PHOTOS: Artist Spends 20 Years Building Life-Size Replica Of Noah’s Ark

Inspired by Noah’s Ark from the Book of Genesis, Dutch artist Johan Huibers built a modern day replica spending a whopping $1.2 million on it. His reasons for building the vessel  – he feared the effects global warming would someday have on his country, flooding included. The idea came to him in 1992, when he had a dream about his native land submerged in a flood similar to the one in the Book of Genesis. He continued to think about it until he finally did something about it. And the result is a 130m long, 29m wide, 23m high ark that he completed in 2005. Weighing almost 3000 tons and built from Swedish pine reinforced with steel, it is quite hard to believe that ark might be seaworthy at all, but this modern-day Noah assures us it does indeed float.

THE STAFF OF ORANMIYAN

ORANMIYAN, a brave and warlike King, founded the city of Oyo. As it was necessary for him to lead an expedition to a distant part of his kingdom, he left his son in charge of the capital during his absence.

But the King was away for such a long period that it was thought he and his soldiers must have perished, and at last the people made his son King, and for some time he ruled them wisely and happily.

However, Oranyan was not dead, and after many delays and hardships he again drew near to Oyo with his few surviving followers.

As he approached the city he was startled to hear the notes of the Kakaki trumpet, which is sounded for the King alone.

Tattoo artist creates 3D nippl*s

A Baltimore-area tattoo artist is making a name for himself inking 3D nipples onto the chests of breast cancer survivors.

 For many women, Vinnie Myers’ tattoo shop — in a nondescript strip mall in Finksburg, Md. — is the very last stop of a “physically and emotionally taxing” journey.

 The treatment process is finally over. “I’m the last person they see in that big battle,” Myers told the Daily News. “They need nothing else. They beat it, they’re done.” As one of his customers put it, the nipple and areola tattoos are “the icing on the cake.” Lillie Shockney, a nurse at Baltimore’s John Hopkins Breast Center, went to Myers after she saw his work on one of her patients.

Appraising Nigeria’s Ancient Traditional Arts

Nigeria’s earliest artefacts are famous for their styles and aesthetic values all over the world. CHIKA OKEKE examines some of the ancient artworks and writes that due to their historic importance, it has contributed to national development especially in the arts and culture sector.

Apart from their aesthetic nature, the artefacts are priceless and that is why foreigners place much value on them than Nigerians. Some of the ancient traditional arts are Nok, Akwanshi, Igboukwu and Dufuna Canoe.

Though some of these historic artefacts were carted away by the colonial masters but the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) have engaged in dialogue with museums across Europe and France on possible ways of repatriating them to their home countries especially Nigeria.

See the 1st official portrait of Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton

It was unveiled today at the National Portrait Gallery in London to mixed reactions. While the painter, Paul Emsley (pictured above) insists the royal family is "very pleased," others are "horrified" by the depiction. Some think the painting is quite unflattering. What do you think? 

Isomoloruko Yoruba Cultural Documentary

Olówè of Isè - Yoruba Art, Culture & Tradition

Olowe of Ise was born about 1875 in Efon-Alaiye, a town in eastern Yorubaland that was once a kingdom and one of the most important centers of Yoruba carving. Olowe moved to Ise at a young age to serve the Arinjale (king) as a court messenger. The details of his early life and training in sculpture are not known. His descendants claim he was self-taught, but it is likely that he learned the Yoruba canon and perfected his carving skills during an apprenticeship.