Vasarely: Zebra, cubes and more

Some are not acquainted with the name "Victor Vasarely", but most of us have seen his spectacular, eye opening and mind altering paintings and prints. It's as if they have become part of our daily life as if it could out of thin air. However, his works should not be underestimated. He manage to capture through out his career the beauty of aesthetics and the power of maths, the love for geometrical exactitude and that color balance that is sometimes so hard for a painters to achieve, all to produce mind blowing 3D perception of space while in a 2D surface. To correct myself, he did make 3D sculptures, but these did not have the same appealing effect that his paintings did. "Op-Art" is not a limit. It's beyond the limit of constraints. It's the ability to communicate with the viewer, as he or she engages in this illusion, it's the hesitation of seeing one thing or the other, if there are movements, vibrations, patterns, swelling or warping of elements. 

This is what I saw at The Vasarely Museum in Budapest, in Hungary, his native country. The works were donated in the 80s by himself, and are exhibited year round. These are originals and you can find out more about the establishment on this link: http://www.vasarely.tvn.hu/

Now, here are some pictures.

Enjoy!

This is part of his earlier works. He was prolific as a commercial designer, and that the time, he used to make ads for products. This is a shadow study. Dates from the 1920/30s.

Those famous Zebras. This is considered the beginning of Optical Art. It dates from 1939 and was made on cardboard and painted with tempera. In his beginnings, he thought the use of black and white was the best choice to implement in this new art form. Later, he became a fan of colors as he managed to achieve far better results in color.

Hands.

I didn't write down names...sorry.

Smile :)

Pictures were taken for personal use only. These will not be commercialized, and it is not my intent to do so. If you use any of these please mention the Vasarely Museum in Budapest. 

Tropical Vegan PiñaColada Muffins - Messy Indie Cooking (Baking) Vol.5

It's been a while since I last posted a recipe. Sorry! 

I was trying to make Indian food today with coconut milk and for quite a while I've been having the idea of making new muffins. I had a can of pineapples and grated coconut, so the idea of making PiñaColada muffins came naturally. I didn't put Rum in them...besides, alcohol when burnt or cooked loses every property. This is my first attempt and I can say it came out perfect! I managed to bake 8 muffins with this much ingredients and I'm glad it is all vegan! 

So, here you have the ingredients:

(Mom is holding the tray)

1 cup of whole wheat flour

1 cup coconut milk

1/2 cup of sugar cane

1 cup of pineapples in chunks

1/2 cup grated coconut (leave some for topping)

1/2 pineapple syrup (the one that comes in the can)

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda

salt

Preheat oven at medium heat (175C/350F)

Start by pouring to a bowl all the dry ingredients: flour, sugar,  grated coconut, baking powder, baking soda, and sprinkle a tiny bit of salt. Mix well and let it become homogeneous.

Should look like this.

Then, start pouring all the we ingredients, first the coconut milk. Mix well.

Then put the pineapple syrup. Mix even better.

And lastly, place the pineapple chunks and mix for the last time.

Your dough is ready, not get your paper cups out... I wanted to show them to you first.

I bought them when I went to Prague. I found them beautiful and delicate, the most colorful paper cups I've seen! Hope you like them too.

Now, back to the recipe! With a tablespoon start filling the cups with approx. 2 spoons, don't fill them, I filled one and it was messy. Well, after all this series is called Messy Indie Cooking for a reason.

Place your filled cups in the oven and bake for 25 min in medium heat.

OH! I almost forgot! Before you place them in the oven, you make sprinkle some shredded coconut on top!

Now off they go inside the oven!

Bake, bake, bake for 25 min and take them out.
A tip for knowing when muffins or cakes in general. Take a spaghetti and insert it on to the dough, if it comes out clean, it means it's ready, if it comes out with some dough on it, it means you still have some waiting and baking to do. Do be delicate when inserting the spaghetti, it could easily break.

Tah Tam! Ready to be eaten! Enjoy!

Oh, this is how my Indian dish looked like in the casserole. I put all the spices I had at home, turmeric, curry, cardamon, cloves, cayenne, black, and white pepper, paprika, nutmeg, ginger, dried garlic and cinnamon. It came out fantastic. I might improve it next time and put it as a new Messy "Indian" Cooking! Plus the coconut milk! Oh it gives it such a nice taste and texture! NIAM NIAM!

Enjoy!

Crochet Granny lines Laptop and camera pouches + Blanket update!

My latest project. This is a pouch I made for my Mac. My Mac's name is Pupa. 

So this is called the "Pupa Pouch".

Additionally, I had made a tinier pouch for the camera. 

Well, the principle is very straightforward. You take up your crochet hook and start in the same way as the Granny Squares. You make up a line with chain stitch about the length of one side of your laptop or camera, or what ever thing you want to make a pouch for. You then proceed in the same way with three double stitch.

http://schizoart.blogspot.com/2010/06/granny-crochet-squares.html
Here is the previous tutorial. Instead of going in rounds, you just go in a straight line. It's easy.

I'm glad I came up with this pattern. It's nice and simple. And it's very therapeutic, too! 

I made the laptop pouch in 2 days and the camera pouch in a couple of hours. So don't worry, even if you are not an expert, it's pretty simple.

This is how it started. As you can see when you start the pattern and crochet across, you need to crochet in both sides. I made it  as it didn't require any sewing up so it's done in one piece.

It shows you how to crochet the piece.

End results! The color combination is up to you. I like mixing thing, and I used all the spare yarn I had. I still have some. :P

UPDATE!

So far I've made 375 Granny Squares! I still need to make 405 more! I'm almost half way! Yay! I thought this was going to take forever to make, but now, I just feel that maybe in a month or so, it will be done!

Yippy! I still need to sew pieces together.

Have fun crocheting!

Czech Cubism

Window display at the Museum of Czech Cubism shop

While in Prague last week, I fell in love with an art form called Czech Cubism. It did not only focused on painting, it went beyond and influenced all realms in art, whether architecture, decorative art or applied art...

Same window display other angle. 

Although, this art form did not flourish as much back in the beginning of last century, it is still considered today as an example of modernity and an outstanding expression that was "ahead of time". I went to the Museum of Czech Cubism on my last day there, and the museum is held at the Black Madonna House, which per se is built in this architectural style. It's a 3 floor museum, with paintings, sketches, furniture and decor items narrating the short lived period. Although, Czech Cubism is not as popular as the French counterpart, it is still a valuable heritage.

Sitting area designed in pure Cubist style.  

This black and white version is much more "Impacting".

But what distinguished this style for the French one, is that it used much brighter color contrasts and sharper angles in design and art. I managed to take pictures of the inside of the museum, but I need to state that I can publish them only because I will use them for personal use and will not commercialize them. Just to clarify. I don't publish things to sell them, on the contrary, everything here is free and DIY, and well I don't seek monetary reward. Now, this is clear. I can continue posting.

Stairs inside museum

More furniture items on display. Amazing truly worth visiting next time you are in Prague.

However, the museum does not limit you to view "maquettes", drawings, paintings, furniture...There is also the option of buying a book at their shop in which you will find a map that indicates the location of all architectural landmarks of the Cubist era. Happily enough some did not suffer any damage through both World Wars and the Soviet oppression. The Diamant house is worth the visit. It is Cubism at it's best. Located on Spalena street, off the huge Tesco store, just a walk down the road, you will find it next to a church.

Diamant House

Jewelry pieces on display at the shop of the museum. Some pieces sold are replicas and are affordable to anyone. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: PICTURES ON THIS POST WHERE TAKEN MY MYSELF FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. I DO NOT INTEND TO SELL THESE OR THE INFORMATION POSTED ON THIS BLOG AND IT IS NOT MY MAIN OBJECTIVE ANYHOW. PLEASE KNOW THAT IF YOU DECIDE TO USE PICTURES FROM HERE YOU COULD BE PENALIZED IF NOT STATING YOUR INTENT AS NON COMMERCIAL. 

Knitting and Crocheting Updates! SQUARES!

This is latest on the blanket I was crocheting last time, so far 130 little granny squares! I haven't been able to do more as I've been focusing on the project you will get to see below...

But the colors look great, right? It's already heavy and I figured I need to have 650 little squares more to make a nice blanket! Oh well, long term project!

Close up, you get to see most of the color combinations

This could make up a nice screensaver!

I wish it was made out of candy! I looks edible!

So this is my latest project, in knitting. I spend most of my afternoons doing this. 

I got a book a couple of months ago on Modular Knitting, by Maie Landra, called Knitter's Palette. I got inspired by her work but this I have to say came out of my head. So far this is the front part of a jacket I'm making for my mom. I call it "Klimty Klimt"

I love the colors!

This gives you an idea of the way one has to work the knitting, which is basically every possible way! I love the stripped squares... I have to say it's not a very easy way to knit but you get used to it...

Will update more about this project once I finish the back...

I still haven't figured out the sleeves! :S