency" and the "values of family and society". Investigators also argued the artist "appeared in indecent clothing, deliberately exposing sensitive areas of her body, in clear violation of social values". She denies all the charges against her and claims she practices her profession in compliance with the law. The dancer said after being arrested: "I have the permits to practice my activity and all the videos circulating on social media are normal. "It is a permitted dance performance and does not contain anything that violates or goes against public morals." She added that the content she records is "only for entertainment purposes". Whilst belly dancing isn't prohibited in Egypt, videos on social media have to comply with the country's values. Egypt has increased its cruel crackdowns on artists and influences accused of offending public morals. Under Abdel Fattah Al Sisi's government, at least five belly dancers have been horrifically jailed on charges similar to those given to Linda. The Pharaoh nation sucks in a staggering 18 million tourists each year, and the industry props up around 10 per cent of the whole economy. But beyond the plush resorts of the popular Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada - Egypt is covering up its dark underbelly. The country's brutal police force deals in bribes and locks people up on bogus charges, including Brit holidaymakers. Egypt's picture-postcard image is being tested, with a former British ambassador to the country recently branding it a "police state". 5
