Horst Hamann traveled across America and captured these marvelous scenes, where each photo tells a story. There is something special about road trips, especially if you can take your time and see the small towns and beautiful scenery. Enjoy America, the beautiful.
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A Poem For You
I started to sort my extensive library and I was so happy to find my old poetry books. A poem is like a small gift to us from the poet. I forgot how much I enjoyed poetry until I have rediscovered those marvelous books. It is a quick read, but a great poem stays with you, it is transformational. Enjoy these three little gems that I have lovingly rediscovered.
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Cambodia – Kingdom of Wonder
Cambodia is truly the Kingdom of Wonder. I have a feeling that some places are destined for you, and Cambodia is one of those places for me. It stole my heart. From the wondrous temples and floating trees to its world-renowned Kampot pepper, there is something for everyone in this beautiful tropical country.
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Halong Bay Wonder of Nature – Dreaming Awake
In 1994, Halong Bay was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area is selected because of its stunning limestone mountains that formed thousands of years ago by rising up from emerald waters. The emerald bay has ravishing beauty that exceeded all of my expectations.
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Edward Hopper at Fondation Beyeler
Often when we think about Edward Hopper’s work, his lonely figures gazing through the widow come to our mind. During the coronavirus crisis, the international press and social media repeatedly referred to Edward Hopper as a painter for our times.
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Luis Barragán – Pritzker Winning Architect
Luis Barragán was a world-renowned minimalist Mexican architect. His emotional architecture has influenced many contemporary architects, visually and conceptually. Barragán won the Pritzker Prize, the highest award in architecture and his own home and studio, Casa Luis Barragán, have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Nicola Bertellotti – Phenomenology of The End
All these magnificent abandoned places witnessed past glory and grandeur. What emerges in Nicola’s aesthetic is the nostalgia of the lost paradise, expressed in love for the ruins.
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Touch has a Memory
Social distancing is the new expression and the world is now as we never imagined it would be. We are abstaining from touch and are isolated in our own homes all around the world to protect the community. Globally, we are affected by the same experience as we battle COVID-19 together. There is an enormous understanding and compassion between us.
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Pierre Soulages’ Outrenoir: Alchemy Of Black Light
Until recently, Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall were the only two artists in history who were honored with their respective solo exhibitions at Louvre Museum in Paris during their lifetime. In December 2019, these illustrious names were joined by another- Pierre Soulages. It was celebration of the remarkable career and his 100th birthday.
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Kalita Dress – Wearable Art
As a woman who loves dresses, I noticed that there is something very unique about Kalita dresses. How they make me feel. How that perfectly tailored dress so poetically envelops a woman’s body is pure artistry.
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Crossing the Andes in the footsteps of Charles Darwin
At the age of twenty-two, Charles Darwin (1809-1881) started on his trip around the world. The trip would last 5 years, of which most was spent on land investigating geology and making natural history collections. After the trip, he wrote “The Voyage of the Beagle” and the influential “On the…
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Colombia – Beautiful Colors of Cartagena
Cartagena, Colombia is a historic city of superb beauty lying within centuries-old colonial stone walls. Cartagena’s Old Town is a Unesco World Heritage Site and so colorful, charming and bursting at the seams with fabulous Latin music.
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Cornelia Parker – I got lucky in Sydney
One of the most important artists working today, Cornelia Parker is known for her transformation of everyday objects into unexpected, haunting scenarios – things are exploded, shot, turned back to front and rearranged in often surprising ways. Her subjects hang at the very moment of their transformation, suspended in time and completely still.
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Desert Rose by Jean Nouvel
Jean Nouvel is one of the marvelous architects whose work I admire. Finally, I got the opportunity to see his latest museum project in Doha. I remember I was riding in a taxi when I laid my eyes on the National Museum of Qatar. The locals affectionately call Jean Nouvel’s magnificent architecture the Desert Rose.
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Wildest Dreams – ‘East-West/West-East’ by Richard Serra
These captivating sculptures in the middle of Qatari desert by Richard Serra is what a wildest dreams are made of – bravado, creativity, making the impossible possible. There are no roads to get there, no maps and, no signs.
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Radcliffe Bailey – Atlanta’s Own International Artist
Radcliffe Bailey is a world-renown contemporary American artist. He is noted for mixed-media, paint, and sculpture works that explore African-American ancestry and identity, linking diasporic histories with potential futures.
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Marina Abramovic comes to Belgrade with “The Cleaner”
For many years, I have followed work of performance artist Marina Abramovic and had a pleasure of meeting her in Atlanta. Andrej Vidovic, joins me with the captivating review of Abramovic’s lectures in the latest exhibition “The Cleaner.” The Belgrade exhibition holds unique significance because of the artist’s return to her estranged place of birth.
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The Biosphere – Buckminster Fuller
I have been long fascinated with Buckminster Fuller and wanted to make a blog post about him. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I discovered that Michael Parker, an architectural photographer whose work I follow, had photographed Fuller’s iconic Montreal Biosphere.
Lisbon – Source of Inspiration
Enjoy this photo essay about Lisbon. Its long history dates back to the Celts, Romans, and Moors who have inevitably left their mark on the city which makes it so captivating to visit.
Improv Comedy Class – an Unexpected Choice
In my life, I would never think that I would sign up for Improv Comedy classes. After global physical and mental isolation due to pandemics, I was ready to go back to the world. The improv class was out of my comfort zone. And I loved it!
The Year 2021 – Resilience and Gratitude
If 2020 was the year of reflection and challenges, then 2021 and adaptation and perseverance. This is our new normal. One of the most important highlights of my year was to hug my mom. We spent a year a part. The biggest gift you can give in 2022 is the gift of kindness.
Travel in 2021 – International Travel Tips
Traveling in 2021. As our world has turned upside down over the past two years, just thought of traveling was simultaneously exciting and concerning. I realized that I didn’t hug my mom for over a year. Finally, after a long break from travel, I made trip to Europe to see my mom.
Thomas Heatherwick – Little Island in New York
132 unique tulip-shaped “pots” support the marvelous flower-like Little Island that floats above the water of the Hudson River. This concrete structure is more than just another NYC park, it’s an interesting discussion of using construction to build nature over nature. It’s an impeccable example and visual conversation of rapidly changing contemporary society.
JAMES DEAN – ROAD TRIP TO HIS HOMETOWN IN FAIRMOUNT, INDIANA
On the surface, Fairmount looks a lot like many other small towns in America. Fairmount is anytown, everytown. But it is also singular. There are many older Fairmount residents who recall James Dean, as a family member, as a friend, as a classmate, a neighbor. Everywhere you look, signs point to James Dean.
Floating University Berlin
Floating University Berlin immediately piqued my interest when I saw Joanna’s photos. I visited Berlin’s vibrant art scene a few years ago and from then on it never ceases to amaze me and fill me with inspiration. Once before we did an amazing collaboration about Chiharu Shiota, so upon seeing…
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Atlanta Botanical Garden – there I was! After more than a year of staying at home, I finally ventured to see some marvelous art. Without a doubt, the Botanical Garden is one of the best combinations of art seamlessly blended into an immersive nature experience. While a jazz band played captivating melodies,…
Highlands – I took a wrong turn and came to the right place
Highlands in North Carolina was a gift of kindness from a friend who has an amazing lake house. I took a wrong turn. And, as a fortunate stroke of serendipity – I have ended perfectly in the right place. I found by random chance exactly what my heart needed.
Deanna Sirlin STRATA Exhibition in Portugal
Deanna Sirlin has a unique concept that uses space, color, and light to create an artistic immersive experience. I saw Sirlin’s exhibition a few years ago in Atlanta and enjoyed stepping into the space where her art seamlessly coexists with architecture while drawing you in to explore. Depending on the…
KOENIG GALERIE BERLIN – Chiharu Shiota
Koenig Galerie in Berlin had recently showed marvelous exhibition of Chiharu Shiota’s installation. Her inspiration often emerges from a personal experience or emotion which she expands into universal human concerns. She has redefined the concept of memory and explores sensation of a ‘presence in the absence’ with her intricate thread installations with various objects woven into its mesmerizing web.
Temppeliaukio Church – The Rock Church in Helsinki
The Temppeliaukio Church, also known as the Rock Church, is one of Helsinki’s architectural gems. What makes it such a fascinating place is that it is built directly into solid rock and also has a first class acoustic as a concert venue. It was one of my favorite places to explore when I lived in Finland.
Julie Mehretu – The Art of Intricacy
Julie Mehretu is an American contemporary visual artist, known for her multi-layered paintings of abstracted landscapes on a large scale. Her paintings, drawings, and prints depict the cumulative effects of urban sociopolitical changes. She is included in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020.
I Remember Myanmar
For a long time now, Myanmar has been known as the Land of the Golden Pagodas and is home to world-famous breathtaking Valley of Bagan, a World Heritage Site. Dear Reader, enjoy this rare photo essay by our contributor Colin Johnson.
Louvre Abu Dhabi – Jean Nouvel
Designed by Pritzker-prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is a massive art and civilizations museum in the United Arab Emirates. The museum includes a permanent and a temporary gallery enriched by loans from notable French museums including Musee du Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, and Centre Pompidou.
Manila – Explore the Philippines in 4 Days
Manila was a surprise destination because I was in Asia and a friend of mine who happens to live in the region had a birthday. So, I made a small detour from Vietnam on my way to Bali. Once I arrived at the airport in Hanoi, I knew that Manila…
Byredo Makeup – Makeup as Art
Byredo’s makeup took me by surprise. The first time I saw the collection visualization I was stunned by how artistic and sculptural it is. When ordinary daily items are elevated to an art form the design lover in me is immediately enthralled.
Rwanda Travel – The Joy of the Unexpected
Rwanda has been emerging over the past few years as an intriguing and exciting travel destination. Since 2005, sustainability has been at the heart of Rwanda tourism in order to conserve and protect its wildlife. It’s one of the few rare places where you can see gorillas in the natural habitat.
Your 2021 Zest & Curiosity Preview
As we start a new year, it feels cleansing and refreshing to start looking at future possibilities. And there are many! From seductive destinations, world-class art, and gourmet food to new books to read – the new year is looking good. Also, with vaccines coming soon, we will be able…
Botero – Interview with the Artist
Fernando Botero is a world-famous Colombian artist known for his voluminous paintings and sculptures. His renowned works are in the collections of MoMA, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museo Botero in Bogotá. Enjoy our insightful interview about creativity with Maestro Botero.
The Year 2020 – Musings, Reflections, and Gratitude
The year 2020 took us all by surprise. As we all collectively went through the same experience of the immense change in all our lives and started to live new normal, there were many times I felt gratitude. In February, I had my last trip to Colombia, and I never…
Bojana Ginn – The Beauty of Art and Science
Bojana Ginn did the inconceivable – she left her medical profession as a doctor and chose to pursue art as a vocation. Numerous art museums and mathematics conferences around the world exhibited her thought-provoking work.
Zest & Curiosity is growing and needs your input
Zest & Curiosity has grown to over 11,000 unique monthly website users and is read in 161 countries worldwide. I am so grateful for this wonderful community where we share our passion for art, culture, and travel. We’ve created a special place. I would need your help and hear your thoughts what would you like Zest & Curiosity to become.
The Beauty of the Underwater World by Pepe Arcos
Pepe Arcos is an award-winning multitalented photographer that explores the magical underwater domain. He is holding the breath for minutes at a time to capture unique images of ethereal calm. As a fellow diver I understand his passion….
Singapore Architecture – John’s Top 8 Picks
Singapore architecture has a lot to offer. It is a fascinating place where Asian influence meets futuristic design. Architecture often has a strong focus on sustainability, with many instances of vegetative landscapes incorporated into high-rise buildings, with breathtaking outcomes.
Casa Brutale – Lyrical Brutalism in Architecture
Casa Brutale is a daring and thrilling architecture concept that took the internet by the storm a few years ago. Its debut instantly went viral after publication and was shared by numerous media and design platforms worldwide. Casa Brutale started also one wonderful friendship with the immensely talented architect Laertis-Antonios…
Tybee Island – COVID Escape
Tybee Island, along with Cumberland Island, is my favorite place in Georgia. It’s my happy space. Since March, as the COVID-19 collectively shattered our world, I’ve spent six months at home. My mom traveled from Europe to the States before the virus came and couldn’t leave the USA since her…
Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
Van Gogh Museum was at the top of my list when I visited Amsterdam. I reserved a whole day to leisurely see it. As I entered a spectacular modern building by Gerrit Rietveld, Hans van Heeswijk, and Kisho Kurokawa I was wondering what would Van Gogh say if he has…