History
January 25, 2019

Colorful Chart Reveals Evolution of English Alphabet From Egyptian Hieroglyphics

Most of us use the letters of the alphabet everyday, but did you ever stop to wonder how their shapes came to be? The history of the alphabet is fascinating, and each of the 26 letters has its own unique story. Matt Baker (of UsefulCharts) has designed a handy poster that documents the evolution of our familiar alphabet from its ancient Egyptian Proto-Sinaitic roots (c. 1750 BCE) up to present day Latin script.

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Sculpture
January 24, 2019

Exquisite 19th-Century Sculpture Cloaked in a “Translucent” Marble Veil

For millennia, sculptors have worked in marble, a medium favored for its softness and translucence. These characteristics make the metamorphic rock particularly suited for pieces requiring intricate detail, including anatomical subtleties and flowing drapery. One sculpture that perfectly illustrates both of these instances is The Veiled Virgin, a 19th-century work by Italian sculptor Giovanni Strazza.   The Veiled Virgin Little is known about the creation of The Veiled Virgin.

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Installation
January 23, 2019

Sunlight on This Street Installation Casts Shadow Messages About Passage of Time

Indian street artist DAKU recently unveiled an immersive shadow art installation in Panjim, Goa. Titled Theory of Time, the incredible street-long piece features a net of suspended letters that create typographic shadows on the concrete floor, when sunlight shines down on it during the day. The letters spell out phrases related to the passage of time, such as “Time works wonders” and “Time is an illusion.

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Illusion
January 21, 2019

Artist Uses Makeup to Transform His Face into Incredible 3D Optical Illusions

From 3D drawings that seem to jump off the page to mind-boggling hyperrealistic art, we’ve seen many skilled artists transform 2D surfaces into 3D illusions. However, professional makeup artist Luca Luce takes playing with perspective to a whole new level by using his own face as his canvas. The Italian artist showcases the astonishing power of makeup, creating mind-blowing looks that are equally creepy as they are captivating.

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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.