Humans have been creating art since before the beginning of recorded history. Cave paintings as far back as 30000 years have been found, testament to our need to create and document our presence on this planet. It’s considered by many as the one of the true, defining aspects of our species, and it’s something that…
The modern world is packed to the brim with symbolism, and it’s an aspect of humanity that has been around for thousands of years. From the crucifix to the Star of David, we have always been attracted to symbols, and that’s no different to the logos that are found as part of some of the…
AS a race, we’ve been perfecting out design and construction of buildings for countless centuries, and we’ve entered into an era where we’re able to create massive skyscrapers that aren’t just capable of holding thousands of people at any given time, but can also withstand a variety of disasters that would otherwise topple any other…
An art collection is not like an investment in stocks and bonds. It is an investment in your quality of life, your home, your enjoyment as well as the lives of the artists who created these masterpieces. So, is starting to collect art as simple as going into your nearest gallery and buying up all…
Art theft is as old as art and theft, and it has happened all over the world. In some cases, precious art works have been missing for ages, with no one knowing their current whereabouts. When the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem in 587 B.C., for example, the Ark of the Covenant disappeared from history. These thefts…
Antoni Gaudí was a native of Catalonia in Spain and a proponent of Catalan Modernisme, a style closely linked to Art Nouveau, before he went on to develop his own unique style. His buildings are world-renowned these days, although the best known is probably La Basílica de la Sagrada Família, at which construction is still…
When LEGO big-boss Godtfred Kirk Christiansen found himself in the potentially precarious position of having to design an actual full-scale building back in 1960, he decided to supplement his drawings of the planned design by making use of what he knew best. LEGO bricks. And when it all panned out pretty damn well for Christiansen,…
Vladimir Tretchikoff’s Chinese Girl is one of the most prominent examples of kitsch art, but then again, according to some art lovers, so is the Mona Lisa. Love it or hate it, kitsch is here to stay….
Fashion geeks know that we have Coco Chanel to thank for inventing the LBD, or little black dress, and fashion super-geeks will know that Valentino Garavani is the man who popularised red dresses. But whether you fall into either of these factions or not, there are definitely going to be some bits of trivia you’ve…
Fans of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels will know the name of Bloody Stupid Johnson, the architect and inventor who was responsible for ridiculous designs. Some of them satirise the architectural tradition of follies….