It was only a matter of time before Chen Kaige, the child of a film director and an actress, pissed off the authorities in China. His fascination with sex, opium, costumes, and the individual in society exposed him as a romantic and a maverick. Chen's characters burst at the seams with personality. P

Dramatic, Epic, Huge, Mainland chinese (the 5th generation), Political, Sensual

When newly elected Socialist President Francois Mitterand announced that I.M. Pei had been hired to design the subterranean entrance to the Louvre, many critics flew to their respective podiums. How could a political party so outspoken about American imperialism allow an American to resurrect their m

Clean, Elegant, Functional, Geometric, Huge, Modernist architecture

Giotto di Bondone, whom art historians designate the first painter of the Italian Renaissance, was apparently discovered while sketching sheep. A well-known Florentine artist looked over the boy's shoulder and was impressed by what he saw -- so impressed that he persuaded Giotto's father to let the l

Bright, Classical, Huge, Joyful, Monumental, Religious, Renaissance art

About the drama between good and evil, the editors of the Catholic Encyclopedia are expert; and about Aubrey Beardsley, regularly found at the side of the goddess of indecency fanning her with a gigantic palm leaf, they have this to say: "He was unable to withstand the desire to do clever, mischievou

Art nouveau design, Arts & crafts design, Cartoonish, Erotic, Funny, Huge, Mythic, Perverse, Phallic