Thursday, December 8, 2022

The Photography Stories Colossal Readers Loved Most in 2022

As we near the end of 2022, we’re reflecting on the hundreds of articles published on Colossal this year. Today, we’re taking a look at the photographs and series readers loved most. These 12 articles capture a breadth of subject matter across continents, from uncanny doppelgängers and self-portraits in disguise to dramatic winter waves and ancient trees.

For more of 2022’s highlights, check out similar lists in artcraft, design, and our favorite books of the year.

 

A photo of two polar bears in an abandoned building

Image © Dmitry Kokh

Arresting Photos Document the Polar Bears Occupying an Abandoned Weather Station in Russia

Set against a backdrop of dried grass, rusted tanks, and debris, a photo series by Dmitry Kokh centers on a small group of polar bears that took over an abandoned meteorological station.

 

A black and white portrait of two women who look alike

Image © François Brunelle

I’m Not a Look-Alike: Hundreds of Unrelated Doppelgängers Sit for François Brunelle’s Uncanny Portraits

In I’m Not a Look-Alike, Montréal-based photographer François Brunelle brings together two unrelated people who resemble each other so much that they could be twins.

 

A photo of glowing trees and landscape

Image © Sriram Murali

Billions of Fireflies Light Up an Indian Wildlife Reserve in Rare Footage Captured by Sriram Murali

Sriram Murali captured a rare gathering of billions of these insects at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve in western Tamil Nadu, India.

 

A photo of sand pillars on a beach

Image © Joshua Nowicki

Strong Winds Sculpt Frozen Sand into Otherworldly Pillars on a Lake Michigan Beach

Photographer Joshua Nowicki captured dozens ice-laden pillars, created by powerful winds eroding frozen sand and carving dozens of towering shapes haphazardly placed along the shore.

 

An aerial photo of aircraft on the landscape

Image © Bernhard Lang

Aerial Photos by Bernhard Lang Capture the Largest Aircraft Boneyard in the World

Housing the largest aircraft and missile facility around the globe, the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson is a trove of aviation history, and photographer Bernhard Lang visited the site to document the aircraft from above.

 

An image of nebula and stars

Carina Nebula

NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Reveals Astounding, Unprecedented Views of the Universe

Back in July, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope unveiled its first-ever collection of high-resolution color images capturing an exceptional amount of detail about the universe.

 

A photo of a dramatic wave

Image © Trevor Pottelberg

Forceful Waves Rip Across Lake Erie in Tempestuous Photos by Trevor Pottelberg

When fall and winter storms send turbulent waves across Lake Erie, Canadian photographer Trevor Pottelberg documents the volatile eruptions that burst from the water’s surface.

 

An image of a woman wearing glasses and a patterned garment that blends in with the backdrop

Image © Thandiwe Muriu

Vibrant Textiles and Repurposed Eyewear Camouflage the Subjects of Thandiwe Muriu’s Celebratory Portraiture

From chunky hair beads and rollers to sink strainers and brake pedals, Nairobi-based photographer Thandiwe Muriu finds fashionable use for ordinary objects.

 

A black and white image of a massive tree

Image © Beth Moon

Majestic Photos Capture the Dwindling Population of Madagascar’s Ancient Baobab Trees

Bay Area photographer Beth Moon has been documenting baobabs since 2006, capturing the magnificent trees throughout Madagascar, Senegal, and South Africa.

 

An image of a crocodile with babies on its back

Image © Dhritiman Mukherjee

Over 100 Young Crocodiles Find Refuge on Their Father’s Back in India’s Chambal River

Photographer and conservationist Dhritiman Mukherjee visited the National Chambal Sanctuary southeast of New Dehli where he captured striking images of a father swimming through the murky river with more than 100 young clinging to his back.

 

An image of a person wearing a costume of colorful plastic jugs

Image © Stéphan Gladieu

Photographer Stéphan Gladieu Documents the Congolese Street Children Turning Waste into Wonder

In the face of this ecological disaster, the young people of Kinshasa began to repurpose waste into traditional religious costumes, which artist Stéphan Gladieu documents in the Homo Détritus series.

 

A photo of a mossy, gnarled forest

Image © Neil Burnell

Moss Drapes from Trees in Ethereal Photographs of England’s Forests by Neil Burnell

The remarkable atmosphere of Dartmoor’s forests are captured by Devon-based photographer Neil Burnell, who focuses on the mystical, otherworldly environments through all four seasons.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article The Photography Stories Colossal Readers Loved Most in 2022 appeared first on Colossal.



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Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Urban Landscapes Merge with Intricately Rendered Figures in Ed Fairburn’s Portraits on Vintage Maps

A cross-hatched portrait drawing on a historical map of Plymouth.

“Plymouth.” All images © Ed Fairburn, shared with permission

Along the contours of roads, property boundaries, and shorelines, English artist Ed Fairburn draws inspiration for his detailed cross-hatched portraits. As an avid map collector, he is fascinated by the urban landscape and cartographic design. “The more maps I collect, the more I want to create,” he tells Colossal, sharing that transportation routes like roads and bridges can be likened to the veins or arteries of the body.

Fairburn’s intricate drawings directly respond to the layout of the original map. “I allow the composition of each map to inform the composition of each portrait,” he explains. An interest in the body as metaphorical landscape and vice versa also informs how he approaches each piece. “In a wider sense, I hope that my work pushes viewers to think about those similarities, and perhaps offers a reminder that we’re shaped by the landscape around us, which we in turn are also shaping.”

You can find more of Fairburn’s work on his website, and follow updates on Instagram, where he often shares videos of his process.

 

A cross-hatched portrait drawing on a historical map of the Thames.

“River Thames; Staines to Richmond”

A cross-hatched portrait drawing on a historical map of Singapore.

“Singapore”

A cross-hatched portrait drawing on a historical map of Aberdeen Harbor.

“Aberdeen Harbour”

A cross-hatched portrait drawing on a historical map of Paris.

“Paris II”

A cross-hatched portrait drawing on a historical map of Paris.

“Paris”

A detail of a cross-hatched portrait drawing on a historical map.

Detail of “Plymouth”

A detail of a cross-hatched portrait drawing on a historical map.

Detail of “River Thames; Staines to Richmond” 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Urban Landscapes Merge with Intricately Rendered Figures in Ed Fairburn’s Portraits on Vintage Maps appeared first on Colossal.



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The Design Stories Colossal Readers Loved Most in 2022

A collage of three images of designs

This year on Colossal, we published hundreds of articles across disciplines, and as we look back at those in the design world, we’re finding that readers gravitated toward stories about the world’s largest sheet of chainmail, geometric pastries, and tiny homes for bees. Be sure to take a look at 2022’s top articles across art and craft, and check out our favorite books of the year. You can always take a trip back in time by diving into the Colossal archive.

 

A still showing a chainmail structure covering a building

A Massive Chainmail Shelter Prevents a Renowned Scottish Mansion from Dissolving in the Rain

English YouTuber and educator Tom Scott visits the largest sheet of chainmail in the world in a short documentary that reveals how the uniquely designed mesh structure has become a landmark of sustainability.

 

A photo of a round cake covered in a vibrant gradient of spheres

Image © Dinara Kasko

Impeccably Precise Geometries Are Baked into Dinara Kasko’s Bold Cakes and Tarts

Ukrainian pastry chef Dinara Kasko brings a healthy dose of geometry to her meticulously designed cakes.

 

A photo of a barn with a slice out of the side to allow sky to peek through

Image © Catie Newell

Reimagining an Iconic Midwestern Structure, Catie Newell Cuts a Slice of Sky Out of a Michigan Barn

Conceived by Detroit-based architect and educator Catie Newell, this project reworks the iconic framework of an aging farm building to allow light through an unexpected aperture.

 

A still of a two shells in a planter

Image courtesy of A24

Production Designer Liz Toonkel Describes Creating the Adorable Universe Behind the New ‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On’

A tiny mollusk with a big personality, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On captivated audiences more than a decade ago with his quirky antics and endlessly entertaining use of human-sized objects. The adorable character returned this summer for a feature-length mockumentary with brilliant world-building by Liz Toonkel.

 

A photo of a colorful glass structure over a landscape and brick structures

Image © Vertical Panorama Pavilion at the Donum Estate (2022), Studio Other Spaces, Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann, by Adam Potts

Olafur Eliasson Designs a Conical Structure with 832 Vibrant Glass Panels That Reflect Sonoma’s Weather

A bold, conical structure by artist Olafur Eliasson and architect Sebastian Behmann casts a vibrant kaleidoscope of 24 colors underneath its canopy.

 

A photo of a woven structure around a tree

Image © Ulf Mejergren and Antti Laitinen

In a Remote Swedish Forest, A Nest of Branches and Hay Encircles a Tree with a Cozy Hideout

In April of this year, Swedish architect and artist Ulf Mejergren and Finnish artist Antti Laitinen gathered fallen branches from a forested area outside of Nykvarn and wove a structure around a tree, building a cozy refuge among the thawing spring landscape.

 

A photo of a latticed bamboo building that's lit by soft light

Image by Hiroyuki Oki, courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects

42,000 Bamboo Shoots Construct an Illuminated, Latticed Welcome Center in Vietnam

The project of Vo Trong Nghia Architects, a glowing welcome center of interlaced bamboo stands at the entrance of the resort Grand World Phu Quoc in Vietnam.

 

A photo of a brick with round holes and a bee hovering in front of it

Image © Green&Blue

Tiny Holes Drilled into Bricks Provide Miniature Homes for Solitary Bees

An innovative creation of Cornwall-based Green&Blue, Bee Bricks are designed to establish homes for fuzzy, winged insects.

 

A photo of a person wearing a costume of shells with grass

Image © World of WearableArt

In the World of WearableArt, 88 Dramatic Garments Grace the Stage in a Spectacular Performance

Every year in Wellington, dozens of extravagant garments explode onto the stage for three weeks as part of the World of WearableArt competition.

 

A photo of a bed in front of a round window

All images © Noritaka Minami

Photos by Noritaka Minami Document the Famed Nakagin Capsule Tower Prior to Demolition

Artist Noritaka Minami documented the icon of Japanese Metabolism, the Nakagin Capsule Tower, that stood in the Ginza neighborhood of Tokyo from 1972 until it was demolished earlier this year.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article The Design Stories Colossal Readers Loved Most in 2022 appeared first on Colossal.



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Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Georgian Culture and Ukrainian Pride Highlight the 2022 Tbilisi Mural Fest

A photo of a mural portrait of a woman holding a bouquet of flowers

By Sasha Korban. All images courtesy of Tbilisi Mural Fest, shared with permission

For the last four years, Tbilisi Mural Fest has facilitated more than 40 public artworks around the Georgian capital, and the 2022 event brought a spate of new projects to the city. Given the nation’s proximity to Russia and that country’s groundless war against Ukraine, festival organizers highlighted renowned Ukrainian muralist Sasha Korban who painted a large-scale portrait of a woman in customary clothing facing the Russian embassy. Other works include celebrations of Georgian culture and history, like a large-scale tablecloth with traditional motifs by Chertova Tina and Mohamed l’Ghacham’s dreamlike rendering of the living room of Georgian thinker and author Ilia Chavchavadze.

See some of the 2022 additions below and those from previous years on Instagram.

 

A photo of a large blue mural with ornamental white motifs

By Chertova Tina

A photo of a black and white portrait mural of a woman with colorful doodles on her face

“Circus” by Luis Gomez de Teran

A photo of a mural of a dreamlike living room

“Illia’s Room” by Mohamed l’Ghacham

A photo of a mural with two women and a plant, repeated three times vertically

“Growth” by Artez

A photo of an abstract mural on an urban building

“Luis Gomez de Teran” by Kera

A photo of a mural with two figures and a portal

“M3D3A” by Vesod

A photo of a mural with two regal figures and city

By Dato Machavariani and Irakli Qadeishvili

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Georgian Culture and Ukrainian Pride Highlight the 2022 Tbilisi Mural Fest appeared first on Colossal.



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The Craft Stories Colossal Readers Loved Most in 2022

A collage of four photos

We’re wrapping up 2022 and revisiting some of the craft projects we wrote about this year. From a 2,000-year-old Roman glass bowl to a menagerie of paper bats, the stories Colossal readers loved most are diverse in medium and subject matter and show a vast array of creativity around the globe.

If you want even more of 2022’s highlights, check out the top art stories and our favorite books of the year. You can also dive into the Colossal archive.

 

A photo of a hand holding a blue glass bowl

Image courtesy of Marieke Mom

Archeologists Unearth a Roman Glass Bowl Dating Back 2,000 Years in Pristine Condition

A January archaeological dig in the city of Nijmegen, The Netherlands, unearthed a stunningly preserved bowl made of blue glass that’s estimated to be about 2,000 years old.

 

A photo of an embroidered moth sculpture

Image © Larysa Bernhardt

Vintage Tapestries Cloak the Wings of Larysa Bernhardt’s Plush Moths

Artist Larysa Bernhardt creates colorful moth sculptures embroidered with vintage tapestries, often portraying historical people, animals, and delicate botanical forms on their wings.

 

A photo of a paper bat

Image © Guardabosques

A Collection of Paper Sculptures Studies the Wild Diversity of 88 Different Bat Species

A project by Juan Nicolás Elizalde, who is half of the creative team behind the Buenos Aires-based studio Guardabosques, explores the incredible diversity of bats through geometric paper sculptures.

 

A photo of a patchwork quilt against racism

Image courtesy of SJSA

A Conversation with Social Justice Sewing Academy Explores Community Activism and the Power of Remembering Through Quilts

In a time when witnessing inequity is like digging into an already numb wound, the Social Justice Sewing Academy offers the power of touch. Program director Stephanie Valencia speaks about the work of honoring the victims of violence and their families through community art, supporting young entrepreneurs with creative or social justice-oriented businesses, and most importantly, giving people something to hold on to.

 

A photo of a hand holding a glass snake

Image © Ryan Eicher

Kaleidoscopic Patterns Coil Around Miniature Snakes Exquisitely Cast in Glass

Intricate linework and trippy, geometric motifs flow through the minuscule glass-blown serpents by Ryan Eicher.

 

A photo of a hand holding an embroidery hoop with colorful trees

Image © Sew Beautiful

Skies Peek Through Foliage in French Knots in Embroideries that Peer Up From the Forest Floor

The vibrant embroideries of Sew Beautiful capture the awe-inspiring breadth of the outdoors within a tiny wooden hoop.

 

A photo of a finger holding a tiny paper houseplant

Image © Raya Sader Bujana

Impossibly Small Houseplants and Basketry Crafted from Paper by Raya Sader Bujana

Barcelona-based artist Raya Sader Bujana defines her work as something between sculpture and illustration, creating impossibly tiny replicas of houseplants that rest atop a finger.

 

A photo of an embroidered human eye peering out from tree bark

Image © Diane Yevtukh

Vivid Compositions in Thread Enliven Hollow Spaces in Diana Yevtukh’s Striking Embroideries

Ukrainian artist Diana Yevtukh draws inspiration from her surroundings by carefully situating cornucopian floral arrangements made of thread in the hollows of trees.

 

A photo of mugs, cups, and vessels covered in drippy colorful glaze

Image © Brian Giniewski

Mottled, Marbled, and Speckled Glazes Ooze Over Ceramic Vessels in Thick Pastel Drips

Referencing a melty summertime ice cream cone or icing on a cake, Brian Giniewski’s Drippy Pots are covered in mottled pastels, speckles, or single colors that trickle down the exterior of mugs and cups.

 

A photo of a book opened to be a loom with hands on the shuttle

Image © Cai Wei Qun

An Elaborately Designed Book on Weaving Opens to Reveal a Fully Functional Loom

Cai Wei Qun constructed an impressively immersive book on weaving, which opens to reveal a trove of history, techniques and tricks, and an entire loom tucked between its covers.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article The Craft Stories Colossal Readers Loved Most in 2022 appeared first on Colossal.



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A Knotted Octopus Carved Directly into Two Pianos Entwines Maskull Lasserre’s New Musical Sculpture

“The Third Octave” (2023). All images © Maskull Lasserre, shared with permission Behind the hammers and pins of most upright pianos is a ...