Art Kaleidoscope

Between art and craft

Category Archive: Architecture

Masterpiece of architectural art Pena Palace

Masterpiece of architectural art Pena Palace

Masterpiece of architectural art Pena Palace

About this Masterpiece of architectural art Pena Palace – English poet Lord Byron in his “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage” said “Perhaps this is the most amazing of all that I have seen in Europe”. Pena Palace or Palacio Nacional da Pena (in Portuguese) – one of the most “romantic” castles in the world and one of the main attractions of Portugal. The complex of buildings and landscaped terrain, covering several hundred acres, appeared here in the XIX century, during the reign of King Ferdinand II, who wished to have his summer residence on a high hill near Lisbon.
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Simferopol wood carver Igor Dzheknovarov

Dry trees carved sculpture in Simferopol, Russia. Art work by Crimean self-taught artist Igor Dzheknovarov

Dry trees carved sculpture in Simferopol, Russia. Art work by Crimean self-taught artist Igor Dzheknovarov

Crimean self-taught artist wood carver Igor Dzheknovarov adorns his native city – Simferopol with statues of people, gods and angels, which he cuts from the dry trees. The master woodcarver admits that he stopped counting his art pieces after the first three dozens of sculptures. The tallest of them reaches 5 m, and there is a composition of 10-12 wooden pieces. Popularity came to Dzheknovarov not immediately, because for more than six years instead of old dry trees appeared statues in different parts of the city, as anonymous. During this time, the city has changed beyond recognition, many wonderful wooden sculptures do not leave anyone indifferent. Interest in the mysterious master increased after the public have learnt about the creator of these beautiful works of art – Simferopol wood carver Igor Dzheknovarov.
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Illustrated BookBenches project

Illustrated BookBenches project

Illustrated BookBenches project

Illustrated BookBenches project has been recently launched in London. The creative project presented by 50 benches in the form of open books with colorful illustrations can be seen throughout the city. Many artists were drawn specifically to decorate the giant “pages” of iconic books. Benches will be exhibited in the British capital until the 15th of September. The project Books about Town was initiated by the National Literacy Trust. All benches (called BookBenches), presented in the project, illustrate the works that are somehow connected with London: main characters, origin, or author. According to the participants of the event – cartoonist Ralph Steadman (illustrator of “Alice in Wonderland”), and artist and writer Cressida Cowell (creator of the book series “How to Train Your Dragon”), such art objects should open to the general public the joy of reading
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The art of Spiral staircases

The Spiral Staircase

The Spiral Staircase

Most of these photos depict the design and the art of Spiral staircases with their hypnotizing forms. Spiral staircases are appreciated by architects and designers, stairs inspire artists and musicians, film directors and philosophers. Stairs are used as a symbol and a part of a religious ritual, they emphasize the importance of climbing. Equivalents to stairs are a golden thread, axis of the world, the world tree, the world mountain, rainbow, etc. Stairs cross three cosmic zones, linking the world of gods, humans, and the underworld. A staircase is connected with the vertical movement. Often the stairs set hierarchy of deities.
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Doors as art

Balinese style doors with intricate carvings is a real piece of art

Balinese style doors with intricate carvings is a real piece of art

Metaphorically doors may refer to portals and other non-physical entrances. Opening doors has philosophical implications when after opening the door whether you leave it open or not. Death – is a door with one handle. They say there are no closed doors, locks are in our heads. Doors inspire artists, designers, craftsmen all over the world. So, let’s look at Doors as art.
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World’s most exotic houses

Small house on one leg among the a blooming sakura garden in Yamanashi, Japan

Small house on one leg among the a blooming sakura garden in Yamanashi, Japan

The architectural approach in designing these exotic houses can be considered a form of art. These world’s most exotic houses are not mystical scenes from fairy tales – they are real buildings that exist somewhere in the world. Pale, strict, boring and minimalist modern architecture – is definitely not for the creators of these architectural masterpieces – their houses are full of organic and unusual shapes
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