Art in Science

(http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathonkeats/2012/10/25/crisis-in-u-s-science-education-better-call-in-avant-garde-photographer-berenice-abbott/)

"Circular Wave System" (1958)

Few days ago I visited Berenice Abbott’s Black-and-White Science Imagery exhibition, 1958-1962, in MAMM (Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow). When I first saw her photographs I straight thought about how incredible they would look on the walls, at home, as a piece of art.

In the early 1950’s, Abbott was intensely experimenting with photographs of scientific subjects such as physics, mathematics and chemistry. She produced images of a variety of objects like magnets and mirrors, which then were included in many scientific books. Her images represent an unexpected merging of art and science which not only create an aesthetic but also make it clear to people how for example a “Circular Wave System” works. By the same token, I have noticed that Abbott’s photographs are also singular due to their content.

Berenice Abbott spent two years creating this photos. For example "A Bouncing Ball in Diminishing Arcs" it seems easy but Abbotts commentary says: "This shows the decrease of energy in a moving object... The golf ball was rolled of a platform that was about six feet high, the relative size is very important here, and it headed towards a marble surface. I was well centered and the camera was low, almost on the floor. I knew as much about lighting this kind of thing as anyone and I didnt just use a strobe at the camera. This would have shown the effect but the balls would have looked flat."

I tried to take some pictures on the exhibition but they came out blurry.

(http://thefinchandpea.com/2012/06/27/the-art-of-science-berenice-abbott-at-mit-2/)

"A Bouncing Ball in Diminishing Arcs" (1958)

(http://ediebresler.wordpress.com/tag/berenice-abbott/)

Behavior of Waves (1960)

(http://news.virginia.edu/content/uvas-fralin-museum-art-photography-exhibit-makes-science-visible)

Beams of Light Through Glass (1960)

(http://onlyoldphotography.tumblr.com/post/23032422769/berenice-abbott-multiple-exposure-of-swinging)

Multiple Exposure of a Swinging Ball (1958)

(http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/at/at131205see_the_light_photog)

Magnetism & Electricity (1958)

Aliya Ibadova

Exhaustible natural resources

The problem of exhaustible natural resources is becoming critical: forests are being cut,rivers are being polluted, animals are being destroyed. Nowadays most of the people continue to live without considering the fact that their desire to be fashionable by buying expensive furniture made from natural materials,is fatal for the ecology.

Frozen in Time

How many people know about the competition which was about the reconstruction of the cinema " Pushkin " in Moscow? The contest was called «Changing the Face».

International Competition «Changing the Face» - a contest in which it was presented a huge number of completely different ideas. Cinema "Pushkin" became the first Russian facility for the competition at the international level .

Different architects around the world were created a completely crazy ideas. In my opinion, many of them were very futuristic and quite capable to transfer them into reality.

( Examples of works which were also been in this competition. This projects are amazing. But the shapes and constructions of that buildings absolutely unreal for Russian architecture or just too futuristic in my opinion ) 

 But in the competition won Colombian architect Juan Andres Diaz Couple with his project «Frozen in Time»

The winning design is a theater building, clad in a skin of tubes through which water flows. In winter the water would freeze and formed a circle of icicles around the buildings. In summer cinema building might look like a huge and an amazing fountain. I am personally love this design due to the fact that the architect decided to beat his idea of ​​using the Russian climate and it is really could actually work in real life. Because it is an amazing and in my opinion, it fits well with the Moscow environment, which at different times of the year  will be supported by this unique construction with important functions for a place with history like this. 

by Ekaterina Aleksandrova.

Friends as a collection

  I would like to write about an exhibition in Multimedia Art Museum in Moscow. This exhibition presents private collection of the famous contemporary artist Damien Hirst. It is called “FREEDOM NOT GENIUS” and this can be interpreted differently. For me it seemed to mean that freedom forms a real artist not genius. Here is what an author says about it:

"Genius is easy. Genius means that everybody isn’t an artist. Freedom means that everybody is an artist. I believe in freedom. I don’t believe in genius. I don’t think that artists are special people. I think they’re normal people who have managed to harness somehow what is important for everybody. I don’t think they’re born special..." — Damien Hirst

SOVIET DESIGN AGAINST ART NOUVEAU

In the heart of Moscow, at the crossroads of Malaya Nikitskaya and Spiridonievsky is located the Maxim Gorky's apartment-museum .

But this house is more popular because of its unique layout and decor. It was built by architect Schechtel in 1901.  This is true embodiment of Art Nouveau.

Van Gogh Alive

In the end of december I've read a short article at the news portal, I was working with, about the future exhibition of Vincent Van Gogh, holland  post impressionist of the 19th century.

I believe that every person, even not those, who is working in art sphere, but who is simply interested in art should visit it.

Memento mori by Damien Hirst

Genius is easy. Genius means that everybody isn’t an artist. Freedom means that everybody is an artist. I believe in freedom. I don’t believe in genius. I don’t think that artists are special people. I think they’re normal people who have managed to harness somehow what is important for everybody. I don’t think they’re born special..." — Damien Hirst.

With Earth's first Clay They did the Last Man knead, 

And there of the Last Harvest sow'd the Seed: 

And the first Morning of Creation wrote 

What the Last Dawn of Reckoning shall read.

For I remember stopping by the way 

To watch a Potter thumping his wet Clay: 

And with its all-obliterated Tongue 

It murmur'd--"Gently, Brother, gently, pray!"

Omar Khayam.

The Kunst Haus Wien

During this winter holidays i have been to Vienna and of course visited the Kunst Haus Wien, as Friedenreich Hundertwasser is one of my favorite artists. Hundertwasser is not very famous in the world, and even in his hometown, in Vienna he is dominated by Gustav Klimt, who is everywhere. 

Van Gogh "came to life'

A few days ago I visited a very unusual exhibition. As its name suggests , this exhibition presents the work of one of the most famous and revered artists - Vincent Van Gogh. Expositions of this kind are called retrospectives, where the works of a single author are presented . In this case, the exhibition had a very unusual and impressive pitching. The halls were not familiar with ordinary museum expositions - paintings in frames on white plane walls. And furthermore, there was dark to such an extent that it was difficult to discern a human face standing a meter away from you. And it could be done only if the man fell under the spotlights, which visualized the most famous works by Van Gogh on the walls of different sizes. And this method is creating an enchanting atmosphere. Besides, this visualization was accompanied by classical music, making this space even more impressive. Another very interesting aspect is that this visualization was typeset in a presentation, which was accompanied by quotations from the diaries of the artist.

Incredible neighborhood

                                           Moscow Palace of Pioneers and Youth in the Lenin Hills 1969

Idea of writing about an actual building came to me while walking near my home. I found it interesting that many people get really impressed by some events or exhibitions or other things that take place in some particular time but rarely notice something incredible that have always been around. This happened to me a lot and the only way to fix it was to try to see exciting in every ordinary surround. However, the word “ordinary” is hardly suitable to the building and park that I am going to write about.

Olympic Sochi

On winter holidays I returned to Sochi, which is my motherland. As you know, this year, the 2014, is very important for this town. The XXII Winter Olympic Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games will get place here. The city changes a lot. So, let's see how is Sochi ready for the Olympics.

Russian Protodesign

Recently, I have visited one unusual, in my view, exhibition in the Shusev Museum of Architecture in Moscow. It calls “The Russian Protodesign”. The exhibition reminds about beginnings of contemporary design, which we can find on exposition of the most useful things in Russian domestic in the period from XVIII to the middle of XX centuries, such as work tools, houseware or children toys.

India - the country of contrasts and huge variety of cultures, the country of palaces and slums, tolerance and wars. Hampi became an example of how the war between Indians and Muslims, matter and time destroyed one of the most breath-taking constructions in the world. 

The Open City decisions

I was not the only one, who attended the Open City exhibition in Shchusev Architecture museum, but I suppose, that this event is very important for architects, because it shows, in what directions Moscow is going to develop. Therefore I would like to write about some represented ideas, that I found the most interesting.

Virupaksha temple

In the East-South of India in Karnataka state is situated the city of monkeys and destroyed temples which is called Hampi. The life in this city starts with the first rays of the sun. Among chaotic rock chunks and mountains, shrouded with the morning mist, the pyramid-alike temples appear. The village of simple people is divided from the city of gods by Tungabhadara river. This group of monuments is protected by UNESCO.

THE FLIRT OF FASHION AND ARCHITECTURE

Industrialism made people think about their appearance and the concept of fashion was born when people –especially women– has the urge to take care about their wardrobe. The basic instinct of covering the body became one of the main things in human life with developing technologies, and urbanization. In years, while the boundaries of cities were expanding, fashion and architecture developed and influenced each other and they have been growing up together. Fashion and architecture, they both have a feminine approach to design and have in common the aesthetic worry. Let’s look at their common past through the historical exhibition, which was held last month (December 2013), Moscow’s central shopping centre GUM. In honour of its 120th anniversary, GUM started a new exhibition examining the history of fashion on Red Square through out 20’s, 50’s, 70’s and 90’s. All the costumes on mannequins were chosen from a well-known TV presenter Alexander Vasiliev’s private collection.

0.10 and Victory over the sun

As the culmination of a year celebrating Dutch–Russian relations in the Netherlands The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam organized the largest collection of Malevich’s work outside of Russia. The exhibition shows Malevich’s way to his 'own' Supermatism reinforcing our impression the works of his contemporaries in the Russian avant-garde.

Architecture art reflexion

I’ve been lucky to visit the Hong Kong museum of contemporary art. It contains works of artists from all around the world, but of course a great part of exhibits are from China and Hong Kong artists. And I was surprised what a considerable influence the local architecture and urban environment exert on art here. It is partly determined unique and tough circumstances which local people face in China and in Hong Kong.

The city is extremely busy and very expensive. The density of housing unbelievable, though the living space is still in short supplies. The price gets to $200 000 for 1 sq meter in some areas, and mostly people have very tiny space and live repaying mortgage.

Moscow-City. Look from the inside.

Dear All, I would like to tell you few words about the most pathetic place in Moscow, namely, the Moscow International Business Centre, located  on Presnenskaya Naberezhnaya street. It is also called the Moscow-City Centre and represented by a number of towers, multifunctional trade centre and some other objects. MMBC is a project of Moscow Government, aimed on creating new centre of Moscow. 

In the Heart

I decided to look at the exhibition place that is claimed to be “commercially most successful”[1]. “Triumph” gallery was once opened with Damien Hirst work for private view and amongst others exhibited such famous artists like Chapman brothers, Tim Noble & Sue Webster, AES+F, Vinogradov & Dubosarsky etc. My aim was to analyze interior created in a historical place next to the Red Square and how do they deal with stands for objects showcased. Besides, I had a hope that current exhibition would be interesting as the artists are called “Recycle” which is the topic I am constantly concerned about.

This is what I saw:

CITIES OF THE FUTURE

As long as the urban population increases, the pollution and the consumption of resources are gradually rising up too. Although, we have the necessary technology in our hands to benefit from free of charge resources such as sun, wind and water, the balance of the ecology is lost with overpopulated cities.  Resources are usually not as efficiently as used or adapted into architectural projects.

I would like to introduce you Vincent Callebaut, a Belgian Architect who thinks a lot on ecological architecture projects. His “Hydrogenase” project is one of the good examples to show how far it is possible to develop an ecological space. Basically, the project proposes millions of seaweeds producing hydrogen in the middle of the sea on an island. As crazy as it sounds, we need natural sources more than ever; and I think it is worth to listen to. The project consists a vertical zeppelin which produces 100% of its own energy, can be used as a transport and accommodation at the same time. The zeppelin has hotels, laboratories, social areas and gets its electricity and hydrogen from seaweed farms, which can be build in different areas on the ocean.

The Garage Centre of Contemporary Art will have a branch in St Petersburg

New vast project will be sited on St Petersburg’s New Holland island by the company Millhouse Capital UK Ltd the part of business empire of Roman Abramovich. He will spend £256m in renovation and construction works according to investment contract. Roman Abramovich intends to build a multi-purpose complex on New Holland by 2017. It will cover 123,000 square yards, including the island’s five restored federal architectural monuments (65,000 square yards), with construction of an additional area of almost 18,000 square yards to the adjoining buildings.

Museums of Modern Art as highly valuable architecture

Visiting Nice, France this holidays, I attended The Modern and Contemporary Art Museum of Nice. The permanent collection is rich, it has its own spirit and it could attractive for artists, designers, and ordinary tourists. Temporary collections also present amazing artists and their inspiring works as usual. For example, Klein,Byars,Kapoor or Matisse exhibitions, the ones, I had a chance to visit. But the thing, that attracts me more is the outlook of the building itself, its smart design of exhibition rooms.

Young Blood

     Bright, funny and very  proceleusmatic exhibition named "Start Avangard" is taking place in The "Rabochij i Kolhoznitsa" exhibition center. Firstly, all the exhibits are works made by young students of children`s art school "The Start". But this fact makes it even much more interesting and exciting, in comparison with objects made by professionals.

     In spite of the fact, that the age of artists is under fifteen years old, some outcomes could be considered as finished mature projects. And it is hard to believe, that a young person could be so practiced and experienced.
     At the other hand, all the atmosphere of event is full of spirit of youth and freedom, and from the very beginning transfers your into the world of children`s dreams and fantasies. Combinations of constructivism principles and kid`s imagination looks just amazing and would be interesting and exciting to explore for everyone.

   The superior value of this exhibition is an opportunity to take a look at the serious sphere of a human activity from position of a child, who has much less stereotypes and fears and, it is also very important,
partly conceives everything as a game. The "Playground approach" is an instrument, that adults usually forget about, but it helps to achieve incredible outcomes very often. The endless brave experiments is a certain way to success.

     In conclusion I`d like to say, that it is really great to see such enthusiastic and curious attitude of young generation and of their tutors as well, the educational work had been done is enormous.
         The one thing I am worry about because of hight level of my young competitors is my future employment.

Kramin Alex

Aya Sofia

During a visit to Istanbul tourist should visit Aya Sofia building, and beginning architect - even more so. Building this church for over 1400 years, it has been repeatedly rebuilt after earthquakes, fire, and the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks.

Interestingly, the most ancient of comparable scale structures were built about 1000 years after the Aya Sofia.

The "Open" city exhibition.

     Dear all, firstly I want to strongly recommend your to visit this exhibition ,and may be it would be more useful to do it before you read this post.
      One of the most significant current discussions about live of our capital are about renovation and development of city architecture, the exhibition in Shchusev State Museum of Architecture is also  dedicated to this problem. At the one hand,it is really great ,that after years of uncontrolled private development, authorities and concerned parties at last have decided to take control on this field of city development and produce really suitable and satisfactory propositions.Moreover, Moscow is an economical and cultural center,so it requires a very special treatment.(Competitions are set to chose the best project,which will comply with every request, and provide fair selection.)The exhibition performs the most sophisticated propositions from russian and european architectural bureaus.

   The main themes for the projects are: new concepts for educational purposes, renovation of important existing buildings,museums actually,effective ways of construction of residential houses. Also,a series of projects is dedicated to a problem of inappropriate visual advertising,which is quite actual for a central districts.Some designs are really fascinating, some can cause questions or even disappoint, but as a whole, the exhibition is for sure worth to be visited.Moreover, every project includes detailed plans,that will be useful for every engaged person.So be prepared to spend some extra time in this place.

             
     The one thing i have been confused and distracted is the way works are presented  and the choice of the place. Too little attention has been paid to the space, where the event took place.It could be my own opinion,but white plastic boards with cheap uncomfortable illumination look like aliens into the old line  aria with stone walls, decorated dome sealing and old fashioned chandelier.

    It seems to be strange,that architecture exhibition has been organized into the environment which fits so strange and unnatural with the exhibits .Nowadays there are a lot of various platforms ,where all these objects could be presented in a more appropriate way and keep the atmosphere of novelty,progress and changes. It is a bit hard to believe in all the optimistic projects in cause of the fails in organization.But may be I am just too meticulous.
           

        P.S. The exposition contains marvelous and super precise constructed models. Unfortunately,only three items are exposed.

Kramin Alex