John-Demetriades-7wonders
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Transcript of John-Demetriades-7wonders
Biography
As an ACS student for this year I have pursued different types of
learning. This involves interaction with objects of our study and
an in depth search of knowledge. I have been learning how to use
this knowledge to my advantage. In addition, as my grandmother
is an artist and I have grown up around her work, it is very
interesting to see how modern art was slowly formed by all these
particles of the past. As a Humanities student I have realized that
observing is not only what you see. It is the slightest details that
make a difference and the past of artifacts that gives them
significance in this world.
My seven wonders, John Demetriades
Column, Pantanassa Monastery Church, 1428,
Mystra
In the church of Pantanassa as I examined the room
with all the frescoes I concluded that there was
something that really pulled it all together and
provided a sense of aesthetics and elegance. Between
each and every fresco we found intricate, organic
designs all around, which clearly have a decorative
purpose, adding the sense of nature. The design
featured leaves, arranged in geometrical patterns.
These patterns reminded me of Islamic art found in
mosques.
Sketch of Perivleptos, 1350, Mystra
I always enjoy my quiet time for some reason. It is the
one moment when I can ignore everything around me
and lose myself in my thoughts. On the trip to Mystra I
experienced a mystical sort of bond when we visited
the Perivleptos church. During this visit we were told to
take a vow of silence and observe the monument and
nature. As I sat there I felt both an overwhelming and
enlightening sensation. I found that the nature
surrounding me brought me this very light and uplifting
mood, which followed me throughout the rest of the
trip. As I sat there looking at the church I could not
help but capture the beutiful moment in my notebook.
Dove, Mitropolis 1270-1290, Mystra
This Ombo was a wooden structure found in the Metropolis in
Mystra, were the bishop would sit. It belongs to the second
story of the building and has a dove on the top part which gives
it a very majestic look. I personally was intrigued by this dove
form, carved in wood that in a way spread its wings covering the
entire church under it. The dove was a symbol of royalty due to
the Paleologue dynasty. Furthermore in Christianity, even today,
it is considered a symbol of the Holy Spirit. I also connected this
structure to the Minbar in Islamic religion where the leader of
the prayer would stand. This is one of many similarities that
gave me the impression of the great interaction that occurred
between religions.
Floor Mosaic, Illisos Basilica, Byzantine and
Christian Museum, 400 AD.
This picture was taken from one of the Illisos Basilica
floor mosaics. It is made from various types of stones
that were stuck together in a specific way to form
these ornamental designs. These tiles were very
heavy, which was the reason there are no stone
mosaics on the walls. This design really attracted my
eye as it is very complex and has this rope-like
structure as if it is wrapped around something. It is
very colorful, using vibrant colors and brings out the
main design of the tile.
Sketch of Astrolabe, 225 AD., Museum of Islamic Art
I have never really been intrigued by the general
concept of science, but rather the causes that drive
people to generate these life-changing conclusions
about the general function of the universe. Arab
culture very much embraced the sciences and
perpetuated them to a great extent, even though the
Greeks had given them the basis of their research. The
Arabs were the founders of Astronomy, the study of
the stars, which came as a need for navigation due to
their deserted and barren landscapes. The astrolabe
was a device that was used to measure distance using
the stars as a guide.
Stained Glass Window, 17th
century, Museum of Islamic Art
This stained glass window design was in a room from Egypt
made in the 17th
century. Its different colors have an enormous
effect on the lighting of the room - the entire room brightens
and comes to life. Using these vibrant and diverse colors a light
spectrum is created. In addition, the window is shaped this way
in order to reduce passage of light which I found very practical
and intelligent of them. This would function as a kind of cooling
mechanism, which was absolutely necessary due to the climate.
The impact of the slightest window as such had a great impact
on the lighting of the room and played a role in the people’s
everyday life.
Head of Medusa Sketch, Byzantine and Christian
Museum, 400 AD.
This sculpture is one of the many that underwent the process of
Christianization. Christianization was a movement that took
place during the early years of Byzantium as Constantine came
to power and made Christianity the official religion. It is a part of
marble slab with relief in which the head of Medusa is depicted
on one side and a cross on the other side. This object struck my
attention as I saw a figure of ancient Greek religion next to a
Christian cross. This indicates the collaboration between the
church and the ancient religion. We can see that ancient art was
embraced and used to the churches advantage for its beauty, a
type of exploitation of these pieces.