inspiron # 1
February. 5. 2011
Ode to Nikola Tesla. Numero Uno. Prints available in Yellow or Red for the nerd boy in my life.
I think one of the biggest flaws of the world we live in today, is our set of constructed values as a race on the verge of unprecedented technological breakthroughs…
I am a worshiper of excellence, but there seems to be a fascination with genius even if disconnected entirely with emotional, human or spiritual intelligence. And we celebrate feats of the human mind often with complete disregard to their implications upon the human spirit. I have always argued the two are inseparable, and have subsequently found it disappointingly hard to truly, honestly, heroize and draw inspiration from some of the most celebrated of minds.
Sometimes it seems necessary to compartmentalize respect in order to have heroes but I am not one to compartmentalize. You can’t decouple the heart from the mind- genius without compassion and integrity can’t nourish the human condition.
Still, through the eons there have been spirits who have overcome the disconnects and reveled in their own spiritual humanities- gifting their world and its inheritors, their creative prowess, surely disturbed, yet still unperturbed by the resistance of their more stifled human counterparts.
Their stories trickle down to me strained through the webs of time, but I am still here to celebrate what I can piece together of their beauty. My list is not long but it is solid and currently ends at Nikola Tesla.
Hopefully, you will go off and investigate his story and when you do, you will find in it instances of more than just a superpowered brain- glimpses into his strong, resplendent heart. He once lit 200 lightbulbs from a power source 26 miles away in 1899 with a machine he built from spare parts in the middle of a desert. That’s still a record in 2011 because the blueprints of the mechanics were embedded in his head. And then he spoke of peace, saving pigeons, vegetarianism and equality for women.
He died broke and unrecognized. But two thousand people showed up for his funeral. That’s the human factor I guess-
The Tesla quote on the poster I made says: ”We begin to think cosmically,” from his essay The Transmission of Electrical Energy Without Wires as a Means for Furthering Peace because that, really makes all the difference.
Of course, there is also this explanation of the whole deal which sums it up much better than I can ; )
bar & grill
January. 30. 2011
not alone
January. 25. 2011
…but of course!
“Challenging the meaning of life is the truest expression of the state of being human.” -Viktor Frankl
blue #2
January. 4. 2011
painted years ago…traces of beautiful times
it’s nice to look back on young work and still relish it…
Don’t shoot the messenger
December. 7. 2010
READ:
“In its landmark ruling in the Pentagon Papers case, the US Supreme Court said “only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government”. The swirling storm around WikiLeaks today reinforces the need to defend the right of all media to reveal the truth.”
mike’s dragon
December. 2. 2010
photo collage by Michael Griffith
Somedays in architecture school yield incredible works like this one above.
Hell, somedays in general make you feel like this little girl or guy, or umm thing…kinda makes me wanna chime into the roar and acquire said pet monster immediately. He so cute!
Artist statement:
“This is what my dragon is going to look like when he’s all grown up.”
Mine too Michael, mine too!
sentry
November. 22. 2010
You can barely decipher his silhouette in camouflage.
Wonder if he guards the building or its merchandise…
thought for the day
November. 15. 2010
ffffffound…in Tokyo as we were walking around Roppongi. I think this is a Karan Grover original but it could be mine. Our pictures got mixed up, and we often shoot the same things…
Rove makes you beautifur.
Yipp. It does.
I don’t know the mechanics of fffound, but I LOVE the site. Check it out.
I secretly dream of the day that my work’ll show up on it, and then you can tell me about it here!
before sunrise
November. 10. 2010
…meandering around Tskuiji waiting for the famous fish market to come alive at the break of dawn.
This photograph intrigues me more and more every time I find it in the reel. It’s hard to pin down just why, but it evokes
something eeriely industrial and de-humanized although there is a person in there…
it may just be my imagination struggling to pin down a story here,
but however unresolved my love for it, it still feels like a surreally fulfilling capture-
harajuku
November. 8. 2010
Youth culture is always a pretty accurate reflection of the place of a city in the global sphere…the kids go there first!
Just compare the left side of the photo with the right.
And then think- how much of traditional Japan remains on either side?
Incidentally, this street is dedicated to shopping, and street food. The kids seem to come over after school all dolled up, just to hang- as I am sure you did in some self-appropriated corner of your city in your youthful days…
showman
November. 5. 2010
showman
a crowd
loves a spectacle
and I
abandoned myself sans shame
to melt into the mob
and watch him juggle fire
It is Diwali today- possibly my FAVOURITE day of the Indian year.
Games with fire/earthen oil lamps lining the city/the smell of marigolds/Laxmi’s footsteps/the hint of winter
Happy Diwali! Now go play with some fire…
scramble
November. 3. 2010
This is the Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo- the world’s busiest pedestrian intersection. Read more of that story on my travel blog here.
I love populous places…the flooding of space with beings. Think about that-
I like to think about each one of these people walking home to someone, each with a story, that I may never know, but can imagine and deconstruct given the reaches of my imagination…
wooden
November. 2. 2010
The Port Terminal in Yokohama, port-sister-city of Tokyo, is one of those mind bending system of planes that makes you want to run around barefooted and strike a yoga pose or two. Ships set sail to all corners of the world from this gorgeous piece of shore…and you can see travelers lined up around the block waiting to board.
The success of the construction is reflected in the fruitful use of the public space by people engaging with the architecture, and contemplating what lies outside of it.
The structure is sited so craftily that it seems to emerge from the end of a small peninsula automatically, somewhere losing the distinction between natural and mechanized in its wooden splendor. Attention to detail goes above and beyond the call of duty- even the parking garage is beautifully designed.
elektronik
November. 1. 2010
Greetings from electronic city- if in retrospect!
Akihabara is a celebration of electronic consumerism- if it involves electricity or silicon chips- you will find it here. Promise. Oh and did I mention the vending machines with shrink wrapped wet dirty panties you can find middle aged men crouching around? Let’s just say the veils come off to a degree in this part of town…
Everything glows, moves or screams, and the people that come with it are no less interesting- Manga girls in costume, reduced to reflections of imaginary provocative characters can be found luring customers in. The consumers, the followers, the geeks and nerds, the loud and boisterous, the quirky and gimmicky, and of course, the onlooking traveler like me…one big cluster of GO!
I found the only sign of dissent in Japan here- a well organized, policed, civilized way of protesting- this being Japan- with a snake chain of people winding through the crowds with loudspeakers and chants…Have no idea what it was about- but if you can read Japanese, maybe you can give me a clue~ or crue- as they would call it!
tsukiji
October. 30. 2010
wading through Tokyo’s famous fish market- at the crack of dawn.
one off the bucket list
love story
October. 21. 2010
This is a 3 part love story of a certain Belen and Miguel (the short version without the kissing)…
I
IIand then they got married and lived happily ever after…or will- starting tomorrow!
Congrats on getting hitched, Miguel and Belen!
Love you guys!
Ish!
tama
October. 12. 2010
tama art university biblioteca- a pleasant place to study or ya know…take a nap…
daytrippin from tokyo. more here
the ground floor was so starkly naked, I fell in love.
like Mr. Miyama noted- “after you see this Ito, no need to see Ando.”
lol- a different kinda wonderful, yes-
but, agreed.
walkin by
October. 9. 2010
streets of Chiba- Tokyo’s neighbour. He walked past me as I stood above in a balcony, and looked confused when I snapped him up.
We went to Tokyo yesterday- unexpectedly a tame beast- was expecting an explosion, but the pace was so controlled, they didn’t seem to be in a rush at all…but more on that laaaay-ter.
walkin in memphis
October. 9. 2010
music makes my world go around…
obaachan
October. 8. 2010
Grandmother (obaachan) of the house resplendent in her kimono.
Strange how I type this in one of hers- Japanese hospitality for ya- promising beginnings of a good 3 weeks-
