Artwork of the Week: Wave

Wave by Bernard Pras

Yesterday was my dear dad's 69th birthday, so here I am thinking of him and all of the times he's taken me to the great museums to see their most famous works of art. Years ago I discovered dad has an affection for the Japanese woodblock print. Today I found a reboot of one of the most famous, Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa, in the form of a photograph by French installation artist Bernard Pras. Pras recreated the image below using a precise configuration of found objects and everyday detritus, then photographed the arrangement head on. From any other angle it just appears to be a random conglomeration of junk, though still interesting in it's own right (see below below). So today I celebrate the man who taught me how to appreciate art and see beauty from every perspective. Thanks, Dad. You're the greatest. 

The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai

Side view of Pras' Wave

- Cathleen 

[Images courtesy of the artist's website, www.bernardpras.fr, and Wikipedia] 

Labyrinth Love

When I was little I was a maniac for puzzles and mazes (a cool kid in the making) and to help nurture my obsession, my mom got me a subscription to Highlights Magazine Puzzlemania books. Every three  months a magazine would arrive in the mail with page after page of puzzles and mazes. It was awesome!

I love you, Puzzlemania.

I read this story a few months back and this man's skillz put Highlights Magazine to shame:

All pictures via Spoon & Tamago

Yep, that's right, a Japanese father spent 7 years (!) creating a 1cm scale maze. The whole sheet of paper (and maze) measure 33" x 23". Yowzers! This would keep me busy for a long damn time. 

Apparently the maze went up for sale on March 1st. Good luck bidders!

Dance magic dance!

- Grace