Yu Maeda: A Psychedelic Artist Blending Japanese and American Influences

Yu Maeda is a Japanese-American artist, born in 1984 in Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan, now residing in Southern California (and planning to return to Japan). He is known for his highly unique psychedelic paintings, the influences of which he has discussed in a fascinating interview featured in Juxtapoz (many examples of his art are included…

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The Technodelic Experience: Using Virtual Reality to Achieve a Psychedelic State

The company SoundSelf has developed VR technology that can induce altered states of consciousness. Interestingly, the technology helps you slip into a somewhat psychedelic state through the use of your own voice. By breathing deeply and exhaling in extended tones, you modulate audio and visual stimuli, transforming your consciousness in the process. SoundSelf has created…

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The Psychology Behind James Roper’s Artwork

James Roper is a multidisciplinary artist based in Manchester, UK. He uses traditional painting, as well as digital art software like Corel Painter and Adobe Photoshop, in order to create brilliant and distinctive psychedelic paintings. Roper employs a variety of artistic styles, such as abstract, surrealism, figurative, and Baroque (a form of art that flourished…

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Recognising the Psychedelic Ego

The ‘psychedelic ego’ refers to an ego that is based on – or inflated by – psychedelics. This may seem counterintuitive since psychedelics can lead to the diminishment or complete dissolution of the ego (known as ‘ego death’). However, the ego does not disappear forever as a result of a psychedelic experience. You can experience…

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The Psychedelic Nature of Islamic Art and Architecture

Islamic art and architecture are often called psychedelic in nature – and rightly so. Both the art and architecture from the Islamic world feature vibrant colours and intricate, geometric patterns, much like the kaleidoscopic patterns one can see during a psychedelic experience, either with eyes opened or closed. During psychedelic experiences, people may report seeing…

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