Sculpture
February 11, 2015

Intricately Carved 16-Century Prayer Nuts Open to Reveal Incredibly Detailed Scenes

A prayer nut was an extravagant, intricately carved boxwood carving from the Middle Ages that could be carried and used for private devotion. Owned mainly by the wealthy in northern Europe, a prayer nut was as much a status symbol as a sign of faith, as only those with money could afford them. The decorative items are small, measuring only a few inches in diameter.

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Art
February 10, 2015

An Artist’s Studio Constructed Entirely Out of Cardboard

Tom Burckhardt has fulfilled his childhood fantasy. He constructed a realistic clubhouse entirely out of cardboard! Ordinarily a painter, he built this artist's studio using only hot glue and black paint, and pieced together a floor, roof, and elaborate work stations. The installation has been touring art museums as an exhibit since its creation in 2005. More than just creating an amusing environment, Burckhardt tells a very human story with his piece.

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Art
February 9, 2015

Incredibly Detailed Dioramas Fantastically Look Like Real Life

Japanese hobbyist Satoshi Arakis creates painstakingly-detailed dioramas at an incredible 1/32 and 1/35 scale. And, what's even more impressive is that he does all of this work at night, after he's done with his day job. Arakis constructs and paints objects that fit in the palm of your hand, and he builds complex scenes that fit on a tabletop. Miniaturized motorcycles, monsters, and tanks look deceptively enormous once photographed up close.

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Photography
February 6, 2015

Professional Portraits of Hairless Dogs Captures Their Hilarious Expressions

They're not the most attractive breed of dogs, in fact, some would call them quite hideous. Photographer Sophie Gamand, of the Wet Dog and Flower Power series, is back and this time she's pointing the camera at hairless dogs. She likens their faces to those of “old wise men or philosophers, shamans from a different era, maybe a different universe.

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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.