Tuesday 24 May 2011

Asian Dictator's Collection of the Day 01

 These pair of shoes are brilliant. The synthesis of high fashion and street fashion is what I am looking for. Pictured here are six pairs of the Vans Slip-On styled by Robert Verdi with designs from six different silk Hermès ties. The main question is, how much a pair costs?













Who is generous enough to give me pair? My birthday is approaching.
This is Breathtaking.

I personally like this one. It gives a definition of class and street at the same time. I'm going to spend the whole week finding this in Athens.  



The National Archeological Museum



Asian Dictator of Taste Visits the National Archaeological Museum

  
  
     The National Archaeological Museum in Athens is considered one of the best museums in the world. It is also the largest archaeological museum in Greece. According to the pamphlet of the museum, it was founded at the end of the 19th century to house and protect antiquities from all over Greece. The Museum can be found at 44 Patission St. which is a bit far from Syntagma Square. The plot was first donated by Eleni Tositsa and its construction was based on the designs of the architects L. Lange and P. Kalkos. As the museum adopted changes until the 20th century, its galleries houses and shows the evolution of ancient Greek culture. The Museum’s collections could be divided into the Prehistoric Sculpture, Vases and Minor Arts, Bronze and Egyptian Antiquities.
     The Prehistoric Collection includes objects from the Aegean during the Neolithic period and Bronze Age. It also includes objects and treasures from the royal tombs of the Mycenaean Civilization and Cycladic marble figurines. The Sculpture Collection contains some of the most exquisite Greek sculpture during the Archaic and Classical period. The most important are the series of Classical grave relief and Kouroi (male sculptures). In addition, it houses some of the largest groups of original sculptures in the world. The Collection of Vases and Minor Arts contains cases and sculpture that highlights the great quality of the Geometric Period. The Bronze collection on the other hand, is famous for its rich collection of Bronze statues of the two most important Greek Gods, Zeus and Poseidon, the jockey from Artemision and many others such as figurines and vases. Lastly, the Egyptian Collection which shows Egyptian civilization from the early Pre-dynastic period until the time of the Roman Empire is one of the most famous in the world. Among the objects that can be found in this particular gallery are pots, statues, jewelries, mummies, sarcophagi and many other fascinating Egyptian objects.
Visiting the museum thrilled me a lot. Since high school I always loved history and archaeology. It is really interesting to learn the people of the past and how they lived. Since I had high expectations from this museum I really raised the standards of what I think were the essential criteria for a museum to be successful. I believe that other than the artifacts, pots, jewelries, vases, sculpture etc. the organization and the way they explain each and every thing in a clear way are important. And to be honest at some point I got confused and disappointed. The museum was huge with really high ceilings, wide spaces and it gives you a feeling of emptiness. However, when I saw certain sculptures and objects which I longed and desired to see in person, my mind ignored every bit of details that bothered me. This was no other than the Mask of Agamemnon which can be found in the Mycenaean gallery and the huge bronze statue of Zeus and Poseidon.

Monday 23 May 2011

The Acropolis Museum



Asian Dictator of Taste Visits the New Acropolis Museum

  
  
    Of all the museums in Athens, the Acropolis Museum is definitely one of the most important and breathtaking museums, due to its architectural location, organization, design and of course the magnificent collections that it houses.
    The Museum is located in the historic Makryianni district situated 300 meters south of the Acropolis. It is conveniently located next to the Acropolis Metro Station which makes it easily accessible by tourists. According to its pamphlet, the museum was founded to exhibit all the significant finds from the Sacred Rock and its foothills. It was designed by architect Bernard Tschumi with Michael Photiadis. One can say that the museum is still new and modern since it was inaugurated in the summer of 2009. It covers a total area of 25,000 square meters in which over 14,000 square meters is exhibition space. Through the transparent glass outer walls of the museum, one can have the visual link between the collections exhibited in the Museum and the monument from which they once originated. Located on the ground floor is the Gallery of the slopes of Acropolis. Moving to the first floor is the nine meter high “Archaic Gallery” which hosts magnificent sculptures such as the beautiful archaic korai (female sculptures). Another interesting architectural feature of the museum can be found at the third floor. This is also known as the Parthenon Gallery. It is a rectangular, solid concrete core that was built to the exact dimensions and orientation as the Parthenon. It was especially designed to receive and display the entire temple frieze. After the Parthenon Gallery, a visitor can return back to the first floor and continue the journey and see works from the Propylaia, the temple of Athena Niki and the Erechtheion. Finally, one can notice that the floors are mostly made of glass which matches the transparency of its walls. The very base of the museum also is transparent, making it appear as if the museum was floating. As the museum’s pamphlet notes, it is supported by more than 100 concrete pillars which provide an impressive shelter for the site’s archaeological excavation.
     Compared to the other museums I visited here in Athens, I found this particular museum the most organized. Every corner of the museum is filled with workers who are really strict on regulating the museum’s rules and regulation. Although the museum is large, a lot of useful maps and signs guide every visitor to follow the right track until the very exit. This helps every visitor to understand and appreciate the collections better in an organized way. Lastly, I think the Greek government or the official in charge of this museum did a remarkable job since they were able to portray the grandeur of the Acropolis to the whole world. Who knows? The museum might earn back the other pieces from other museums world wide, such as the very well known Elgin Marbles.