Tuesday, November 29, 2011

cubism

Cubism - the first style of abstract art

Pablo Picasso - Factory, Horta de Ebbo
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Factory, Horta de Ebbo (oil on canvas, 1909)
Philadelphia Museum of Art

Cubism was a truly revolutionary style of modern art developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braques. It was the first style of abstract art which evolved at the beginning of the 20th century in response to a world that was changing with unprecedented speed. Cubism was an attempt by artists to revitalise the tired traditions of Western art which they believed had run their course. The Cubists challenged conventional forms of representation, such as perspective, which had been the rule since the Renaissance. Their aim was to develop a new way of seeing which reflected the modern age.
In the four decades from 1870-1910, western society witnessed more technological progress than in the previous four centuries. During this period inventions such as photography, cinematography, sound recording, the telephone, the motor car and the airplane heralded the dawn of a new age. The problem for artists at this time was how to reflect the modernity of the era using the tired and trusted traditions that had served art for the last four centuries. Photography had begun to replace painting as the tool for documenting the age and for artists to sit illustrating cars, planes and images of the new technologies was not exactly rising to the challenge. Artists needed a more radical approach - a 'new way of seeing' that expanded the possibilities of art in the same way that technology was extending the boundaries of communication and travel. This new way of seeing was called Cubism - the first abstract style of modern art. Picasso and Braque developed their ideas on Cubism around 1907 in Paris and their starting point was a common interest in the later paintings of Paul Cézanne.


The Influence of Cézanne on Cubism

Paul Cézanne - Bibemus Quarry
Paul Cézanne (1839-1906)
Bibemus Quarry (oil on canvas, 1895)
Museum Folkwang

Cézanne was not primarily interested in creating an illusion of depth in his painting and he abandoned the tradition of perspective drawing. Perspective, which had been used since the Early Renaissance, was a geometric formula that solved the problem of how to draw three-dimensional objects on a two dimensional surface. Cézanne felt that the illusionism of perspective denied the fact that a painting is a flat two-dimensional object. He liked to flatten the space in his paintings to place more emphasis on their surface - to stress the difference between a painting and reality. He saw painting in more abstract terms as the construction and arrangement of colour on a two-dimensional surface. It was this flat abstract approach that appealed to the Cubists and their early paintings, such as Picasso's 'Factory at Horta de Ebbo' (1909) and Braque's 'Viaduct at L'Estaque' (1908,) took it to an extreme.


The Cubist Vision

Georges Braque - Viaduct at L'Estaque
Georges Braque (1882-1963)
Viaduct at L'Estaque (oil on canvas, 1908)
Pompidou Centre, Paris
The limitations of perspective were also seen as an obstacle to progress by the Cubists. The fact that a picture drawn in perspective could only work from one viewpoint restricted their options. As the image was drawn from a fixed position, the result was frozen, like a snapshot - but the Cubists wanted to make pictures that reached beyond the rigid geometry of perspective. They wanted to introduce the idea of 'relativity' - how the artist perceived and selected elements from the subject, fusing both their observations and memories into the one concentrated image. To do this the Cubists examined the way that we see.
When you look at an object your eye scans it, stopping to register on a certain detail before moving on to the next point of interest and so on. You can also change your viewpoint in relation to the object allowing you to look at it from above, below or from the side. Therefore, the Cubists proposed that your sight of an object is the sum of many different views and your memory of an object is not constructed from one angle, as in perspective, but from many angles selected by your sight and movement. Cubist painting, paradoxically abstract in form, was an attempt at a more realistic way of seeing.
A typical Cubist painting depicts real people, places or objects, but not from a fixed viewpoint. Instead it will show you many parts of the subject at one time, viewed from different angles, and reconstructed into a composition of planes, forms and colours. The whole idea of space is reconfigured: the front, back and sides of the subject become interchangeable elements in the design of the work.


The Cubists - Picasso, Braque and Gris

Juan Gris - Violin and Glass
Juan Gris (1887-1927)
Violin and Glass (oil on canvas, 1915)
Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University

Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque conceived and developed Cubism but other artists also adopted the style. The Spanish artist Juan Gris, who is often referred to as the 'Third Musketeer of Cubism', was the best of these and he refined the Cubist vocabulary into his own instantly recognisable visual language. Other notable artists associated with Cubism were Fernand Leger, Robert Delaunay, Albert Gleizes, Jean Metzinger, Louis Marcoussis, Marie Laurencin and Roger de La Fresnaye.


The Influence of African Art on Cubism

Head of a Woman - Dan Mask
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Left: Head of a Woman, (oil on canvas, 1907) Right: Dan Mask
www.zyama.com

The Cubists believed that the traditions of Western art had become exhausted and another remedy they applied to revitalize their work was to draw on the expressive energy of art from other cultures, especially African art. However, they were not interested in the true religious or social symbolism of these cultural objects, but valued them superficially for their expressive style. They viewed them as subversive elements that could be used to attack and subsequently refresh the tired tradition of Western art. This inspiration to cross-reference art from different cultures probably came from Paul Gauguin, the French post-impressionist artist, whose paintings and prints were influenced by the native culture of Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands where he spent his final years.


Analytical Cubism

Georges Braque - Violin and Jug
Georges Braque (1882-1963)
Violin and Jug (oil on canvas, 1910)
Kunstmuseum, Basel
Cubism had two distinct phases. The early phase which lasted until about 1912 was called Analytical Cubism. Here the artist analysed the subject from many different viewpoints and reconstructed it within a geometric framework, the overall effect of which was to create an image that evoked a sense of the subject. These fragmented images were unified by the use of a subdued and limited palette of colours.

Pablo Picasso - Still Life with Chair Caning
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Still Life with Chair Caning (oil on canvas, 1912)
Musée Picasso, Paris

Around 1912, the styles of Picasso and Braque were becoming predictable. Their images had grown so similar that their paintings of this period are often difficult to tell apart. Their work was increasingly abstract and less recognisable as the subject of their titles. Cubism was running out of creative steam. In an attempt to revitalise the style and pull it back from total abstraction, Picasso began to glue printed images from the 'real world' onto the surface of his still lifes. His painting 'Still Life with Chair Caning', was the first example of this 'collage' technique and it opened the door for himself and other artists to the second phase of the Cubist style: Synthetic Cubism.


Synthetic Cubism

Pablo Picasso - Still Life with Mandolin and Guitar 1924
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Still Life with Mandolin and Guitar (oil on canvas, 1924)
Guggenheim Museum, New York

Influenced by the introduction of bold and simple collage shapes, Synthetic Cubism moved away from the unified monochrome surfaces of Analytic Cubism to a more direct, colourful and decorative style. Although synthetic cubist images appear more abstract in their use of simplified forms, the other elements of their composition are applied quite traditionally. Interchanging lines, colours, patterns and textures, that switch from geometric to freehand, dark to light, positive to negative and plain to patterned, advance and recede in rhythms across the picture plain.

 

 

Beyond Cubism

Umberto Boccioni - Dynamism of a Soccer Player
Umberto Boccioni (1882-1916)
Dynamism of a Soccer Player (oil on canvas, 1913)
Museum of Modern Art, New York
Cubism was born in France but emigrated across Europe and integrated with the artistic consciousness of several countries. It emerged as Futurism in Italy (illustrated above), Vorticism in England, Suprematism and Constructivism in Russia, and Expressionism in Germany. It also influenced several of the major design and architectural styles of the 20th century and prevails to this day as mode of expression in the language of art.

Cubism Notes

  • Cubism was invented around 1907 in Paris by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.
  • Cubism was the first abstract style of modern art.
  • A Cubist painting ignores the traditions of perspective drawing and shows you many views of a subject at one time.
  • The Cubists introduced collage into painting.
  • The Cubists were influenced by art from other cultures, particularly African masks.
  • There are two distinct phases of the Cubist Style: Analytical Cubism (pre 1912) and Synthetic Cubism (post 1912)

Saturday, August 20, 2011

tourism of nepal

Mt. Everest
  NEPAL
SIMPLY TOURIST'S PARADISE 
A country where 2500 years of Buddhist and Hindu culture meet the high Himalayas, jungles teeming with wildlife and valleys that are scenic sanctuaries.
Nestled in the Himalayas lies Nepal known as the kingdom where mortals mingle with deities. Nepal is still a heady place, whether you're a trekker on a trail to Annapurna, a climber on your way to Everest or a seeker on the path to enlightenment. There are few countries on Earth that can match its combination of spectacular scenery, exotic culture and hospitable people. Along with the world's deepest canyon and eight of the world's 10 highest mountains, Nepal has steamy jungles and terraced valleys laced with ancient villages, remote temples and wildlife preserves.
Traveller's Treat
Location
It borders with the Tibet autonomous region of the people's republic of China in the north and  India in the east, south and west respectively.
Capital city
Kathmandu
Time
Nepali time is 5hours 45minutes ahead of GMT and 15 minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time
Altitude
Varies from 70 meters to 8848 meters
Climate
Nepal has four major seasons, namely
1. Winter: December- February          3.Summer : June-August
2. Spring : March-May                 4. Autumn : September -November
Nepal can be visited the whole year around.
People & Religion
Nepalese people are mainly divided into two distinct groups- the Indo Aryans and the Mangoloids . Kathmandu valley is the spiritual and cultural meeting point of all these groups. Nepal is the only Hindu kingdom in the world.  Hindu temples and Buddhist shrines are scattered all over the kingdom. Nepal being the birth place of lord Buddha , is the light of Asia. There is complex blending of  Hinduism & Buddhism in Nepal.
What to bring
Nepal's climate variations due to altitude mean that at certain times of year you'll have to come prepared for almost anything. If you're in Nepal during the winter you'll find it's T-shirt weather if you're tracking wildlife in the Terai, but up at the Everest Base Camp you'll want the best thermal gear money can buy! In the Kathmandu Valley, The daytime weather is pleasant year round, but in winter the temperature drops as soon as the sun sets, or even goes behind a cloud. It never reaches freezing in the valley, however, so it's sweater or warm-jacket weather, nothing worse. Climb higher to the valley edge at Nagarkot and you can find it much colder. You will need an umbrella or raincoat during the monsoon season, specially in Pokhara where rainfall is heavier than in Kathmandu. A month after the monsoon it can be pleasantly warm.  Clothing is easily and cheaply available in the market. If you need one, You can get one here.
                                                   
                                                             Pokhara Valley, Nepal    
Pokhara valley  
A short flight away from Kathmandu is the lake valley of Pokhara where the trail into the western Himalayas begins. Breathing scenery, verdant views, placid waters. An another worldly timelessness reflects the towering mountains that envelop the valley.

Pokhara valley (827 M) is 200 Km west of Kathmandu valley. Pokhara is the most popular destination in Nepal after Kathmandu. Pokhara is not a historical or heritage site but it is a land of natural beauty with lakes and mountains.
The valley is famous for lakes, snow capped mountains, beauty, and splendid panoramic scenes. Fewa, Rupa, and Begnash are beautiful lakes in Pokhara. The mountain peaks Machhapuchhre (Fish Tail) and Annapurna are the land mark of Pokhara. These splendid mountain peaks are very gorgeous. The reflection of Mt. Machhapuchhre and Mt. Annapurna on lake Fewa is very panoramic. On a clear day you can almost reach out and touch them. You will have a very few words to describe the view of Mt. Machhapuchhre on a clear full moon day. Pokhara is also a starting point of various trekking routes around Annapurna and Dhoulagiri. It is also an end point of the great Annapurna Circuit (trekking). There are also plenty of sites around Pokhara valley where a short trekking or a day hiking is enjoyed.

Kathmandu city

Kathmandu valley, Nepal
                       
Kathmandu  
An enchanted valley where three ancient kingdoms vie for attention with places, pagodas and a smile welcoming people.

Kathmandu Valley: Kathmandu is a capital city of Kingdom of Nepal. Other regal sister cities in the valley are Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. The Kathmandu valley (1450 M) is famous for scenic beauty, beautiful countryside, ethnic settlements, pilgrimages of holiest shrines for Hindus and Buddhists. There are seven World Heritage Sites declared by the UNESCO in the Kathmandu valley (400 sq. km.) itself. The three regal cities are called Kathmandu, Lalitpur (Patan), and Bhaktapur. These three cities used to be capital of three Principalities in Malla dynasty period.  
Places of visit in Kathmandu: Pashupatinath Temple, , Balaju Water garden, Kathmandu Durbar Square (Kasthmandup, Kumari Temple, Taleju Temple, etc.), Swoyambhunath, Casino, Bouddhanath Stupa, Budhanilkantha (Sleeping God Vishnu) Temple etc.
Patan: Patan Durbar Square (Krishna Temple, Kumari chowk, etc.), Hiranya Varna Mahabihar, Kumbheswore Temple, Ashok Stupa, Godavari Botanical Garden, Tibetan Refugee Camp, etc.
Bhaktapur: Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Golden Gate,  Dattatreya Temple ,Nyatpole Temple etc.
Countryside : Gokarna, Sankhu, Sundarijal, Changu Narayan Temple, Kirtipur, Thimi, Chobhar, Dakhshinkali Temple, Lele, etc. Hiking or one to two days trekking can be started from a countryside to a resort in nearby mountain of valley. It is a popular hide away from the crowd of Kathmandu.
Rim of Kathmandu valley: There are many resort area around rim of Kathmandu valley. Such resort spots are very panoramic and have best spots to see a large range of Himalaya and best point to witness Sunrise and Sunset. Nagarkot is the most visited resort town in the rim of Kathmandu valley. Dhulikhel, Hatiban, and Daman are other famous resort towns in the rim of valley. Nagarkot is famous for Sunrise and Sunset view. Dhulikhel and Hatiban are famous for countryside tour. Daman has widest mountain view. Such resort town are best accessed by car.  
Bird Watching : Nagarjuna , Phulchoki, Shivapuri, and other mountains of the Kathmandu valley are rich in Flora and Fauna. These mountains are popular among bird watchers.

Dulikhel

Dhulikhel, nepal














Wildlife conservation

ONLINlesser doublecollared sunbirdE FEATURE
 
CATT Campaign carried out by WCN in Nepal
lesser doublecollared sunbird
Nepal has launched a CATT campaign through WCN on tiger conservation to
Nepal Ex-Police Association (NEPA) in their head office in Kathmandu, today, September 23, 2005. During this campaign, WCN clearly outline how NEPA could be associated with WCN and line agencies in addressing tiger trade. Prasanna Yonzon, Chief Executive Officer addressed a gathering of more than 800 Members from all districts of Nepal. WCN provided posters on conservation awareness (with focus to tiger conservation) in that gathering. These ex- police will go back to their districts and propagate tiger conservation at district level. The recent wildlife seizure (279 skins; tigers 5, leopard 36 and the rest otter skins along with 113 kg. of tiger bones at Syabru besi on September 1st 2005 had been highlighted and in the future how NEPA could play a pivotal role in the future. The members are eager to join WCN and related line agencies to begin a nation wide campaign against killing and trading of big cat, because tigers are national properties and heritage as well.

Campaign Against Tiger Trafficking (CATT):An organized response to an organized crime
The Problem
• Wild tigers are in crisis. There are perhaps less than 5,000 left in isolated pockets in Asia, and tigers have begun disappearing from parts of their last strongholds. This is due in large part to increasing trade in skins for use as clothing and decor, and persistent demand for tiger bone in traditional Asian medicines.
• International trade in tigers and their parts is banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which 169 countries are party. CITES parties have taken the additional step of asking all countries to pass laws banning domestic trade in tigers and their parts. While many countries have passed such laws, they are often poorly enforced.
• Wild tigers cannot withstand even limited trade in their parts. If tiger range and consuming countries do not act decisively and in concert now, the species in the wild will be lost forever.
Why Tigers Matter
• Majestic symbols for many cultures, tigers are important because their survival in Asia's forests depends on the same clean water, clean air, natural flood controls and other forest resources vital to human welfare and development.
• Tigers are poised at the top of the food chain and, therefore, measure the health of entire ecosystems. Saving tigers will save entire landscapes of life as well as human livelihoods.
Solutions
• Poachers and smugglers are well financed and organized. Only an organized response will stop this organized crime.
• Save The Tiger Fund has launched the Campaign Against Tiger Trafficking (CATT) to catalyze action. With its partners, CATT aims to build, inform and support alliances among civil society, governments and consuming groups to stop the illegal trade that is killing the world's last wild tigers and destroying their priceless forest habitats.
• CATT is the only global partnership initiative focused exclusively on stopping trade in tigers and their parts. A united front on tiger trade will be the "Trojan horse" that ' takes wildlife trade to the top of policy and law enforcement agendas.
• CATT will convene leaders from governments, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, and social and religious institutions to take immediate action together, including:
- Joint international law enforcement operations to stop tiger smugglers;
- Securing habitats from poachers and closely monitoring wild tiger populations;
- Enlisting local communities and tiger-user groups to stop demand for and use of tiger parts.
• Coordinated action to implement these measures can end trade in tiger parts.

Ominous Threats
Traditional Medicines
- Although illegal in most countries, medicines made from tiger bone are still in demand to treat arthritis and other rheumatic pain.
- Tiger bone is not used to treat life-threatening illnesses, yet use of tiger bone in medicine threatens the very survival of all wild tigers.
- While traditional medicines have their place in the world's pharmacopeias, this practice should not jeopardize the survival of wild tigers.
Traditional Costumes and Décor
- Increasing wealth is prompting an increase in the use of tiger skins for ceremonial costumes in parts of Asia. However, recent research shows that use of tiger-skin costumes is an old custom for only a small group of people. Today many people are wearing skins, which is a recent development in exhibiting affluence and status. There is no connection in the minds of most wearers between tiger poaching and their clothing. Once the connection is made, most no longer wish to wear tiger skin.
- There also has been an increased trade in tiger skins to make wall hangings and rugs. The world cannot allow wild tigers to go extinct so that people can decorate their homes and offices.
Tiger Farms
- Breeding of tigers to save their genetic integrity is the job of legitimate zoos. Farming of tigers to supply trade in skins and bones will only hasten the extinction of wild tigers.
- Trade of tiger parts from any source will be fatal to the last remaining wild tigers. Because bones from farmed tigers cannot be distinguished from bones of wild tigers, bones from poached tigers could easily be sold as farmed bones. Even limited legal trade will confuse consumers and expand opportunities for illegal trade.
- A stable Legal source of bones, skins, and other parts from captive tigers would not elilminate poaching but instead would increase it. Experience has shown that parts of wild animals are preferred and, therefore, yield premium pricing that motivates poachers and smugglers.
- Production farming for tigers would be a step backward in wildlife conservation. Once tiger habitat is gone, it will be costly if not impossible to restore. Furthermore, tigers fed by human are inclined to continue to seek food from humans, leading to grave danger for humans and tigers alike. True tiger conservation requires saving not just tiger, but complex web of plant and animal life in the tiger’s habitat.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Natural beautiful of kathmandu

Attractions in Kathmandu

Pashupatinath temple is one of the major attractions in Nepal. All tourists visiting Kathmandu make it a point to visit it. There is a world heritage site at Kathmandu known as the old palace of the Newar Kings at Durbar Square. Freak street is another spot to be ventured by the tourists in Kathmandu. One can visit the famous Shah King's Palace which is situated east of Thamel. One can see two parallel streets comprising Thamel. One can find shops, restaurants, hotels lining at both the sides of these two streets. It is a popular tourist attraction in itself. Visit the palace at the northern end of the Durbar Marg. Again one can find some Buddhist and Hindu temples in the “old” city. These temples are old and dated back to the 17th century. Two famous Buddhist Stupas known as Swayambhunath and Boudhanath are present at Kathmandu which are quite popular tourist attractions. But the most popular attraction in Kathmandu is perhaps the Hindu shrine Pashupatinath temple. Apart from that, one can also visit the Tharlam Monastery, Durbar Square, Kasthamandap and Dharahara. One can go to Pokhara from Kathmandu for sight seeing and enjoy the mind blowing natural beauty. Kathmandu's amazing cultural and artistic heritage can be explored by visiting the old temples of Kathmandu.

Transportation at Kathmandu

Situated in the northern side of the city center is the Kathmandu bus station. This Bus station, popularly known as “bus park”, “gongbu bus park”, and Kathmandu bus terminal, is a station for long distance buses which will take you to Pokhara and Terai. One can also opt for the popular tourist buses to Pokhara which depart from a convenient location of the Thamel. Another mode of transportation for sightseeing in Kathmandu is by rental car, which understandably, is more expensive than the bus service. There are some domestic airline services that a tourist can avail to see the extensive beauty of the mountain ranges and valleys of Kathmandu.

Accommodation in Kathmandu

There are a number of options that a tourist can choose from for accommodation in Kathmandu. There are a number of hotels, motels, inns, guest houses at Kathmandu that a tourist can pick to stay depending on his budget. Some of the good hotels and guest houses offering quality accommodation facilities are Hotel Encounter Nepal, Tibet Peace Guest House, Hotel Ganesh Himal, Hotel Norbu Linka etc.

Kathmandu Durbar Square


Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमांडौ [kɑːʈʰmɑːɳɖuː]; Nepal Bhasa: येँ देय्‌) is the capital and, with close to one million inhabitants, the largest metropolitan city of Nepal. The city is the urban core of the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayas, which contains two sister cities: Lalitpur (Patan), 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to its south and Bhaktapur or Bhadgaon, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) to its east, and a number of smaller towns. It is also acronymed as 'KTM' and named 'tri-city'.[4] In the last census (2001), the city of Kathmandu had 671,846 inhabitants. Population estimates for 2005 were 790,612 and for 2010 they stood at 989,273.[2][3] The municipal area is (50.67 square kilometres (19.56 sq mi))[5] and the population density is 19,500 per km².
The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) in the bowl-shaped valley in central Nepal surrounded by four major hills, namely: Shivapuri, Phulchowki, Nagarjun and Chandragiri. Kathmandu valley is part of three districts, Kathmandu District, Lalitpur District and Bhaktapur District, with the highest population density in the country and accounting for about 1/5 of its population.
Kathmandu is not only the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal but also the headquarters of the Central Region (Madhyamanchal) among the five development regions constituted by the 14 administrative zones of Nepal located at the central part of the country. The Central region has three zones namely, Bagmati, Narayani and Janakpur. Kathmandu is located in the Bagmati Zone.[6]
Kathmandu, as the gateway to Nepal Tourism, is the nerve centre of the country’s economy. With the most advanced infrastructure among urban areas in Nepal, Kathmandu's economy is tourism centric accounting for 3.8% of the GDP in 1995–96 (had declined since then due to political unrest but has picked up again).
The city’s rich history is nearly 2000 years old, as inferred from an inscription in the valley. Its religious affiliations are dominantly Hindu followed by Buddhism. People of other religious beliefs also live in Kathmandu giving it a cosmopolitan culture. Nepali is the common language of the city, though many speak the Nepal Bhasa as it is the center of the Newar (meaning: citizens of Nepal) people and culture. English is understood by the educated population of the city. Besides a significant number of the population speaks any of the foreign languages like : French, German, Chinese, Hebrew, Korean etc. The literacy rate is 98% in the city.[7]
From the point of view of tourism, economy and cultural heritage, the sister cities of Lalitpur (Patan) and Bhaktapur are integral to Kathmandu. The cultural heritage recognition under the World Heritage list of the UNESCO has recognized all the monuments in the three cities as one unit under the title “Kathmandu Valley-UNESCO World Heritage Site.[8][9]