Month: July 2015

White Tiger

Photographer Unknown, White Bengal Tiger

The White Bengal tigers are distinctive due to the color of their fur. The white fur caused by a lack of the pigment pheomelanin, which is found in Bengal tigers with orange color fur. When compared to Bengal tigers, the white Bengal tigers tend to grow faster and heavier than the orange Bengal tiger. They also tend to be somewhat bigger at birth, and as fully grown adults.

White Bengal tigers are fully grown when they are 2–3 years of age. White male tigers reach weights of 200 to 230 kilograms and can grow up to 3 meters in length. As with all tigers, the white Bengal tiger’s stripes are like fingerprints, with no two tigers having the same pattern. The stripes of the tiger are a pigmentation of the skin; if an individual were to be shaved, its distinctive coat pattern would still be visible.

Werewolf

Werewolf by JediArtTrick, DeviantArt

“I went home and tried to sleep, but couldn’t, so I stared up at the moon, watching how it’s trailing edge faded into darkness, so close to being full, but not quite there. A pregnant moon, Grandma called it. Full almost to bursting, and ready to give birth to something unthinkable.”
― Neal Shusterman, Red Rider’s Hood

Manu Chao, “El Contragolpe”

Manu Chao, “El Contragolpe” Live September 11, 2008

Had to get tired, sometimes,
of your lies.
I had to get tired of begging
Everyday.
But now I am happy.
I do not want any more.
Do not look for my forgiveness, leave me …
Now you will see what is to have broken wings,
Now you will see what is to suffer the loss.
What brought me thy wickedness has no name,
But now it mercilessly backlashed.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Stefan Haupt, “Der Kreis (The Circle)”

Der Kreis (The Circle) : Swiss Docudrama directed by Stefan Haupt, 2014

The Circle (German: Der Kreis) is a Swiss docudrama film, released in 2014. Written and directed by Stefan Haupt, the film depicts the social network that revolved around The Circle, a gay publication in Zurich in the 1940s and 1950s, which was scapegoated for the murders of several gay men in the city.

The film focuses in particular on the story of Ernst Ostertag and Röbi Rapp, a schoolteacher and a drag entertainer who enter a lifelong romantic relationship through their involvement in the group. The film intersperses a scripted dramatic depiction of the story, in which the couple are portrayed by Matthias Hungerbühler and Sven Schelker, with documentary interviews with the real Ostertag and Rapp. The film’s cast also includes Marianne Sägebrecht, Anatole Taubman, Antoine Monot, Jr., Stefan Witschi and Markus Merz.

The film won the Teddy Award for Best Documentary at the 2014 Berlin Film Festival, as well as the Panorama Audience Award. North American distribution rights were subsequently acquired by Wolfe Video. It was selected as the Swiss entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards, but was not nominated. Director Stefan Haupt said “it’s an honour to represent Switzerland”.

A engrossing film that shows how far we have come and what others endured.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Naomichi Okutsu

Naomichi Okutsu, “Lotus”, 2011

Born in 1976, Naomichi Okutsu began creating artwork while studying at the Tokyo Polytechnics University. Since then, he has continued to publish his work mainly at group and solo gallery exhibitions. His work features the use of traditional materials, and decoration in gold-leaf. He creates his own fantasy world with the depiction of the male body, adding motifs of flowers, birds and imaginary animals. He aims to incorporate aspects of Japanese traditional art as much as possible to produce works of stylistic beauty and vitality.

Albert Handell

Paintings by Albert Handell

Albert Handell lives and paints in Santa Fe, New Mexico and teaches nationally and internationally. He has received grants from the John F. and Anna Lee Stacy Foundation and from the Elizabeth T. Greenshields Foundation, Montreal Canada. His paintings are in numerous private and public collections and museums. Albert Handell now exhibits with the Ventana Fine Art Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where, since 1987, he has had annual one-man shows.

Cesaria Evora, “Besame Mucho”

Cesaria Evora, “Besame Mucho”

A song from one of the Great Singers:

I want to have you close to me
To see myself in your eyes
To see you next to me
Think that perhaps tomorrow
I will be far
So far away from you

Kiss me, kiss me a lot
As if tonight were
The last time

Kiss me, kiss me a lot
For I am afraid of having you
And losing you all over again.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Senefu Bird Couple

Senefu Bird Couple, Ivory Coast, Africa

According to the Senufo belief, the Hornbull, along with the Tortoise , the crocodile, the chameleon and the sepent – was one of the first living creatures.  The long phallic beak touching its own swollen belly suggesting pregnancy, represents the dual forces of the male and female components, symbolizing the need for both to ensure the continuity of the whole community.  The image of this bird is taken from the native Yellow Casqued Hornbill bird, which the Senufo believe is the master of all arrogant birds and associated with intellectual power, significant of the knowledge the elders hope to impart on the you initiates.

Ernesto Neto

Fabric Sculptures by Ernesto Neto

Ernesto Neto began exhibiting in Scotland in 1988 and has had solo exhibitions abroad since 1995. He represented with Vik Muniz their country in 2001 Venice Biennale, his installations were featured in Brazil’s national pavilion and in the international group exhibition at the Arsenale.

Neto’s work has been described as “beyond abstract minimalism”. His installations are large, soft, biomorphic sculptures that fill an exhibition space that viewers can touch, poke, and walk on or through. They are made of white, stretchy material – amorphous forms stuffed with Styrofoam pellets or, on occasion, aromatic spices. In some installations, he has also used this material to create translucent scrims that transform the space’s walls and floor. His sculptures can be regarded as expression of traditional abstract form, but in their interaction with the viewer, they work on another level as well.