Halkan élünk - we live quietly

In Budapest, artists live quietly...
This street-art-manifesto on the wall of an old building of the 7th district, the old Jewish ghetto, is trying (quietly) to catch one's attention. Imagine yourself in the middle of the Budapest-nightlife, where the price of the vodka is playing the leadrole and the youth gets lost in the narrow streets full of bars hiding in some inner-courts. There is little place for big thoughts, not only because of the ebrious state that takes its territory every week-end, but also because the actual nationalist/right/extreme-right political environment kills slowly but surely all kind of free thinking.

Hungary has always been on the wrong side, for every significant moment in History. But today, the last hope in solidarity, optimism and a positive development of the society is killed by some crazy and selfish right-wing politicans. So artists keep on living, but quietly... Halkan élünk.

Mariann (between Vienna and Budapest, July 2011)

Pass the Eviair

Eviair (not Evian) seems to be one of the largest "ad" campaigns to have recently hit the streets of New York. Exhibited on phone booths to dumpsters all across the city these ads are endorsing a new and unusual product - bottled clean air. Some of the black and white ads feature young girls on piggy back, a young woman tending to her garden or a father carrying his son at the beach- these familiar scenarios quickly turn grim though as the models are wearing gas masks which are attached to a bottle of Eviair. I am not sure who can be credited for these creations – possibly an environmental group or street artists- but they are an effective campaign that highlights the need to improve air quality or our future looks bleak.

Karine (New York, June 2011)

Half-Awake in a Fake Empire

Burj Khalifa from Dubai Mall, picture taken on the 1st of July, 2011 at 7pm (local time) 

Dear Gnubrev'ers,

How could I avoid to show on the first post the tallest building in the World transcribing the audacious endless limit of Dubai Empire? 

In My desert, we cannot rely on history, culture or tradition. 

However, we're building the City together by mixing anyone and everyone from the World. The result is the biggest Hub for intercultural relations. We are every single day in contact with people from so various places that it feels like Dubai is the reverse story of the Tower of Babel. We don't understand each other, simply we learn to understand each other by growing together and by aiming to accomplish any type of achievements, as the symbolic Burj Khalifa for example.

From some basic assumptions, few people would think only how fake Dubai can be. Unfortunately, most of the time, the media will introduce this region as it appears to be, not as it really is. To better understand what this place means, you have to come here and discover how this Fake Empire works. So many people will never try to experience the journey, but so you should do. Come and see how we do live in a place where every step has to be created by us.

Yes, indeed, there is Life here. Almost two years of mine at least, and certainly more to come...

... in My Fake Empire

I cannot forget that I was listening to the song by the National (Video: Live at Terminal 5, New York) when I landed for the first time in Dubai. It expresses a feeling that I have acquired not so longer after my arrival.

Yes, we're half-awake in the middle of this huge Hub, but we still do our small little things like spending time with friends, enjoying good food, working hard, partying, resting, going to the beach... in a word like thousand, we do live in the City of Life where all our dreams can be true, where we can feel at home far away from Ours...

Faithfully yours,

Vahe (Dubai, July 2011)

Stereotypes & Symbols

light

 Light is both the bridge and the subtlety between these two pictures. The italian sun is radiant with energy. It's a beautiful thing that you must capture from Italy, the sun, so much energy.

nature 

Rome's sun-drenched flora deliciously "melts" into the italian chaos. Nature plays an important part here, and even more all over the world. In some other places I visited, especially south America and Asia, the vegetation is so green that you think to yourself: "our green is not green but grey..." 

Please always try to respect it.

beauty of daily actions 

The clothes and linen hanging in the sun simply give a taste of beauty, the spell of simple things. I especially notice this unassuming charm when I'm on holiday or travelling and these kind of things gently remind me: "Don't run, enjoy!".

art 

Stereotype and proudness of Rome and honestly still so impressive. Open air museum. 

I love art, every kind...

water 

And finally water trying to refresh my country. Italy is in turmoil. Young people urge for change.

"Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence." Ovid

Maybe. But how long can Italy afford to wait?

Elisa (Rome, June 2011)

Trevi & Trastevere pics from federica (http://fedegi.tumblr.com/)

Play me, I'm yours

Over the last two weeks, twenty second hand pianos were installed around the streets of Geneva with a simple label on them:
''Jouez, je suis à vous'', in other words, "Play me, I'm yours".

Based on the original concept by Luke Jerram to enhance communication between people, this event took place simultaneously in twenty cities around the world.

Back in 1887, Ludwik Lejzer Zamenhof, a polish doctor, published an ambitious project: "Lingvo Interacia", which was to be known as the most important attempt to create an international language. He named it Esperanto (Hope). Zamenhof's language and Jerram's project share a common goal: make people use an easy to learn, politically neutral language. Ĉu vi parolas Esperanton? 
In the meanwhile, we still have music. 

"Music expresses feeling and thought, without language; it was below and before speech, and it is above and beyond all words." 
Robert G. Ingersoll

D. (Geneva, June 2011)

(http://www.streetpianos.com/)

Lapa baby!

 The bright optimistic colours reflect Brasil's rough beauty that slowly captures your heart.
Like a beautiful Tattoo, Rio is imprinted in your soul and you can't just describe it,  you need to

Live it.

''tenho saudades tuas''

The Brasilian way is one strong attitude, abundant in Life and Passion.
Let go; Lay on the beach in the deep heat with cariocas selling and surfers riding the waves of Ipanema: Samba in the rain at a Lapa block party, drink Caipirinhas to delerium... Zoom up the favelas on the back of a motorbike, wind past traffic, reach the peak and gaze at the sunset whilst street kids fly kites over roof tops; a sense of beautiful optimism.
Then party non-stop; day and night - carnival time - get robbed in a crowd, have a taxi driver scam you...
And learn to let it all go - It is not about possessions - it's about Life and Passion.
That feeling that you are alive, right here, right now. Feeling the electric vibrancy of Rio and appreciating the 'joie de vivre' with the fellow next to you, regardless of where either of you are from.

''In Brasil the motto seems to be; if you've got it, flaunt it, and if you don't, flaunt it even more.'' 
John Malathronas

Mei (Rio, March 2011)

Welcome back

This moment was seized in a stormbeaten light-house on the Pacific Ocean. The dark green chair is worn and torn, yet draws you humbly into its peaceful release. Then there is a touch of ”been there done that” nonchalance in the way the window focusingly leads you out and towards a pure blue sky, seamlessly joining into the distant water.
I feel this moment like an old couple welcoming you back home. The ocre in the bottom right corner adds to this effect. It reminds me of Grandparents. Coffee stains. Homemade cooking. Picture frames. Non-judgemental free flowing trueblood love. The irreplaceable dampness of a Sunday afternoon.
Truthful. Simple. Authentic.
I hope this space, Gnubrev, will inspire you to do the same.  To feel at home, and suprise yourself in something true. Now get out there and get those colors splashing!

-Thank you-

A. (San Francisco Area, May 2011)