A list of curious facts
One: In a world trapped in anger and anguish, we’re determined to remind ourselves of its beauty today. We start with a set of giant hands in Venice—see lead image—which were the talk of the town during the 2017 Venice Biennale. Created by a celebrated sculptor Lorenzo Quinn, the gargantuan hands emerge from a Venetian canal—seemingly holding up the Ca’ Sagredo Hotel.
The sculpture is called simply ‘Support’. It is a comment on climate change and “symbolizes humankind’s capability to destroy the world and an equal ability to save the world too.” Very apt for these times—although the sculpture has since been dismantled. Also a curious fact: Lorenzo is Anthony Quinn’s son. Educated Traveller has a lovely essay on Quinn’s dramatic sculptures in Venice. Public Delivery has more on this specific sculpture—both with excellent pics.
Two: Who cares about boring old floor routines, when you can be twirling like a ballerina in air. Skydiving is the coolest new pro sport—where contestants soar, dive and spin in indoor wind tunnels. Also, awesomely, this: “Indoor routines are now commonly set to music, lending them power and poetry. Their choreography, which can incorporate aspects of breaking and ballet, has in turn become more expressive — more like dance.” For example:
One is good, two is even better:
FYI: the first world championship will be held next year. (New York Times)
Three: Here’s a reminder that humans do other things than throw bombs at one another. Sometimes, they even go at each other with water guns and buckets—and it’s a “wild, wet party” with zero casualties. We’re talking about the Songkran water festival—which is held every year from April 13-15 in Bangkok. “The world's biggest water fight" is part of the Thai New Year—with festivities that stretch across the country. Two related curious facts. One: Songkran is derived from Sanskrit and means "to enter" or "move forward.” Two: It had a memorable cameo in the recent season of White Lotus. You can get a taste of the revelry below. (BBC News)
Bonus fact: We leave you with this wondrous church named Sino-french Science Park Church. This luminous reinterpretation of a traditional church is located in a lavender field in Chengdu, China. (Arch Daily)
