CBrajkovich Ramblings

There is a company that I simply adore, because of their sarcastic sense of humor. I have two of their motivators on my desk to not only remind me of life, but to laugh at some of my biggest obstacles: Madness and Pressure.

In this world where the common place can give you indigestion and exhaustion, we all need something that helps us to laugh in the face of danger (or insanity, or obsolescence, or…). Do you look at the world through a lens of utter seriousness or do you embrace your inner fool with unhinged delight? There are those who don’t like to look like fools in front of others (yup, there’s quite a few). And then there are those few who take to comedy like a fish to water (and they’ve drowned in their absurdity at one time or another).

But most of us fall in the middle and use sarcasm as our brave face to the world. To all of you with sharp wit and even sharper words, I give you….Despair Inc. and their demotivators. You know those motivational posters that were all the rage last decade? Well, here’s your anti-motivating posters that actually are a lot more motivating to those of us who mock normal. If you’re embracing your inner (or outer) misfit, then these guys will help you to reach your pinnacle in absurd style. If there’s a motivating word, then there’s an equally realistic take to how they fit into our everyday lives.

Demotivators, because you’re trying to prove your worth…every single day.

p.s. This isn’t an endorsement. It’s more like a stand against those forces of nature that face this writer every day. My inner misfit is now happy. Especially since it found a quiet voice to talk to in my head that leads to more creative writing pouring from my hand so that I can avoid the basketcase syndrome.

How often do we get to see the Milky Way like this? Kae Horng Mau took this image for National Geographic, and it is something to behold. Here is the Milky Way in all of its glittering glory as it cascades over Mount Kinabalu in Borneo like a carpet of gem stones. I would give my eye teeth to be able to live in a place that has views like this. Wouldn’t you?

I just found this video on the Living Artists of Japan, with artisans who are known for their Hina Dolls which come out on Girl’s Day (March 3rd) or Hinamatsuri. While these dolls (called ningyō in Japanese) range in materials, complexity and groupings (top of the line Hina sets show the entire royal entourage), they are by far not the only types of dolls that are known in Japan. There are also Hakata (which are clay figurines), Kokeshi (simple wooden dolls with no arms or legs), and many many more beautiful traditional forms that use paper, wood, and even clothing material.

Little girls (and little boys) grow up with dolls, no matter what part of the world they live in. And each country has it’s own unique style that tells the story about their society. Take a look at just a few of the different forms of Japanese art:

• EspritTravelandTours Living Artists of Japan series
• Kokeshi doll making
• Paper making

*And if you want to see the beauty of Japan’s art and culture, then go check out Kateigaho International Edition magazine (which is a work of art in itself) to read more about the artists who are truly treasured in this ancient and beautiful country.

I hope that you had an enjoyable day getting to know a little about my other home: Japan. Trust me, there’s a whole lot more to experience.

Since we’re talking about art from Japan, I wanted to show you another form of functional art known as Kanzashi (which dates from the Jōmon period). As hair was an important part of a woman, the truest sign of her beauty was the length and sheen of her hair. There are different styles of Kanzashi, and the ones I’m showing above are the kushi (comb) and the kogai (rod). These items were used to keep up a complicated hairstyle, but could also become a form of defense weapon (depending on the materials used) in case of danger.

The sheer beauty of the natural elements as well as the master craftsmanship of a true artist turned these items into collectible pieces of art that told a story about the relationship between man and nature. While resins made more modern pieces, the true antiques were made from bamboo, tortoise shell, or even precious metals which also told your station in life. There are also hanging elements on the body of the kanzashi, such as tinkling metal strips or beautiful hanging flowers, that were typically used by the geisha, other professional artisans, or brides.

I was lucky enough to find a beautiful antique set (that didn’t break me – these can get really expensive) with my favorite elements of nature, especially chrysanthemums. What do you think?

More info on Kanzashi:

• Kanzashi on Pandora’s Locks
• Tsumami Kanzaashi on the Etsy Blog
• Authentic Tsumami Kanzashi: AtelierKanawa

If you’ve been to Japan, then you know all about Wagashi. It’s the traditional Japanese confection that is a form of art that pleases the palette as well as the eyes. Usually seen at tea ceremonies, it can either be sweet or it could be full of fruits, as Japanese confections tend to not just focus on sweetness as the primary taste in these types of desserts. As you can see from the video, each piece is hand crafted with careful attention to detail as they are meant to honestly depict their counterparts in nature. I’ve been fascinated with them ever since I was little, because they are some of the most beautiful works of food that I’ve ever seen. Delicate colors, glistening textures, and amazing attention to details makes them something that you won’t want to eat, because they’re just so beautiful.

If you haven’t tried it, then be prepared for your senses to be astonished. They’re not your typical “sweets” in any way shape of form.

Some more info on Wagashi:

• Wagashi on InfomapJapan
• ii-ne-kore: Wagashi
• Summer sweets on pingmag
• beautiful Wagashi images on Flickr

And once again, Twitter lets me discover an artist who canvas is not only big but also gritty. Andres Amador makes incredible sand etchings or beach art using rakes and a whole lot of imagination along with lucky timing. Can you imagine what it must be like to create your art in the most temperamental of environments, while knowing that it will be the most temporary of pieces? Find out more about Andres in this Discovery Channel Canada video, as well as on his blog. Seriously, how do you create an image from the ground level without seeing it from the air first? Amazing!

– thanks Gizmodo and Colossal for the lead!