Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Spreedreieck

Spreedreieck, Berlin

“Spreedreieck” by Mark Braun Architekten, 2008
Friedrichstrasse, Regierungsviertel
Berlin, September 2011

“So much has been accomplished since reunification, yet Berlin remains a work in progress. The biggest project of 2009, the Spreedreieck , is a 10-story office high-rise situated on the triangular plot of land next to Friedrichstrasse station. Designed by the late Mark Braun, its twin glass towers echo the blueprint of the Modernist building Ludwig Mies van der Rohe conceived for the site back in 1929. The new structure preserves the GDR-era Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears), so-named because the Friedrichstrasse station was where West Berliners had to say their teary farewells after visiting their relatives and friends stuck behind the Iron Curtain.” (Spreedreieck, Lonely Planet)

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Le Grand Toscano

Le Grand Toscano by Igor Mitoraj, Faubourg de l'Arche, Courbevoie, La Défense, Paris

“Le Grand Toscano” by Igor Mitoraj, 1983
Faubourg de l'Arche
Courbevoie, La Défense
Paris, July 2011

See also: Testa Addormentata - Tindaro - Centauro - Tindaro Screpolato - Colosse - Ikaria - Bronze Doors

Monday, December 29, 2014

Two Rivers

Two Rivers by Greg Wyatt, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Pisa

“Two Rivers” by Greg Wyatt, 2009
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
Pisa, December 2014

“Wyatt’s statue -- an 18-foot tall flowing, crusty bronze behemoth designed to represent the cultural bond between the people who live along the Arno and Hudson Rivers -- was mostly underwritten by a $350,000 grant from the city of Florence. The project took two years and, says exhibition curator Michelangiolo Bastiani, more than 50 official permissions and hours of arguments to complete.” (Michelangelo’s Florence Is Abuzz Over 11-Ton American Statue, Bloomberg)

See also: Peace Elephant - Mikhail Baryshnikov - Peace Fountain - Two Peacocks - Soul of the Arts

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Offshore Wind Works

DONG Energy’s Offshore Wind Works, Central line, Queensway tube station, London

DONG Energy’s ‘Offshore Wind Works’
Central line, Queensway tube station
London, September 2014

“Research carried out for DONG Energy has shown a very low awareness of the part that offshore wind is playing in the UK's transformation to a low carbon economy. Yet the UK leads the world in deployment of this technology and, according to the latest Government figures, offshore wind today powers over two million homes and supports around 18,300 jobs across the country.” (DONG Energy launches 'Offshore Wind Works' Campaign, Greener Business)

See also: Wanderer above the Sea of Fog

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Campo Verano

Cimitero del Verano, Campo Verano, Piazzale del Verano, Rome

Entrance of the Cimitero del Verano (Campo Verano) with the statues of
“Meditation” by Francesco Fabi-Altini, “Hope” by Stefano Galletti,
“Charity” by Francesco Fabi-Altini, “Silence” by Giuseppe Blasetti
Piazzale del Verano
Rome, April 2013

“The city's largest cemetery dates to the Napoleonic occupation of Rome between 1804 and 1814, when an edict ordered that the city's dead must be buried outside the city walls. Between the 1830s and the 1980s virtually all Catholics who died in Rome (with the exception of popes, cardinals and royalty) were buried here. If you're in the area it's worth a look for its grand tombs, but try to avoid 2 November (All Souls' Day), when thousands of Romans flock to the cemetery to leave flowers on the tombs of loved ones.” (Cimitero di Campo Verano, Lonely Planet)

Friday, December 26, 2014

La criée du phare

Lighthouse, fish market, Paris

“Les Samouraïs des Mers” (formerly “La criée du phare”)
Rue Castagnary
Quartier Saint-Lambert, 15th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

“At 6 a.m. it’s already broad daylight. A lighthouse stands before me, reaching into a sky that announces a beautiful June day. But there are no crying seagulls, no ebb and flow of waves, only rather the sound of cars and trains. Where are we? Rue Castagnary in Paris’s 15th arrondissement, by the train tracks of the Montparnasse Station that serves western France. This lighthouse is nothing but an advertisement for a fish market. But I dream of going inside and opening a window so as to greet Bretons in their trains arriving in Paris.” (The Lighthouse by the Train Tracks, France Revisited)

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Actv 15

Water bus, vaporetto VE 8427, Grand Canal, Venice

A “vaporetto” (water bus) at a stop
Canal Grande (Grand Canal)
Venice, September 2013

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Skanderbeg


Bust of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg by Kreshnik Xhiku, 2012
Lady Samuel's Gardens
Inverness Terrace, Bayswater
London, September 2014

“Around 150 people brought traffic to a standstill yesterday when they gathered to see the launch of the latest contribution to Westminster’s City of Sculpture initiative. A bust of Albanian national hero Skanderbeg was jointly unveiled by Cllr Robert Davis, Westminster City Council’s Cabinet Member for the Built Environment and the Albanian Charge d’affaires, Mal Berisha. The bust was inaugurated at Inverness Terrace in Bayswater to mark the 100th anniversary of Albanian independence as police halted traffic and Albanians gathered to cheer.” (Albanian national hero commemorated in Bayswater, London Evening Standard)

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

M/V Spirit of America

MV Spirit of America Staten Island ferry, New York

“MV Spirit of America” Staten Island Ferry
Upper New York Bay
New York, September 2008

“The third ferry, Spirit of America, was to be put into service on October 25, 2005, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the municipal takeover of the Staten Island Ferry from the B&O railroad. However, mechanical problems on the Molinari class ferries and legal proceedings kept it sidelined at the Staten Island Ferry's St. George maintenance facility until its maiden voyage on April 4, 2006.” (Staten Island Ferry, Wikipedia)

See also: MV Guy V. Molinari

Monday, December 22, 2014

Armand Cahen

Tomb of lieutenant Armand Cahen, Montparnasse Cemetery, Paris

Tomb of second lieutenant Armand Cahen (1898-1920)
Cimetière du Montparnasse, Montparnasse Cemetery
Quartier du Montparnasse, 14th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

“Not far from General Bridoux is the tomb of Armand Cahen, a second lieutenant in an artillery regiment, who died in 1920 at the age of 22, after being awarded the War Cross (Croix de Guerre) for bravery during a heavy shelling attack in June 1918 where toxic gas shells were used. His memorial was quite elaborate, between the large marble sculpture of him and the stone and stained glass enclosure it stands in. I stayed there for a long moment in reverence, and was pondering his fate when the sun came out from behind some clouds, sending bright rays through the stained glass to bathe the white stone bust in red and green light, transforming him.” (Armistice Day... In Memory..., Magic Lantern Show)

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Via dell'Amorino

Door handle, via dell'Amorino, Florence

Door handle
Via dell'Amorino
Florence, April 2014

Saturday, December 20, 2014

On Top of The O2

Climbers on the top platform of The O2, Millendium Dome, North Greenwich, London

Climbers on the top platform of The O2
Drawdock Road / Millennium Way
Greenwich Peninsula, North Greenwich
London, September 2014

See also: Up at The O2

Friday, December 19, 2014

Bronze Doors

Bronze doors by Igor Mitoraj, Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs, Rome

Bronze doors by Igor Mitoraj, 2006
Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri
(St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs)
Piazza della Repubblica
Rome, April 2013

“The symbolic potential of Mitoraj’s art made it ideal for religious commissions, which included two sets of bronze doors – at the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome in 2006 and, three years later, at the Jesuit church of Matka Boża Łaskawa in Warsaw. Towards the end of his life, Mitoraj divided his time between Italy and Poland, where he was laden with awards, from the Vittorio De Sica prize of 2001 to an honorary degree from the Kraków Academy in 2007 and the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, conferred two years ago.” (Igor Mitoraj obituary, The Guardian)

See also: Testa Addormentata - Tindaro - Centauro - Tindaro Screpolato - Colosse - Ikaria - Le Grand Toscano

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Dormer Windows

Paris

Institution nationale des Invalides, Les Invalides
Boulevard des Invalides
Quartier des Invalides, 7th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Rui Rui

Rui Rui by Jaume Plensa, Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti, Venice

“Rui Rui” by Jaume Plensa, 2013
Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti
Venice, September 2013

Rui Rui (2013) will be installed in the garden of Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti on the north side of the Accademia bridge. Though fabricated in cast iron, the sculpture appears like a hologram, fugitive despite its great materiality. The sculpture continues Plensa’s focus on the human figure, specifically the head, a subject he explores in awe-inspiring scale such as the majestic Echo (2011, Madison Square Park, New York) and Dream (2009, St. Helens, Liverpool, U.K.). Rui Rui is captured in silent meditation, her eyes closed in a dream. The sculpture invites a similar moment of quiet contemplation for all who encounter the work, as they pass through Venice’s labyrinthine canals and streets.” (Jaume Plensa at the Venice Biennale, Richard Gray Gallery)

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Torsion II


“Torsion II” by Charles Hadcock, 2011
Reuters Plaza, Canary Wharf
London, September 2014

See also: Verticil

Monday, December 15, 2014

NHow Hotel Berlin

NHow Hotel Berlin by NPS Tchoban Voss, Stralauer Allee, Friedrichshain, Berlin

NHow Hotel Berlin by NPS Tchoban Voss
Seen from the other side of the Spree
Stralauer Allee, Friedrichshain
Berlin, September 2013

“Aligning with the existing storehouses the four-star ‘nhow Berlin’ Music and Lifestyle Hotel by the Spanish nh-group is located between the River Spree to the south and Stralauer Allee to the north containing 304 rooms and two restaurants, a convention center with a ballroom, a spa area and an underground car park. The structure of the building and the façade design reflect the special location of the building. A huge cantilevered cube cites the motif of a crane cabin, whereas the façade’s surface mingles into the ubiquitous brown stone materiality at the formerly important city harbor of Osthafen.” (Music & Lifestyle Hotel nhow, NPS Tchoban Voss)

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Chimère


“Chimère” (Chimera) by Henri Alfred Jacquemart, 1860
Fontaine Saint-Michel by Gabriel Davioud, 1860
Place Saint-Michel
Quartier de la Monnaie, 6th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

Saturday, December 13, 2014

St. Matthew & St. Stephen

St. Matthew and St. Stephen, by Lorenzo Ghiberti, Orsanmichele Museum, Florence

“San Matteo” (Matthew the Apostle) by Lorenzo Ghiberti, 1420
“Santo Stefano” (Saint Stephen) by Lorenzo Ghiberti, 1428
Orsanmichele Museum
Florence, April 2014

See also: Christ and St. Thomas - San Luca - Madonna delle Grazie Altar - San Matteo - Santo Stefano

Friday, December 12, 2014

Malta Day Procession

Malta Day street procession with the Statue of Our Lady of Victories, Victoria Street, London

Malta Day procession with the Statue of Our Lady of Victories
Victoria Street, City of Westminster
London, September 2014

“Malta Day-UK - on Saturday 13th September 2014 - An all day event organised under the auspices of the Malta High Commission in London: Maltese Fair at Westminster Cathedral Hall in the morning (at about 10.00 am), Solemn Mass in the afternoon (about 2.30 pm) followed by Street Procession with the Statue of Our Lady of Victories, (il-Bambina), with brass band and fireworks. In the evening the celebrations will continue with a reception/dinner & dance at a luxurious venue. More details and full programme will follow later. Mark this date in your diary. This is an event that no true Maltese should miss!” (Forthcoming Events, Maltese Culture Movement)

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Bernini's Grave

Grave of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

The grave of Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore
Rome, April 2013

“I was actually amazed with how little attention is paid to the grave of the great Bernini, with not a single soul (or tour group) knowing, noticing, or taking the time to look for the simple, marble gravestone on the right side of the large center-tomb that houses one of the most influential and visually present artists in Rome. The church itself doesn't help the cause either: a mere two slanted, wooden church benches protect the marble step from unknowing people wandering onto it. While you're for the other grandeur of the church, take a second to salute the master.” (Roam freely in this masterpiece, find Bernini's grave, TripAdvisor)

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Front Door

Detail of a front door decoration, Rue Condorcet, Paris

Detail of the decoration of a front door
Rue Condorcet
Quartier de Rochechouart, 9th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Souvenir Shop

Souvenir shop, campo Santa Maria del Giglio, San Marco, Venice

Souvenir shop (Art and gifts made of Murano glass)
Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, San Marco
Venice, September 2013

Monday, December 8, 2014

Charles Lamb

Charles Lamb Centenary Memorial, by William Reynolds-Stephens, Giltspur Street, City of London, London

Centenary Memorial to Charles Lamb by William Reynolds-Stephens, 1935
Watch House
Giltspur Street, City of London
London, October 2009

“Charles Lamb grew up in downtown London and went to school at Christ’s Hospital where he first met lifelong friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He served in various office positions as the needs of his family required, and at age 24, with the death of his father, was placed in charge of all the family’s needs. He published his first poems in 1796 in a Coleridge collection, and published various works through the early years of the 19th century, when he had his first break with Tales of Shakespeare (1807), a joint project with his sister Mary. By this time he had gained a footing in London’s literary elite circle and had become friends with William Wordsworth, Percy Shelley, William Hazlitt, Leigh Hunt, and others. All his adult life he wrote for periodicals in England, particularly London Magazine, and covered everything from dreams, religion, and politics, to marriage, food, and love. Before he died he published Essays of Elia (1823), and Final Essays of Elia (1833), both collections of his contributions to London Magazine.” (Charles Lamb, Quotidiana)

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Citigroup Center

detail of the former Citigroup Center with the Lipstick Building in background, New York

A detail of the former Citigroup Center, now 601 Lexington Avenue
With the Lipstick Building in background
East 54th Street at Third Avenue
New York, September 2008

“Citigroup Inc., the global bank that got a $45 billion government bailout, faces another indignity: Its name will be stripped from the Citigroup Center in Manhattan after 30 years. Building owner Boston Properties Inc. will rename the tower 601 Lexington Ave. next year after completing lobby and plaza renovations, said Arista Joyner, a spokeswoman for the real estate company. The move ‘doesn’t have anything to do with Citi’s current difficulties,’ she said.” (Citi Doesn’t Live Here Anymore as Name Comes Off NYC Skyscraper, Bloomberg)

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Ikaria

Ikaria by Igor Mitoraj, faubourg de l'Arche, Courbevoie, La Défense, Paris

“Ikaria” by Igor Mitoraj, 1987
Faubourg de l'Arche
Courbevoie, La Défense
Paris, July 2011

See also: Testa Addormentata - Tindaro - Centauro - Tindaro Screpolato - Colosse - Ikaria - Bronze Doors - Le Grand Toscano

Friday, December 5, 2014

Boar's Head

Mounted boar's head, La Norcineria, Pork butcher, Via Sant'Antonino, Florence

“La Norcineria”, “Specialità toscane”
(Pork butcher, Tuscan specialties)
Via Sant'Antonino
Florence, April 2014

“Why are boar hunted? Apart from the fact that they taste good (think Cinghiali al umido) [or any other recipe you can link to] but they cause a lot of damage to gardens and trees. This sounds harsh (you can only really appreciate the murderous qualities needed to shoot the creatures after your lovingly planted vegetable garden has been entirely rooted up) but these animals also breed terribly fast. Originally the Wild Boar had one or two young every year, thus sustaining a balanced population. Unfortunately the domestic (and prolific) pig came into the genetic mix and created a hybrid Boar which produces between 4 – 10 offspring each pregnancy. Thus the countryside is overpopulated and hunting is a sensible solution.” (The Wild Boar Survival Guide, Under the Tuscan Gun)

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Brompton Oratory

Brompton Oratory, Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Brompton Road, South Kensington, London

Brompton Oratory (Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary)
Brompton Road, South Kensington
London, September 2014

“The second largest Roman Catholic church in London, the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, often referred to as Brompton Oratory, was consecrated in 1884.The facade and the majestic dome were added later, in 1890. The church was designed by Herbert Gribble, a recent convert to Catholicism who was just twenty-nine when he submitted the design for the church. Gribble chose an Italianate design for the church as he wished to bring this style to the United Kingdom. The building boasts marble columns and a beautiful fifty-foot (15m) vaulted dome that graces the London skyline.” (Brompton Oratory, A View on Cities)

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Porta San Sebastiano

Porta San Sebastiano, St. Sebastian's Gate, Rome

Porta San Sebastiano (St. Sebastian's Gate)
Via di Porta San Sebastiano
Rome, April 2014

“St. Sebastian's Gate (Porta San Sebastiano) is one of the best-preserved remaining gates that was originally part of Rome's Aurelian Walls. The wall was first constructed in the third century as a point of defense for the city and was later rebuilt and added on to in later centuries. The gate was originally called Porta Appia, but later renamed after the catacombs found nearby. A single archway still allows traffic to pass through and the marble and brick structure remains in good condition thanks to its preservation and restoration. The interior boasts a museum dedicated to the ancient Roman walls and gates.” (St. Sebastian's Gate, Home & Abroad)

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

La Ferme de la Métairie

La Ferme de la Métairie, bio ice cream, Parc André Citroën, Paris

“La Ferme de la Métairie”, bio ice cream
Parc André Citroën
Rue de la Montagne-de-la-Fage
Quartier de Javel, 15th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

Monday, December 1, 2014

Palazzo del Cinema

Palazzo del Cinema by Luigi Quagliata, Lungomare Guglielmo Marconi, Lido di Venezia, Venice

Palazzo del Cinema by Luigi Quagliata, 1938
(Home of the Venice Film Festival)
Lungomare Guglielmo Marconi
Lido di Venezia
Venice, September 2013

“The Palace is composed of a simple hall and a cinematographic hall (the Great Hall). As a result of the continued success of the festival, it became necessary to widen the building, which was entrusted to the same Quagliata in 1952. The entire plan included widening the Great Hall, an open arena, other projection halls, as well as offices and services, but only the expansion and the open arena were completed.” (Palazzo del Cinema, Portale di Venezia)

Sunday, November 30, 2014

London River Man

London River Man by John W. Mills, Admirals Way, South Quay, Canary Wharf, London

“London River Man” by John W. Mills, 1987
Admirals Way, South Quay, Canary Wharf
London, September 2014

This sculpture salutes all London river workers – tosshers
bargees – dockers – aletasters – coalheavers – ferrymen

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Es geschah im November

Es geschah im November, It Happened in November by Kani Alavi, East Side Gallery, Mühlenstraße, Berlin

“Es geschah im November” (It Happened in November) by Kani Alavi
East Side Gallery
Mühlenstraße, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Berlin, September 2011

“Nowadays about 800.000 visitors each year come by the East Side Gallery to take a look at the paintings. Kani’s ‘Es geschah im November,’ translated as ‘it happened in November,’ is one of the paintings. His painting shows a wave of people breaking through the Wall. The faces on the painting are not just happy faces – he also drew sad and scared faces. ‘People in the East had gone through a lot and were headed to many uncertainties.’ He is proud of all the work he has done, and still does, for the East Side Gallery: ‘It has really become my life. It belongs to my history, my personal history. It is my child.’” (A Wall to Remember, Faces of Berlin)

See also: Berlin Wall - Test the Rest - Bruderkuß - Stay Free - Without Title - Sonic Malade - Vergesst mir die Liebe nicht - Niemandsland - Many Small People - Curriculum Vitae

Friday, November 28, 2014

Georges Brassens

Bust of Georges Brassens by André Greck, Parc Georges-Brassens, Paris

Bust of Georges Brassens by André Greck, 1989
Parc Georges-Brassens
Rue des Morillons
Quartier Saint-Lambert, 15th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Cosimo I de' Medici

Equestrian statue of Cosimo I de' Medici by Giambologna, piazza della Signoria, Florence

Equestrian statue of Cosimo I de' Medici by Giambologna, 1594
Piazza della Signoria
Florence, April 2014

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Greylag Goose

Greylag goose, St. James's Park, City of Westminster, London

Greylag goose
St. James's Park
London, September 2014

“The ancestor of most domestic geese, the greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the wild geese native to the UK and Europe. In many parts of the UK it has been re-established by releasing birds in suitable areas, but the resulting flocks (often mixed with Canada geese) found around gravel pits, lakes and reservoirs all year round in southern Britain tend to be semi-tame and uninspiring. The native birds and wintering flocks found in Scotland retain the special appeal of truly wild geese.” (Greylag goose, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Piazza Benedetto Brin

Balcony with plants and flowers, piazza Benedetto Brin, Garbatella, Rome

Balcony with plants and flowers
Piazza Benedetto Brin, Garbatella
Rome, April 2013

Monday, November 24, 2014

Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile

Église Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile, rue du Conservatoire, Paris

Église Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile (Church of St. Eugene St. Cecilia)
Rue du Conservatoire
Quartier du Faubourg-Montmartre, 9th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Campo Santa Marina

Livorno

Campo Santa Marina, Castello
Venice, September 2013

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Agriculture

Agriculture by Frederick William Pomeroy, upstream side of Vauxhall Bridge, London

“Agriculture” by F. W. Pomeroy, 1907
Upstream side of Vauxhall Bridge
London, September 2014

Friday, November 21, 2014

Gato

Gato, Cat, by Fernando Botero, 900 Park Avenue, New York

“Gato” (Cat) by Fernando Botero, 1984
Park Avenue at 79th Street
New York, September 2008

“At the northwest corner of Park Avenue and East 79th Street, the plaza follows the semicircular drop-off driveway model, but with a slight twist. In the half-circle area normally reserved for the ornamental fountain are artworks that render the space imageable to the public. The current sculpture, entitled Cat (1984), by Fernando Butero, is a bronze of a well-fed, polar-bear-sized cat with great whiskers. A previous sculpture. by Francisco Zunica, was a bronze of three grand women majestically strutting in different directions. Well-manicured shrubs and trees still surround the sculpture.” (Privately Owned Public Space: The New York City Experience, Jerold S. Kayden)

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Andranik

Equestrian statue of General Andranik, Armenian National Hero, Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris

Au Général Antranik (1866-1927), Héros National Arménien
(To General Andranik, Armenian National Hero)
Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, (Père Lachaise Cemetery)
Quartier du Père-Lachaise, 20th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

“Andranik's remains were originally planned to be buried in Armenia; however, the Soviet authorities refused entry. He was first buried at Ararat Cemetery in Fresno, and his remains were moved to France and buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris on 29 January 1928. In early 2000, the Armenian and French governments arranged the transfer of Andranik's body from Paris to Yerevan. Asbarez wrote that the transfer was initiated by Armenia's Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, who was killed in the parliament shooting on 27 October 1999. Andranik's body was moved to Armenia on 17 February 2000. It was placed in the Sport & Concert Complex in Yerevan for two days and was then taken to Etchmiadzin Cathedral, where Karekin II officiated the funeral service. Andranik was re-interred at Yerablur military cemetery in Yerevan on 20 February 2000, next to Vazgen Sargsyan.” (Andranik, Wikipedia)

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Paolo Uccello's Clock

Clock by Angelo Niccolai, fresco by Paolo Uccello, Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

Clock by Angelo Niccolai, fresco by Paolo Uccello, 1443
Santa Maria del Fiore (Saint Mary of the Flower)
Piazza del Duomo
Florence, April 2014

“The first public clock in the city of Florence was installed on the tower of Palazzo Vecchio on March 25, 1353, the work of Niccolò di Bernardo. A little less than a century later, a grandson of his, Angelo Niccolai degli Orologi, was commissioned to construct the mechanical clock of Santa Maria del Fiore, installed on the cathedral's inner façade in 1443. The dial was painted in fresco by Paolo Uccello (1397-1475), inscribing in a square a circle divided into 24 hours running counter-clockwise, according to a conventional representation of the time, emulating the movement of the gnomon's shadow on a vertical sundial. The hours are given in the so-called ‘Italian style’, which marked the duration of the day starting from sunset. They are indicated by an elliptical star with one ray longer than the others, an element recurrently used by the artist in his paintings to depict the comet of the Nativity. This is probably an allusion to Christ, ‘light of the world’, as is further confirmed by the presence of the four Evangelists portrayed in the false oculi at the corners of the great square.” (Ancient mechanical ‘oriuoli’, Museo Galileo)

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Canary Wharf Crossrail Station

Canary Wharf Crossrail Station, North Dock, West India Quay, Canary Wharf, London

Canary Wharf railway station, North Dock
West India Quay, Canary Wharf
London, September 2014

“The oversite development includes plans for 100,000 square feet of retail space and a roof-top park and community facility, semi-covered by an elegant timber lattice roof. The proposed roof will be made of translucent materials, letting the local community see, and encouraging them to visit, the new green space, shops, restaurants and facilities within. The combined station and oversite development has been likened to a ship moored in the dock, reflecting Canary Wharf’s past as the centre for global maritime commerce and its future, better integrated with the local community and the rest of London.” (Canary Wharf Station, Crossrail)

Monday, November 17, 2014

Basilica of San Vitale

Basilica of San Vitale, via Nazionale, Rome

Basilica dei Santi Vitale e Compagni Martiri in Fovea
(Basilica of Sts. Vitalis, Valeris, Gervase and Protase)
Via Nazionale
Rome, April 2013

“The new road was actually the result of a proposal by Pope Pius IX in response to the obvious need for proper access to the city centre from the train station, but the Italian government after 1870 mutated this into a typical straight and level 19th century civic boulevard. As a result the church in its valley was left well below the new road level, and is now accessed by a rather alarming flight of steps.” (San Vitale, Churches of Rome Wiki)

Sunday, November 16, 2014

La Boutique d’Amérique Latine

La Boutique d’Amérique Latine, boulevard Pasteur, Livorno

La Boutique d’Amérique Latine
Boulevard Pasteur
Quartier Necker, 15th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Rio de San Mauro

Fondamenta di Cavanella, fondamenta di Cao Moleca, Rio de San Mauro, Burano, Venetian Lagoon

Fondamenta di Cavanella / Fondamenta di Cao Moleca
Burano, Venetian Lagoon
Venice, September 2012

See also: Fondamenta della Pescheria - Color Like Music - Fritto Misto

Friday, November 14, 2014

Physical Energy

Physical Energy by George Frederic Watts, Lancaster Walk, Kensington Gardens, London

“Physical Energy” by George Frederic Watts, 1907
Lancaster Walk, Kensington Gardens
London, September 2014

“In his final years, George Frederic Watts turned his hand to creating sculptures. His most famous sculpture is the large-sized bronze statue named Physical Energy that was created in 1902. The statue depicts a naked horseman shading his eyes as he looked into the sun. Watts' intention was to dedicate the piece to Genghis Khan, Muhammad, Attila and Tamerlane – figures that Watts thought epitomized raw willpower.” (George Frederic Watts, Totally History)

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae by Susanne Kunjappu-Jellinek, East Side Gallery, Mühlenstraße, Berlin

“Curriculum Vitae” by Susanne Kunjappu-Jellinek
East Side Gallery
Mühlenstraße, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Berlin, September 2011

“It soon became clear that no one among the East German authorities would take personal responsibility for issuing orders to use lethal force, so the vastly outnumbered soldiers had no way to hold back the huge crowd of East German citizens. Finally, at 10:45 pm, Harald Jäger, the commander of the Bornholmer Straße border crossing yielded, allowing for the guards to open the checkpoints and allowing people through with little or no identity checking. As the Ossis swarmed through, they were greeted by Wessis waiting with flowers and champagne amid wild rejoicing. Soon afterward, a crowd of West Berliners jumped on top of the wall, and were soon joined by East German youngsters. They danced together to celebrate their new freedom.” (Berlin Wall - The Fall, Wikipedia)

See also: Berlin Wall - Test the Rest - Bruderkuß - Stay Free - Without Title - Sonic Malade - Vergesst mir die Liebe nicht - Niemandsland - Many Small People

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Colosse

Colosse, Colossus by Igor Mitoraj, Faubourg de l'Arche, Courbevoie, La Défense, Paris

“Colosse” (Colossus) by Igor Mitoraj, 2001
Faubourg de l'Arche
Courbevoie, La Défense
Paris, July 2011

See also: Testa Addormentata - Tindaro - Centauro - Tindaro Screpolato - Colosse - Ikaria - Bronze Doors - Le Grand Toscano