Linda Loren takes us on discovery of our artistic, cultural and natural heritage. Alphonse Mucha, From Art Nouveau to Breton Art – Azerbaijan, Land of Fire and Oil – in Indonesia, Rene’s Coconut Milk and Potato Soup – in Portugal, Sausage Against the Inquisition.
Alphonse Mucha, From Art Nouveau to Breton Art
What does the Czech painter Alphonse Mucha, who in a few years became an icon of Belle Époque Paris, have in common with the far and wild Brittany of the turn of the 20th century? few things. However, when Mucha discovers this jagged coastline, magic happens. The allure of this scenic pink coast and of this land where the inhabitants claim their identity is irresistible. The powerful expression of Breton folk art would resonate in him and inspire some of his most influential performances.
Azerbaijan is the land of fire and oil
Azerbaijan is known as the “Land of Fire”. A nickname that refers to oil and natural gas that can ignite when rising from the ground. In ancient times, oil influenced the beliefs of the inhabitants of these regions. In the 19th century, in the midst of the Industrial Revolution, a black gold rush transformed the capital, Baku. Since then, the country’s history has remained inseparable from the history of hydrocarbon exploitation.
In Indonesia, potato soup, coconut milk and coconut milk
In Yogyakarta, Rini cooks sweet potatoes, palm fruits and cassava in water. To add flavour, you add sugar and some kind of local vanilla. When the ingredients are soft, you add the banana pieces and coconut milk. Typical recipe for iftar in Ramadan.
In Portugal, sausage against the Inquisition
Lying between the Douro River and Spain, Trás-os-Montes is literally ‘behind the mountains’ – the furthest point of continental Portugal from Lisbon. In the 15th century, when the Inquisition struck Portugal, many Jews sought refuge there. To cover their tracks, they spread the treasures of imagination…
