March 2025 – TURKIYEMUZIK

In ‘KAUANI,’ Indigenous Mexican Flora Flourishes in Glowing Lanterns

In Nahuatl, an Aztec language indigenous to Mesoamerica still spoken by more than a million people throughout Mexico, kauani means “to flourish.” Designers Inés Quezada and Inés Llasera, co-founders of Tornasol Studio, conceived of a series of luminaires inspired by native flora in celebration of the region’s rich botanic diversity.

The ongoing series, KAUANI, emulates details of endemic species, drawing on textures found on cacti, geometric agaves, and the rhythmic patterns of corn. The duo also find inspiration in the unique seeds of mamey and guanabana fruits or the pigmentation of cacao and chili peppers.

a room with numerous illuminated suspended lights, all loosely reminiscent of tropical fruits

“Cacti symbolize resilience,” Quezada and Llasera say in a statement, sharing how the plants’ adaptations to extreme environments mean they can endure long droughts and high temperatures. The pair adds:

For instance, their spines not only serve as a defense mechanism but also condense water and create a protective layer. Their pale pigmentation, resulting from waxes that insulate their tissues and their water-retention capabilities grant them unique volumetric forms. Unlike most plants, cacti perform photosynthesis at night, closing their stomata during the day to conserve water and nutrients. It is in darkness that they truly “breathe.”

Merging natural forms of fruit and botanicals with textiles, the lanterns incorporate knitted skins with delicate spikes, ruffles, or tentacles that tread the line between representation and abstraction. Melon-like orbs and oblong shapes reminiscent of seed pods are suspended from the ceiling or propped up on surfaces with spindly feet.

If you’re in Mexico City, you can see KAUANI in Noches Árides through May 15 at AGO Projects. Explore more on the designers’ website, and follow updates on Instagram.

a detail of a suspended greenish-gray textile lamp with vertical stripes

a detail of a suspended pink-and-green textile lamp shade

a detail of a suspended orange lamp abstractly reminiscent of a tropical fruit

a darkened room with numerous illuminated suspended lights, all loosely reminiscent of tropical fruits

a detail of a suspended green lamp abstractly reminiscent of a tropical fruit

a detail of a suspended green lamp with folds of textile

a small lamp abstractly reminiscent of a fruit, sits in a corner illuminating wooden walls

a detail of a suspended white lamp abstractly reminiscent of a fruit with small tendrils on the surface with red tips

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article In ‘KAUANI,’ Indigenous Mexican Flora Flourishes in Glowing Lanterns appeared first on Colossal.

Regal Portraits Evoke Myth and Power in Simone Elizabeth Saunders’ Hand-Tufted Textiles

Emblazoned with vibrant patterns and words like “TRUTH” and “LOVE,” Simone Elizabeth Saunders explores Black identity in relation to kinship, power, and survival. Her hand-tufted textiles (previously) merge cultural narratives and history with mythology, nostalgia, and personal experiences.

Saunders predominantly focuses on women, who she portrays in bold portraits and within fantastical, empowering scenarios. In recent works like “Girl with Butterflies” and “She Manifests Her Destiny,” figures embrace and commune with totem-like snakes, insects, and plants.

a hand-tufted embroidery composition of a Black woman crouched down next to a fox, with sunflowers and thistles on either side and the word "TRUTH" written large enough to fill the entire background — “She Reveals” (2022), hand-tufted velvet, acrylic, and wool yarn on rug warp, 65 x 60.5 x 1 inches

Rooted in the myriad histories of the global Black diaspora and rich textile traditions throughout countless cultures, Saunders employs a craft technique historically relegated to a role “beneath” fine art in order to turn the tables on how we comprehend influence, identity, and artistic expression.

Saunders is represented by Claire Oliver Gallery, and you can explore more work on the artist’s Instagram.

a hand-tufted embroidery composition of a Black figure with a gold halo-like circle behind their head, with a pattern of citrus slices in the background — “(Be)Longing IV” (2023), hand-tufted acrylic, cotton, wool, and metallic yarn on cotton rug warp, 20 x 1 x 30 inches

a hand-tufted embroidery composition of a Black woman surrounded by colorful birds — “Girl with Hummingbirds” (2024), silk and wool yarn on muslin warp, 50 x 40 inches

a hand-tufted embroidery composition of a Black woman with a tiger amidst a vibrantly patterned background — “Internal Reflections” (2022), hand-tufted velvet, acrylic, and wool yarn on rug warp, 66 x 62.5 x 1 inches

a hand-tufted embroidery composition of a Black figure with a gold halo behind their head, with a colorful scalloped pattern in the background — “(Be)Longing VIII” (2024), hand-tufted acrylic, cotton, wool, and metallic yarn on cotton rug warp, 20 x 1 x 30 inches

a hand-tufted embroidery composition of a Black woman with a scarf on her head, seated in a chair next to a unicorn, which she touches with her right hand — “Release in Darkness” (2022), hand-tufted velvet and acrylic yarn on muslin warp, 66 x 55 inches

a hand-tufted embroidery composition of a Black woman surrounded by monstera plants and snakes — “She Manifests Her Destiny” (2024), silk and wool yarn on textile backing, 50 x 40 inches

a hand-tufted embroidery composition of a Black woman riding a unicorn in a green pasure with a vibrant sunset in the background — “Break Away at Dawn” (2023), hand-tufted velvet, acrylic, and wool yarn on muslin warp, 66 x 56 x 1 inches

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Regal Portraits Evoke Myth and Power in Simone Elizabeth Saunders’ Hand-Tufted Textiles appeared first on Colossal.

Landscapes, Customs, and Culture Shape the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards

Nearly half a million images were submitted to this year’s Sony World Photography Awards, organized by the World Photography Organisation, marking another highly competitive, awe-inspiring selection of moments captured across the globe. Now in its 18th year, more than 419,000 contributions rolled in from more than 200 countries.

The photos shown here are all entries in the Open competition, which invites amateur image-makers from around the world to submit their best compositions. Additional contest streams, for which many of these images are also considered, highlight the work of professionals, students, specific regions, women, and youth.

a group of people gather in front of a colorful, mostly green building set against a blue sky with puffy clouds — Winner, Travel: Matjaž Šimic, Slovenia, “Ask a Shaman.” Shamans play a major role in Native Bolivian traditional culture, La Paz, Bolivia

From dramatic landscapes to cultural customs to one-of-a-kind travel experiences, the winning and shortlisted photos capture beautiful and diverse ecosystems, locations, and traditions. The contest “celebrates the ability of an individual photograph to capture and distill a singular moment, and to evoke a broader narrative,” says a statement.

The overall winner of the Open Photographer of the Year will be announced on April 16 in London, where the 2025 exhibition opens at Somerset House and runs from April 17 to May 5. Explore all of the top shots on the awards’ website.

a hunter on horseback in the Mongolian landscape, holding a golden eagle — Shortlist, Travel: Khai Chuin Sim, Malaysia, “Wings of Tradition.” This pair of Kazakh eagle hunters was photographed in the vast and rugged landscape of western Mongolia. Clad in intricately detailed fur garments, they sit atop sturdy horses, with golden eagles perched majestically on their arms

an aerial view of two people in straw hats drying red incense, sitting in a pathway and arranging the bundles so that they look like flowers from above — Shortlist, Travel: Chim Oanh, Vietnam, “Incense Flowers.” Workers dry colorful incense before taking it to sell at the market

pink plum trees in full bloom drop their petals onto the ground — Shortlist, Landscape: Yoshiaki Kudo, Japan, “Blossoms in a Dreamscape.” Weeping plum trees in full bloom

a photo of a group of people pushing a large pile of straw onto the top of a large, colorful motorbike — Shortlist, Lifestyle: Syed Mahabubul Kader, Bangladesh, “Paddy Straw.” A group of workers unloads paddy straw from a truck. The rice straw is a by-product of farming that is used for a variety of purposes, including as cattle feed and fuel

an aerial view of a dramatic geological formation in the Utah desert of a butte and numerous raised striations in the rock — Shortlist, Landscape: XiaoYing Shi, China Mainland, “Ground Vein.” Aerial view of Factory Butte, Utah

two alpacas with pompoms around their necks stand in the foreground of Peru's Rainbow Mountain, with numerous colorful striations caused by minerals and ochres in the soil — Shortlist, Travel: Kunal Gupta, India. “The Colours of the Andes.” Set against the backdrop of Peru’s Rainbow Mountain, two elegantly adorned alpacas stand as symbols of the rich Andean culture and the timeless bond between humans and nature

a man sits inside of a visually overwhelming selection of electronics and items available for purchase — Winner, Lifestyle: Hajime Hirano, Japan, “Akihabara.” The prototype of today’s Akihabara was a gathering of street vendors selling parts for radios. After the late 1950s, during a period of rapid economic growth, Akihabara grew into “Japan’s largest electronics town.” Today, it is famous worldwide for its anime and cosplay culture

a bolt of lightning strikes over an erupting volcano at night in Chile — Shortlist, Landscape: Francisco Negroni, Chile, “The Lord of Volcanoes.” Villarrica is the most dangerous volcano in Chile and one of the most active in America; its last eruption occurred in 2015. In this photograph a strong electrical storm can be seen over the volcano, while the crater is illuminated by the lava pit

women jump over a fire in Portugal in celebration of the Feast of St. Martin — Shortlist, Street Photography: Angela Magalhães, Portugal, “Feast of St. Martin.” The Magusto festival in the city of Braga is celebrated not only by eating chestnuts and drinking ‘água-pé’ (a traditional Portuguese spirit) but also by dancing, singing, and jumping the bonfire where the chestnuts are roasted

an overview of a floating market on a lake in Myanmar, with long boats full of fruits and other foods — Shortlist, Travel: Arun Saha, India, “Floating Market of Myanmar.” Early in the morning, hundreds of vendors come to sell everyday necessities to both local consumers and tourists at Myanmar’s Inle Lake

men on horseback ready for a competitive game, with the angle of the camera set down low to emphasize the horses' hooves — Shortlist, Travel: Akram Menari, Algeria, “Get Ready!” The intricate details of the horse’s hoof emphasize its strength and poise; the hoof appears taut and ready for action, perfectly in sync with the rider preparing to engage in the equestrian sport. The photograph was taken just before a game began

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Landscapes, Customs, and Culture Shape the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards appeared first on Colossal.

Standard Shower Sizes

Whether building a new home, adding a new bathroom, or renovating an existing bathroom, knowing shower sizes and configurations is an important part of the design process. You want to be as comfortable as possible in the shower while leaving room for the door to open and for the other fixtures to be accessible and usable.

Standard Shower Sizes

There are dozens of different-sized showers–including custom-made units. The smallest shower allowed by the International Residential Code (IRC) is 30” x 30”. This size shower is rarely used except in very limited spaces. Standard sizes begin at 32” x 32”.

The following chart lists the most common shower configurations and base sizes.

Square Shaped Shower Stalls: 32” x 32”, 34” x 34”, 36” x 36”
Large Rectangular Stalls: 36” x 60”
Shower/Tub Combinations: 60” wide x 30” deep x 70” tall, 60” wide x 36” deep x 72” tall
Walk-in Showers: 60” wide x 30” deep, 60” wide x 42” deep
Corner Stalls: 32” x 32”
Angle Corner Stall: 42” rear x 42” side x 29 ¾” door
Steam Showers: 36” x 36” x 84” tall, 48” x 60” x 96” tall, 66” x 66” x 90” tall, 72” x 48” x 88” tall
Americans With Disabilities Act Access: 36” x 36”

Choosing a Shower Size

Choosing a shower size depends on many variables.

Bathroom Size. Small bathrooms (5’ x 8’) can only accommodate small shower stalls or small shower/tub combinations. Angle corner stalls save a few square feet of floor space but you will need room to open the door.
Design. New bathrooms or complete bathroom renovations allow you to locate the plumbing wherever you want–giving you more flexibility with shower positioning and size. Using shower curtains instead of swing doors in a shower stall saves room in the bathroom and allows for larger showers.
Door Swings. Most bathroom doors swing into the bathroom and require up to 10 square feet of floor space. Installing a pocket door or an outswing door allows space for a larger shower.
Body Size. Someone 6’ 4” and 250 lbs. is likely never going to be comfortable in a 32” x 32” shower stall.
Personal Preferences. If you only shower and don’t bathe, you can save space by installing shower stalls instead of a shower/tub combination. Or install a large steam shower.

One way to help you decide on a shower size is to mark off the base size on the floor and stand in the area. Move around like you are washing to see if you feel comfortable. Keep in mind how much space your taps and spout require and the amount of space a seat or bench takes–if you plan to add one.

Shower Curtains and Doors

One way to preserve floor space in your bathroom is to use shower curtains or sliding doors. Shower stall doors that swing open need at least 4 or 5 square feet of floor space and two feet of clearance to the nearest bathroom fixture–like toilets and vanities. Shower curtains and sliding doors remain inside the footprint of the shower base–providing more open floor space.

The post Standard Shower Sizes appeared first on Homedit.

Nick Brandt’s Photos Stress the Resilience of Syrian Refugees in the Face of the Climate Crisis

In the Jordanian desert, Syrian families displaced by war huddle atop stacks of boxes like stalwart islands in a dry and unforgiving landscape. Photographer Nick Brandt captures children, siblings, and entire families who stand together and climb skyward like monuments or promontories—what the artist describes as “pedestals for those that in our society are typically unseen and unheard.”

The series marks the fourth chapter in an ongoing series called The Day May Break, which has taken Brandt around the world in search of visual stories illuminating the effects of the climate crisis.

a black-and-white photograph in the Jordanian desert of two people in black garments perched on a stack of boxes to create a monolith-like form

Brandt began the series in 2020, reflecting on myriad experiences of “limbo,” both in the midst of the pandemic and relating to the tenuous ecological balance of our planet. In an essay accompanying Chapter One of The Day May Break, Brandt writes:

Nearly twenty years ago, I started photographing the wild animals of Africa as an elegy to a disappearing world. After some (too many) years seeing the escalating environmental destruction, I felt an urgent need to move away from that kind of work and address the destruction in a much more direct way.

Brandt began the series in Zimbabwe and Kenya, focusing the first chapter on portrayals of both people and animals that have been impacted by environmental degradation and destruction. Every person he documented was deeply affected by the changing climate. “Some were displaced by cyclones that destroyed their homes,” Brandt says. “For some, like Kuda in Zimbabwe, or Robert and Nyaguthii in Kenya, it was more tragic: both of them lost two young children, swept away by the floods.”

For Chapter Two, Brandt traveled to the Senda Verde Animal Sanctuary in Bolivia, where wildlife affected by trafficking and habitat destruction are cared for. And for Chapter Three, subtitled SINK/RISE, he took his camera into the ocean off the coast of Fiji, focusing on individuals whose livelihoods have been impacted by rising sea levels. Plunging decrepit furniture onto the sea floor, individuals and families interact with one another entirely underwater.

For the series’ newest addition, Chapter Four, subtitled The Echo of Our Voices, Brandt traveled to arid Jordan, one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. The dramatic black-and-white photos feature refugee families who fled the war in Syria. Perched on stacks of cubes, they transform into living monoliths, symbolic of resilience, surrounded by the rugged, sandy expanse.

The photographer says, “Living lives of continuous displacement largely due to climate change, they are forced to move their homes up to several times a year, moving to where there is available agricultural work—to wherever there has been sufficient rainfall to enable crops to grow.” Parents stand alongside their children; siblings embrace; and families are shown alternately gazing into the distance, turning to one another for comfort, or taking time to rest.

“This chapter is different from the first three chapters, both visually and emotionally: a show of connection and strength in the face of adversity; that when all else is lost, you still have each other,” Brandt says. Explore much more work on his website.

a black-and-white photograph in the Jordanian desert of a group of people in black garments perched on a stack of boxes to create a monolith-like form

a black-and-white photograph in the Jordanian desert of two children in black garments perched on a stack of boxes to create a monolith-like form

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Nick Brandt’s Photos Stress the Resilience of Syrian Refugees in the Face of the Climate Crisis appeared first on Colossal.

Our Beautiful and Fragile Planet Takes Center Stage in the 2025 World Nature Photography Awards

From the glowing Milky Way above a Montana lake to firework-like flowers in the Brazilian savannah at sunset, the winners of the 2025 World Nature Photography Awards highlight the endless wonders of our planet. In categories running the gamut of animal portraits, landscapes, urban wildlife, and more, photographers around the globe captured incredible views of creature behaviors, terrestrial vistas, and astronomical phenomena.

“The World Nature Photography Awards were founded in the belief that we can all make small efforts to shape the future of our planet in a positive way,” says a statement, “and that photography can influence people to see the world from a different perspective and change their own habits for the good of the planet.”

two white-cheeked terns fighting in midair, their feathers backlit by the sun — Bronze in the Bird Behavior category: Mohammad Murad, “A sword in the chest.” White-cheeked terns, Kubbar Island, Kuwait

The 2025 edition of the contest saw thousands of entries submitted from 48 countries. The grand prize went to Maruša Puhek’s bold image of two deer leaping through a vineyard.

Many of the winning photos highlight the vulnerability of the earth’s inhabitants and juxtapositions between nature and the human-built environment. In Daniel Flormann’s “Lenuk Tasi,” for example, a baby sea turtle glides just beneath the surface of the boundless sea, and in Ael Kermarec’s “Reclaim,” a lava flow from an Icelandic volcano completely engulfs a road.

Some of our other favorites include Marcio Esteves Cabral’s vista full of rare Paepalanthus flowers illuminated by the sun in the Veadeiros Tablelands, Brazil, and Mohammad Murad’s capture of two backlit White-cheeked terns battling over territory on Kubbar Island, Kuwait.

See many more winning photos and purchase prints—including top picks from previous years’ competitions—in the WNPA store.

a landscape full of illuminated plants at sunset — Gold in the Plants and Fungi category: Marcio Esteves Cabral, “Fireworks.” Paepalanthus, Veadeiros Tablelands, Brazil

a photograph of a baby fox in midair as it jumps up onto a log — Bronze in the Mammal Behavior category: Donna Feledichuk, “Might as well jump.” Baby fox, Lac La Biche, Alberta, Canada

the Milky Way expands in an arc across a watery, mountainous landscape illuminated by green aurora borealis — Gold in the Landscapes and Environments category: Jake Mosher, “Hyalite Twilight.” The Milky Way over Hyalite Lake, Montana, U.S.

an aerial view of a road through icy terrain with lava moving over it — Gold in the Nature Photojournalism category: Ael Kermarec, “Reclaim.” Volcanic eruption, Svartsengi, Reykjanes, Iceland

a side view of an owl mid-flight — Silver in the Urban Wildlife category: Elizabeth Yicheng Shen, “Critical moment.” Great grey owl, California, U.S.

an up-close portrait of a turkey — Bronze in the Animal Portrait category: Ngar Shun Victor Wong, “The safari beauty.” Guinea fowl, Tanzania

a mudskipper jumps up over the surface of the water, illuminated slightly by the sun — Gold in the Amphibians and Reptiles category: Georgina Steytler, “Mudskipping.” Blue-spotted mudskipper (Boleophthalmus caeruleomaculatus), Roebuck Bay, Broome, Western Australia

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Our Beautiful and Fragile Planet Takes Center Stage in the 2025 World Nature Photography Awards appeared first on Colossal.

Biological Cells and Chinese Ceramic Traditions Coalesce in Shiyuan Xu’s Porcelain Sculptures

From seeds to the world’s smallest organisms, the inspiration for Shiyuan Xu’s porcelain sculptures (previously) originates in biology. Fascinated by the patterns, shapes, and structures of a wide variety of creatures, the artist creates intricate interpretations of cells, the essential building blocks of all life forms.

Working meticulously with porcelain Paperclay—a mix of clay and cellulose fibers—and glaze, Xu sculpts webbed, amorphous forms that appear amoeba-like, as if expanding and contracting. She is deeply influenced by the work of Scottish mathematical biologist D’Arcy Thompson (1860–1948), whose seminal book On Growth and Form traces the scale and shapes of living things.

an abstract ceramic sculpture with a blue and green gradient in porcelain, featuring numerous spokes and irregular concentric shapes — “Hybrid #9” (2024), porcelain, Paperclay, and glaze, 19 x 8.5 x 21.5 inches

A “diagram of forces” is how Thompson described the form of a specimen. For Xu, this dynamic evaluation shapes how she translates micro life forms into her work. “It is about movement, time, and space,” she says. “It records the way they move and grow; the way they react to the surrounding environment by interacting, altering, evolving and adapting to generate infinite new forms.”

Xu views the history of porcelain as deeply intertwined with her own memories and identity, and she often employs a classic Chinese ceramic color palette in her pieces. The irregular structures and ombre colors reference the artist’s personal experiences. She says:

Being an outsider in America for the past decade, my experience offers me a new perspective to reflect my own cultural heritage… The repetitive and labor-intensive process serves as a therapeutic response to the challenges of my experience in navigating dual cultures. My pieces are in many ways like living organisms, a metaphor for the evolving nature of life itself, and my own journey and roots.

If you’re in London, you will be able to see Xu’s work in an exhibition dedicated to Chinese contemporary studio craft at the V&A, which opens October 28 and runs through September 28, 2026. Her work will also be included in a handful of forthcoming juried exhibitions in Portugal, Italy, and Missouri. Find more on her website.