Jonathan Dante Jonathan Dante

RYOJI IKEDA’S IMMERSIVE SOUND AND LIGHT TRILOGY“DATA-VERSE” at high museum atl

Exhibit entrance of Ryoji Ikeda’s ‘Data Verse’ - Photo by Jonathan Dante

ATLANTA — Before its opening, viewing Ryoji Ikeda’s immersive sound and light trilogy ‘Data Verse’ was an experience. Immediately immersed in sounds, lights and contrasted visuals that seem to all flow together. 

From the exhibit, Ikeda seems to want to prevent inserting meaning to what he created or steering your thoughts on the work. Simply, leaving it up for interpretation while connecting the ideas of visualizing time and space, intersecting art and technology and showcasing dualities. Each room offers a look at the journey with concepts and pieces pulled together with decades-long exploration of data; from sequences of alphanumeric symbols to collections of images of macro and microcosms. Each piece seamlessly fits into each other, encompassing the overall journey that the exhibit will take you on. Ikeda (born Gifu, Japan, 1966; active Paris and Kyoto) is one of the world’s leading composers and media artists, whose work Artnet describes as “visceral, intellectual and awe-inspiring.” His more recent work, including “data-verse” (2019-2020, commissioned by Audemars Piguet Contemporary), incorporates open-source imagery from institutions such as NASA, CERN and the Human Genome Project. Ikeda produced “data-verse” in three “chapters,” transforming open-sourced data sets through self-written programs to create visual output, which he then synchronized and composed in arrangement with an electronic score.


“I don’t set the goal for how visitors should experience the artwork. Rather, visitors create and complete the work through their own experiences. Without their experiences, my works don’t make sense.”



The takeaway from the viewing experience was a profound sense of déjà vu in the initial room. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had been here before, perhaps even experienced this particular moment before. Simultaneously, the sounds resonated with frequencies that seemed to connect with something deep within me—the writer, the poet, the artist. The concept of allowing one’s own interpretation while allowing the art to speak for itself resonates deeply within the space I create.

Furthermore, there is a compelling argument to be made for the seamless merging of mediums to create a singular narrative. Each element—visuals, audio, canvas, and images—plays a vital role and works harmoniously together.


“I tend to take a more macroscopic viewpoint towards ART instead of taking ART as the sum of segmented categories such as painting, sculpture, music, dance etc” Ikeda touched on the creative possibilities and artistic freedom.

Ryoji ikeda (Japanese, born 1966), data-verse 3, 2020, dci-4k dlp projector, computer, spealers. installation view at hirosaki museum of contemporary art, hirosaki, japan, 2022. photo by takeshi asano, commissioned by audemars piguet contemporary. ©Ryoji ikeda.

One of the most striking aspects of the exhibit is data.gram [n°7], 2025 — which features data sequences across 18 screens that are all tightly synchronized to make an ensemble of a symphonic whole as a single audiovisual installation. Sachal Jacob, who also participated in the viewing, remarked, “It's exceedingly clever. Kudos to the artist and the high museum. The visuals and sounds work together to illustrate scientific concepts. The blackhole exhibit captures density and gravity through an optical illusion. My favorite was the data verse, which made the bridged our basic perceptions of sound and light with ability to understand scale, tone and complexity.” The exhibit among viewers garnered widespread attention, with many sharing ‘this is a must see.’


Ryoji ikeda (Japanese, born 1966), data-verse 1/2/3, 2019-2020, DCI-4K DLP projector, computer, speakers. installation view in Yet, It Moves! at Copenhagan contemporary, Copenhagen, 2023. photo by david stjernholm commissioned by Audenmars Piguet Contemporary.

Michael Rooks, the High’s Wieland Family senior curator of modern and contemporary art spoke after the viewing. “His work across sonic and visual platforms will invite our audiences to rethink conventional relationships between sound and image in our tech-saturated lives.” 

An interesting idea arose during the remarks, if the specific frequency curated in all of the sounds throughout the walkthrough was intentional as these sounds are seeming tied to causing reactions in specific parts of the brain — which this idea also seemed to present in data.gram [n°7].

“Ryoji Ikeda: data-verse” is now On view from March 7 to Aug. 10, 2025, at the high museum.

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Kendrick Lamar - Squabble Up. But iT’s…

Squabble up was released alongside "TV Off" by pgLang and Interscope Records on November 26, 2024, as the lead singles from Kendrick Lamar’s album GNX. Initially teased in the music video for Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us", released on July 4, 2024, The track seems to work across a number of instrumentals and has since sparked the trend of ‘Squabble Up’ but its… (Name of song, beat has been swapped for). Long before this trend, As part of our playlisting series of mixes, We curated this song on tyler the creator’s ‘Sticky' from Tyler’s latest album chromakopia.

in addition to this mix, we started a series a beat swaps with Kaytranada following his release of instrumentals of his album Timeless.

originally posted november 30, 2024, updated february 11, 2025

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Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show

Expectations for this year’s halftime performance sky rocketed. With the announcement to the Kendrick Lamar headlining slot to the backlash that New Orleans own Lil Wayne, should’ve been offered the slot, to the first ever Christmas halftime performance headlined by Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar had a lot riding on this performance. Fresh off the win of a rap feud with Drake and the success of ‘Not Like Us,’ everyone continued to speculate what moves Kendrick would make and what he wouldn’t be allowed to make on such a stage.

Of course, Kendrick had other plans. With his Super Bowl LIX halftime performance, Kendrick showed everyone that even after over 50 years of hip-hop history, rap still doesn’t get the respect it deserves as a real art form. And competition is a big part of the genre. His halftime show showed that America, football, the Super Bowl, and himself are all part of a bigger picture. The first person on screen was Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam, the show’s narrator and scorekeeper, who said, “This is the great American game.” Hip-hop is just as American as football, if not more so.




Kendrick opened his performance on top the car that inspired the title of his 2024 album. He wore flare jeans and began his storytelling through an unreleased verse into GNX’s “Squabble Up.” The setlist featured “HUMBLE.” “DNA.” “euphoria” “man at the garden” “peekaboo” before Kendrick was joined by SZA for “luther” and “All The Stars” before getting to the main part that everyone was wondering if he’d perform, as he teased the instrumental halfway into his set. Kendrick with Samuel L Jackson, narration led into a performance of “Not Like Us” followed by “tv off” Serena Williams appeared during Not Like Us, Crip Walking during the song. 

While there seemed to be deeper meaning by Kendrick Lamar’s choices, The symbolism of the set design, in addition to performers, forming an American flag and then the flag divided, definitely added to the nuances of Kendrick’ halftime set. As the first solo rap headliner, following his five Grammys wins, just a week before, the feedback seemed to all land on mixed reviews, with some deeming this the worst halftime show. The Drake diss aside, Kendrick Lamar is the first to curate a set off newer music and not off the nostalgia of his entire catalog. While fans address the show, stating songs he should have performed, Kendrick proved he can carry the storytelling and overall show without touching on what was expected but to highlight the message that everyone needs to wake up to, in these current moments. Kendrick’s reference to Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” at the start; to Jackson’s taunt, “Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game?” and the imagery displayed by dancers forming an American flag with their bodies was far more important than to showcase a more commercialized set.





Kendrick highlighted the political strife and inequity, and while an unplanned protest happened on the field that wasn’t televised—one waving a flag in support of Sudan and Palestine; Kendrick ended his set as the camera panned out to the crowd as lights formed “Game Over,” — touching on a victory, but also the game being played as represented by the set design and also the game of football that would also end. In the end, Kendrick’s performance will open a conversation, whether or not people enjoyed the show or understood. It is in these moments that we let the music and story speak for itself.

Full Performance is Available now on Youtube and Apple music.

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The Weeknd ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ [Album Review]

The Weeknd’s latest album, seemingly a farewell, is an interesting body of work, through the ears of a listener who taps in and out on most of The Weeknd’s catalog. Often reminded of songs when heard randomly, diving into ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ without the crowd of noise, screaming out how great the music is, offers a great listening experience, when seeing the early begins from ‘House of Balloons’ (repackaged as Trilogy) to the latest offering.

Immediately drawn in with the album’s opening “Wake Me Up” which contains an interpolation of “Thriller” performed by Michael Jackson and a sample of “Main Title” (From The Motion Picture Scarface) performed by Giorgio Moroder. The overall theme and tone of the album gave a feeling of a score. With a 22-track album, that has a runtime of about the length of a movie, coming in about 90 minutes, the story being told is one of intrigue. Digested in parts, the first 11 songs flowed so well that pausing and returning left the ending 11 songs to feel like a second act or the second disc of a double album. Upon further research, finding out that a musical psychological  thriller film is expected to release May 2025, is icing on the cake with listening to the album.


Hurry Up Tomorrow showcases The Weeknd’s versatility, seamlessly a reminder of the somewhat nostalgic memories of the experience of hearing House of Balloons for the first time, which extended into Thursday and Echoes of Silence. Lost to the commercialization and the shift in sounds and expectations. This album returns The Weeknd to that place and makes revisiting the journey that brought us here more worthwhile. Having missed a lot of the complete body of works, Hurry Up Tomorrow revitalizes the feeling of wanting to experience the story in full, and filling in the missing pieces of albums in between the Trilogy and this body of work. 

Resonating with the feeling of reaching an end or slipping away, or leaving a moment that exceeded expectation and letting it—as a work of art, be, without repainting, or making subtle changes or added anything more. The Weeknd delivers on his final act. The closing track seamlessly transitions into the opening seconds of “High for This,” the first track from House of Balloons, closing this chapter but making a brilliant ending credit that leaves you wanting to go back and replay the first film—album, in this case.

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ELSV. ART - GALLERY PREVIEW

ATLANTA / NEW YORK – A PREVIEW OF THE ‘SOMEWHERE TO FLY’ ART COLLECTION WAS HELD, SHOWCASING 3 of the first few pieces that are currently on sale. These prints encompasses the storytelling of the upcoming novel “Somewhere to fly” which is scheduled to release in 2025. The ‘Somewhere to Fly’ Collection includes the pieces, ‘She’s Looking for me’ ‘Somewhere to fly’ & ‘ANOTHER DAY’ which are available for purchase in the elsv. shop.

PRINTS ARE AVAILABLE NOW. ORDERS WILL SHIP December 9th

For media inquiries, interviews, or review copies, please contact: Press@elsv.net

ELSV. — LEVERAGING TRENDS IN MUSIC, FASHION, ART AND DESIGN THROUGH A FUTURISTIC LENS.

FOR SUBMISSIONS AND COLLABORATIONS CONTACT MAGAZINE@ELSV.NET For more information, visit elsvmag.com.

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ELSV. publishes first Book 'IN SEARCH OF SOLITUDE' from Creative Director Jonathan Dante

In Search of Solitude - Words. Poetry & Songs (cover)

ATLANTA / NEW YORK – ‘In Search of Solitude’ a collection of words, poetry and lyrics was first thought of with the introduction of ELSV. MAGAZINE ISSUE 1 In SPRING 2015. With the theme of ELSV. Magazine’s first issue building off creative storytelling of poetry and creating photo and visual elements that could encompass these ideas led to what ELSV would become. With ‘In search of solitude’, Creative Director, Jonathan Dante curator this collection of works into a story that dives into the idea and concepts of solitude, what solitude means, how it’s meaning is interpreted and how each piece connects to the idea of solitude.

With several title changes, the ideas of ‘In Search of Solitude’ surrounds a conversation that Dante has with himself, versions of himself and his younger self while on this journey to solitude and having to deal with pain, struggles, headaches and more. Sometimes there’s an inner voice there to guide you through. To tie in the 10th anniversary of elsv. ‘In search of solitude’ is the first of several projects to be released, including the follow up, plus Dante’s first sci-fi novel.

‘In search of Solitude’ is available now on elsv.net.
Also available on AMAZON.

For media inquiries, interviews, or review copies, please contact: Press@elsv.net

ELSV. — LEVERAGING TRENDS IN MUSIC, FASHION, ART AND DESIGN THROUGH A FUTURISTIC LENS.

FOR SUBMISSIONS AND COLLABORATIONS CONTACT MAGAZINE@ELSV.NET For more information, visit elsvmag.com.

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SUPPORT ELSV. GOFUNDME AS WE WORK ON OUR RELAUNCH & 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

ELUSIVE BY DESIGN. is thrilled to relaunch what help start our brand - ELSV Magazine, which released its first issue in 2015 (with the inception of it created in 2014) . As the idea was to highlight creativity in a lane for the creatives, our goals were to bring the elements off the page and expand into various creative avenues of our themes of storytelling through fashion, photography, art, and music.

Our relaunch preps us for 10 Years of ELSV but also introduces where we are headed; inviting artists, designers, and visionaries to collaborate and innovate with us.

Often times, we are seeing the work, the inspiration and the creativity overlooked or being diminished on a large scale. It is important that we have platforms where we can create for ourselves, funded by ourselves and offer opportunities for ourselves. We have launched a gofundme to help support our plans as well as launched membership tiers for those who want to continuously support. One of the goals for members is to have access to our creative works, and options of commissions, collaborations and more.

Support our GoFundMe.

Your support can make a huge difference in helping us get back to creating amazing art, fashion, and music projects. Please consider clicking the link below to donate or share the link to help us thrive again. Thanks so much!

We are committing to bringing new content, photo and video based projects, exclusive resources, collaborative opportunities, and more and to help bring creative visions to life.

INVITING ARTIST, DESIGNERS & VISIONARIES TO COLLABORATE & INNOVATE WITH ELSV.

We are excited to embark on this new journey and invite you to join us. Whether you’re a fashion enthusiast, art lover, photographer, musician, or creative visionary, there is a place for you in our community. Together, we will push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

With our relaunch, we will be excited to embark on the release of a Special Edition / PhotoZine to commemorate the release of Issue 1 (Submissions are open). The release of several publications including a novel from Creative Director, Jonathan Dante. In addition, we hope to have biweekly creative sessions to work on projects, as well as events tailored to specific releases (art, music & more).

Please submit this form if you are interested

Stay connected - X - Instagram - Threads - LinkedIn

For media inquiries, interviews, or review copies, please contact: Press@elsv.net


ELSV. — LEVERAGING TRENDS IN MUSIC, FASHION, ART AND DESIGN THROUGH A FUTURISTIC LENS.

FOR SUBMISSIONS AND COLLABORATIONS CONTACT MAGAZINE@ELSV.NET For more information, visit elsvmag.com.

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