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Features and Fun Facts
(Check back frequently for new art trivia)
Butter Sculpture
The history of carving food into sculptures is ancient yet hardly known by many. The butter that people would think of only using for breakfast to have a tasty meal can bring out this extravagant art form and who would have thought of that? Butter sculptures often depict animals, people, buildings and other objects. They are best known as attractions at state fairs in the United States as life size cows and people, but can also be found on banquet tables and even small decorative butter pats.
Can You Guess what this Lesser Known Art Form is?
Human minds are creative but did you know human bodies can be very creative as well. Flexible human bodies can do wonders and one such wonder is the art of making human flowers. The only drawback of these kind of flowers is like the real one they don’t last forever.
NineCamels
Artist Willard Wigan once inhaled his own work
What’s that, you say? He inhaled a painting?? The man must be enormous! Not quite. Wigan’s works are ‘micro-sculptures’, so tiny they must be viewed through a microscope. In creating his art, Wigan has to slow his heartbeat and work between pulses. The work he inhaled was Alice, from Alice in Wonderland, but apparently she was even better when remade.
What’s that, you say? He inhaled a painting?? The man must be enormous! Not quite. Wigan’s works are ‘micro-sculptures’, so tiny they must be viewed through a microscope. In creating his art, Wigan has to slow his heartbeat and work between pulses. The work he inhaled was Alice, from Alice in Wonderland, but apparently she was even better when remade.
Newton's Colour Circle
The colour wheel predates the United States.
Considering the US is one of the oldest modern democracies, this is pretty amazing. Sir Isaac Newton invented the colour wheel in 1706 by refracting white sunlight into its six colours. The realisation that light alone was responsible for colour was radical, and the wheel proved especially useful for artists, who could now easily observe the most effective colour complementation.
Considering the US is one of the oldest modern democracies, this is pretty amazing. Sir Isaac Newton invented the colour wheel in 1706 by refracting white sunlight into its six colours. The realisation that light alone was responsible for colour was radical, and the wheel proved especially useful for artists, who could now easily observe the most effective colour complementation.
Detail Of Mona Lisa's Eyes
The Mona Lisa has her own mailbox in the Louvre because of all the love letters she receives
Over the years many have fallen prey to the portrait’s ‘limpid and burning eyes’, leaving her offerings of flowers, poems and, yes, love notes. Artist Luc Maspero allegedly took this fervour to a new high – and then low – in 1852, diving off a hotel balcony because “For years I have grappled desperately with her smile. I prefer to die.” Who knew art appreciation could be so dark?
Over the years many have fallen prey to the portrait’s ‘limpid and burning eyes’, leaving her offerings of flowers, poems and, yes, love notes. Artist Luc Maspero allegedly took this fervour to a new high – and then low – in 1852, diving off a hotel balcony because “For years I have grappled desperately with her smile. I prefer to die.” Who knew art appreciation could be so dark?
In 1928 - Art was once an Olympic Sport
As the Olympic Games Beijing 2022 come to a close - we are reminded that at one time - Art was considered a medal sport!
Art competitions formed part of the modern Olympic Games during its early years, from 1912 to 1948. Medals were awarded for works of art inspired by sport, divided into five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture.
All of the entered works had to be inspired by sport and had to be original pieces. Like in the athletic events at the Olympics, gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded to the highest ranked artists, although not all medals were awarded in each competition.
At one time or another, there were suggestions to also include dancing, film, photography, or theatre, but none of these art forms was ever included in the Olympic Games as a medal event. However, breakdancing will be included in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Art competitions formed part of the modern Olympic Games during its early years, from 1912 to 1948. Medals were awarded for works of art inspired by sport, divided into five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture.
All of the entered works had to be inspired by sport and had to be original pieces. Like in the athletic events at the Olympics, gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded to the highest ranked artists, although not all medals were awarded in each competition.
At one time or another, there were suggestions to also include dancing, film, photography, or theatre, but none of these art forms was ever included in the Olympic Games as a medal event. However, breakdancing will be included in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Colour Facts
Interesting facts about Colour
Van Gogh to Rothko in 30 Seconds
Series of art through the ages
Meet the New Blue
Meet YInMn, the First New Blue Pigment in Two Centuries
Choose Your Art
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