Are there Non Royal Statues Surrounding the Pyramid? - Art 1

Fig 01- Non royal family of ancient Egypt

(Credit to The Met).

I thought that statues represented to rulers, their families and important people close to them in ancient era.

My thought is wrong when I read several literatures.

The non royal statues, namely “Memi and Sabu” were found in the non royal cemeteries surrounding the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) at Giza. 

The statues came from dynasty IV or dynasty 4 lasted from around 2613 to 2494 BC. A dynasty characterized as a "golden age" of the Old Kingdom. 

It was a time of peace and prosperity, as reported by The Met (2000-2016_b) that in respect to culture, this era was flowering with non royal statuary. 

In term of statue medium; Memi and Sabu is made of limestone and paint, Alkhalifa (2014) suggested that limestone is a common resource. 

In addition to small size of statue, hence, makes it safe to assume that the sculpture was not intended for an extremely wealthy individual.

Social status of Statues was distinguished by medium of stones and clothes they wear.

Fig 02- Deer statues, just for illustration

Fig 03- A house, just for illustration

However, they depicted as a simple human being. Memi is a husband that gives warm embrace to his wife, Sabu.

In contrast, statues of rulers, heroes or very important people were made of diorite, a rock composed principally of the silicate minerals, and depicted with their hands folded in a traditional gesture of greeting and prayer.

Do you know about statues and their social status?

References

Alkhalifa, M. 2014. Visual Analysis of a work of art or design in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved from Metropolitan Museum.

The Met. 2000-2016_b. The Royal Acquaintances Memi and Sabu. Retrieved from Metropolitan Museum.

What is “Shinouri” Style Used by Women in Japan?

A Japanese girl with “shinouri” style

I always saw Japanese girls with traditional dress, Kimono, especially in tourism objects when I was in Japan.

However, I rarely saw women with face of “shinouri” style walking on the streets or public spaces.

What is “Shinouri” Style Used by Women in Japan? I believe that there are 3 possible answers:

- painted in white as a general translation

- traditional white makeup

- powdery makeup

Japan women in 9^th century, about 1200 years ago used shinouri style as a fashion to identify themselves as a woman who comes from rich families.

Girls seen with “shinouri” style walking on the street

It is a symbol of social status. Then the style is worn by two prominent professionals:

- geisha's

- traditional stage actors or actress

Yes, we may find out to see the women with shinouri style in public spots if we know where and when.

Women with powdery makeup could be seen in places called as “hanamachi.” It means flower town, but, actually a “geisha” district.

Districts are found in almost cities across Japan. The bigger cities, the more geisha districts.

The biggest city in Japan, Tokyo has 6 geisha districts:

– Shinbashi

- Yoshicho

- Hachioji

- Mukojima

- Kagurazaka

- Asakusa

If we lucky enough, we may spot women with painted face in the evening when they come out from their apartments to appointment places such as restaurants and tea houses.

Have you spotted women with powdery face in any places?

City Library Paintings Gallery from Grade 12 Students

A girl and butterfly, painted by a 12^th grade student

I may see painting displays on the wall of my city library. Librarians replace paintings of gallery regularly based on:

- classic painting

- popular collections

- style of paintings

- artist ages (students)

- amateur or professional artists

- themes such as addiction, farming society or city developments

When I came to library recently, I saw paintings of students, from kindergarten to high school.

Self portrait, painted by a high school student

There are almost 100 paintings of students, hanged on the library entrance wall, then I chose three of them for this post only.

It is because I think that the paintings are “excellent” compared to their peers. The paintings were created by 12^th grade students from different high school a cross our city.

A dog, painted by student of 12^th grade

Might be the same with other cities in America, our city school system provides a program for recognized talented students in the filed of visual arts, theater and music.

Specific classes are provided to these talented students in order to:

- develop skill

- increase knowledge

- grow as professional artists

- give an opportunity to show their arts to public

I believe the program for the talented students have excellent results. 

Have your cities or countries with similar program? 

What Effect of Diversity Patrons on the Arts in the 15th-18th centuries? - part 2

Ludovico Sforza, duke of Milan

We talked little bit about Isabella D'este, one of important figures in “renaissance period (15th-18th centuries).” Please read: What Effect of Diversity Patrons on the Arts in the 15th-18th centuries? - part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Ludovico Sforza is another crucial figures in the period, patron of Leonardo da Vinci for 17 years.

Leonardo da vinci, a genius of many areas, including:

- paintings

- sculpture

- science

- music

- mathematics

- literature

- astronamy

- engineering

- architect

The Last supper, work of art by Leonardo da Vinci

Ludovico Sforza commissioned one of the monumental art woks, the Last Supper.

The work started in 1495 and completed in 1498. This is part of renovation series for mausoleum of Storza family.

As duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza sponsored extensive works such as:

- designed canals

- developed streets with gardens

- improved university

- built cathedral

- sponsored murals

In my opinion that the renaissance began in Italy, and then shared by great nations in Europe.

New patrons not only stimulate development of art, but also in scholarship and in science in Europe and even beyond.

These patrons had organized various elements of modern spirit, where other nations should learn to have better live in the future.

You may like to read:

-  Why Many Big Cities are Sinking? | Tanza Erlambang Update

References

Muscato, C. 2003. Patrons of Renaissance Art: Roles, Influence & Famous Works. Retrieved from study.com..

Wikiwand. 2016. Portrait of Isabella d'Este (Titian). Retrieved from wikiwand.

The Short Story of Japanese Kino Enigmatic Life – Part 2

Wave, painted by Japanese, Hokusai.

You might read the first part of this post: The Short Story of Japanese Kino Enigmatic Life – Part 1.

Then, because barely talk, Kino knew customer name is Kamita after two months in touch. The mysterious stray cat then to stay with Kino, gave him such unconditional comfort.

Kamita is combine of two words, “kami” means god and “ta” means field.

One day, a lot of snakes come to the bar. Kamita suggested Kino to go far away a while for good.

As mentioned by author mysteriously, “Kamita’s words had a strange persuasive power that went beyond logic. Kino didn’t doubt him. He stuffed some clothes and toiletries into a medium-sized shoulder bag, the same bag he’d used on business trips,” Murakami (2015). 

Goldfinch and cherry tree, painted by Hokusai.

Moreover, the author was born in Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan in 1949.

As described by Anderson (2011) that author had a jazz club for ten years. He did daily operation of club by clearing away, making burger, listening to music and blending drinks until midnight.

It is understandable that author’s experienced could reflect in his fictions. The writer story style is most in ordinary setting.

The short story of “Kino” is developed line by line with plenty of mood there. The messages are mixed: simple, sad, supernatural, ambiguity, soothing and haunting at the same time.

The sentences are beautiful, full of imagination and surprise at some point. I like to read the story. 

References

Anderson, S. (2011). The Fierce Imagination of Haruki Murakami. The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved from New Yorker.

Murakami, H. 2015. Kino. The New Yorker, February 23 & March 2, 2015 Issue. Retrieved from New Yorker.

Reliefs on the Largest Buddha Temple in the World, Borobudur – part 2

Big vessel on temple wall

We talked about relief of Buddha life as the first part of the article (you may read at: 

- What is Inside Stupa of the Buddha Temple of Borobudur? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Reliefs on the Largest Buddha Temple in the World, Borobudur – part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Now, we concern with relief of “the daily life of people surrounding the temple around 1,200 years ago.”

At above Figure, the relief showed that people surround temple has a big vessel to conduct overseas trade.

Indeed, Syailendra dynasty was one of a prominent dynasty in Indonesia, their reign has been marked as cultural Renaissance in the region of the Southeast Asia.

In addition to build the biggest Buddha temple in the world, Syailendra dynasty was considered to be ruled a maritime Southeast Asia.

The trade extended to the countries such as:

- India

- Madagascar

- Cape Town

- Ghana

- Other Asian and African countries

Reliefs on the temple wall

Other daily life of 8^th century of Java (one of 5 big islands in Indonesia) was depicted on temple’s wall, may include:

- life of people in the forest

- life of people in the villages

- palace life

We may know how ancient Java made a medicine, a herbal medicine called as “Jamu.” Drinking jamu regularly is common practice until now.

Fables also part of relief. One interesting story is about friendship between monkey and buffalo.

Known that buffalo was ready to sacrifice himself to save the monkey, Ogre canceled his wish to eat monkey.

It is interesting to understand the reliefs on the wall of temple as part of tour to Borobudur.

The Short Story of Japanese Kino Enigmatic Life – Part 1

Small bars in a back street, Tokyo, Japan

I read the story with title “Kino” written by Japan author, Haruki Murakami. The story is about a Japanese man, called “Kino” who confused with reality.

In some points, Kino does not know about what wrong and what going on with his life.

It is quite enigmatic at the beginning of story. Then, I slowly understand that Kino had broken heart, and after that he has:

- lonely life

- no wife

- no children.

- almost no friend (especially women)

After resign from a “boring” job, Kino then has been trying his fortune by open the small bar of his aunt’s property.

The bar locates in the back little street (a narrow alley) of Tokyo, Japan. 

Illustration of inside small bar in Tokyo, Japan.

The bar serves drinks, variety of foods and jazz music. After a while, Kino has few “routine” customers. Yes, the few only.

There is one strange customer who comes several times in a week. Not like other Japanese who always visit a bar with companies. 

A small street in Tokyo, Japan.

The customer almost silent, and always sits in the same corner, the most uncomfortable spot in the bar.

I myself is interesting with this part of story about odd customer and a wander off cat. The customer is actually young man with the shaved head.

Who is the strange customer? What happen with his mysterious cat?

# To be continued. Please read part 2 

What is Inside Stupa of the Buddha Temple of Borobudur?

Several stupas

A dome like monument in Buddha temples is called as a “stupa.” The symmetrical monuments with size of 200 square meter sit on the Borobudur temple.

We will find 73 stupas on the world largest Buddha temple of Borobudur, central Java, Indonesia.

On the peak of Borobudur, there is the biggest stupa. We can’t see anything inside, since its closed (no holes) stupa.

Other 72 stupa are perforated. We able to see clearly what inside the stupas, and if lucky enough, we may reach Buddha statue by our hand.

What stupa means and purposes?:

- to store Buddha’s sacred relic

- to worship Buddhist saint

- to learn a lesson of Buddhism

- used by pilgrims where they circumnavigate the dome

Stupas with mountain view

Superstition belief that if our hand, especially children reach the statue inside the stupa, our wish will come true.

It might relate to the symbol of statue as represent of living Buddha with his power to protect and provide energy to his followers.

The biggest stupa in the middle (little bit far of top).

The biggest stupa is the main stupa. It seems to command the other small stupa. The tour guide said that there is a big Buddha inside the main stupa.

A Buddha statue sits inside stupa

Buddha statue inside the stupa:

- sitting straight

- leg crossed

- right foot above the left one.

- right hand face up

- left hand face down

Do you know about stupa? Where do you see stupa for the first time?

What Effect of Diversity Patrons on the Arts in the 15th-18th centuries? - part 1

Portrait of Isabella D'este by Titian around 1534 to 1536.

Renaissance is the word that refers to rebirth with broader meaning in Europe history.

During the renaissance period (15th-18th centuries), Europe witnessed of new world finding (Columbus found American continent); new understanding of astronomy system (Copernicus); and many other important inventions.

In respect to ancient Greece and Rome, it was a revival of intellectual, value and classical art of these former empires.

Non-religious groups such as families and governments started to be patrons of arts in the renaissance era, and was flowering in Italy.

As suggested by Muscato (2003) that the cities of Italy were controlled by powerful “princess,” they are elected representatives, lords and dukes.

These leaders hired painters, sculptors and designers to be the official court artists. In addition, rich people could be patron by bringing the artist in their private homes.

 Portrait of Isabella d'Este, 

painted by Leonardo da Vinci around 1499

One of well known patrons was Isabella d'Este, she was a ruler of Mantua, Italy and a great patron of:

- painters

- writers,

- poets

- musicians

Three famous painters supported by Isabella d'Este are:

- Leonardo da Vinci

- Mantegna

- Titian 

Medal of Isabella d'Este,

carved by Gian Cristoforo Romano in 1505

Some artists were associated with Isabella are:

- Perugino

- Battista Spagnoli

- Raphael,

- Andrea Mantegna,

- Castiglione

- Bandello.

Writers who gote supported by Isabella d'Este are:

- Ariosto

- Baldassare Castiglione

Musicians such as Bartolomeo Tromboncino and Marchetto Cara also got supported by Isabella d'Este.

# Continued to part 2

Reference

Muscato, C. 2003. Patrons of Renaissance Art: Roles, Influence & Famous Works. Retrieved from study.com..