Posts tagged ‘architecture’

Jun 19

Circle of Animals… Zodiac Heads by Ai Weiwei

Tiger

Circle of Animals… Zodiac Heads is now on display, free of charge, at Nathan Phillips Square. The installation, which will be in place until Sept. 22, precedes the Art Gallery of Ontario’s presentation of the exhibition, Ai Weiwei: According to What? which opens Aug. 17 to October 27. It will be the only Canadian venue on the exhibition’s international tour.

Snake

According to the Zodiac Heads website:

“Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei has reinterpreted the twelve bronze animal heads representing the traditional Chinese zodiac that once adorned the famed fountain-clock of the Yuanming Yuan, an imperial retreat in Beijing. Circle of Animals… Zodiac Heads is the artist’s first major public sculpture project.”

Rooster

“Designed in the 18th century by two European Jesuits serving in the court of the Qing dynasty Emperor Qianlong, the twelve zodiac animal heads originally functioned as a water clock-fountain, which was sited in the magnificent European-style gardens of the Yuanming Yuan. In 1860, the Yuanming Yuan was ransacked by French and British troops, and the heads were pillaged. In re-interpreting these objects on an oversized scale, Ai Weiwei focuses attention on questions of looting and repatriation, while extending his ongoing exploration of the ‘fake’ and the copy in relation to the original.”

Rat

“Circle of Animals… Zodiac Heads is the centerpiece of a global, multi-year touring exhibition that will be presented in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The official world tour for Circle of Animals… Zodiac Heads by Ai Weiwei launched in New York City at the historic Pulitzer Fountain at Grand Army Plaza in May 2011.”

Rabbit

The heads were unveiled at Nathan Phillips Square’s reflecting pool yesterday. They have been installed according to the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

Pig

The heads have been previously exhibited in London, Los Angeles, New York, Sao Paulo, Taipei and Washington, D.C., among other cities, and they’re already making quite the splash in Toronto, with countless tourists and Torontonians posing alongside their favourite sculpture.

Ai, the aforementioned artist, first caught the ire of the ruling Communist regime in China when he criticized the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a mass exercise in propaganda for a regime committed on denying its citizens basic human rights. At the time, Ai was a collaborating architect on the famous Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing.

Monkey

But he didn’t stop there. He further criticized the rigid Chinese government in the aftermath of the devastating Sichuan earthquake of 2008, when thousands of people, many of them schoolchildren, died. Ai launched a personal inquiry, challenging the governments public claim to the number of children who were buried after their poorly built school buildings collapsed.

Horse

On one trip to the region, he was attacked in his hotel room and savagely beaten by a group of plainclothes police officers. Later, when in Germany, for one of his exhibitions, he suffered a brain hemorrhage from the beating and he had to have life-saving emergency surgery.

Dragon

He remains under constant surveillance by Chinese authorities at his home and studio in Beijing. But! You can follow him on Twitter.

Goat

This afternoon, I took the opportunity to take some photographs of the sculptures. I highly recommend that if you’re downtown to make time to view these wonderful installations.

Dog

In addition I also took some snapshots of the buildings around the area. I hope you enjoy.

The Sheraton Hotel, voted one of the ugliest buildings in Canada.

City Hall and the Reflecting Pool that acts as a skating rink in the winter

Close-up of City Hall

Old City Hall

Old and new

May 25

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Historic Dineen Building

This weekend is the 14th annual Doors Open in Toronto, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to go behind the doors of over 150 architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings across our great city.

This year’s theme is entitled ‘Creators, Makers and Innovators‘ and features many older buildings that have been redesigned, re-invented and re-purposed into modern 21st century spaces. One of those buildings is the historic Dineen Building on Yonge Street.

Before its restoration Dineen was home to squatters and in significant disrepair. I was there bright and early this morning to see what all the fuss was about and I was not disappointed.

What a beautiful job they have done. I could go on and on about the building, but if you google it, there are those who have done a much better job than I ever could.

Apr 25

Riverdale keeps growing

I’m experimenting with photo filters. This is the new Bridgepoint Hospital, which finally opened last week. I worked here for two years and wrote some of the communications for the redevelopment project. It’s nice to know that it’s finally in service and giving Canadians the best possible health care. Bravo.

Jul 14

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Summer time in the city

Toronto Haze

Summer in Toronto is special. I can’t describe it in words, but there’s something in the air that defines the city. There’s so much to do, never a dull moment, and of course, plenty of hot guys! My favourite. The temperatures this year have been rather high, and today it’s plus 30 degrees Celsius. Usually I would just deal with it, but with a sick dog I’m forced to crank the air conditioning to full blast. In addition, I have a nice tan.

My balcony view

The Ontario Provincial Legislature — Queen’s Park

Streetcar construction at Queen and Spadina

Concrete jungle

Lots of water!

Jun 20

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Argentina has many national holidays

Today is a national holiday in Argentina. I’m not certain, but I think it’s a day to commemorate the birthday of the man who designed the Argentina flag, or something. I could enter a Google search and learn the reason myself, but I’m too lazy. A day off mid-week would be nice, but I work for a company with American clients so I have to be accessible, unfortunately. I did manage to take a walk this morning and snapped some photographs around the barrio of Belgrano.

Speaking about holidays, Argentina has a lot of them. The president randomly selects days throughout the year for Argentines to rest and relax. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, because she takes and gives them away from year to year. It’s so schizophrenic that I have panic attacks. I’ve actually woken up and wondered why the grocery stores are closed, and then realize that it’s a holiday. Fascinating, huh? Okay, I gotta work. Chau!

Jun 8

Argentine National Congress

Discovering the Argentine National Congress was one of my first favourite memories of Buenos Aires. In November 2011 the gay pride march commenced at the Plaza de Mayo and concluded at the Congress doors. I remember the energy that pulsated through the smokey air that evening and how the magnificent architecture warmed the participants. Argentina may be a lot of negative things, but it’s a sanctuary for human rights, after a murky and war prone past.

Construction on the Congress was completed in 1906 but the aesthetic details were not finished until 1946. It’s a towering presence in the barrio of Congreso, and a tourist attraction in a busy geographical location. Beware snapping pictures, because thieves scour the area for unsuspecting prey.

I know from experience!

Jun 3

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The Water Company Palace

Palacio de Aguas Corrientes was designed as a water pumping station by a Swedish-Argentine architect in 1877, and was completed in 1894. A French renaissance palace, it surprisingly still operates as a pumping station today. The impressive palace is covered with over 300,000 glazed, multi-colour terra-cotta tiles imported from Britain. The top of the building is emblazoned with the symbols representing, what was then, the 14 Argentine provinces. I was captivated by its regal beauty while walking through the streets of Buenos Aires this afternoon. In fact, many times I have leisurely passed it along the street and wished that I had my camera to capture its magnificence, and luckily today, I did.

May 21

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Coboconk, Ontario

Canada’s Smallest Jail

I’m in heat. No really. There are so many beautiful men walking through the streets of Toronto that I can barely contain myself. The only way to cool off and to distract myself from perverted thoughts was to make the trip to Coboconk, just outside of Lindsay, Ontario. The heat was brutal, but the scenery was worth it. For those unfamiliar, Coboconk is a community in the city of Kawartha lakes, on the northern tip of Balsam Lake. Coboconk has a rich history amongst the villages of Kawartha Lakes, and has played a prominent role in the logging, limestone, and tourism industries for over 150 years. Of course, the main attraction is Canada’s smallest jail. Go figure.

Pattie House

Pharmacy

Downtown

Variety Gift Shop

Barn

There are countless beautiful homes in Coboconk

I love the red

Twins!

Tiny, and I want to live here

Ice cream

Coboconk cemetery

Northern tip of Balsam Lake

May 13

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Guelph, Ontario

The Church of Our Lady

Guelph is not just home to a university, it’s also a city with a vibrant downtown. There’s something magical about Guelph that is yet, indescribable. Words simply cheapen the explanation. Whenever I visit I am overcome with a sense of calm and wellness. Guelph is consistently ranked as one of the top cities to live in Canada and residents are loyal, passionate and kind. If you’re visiting Ontario, be sure to spend at least one full day in this beautiful city, you will not be disappointed.

The Church of Our Lady

Rush Hour

I think this used be a nunnery, but is now abandoned

My local, The Albion Hotel. Great food and beer!

Macondo Books, the best used bookstore in town

City Hall

This is where Joshua and Alisha lived for 3 years

This was there even when I was in school 14 years ago

May 13

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The University of Guelph

Johnston Hall still stands proud

For reasons unknown to even myself, I’ve been feeling melancholy lately. To lift my spirits and to get out of the house I ventured an hour out of Toronto to the sleepy town of Guelph, Ontario where I went to university. Not even the crisp warm weather could help as I was deflated by nostalgia. So little of the campus has changed in the ten years since I graduated. As I was walking the hallowed grounds I had visions of myself and most of my friends all blurry eyed and stupid from youth, wandering the corridors and creating drama out of the slightest insignificant misunderstandings. Good times.

We’ve come a long way from those humble days, but despite the progress, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss. Maybe it’s as cliché as the loss of innocence, I don’t really know. But something about our naiveté, our blatant selfishness and foolish attitudes makes me smile. I’m glad that I’m not a teenager anymore, don’t get me wrong, but I made the best of friends at the University of Guelph, and they remain very dear to me. Now all in our 30s we’re scattered across this great country of ours, but the shared experiences continue to unite us. I think.

Enough of this shameless sentiment. Here are some of the photos I took today.