An art piece that I found both beautiful and emotive in the gardens of the Sapporo Museum of Modern Art in Hokkaido, Japan.

Set against the snow laden, stark winter vegetation, its shiny, smooth, serpentine and poetic form is in contrast with its surrounds.

Sapporo born Takamichi Ito (b: 1939) Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University of the Arts, Chairman of Institute of Environmental Art and Design.

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Tags:   art public art installation art hokkaido japan sapporo modern art outdoor photography winter snow curve serpentine trees winter trees sculpture white winter hymnal february sapporo sculptor takamichi ito sapporo museum of modern art contemporary sculpture

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Unveiled in the Karlsplatz Vienna in 1908, the Brahms memorial was designed and created by Rudolf Weyr.

On the stela, it features a passionate and sorrowful nude muse with lyre, carved in relief.

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Tags:   Resselpark Karlsplatz Brahms Vienna Wien Rudolf Weyr Johannes Brahms Memorial Public Art Europe Black and White b&w Black & White Monochrome Death Memory Statue Carving Muse sculpture

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One reason I love to visit Pompeii and Ercolano as often as I can, is the ease in which one is transported back to ancient times thanks to the wealth of buildings, objects and art that were preserved during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD.

Every visit is full of intrigue and wonder, my imagination on overdrive, contemplating ancient times and lives within the two cities.

This most beautiful lararium can be seen within the thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus.

Located on the via dell’ Abbondanza, the tavern sold drinks and hot food. Placidus' home quarters are at the rear.

The shrine seen here, is placed on the back wall of the tavern, visible from the outside. The art work depicts the lari (the protectors of the household), holding aloft horns, then the genius (divine spirit) protector of the owner at centre. One can also see Mercury, the god of trade and Dionysus, the god of wine.

A hoard of nearly 3 kg of coins was found in one of the large clay jars placed in the counter. Probably the last collections of Placidus and perhaps attesting the profitable activity of his tavern.

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Tags:   lararium pompeii pompeii art at pompeii italy vetutius placidus thermopolium via dell' abbondanza roman art lari mercury dionysus antiquity history ancient roman art lararium roman tavern ancient art roman mural painting pompeian style painting painting at pompeii roman empire unesco world heritage site travel photography italia roman italy historical place pompeian red terra di pozzuoli

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British artist Rachel Whiteread's 'Nameless library' memorial to the Austrian victims of the Holocaust located at Judenplatz, in Vienna's Innere Stadt.

There is a long and eventful history of the Jewish community at this location.

Steel and concrete construction measuring 10 x 7 m and with a height of 3.8 m.

The outside surfaces of the memorial shows library shelves turned inside out. The spines of the books are facing inwards and are not visible, therefore the titles of the volumes are unknown and the content of the books remains unrevealed. The vast number of Jewish victims are represented in this way.

I thought how this art work contrasted greatly with much of the Baroque art and architecture of Vienna - there is an aspect of discomfort in the monument that was meant to provoke thought in the viewer through its severity. It was intended to evoke the tragedy and brutality of the Holocaust.

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Tags:   Judenplatz Vienna Wien Austria Rachel Whiteread Innere Stadt Nameless Library Holocaust Shoah Concrete Memorial Holocaust Memorial Art Sculpture perspective Lines Books Library Black and White B&W Monochrome Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial Travel Photography

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I wondered how many people over the years had looked at and appreciated the craftsmanship and beauty of this window as I stood there.

A classic example of the Art Nouveau style - an ornamental style of art that flourished between about 1890 and 1910.

Art Nouveau is characterized by its use of long, sinuous line and organic forms. It can be seen in architecture, interior design, jewellery, glass and illustration.

This large window is in place at The Carrington Hotel, Katoomba within the Blue Mountains region. The Carrington began life in 1881 and the window is specifically in the Billiards Room (originally called the Gentleman's Smoking Room).

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Tags:   interior design art nouveau window art nouveau stained glass stained glass design australia nsw new south wales the blue mountains katoomba hotel blue mountains hotel looking in to the past ornamental art victorian hotel gentleman's smoking room travel photography window glass art a different point of view decorative elements window to the past public art fin de siècle looking in looking out billiards room

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