
The Fascinating Ceramic Tile Art of the Anatolian Seljuks
The Art of Mandala – Matrix Reloaded
November 15, 2020The art of the mandala is like a secret language of the soul. It represents both a map of the cosmos and the soul’s progress through meditation toward enlightenment. With an unlimited wealth of motifs and symbolic allusions,...
Miyatake Gaikotsu and his Puzzling Postcards
November 4, 2020At the beginning of the 20th century, when Japan started embracing the West and rapid industrialization of almost all aspects of life, Miyatake Gaikotsu (funnily enough, gaikotsu means ‘skull/skeleton’ in Japanese) was the one who questioned and interpreted...
Wild, Practical, Erotic and Magical: The Miniature World of Netsuke
October 29, 2020Originating in 17th century Japan during the Edo Period, Netsuke (pronounced nets-keh) are toggles that attach pouches to the traditional robes, kimonos. Men’s kimonos had no pockets (the women’s version had large sleeves to carry and contain items),...
Kiyohara Yukinobu: Sublime Female Painter of the Kano School
October 24, 2020Not many of us have heard of Kiyohara Yukinobu, but we probably should have. She was a Japanese painter in the early Edo period (1603-1868) and one of the most talented artists of the Kano school. The Tale...
Colors Shimmering in the Light: Islamic Mosaics Panorama
October 15, 2020One of the most characteristic aspects of early Islamic architecture all over the world is the abundant use of mosaics, both in secular and religious buildings. Moreover, they are applied inside as well as on exterior walls. Some...
Mirror Mosaics and Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian
October 14, 2020Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian (1922-2019) was a contemporary, Iranian artist who became a living legend while she was still alive. Her oeuvre included multi-disciplines: drawing, painting, monotypes, textiles, collage, and large-scale sculptures. Monir is best known for her mirror...
Raja Ravi Varma: A Fine Mixture of European Realism and Indian Sensibility
October 14, 2020Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was one of the most celebrated and prominent artists from India. His works combined European realism with Indian sensibility. For his paintings, Varma took inspiration from diverse sources like the chanting of Vedic verses,...
