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Home Games as Art updates

Art Attack Friday: I Am 8-Bit 2008

6:43 PM on 08.15.2008, Chad Concelmo 58 comments

Art Attack Friday: I Am 8-Bit 2008 photo
     Games as Art

Last night I was lucky enough to be invited to the opening of this year’s I Am 8-Bit art show in good ol’ Hollywood, California. For anyone not familiar with the show, I Am 8-Bit is a compilation of videogame themed art by a variety of artists. What’s most impressive about the show is that a lot of the artists aren’t even gamers. Once you see how detailed and meaningful some of the pieces are, it is hard to believe they were created by people that have never touched a videogame before.

But don’t take my word for it, check out the below gallery to check everything out. But be prepared: I took a lot of pictures. In fact, I think I got a picture of nearly every single piece on display. This may be the biggest gallery Destructoid has ever seen!

In all honesty, though, I couldn’t help myself. The art is absolutely incredible. As I walked around the large gallery, I was endlessly impressed by how creative and varied everything was. From a modern, nude Princess Peach with a P-wing tattoo to an Elevator Action movie poster, all the artwork was just as beautiful as it was wonderfully random.

Luckily I didn’t spend any money, but I was this close to buying a $900 Chrono Trigger painting. I’m not kidding. Hit the jump to see which painting I am talking about and also for a list of my top 5 favorite pieces.

If you live in the L.A. area you have to check out this free (!) show. It runs until September 7. Click here to find out more about it. And if you happen to purchase something really cool, hey, my birthday is coincidentally next month!

As promised, here is a list of my five favorites:

5. Dr. Mario

4. Link and Ganon

3. Princess Peach

2. Chrono Trigger

1. Elevator Action

Which one is your favorite?


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Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 08/15/2008 18:51
ELEVATOR ACTION OH MY SHIT OH MY FUCK YES!

And you WOULD like that Peach one, you fucking pervert. :)
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 08/15/2008 18:53
Peach boobs. Personally, though, I like the whole idea of an art show centered around gaming.
sleepingagain's Avatar
sleepingagain at 08/15/2008 18:54
fucking amazing, i need to go down there and check them out myself
moot button's Avatar
moot button at 08/15/2008 19:01
IS THAT MAHFOOD!?! He's my hero!
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 08/15/2008 19:01
Ahhhh I wish I could have gone with you last night. Stupid working late...

Nihon, unless they've changed things, the I Am 8-Bit show isn't just centered on gaming, it's all stuff that is inspired by retro gaming. It's really interesting to see the old stuff reimagined in the various ways.
unstoppablejuggernaut's Avatar
unstoppablejuggernaut at 08/15/2008 19:02
man i wish i was at this show. ill be at others soon enough once i get moved and what not.
TrickyNicky's Avatar
TrickyNicky at 08/15/2008 19:03
C'mon. Gay Double Dragon is number 1. Or midget Mario and Peach family portrait.
TrickyNicky's Avatar
TrickyNicky at 08/15/2008 19:05
Oh wait. I forgot about Topless Nazi Assassins fighting Bionic Commando. Can I change my vote?
teach4food's Avatar
teach4food at 08/15/2008 19:07
Billy Mitchell, that one is my favorite. I would put it on display with a bottle of his hot sauce.

Wait, that is creepy, nevermind, #4 Link and Gannon
Chad Concelmo's Avatar
Chad Concelmo at 08/15/2008 19:09
@TrickyNicky,
I agree. The gay Double Dragon one is pretty amazing. :)
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar
TrailerParkJesus at 08/15/2008 19:09
toilet lady
Ashley Davis's Avatar
Ashley Davis at 08/15/2008 19:15
I would love to have that Eggplant Wizard piece up on my wall.
bbrigg1's Avatar
bbrigg1 at 08/15/2008 19:17
I want at least half of those.
MiOdd's Avatar
MiOdd at 08/15/2008 19:24
Why didn't anybody warn me about the Blaster Master spoilers... so inconsiderate... haha... also my favorite piece... =)
inque's Avatar
inque at 08/15/2008 20:01
I love the Elevator Action artwork!

Feels like an old 60's spy movie!
Salty Soil's Avatar
Salty Soil at 08/15/2008 20:12
I love the King of Kong pieces and especially the Earthworm Jim ones.
Poopface Morty's Avatar
Poopface Morty at 08/15/2008 20:14
I would highly recommend checking out their book "I AM 8 BIT" if you are into the Art Attack Fridays (I know I am). I don't have the book, but thumbed through it at a Barnes & Nobles and damn near bought it right there. Excellent stuff.

That Elevator Action poster is absolutely brilliant, and amazingly executed.
jackal27's Avatar
jackal27 at 08/15/2008 20:24
HOLY EFF!! That Chrono Trigger one is SO sweet!
slee's Avatar
slee at 08/15/2008 20:25
Chad!!! You didn't mention the free booze and umm awesome poster!!!!!!!!!
Alexradl's Avatar
Alexradl at 08/15/2008 20:36
Wow, now that's some epic artwork. The Link and Ganon one is sweet!
mockery's Avatar
mockery at 08/15/2008 20:37
Oh you guys were there! I didn't see Destructoid anywhere on hand. I was gonna send you guys my big gallery of pics. Too bad we didn't bump into each other, Chad. I guess it's hard to spot you in a giant crowd... especially if you're not walking with Niero and the mighty robo-helmet.
MisterMingo's Avatar
MisterMingo at 08/15/2008 21:06
What's with the chick on the toilet?

Oh well, I like evil raccoon Mario.
Spartacus's Avatar
Spartacus at 08/15/2008 21:12
I love iam8bit so, so much.
naia-the-gamer's Avatar
naia-the-gamer at 08/15/2008 23:28
The last time I am 8-bit came into town they had these adorable little figures of retro characters. I'm wondering if they were there this time.

I wanted the Dragon Quest II figures, but they were $150 for the set of three :(
bigfatton's Avatar
bigfatton at 08/15/2008 23:51
oh god, i live in LA now!!! Must Go See!!!!!!!
rabidkeebler's Avatar
rabidkeebler at 08/15/2008 23:57
For me, I like the Samus sitting on the Metroid, and the portrait of Peach and Mario next to eachother (but Mario is little Mario). That one just reminds me of rescuing her in the original Mario for the NES as a little guy because I lost my height.
smackifilia's Avatar
smackifilia at 08/15/2008 23:57
this is probably the best post i've ever seen on dtoid
jackal27's Avatar
jackal27 at 08/16/2008 00:53
I want to go to one of these SOOOOO BAD!! AHHHHHH!!
topgeargorilla's Avatar
topgeargorilla at 08/16/2008 01:32
Mario has a bigger boob than peach in the Godfather/mario one
teknomcr's Avatar
teknomcr at 08/16/2008 01:57
Shhh the poster is a suplise!!
AgentMOO's Avatar
AgentMOO at 08/16/2008 03:08
wow, there's so much unbridled awesomeness contained in this gallery
brotherkirk's Avatar
brotherkirk at 08/16/2008 03:31
Bario Bros. is a favorite. I love a lot of them, they're really good! JCVD as Guile gets to me...right there *points to heart*
brotherkirk's Avatar
brotherkirk at 08/16/2008 03:37
Bario Bros. is a favorite. I love a lot of them, they're really good! JCVD as Guile gets to me...right there *points to heart*
davidmt's Avatar
davidmt at 08/16/2008 04:32
I look forward to seeing this artwork every year. So incredible. Thanks for posting all of these Chad!

So many good ones and it is hard to choose a favorite. Love the Dr. Mario (your #5) and there is just something cool about Dig Dug invading Animal Crossing.
Remo's Avatar
Remo at 08/16/2008 06:25
I am 8-bit is the second coming of Christ in disguise.
infinity's Avatar
infinity at 08/16/2008 08:32
the movie poster-like rampage one is sweet. you can just imagine the tagline:

"we will crush this city."
Churchhills Dog's Avatar
Churchhills Dog at 08/16/2008 08:38
My fave right here:

http://www.destructoid.com/elephant/photo-m.phtml?photo_key=57075&post_key=99822#prevnext
Rosseh's Avatar
Rosseh at 08/16/2008 08:42
I love that Link & Gannon one. I bought the first book but I barely look at it. It's a really nice thing to have and I said I wouldn't get stuff like this in the future, but if a second book comes out I'm gonna be really tempted.
Spartacus's Avatar
Spartacus at 08/16/2008 13:00
What the hell is happening in the one where Mario is a transvestite and raping Yoshi's corpse, or something like that?
SWE3tMadness's Avatar
SWE3tMadness at 08/16/2008 13:33
Elevator Action FTW. I would pay good money to see that movie. :D
slee's Avatar
slee at 08/16/2008 14:11
@ Spartacus......um we all see what we want to see and it tells us a lot about you sir. Haha Actually in that pic it is depicting a scene from the Godfather when a guy wakes up with the head of a dead horse in his bed...that is a recreation of the moment he finds the dead horse head in his bead so dead horse head = dead yoshis head:)
Neomotion's Avatar
Neomotion at 08/16/2008 15:27
Love the Punch-out poster, Link/Ganon en Elevator poster. Some good stuff there, good stuff!
KyleGamgee's Avatar
KyleGamgee at 08/16/2008 16:07
#4 Link and Ganon was my hands-down favorite. The Metroid pin-up with the "Oh, Samus!" in the corner was probably second.

Thank for getting me in past the Giant Line, Chad! Way to hook it up!
mikeyed's Avatar
mikeyed at 08/17/2008 12:38
What is the rifle in the sky one about?

I really liked the one with Mario in the foreground and the red mountains behind him. I like the color palette.

Gay Double Dragon, is pretty ridiculously awesome.
Zen Albatross's Avatar
Zen Albatross at 08/17/2008 21:59
This exhibit has never failed to inspire me. Looks like this year had a really great showing. One of these days I'll make my way to the west coast and catch the show for myself
ROOM4GELLO's Avatar
ROOM4GELLO at 08/19/2008 15:34
ill be there
coffeesash's Avatar
coffeesash at 09/04/2008 10:57
Oh gawd! When is the next book out? I can't wait!
Blackhat's Avatar
Blackhat at 09/08/2008 18:52
Jesus Christ.

Almost makes me wish I had worked on making myself a better artist, instead of... not.
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