The Motivation Blog

April 2009Monthly Archives

The National Gallery of Modern Art Promotes Excellence and Education

The National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi was first established by the Indian government in 1954. The primary initial intent was to promote the original art of India and foster the development of new work. It has since grown to become a national landmark and also offers a broad look at the history of Indian art and its relevance to the culture. The prestigious gallery is a fascinating spot for tourists to explore and experience the impact art has had on Indian society and its relevance to the rest of the world. Brochures, directions and information on the NGMA is available for tourists at the Delhi India hotels.

One of the most important original intents in establishing the gallery was to promote a standard of excellence and to give recognition to emerging Indian artists. This extends beyond the exhibits themselves and is incorporated into the educational program attached to the gallery. Art in India is considered to be an essential extension of the human spirit and expression of aesthetics through various mediums. Fostering an understanding of artistic techniques and developing an appreciation for art in young people ensures the continued relevance of its place in society. To achieve this the gallery has organized visits to schools and offers guided educational tours of its exhibits. They have developed specialized lectures for specific ages and bring in specialists and skilled professionals for this.

The National Gallery of Modern art has a collection that includes more than 14,000 works of art in various mediums. They have showcased the talents of artists such as Jamini Roy, Thomas Daniell, Abanindranath Tagore, Raja Ravi Varma as well as many from the international scene. The gallery is the premiere modern art gallery in India and is still sponsored by the government. It is managed as a subordinate office to the Department of Culture, Government of India.

Lisa
April 27, 2009
Travel
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Phra Pathom Chedi

Phra Pathom Chedi is perhaps the oldest Buddhist monument in Thailand. It stands in the small town of Nakhon Pathom which is about 60 kilometers South of Bangkok. Its name is loosely translated as “place of first worship” and is the highest stupa in the world, reaching as high as 120 meters in the air. A stupa is large mound that contains Buddhist relics that are usually associated with the Buddha or a saint. The Phra Pathom Chedi is first mentioned in the scripts in 675 and has had an interesting and rich history through the centuries.

A new Chedi was built at the site during the reign of King Mongut. This is the one that is still in existence and replaced the one before it, which was possibly 2000 years old. The temple that houses the Chedi is recognized as one of the six highest royal temples in Buddhist culture. One of the beliefs associated with this Chedi is that anyone who is able to strike all of its bells receives recognition and merit from the gods. The site is a popular destination for Buddhist faith followers and tourists who are eager to learn about and experience the fine aspects of Thai culture. It is common for a visitor who is staying in one of the Bangkok business hotels to make the journey south of the city to experience this historic marvel.

The Chedi also houses the National Musuem of Phra Pathom Chedi. It contains some of the most rare and ancient artifacts of Thai culture. The museum has become a center of history and archeological research. One of the sacred relics at the museum is the Phra Ruang Rochanarit. This piece is considered to be one of the best examples of a bronze sculpture of Buddha created in the Sukhothai style. This style of sacred art represents the Buddha in the parlay-lai and pang silo kao postures.

Lisa
April 25, 2009
Travel
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Street vs. Tradition at Fashion Week

Traditional Indian garments are experiencing a revival and will take center stage during Couture Week which will be held September 16-21, 2009. The event will consist of fashion shows, yet will be unaccompanied by the usual fanfare. There are no affiliated events and there will be none of the usual parties. Designers are arranging separate quarters in five star hotels in New Delhi. In order to hold talks with potential buyers. This new event, a celebration of Indian fashion designers, will feature a dozen first rate designers. These fashion designers will be presenting their collections. Your browser may not support display of this image.Designers Ritu Kumar and Rohit Bal will open and close the Couture Week. Tarun Tahiliani, Anamika Khanna, Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla, Pallavi Jaikishen, Suneet Verma, Ashish Soni, J.J. Valaya, Manish Malhotra, Varun Behl and Manav Gangwani are the others who will feature their collections at the event.

On a less traditional note, in New Delhi, designers are using the worldwide recession and emotional depression to set a subdued trend for their fall/winter collections. Models draped in deep, dark colors sashayed down the catwalk at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, an event in which some of India’s up and coming fashion designers compete for business. In the midst of a recession, frugality is becoming chic. Many of the collections have been inspired by the global downturn. Inspired by urban “street” life, the grungy underside of the slick urban life, much of the fashion is geared to reducing the impression of conspicuous consumption. Some of the garments appeared to be “de-constructed” with parts of the sleeves and collar missing from one blouse. Other accessories such as hats are made from found objects. Cheap staples, like cotton t shirts, were combined with luxury accessories to create a smart modern look. All of which goes to show that you can be frugal, sensible, spend less and yet you can be fashionable and look great.”

Lisa
April 20, 2009
Travel
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The Geometric Planning of Jaipur

Many city planners consider the city of Jaipur, India to be one of the most considered plans, one of the best laid out cities in the world. During times of war and dispute the kings of Jaipur remained diplomatic, which served to support and enhance their control, meanwhile they retained relations with the fighting sides. Focusing on the prosperity of the citizens, as well as their physical and spiritual comfort, this is a city planned in accordance with the Pouranic and Vedic way, the Vastu Shastra.

This brings into importance just the simple directions that the building would face, and the directions of the way the streets and road run. Every street runs north and south, and market places and five star Jaipur hotels face to the west. This exhibits a bit of the yin and the yang, the sun and the moon. The name for the gate to the East of the city is Suraj, which translates in English to Sun, and the name for the gate to the west is Chand, which means moon. The Northern gate is positioned to face the city of Amber, an ancestral capital and focal point. These are the only gates that face, one to the North, one to the West and one to the East…while many do face South.

The planning that originally built the city of Jaipur, has been expanding outside the city’s boundaries. The gates that were once opened in the morning with sunrise and closed in the evening with sunset, are now left open. This may have something to do with not only the expansion of the culture and the dropping of the boundaries, but with the continuance of such organized city planning. Many cities in India have been portrayed with winding, narrow streets, confusion and run down temples and shack houses. But this is not the way the Hindu’s envisioned the construction of the cities. The requirements were strict and focused on exact geometric design.

Lisa
April 19, 2009
Travel
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Nurses in the Midlands

Birmingham, England has had the reputation of being a city as a powerhouse of trade and industry. It has the second highest population in all of Britain and it has been ranked third on the list of the best cities to find a business and to find work, not so much in the industrial occupations any longer, but in in other industries such as tourism and any business related to travel such as a Birmingham hotel or a cafe. And while tourism is still thriving during the international crunch on the economy , at least one section of the population is finding these economic times a bit of a challenge, and that section of the population is one of the most important, the nurses. In all of the Midland cities, not just Birmingham but cities such as Wolverhampton and Solihull as well, nurses were questioned and almost half are having trouble surviving these times and have found it necessary to take second jobs. Working these jobs just to be able to afford the daily necessities and to pay their bills. And it isn’t just the nurses that are in trouble but the assistant health workers as well. Salaries have been cut, and while they continue to work full time many have found that not only are they having trouble paying their monthly mortgages on the homes, but that more than one quarter have filed for bankruptcy

And while the salaries decreasing, the prices of gas and food are increasing. Many are concerned with the well-being of the nurses themselves, stating that with half of them working the second job, that means many nurses may be tired and overworked when taking care of patients, or distracted due to anxiety and the constant pressure of worrying about their finances. In such an important field of work, errors can mean the difference in someones life. This is affecting the present, and the future as well, as many of those in training right now to become nurses just simply can not afford to study any longer. This may mean trouble in the future if not enough are able to train today. Some of the students are able to do what the nurses are doing, taking second jobs while still spending so much time in training, but for many this is just becoming too difficult. And at the moment, more and more people are becoming affected by this economy, not just thehealth-care workers of the midlands, but all families throughout the Midlands are struggling and doing all they can to make ends meet.

Lisa
April 12, 2009
Business, Travel
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