Below the Surface

A Surreal Photoshoot on an Underwater Shipwreck in Bali Taken recently off the coast of Bali, these surreal photos are the creation of Montreal-based director and photographer Benjamin Von Wong. With a team of two models who also happen to be trained freedivers and 7 additional support divers, Von Wong obtained special permission to utilize a 50-year-old underwater shipwreck. Despite being shot in extreme conditions, 25 meters below the surface, Vong Wong relied heavily on natural light to create the images.   Mother of Pearl Shell Skull Carvings by Gregory Halili New Jersey-based artist Gregory Halili's latest series of work involves a fusion of the human form with the natural world in these amazing bas-relief shell skulls. Halili carves and then paints with oil on raw, gold-lip and black-lip mother of pearl found in shells collected from the Philippines. The pieces will soon be exhibited at Silverlens Galleries in Manila and Nancy Hoffman Gallery in NYC.     Bird Sculptures Constructed from Wire by Celia Smith Look like Detailed Sketches UK artist Celia Smith works with various forms of wire to create delicate bird sculptures and installations. While somewhat abstract in appearance, the pieces are almost lifelike in form and scale as if drawn with a pen.   A Sprawling Mud Mural by Yusuke Asai Brings Art Into Classrooms in India When the Wall Art Project--a Tokyo-based non-profit--asked Japanese artist Yusuke Asai to travel to the Niranjana School in Bihar, India to create a mural on the walls of a classroom, they were probably expecting something unconventional. Asai is known for painting with almost anything he can get his hands on, whether that's leaves, pens, dust, or mud. But you can still imagine the surprise when Asai revealed this sprawling, immersive mural that was created using cow dung, straw, 7 types of soil, and water.   Man Spends 13 Years Transforming a Hedge into a Massive Dragon Most of us are lucky to keep a potted plant alive in our windowsill. But John Brooker of Norfolk had a horticultural vision unlike anyone else. For the past 13 years, Brooker has hacked and trimmed and molded the 150ft-long (45.7m) hedge outside his Frizzleton Farm property into a massive dragon, complete with flowing tail and wings. Photographer Damien McFadden recently stopped by to snap these fantastic photos of Brooker at work.   Chicago Artist Mends Potholes with Mosaics After one of the most brutal winters in over 30 years, Chicago's streets are pockmarked with an estimated 600,000 gaping potholes. While the city struggles to fill the holes, some Chicagoans have taken matters into their own hands. One such person is artist Jim Bachor. Bachor has filled about 7 potholes with original tile mosaics that borrow from the design of the Chicago flag.   Father's Day in the Colossal Shop Still searching for that perfect quirky thing for dad? The Colossal Shop has you covered. We've gathered all of our favorite things together in a special Father's Day collection. Order by tomorrow for delivery by June 9th!