Interview

February 3, 2019

Interview: Artist Turns Complex Knot Tying into a Sculptural Art Form

Knot tying has always been a key outdoor skill, but Chinese-American artist Windy Chien turns twisting ropes into a beautiful art form. Best known for her 2016 work, The Year Of Knots, Chien learned how to tie a new knot every day for 365 days. From mastering a complicated loop to perfecting obscure bends and hitches, this dexterous craft is now part of the artist’s daily rituals.

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January 9, 2019

Interview: Researcher Creates Free Archive of Over 3,000 19th-Century Shakespeare Illustrations

There is perhaps no other author as synonymous with English literature as William Shakespeare. His works—from the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet to the wicked ambition of Macbeth—continue to capture the imagination of the public. Though many academics have studied the playwright, Dr. Michael John Goodman approached his work from a new angle. As part of his Ph.D., Goodman created the Victorian Illustrated Shakespeare Archive (VISA), a database of over 3,000 Shakespeare illustrations.

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December 24, 2018

Interview: Capturing the Beautiful Bond Between Mongolian Eagle Keepers and Their Birds

In the far reaches of Mongolia, a small group of nomads keeps the tradition of eagle hunting alive. Also known as falconry, this ancient tradition requires skilled handlers to train birds of prey to assist in hunting wild animals. In ancient times, the practice was restricted to the noble classes, but today berkutchi—as it's called in Mongolia—is a right of passage for young men living in Western Mongolia’s Altai region.

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December 9, 2018

Interview: Russian Street Photographer Documents the Extreme Temperatures of His Hometown

What is life like in the cold extremes of eastern Russia? For street photographer Alex Vasilyev, his hometown of Yakutsk provides a blank canvas for the artist to work his magic. Enveloped by chilling temperatures during the winter, the city is the backdrop for his work, which documents the daily lives of those around him. Yakutsk is the capital of Yakutia, an enormous Far Eastern federal district known for its extreme weather.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.