Romanian born artist Octavian Mielu created a new project “Smoke Portraits”. It is a series of posters depicting celebrity portraits, suggesting the silhouettes through smoke-like lines. According to him, he chose smoke because “the lines are beautiful, the transparency forms different shades of black and grey and the lines of smoke make striking portraits.”
Courtesy of Octavian Mielu
While choosing the most famous photos from artists such as Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein, Michael Jackson or Mickey Mouse, in order for the portraits to be easy to recognize, he uses the help of “smoke” to give the portraits a ghostly appearance – which is highly interesting since most celebrities he paints have passed away.
Courtesy of Octavian Mielu
Delicate, yet a little disturbing, fun but also slightly macabre, Octavian Mielu’s paintings are for sure unconventional, while the artist prefers to call them “creative”.
Courtesy of Octavian Mielu
By:Lidia Ratoi
Lidia Ratoi is a Romanian architect, educator, and researcher, currently serving as Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Architecture. With a background in both architectural design and theory, her work explores the intersections of technology, media, and politics in the built environment. Ratoi’s research focuses on the aesthetics of power, surveillance, and virtuality, with a strong interest in critical and speculative design. She has practiced internationally and exhibited in venues across Europe and Asia. Passionate about challenging conventional narratives, Ratoi integrates digital tools with philosophical inquiry, encouraging experimental approaches to architecture. Her contributions continue to shape emerging discourses in design and architectural pedagogy.