Wishes

Happy New Year everyone!

It's a bit early but I hope you won't mind because I won't be around in the next few days. I wish you all to be happy and healthy. And I promise a lot of photos and stories upon my return :)

Have fun!

25th

Happy Holidays to everyone who celebrate it! <3

Here is a bit of seasonal magic for you.



You can see some of my last photos here.

I'll be away in the next two days. Have fun everyone! Talk to you soon! XOXO

Art?

Please, check out the photos from the exhibition of the "artist" Guillermo Habacuc Vargas before you continue to read my post. There are very sad images of a starving dog.

Well, the dog died. If that is art, I refuse to be an artist. What was Vargas’ point, if he had any?

There will always be a group of a people to argue and justify this inhumane act. Some will say that the dog would die anyway. Some will say that the point of Vargas exhibition was to shock and create impact on a human’s mind. Vargas will say that that is art.

Are we that much cold and insensitive that we really need to see all of it in vivo in order to understand and to have appropriate reaction on this kind of things? Vargas couldn’t actually MAKE an artwork? Painting, photo, video or anything else? No matter reasoning, two facts remain. The "artist" didn’t even try to help to this dog and he just added on a poor dog’s sufferings by dragging him to this horrible exhibition.

Nothing, and I really mean nothing, should be above our humanity and compassion. If you can’t help to someone, then at least don’t make his/her sufferings even worse. Record it. Remember it. Find an appropriate way to tell your story without hurting innocent animals. We live in a time when that is possible.

All of this reminded me of Kevin Carter, a Pulitzer-winning South African photographer that committed suicide, hunted by the horrific images of starving people in Sudan, unable to distance himself from the things he witnessed and unable to help. He won’t be forgotten.

Now, to go back to my story, Vargas is about to represent his country at the Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008. Do not let him! Over 360.000 people have signed a petition. Please, help us out. Sign it.

Umzug

Santa Claus is coming. Are you ready? :D



This beautiful holiday is a synthesis of pagan and christian elements. The custom goes back to the middle ages when bad spirits were driven away by noise created with cowbells and cows' horns. Today it's called Santa Claus Parade. December 5th is Klausjagen (Chasing of Claus).



The procession begins at 8:15pm and is most impressive. The sounds are made by groups of people ringing bells, blowing horns and cracking whips, and the lights come from folks wearing huge paper bishops hats, lit from within by candles. I wish I can show you all of it...


Ready to wave? Here he comes :)

By, by November

I just need to say this loud, I absolutely can’t stand Novembers! The worst things throughout my life have happened exactly in Novembers. It’s needless to say that this year is no better. Will it ever skip me? I mean, I just can’t believe it sometimes. Ironically, my number is 11. Anyone has any idea how to prevent November? Winter sleep perhaps? LOL

Anyway, did anyone have any similar experience?

Aivazovsky

I think most of you already know how much I love art in general. This post is actually my answer to a friend. And the question was: What is so special about Aivazovsky?

One of the most forged of all Russian painters is Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky and yet his name is quite unknown for many art lovers.

(the portrait of Aivazovsky by Aleksey Tyranov, 1847)

Aivazovsky was of Armenian descent, mostly known by his marvelous seascapes paintings. He has the ability to create interesting atmosphere and many admired his choice and use of colors.



Aivazovsky was obviously enchanted by the sky and sea. His paintings show a great span of a different appearances and sky changes, from pale and misty mornings through storms, clouds and red sunsets. His sea movements are brilliant.



Sky and sea - both endless, both are conveying the feeling of eternity and freedom. And there is always human presence, like small figures by seashores, or indirectly - ships and architecture that emerges from a mists and sunsets.



In essence, I can say that the entire emphasis of his work was actually on light and lighting aspects.


This indeed has connection with Aivazovsky’s character. He loved to travel! At the age of 25 he was already internationally famous painter. Beside, he lived by his ideals – love for a freedom and compassion for the oppressed and less fortunate. He was a great humanist and romantic. Therefore it’s not strange that most of his money went to charity purposes and openings of art school and gallery. His house became a place for artistic pilgrimage and inspiration.


I won’t go into his biographical details, as you might notice already. I’m just trying to answer to the above mentioned question. So, what is so special about Aivazovsky? The fact that one can admire not just his art but also his character and personal philosophy. And that is rare my friend. As the quote on Aivazovsky’s tombstone nicely says: Born a mortal, he left immortal memories.

Pictures are taken from Wikipedia and SightsWithin

This is for you Lorri :)

Finally some pictures of snow as I’ve promised before. It’s not enough for our Snowman Project so I’ll have to wait a bit longer to start with it.



Bits of colors… Autumn is still struggling to survive.








This one is my favorite.

Snow!

Out of the bosom of the Air,
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare
Over the harvest-fields forsaken,
Silent and soft and slow
Descends the snow.

That was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem. So yes, we had the first snow here in Zürich today! And the world looks beautiful again… But I didn’t take any pictures because it was too windy. Later my friends… How is the weather on your sides of the world?

Back!

Once again I’ve been out and about and hardly at home in the past several days. Here are few shots from my trip :)











And your photographer :)



How is everyone? :)

Autumn Square Memories

Worth to remember...



Mist...






Colors...






Rain...











Flood...







I hope you enjoyed :)