Explaining Escher

Maurits Cornelis Escher was an artist of impossible images. His drawings worked prefectly on the two dimensions of a sheet of paper but were impossible to exist in the real world. Some of the images show people, animals and objects that gradually turn into something completely different, while others create amazing optical illusions. 'Belvedere' is one of his most impressive works and this video is an attempt to explain what happens when you try to make the picture tridimensional. Watch it and then click here to complete a short text about it.

Creative differences... A Monty Python sketch

What do Leonardo da Vinci, Mel Brooks and Monty Python have in common? Well, they all have come up with their own version of The Last Supper. It's interesting how one same theme can lend itself to some very different interpretations!

Artists, however, occasionally have a hard time trying to explain their creative work to other people! Watch this funny sketch with British group Monty Python about a hypothetical meeting between the Pope and Michelangelo. Why is the Pope angry? What changes did the artist make in the classic scene? If you prefer to watch the video with no subtitles, click here.



Here's a text (good for CAE vocabulary practice) that descibes how some of the most creative ideas can, in fact, be quite simple!

See also
Leonardo da Vinci at 16 billion pixels
What's the big idea?

Leonardo's 'Last Supper' at 16 billion pixels

Not many people are lucky enough to visit Italy and see Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper up close. The 15th century mural underwent a major restoration process which took over 20 years and aimed to restore the masterpiece to its original form and colours. Until now, if you wanted to see it, you would have to book well in advance, as only a limited number of visitors are allowed in the room at one time, and would only be able to stay there for about 15 minutes.

Now, however, you can take a virtual look at one of Leonardo's most famous art works, and observe details that would be impossible to notice in person - all that in high definition, at 16 billion pixels. You can zoom in and out and 'move' the image up and down and to the sides to see, for example, details of very small objects on the table and outside the window.

Just imagine what Dan Brown would have written in his 'The da Vinci Code' if he had seen this website before... :-)



Watch also
Michelangelo, the Pope and the Last Supper - a Monty Python sketch

Oscar Niemeyer: still modern at 100

by Aline S. / slideshow: Bernardo C.

The Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer is celebrating his 100th birthday on December 15th. He is one of the most important architects of all time. There are examples of his work in many cities in Brazil and around the world and you can see some of them in the slideshow. He was responsible for the design of most public buildings during the construction of Brasília, the capital of the country; but before that, in the 1940s, he designed the church of Sao Francisco, the casino and the Yacht Club - among others - in Belo Horizonte. His most recent work, which is going to be constructed soon, is the administrative complex of the state of Minas Gerais.

Edinburgh International Festival

Did you know that Edinburgh, in Scotland, hosts one of the most important art festivals in the world? Although most people refer to it as the Edinburgh Festival, it is in fact made up of different art festivals which take place throughout the year, particularly in the summer. This year, the Edinburgh International Festival celebrates its 61st edition with a rich programme that includes music, opera, dance and theatre, plus the Fringe Festival, which started as an 'alternative' festival and and has now become the largest in the world, with more than 2,000 shows in 250 different venues. During the festival, which goes from August 10 to September 2, people can also watch the famous Military Tattoo, a parade of military bands that perform every night on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle (but tickets are usually very hard to get!).

Use the links to learn more about the Scottish capital and its festivals. Then try this interesting quiz and test how much you know! You can also do some reading activities related to the websites.

Song: Vincent (Don McLean)

On 29th July 1890, Vincent Van Gogh, one of the greatest painters of all times, shot himself after a long battle with mental illness. He was only 37, but in the years he dedicated to painting, he produced more than 2,000 works, including some of the most important (and expensive) pieces ever. The Museum Van Gogh in Amsterdam houses many of his paintings, but you can see his work in the most renowned art museums and galleries in the world.

In 1971, Don McLean wrote this beautiful song which captured Van Gogh's life and art beautifully. The slideshow is a collection of some of his paintings. After listening to the song, you can try a reading activity based on his biography. There is also a vocabulary activity about art based on the lyrics.

If you were one of Van Gogh's painting, which one would you be? Do the test and find out! Here's who I am...



Starry starry night
Paint your palette blue and grey
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land

Now I understand what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now

Starry starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue
Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand

Now I understand what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now

For they could not love you but still your love was true
And when no hope was left in sight on that starry starry night
You took your life as lovers often do
But I could have told you Vincent
This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you

Starry starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow

Now I think I know what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will

• In your opinion, who are "they" (they would not listen, set them free, etc)?

See also:

Women in Art

Grupo Corpo dances "Breu"

by Aline M.
Grupo Corpo's new choreography, Breu, is about violence and the disappearence of moral principles in modern world. The dancers spend most of the time making caotic movements on the floor and for the public who still have the memory of romantic "Lecuona" in their minds, this new work can be a shock. But the choreographer, Rodrigo Pederneiras, believes it is necessary to talk about the problem and to protest against this values inversion. The atmosphere is completed by the music, composed by Lenine, and the black and white costumes and scenery.

As usual, the dance company presents another choreography before the new one, and this time they will show "Sete ou Oito Peças Para Balé", from 1994. The first performance will be in São Paulo next week, and in Belo Horizonte between 6th and 10th of september. After that, the group will dance in different cities in France and Argentina.

Africa through the eyes of Sebastião Salgado

It's impossible to ignore a photograph taken by Sebastião Salgado. One of the most important and respected photographers in the world, he sees his work as a way of "helping people learn about a world that lives in the shadows". His black-and-white photos usually show refugees, immigrants, workers, and the devastation caused by wars and famine, but also Nature and people's struggle to survive. The exhibitions follow the themes found in his books: Migrations, Genesis, Earth and Workers, among others.

The Brazilian photographer from Aimorés (MG) is now taking 56 images of Africa to Madrid, for the Photo España International Festival, which opens tomorrow and continues until 22nd July. Here you can find Salgado's biography, published in the British newspaper "The Guardian". After reading the article, you can try a short activity to check the most important facts.

Art - stay in the country or abroad?

by Mariana M.
Many times people don't like that important paintings and objects of art stay in museums in other countries. They think that if the art represent the culture of the country and is important, then it shouldn't go to other place. For example, it happened when the painting 'Abaporu' went to Argentina, and when many beautiful things from Greece and Egypt went to the museus in France and England.

But I don't think it is so important where is the art, here or in other country. It is more important that many people can see it and that the museum is careful with it. Do you agree?

Visiting museums

Between today and 20th May, a series of lectures, workshops and courses around the country will celebrate art and culture during the "5a Semana Nacional de Museus" (5th National Week of Museums). The events are free and involve a record number of 2,460 museums of different kinds. It's a great opportunity to visit (or re-visit) some of our best museums (like the History Museum, the Museum of Arts and Crafts - see the photo - and the Museu do Oratório, in Ouro Preto). I compiled a list of interesting museums around the world whose websites contain an English version; you can check the links here.

How about recommending a museum to our readers? Leave your suggestion in 'comments' and tell us why it is special to you!