Fresh Cool Pics: May 2009

Friday, May 29, 2009

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Artist creates pictures by folding paper

Artist Simon Schubert has created an extraordinary collection of pictures - made up of hundreds of tiny folds in paper.At first glance the elaborate pictures, which sell for up to £3,800, seem to have been created with pencil or paint but they are actually composed of tiny folds in the paper.
Mr Schubert spent two years perfecting the art of folding paper into his elaborate designs. Now the 33-year-old takes up to a week to create each of his unusual pictures.He said: "The first attempt was not really so successful, took quite a white to get the technique perfect."
Mr Schubert, who lives in Cologne, Germany, with his wife Cosima, 37, and their twin children Lilith and Kilian, two, said he often had to convince people his pictures aren't painted.

He said: "Most of the people who see the work are surprised that the pictures are created by folding paper, they don't believe it when I tell them.

"Many of them think I've used paint or pencil to create the affect of light and shade.

"But when they realise the pictures are actually folded they are quite impressed."

Mr Shubert is currently exhibiting in the Kudlek van der Grinten gallery in Cologne.

He also has a display at the Upstairs gallery in Berlin, where one room has been covered in 150 of Mr Shubert's designs - giving the impression the whole room is folded.

Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon Boat Festival The Dragon Boat Festival is held on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. The festival memorializes the Chinese poet Qu Yuan (c. 340 BC-278 BC) of the Warring States Period. He committed suicide by drowning himself in a river because he was disgusted by the corruption of the Chu government. The local people, knowing him to be a good man, decided to throw zhongzi , glutinous rice wrapped in corn leaves into the river to feed the fish so they would not eat Qu Yuan’s body. They also sat on long, narrow paddle boats called dragon boats, and tried to scare the fish away by the thundering sound of drums aboard the boat and the fierce looking carved dragon head on the boat’s prow.

Today, people still follow the tradition by eating zhongzi and participating in dragon boat races in honor of Qu Yuan’s spirit. In Taipei, dragon boat races take place at Dajia Riverside Park . This years festival features 125 dragon boat teams of all ages from all over the world.The Dragon Boat Festival is held on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. The festival memorializes the Chinese poet Qu Yuan (c. 340 BC-278 BC) of the Warring States Period. He committed suicide by drowning himself in a river because he was disgusted by the corruption of the Chu government. The local people, knowing him to be a good man, decided to throw zhongzi , glutinous rice wrapped in corn leaves into the river to feed the fish so they would not eat Qu Yuan’s body. They also sat on long, narrow paddle boats called dragon boats, and tried to scare the fish away by the thundering sound of drums aboard the boat and the fierce looking carved dragon head on the boat’s prow.

Safety and rescue services are provided by the Taipei Fire Department, the police and the Taiwan Red Cross. All perform a great service. Bouyancy vests are mandatory, with teams penalized 5 seconds for the failure of any crew member to wear a vest when in the boat.

Before a race can take place, teams have to check their scheduled times and move to the registration area.

Check-in procedures complete, there is time for some last minute exercise and pep-talks.

Participants make their way to the boats and climb aboard.

Once set, the boats move over to the start line and wait for the flag to drop.

The goal is to be first to grab the flag at the other end of the course.

Boats then return to the river bank, acknowledging the judges, timekeepers, media and spectators.

While the racing boats return, the flags must be recovered from the water and put back into place, which is done by a few hardworking men in a much less elaborate boat.