"Hazardecos" - The name is derived from the Hebrew noun hazara, which stands for the Russian Formalist term, known in English as Defamiliarization. It also contains the word Ha'Zar: “the stranger”, “the foreigner” and the Hebrew title of Albert Camus' novel L'Etranger, "The Stranger".

Hazardecos is a group where we cross the borders of conventional art to venture into the foreign and unfamiliar. This is a group for mixed media and collage artists, who wish to broaden their horizons. Most art groups focus on non-offensive themes which are good material for pretty pictures. We wish to go beyond the border of conventional beauty and try our hands in also expressing things that can be found disturbing, depressing or just plain difficult to deal with. We encourage artists to promote their political, philosophical, spiritual and personal views in their art, uncensored and unrestricted. Example themes include Grotesque art, WW2, Futuristic poetry, Perversion, MLies, Martyrdom, Hallucination, Mental problems, Transcendence - and so on.

Experienced mail-artist/swappers are welcome. The principle of add-and-pass is easier to capture than the responsibility and communicativeness that swapping requires. We expect our members to be capable of putting extensive thought into their work. Pretty visuals are no longer enough.

Upon joining, you will be asked for samples of your work and other information. Our themes are quite challenging and thus this is not a place for everyone. We are not trying to slam the door to anyone's face by saying this, so if you feel that you have come to the right place, hit the "join the group" button.

Moderated by Merel

Front page art by Lisa H.