Yesterday I shared three views of the magnificent bronze head by Igor Mitoraj that is found in the Boboli Gardens in Florence.
Today I have shared two more art works from the park, these are both by the German sculptor Fritz Koenig. He is most famous for The Sphere which stood in the plaza between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre.
These sculptures were part of the first exhibition of his work since his death in 2017 and were my favourite works on display. I didn't realise at the time how important this collection was but I am pleased that I got to see these fascinating sculptures.
I don't know what the symbols on the sphere represent but the second sculpture "Grosse Flora D, Grande Flora D" (1979/1980) I think could represent a flower or it could be a heavily stylised human form.
Today I am featuring this magnificent piece of art in the park.
This giant sculpture Tindaro Screpolato by Igor Mitoraj is found in Florence's Giardino di Boboli. It is a massive bronze disembodied head which contrasts and compliments the lush and green surroundings in the garden in the heart of the city.
It is an imposing feature but one that naturally draws people to it, people sit in its shadow or stand and look up in awe. The size of this work seems to represent strength while the cracked features suggest fragility and decay.
There are many sculptures in the gardens and I will share more images of some of them in due course but I think this is my favourite. Whatever angle you view it from it is so impressive.
One of my favourite pictures that I have shared previously is of a spiral staircase in the Palace of Versailles (http://chipster63photos.blogspot.com/2014/09/spiral.html) and when you look at it I hope you can see why I like it so much.
Today's images are of a slightly less fancy but no less wonderful staircase in the Chateau de Haut Koenigsburg in Alsace. I had to wait a while for the train of visitors to pass so that I could get these shots. I love black and white photographs and so I knew that I would shoot in both colour and black and white to show the contrast between the two and while I think the second image is my favourite of the two I think the first shot is also really effective with the warmth of the colours in the bottom half and the colder greys towards the top.
Can you tell from these pictures whether you are looking up or down?
I suppose the light gives it away and you are looking up...
I really like the first three images today. They were captured as I walked around the back streets and alleys of Venice early during the evening. Away from the crowds you can get a sense of the city behind the tourist spots and I think this is shown off really well in these three photos.
These are in stark contrast with the more opulent setting in the final image which was captured in St Mark's Square where the diners were being serenaded; each of the restaurants had its own pavilion as you can see here with a mini orchestra in full swing.
I know it looks lush but I would choose the back street bars and cafes over this any day...
I haven't been out with my camera for a couple of weeks and anyone who knows me will know that I will have had severe withdrawal symptoms and so in spite of the unpredictable weather and less than ideal conditions I went out for a couple of hours today.
I went along to Mere Sands Woods and although there wasn't a great deal to see I spotted a rotting trunk close to the path which was host to a large number of fungi.
I spent a little while photographing them from different angles and while I was doing so I noticed that I was being watched by a young girl who was out for a walk with her father. I said hello and her father commented on this being a magnificent lot of mushrooms. The girl agreed and as she stepped closer to see what I was doing I explained that I was looking for fairies. This really seemed to catch her imagination and for a few moments they interrupted their walk as we discussed the best places for the fairies to hide.
This variety of fungus is Hypholoma fasciculare more commonly known as Sulphur Tuft because of the bright yellow crown that merges into orange towards the outer edges. They are often found in large clumps on rotting stumps just as these. These would have an unpleasant bitter taste and are inedible. Bitter tasting they may be but I think they make a stunning display. They also make a great home for fairies.
When you go to Florence there is so much to see and do, the renaissance architecture, the colourful stonework, the parks and gardens and so much more.
This was my second visit to Florence and it was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. This time I had a little more time to explore and before I go on to share perhaps more traditional images of the city I wanted to share these quirky pictures that I captured as I walked around the city.
The first three images are of work by a mysterious street artist who identifies him/herself as Blub.
All across the city there are these pictures of famous works of art by the likes of Dante and Botticelli with all of the figures wearing scuba masks.
I had walked past a number of these pictures before I realised it was a "thing" and now I wish that I had captured more of them because they are really fun. If you would like to see some more examples and read an interview with the artist then click here
The final image of the no entry sign is also evidence of the fun at the heart of this wonderful city. Each No Entry sign (and there are a lot of them around the old city) and many other road signs have been modified with a unique artwork by the French Street Artist Clet. They are fantastic little works. Most of the time we hardly notice the road signs, well we notice them but we react to the symbol without really looking at them but when each one is a unique piece of street art you are more likely to take notice. As with the Blub pictures I wish I had taken pictures of mor of Clets work so if you want to see more why not click here.
It is always fascinating to see real craftsmen at work and so when we visited Murano on one of our days in Venice we made a point of visiting one of the many glass workshops where we watched one of the artisans at work.
In the first image you can see the molten glass glowing orange, it was around 1200 degrees celcius and it was almost magical as we saw it transformed from a glowing lump into a delicate bowl and in the next image as a long necked vase was created.
The sand had been extracted from a quarry in Fontainbleu (France) and had been heated overnight to become a pliable liquid and then in the hands of a skilled artist it was blown and twisted into so many different objects. We watched as in less than a minute he crafted a prancing horse. His colleague explained that it may only have taken 30 seconds to make, but it had taken 30 years to master the skill.
Walking back to get the vaporetto back to the main island we passed another workshop where we spotted the guy in the final image. There was a large crowd of people gathered around the entrance all watching intently but even with such a large audience he was totally absorbed in the task at hand.
My last post about Gondoliers in Venice was really popular so I decided to share a few more pictures today.
Being a Gondolier seems like it might be a great job, after all you are working in a wonderful environment and meeting lots of people and helping to make their holiday. But there also seems to be a lot of down time. Walking around you would see them either sat alone or in small groups, mostly they would be people watching or doing something on their phones.
Speaking of phones, did you notice the gondolier in the fourth picture? He is using his phone while navigating his way around the city while the couple in the boat are taking in their surroundings.
When I visited Graz I specifically wanted to see the Murinsel, which is described as a unique artificial island which is set in the River Mur between the old Innere Stadt on one bank and the more contemporary district which is home to Kunsthaus Graz another super modern architectural design.
The island is connected to the banks on either side by walkways making this structure easily accessible. It was designed by the New York City artist Vito Acconci and was constructed to celebrate Graz becoming the European Capital of Culture in 2003. It is described by the artist as "a bowl that morphs into a dome, that morphs into a bowl" and it can also be seen as a giant seashell.
I think it is an amazing structure and I was so glad that I got to experience it. It really is an experience as you walk through it and feel the shell close around you and as you emerge on the other side.
I have chosen to share some more abstract views rather than the more "picture postcard" views of the structure as a whole. I have called the post "Back to the Web" because of the web like appearance but also inspired by the song of the same name by the band Elf Power which is well worth listening to so why not click on the link...
Today has been a little grey and wet so for everyone huddled indoors or sheltering from the rain wherever that may be I decided to share a little ray of floral sunshine in the form of these shots of Rudbekia or Black Eyed Susan as these glorious yellow flowers are known.
They are really wonderful flowers that create a glorious display that lifts any flower bed. These were spotted in the Schlossberg in Graz and I think these are great shots which show the flowers off at their best
I spotted this wonderfully wiggly rooftop on the walk up to the Schlossberg park and garden in Graz.
I love medieval buildings and this old Austrian skyline doesn't disappoint.
Graffiti is one form of public art and yesterday I shared some nice examples from Vienna. One of things with graffiti is that it is temporary and so unless you are a Banksy, Blu, Lady Pink or even Greg Mike the work gets painted over and forgotten. But while it's there it can evoke a range of different emotions and after all that is what art should be about, whether it is in a gallery or on a wall in town.
Everyone has an opinion about art in the public space and I wonder what your first impression of the artwork that is the focus of today's post will be.
In recent years, it has become a thing for the Ringturm in Vienna's Innere Stadt to get "wrapped" and host a work of art by renowned international artists.
2018 sees a work by controversial Viennese artist Gottfried Helnwein. It marks the 100th anniversary of the First Austrian Republic and it is titled "I Saw This" and is intended as an imposing reminder of the evils and terror of repression.
It certainly is imposing as it features a young girl aiming a sub machine gun over the Danube. It can be seen from a long way off and is sure to raise eyebrows as well as heads and maybe even get people thinking.
I really like this work and hope you will agree that it is very striking.
If you would like to see examples of previous artwork in the Wrapping the Ringturm click on the link
A little while ago I posted some images of the graffiti at Christiana Freetown in Copenhagen but it was difficult to get the shots because the locals weren't too happy to see me and my camera at work.
In Vienna on the banks of the Danube I spotted these fine examples and then as I got closer I spotted the artist at work. I wasn't sure how he would feel about being caught on camera but since he was working in the open, in full view on a sunny day I took a chance. He looked up a couple of times so I knew he was aware and it didn't put him off.
It is quite an abstract work and each time I look at it I pick out something different. I wonder what you can see. It is abstract but not totally random, for example can you see the dancing couple to the left in the third image?
Here's a question for you; when you are in Venice what counts as street photography?
I figure that since the "streets" are mostly waterways then anything on land or water can count...
Today's offering are two shots from Venice at twilight, the first looking across the lagoon towards San Giorgio Maggiore and the second of a Gondolier about to set off onto the Grand Canal near San Marco and with a view of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute in the background.
I didn't realise at the time I took the first shot that the woman in the gondola is sat up front taking pictures while her partner is sat back on the comfy seats. Now I never want to miss a good shot and anyone who has gone anywhere with me when I have my camera will know that I am always on the lookout and I often get left behind as I stop to take a photo (or two, or three) and I am always grateful for the patience of my companions who allow me to indulge my passion with few complaints. However, I think that if I had shelled out a handsome sum of money for a romantic twilight ride in a Gondola around one of Europe's finest cities and my partner was more interested in the view than in me I would feel like pushing them overboard.
These shots show the Stallhof in Dresden, it is part of the Royal Palace complex with the Long Arcade which in the Middle Ages was the venue for knightly games and tournaments. These days it is sometimes used as a market place.
Although it was quiet on this particular day I can imagine the atmosphere back in the day with a full on tournament in full swing
