A Christmas card from Ukraine
I received a Christmas card from Ukraine a few days ago. Beyond the traditional motifs one expects to find, I noticed that behind the central motif is the figure of a soldier in combat gear.
It is sad and has a very special meaning, this presence on a Christmas card.
Let’s hope that the postal iconography of next Christmas will no longer include this theme.
Ruins – the Casle and the Convent
The small caste of Torres Vedras, not far from Lisbon, was well worth the visit. On the top of a hill, with a nice view to the town and surronding área. It was built in the XII century, replacing a primitive muslim fortress. The buildings inside the castle do not exist anymore, and the walls were subjected to several destructions and reconstructions – including the damages caused by the great 1755 eartquake . A great part of the walls are still well preserved
The Penafirme Convent was built in the XVI century, not far from the sea. It was destroyed by the 1755 earthquake and the ensuing tsunami. The surviving monks were displaced inland, to a new convent that still exists. The ruins of the old convent are abandoned, half covered by sand. Some arches and windows still exist, as well as the thick walls.
The Autumn light
The Autumn light in Lisbon is wonderful, after 4:00 PM the tangential light of the setting sun makes all the details of the buildings and walls more evident. The contrast with the shadows is amazing and the increasing air humidity allow us a more sharp vision of the lines and surfaces around us. The sun is still bright, and it is a good time to relax by the river.
When there is no sun…
Henri Michaux wrote “Faute de soleil, sache mûrir dans da glace” – When there is no sun, know how to ripen in ice. That is a good advice, not only for the incoming Winter, but for one’s general attitude towards life. I tought this was a good subject to be illustrated in my first steps in linocut. Or it can be seen as just a plain winter landscape. The linoleum plate on top, the resulting print below.
Blue-grass Festival
Last week-end, a Blue Grass Festival took place at Trafaria Casino (an ostentatious name for a nice local social club). A very welcoming ambience, free-entrance and several blue-grass bands from different countries. Many amateur musicians played together in small spontaneous groups, creating jam-sessions before and after the professional performances. A very relaxed atmosphere , a sense of togetherness and the good music made this a memorable event for me-
Tunning the guitar
The Casino, a typical building from the early XX century. The tiled floor is precious !
Some members of the Crying Uncle Blue-grass Band (USA) with an invited banjo performer
A relaxing boat trip
A boat trip up the Douro River, between banks dotted with small marinas, villages, lush vegetation, orchards, and vineyards—lots of vineyards. The trip ends in Peso da Régua.
Some images of Gaia and Porto, seen from the south bank.
Nicosia, Cyprus
From a short visit to Nicosia, Cyprus, under a 38.C sun. Photos were made in the Greek side of the city (Republic of Cyprus) and in the Turkish side (self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Norther Cyprus). The border control is very strict, photos of the control posts are forbidden in both sides : armed policemen, fences and barbed wire mark the division between both sides. It is, I think, the last divided capital in Europe …
Büyük Han, a former caravanserai built in the XVI century, in the Turkish side of Nicosia. It was recently restored and now has some shops and restaurants inside
Varosha
In July 1974, Turkish troops occupied the north and east of the island of Cyprus. This territory gave rise to the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is separated from the Republic of Cyprus by a winding line of territory controlled by United Nations military forces.
At the eastern end of this line, in the area currently controlled by the United Nations, near the city of Famagusta, the Varosha tourist resort was built with an excellent beach, buildings, houses, shops and all the necessary infrastructure along the coast. Faced with the approach of Turkish troops in 1974, the inhabitants abandoned their homes within a few days in a hurry.
The resort of Varosha has remained empty and off-limits for decades. Recently, visitors have been allowed during the day, but no entry into the houses, which are surrounded by fences. They also allow access to the beach during the day.
The area is clean, with no rubbish on the streets, no graffiti on the walls and no animals to be seen. Trees and wild weeds grow freely. It is a case of pure natural decay without human intervention. There is a profound silence and, despite the good weather, the atmosphere is heavy.
Three more studio photos
Another composition with the glass eye and table-tennis balls
Zantedeschia aethiopica mirabilis .
Grows spontaneously in some dark places (such as the consciences of mass murderers, genocide perpetrators, tyrants, dictators…). It is an invasive species.
Bonjour Mr René M
The unexpected find of a bowler hat in flea-market. The hat was in a very good condition and was sent to the factory to be cleaned and to have the lining replaced. A small size hat ,nevertheless a good subject for a photo. I still have to try some different backgrounds – and a body with a better structure.
Still life again, now with a fish
Some new photos from old subjects, in a very old style
Still life
This time a very conventional and non-controversial style, a classic theme in photography, since forever. Nothing unusual, nothing that draws attention.
Two roses, a studio environment, sunlight from a window.
And that’s it.
Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil is an immense and central sacred tree in Norse cosmology. Around it exists all else, including the Nine Worlds. Yggdrasil is central to the cosmos and considered very holy. The gods go to Yggdrasil daily to assemble at their traditional governing assemblies. The branches of Yggdrasil extend far into the heavens, and the tree is supported by three roots that extend far away into other locations. This information was provided by Wikipedia, and there are other versions of a giant World’s Tree (Orbis Terrarum Arbore) in several cosmogonies . Imagining the world as a tree is a nice idea – I made a less solemn and more trivial version of the Yggdrasil, oil on canvas 60 X 100 cm
Two more smaller paintings (40 X 40, oil on plywood.) “Chess” and “Jongleur”
Low tide
The flat South banks banks of the Tagus, close to the sea, show the amazing effects of the Atlantic tides. Last Saturday morning I had a chance to make some photos by the river, in Seixal Bay. A very peaceful morning with bright sky and the flat river bed usually covered by water. The poet Kate McGovern wrote that
“… Low tide reveals the soul of the sea-
Its secrets, its treasures
its sorrows…”
Etching and some drawings
Another work in etching. A copper plate covered with a special varnish. A drawing is made on that varnish layer (in this case an imaginary portrait of the poet Fernando Pessoa holding a smartphone). The etched plate is bathed in acid – it burns the copper plate where the varnish was etched. The whole layer of varnish is removed by a solvent and the etched copper plate is inked. Excess ink is removed and a print is made. A sample of the etched copper plate and the resulting final print.
Drawing session last Monday
Some fast sketches of live models, brown chalk on paper
Ruins – the Radioactive Hotel
This Hotel & Spa was built at the beginning of the last century. The strongly radioactive local spring waters were believed to have healing powers and. they were used as a drink, in immersion baths and in colon irrigations (there were reports of patients having repeated enemas up to a total of 35 liters of radioactive water ).
After WW II the dangers of radioactivity became widely known , the Hotel lost his clients and ceased the “therapeutic” activities. The owners went bankrupt, the premises were sold , several entrepreneurs bought and sold the building , furniture, plumbing and tiles were stolen, until it reached the present state of ruin and decay
As expected, rumors of the place being haunted, sightings of strange lights at night and reports of noises and voices are now a part of the local beliefs. However, it is usual to find there some visitors and the place looks peacefully quiet.
I went there to make some photos. The radioactivity, if it exists at the surface, was not strong enough to fog my negatives…
A view of the Hotel
Getting closer
One wall still remains
Some remains of the floor
And a door
A fireplace is still there
This Hotel & Spa was built with expensive materials and was aimed at wealthy gests from Portugal and from nearby Spain. It is very sad to see its present state.
João Avelar images 