That cathedral looks like it was pressed from a 3-D printer. Utilitarian and uninspiring. The dullness in modern architecture mirrors the dullness in people now.
Concur...and congratulations on moving into the beauty of the non-concrete, non steel world! The natural world is itself one of the most prominent evidences for the hand of a Divine Creator's foundational endeavors:
In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10
When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Psalm 8:3-4
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1
In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Psalm 95:4-5
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Isaiah 40:26
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20
For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.” – Colossians 1:16
Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created. Revelation 4:11
In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Psalm 95:4-5
This morning the sky was filled with planes spraying whatever their noxious substances are trying to fill the expanse with fake clouds. It always makes me angry and frustrated to see and I railed to God in my head and asked him to get rid of it all and help these people see what madness it is. After a few hours of running errands I came home to the most beautiful clear blue sky. He is amazing! Hallelu-yah.
That we who have apprehend/appropriated Him are His as well, prized, loved, doted on, and cared for with an everlasting love makes even the open and flagrant stupidity & depravity of humankind in their evil pursuits less significant, by contrast -- and yes, when His intervention is more apparent & tangible to us, it is even more celebration and praise-worthy!
The incessant thrum of efficiency, productivity & profitability have drowned out the aesthetic inspiration and comfort that once filled even the civilized world. For those of us who live semi-rural existences (I'm on an island north of Seattle WA) the trees, the birds, the frogs, and depending on where you are, the sound of the water are all reminders of Gods magnificence, creativity and love of beauty -- a stark contrast to what "civilization" has done to cultivate the very opposite, intentionally and deliberately, to rob us of the sense of awe and the comfort of artistic expression. Biggest surprise (to me) is that the preponderance of what was featured as examples were standard fare and were not the product of commissioned artists expressing themselves, but production-grade expressions of beauty that served to remind us of how inspiring things CAN BE in an otherwise bland and mundane world.
We recently moved to a place where once again God’s wonder is all around us and it has made SUCH a difference to our outlook and, quite frankly, our gratitude. Hard not to feel humble when you look at the magnificence of nature.
Japan, manhole covers: I’ve seen a few here in our fringe-rural setting, a one-hour train ride from central Tokyo, about 25-30 miles.
But they’re not the norm here. But just guessing here, there might be certain rich urban neighborhoods where the decorative manhole covers are the norm. Just guessing.
I think the world we choose to create around us projects the soul within us. It is not that we are what we create, but that we create out of what we are.
As the world gets harsher , we need more beauty to surround and uplift us. Living in the UK I am fortunate to see the legacy of the Victorians in the building, stations and especially in lamp post. I am sad to see a beautiful old one replaced by a bland modern one, such a great example.
So interesting, and true. I hadn't really realized this was occurring. I own an art gallery so Im surrounded by beauty everyday. It would do a lot for the human spirit to get really creative in all our endeavors, and bring our inner beauty out into the world.
That's so great - intentionally surrounding yourself with things you find beautiful as part of your work! I think if society still valued things of beauty we'd still get properly dressed before going out in public, instead of normalizing wearing pajama pants and bedroom slippers. Remember when everyone wore hats? And put on their "Sunday best" to drop family off at the airport?
That cathedral looks like it was pressed from a 3-D printer. Utilitarian and uninspiring. The dullness in modern architecture mirrors the dullness in people now.
It’s a vicious cycle, isn’t it?
Concur...and congratulations on moving into the beauty of the non-concrete, non steel world! The natural world is itself one of the most prominent evidences for the hand of a Divine Creator's foundational endeavors:
In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10
When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Psalm 8:3-4
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1
In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Psalm 95:4-5
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Isaiah 40:26
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20
For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.” – Colossians 1:16
Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created. Revelation 4:11
Thank you for these. This one is my new favorite:
In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Psalm 95:4-5
This morning the sky was filled with planes spraying whatever their noxious substances are trying to fill the expanse with fake clouds. It always makes me angry and frustrated to see and I railed to God in my head and asked him to get rid of it all and help these people see what madness it is. After a few hours of running errands I came home to the most beautiful clear blue sky. He is amazing! Hallelu-yah.
That we who have apprehend/appropriated Him are His as well, prized, loved, doted on, and cared for with an everlasting love makes even the open and flagrant stupidity & depravity of humankind in their evil pursuits less significant, by contrast -- and yes, when His intervention is more apparent & tangible to us, it is even more celebration and praise-worthy!
The incessant thrum of efficiency, productivity & profitability have drowned out the aesthetic inspiration and comfort that once filled even the civilized world. For those of us who live semi-rural existences (I'm on an island north of Seattle WA) the trees, the birds, the frogs, and depending on where you are, the sound of the water are all reminders of Gods magnificence, creativity and love of beauty -- a stark contrast to what "civilization" has done to cultivate the very opposite, intentionally and deliberately, to rob us of the sense of awe and the comfort of artistic expression. Biggest surprise (to me) is that the preponderance of what was featured as examples were standard fare and were not the product of commissioned artists expressing themselves, but production-grade expressions of beauty that served to remind us of how inspiring things CAN BE in an otherwise bland and mundane world.
We recently moved to a place where once again God’s wonder is all around us and it has made SUCH a difference to our outlook and, quite frankly, our gratitude. Hard not to feel humble when you look at the magnificence of nature.
Japan, manhole covers: I’ve seen a few here in our fringe-rural setting, a one-hour train ride from central Tokyo, about 25-30 miles.
But they’re not the norm here. But just guessing here, there might be certain rich urban neighborhoods where the decorative manhole covers are the norm. Just guessing.
I think the world we choose to create around us projects the soul within us. It is not that we are what we create, but that we create out of what we are.
You are probably correct, and what a sad statement that is.
As the world gets harsher , we need more beauty to surround and uplift us. Living in the UK I am fortunate to see the legacy of the Victorians in the building, stations and especially in lamp post. I am sad to see a beautiful old one replaced by a bland modern one, such a great example.
It's a great video, if you haven't seen it.
It is great, I really enjoyed it …worse than being ugly its boring ..
So interesting, and true. I hadn't really realized this was occurring. I own an art gallery so Im surrounded by beauty everyday. It would do a lot for the human spirit to get really creative in all our endeavors, and bring our inner beauty out into the world.
That's so great - intentionally surrounding yourself with things you find beautiful as part of your work! I think if society still valued things of beauty we'd still get properly dressed before going out in public, instead of normalizing wearing pajama pants and bedroom slippers. Remember when everyone wore hats? And put on their "Sunday best" to drop family off at the airport?
I tell people that our homes should be a sanctuary, to surround ourselves with art that speaks to our deepest selves.
Yes, I remember our Sunday best and always looking presentable.