The iconic ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, just 200km north of the Arctic Circle, has once again unveiled its annual art suites. As well as being the world’s first and largest hotel made from ice, the frozen kingdom has become famous for exhibiting incredible, fully functional art suites every winter, carved from thousands of tons of ice.

At the first sign of snow, artists come together from all over the world to take part in creating the hotel’s annual art exhibition. “The energy released here when creative people from a wide variety of backgrounds and places meet the ice is almost tangible,” says Arne Bergh, a partner sculptor who’s been part of ICEHOTEL since the beginning. After several months of planning, the selected designs are then made into reality once the nearby Torne River freezes over to supply the ice. This year, 26 artists from 11 countries helped to build the 28th exhibition, which officially opened its doors on December 15, 2017. From a Fabergé egg themed bedroom, to a room of giant snow-snails, the dream-like suites include some of the most elaborate designs to date.

Previously, the entire hotel and it’s sculptural rooms would sadly melt away each spring. However, 2017 is the first year that the rooms will stay intact year-round—thanks to the hotel’s newly implemented sustainability plans, allowing the hotel to stay cool using solar panels. The permanent structure—aptly named ICEHOTEL 365—houses this year’s highly anticipated sculpted art suites. They’re so good, we’re already looking forward to next year’s designs!

Find out more about the ICEHOTEL via their website.

Sweden’s iconic ICEHOTEL has recently revealed their latest sculptural art suite exhibition.

Each fully-functional room was carved from ice and snow and designed by artists from around the world.

Thanks to the hotel’s newly implemented sustainability plans, this year’s art suites will stay open all year-round.

ICEHOTEL: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
h/t: [Contemporist]

All photos via Asaf Kliger and ICEHOTEL.

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Introducing the Queen of Cat Ladies: Russian farmer Alla Lebedeva, who claims her farm-turned-“Catland” is home to “a million, maybe more” Siberian cats. Located in snowy Prigorodny, just outside Barnaul, Siberia, Lebedeva and her husband Sergey have been raising this majestic breed of felines for over ten years. Their cat collection began in 2004 when their first lion-like cat named Babushka gave birth to five ginger kittens. Since then, the couple’s farm became overrun with furry friends. According to Lebadeva, the shared living situation works both ways—the cats “protect the chickens and rabbits from rats and mice,” she explains.

The ancient, long-haired Siberian breed has been around since the 1870s and they’re known to have incredible intelligence. Their thick coats protect them from the freezing elements, while their strong, agile bodies make them ideal for hunting. Lebedeva’s farm-cats sleep in the henhouse, where they have “three ‘little bedrooms’ there where can they sleep according to how they feel.” Naturally, Lebedeva loves to document her beautiful cats and regularly shares her images and videos on social media. Many of her posts have gone viral, but people have often mistaken the Siberian breed for Norwegian Forest cats. Lebedeva now wants to set the record straight—these beauties are Siberian natives.

To see more of these amazing Siberian cats, follow Lebedeva on Twitter and YouTube.

These Siberian cats live on a farm in snowy Prigorodny, just outside Barnaul, Siberia.

Their owner, Alla Lebedeva claims she now has “a million, maybe more” living with her.

Their beautiful thick coats protect them from the freezing elements.

Their strong, agile bodies also make them ideal rodent hunters.

Alla Lebedeva: Twitter | Youtube
h/t: [Neatorama, Design You Trust]

All images via Alla Lebedeva.

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The post Fluffy Siberian Cats Overtake Couple’s Farm, Turn It Into Snowy “Catland” appeared first on My Modern Met.

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If you’re into wildlife photography, you’ll know that it takes plenty of patience and talent to capture wild animals at their best, and even more so when it comes to catching them at their most mischievous. The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards aims to showcase the work of talented photographers that manage to do just that. With over 3,500 entries from 86 countries across the globe, the hilarious winners from 2017 have just been announced—and they don’t disappoint. Chosen from five categories—On the Land, Under the Sea, In the Air, the Portfolio Category, and one Overall Winner—prizes include a THINK TANK camera bag, a handmade trophy from the people of Tanzania’s Wonder Workshop, a certificate, and (unofficially) the pride of knowing their image will bring a smile to people all over the world.

From cheeky monkeys on a motor bike to an adorably clumsy polar bear cub, the contest’s co-founder and co-judge, Paul Joynson-Hicks, claims it was incredibly difficult to select the winners from the thousands of entries. “The images are shortlisted by how funny they are and the technical quality of their photograph,” he explains. He reveals that one of his favorite entries was an image of a fox peeing in a golf hole, and jokes “I know that there are lots of people who feel the same way about golf!” The competition not only makes people laugh, but it also aims to raise awareness for wildlife conservation efforts, such as the Born Free Foundation which takes action worldwide to “save lives, stop suffering and protect species in the wild.”

If you’d like to support the Born Free Foundation, you can buy the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards’ new book full of exclusive, unseen entries—10% of the book’s sales goes to helping their cause. And for those who can’t wait to see more funny animals, you can find other entries via the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards website.

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have just announced the hilarious winning photos for 2017.

The On the Land prize was awarded to Andrea Zampatti who snapped this adorable image of a delighted tiny field mouse perched on a flower.

Troy Mayne’s photo of a fish being slapped by a grumpy sea turtle won the prize for the Under the Sea category.

John Threlfall was awarded the In the Air prize for his photograph of four birds soaring through the sky, with one appearing to fly at supersonic speed.

Tibor Kercz was awarded the Overall Winner title, as well as the Portfolio Winner for his comical photo series of a clumsy owl who loses its footing on a branch…

…and tries to play it cool in front of his chums.

Along with the other prizes, Kercz will also win an all-inclusive Kenyan safari trip, courtesy of Alex Walker’s Serian and Kenya Airways.

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.

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Food and design go together more often than we think. Lucy Litman shows us how both literal and delicious this can be with her #pantoneposts project. The premise is simple yet visually striking—and it’ll probably make you hungry. Using Pantone swatches, Litman matches the colorful squares with foods of the same hue.

Like many creative endeavors, Litman began #pantoneposts as a side project. What started with Fruit Loops cereal (as a way to unwind after “frustrating days” at work) quickly became a way for her to celebrate the beauty of foods found in nature. You might think that vibrant purples and bright corals would be hard to find, but Litman shows that what grows from the ground can be just as brilliantly hued as processed fare.

Working with food runs deep for Litman. “Food has always been what’s inspired me most in my life,” Litman explained to Civil Eats. “My grandparents grew up in farming families, and my favorite memories growing up are planting and harvesting vegetables in their backyard. I was always amazed by nature and the idea that a tiny seed could produce such bountiful and vibrant food … the colors and variety of food continue to amaze me.”

Lucy Litman continues her ongoing Pantone art with food project called #pantoneposts.

Through it, she matches colorful foods with their corresponding swatch.

The project demonstrates that things from the nature can be as a colorful as processed fare…

… but she does include that too.

Getting hungry yet?

Lucy Litman: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Design You Trust]

All images via Lucy Litman.

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In the throes of World War II and the Great Depression, the American government created the Farm Security Administration to help impoverished farmers get on their feet. As part of the process, they formed a now legendary set of photographers—Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans among others—to document life for these everyday Americans.

At just 21 years old John Vachon joined the FSA, first as a messenger while attending college. He later took up photography after being inspired by the documentary photography team. Like fellow FSA photographer Edwin Rosskam, Vachon arrived in Chicago in 1941. While Rosskam covered the experience of African Americans in the city’s Southside, Vachon, still a rookie photographer, took a different approach.

His pulled back view belies his status as a young photographer gaining experience, but there is a fresh, spontaneous approach to his photography that makes the work uniquely his. Vachon’s Chicago vacillates between the home of well-heeled ladies on shopping trips to depictions of abject poverty, as men sit slumped on sidewalks or stand outside the local bar. From the glossy exterior to the gritty underbelly, the young photographer deftly captures the multi-faceted face of 1941 Chicago.

FSA photographer John Vachon was in his early twenties when he traveled to Chicago to document living conditions in the city.

His 1941 images depict a multifaceted city, bursting with vibrance while also containing a gritty underbelly.

h/t: [Design You Trust]

All images via the Library of Congress.

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Nestled at the base of a hill, overlooking the Savannah, lies Tiébélé—an African village in Burkina Faso. First settled in the 15th Century, the 1.2-hectare commune is home to the Kassena people, their chief, and royal court—together making up one of oldest ethnic groups in Burkina Faso. In 2009, photographer Rita Willaert and travel blogger Olga Stavrakis were lucky enough to be some of the few people ever allowed to visit the isolated site.

Willaert’s photos document the villagers’ untouched, unique way of living, where local traditions have been protected for centuries. Stavrakis recounts their experience, explaining how before they arrived they were even given a dress code: “We were told in advance that we must not wear anything red and we may not carry an umbrella. Only the chiefly noble family is permitted that privilege and to do so would constitute a great affront to our hosts.”

Although a royal village might sound opulent, this village is anything but. The Tiébélé royal residence is made up of a series of small clay houses that are hand-painted in different geometric patterns and symbols using clay paints. These patterns are one of the visual indicators that differentiates the royal homes from that of the “ordinary people.” Another difference is the huts’ door sizes: the chief for example, has the house with the smallest door, for protection. While most of the structures are homes, some of the most elaborately decorated are mausoleums, where the dead are laid to rest.

Inside the royal clay homes are simple kitchens kitted out with just a few clay and iron pots. “Most meals are cooked in one pot over a brazier,” explains Olga, who says meals usually consisted of “a starch foofoo or thick paste like porridge which is then dipped into a sauce of vegetables and peppers. The richer the family the more goes into the sauce.”

You can find more images from the team’s West-African adventures on Willaert’s Flickr, and read more about their experiences on Stavrakis’ blog, Travel with Olga.

The African village of Tiébélé is home to the Kassena people—one of oldest ethnic groups in Burkina Faso.

The village’s chief and royal court live in small clay houses that are hand-painted in different geometric patterns that symbolize a person’s importance.

While most of the structures are homes, some of the most elaborately decorated are mausoleums, where the dead are laid to rest.

Rita Willaert: Flickr
Travel with Olga: Website
h/t: [Messy Nessy]

All images via Rita Willaert.

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Oslo-based Norwegian artist Fredrik Raddum is known for his imaginative figurative sculptures and installation art, which often explore political themes. His previous work mixes tragedy with humor, depicting surreal, dystopian cartoon figures that encourage the viewer to “think beyond the initial encounter.” Raddum’s most recent collection of bronze sculptures—titled Hacienda Paradise – Utopia Experiment—was exhibited earlier this year at Galleri Brandstrup, and sheds light on a true story of human immigration that’s now referred to as “The Galapagos Affair.”

In search of their new Eden, a group of world-weary Europeans left their homes to live on the Galápagos Islands in the 1930s. The first of the island expats to arrive was Friedrich Ritter, a German physician, and his younger lover, Dore Strauch, who settled on one of the most remote islands, Floreana. Next came the Wittmer family from Germany, and soon after came Baroness Eloise von Wagner, who arrived from Paris with her “two companions.” It wasn’t long after they arrived that the Baroness and one of her lovers disappeared. The case remains a mystery to this day.

Raddum’s sculptures show the pioneers in surreal, mysterious circumstances. In one piece, a bird tries to fly away with the brass body of a man. In another, a female figure stands atop two human heads, and seems to exhale a strange golden liquid. One giant turtle-shaped piece depicts the island legend of a turtle who could read the minds of the visitors. In Raddum’s piece, the shell is used as a place to make a fire. According the the artist, the exhibition reminds us that “we can change our surroundings, but we cannot escape from ourselves.”

If you’re a murder mystery fan, The Galapagos Affair story was made into a movie, directed by Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller. You can also find more of Raddum’s work via his website and Instagram.

Artist Fredrik Raddum’s bronze sculptures tell the story of Europeans who left their homes and fled to the Galápagos Islands in the 1930s.

Their new utopia soon turned sinister when two of the pioneers went missing. The case remains a mystery to this day.

Fredrik Raddum: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Gaks Designs]

All images via Fredrik Raddum.

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For many people, one of the best parts of Christmas is the delicious, traditional homecooked meals that signify the season. Sitting down with your loved ones and feasting together is a classic way to celebrate the holidays around the world. While some cultures center their big meal on Christmas Day, for others it’s Christmas Eve. But no matter what the date, the sentiment is the same.

These dishes are steeped in tradition and the love and warmth of the holidays, no matter what the ingredients. Recently, Buzzfeed asked its users to share what’s on the menu at their holiday table, making for a mouthwatering holiday voyage around the globe. Meat is a big trend in many countries, including Denmark where flæskesteg (a pork roast with crackled skin) is served as the main component of the Christmas Eve meal. According to mettekirkk, it’s served with “potatoes, warm red cabbage, gravy, small caramelized potatoes, and chips.”

By contrast, it’s interesting to see how countries with warmer climates, like New Zealand, differ from the hearty Nordic tables of Finland and Sweden. Let’s take a look at some of the plates that make the holidays special in homes around the world.

Check out some of the most interesting Christmas dinner traditions around the world, from a Swedish smörgåsbord to a New Zealand barbecue.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, families gather around the table to enjoy a Fondue Chinoise, where thin slices of meat are dipped with skewers into boiling broth. This particular meal is popular both for Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinner.

 

Netherlands

Gourmetten is the typical holiday meal of the Netherlands, with most families having a “gourmet set” for the occasion. In this tradition, small meats and vegetables are cooked on a tabletop hotplate by the whole family.

 

Mexico

While Christmas meals can differ from region to region, the traditional stew pozole is a common feature on the table. Made with hominy and meat—usually pork—it’s accompanied by a wide variety of condiments like shredded cabbage, chile peppers, avocado, and lime. There are several different varieties of pozole—white, green, or red.

 

Guatemala

Tamales are a large part of the traditional Guatemalan Christmas. They can be red (colorado) or black (negro), and are eaten from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Eve.

 

Sweden

A Swedish holiday feast means julbord, a smörgåsbord consisting of hot and cold dishes like ham, spare ribs, a variety of fish, potatoes, meatballs, and boiled cabbage. In the south, it’s typical to also have eel on the menu.

 

Slovakia

A Slovakian Christmas starts with a big meal on December 24 and continues through Christmas Day. One typical dish is sauerkraut soup with mushrooms eaten on Christmas Eve, with pork being added in on December 25 as meat is placed on the menu.

 

Botswana

According to mommagen, the Christmas meal in Botswana is similar to that served at any important occasion, such as a wedding and consists of rice, salad, and fried chicken.

 

Japan

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Millions of people in Japan celebrate Christmas with KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). The fried chicken chain restaurant has almost become synonymous with the holiday. Since the fast food restaurant first opened in Japan in the 1970s, it has marketed itself around Christmas, creating a unique tradition of eating a bucket of fried chicken with loved ones.

The post 15+ Culturally Unique Christmas Dinners From Like Around the World appeared first on My Modern Met.

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Love is not one-size-fits-all. Despite what books and movies might show, it’s about more than just grand gestures; this certain fondness doesn’t even have to involve another person. More often, a demonstration of love is a collection of the mundane moments of everyday life where tenderness often hides but grows strong. Amanda Oleander creates unconventional illustrated love stories that prove this.

Oleander often depicts couples in their home who are fully relaxed in one another’s company. They traipse around in their underwear and let it all hang out; this leads to some interesting moments that reveal the inner workings of a relationship—such as popping the other person’s pimple or helping them paint their toenails. These displays aren’t exactly glamorous, but they are real and most of all, relatable.

Romance is just one type of love that Oleander illustrates. Through her popular Instagram account, she regularly highlights affection towards your pets—like letting them lick your plate clean—and more importantly, self-love. The idea of loving yourself is shown simply; like her two-person relationships, it’s all about the little things, from snuggling in a pile of warm dryer clothes to eating ice cream and watching TV.

The thread uniting all of Oleander’s illustrations is the idea of authenticity. To be happy with who you are, show your true self—whether that’s to the mirror or your romantic partner.

Amanda Oleander creates quirky illustrated love stories that you won’t find in fairy tales.

They feature the not-so-glamorous sides of romantic love, like popping pimples or brushing hair…

… but they are real and relatable to us all.

In addition to romantic partners, Oleander depicts different types of love, from our pets…

… to ourselves!

Amanda Oleander: Website | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [Design You Trust]

All images via Amanda Oleander.

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Alan Young of The Atlantic is keeping up his annual tradition of curating one of the most unique advent calendars of the season. For the past 10 years, Young has put together the Hubble Space Telescope Advent Calendar, publishing one photograph from NASA’s space telescope every day until December 25.

The Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, has taken some of the most detailed visible-light images in the world, giving an unparalleled look at the depths of space. Through NASA’s dedicated page about the Hubble mission, you can even see what the telescope is currently looking at and browse galleries of still images captured in high resolution.

From festive skies dotted with brilliant stars to a surreal nebulous bubble formed from stellar wind, a scroll through the images reminds us of how wondrous the galaxy really is. Let’s look at some of our favorite images from the first half of Young’s advent calendar and keep watch of The Atlantic page and Facebook to see new images as they appear daily until Christmas.

Every year, The Atlantic publishes a Hubble Space Telescope Advent Calendar, check out some of the images from the 2017 edition.

Hubble Space Telescope Advent Calendar: Website | Facebook
h/t: [kottke]

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