-
Kush, Vladimir. Arrival of the Flower Ship. 2000, Kush Fine Arts Gallery, Las Vegas.
Russian artist Vladimir Kush combines mythology and metaphor in a new form that he calls Metaphorical Realism. The ship represents the British ship “Bounty” which transported plants. The shadowy human figures on the ship represent the crew who later mutinied against the captain because they did not want to leave the paradisiacal island. The flower petals represent the palm branches that the natives used to greet the ship. -
Martel, Yann. Life of Pi. Knopf Canada, 11 Sept. 2001.
Canadian author Yann Martel’s philosophical novel follows the story of a spiritual Indian Tamil boy who gets stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. It raises the questions about reality versus perception. The novel has gained world recognition with the Man Booker Prize for Fiction (UK), CBC Radio’s Canada Reads, Le Combat des Libres (France), the Boeke Prize (South Africa), and the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature in Best Adult Fiction (USA). -
Adams, John. “On the Transmigration of Souls.” 2002.
Listen here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jCdOjOaJsU] This choral piece commemorates the victims of the September 11 Attacks. John Adams focuses on the loss and grief expressed by the victims’ survivors. He composed the lyrics using the notes of families who wrote on the posters near the site of the crash when looking for/mourning their loved ones. The haunting audio consists of choral singing, spoken word, street sounds, and instruments. It won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Music. -
Bradley, Paige. Expansion. 2004, Private Collection, USA.
American sculptor Paige Bradley became well known for this sculpture. Expansion is a work of bronze and electricity created by shattering and then reassembling the original sculpture. It depicts a woman’s figure in a cross-legged position with light coming through the cracks. In describing the meaning behind the piece, Bradley asks “If we disconnected and severed our attachments, would we shatter our confinements and expand beyond our shell?” -
Osatz, Robert Harvey. Fennel Residence. 2005, Portland, Oregon.
Organic architect Robert Oshatz creates eco-friendly homes. This 2,364 sq. ft. home is inspired by the river it floats upon with its elegant, swirly designs. It is a low-energy house built from glulam wood beams. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows and sliding doors allow for ample natural light and natural ventilation. “The curvilinear forms create spacial differentiation that enhance the experience of time as light plays through the daily and seasonal changes.” – Robert Harvey Oshatz -
Golijov, Osvaldo. Ainadamar. 2005.
[Listen here: https://bit.ly/2NOKF5H]
Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov scored this unique 80-minute opera. It tells the story (through a series of flashbacks) of the Spanish poet Frederico Garcia Lorca, his lover, and his murder by the Fascists in 1936. Golijov combines traditional operatic vocals and an orchestra with computer music as well as flamenco and rumba/Cuban rhythms. This opera won two Grammy awards: Best Opera Recording of 2006, and Best Classical Contemporary Composition. -
Ishuro, Kazuo. Never Let Me Go. Faber and Faber, 2005.
British author Kazua Ishiguro’s dystopian science fiction novel pushes the boundaries of literature. He blends mystery, romance, and social commentary in an unforgettable story that explores memory and what it means to be human. The novel’s literary merit has been recognized with: the Best Novel of 2005 by Time magazine, the Alex Award by the American Library Association, and the shortlist for the Booker Prize, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. -
McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. Alfred A. Knopf, 26 Sept. 2006.
American author Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic novel follows the journey of a father and son across a bleak landscape. It illuminates on the best and worst of the human condition when faced with devastation. The novel’s literary merit includes the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction in 2006, the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2007, as well as being a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and being shortlisted for the Best of the James Tait Black in 2012. -
Masoud, Arif. Pakistan Monument. 23 March 2007, Islamabad, Pakistan.
The 2.8 hectares monument symbolizes the unity of the Pakistani people. The structure’s granite petals are modernized versions of local traditional architecture (muqarnas). The four petals symbolize the four distinct Pakistani cultures, and the smaller petals represent the regions. The inner walls of the petals are covered with artwork of local landmarks. The construction workers’ handprints are a part of the wall of the plaza. -
Sugimoto, Hiroshi. Lighting Fields 128. 2008, Private Collection.
Japanese artist Hiroshi Sugimoto’s work captures the essence of electricity. This particular piece was inspired by the early experiments with electricity and William Henry Fox Talbot’s photography. To create his image (and the others in the series), Sugimoto used an electric generator and photographic dry plates; he did not use a camera. The image captured reveals the branch-like form of an electrical charge. -
Nottage, Lynne. Ruined. 8 Nov. 2008.
Watch the Trailer here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhELDppWjNw]
Set in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the play "Ruined" focuses on a bar/brothel to explore the plight of women during the civil war. It premiered in USA in 2008, Europe and Canada in 2010, and Australia in 2013. It won “Outstanding Play” for Drama Desk Awards and Lucille Lortel Award; the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play from Outer Critics Circle; and Best New American Play from Obie Awards. -
Mastenbroek, Bjarne and Christian Muller. Villa Vals. 2009, Vals, Switzerland.
Dutch architect designers Bjarne Mastenbroek and Christian Müller built the unobtrusive villa by fully embedding it into the landscape. The villa is accessible via a shed and underground tunnel through the mountainside. Almost every room is on its own level, separated with concrete and stone steps. Its slanted facade allows for captivating views of the mountainside. -
TKP Architects. Mountain Cottage. 2012, Golden, Colorado.
The award-winning Architecture and Interior Design firm, TKP Architects, combines sustainable materials with modern technology to create beautiful homes. This 500 sq. ft. home includes a fieldstone fireplace, and is built with reclaimed antique timbers, pine beams, reclaimed wide-plank flooring, excavated boulders, and shingles from a local stone yard. The structure combines the area’s mining history and traditional cottages with modern conveniences. -
Crosby, Nijideka Akunyili. Predecessors. 2013, New Orleans Museum of Art.
Nigerian-born (but L.A.-based) artist Nijideka Crosby creates collage-based paintings depicting personal scenes that focus on "Afropolitanism"--the multicultural identity of African citizens across the world. This particular work is inspired by her post-college apartment in the United States (left-hand panel), and her Nigerian grandmother’s tabletop (right-hand panel). “The diptych becomes a very direct analogue of straddling cultures.” -Nijideka Akunyili Crosby -
Strid, Linnea. Embraced by the Silence. 2013, Private Collection.
Swedish painter Linnea Strid explores the dark side of the human psyche. Her hyper-realistic oil paintings depict honest and painfully exposed human vulnerability with women most often as the subject. Strid spends hours on the tiny details, playing with the light and the reflection of water on various surfaces and forms. -
William, John. The Book Thief (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Sony Classical Records, 8 Nov., 2013.
Listen here: [https://bit.ly/2CJM3jI]
This introspective musical score utilizes voice and instruments, while relying heavily on two pianos sounding as one. It won the “Best Drama Soundtrack” for the GoldSpirit Awards and “Best Instrumental Composition” for the Grammy Awards. It also received a slew of nominations, including: Golden Globe, Oscar, Satellite Awards, the BFTA; Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, GoldSpirit Awards, and International Film Music Critics Award. -
Parkes, Michael. Magic Spring. 2014, California.
Florence-born Michael Parkes first sketches his sculptures by hand and then uses the Lost Wax technique to create a model before casting his works in bronze. Because of his technique, he is able to create incredible detail, as seen in the angel’s wings. The colorful patina requires incredible talent and a time-consuming technique that has fallen out of practice. In this particular piece, the angel "sits in quiet meditation as the first light of a spring day touches her face”-Michael Parkes. -
Wight, Robin. Wishes. May 2014, Trentham Gardens, England.
UK-based sculptor Robin Wight creates contemporary fairies by balancing childlike whimsy with the aesthetic of an adult female. Wishes, his 56th fairy but first human-sized, is named after the phrase “wishes do come true” to commemorate Trentham Gardens’ 10th Anniversary. Her stance exaggerates the wind’s power. She is created with a steel skeleton wrapped with progressively thinner gauges of stainless steel wire to mimic body mass and skin. A stone “heart” is buried within her core. -
Vogel, Paula. Indecent. 2015.
Watch a teaser here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT058DKUw7Q]
This play explores the controversy surrounding the 1923 play, “God of Vengeance” (Sholem Asch), by delving into homosexuality and Jewish culture. This hour and forty minute play incorporates drama, music, poetry, and dance. In 2017, it was nominated for: Outstanding Play by the Drama Desk Award, Best Play by the Drama League Award, Outstanding New Broadway Play by the Outer Critics Circle Award, and Best Play by the Tony Award. -
Armadeil, Coco. Camilla (of Come Hell or High Water Series). 2017, Collection d'art Société Générale, Paris.
Canadian photographer Coco Armadeil won the Bourse du Talent 2017 prize with the “Come Hell or High Water” series. This image, as one of the series, depicts a millennial emerging from the water, symbolizing her entrance into adulthood, as well as the struggle to keep afloat in the world. “It is this moment in life, a time of soul-searching and self-discovery, that I wanted to capture through this series of portraits.” -Coco Amardeil -
Nelson Treehouse and Supply. Silver Maple Treehouse. 2017, Lake Chelan, Washington.
This stunning, whimsical treehouse is designed to look like a natural extension of the tree. The turret shaped home lacks hard angles and straight lines. Despite its round shapes, the wood connections are seamless with the inclusion of custom windows. The shingled roof was fashioned using an old weaving technique. The landscape lawn incorporates rocks from local mountains. -
Lian, Yuanxing. Chunmang: Peach Blossom Island. 2018, Shanghai.
Featured at the Wonder Festival in Shanghai, this grey resin bust sculpture was inspired by a Chinese Fable about a utopia where people live as one with nature. Lian includes fuses realism and fantasy with incredible detail, from the intricate face of the woman to the delicate leaves on her neck to the landscape in her hair. The landscape consists of miniature buildings, trees, and a fish pond. It is made to be viewed from all angles. -
Sage, Amanda. Earth Guardian. 2018, Sastoque Gallery, Colombia.
American painter and visionary artist Amanda Sage creates art to inspire spiritual and personal transformation. In the original version of this piece, the cannabis leaves were prominent in the crown. However, she hid them within the feathers before its showing in Colombia, where marijuana is highly illegal. “This is a vision and prayer for the coming together of humanity in service for the earth. It is time to lay down the weapons and welcome a new way forward.” -Amanda Sage -
Mother Earth (Terre Mère). 2018, MosaïCulture Gatineau at Jacques Cartier Park, Quebec.
This 15m (49ft) tall installation ( a blend of floral and plant sculpture) has been the centerpiece for the horticulture exhibition. She represents the exposition’s theme of “Land of Hope,” and the sub-themes of ecological responsibility and First Nations reconciliation. As an exemplary piece of greenery, it stimulates the thought on how people treat the environment. Mother Earth is inspired by the Polynesian goddess of earth and life, and represents the intertwinement of man and nature. -
NASA. From High to Low. 24 Oct. 2019.
This photograph was taken by NASA’s Juno spacecraft and captures a region of Jupiter’s northern hemisphere. Juno’s data proves that Jupiter’s atmospheric bands run deep into the planet, and that the clouds rise high above the atmosphere. The vibrant photograph inspires curiosity about the planet Jupiter.
