Miniatures have been gaining popularity on social media for the past few years. There’s a distinction between scale models and miniatures: architects and engineers often use scale models to experiment…
Author: Alvin Wang
Brittle and Fine
The word “porcelain” comes from the Latin word “porcella,” which means “seashell.” Indeed, pieces of true porcelain are so fine that they are translucent when held up to a light.…
Language
What is language? Language is an odd thing. When you think about it, it is surprising that early primates were able to communicate using the tongue instead of sign language.…
Architecture vs. Construction…What’s the deal?
Most of us live in cities. We see houses, shops, and office buildings when we walk through the streets. However, are these considered architectural works? The dictionary defines architecture as…
“The best violins come from luthiers…” — Luthiers : heroes to the string musician
Lutherie. An elegant whisper of a word. Those of us who are string players (guitarists, violinists, cellists, harpists, etc.) will know who luthiers are and what the craft of lutherie…
Ikebana: the art of flower arrangements
It is more than just a vase of sparse flowers. It is an interconnection between natural beauty and the way we interact with flowers. Ikebana. This beautiful, poetic word means…
“Las Meninas” – a mind game.
This entrancing painting appears in Animal Crossing where it is titled “Solemn Painting”.