Ebook Gallery

Public housing has a rather negative image – initially associated with slums and poverty, these areas were (and still generally are) avoided by middle to upper income citizens. Whether in fear of catching starvation, encountering violence, or simply being disturbed to see how the other half really lives, public housing venues are the last place you would find the “well-to-do”.

Le Corbusier, Shondan House, 1956.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

However, this sort of housing can actually be quite nice, and some countries are incorporating it into their city schemes for the entire population, not just the poor, huddled masses. → Read more

It’s that time of year again. Adrenaline, excitement, anguish, depression, lethargy, and resignation: these are all common feelings associated with this time. What is so significant about this particular time of year you may ask? Well, now is the time of year when the season finale of the Game of Thrones has come and gone. A whole 9 months to go before we find out who the next unsuspecting victim(s) of George R.R. Martin’s vicious pen will be. And I ask you: how are we supposed to deal with that?

Sure, for the next month, there will be lots of debate about what might happen and who may become the next strongest contender for the Iron Throne (seriously people, don’t keep bandying Daenerys Targaryen’s name about so much… Martin may get angry, and then BAM, there goes one of our favourites!). Some people may even pick up the books for the first time, in an eager bid to get ahead of the TV show (to the person who recently said to me: “why bother reading the books when you have the TV show?”, Shame on you!!!), and yet, as someone who has read the books, and first picked them up nearly ten years ago… they will hook you, and then leave you in a worse state than the TV show. Because believe me, with the televised version, 9 months is nothing. When you wait YEARS for the next book to come out, then you will understand the true meaning of patience. → Read more

Captain Charles A. and Sergeant John M. Hawkins, Company E, “Tom Cobb Infantry,” Thirty-eighth Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, 1861–62.
Ambrotype, Photograph.
David Wynn Vaughan Collection.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Now, I’m not one to try and court controversy, but it has occurred to me that the act of war is just good business (for the winners anyway).

Let’s take war crimes, death tolls, injuries, post-traumatic stress, and dubious reasons for inciting wars out of the equation for a moment. Instead, look at the opening up of jobs in the military forces. This means that unemployment figures go down, levels of education go up (excellent military and civilian training is provided in all manner of subjects), nationwide happiness is on the up (again, primarily for the winning side), and if we stick to the “to the victor the spoils” philosophy (as a certain nation has recently tried to do with Middle-Eastern oil resources), then wealth can also be a by-product of a successful war campaign. → Read more

Being labelled a genius puts one precariously close to being pigeonholed as insane. Where insanity is recognised as the repetition of the same action over and over, is genius not finally achieving some far-fetched goal, whether it is in science, maths, or art? History is littered with larger than life talents that we still learn about in our studies and discuss with our peers: Einstein, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, etc.

Sandro Botticelli, Study for The Adoration of the Child, c. 1495.
Pen shaded with brown, white heightening, and pink wash, 16.1 x 25.8 cm.
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

Artists made sketches and drafts of the way the human body works, whether in physical labour or dancing, to better portray the human condition in their paintings. Michelangelo and Degas are not only famous for the Sistine Chapel and Impressionism respectively, but also for the way their images came to life – the strength and beauty of their depictions is only so because of their relentless repetition of drawing the same things over and over again – genius or insane? → Read more

“Going Dutch”: a phrase which is most commonly associated with splitting the bill when going out to dinner.

Personally, I find that this is one of those phrases which we all use, and don’t really think about why we use it. I have merrily used these two simple words for many years – and yet it is only recently that it occurred to me to question where such a notion comes from.

Johan Barthold Jongkind
Windmills in Rotterdam, 1857.
Oil on canvas, 42.5 x 55 cm.
Courtesy of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Before I started doing some research into this, I have to admit that I did spend more time than I probably should have trying to puzzle this scenario out. I did, however, cross out the possibility that it originally meant going to eat Edam at a windmill, with a dress code of clogs and pearl earrings. → Read more

We might all be able to agree that most of the world is a mess. The Americas and Europe have taken a ginormous step back in terms of production, innovation, and general flourishing. Many of our nations and states are in obscene debt which appears to be stagnant or rising and there is no end in sight.

Sir Peter Blake, Children Reading Comics, 1954.
Oil on hardboard, 36.9 x 47.1 cm.
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle (Cumbria).

So then, what should be next? Vampires and Zombies aren’t getting us anywhere → Read more

Question for the day: What brings us to make particular choices? Choices which range from our music preferences to major life decisions?

Religion is one such important life choice. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism… the Big 5 (in terms of the most well-known religions).

Kang Ik-Joong
Happy Buddha (2008).
Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Today I shall be looking at Buddhism. What is the draw? Why is it becoming more and more popular in the Western world? Traditionally, Buddhism was found only in Eastern and East Asian countries: think Tibet, China, South Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, parts of India, and even parts of Russia. So, where does the appeal lie for celebrity adherents such as Tina Turner, Orlando Bloom, Kate Bosworth, Richard Gere, and Tiger Woods?

Buddhism entails four stepping stones (also known as truths): The Truth of Suffering, The Truth that there is a Cause of Suffering, The Truth of Stopping Suffering, and The Truth of the Path Leading to the End of Suffering. To sum up: 1.) Everyone has problems. Life is full of complications. 2.) These problems and complications are the result of something. 3.) It is possible to get rid of confusion and lack of understanding – which are the basis for the cause of problems. We need to change our attitudes. 4.) Correct understanding – the understanding that everything is connected, and thinking about everything on a large/universal level – will result in an open and relaxed state of mind. By examining our problems on a universal scale (making everyone is equal) followers of Buddhism are able to find solutions which are realistic and fair to everyone.

Seated Buddha in the lotus position, date unknown.
Bodh Gaya, Bihar state, India.

Along the way, Buddhists develop their levels of maturity, wisdom, and their moral code – not a bad combination of qualities in my opinion. But, looking closely at the steps that Buddhists follow, it is apparent that the truth of universal problems is a key issue at the moment. Financial crises, debt, wars, broken homes, and broken marriages, to name but a few – these are all too common facts of life in this day and age. People need solutions, and don’t know where to go – so Buddhism as a way of life is appearing more and more attractive… after all, who isn’t looking for some peace of mind?

What is very clear to me from looking at these few Western celebrities who also happen to be followers of Buddhism is that, no matter who you are, or how famous you might be, everyone is searching for something. And that folks, is a universal truth!

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is currently holding an exhibition on Divine Depictions – Korean Buddhist Paintings. This is running until the 23^rd June 2013, so to find out a bit more about Buddhism in art and in Korea, why not check this fascinating exhibition out?! To really get to grips with the depiction of Buddhism and Buddha, pick up a copy of T.W. Rhys-Davids’ 1000 Buddhas of Genius.

Arguably, most forms of art worth lengthy discussion have a bit of madness behind them, whether it is a painting, film, or novel. Personally, I find that my creative work suffers a bit when everything in my life feels completely balanced. Think about the mental states of various actors, painters, and authors. Off of the top of my head, I can come up with Tilda Swinson, Tom Cruise, Charlie Sheen, Hemingway, Tolstoy, Poe, Wolfe, Caravaggio, (cough) Hitler… I could list tons and tons, but I’d much rather hear from you.

Gustave Courbet, The Desperate Man, 1843-1845.
Oil on canvas, 45 x 54 cm.
Private collection.

But madness is rather subjective, isn’t it? → Read more

Villanueva Building, Velázquez Entrance (Paseo del Prado Facade).
Courtesy of the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid.

This is how I started my office questionnaire (I take my research for these blogs very seriously):

“What has Spain given the world….go:”

These were the answers I received (and yes, some of the responders are Spanish):

• Helicopters
• “America”
• “Hot men”
• Tortilla
• Sangria
• Architecture
• Goya
• Picasso
• Dali
• Paella
• Siesta
• “Sex in films (in every film, even horror)”
• “The best chef in the world (Ferrán Adriá)
• Classical Guitar
• “The easiest language in the world to learn”
• Olive oil
• Flamenco
• “OLE!”
• Bull fighting
• “The silliest Prime Ministers in the World”
• “NO LAWS AGAINST PUBLIC NUDITY”
• “Penelope Cruz… but many Spanish don’t like her”
• “We beat the French several times”
• Zara
• Mango
• “Manuel from Fawlty Towers”
• Sherry
• Costa del Sol
• Chupa Chups

So, there you go. Spain, according to the editors at Parkstone International*, summed up in a nutshell. Of course, you may or may not agree with our brief compilation. However, agree or not, it is a fact that Spain, throughout history, has been a force to be reckoned with. Heck, when it came to an inquisition or putting an armada together, they really knew their stuff! As Monty Python would say: “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!”.

As this ultra-professional and highly informative questionnaire illustrates, one of the other biggest Spanish exports has happened to be art. Over the centuries, El Greco (adopted by the Spanish), Diego Velázquez, Francisco Goya, Francisco de Zurbarán, Antoni Gaudí, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dalí amongst many, many others have delighted, astounded, puzzled, divided, inspired, and paved the way for the future of art.

José de Ribera
A Saint Tied to a Tree, 1626.
Red chalk, 232 x 170 mm.
© The Trustees of the British Museum 1850, 0713.4.
Courtesy of the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid.

The Museo Nacional del Prado is currently hosting the exhibition Spanish Drawings from the British Museum: Renaissance to Goya. To check out the drawings, hotfoot it over to Madrid before the 16^th June – you might even be able to spot Ms. Cruz doing flamenco with a silly Prime Minister. To curb your disappointment should this venture be unsuccessful, console yourself with a copy of Jp. A. Calosse’s Goya.

*Many thanks to the team at Parkstone for their valuable and very serious contributions.

Remember the first time you went away from home for an extended period of time? Your mother made sure you packed warm socks and clean pants, even if it was going to be 40 degrees Celsius in your final destination. She called and wrote you often, making sure you were eating your vegetables and brushing your teeth. She loved and worried about you. I imagine this is what the Musée d’Orsay is going through at the moment, having sent one of its most precious babies off to Italy for the summer.

Édouard Manet, Olympia, 1863.
Oil on canvas, 130.5 x 191 cm.
Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

Olympia by Édouard Manet has called the Orsay home since 1890 and has never left Paris, let alone France. I’m sure she doesn’t feel so out of place, as quite a few of her mates (other Manet’s) have gone with her for this most astounding exhibit set to prove that Manet was more inspired by Old Italian Masters than those from Spain.

Édouard Manet, The Balcony, between 1868 and 1869.
Oil on canvas, 170 x 125 cm.
Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

Really, based on previous Impressionist rants, I should not be interested in this exhibition at all, but I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Manet and don’t personally lump him in with the others. Being the pivotal artist behind the transition between Realism and Impressionism, I still manage to understand and appreciate his oeuvre. But then, I’ve always been keen on a man willing to stir up a bit of controversy in the name of his views and beliefs.

Édouard Manet, Portrait of Madame Édouard Manet on a Blue Sofa, 1874.
Pastel on brown paper pasted on canvas, 49 x 60 cm.
Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

Visit the Orsay’s runaways and compare Manet to the Old Italian Masters, who will be represented alongside Manet’s masterpieces. The exhibition (Manet: Return to Venice) will run through 18 August at the Palazzo Ducale. The artist’s controversial nudes of the late 19^th century also make a great conversation topic; pick up Manet by Nathalia Brodskaya today!

-Le Lorrain Andrews