This gallery contains 3 photos.
The real essence of flamenco can still be found – to the accompaniment of guitar, hand-clapping, and voices – in the regions of southern Spain such as Cadiz, Seville, Granada and Jerez de la Frontera. Great food, wine and a wealth of attractive vistas and well-preserved historical landmarks are just some of the pleas Costa de la Luz …
This gallery contains 3 photos.
The Spiaggia Rosa (the Pink Beach) takes its name from the colour of the sand, rich of pieces of coral, shells and little pieces of granite. The beach and the whole island belong to the Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena (The Archipelago of La Maddalena National Park). The Pink Beach stands in Budelli, one of the …
On this day in August … we were in the land of Prosseco, Rolle, Italy.
ILLUMInations (4th June to 27th November).
The 54th edition of the international modern art exhibit that is Biennale di Venezia, is underway in the city of Venice, Italy right now. Incredible to know that it has been going on since 1895.You may also have heard of the International Venice Film Festival which happens in conjunction with the Biennale.
The title chosen for the 2011 edition of the Biennale is evocative and compelling, ILLUMInations is a reference to poetry, writing, to the Biennale’s very structure composed of national pavilions. However the most important message this tittle illustrates is the one of art’s intrinsic characteristic: it’s unique and illuminating experience. The grounds are set up with two main exhibition areas, The Giardini and The Arsenal, which will give you moments of extreme density and others of greater breath.
An impressive arts, dance, film and cultural organization expanding the gardens of Venice and setting the stage for the interpretations of hundreds of artists from Spain to Israel who have transformed their country’s pavilion in to a statement of personal meaning, national expression, emotional turmoil at times and hopefully ILLUMInation. Below I take a closer look at some of the pavilions I was most struck with…
France
The French Pavilion curated by Jean-Hubert Martin, presents a new installation by French artist Christian Boltanski. The installation, titled “Chance“, deals with the themes that are characteristic for Boltanski’s work: chance, luck and misfortune.
Venezuela
Holland
España
After arriving to Piazza Roma with a couple friends the first thing to do with a bunch of Italians is eat & drink. Once we had some homemade beer and and few pounds of cured meats we were ready to hop on a vapporetto and navigate to the ‘giardini’ to arrive at one of the two main exhibition areas in the Gardens of Venezia. The lush backdrop of the gardens is a most idyllic canvas for all of the modern art expression to reveal itself as you enter the pavilions. Yes the buzz from lunch helps too!
Starting with Spain you’re perplexed by the simplicity of the artist’s interpretation to the more elaborate German, French and Venezuelan pavilions. [See videos and Photos] With modern art there is not any one meaning to a work or works, all you can gather is an experience and perhaps emotions which is a powerful measure of the work itself.
Personally I thought the fair is unlike any other, there is no art for sale, most importantly the emphasis on the representation of a country through a message, I found very compelling. For me the day spent in the Gardens was one I’ll never forget. It’s truly something to see and do, even more so if you are a modern art enthusiast.
United States
Korea
Canada
The artist is Vancouverite Steven Shearer, known for his engagements with near and distant pasts—namely, with the hard-rock and heavy-metal iconography of the 1970s and 1980s, and its visual resonance with the longhaired bohemians and symbolist reveries of late 19th-century European painting.
Germany
The Venice Biennale’s Golden Lion for Best National Participation was given to Germany this year for Christoph Schliengensief’s multi-disciplinary practice “that is intense, committed, and possesses a strong personal vision.”
For more info beyond what you find here please visit the official website for the Biennale.
I took these shots this morning on my way to work with my iPhone.
During my vacation I happened to be nearby Lignano (Italy) and heard Tale of Us was playing at a beach club named Kursaal. It was a lovely night, and Matteo and Karm spinned out their top hits along with some deep, and sticky ones which made it impossible not to dance till the sun came up & a beautiful sunrise it was…
Here is a personal favorite from the Italian due:
As some of the more loyal readers of this blog might remember, last summer I made an epic trip to Ibiza. It was a trip that changed my way of viewing the world. I believe this island has magical powers and the energy you’re exposed to there truly changes a person. (If you want to read the original post click here.)
Fast forward a year plus, and today I had the surprise to find a nice treat in my email, from my friend Nathan Dappen. Nate is a biologist, photographer and filmmaker based in Miami, Florida. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology in the Department of Biology at the University of Miami. Nathan is devoted to our planet and the creatures in it. That includes us humans too, that’s why along with his partner Neil Losin, the’ve created Days Edge Productions with the goal to take you inside science and nature, from research laboratories to untamed wilderness. I invite everyone to check out their fun and quirky videos set against some of the most idyllic backdrops imaginable.
You can have a taste of the kind of natural beauty I am referring to in the images below taken by Nate last summer while my boyfriend and I visited him. Thanks Nate for making me relive the amazing summer of 2010 and I look forward to returning to the wilderness vicariously through your videos.
Photos: Nathan Dappen
That's us at the bottom... little specks. You had to climb to the ledge.
Magical Sunset
Es Vedra
I wonder in awe.
My imagination is definitely running wild…
Ana3Ana, Emiliano, Sara
The island of Ibiza. Where the sun heats your skin during the day and the feeling of freedom and nirvana fills the air. You can’t escape from Ibiza’s ways. You might try, you might fight to stay sober, or clothed but sooner than later you’re jumping out of your skin and finally give in to the hedonistic aura of the place. Many people told me of the energy found in this island, a magical energy that takes over your body & soul. At first you can’t really fall for those things, it’s when you are there for a few days that you begin to feel the ‘enlightenment’. I have one specific memory of a night when we (Sara, Nate, Emi and I) went to Pacha and when we were exhausted from dancing circa 4am, we huddled in the car over to Sa Trinxa beach, we drove through huge salt pools, surrounded by nature, and wilderness. The feeling of the wind in my face while the music was blasting in our Panda 4×4 was probably one of the happiest moments in my life. We made our way through a dark and sandy path, at times I thought we’d get stuck, but that only added to the feeling of exploring the unknown. Finally we made it to the beach, perched on atop some rocks we parked the car and took to the shore. I saw the sky start to light up in different shades of midnight blue, royal blue, turquoise, until finally a ball of fire awoke at the horizon and quickly started climbing to it’s throne, revealing a most majestic sunrise.
You have no idea the kind of thing this moment does to you. It’s was a magnificent moment and it summed up everything for me until this point.
Friendship bracelets
Nate and Sara (napping)
