Environment
July 6, 2021

Japan’s “Tree Burials” Are Becoming a Popular Alternative to Traditional Gravesites

The world is running out of space to bury the dead, so people are searching for respectful—and environmentally friendly—solutions. In Hong Kong, this means building vertical cemeteries and encouraging cremation, and in the greater Seattle area, this means offering a service to turn humans into compost. Similarly, Japan is promoting Jumokusō, or “tree burials,” as an alternative to traditional gravesites. This relatively new concept was first proposed in 1999 by Shounji Temple in northern Japan.

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Art History
July 5, 2021

9 Pioneering European Women Painters Making History in the 18th and 19th Centuries

The 19th-century Impressionist painter Berthe Morisot once said, “I do not think any man would ever treat a woman as his equal, and it is all I ask because I know my worth.” Morisot, at times, expressed frustration that her painterly skills were described—in a condescending tone–as superficially light and feminine. A fixture of the Parisian art scene, Morisot was positioned for commercial and artistic success.

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Painting
July 5, 2021

Dreamy Cloudscape Paintings Capture Nostalgic Childhood Memories

Beauty doesn't only exist on the ground. In fact, some of the most scenic views only exist in the sky. Netherlands-based artist Cathy Camille captures colorful and ephemeral formations of clouds in her series of dreamy gouache paintings. Using a limited color palette and minimalist composition, she creates small windows through which we can appreciate the mutability of the atmosphere.

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Ancient Art
July 4, 2021

This Ancient Palace on the Island of Crete Has the Oldest Throne Room in Europe

On the island of Crete lies the ruins of an ancient palace. Now part of modern Greece, Crete was once the center of the Aegean civilization known as the Minoans. Known for elaborate palaces and beautiful frescos, the Minoans were powerful players in the eastern Mediterranean during the Bronze Age, with trading connections to Old Kingdom Egypt and the civilizations of Mesopotamia. The Minoans are commonly described as the first complex civilization of Europe.

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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.