Smoky opium perfume, an oriental blend of spices and fruits, gold, sandalwood, plum, coriander, myrrh, patchouli, cinnamon, pepper, and human blood... Music by Zakir Hussain and show by Alonzo King Lines ballet. Is it really different dancing in New York City than Jerusalem or Dubai? Well sculptured brown skin male-torso-beauty, shaved head, magnificent muscles, half naked, with his waist slaved in heavy blood-red, and long taffeta skirt... is just magnetizing the public with his oriental-spicy Scheherazade ballet on East Coast tour.
Scheherazade. Every day Persian King would marry a new beauty and send yesterday’s wife to be executed, as a relief after having found his first wife cheated. He had killed one thousand such women by the time he saw Scheherazade, well bred lover who studied philosophy, history, politics and arts. She volunteered to spend one night with the King to save other women’s life with her wisdom, imagination and clever idea.
Why “stoning to death” on YouTube is more shocking to Americans than their “electric chair” or “lethal injection”? There are still 35 “death penalty states” in the US. George W. Bush ran for president in 2000 when, as governor of Texas, he had presided over the largest number of state executions ever carried out in a single 12-month period (a total of 40!). Almost 1 legal execution of human being a week!
Support for death penalty allows politicians to show that they support law enforcement and they are cost conscious. As they say “it’s easier and cheaper governing crime” with death penalty “handy”. And stimulating emotional hysteria around each process helps tremendously in maximizing the votes. This cynical “political exchange" and cultural expression of local American communities seem to be obvious benefits of the "death penalty" in the US. As Professor Garland concludes "penal instrument that puts persons to death became a peculiar institution that puts death into discourse for political and cultural purposes". American Vertigo... And weekly executions in Texas are not much different from today's stoning to death in Asia.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Artoholism or just political advertising
- Charles Saatchi, why are there no Israelis in your show "Unveiled: New Art From The Middle East"?
- Good question.
The Saatchi brothers were born into a family of Iraqi Jews in Bagdad and created in 1970 Saatchi & Saatchi, the most sparkling advertising agency in London. The Saatchi Gallery has been opened by Charles in 1985 and it's still considered as a major influence on contemporary art. Using art in selling the most power hungry psychopaths or combining politics and media headlines to sell art - used to be a very successful business strategy in the 80's. Is is still useful to rate art with any type of politically offensive shock value as "exciting" to increase pricing of new contemporary art pieces? Or the mood for political advertising of art has passed?
"Whatever you think, think the opposite". Paul Arden
- Good question.
The Saatchi brothers were born into a family of Iraqi Jews in Bagdad and created in 1970 Saatchi & Saatchi, the most sparkling advertising agency in London. The Saatchi Gallery has been opened by Charles in 1985 and it's still considered as a major influence on contemporary art. Using art in selling the most power hungry psychopaths or combining politics and media headlines to sell art - used to be a very successful business strategy in the 80's. Is is still useful to rate art with any type of politically offensive shock value as "exciting" to increase pricing of new contemporary art pieces? Or the mood for political advertising of art has passed?
"Whatever you think, think the opposite". Paul Arden
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Sublimation of crime
“Terrorism? Fast track humanism. It is a way of hastening the advent of civilization by liquidating the representatives of the old order. No flesh and blood beings are targeted but the bourgeoisie and capitalism – this is to say, the system that inhabits and manipulates man. Through this double sublimation – of homicide into the birth of the new, and of the person into abstract entity – the very consciousness of having committed a crime is erased"... Alain Finkielkraut from "The Wisdom of Love"
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Culture, Coolture, Googlture...
"Fresh Hell", all pop, no culture at The Palais de Tokyo. According to Wikipedia, the term "Culture" has various meanings e.g. it's an integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning or excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities. From the Latin "cultura" stemming from "colere", means "to cultivate, protect, nurture, worship, honor"... What's the official Google's position on that? Should I just google it?
Friday, September 3, 2010
Touching Abakans or balancing mood swings with Wurm
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| Magdalena Abakanowicz "Abakan Red" |
Sure, it is perfectly enjoyable to give yourself goose bumps by entering the horror land of Ron Mueck’s hyper reality and get back this limitless pleasure of being a child again while standing tête-à-tête with his gigantic and sweaty sculpture-dolls. Big cartoon eyes of contemporary fairy tale.
I’m not sure about asexual bold and busty women painted by John Currin. They nervously titter in my mind and their seduction performance is worse than hysterical American porn movie.
Well, playing with instant mood swings of Erwin Wurm could be certainly refreshing. Suddenly this pop media hysteria becomes funny and playful like a Lolita teenage girl. lol.
But still, I miss “The Uncanny” effect of art. Damp-smelling disturbing thanatos by Madgalena Abakanowicz at the National Museum of Art in Cracow or Tate Modern in London. Familiar, yet uncomfortably strange sensation of touching her Abakans reminds me of “Home” (?). In France they would say “heavy Eastern European art. Impossible to get it. Let's have lunch!”.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
West Coast rush hour of the gods
United Church of Christ, Sokoji Soto Zen Buddist Temple, Muhammad Mosque, Or Shalom Synagogue, Dakini Temple, Affirmation-Gay & Mormons, Evergreen Taoist Church, Temple Emanu-El, Japanese Baptist Church, Samoan Full Gospel, Alsabeel Masjid Noor Al-Islam, Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center, Greek Orthodox Church, Congregation Sherith Israel, Chinese Lutheran Church, Baha’i Faith, Sikh Center, Cao Dai, Wiccans, Zoroastrian Center, Korean Evangelical Church, Society for Krishna Consciousness, Ma-Tsu Temple, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientology, Gold Mountain Monastery, Russian Orthodox Church... and many others.
San Francisco, a medium-size American city with almost 809,000 people rushing every day through this gorgeous coastal city. Almost 20% of the local population is more than wealthy (millionaires or billionaires, Californian sugar daddies and hot mammas). A true Golden Gate City! Only 43% of San Franciscans declare themselves religious. And although there are no consequences for human beings to believe or not believe in God, the number of local San Francisco churches - of different faiths - varies between 1089 and 1167! Diversity? Yes, diversity of mass delusion. "L'asile de l'ignorance".
San Francisco, a medium-size American city with almost 809,000 people rushing every day through this gorgeous coastal city. Almost 20% of the local population is more than wealthy (millionaires or billionaires, Californian sugar daddies and hot mammas). A true Golden Gate City! Only 43% of San Franciscans declare themselves religious. And although there are no consequences for human beings to believe or not believe in God, the number of local San Francisco churches - of different faiths - varies between 1089 and 1167! Diversity? Yes, diversity of mass delusion. "L'asile de l'ignorance".
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tokyo suburbia
Ryuichi Sakamoto's rain. The metropolitan highway system from Narita airport. Tokyo suburbia. The tyranny of the average urban ugliness. Terrible "orthopedic architecture" mistakes. Hard to trust Haruki Murakami here but the acid taste of Araki's madness suddenly becomes legitimate. Being exactly as intended.
“When man shall build a building, a society, a life, as himself, training his imagination to see life, the nature of the time, the place, and the hour, eager to be himself, harmonious with nature, then the individual will rise high in the communal life of a civilization. And, supreme to “all about him”, he can’t fail to make the communal life the richer for his own riches. Human values are life giving not life taking”. Frank Lloyd Wright from "Critical Writings on Architecture", 1930
“When man shall build a building, a society, a life, as himself, training his imagination to see life, the nature of the time, the place, and the hour, eager to be himself, harmonious with nature, then the individual will rise high in the communal life of a civilization. And, supreme to “all about him”, he can’t fail to make the communal life the richer for his own riches. Human values are life giving not life taking”. Frank Lloyd Wright from "Critical Writings on Architecture", 1930
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Sensual iconolatry de la République irréprochable
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| Aubade "La leçon de séduction" |
The French woman, contemporary goddess of sensuality: La Perla, Lejaby, Lise Charmel, satin embroidery, silk corsets and bow garters, subtly perfumed with “Nue” by Yves Saint Laurent, pure indulgence of appetite!
Superiority of banning the burka in France? The black veil described by French desperate resistants' as "muzzles" and "walking coffins", has become a new flag of surrender of French Republic. Cheap artificial fabric with the label "Made in République irréprochable". New "leçon de séduction" by French political thinkers? France became politically bankrupted and desperate, old post-menopause courtesan that is still trying to seduce with cheap lace. Mazouted bird. Simply defeated...
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Iran nostalgia with Stephen Kinzer
Persians are masters of the powerful affirmation of life and they will take their sweet time to get their free Iran back. America has no caliber or wisdom to understand this 25-century old “devil”. Houses of torture, the public executions of homosexuals, stoning to death, the wild open massacre of anti-regime opposition are the reality of today’s Iran and America has been a shameless co-creator of that reality. It’s irritating to watch “kocholo” sanction proposals as a “peaceful” strategy to steal the Iranian nuclear diplomatic card! Ya rab!
Listening to the nocturne volcano of Hayedeh’s prayer “Ya rab” or obsessing about Rumi’s fever could be an instant relief on this pathetic American TV show.
America makes Persia sexy. And Iranian-Americans become suddenly "sharp, highly educated, rich, confident and as flashy" as the best Oscar ceremony! Reps of the 1.5-million Iranian community have picked for their residence the best multimillion-dollar mansions around Los Angeles, called Tehrangeles. Beverly Hills had to elect its Mayor from among noble Iranian individuals to satisfy the needs of the richest of Persian heritage...
The Director of NASA, Agassi, the founder of eBay, leaders of Google and Apple, record-setting pilots, successful artists, top political officials in Washington, academics, thousands of Iranian doctors practicing in the best American hospitals, all just contribute and are the additional A-grade saffron’s flavor to this rich community in the US. Young Iranian-Americans publish, sing, dance, and produce movies. Gorgeous Persian women are queens of their own modern harems, don’t avoid sex drugs, and keep playing with the latest plastic surgery procedures just for fun. They're confident and passionate “beasts”. Tehrangelinos are ready to rent for tonight’s party “meshki” Armani suits, Cartier jewelry and Lamborghini cars just to show they're on top of the game.
Self-confident and empowered Iran? A big temptation… but to empower the devil you have to have extensive experience in hell. The bitter taste of saffron in Obama’s mouth… Even America doesn't have enough to offer right now to be a “preferred customer” at Lucifer’s boutique.
Listening to the nocturne volcano of Hayedeh’s prayer “Ya rab” or obsessing about Rumi’s fever could be an instant relief on this pathetic American TV show.
America makes Persia sexy. And Iranian-Americans become suddenly "sharp, highly educated, rich, confident and as flashy" as the best Oscar ceremony! Reps of the 1.5-million Iranian community have picked for their residence the best multimillion-dollar mansions around Los Angeles, called Tehrangeles. Beverly Hills had to elect its Mayor from among noble Iranian individuals to satisfy the needs of the richest of Persian heritage...
The Director of NASA, Agassi, the founder of eBay, leaders of Google and Apple, record-setting pilots, successful artists, top political officials in Washington, academics, thousands of Iranian doctors practicing in the best American hospitals, all just contribute and are the additional A-grade saffron’s flavor to this rich community in the US. Young Iranian-Americans publish, sing, dance, and produce movies. Gorgeous Persian women are queens of their own modern harems, don’t avoid sex drugs, and keep playing with the latest plastic surgery procedures just for fun. They're confident and passionate “beasts”. Tehrangelinos are ready to rent for tonight’s party “meshki” Armani suits, Cartier jewelry and Lamborghini cars just to show they're on top of the game.
Self-confident and empowered Iran? A big temptation… but to empower the devil you have to have extensive experience in hell. The bitter taste of saffron in Obama’s mouth… Even America doesn't have enough to offer right now to be a “preferred customer” at Lucifer’s boutique.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The unbearable pleasure of contemporary politics
Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano City, Japan. Dalai Lama’s visit this weekend. The strategy of peace and human affection. Still I can’t stop the „Tsunami” piece by Master Tanaka from drumming in my mind... Saffron-robed monks are staring right into my "décolleté". „I do not judge the universe”. „Practice compassion, take universal responsibility”. „Human affection is the necessity"... Efficient slogans to keep the level of violence low...
A year ago in Japan, Sylvie Guillem mastered Boléro forever on the bloody-red platform of the Tokyo Theater. The violence of Ravel’s rhythm re-created by Maurice Béjart testosterone movements. Wild red-haired dancer in the dark was teasing the public for hours and hours, playing with different levels of human excitement, violence and unbearable pleasure...
An unapproachable dictator assuming absolute power over the red platform of the Tokyo stage. Dancing violence! Dancing excitement! Unbearable pleasure of never-ending tease... Only solitude and the lack of human affection can create unique art masterpieces like this one.
Human affection is not a necessity but an efficient tool in contemporary politics or business. If reinforced with electronic media it creates "Obama’s success story". If applied in business, it stops suicide waves within corporations. For smaller organization - since I decided to replace business meetings and heavy SOP's with masala ginger chai with Indian managers or a Norooz celebration with Persian supervisors and cancel major operations during Ramadan for Muslim employees or send handwritten "Happy Hanukkah" messages to our Jewish directors, the annual company revenue increased by 17%. Human affection helps to succeed in today's politics or business. But it kills fine arts. „Sleep is the best meditation” as His Holiness Dalai Lama says.
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| Sylvie Guillem, French ballerina |
An unapproachable dictator assuming absolute power over the red platform of the Tokyo stage. Dancing violence! Dancing excitement! Unbearable pleasure of never-ending tease... Only solitude and the lack of human affection can create unique art masterpieces like this one.
Human affection is not a necessity but an efficient tool in contemporary politics or business. If reinforced with electronic media it creates "Obama’s success story". If applied in business, it stops suicide waves within corporations. For smaller organization - since I decided to replace business meetings and heavy SOP's with masala ginger chai with Indian managers or a Norooz celebration with Persian supervisors and cancel major operations during Ramadan for Muslim employees or send handwritten "Happy Hanukkah" messages to our Jewish directors, the annual company revenue increased by 17%. Human affection helps to succeed in today's politics or business. But it kills fine arts. „Sleep is the best meditation” as His Holiness Dalai Lama says.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
California Mammalia
A blue ocean coast under California sunlight. Eucalyptus perfume filling the air. A colony of wild green parrots in San Francisco Pacific Heights. Butterflies getting high on white sunlight and nectar from gorgeous and mega pompons of heavy flowers. All kinds of red carnations around The Golden Gate Bridge. The Gold Rush. American confidence and functionality. Marble lions getting lazy in front of the Golden Gate villas. Solar power on roofs. A wind turbine of the noisy slogan “Who controls the future, controls the present.” Schwarzenegger’s California.
The Tenderloin District is the heart of San Francisco. Empty and exhausted buildings and homeless tired crowd everywhere... certainly not a Hockney painting, nor O’Keeffe’s fertility of flowers. “Just a kind of blue” like Miles Davis used to play here in local bar…
- Dr. Nobel, is the Tenderloin the same as a Chateaubriand steak?
- Rather a soup kitchen or a bread line close to the Cadillac Hotel! I regret they don’t have that private furrier anymore! Winter in SF can be really cold. Homeless crowd everywhere...
Gambling life with "Care but Not Cash" political slogans? Three of the largest San Francisco homeless shelters: Next Door, Hamilton Family Center, Multi-Service Center South are full.
Police officers flirting with Tessie Wall girls. And then SAGE. The soft underbelly of young prostitutes, “lady-loins, tender-loins”. Nobody knows origins of the name of this Tenderloin District in the heart of San Francisco. Street-dwelling alcoholics, the Wine Country still confused. Skin rash, eye infection, Kikki Smith’s naked organs. Not men or women yet, just prostitutes. They clean themselves while eating next to a pancake café; they prefer sugar to plain water. No tourists around?
The cruelty of the Californian Tenderloin free clinic. No soap. No toilet paper. No tampons. Maybe tomorrow. Fear- and disease-generating basements. A spider’s unprotected silk egg sac. A dirt bag. Homeless crowd of California Mammals, as Louise Bourgeois would call them. Homeless ghosts in the richest state of gold predators. Homelessness is the heart of The Golden City of San Francisco.
But you can still buy delicious homemade thick-cut French toasts, buttermilk spiced with ginger and cinnamon, maple syrup, cappuccino "mousse" at Dottie’s Blue Café. Tenderloin here is not a Chateaubriand steak, not a Hockney oil either. Not a gold rush anymore. Just a rash. Mr. Newsom, how many bars of gold would that cost... the healing process of the Tenderloin District?
The Tenderloin District is the heart of San Francisco. Empty and exhausted buildings and homeless tired crowd everywhere... certainly not a Hockney painting, nor O’Keeffe’s fertility of flowers. “Just a kind of blue” like Miles Davis used to play here in local bar…
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| Photo: Annie Leibovitz, California Baby! |
- Rather a soup kitchen or a bread line close to the Cadillac Hotel! I regret they don’t have that private furrier anymore! Winter in SF can be really cold. Homeless crowd everywhere...
Gambling life with "Care but Not Cash" political slogans? Three of the largest San Francisco homeless shelters: Next Door, Hamilton Family Center, Multi-Service Center South are full.
Police officers flirting with Tessie Wall girls. And then SAGE. The soft underbelly of young prostitutes, “lady-loins, tender-loins”. Nobody knows origins of the name of this Tenderloin District in the heart of San Francisco. Street-dwelling alcoholics, the Wine Country still confused. Skin rash, eye infection, Kikki Smith’s naked organs. Not men or women yet, just prostitutes. They clean themselves while eating next to a pancake café; they prefer sugar to plain water. No tourists around?
The cruelty of the Californian Tenderloin free clinic. No soap. No toilet paper. No tampons. Maybe tomorrow. Fear- and disease-generating basements. A spider’s unprotected silk egg sac. A dirt bag. Homeless crowd of California Mammals, as Louise Bourgeois would call them. Homeless ghosts in the richest state of gold predators. Homelessness is the heart of The Golden City of San Francisco.
But you can still buy delicious homemade thick-cut French toasts, buttermilk spiced with ginger and cinnamon, maple syrup, cappuccino "mousse" at Dottie’s Blue Café. Tenderloin here is not a Chateaubriand steak, not a Hockney oil either. Not a gold rush anymore. Just a rash. Mr. Newsom, how many bars of gold would that cost... the healing process of the Tenderloin District?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Le vrai cul du diable
The exhibition of huge red sculptures by Anish Kapoor: “Blood stick”, "Drip", "Ishi's light" or the gigantic sophisticated golden phallic dildo exposed at the Palais des Papes in Avignon. Is it a sex toy for a Pope? Kapoor's political proposition in response to the troubles of the Catholic Church? Promoting the "Good Vibrations" products among the bishops?
I’m not sure if comparing Anish Kapoor to Brancusi should make him feel flattered, but Jean de Loisy compliments him tremendously by classifying his work as – “le vrai cul du diable”.
Yes, Kapoor's red sculptures make my mind face the discrepancy between what I know and what I acknowledge having felt. The sensation of being simultaneously present and absent. Limitless suggestions. Central void inside. Like traveling through wild Asia without specific destination. My subconscious starts leaking. Invasive and disturbing masterpieces. Superior seductiveness that I'm not sure to want to embrace...
Yes, Kapoor's red sculptures make my mind face the discrepancy between what I know and what I acknowledge having felt. The sensation of being simultaneously present and absent. Limitless suggestions. Central void inside. Like traveling through wild Asia without specific destination. My subconscious starts leaking. Invasive and disturbing masterpieces. Superior seductiveness that I'm not sure to want to embrace...
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sotheby’s hostess in turquoise tulle, like the Parrish blue kind of blue
“Waiting” with Amos Oz at the mahogany bar at the St. Regis in New York, sipping sweet ‘n’ oily Grand Marnier in front of red-painted court jesters. The majestic wall painting “King Cole” by Maxfield Parrish. Storm in town, Tuesday evening traffic jam, Moroccan taxi driver cursing at his Indian fellow driver! Manhattan is getting nervous. Too many helicopters in the air. Another Obama visit.
The Sotheby’s Art Auction House on the Upper East Side. Founded in 1744...
Why is Jean Baudrillard constantly confusing art itself and the business of art? Many people prefer to invest their money in art instead of the stock market. Up to a 57% return on investment if you buy an artist like Warhol. The evening auction went beyond my expectations. Of the 53 works by blue-chip artists on offer, the sales transactions totaled $190 million. Ford sold his violet Warhol “Self Portrait” for $32.6 million (above its $15 million high estimate). You can't call it the "advent of banality"...
”Art has lost all desire for illusion.” Yes, but this is great news for investors, Professor Baudrillard... And we could always hire more of hostesses in mini black silk, turquoise tulle, Coco Chanel bows around the neck and high heels with red bottoms... It’s called the superior seductiveness of art by Christian Louboutin, Professor... Toxic love à la intensity of turquoise poison extracted from cobalt salts... Evening auction in Parrish blue. High ROI guaranteed...
”The Conspiracy of Art” by Jean Baudrillard, Sotheby’s Auction of Contemporary Art. New York
The Sotheby’s Art Auction House on the Upper East Side. Founded in 1744...
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| Sotheby's Auction of Art, NYC |
”Art has lost all desire for illusion.” Yes, but this is great news for investors, Professor Baudrillard... And we could always hire more of hostesses in mini black silk, turquoise tulle, Coco Chanel bows around the neck and high heels with red bottoms... It’s called the superior seductiveness of art by Christian Louboutin, Professor... Toxic love à la intensity of turquoise poison extracted from cobalt salts... Evening auction in Parrish blue. High ROI guaranteed...
”The Conspiracy of Art” by Jean Baudrillard, Sotheby’s Auction of Contemporary Art. New York
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Aerodynamics of love in Shanghai at 7 spoonfuls of sugar
Cognitive sciences, new cybernetics, aerospace engineering, re-design, spaceflights for fun... It’s never been easier balancing aesthetics and engineering. How can you have doubts about the future of human civilizations? Despite the permanent dehumanization of human beings and the tyrannical agenda of certain fanatics, we run no risks. There are no obstacles to being playful with science. No love restrictions. Even China's talking - about peaceful exploitation of aerospace to ensure aero-security - doesn’t make me nervous...
Back to basics. My grandmother, suffering from advanced cardiovascular disease, was constantly stealing chocolate from kids and loading her cup of tea with 7 spoonfuls of sugar. Now, Yoko teaches me how to eat more sugar with nouveau parfum de Pierre Hermé, the famous Parisian pastry chef. Brilliant Japanese architects addicted to fine pastry à la crème Chantilly looking for a French "salon du chocolat" in China. Just around the corner.
World Expo 2010 Shanghai - spectacular architectural event (?). Finally it's all about the luxury of balancing art aesthetics and engineering. The Tadao Ando Maritime Museum on the Saadiyat Island, the Green Wave Tower by A-cero, the Batumi Aquarium in Georgia, the Opera House in the desert of Dubai, the Abu Dhabi Louvre or Guggenheim, the Callebaut’s Lilypads... or the Galactic Suite, the Hybrid Marine Soliloquy or the Wally Hermès Yacht... Realization of these projects proves that finally human beings can enjoy fantastic relief from themselves. Today's - faster and beautifully designed - freedom of the human imagination makes me smile...
Back to basics. My grandmother, suffering from advanced cardiovascular disease, was constantly stealing chocolate from kids and loading her cup of tea with 7 spoonfuls of sugar. Now, Yoko teaches me how to eat more sugar with nouveau parfum de Pierre Hermé, the famous Parisian pastry chef. Brilliant Japanese architects addicted to fine pastry à la crème Chantilly looking for a French "salon du chocolat" in China. Just around the corner.
World Expo 2010 Shanghai - spectacular architectural event (?). Finally it's all about the luxury of balancing art aesthetics and engineering. The Tadao Ando Maritime Museum on the Saadiyat Island, the Green Wave Tower by A-cero, the Batumi Aquarium in Georgia, the Opera House in the desert of Dubai, the Abu Dhabi Louvre or Guggenheim, the Callebaut’s Lilypads... or the Galactic Suite, the Hybrid Marine Soliloquy or the Wally Hermès Yacht... Realization of these projects proves that finally human beings can enjoy fantastic relief from themselves. Today's - faster and beautifully designed - freedom of the human imagination makes me smile...
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