Tuesday 5 April 2016
oubliette or down in the underground
catagories: ๐ช๐บ, ๐ฎ๐น, ๐ฑ, ๐ณ️, architecture
set phasers to stunning
the usual suspects or noble-lie
The German press has been nursing a real scoop, patiently, in the emergent scandal of the so called Panama Papers—an unbelievably huge and historic cache of incriminating documents that perjures several prominent figures of public-trust. The implication and betrayal of, for example, the government of Iceland, whom were elevated on a mandate of reform and anti-corruption, is tragic and disappointing but hardly surprising, along with the broader clientele of this holding-company that manages hundreds of thousands of shell-businesses and front organisations globally in attested tax-oases and money-laundering schemes. Nearly every country is participating in one way or another, but the conspicuous absence (at least so far) of the US and Atlantis strikes me as singularly odd. One might reasonably suspect that Plato’s Republic might have indeed kept itself pristine by not confusing self-interest for the Good.
Monday 4 April 2016
vector construction
The always stunning Colossal features a beautiful wire mesh project of artist Edoardo Tresoldi, which recreates the frame—as suggested by the archaeological evidence—of an early church once located at this site in Puglia.
Though the structure appears rather gossamer, it is quite substantial and hosts the different architectural elements that would have supported the original building. Though in our minds’ eye, the tragic loss of the historic heritage in places like Palmyra at the brutal hands of the Cosplay Caliphate is cemented already as exquisite ruins and Tresoldi’s architecture, though true to form, is more inspired and interpretive rather than memorial, perhaps his talent could be deployed to showcase some of the other scars of warfare that weren’t captured in the spotlight of mindless infamy. Be sure to visit the artist’s profile at the link up top to see some more of his signature installations.
catagories: ๐ฎ๐น, ๐, architecture
cheese it, the mads are calling!
catagories: ๐ฌ, ๐บ, ๐ง, networking and blogging
Sunday 3 April 2016
decade or joyful mysteries
I spied an unusual piece at the Flohmarkt today, which I was eager to learn more about. It is indeed a single decade (referring to the ten round beads around the circumference that represents one iteration of Hail Mary) rosary ring, but like traditional rosary are not to be worn around the neck, this counter is meant to be rotated with the thumb and forefinger.
Inspired by Basque and Irish designs for more discreet articles of the faith when practising Catholicism was persecuted, these were also distributed to soldiers going off to battle so as not to get tangled up, especially during WWI. One could keep count of the traditional five decades by moving the ring to the next finger. I am not sure if this is one of those, since it has the microscopic inscription ITALY on the obverse but perhaps as it is intricately worked and I am happy to have learnt something more about praying the rosary.