A symbol for democracy
There are striking images coming from Hong Kong of protesters using umbrellas as a symbol for pro-democracy which are moving and emotive. Protesters have been using umbrellas to protect them from tear gas and are using them to mark territory they are occupying.
Vantablack umbrella?
Acclaimed sculptor, Anish Kapoor, famed for his huge-scaled sculptures designed to unsettle the viewer and twist their surroundings, is exploring the possibilities of working with the world’s darkest, blackest material, Vantablack. We heard this exciting news this morning and read it in Dazed.
The History and Derivation of Umbrellas
The word umbrella originates from the word ‘Umbra’ which means the shade cast by an opaque object. In 1609 there is a mention in the English Poet John Donne’s letters. He uses the term ‘ombrello’. This was then altered with the influence of the word ‘Umbra’, from ‘Umbella’ to ‘Umbrella’: the word we recognise immediately today.