Open, Open, Open...

Open, Open, Open...June 2015. Lago di Bracciano, Italy. 

In June, I was able to take a couple of days and travel to Rome to visit friend. I studied in Rome many years ago and instead of revisiting all the usual stomping grounds, we decided to take a short trip outside of the city to Lago di Bracciano for some R&R. After spending some quality time by the lake, we drove to the nearby Castello Oldescalchi in Bracciano for lunch. It's a tranquil place with beautiful masonry, doors, and colorful plant life. I especially loved this spot. If the street side of the home is this well manicured, I can only imagine what lies behind this door. 

Walking With a Purpose

Walking With a Purpose. Milan, Italy. May 2015. 

The photo above is of a new friend Khalifa al Khalifa, the Pavilion Director for Bahrain. Bahrain is one of the first pavilions visitors see when they come to the Expo by public transportation. It is a tranquil and soothing pavilion that has become a popular destination when visitors want to tune out the rest of Expo. Once inside its white halls, time seems to move a little slower and the chaos seems miles away. The sleek monotone architecture allows the real exhibition, the various trees and plants of growing fruit and produce, to stand out. The space is not flashy, even the written placards of information blend into the wall so they do not interfere with the serene experience. The wonderful pattern above is an installation on the front door. Very inviting and very beautiful inside and out. This pavilion is a great (not so) hidden gem at Expo. 

Sleep with the Fishes

Sleep with the Fishes. Milan, Italy. May 2015. 

Yesterday I spent the afternoon at the newly opened Fondazione Prada in the Lodi neighborhood of Milan. So much hype and publicity surrounded this new space before the May 9th opening that I had to make it my first gallery stop in Milan. The foundation site is comprised of several large industrial buildings repurposed to house a collection of classical and contemporary art and film. My expectations were quite high and although I did not love all the contemporary art inside, it was an afternoon well spent. The gallery is a beautifully curated space and a very unique experience. Every space looked photo ready and the long cavernous halls of the buildings facilitated an easy flow through the exhibits. One of my favorite installations is this aquarium housed in the cistern of an old distillery along with two other pieces. To me, it is both disturbing and soothing at the same time. It is called "Love Lost" by Damien Hirst (2000), but I'll informally refer to it as "Sleep with the Fishes". 

For more on the Prada Foundation: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/arts/design/the-prada-foundations-new-arts-complex-in-milan.html

Sexy Curves

Sexy Curves. Milan, Italy. May 2015. 

One of my favorite pavilions, inside and out, is the United Arab Emirates site. It should be on everyone's Expo "must see" list simply because it is a structure designed by renowned architectural firm Foster + Partners, however the pavilion is much richer than just the exterior. Their team did a beautiful job integrating the new with the old, the synthetic and the natural. I think this shot captures that; the walls are constructed to represent their natural landscape of large red sand deserts, while you can faintly see the sleek, modern pillars used as part of their exhibit. 

The experience inside the UAE pavilion is superb; from 3-D imaging and integration with their pavilion smart phone app, to an enthralling film, and gallery all about the date palm. The narrative of their exhibit addresses the rapid growth of the country, the consequences it has had on natural resources, and what their two major cities are trying to do about it. It's a compelling visit and worth the wait to see it. 

Here I Am

Here I Am. Milan, Italy. May 2015.  

I apologize for the long quiet absence from sharonyang.com. About three weeks ago I moved to Milan to take a grand leap of faith across the Atlantic and join the USA Pavilion staff at Expo Milano 2015. Doors opened to the World Expo on May 1st and it has been a whirlwind leading up to the Expo and a whirlwind since doors opened. I have not had much free time to see the city just yet, but I have seen some fantastic international pavilions on Expo grounds. The Expo is going to provide a lot of great content so I hope you are still there and interested in seeing what life will be like for the next 6 months. 

The photo above was taken on the one day off I have had so far. I was determined to spend sunset on the roof terrace of The Duomo. I stayed on the roof for two and a half hours, perhaps a little excessive, but I met a lot of interesting people while there; a group of young men from London, an American couple, and a group of instagrammers from around Milan. I struck up a particularly nice conversation with Marco Lamberto, one of the IG meet up members who is an excellent photographer. Marco was kind enough to take some photos of me since I was spending the evening sola.

I promise to pick up the speed and start posting again so I hope you continue to come back!

Sunrise, Sunset

Sunrise, Sunset. October 2014. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. 

Tomorrow I begin a new adventure in Milan, Italy. Since I will be leaving this fine city for seven months, I thought this image would be an appropriate one for the day. All D.C. residents have an epic skyline photo featuring the Washington Monument and this is mine. By the time I return here, it will be around the time this photo was taken. A few people have asked if this image is significantly edited, I assure you it is not. I boosted the saturation up slightly to reflect how the sunset looked in person; it was really that beautiful. I will miss seeing this view, but more importantly, I will miss my friends who have been amazing pillars of encouragement along the way. 

Masterful Bernini

Fountain of the Four Rivers. Rome, Italy. January 2009. 

A favorite gathering spot for both Romans and tourists, Piazza Navona features this amazing fountain, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi by Bernini. "Fountain of the Four Rivers" represents four rivers in four continents where papal supremacy reigned in the 1600s; the Nile (Africa), the Danube (Europe), Ganges (Asia), and Rio de la Plata (Americas). This fountain is one of the many reasons why Rome would not be as beautiful had it not been for masterful Bernini. 

'Til Death Do Us Part

'Til Death Do Us Part. New Orleans, LA, U.S.A. January 2011.

Cemeteries in New Orleans are hauntingly beautiful and unique in that they are filled with above ground tombs. In NOLA, there are three prolific cemeteries, Saint Louis 1, 2, and 3. This was taken in Saint Louis Cemetery 2. I spent hours walking through all three; call me morbid, but these were more interesting to look at than the trainwrecks on Bourbon Street. 

The Oldest Synagogue In Europe

Horseshoe Arches. Toledo, Spain, May 2013. 

From Madrid, Toledo is a short train ride northwest. One of the most beautiful structures my friends Janelle, Cat, and I visited was the Santa María la Blanca. Santa María la Blanca is the oldest standing synagogue in Europe. Completed in 1180, this building is an interesting blend as it was constructed by Moorish architects to be used as a synagogue in a Catholic country. You can see the distinctly Islamic influence in the architecture, particularly in these horseshoe arches. It was a synagogue until the 1400s, and has been since used as a monastery, an armory and warehouse, and is now a museum.  

Blue

Blue. Istanbul, Turkey. November 2012.

I visited Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known as The Blue Mosque, in 2012 and it was one of the most stunning domes I have ever seen in person. The blue tiles reflect incredible light and the craftsmanship is something I still have a hard time comprehending. Istanbul is one of the most artistically stimulating places I have visited and this stunning mosque is one of the reasons why I could see myself living in there. 

A Peek Into Riga

A Peek Into Riga. Riga, Latvia. July 2013. 

My friend Tom and I had a day together in Riga before jumping over to Stockholm. We arrived via bus from Tallinn early in the morning and made a beeline for the top of St. Peter's Church to beat the rush. St. Peter's Church offers the best panoramic views of old town Riga. The view is actually unobstructed; I knelt down to take this photo through the legs of the terrace. I wanted to highlight the other major church in old town - the Riga Cathedral - by framing it through the keyhole. 

Vertigo

Vertigo. Barcelona, Spain. May 2013.  

I climbed up the Nativity Façade of La Sagrada Familia and I captured this shot on my walk down one of the spires. The vertical nature of the cathedral is definitely something to marvel at. The Nativity Façade is the more ornate side of the cathedral and the first façade to be completed under the personal supervision of Gaudí. Gaudí's original design for La Sagrada Familia calls for 18 spires and eight have been completed to-date, four on the Nativity Façade and four on the Passion Façade. Only ten more and a century left to go!