Fuck Conciousness

Why look up a word when you can have the author dumb it down.

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The Astoundingly Complex Ancient Indian Stepwells 

Ancient Indian stepwells captured by Victoria S. Lautman. Rudimentary stepwells first appeared in India between the 2nd and 4th centuries A.D., born of necessity in a capricious climate zone bone-dry for much of the year followed by torrential monsoon rains for many weeks. It was essential to guarantee a year-round water-supply for drinking, bathing, irrigation and washing, particularly in the arid states of Gujarat (where they’re called vavs) and Rajasthan (where they’rebaoli, baori, or bawdi) where the water table could be inconveniently buried ten-stories or more underground. Over the centuries, stepwell construction evolved so that by the 11th century they were astoundingly complex feats of engineering, architecture, and art. 

Text via

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Gabriel Scanu

[crossconnectmag]

Surreal Photography by French artist Alastair Magnaldo

To create an image, he first makes a sketch and then starts his photo hunting, searching for the right object for his photo.

The creation of one work of art takes at least eight hours, six of which are spent computer processing. When Alastair needs a new landscape photo for his photo painting it may take him several hours, just waiting for the perfect shot. Therefore, the time it takes is a relative matter. For one of his photgraphs he had to wait two years for the right setting of the moon. Alastair does not like to call himself artist nor photographer. He says he is a collector of images. via

Our Facebook. Note: The page is addictive!

posted by Margaret

[butt-berry]

It’s Bulbasaur blooming season

[butt-berry]

Lots of variety this year!

[butt-berry]

A late bloomer!

[butt-berry]

Water-lily Bulbasaur catching up on the latest gossip at the lake

[butt-berry]

Wow, looks like thing are getting serious between hibiscus and fuchsia!

[sulettacore64]

this is pure and good

[justice777]

Evening

[theproblackgirl]

“It’s time y’all. It’s time.”

We have not forgotten you, Sandra. 😔 Continue to rest in infinite power. 

❤️

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A Curved Library Reflected by the Floors Like Water

Architecture firm XL-Muse has completed ‘Yangzhou Zhongshuge’, a library located in Zhen Yuan, China. the concept was based on the idea of water and how it is the cradle and breeding ground of the Yngzhou culture. Another important element was the arch bridge—an indispensable traditional element used as a guiding factor of commerce, which will represent in the bookstore the connection between human and books throughout history. As visitors walk in, they are welcomed by the arched walls which turn into ceilings that contain the books. the use of a black mirrored glass as floors reflects the bookshelves while giving a feeling of water.

Check out the design by XL-Muse of another magical bookstore: Hangzhou Zhongshuge.

Images and text via

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A World of Playgrounds

In the words of the artist James Mollison:

When I conceived this series of pictures, I was thinking about my time at school. I realized that most of my memories were from the playground. It had been a space of excitement, games,bullying, laughing, tears, teasing, fun, and fear. It seemed an interesting place to go back and explore in photographs.I started the project in the UK, revisiting my school and some of the other schools nearby. I became fascinated by the diversity of children’s experiences, depending on their school. 

The contrasts between British schools made me curious to know what schools were like in other countries.Most of the images from the series are composites of moments that happened during a single break time—a kind of time-lapse photography. I have often chosen to feature details that relate to my own memories of the playground. Although the schools I photographed were very diverse, I was struck by the similarities between children’s behavior and the games they played.

Images and text via

[wetheurban]

Amaal Said’s Portraits Explore the Immense Beauty of WOC

London-based photographer Amaal Said’s quiet, poetic portraits offer humanizing photographs and poems of people in her community, frequently young people of the diaspora who are far too often under- or misrepresented.

Instagram.com/WeTheUrban

Keep reading

[no-longer-another-bondi-blonde]

These are too pretty to wear 💖💖

[awesome-picz]

National Geographic’s Top Photos Of 2015.

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Surrealist Garden Las Pozas in México

“Magic happens at Las Pozas. Just like in work by Salvador Dalí, at Las Pozas art portrays one thing as another, invents a reality put in place of conventional, official, socially acceptable reality. More than painting a picture or sculpting an object, they produced an atmosphere, a privileged place.” ~ Irene Herner

Nestled in the thick jungles of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, Edward James discovered the perfect setting for staging his life’s masterpiece. A surrealist labyrinth unfolds amid waterfalls and ponds—natural and man-made—that prepare the mind for immersion into a dream world. With buildings that evoke nonsense, doors leading nowhere, stairways to the sky and concrete flowers that sprout beside real ones, one man’s dreams are realized and reality is displaced by fantasy.

Images via text via

[captainnickii]

“ Official White House photographer Pete Souza captured an estimated 2 million photos over 8 years while Obama was in office…Here’s a selection of some of his favourite shots… ”

[haveuseenmyhalo]

Happy Birthday @asubssoul2013 💖💖

[asubssoul2013]

Kisses right back to you @pleaseholdmyhalo !💋

[crossconnectmag]

The Psychedelic Paintings by @Hannah Faith Yata

Hannah Faith Yata is a Brooklyn based artist who is originally from Carrollton, Georgia. She earned a BFA in painting at the University of Georgia. 

I love working with the feminine form. The female embodies so much in terms of imagery and symbolism. For things such as nature, oppression, beauty, love, emotion, sexuality there are so many layers and facets one can glean from representing the woman. 

As I approach the idea of femininity I bring with it my own experiences growing up as a woman and the difficulties and struggles that I have fought. The psychology of how women are portrayed in art and the media are amplified and exposed in my work. In turn, I’ve reinterpreted my experiences and how women are portrayed in today’s society to also extend to how it seems that we as individuals and as a race have objectified, commodified and exploited women, animals, and nature  via

Our archives is the treasure chest. Just open it and you’ll see.

posted by Margaret

Cross Connect is a partner of the Minuscule community network

You’re probably wondering what is Minuscule? The answer is here and then  here.

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Zinc Mines Museum Peter Zumthor

One of the projects featured on Peter Zumthor’s tumblr ZTH. His tumblr let us see glimpses of his built and current projects, design process and features in the media.

The zinc mines at Allmannajuvet are an old mining facility in Sauda in the Ryfylke region. The mines were in operation from 1881 until 1899. The mining operations were vital to the local community, with up to 168 employees and shipments of ore to overseas destinations. The operations were a precursor of the later development of hydropower and establishment of manufacturing industries in Sauda in the Ryfylke region. This era is an important part of the history of Sauda. Zumthor faced the task of communicating this old industrial history and making the old mines more accessible to visitors.

To ensure that this historical facility preserves its unique natural and cultural qualities and its experience of a mining community, the architect has chosen a muted form of expression. The architecture includes, for example, three modest buildings: a museum facility for communicating the history of the mines, a café and a service building near the main road. The plain but spectacular buildings have been designed in the tradition of industrial architecture, and blend well into the landscape.

Additional images via + via

Check out this tumblr!

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Takanori Aiba

TAKANORI AIBA was born in 1953 in Yokohama, Japan. Studied Japanese traditional textiles and dyed clothing in Tokyo Zokei University. Built a first career as a freelance maze illustrator since 1978. His maze works were serialized in “POPYE”, Japanese fashion magazine for 10 years. Founded his own company, “Graphics and Designing Inc.”, in 1981. Expand a range of his career to a concept maker and art director for architectural spaces. Total production of “Shin Yokohama Chinese Noodle Museum”, “Muse Du Petit Prince De Saint Exupery A Hakone”, “NINJA AKASAKA” were one of his major works.

Since, 2003, He put his mind to create three dimensional art works which combines his knowledge and experience of both maze illustrator and architect. On September, 2010, He had a solo exhibition, “Adventures of the Eyes” at Kakiden Gallery, Tokyo Japan with his works.