A Trio of Visionaries: Remembering Erik Bulatov, Kazuki Motoyama, and Ken Parker

2 hours ago7 min read

This week, the world of art and innovation lost three foundational figures whose distinct contributions shaped modern culture. Erik Bulatov, a master of Soviet Nonconformist Art, used the visual language of propaganda to critique the very system it championed.His iconic painting 'Слава КПСС' (Glory to the CPSU), where the slogan is blocked by a band of blue sky, became a symbol of lyrical resistance, revealing the freedom that lay beyond ideological control. Bulatov's work remains a powerful study in subversion through aesthetic beauty.From the political canvas to the digital realm, we honor Kazuki Motoyama, the Nintendo programmer who engineered the core mechanics of Super Mario Bros. His genius lay in crafting the precise, responsive physics that made the game's universe feel tangible and joyful.Motoyama's invisible architecture established the fundamental grammar for the entire platformer genre, making him a pivotal, if unsung, architect of video game history. Finally, we reflect on the legacy of Ken Parker, a founder of an American art commune dedicated to collaborative living and anti-commercial creation.In the spirit of historic collectives, Parker’s work fostered an ecosystem where art and life merged, challenging the myth of the solitary genius and nurturing a spirit of shared experimentation. While their names occupy different spheres, together they represent the interconnected pillars of our cultural landscape: the artist who reframes our reality, the engineer who builds our playgrounds, and the communitarian who forges the spaces where creativity can flourish. Their collective passing invites us to appreciate the vast, often unseen, tapestry of modern creativity.

#Erik Bulatov

#Kazuki Motoyama

#Ken Parker

#obituaries

#Soviet pop art

#Mario

#art commune

#weeks picks news

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