Arch.itect.us

Jumbles of beheaded bodies, limbs entwined, torsos twisting, hands reaching out – in compositions that are both glaringly Asian-influenced and psychedelic – call to mind some orgiastic body painting experiment, until you focus on the strange perspective and profusion of hands in various sizes.

This is no ordinary example of beautifully crafted body painting, and as [...]

Whether they contain spiritual secrets or mere mundane accounts of daily life, the ancient texts that today’s scholars just can’t seem to decipher could be keys to understanding civilizations that have long since passed from this world. Many of these 10 dead languages will never be understood, yet they live on as a cryptic reminder [...]

It’s all too easy to accidentally poke a hole into an eggshell – but few people can do it in such a controlled way that it can be called art. Slovenian artist Franc Grom turns these incredibly delicate objects into diminutive, stunningly precise and detailed eggshell sculptures with a steady hand, a sharp eye and [...]

They’re evidence of extraterrestrial visitation, time travelers or lost civilizations like Atlantis – or perhaps they’re here to show us that some ancient peoples were far more advanced than we think. It’s hard not to get caught up in the mystery and intrigue of these puzzling and often bizarre ancient objects, most of which simply [...]

Who is Chris and why does he have so many problems? From mysterious eye ailments and prematurely dead pets to overdue library fees, Chris has issues and he wants to talk to you about it, preferably at 4pm over by that tree. Don’t forget your credentials and some junk food.

Countless New Yorkers have passed these [...]

Wallets and purses are functional and practical carriers for cash, cards and the miscellaneous necessities of daily life – but who says they can’t be more? Forget that boring scrap of leather and slide an adapted Atari game cartridge, space-age metal contraption or even a dead stuffed cane toad into your pocket instead. These 14 [...]

On their harried way through the Toronto subway, commuters passing through the new Bayview/Sheppard station might glance at what looks like a scribbled mess of black paint on the floor and walls and wonder if it was the work of some vision-challenged vandal. But turn a corner and see those sketches from just the right [...]

Already aural masterpieces, the world’s top opera houses and concert halls hardly need to be concerned with appearances – but when you’re reaching for perfection in performance, some symphonic visual stimuli can only add to the experience. From the fluid, wave-inspired silhouette of Santiago Calatrava’s Tenerife Concert Hall in Spain to the mysterious shimmering island [...]

There are many immensely talented artists out there who go to great lengths to make their paintings look as realistic as possible, mimicking the nuances of three-dimensional form, texture and lighting. But it’s rare that the opposite is true – wherein an artist seeks to make reality look like a painting. Meet Alexa Meade, who [...]

Thin enough to slide under your door yet able to transform into full-size tables, chairs, bookcases and more, flat-pack furniture isn’t just incredibly clever. This modern rethinking of furniture assembly is super-convenient, using slots and tabs rather than tools and fasteners. Best of all, flat-pack furniture is often made from a single piece of material [...]