Nissan Motors Musical Box

Here on the sunny isles of Trinidad and Tobago, owning a motor car is as indispensable as food to survive, you need one to drive to the grocery store two walking blocks away. Not long ago, buying a car was a task, and the waiting period for costumers took several months. One of the popular car companies franchised here was and still is, the Japanese manufacturer, Datsun / Nissan. Cars were locally assembled and build to withstand our tropical climate, far in comparison with the quality of roll on roll off used Japanese cars sold on the market today.

There are a few classic Datsun 120Ys putting along the roads today. By observation, the weight of five passengers crammed in the backseat caused the bonnet to tilt upwards and the car looked as if would take off further down the road. The youth behind the wheel would have his Pioneer tape deck and equalizer stacked just beneath the dashboard, and his two large original Sharp stereo speaker boxes mounted at the back port. The bumpers would be lacquered over using two aerosol cans of black paint and a pin coloured strip would run along the sides of the car.

To promote the cars, the company had an array of memorabilia; From key chains, envelope openers and a golden cast replica of the model in production. The Nissan Motors marketing team came up with a multi-functional object, a musical box astray as a Cedric 280E, known in Trinidad as a 260c and a Datsun Bluebird.

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The future of transport may be integrated with magnetic compulsion powered by solar energy. Cars may simply skim along a particular route guided by tracking devices.

Azure sky - Leonardo Da Vinci

The blueness we see in the atmosphere is not intrinsic colour, but is caused by warm vapour evaporated in minute and insensible atoms on which the solar rays fall, rendering them luminous against the infinite darkness of the fiery sphere which lies beyond and includes it. And this may be seen, as I saw it by any one going up to the peak of the Alps which divide France from Italy.

The base of this mountain gives birth to the four rivers which flow in four different directions through the whole of Europe. And no mountain has its base at so great a height as this, which lifts itself almost above the clouds; and snow seldom falls there, but only hail in the summer, when the clouds are highest. And this hail lies there, so that if it were not for the absorption of the rising and falling clouds, which does not happen twice in an age, an enormous mass of ice would be piled up there by the hail, and in the middle of July I found it very considerable. There I saw above me the dark sky, and the sun as it fell on the mountain was far brighter here than in the plains below, because a smaller extent of atmosphere lay between the summit of the mountain and the sun.

Again, as an illustration of the colour of the atmosphere I will mention the smoke of old and dry wood, which, as it comes out of a chimney, appears to turn very blue, when seen between the eye and the dark distance. But as it rises, and comes between the eye and the bright atmosphere, it at once shows of an ashy grey colour and this happens because it no longer has darkness beyond it, but this bright and luminous space. If the smoke is from young, green wood, it will not appear blue, because, not being transparent and being full of superabundant moisture, it has the effect of condensed clouds which take distinct lights and shadows like a solid body.

The same occurs with the atmosphere, which, when overcharged with moisture appears white, and the small amount of heated moisture makes it dark, of a dark blue colour; and this will suffice us so far as concerns the colour of the atmosphere; though it might be added that, if this transparent blue were the natural colour of the atmosphere, it would follow that wherever a larger mass air intervened between the eye and the element of fire, the azure colour would be more intense; as we see in blue glass and in sapphires, which are darker in proportion as they are larger.

But the atmosphere in such circumstances behaves in an opposite manner, in as much as where a greater quantity of it lies between the eye and the sphere of fire, it is seen much whiter. This occurs towards the horizon. And the less the extent of atmosphere between the eye and the sphere of fire, the deeper is the blue colour, as may be seen even on low plains. Hence it follows, as I say, that the atmosphere assumes this azure hue by reason of the particles of moisture which catch the rays of the sun.

Again, we may note the difference in particles of dust, or particles of smoke, in the sun beams admitted through holes into a dark chamber, when the former will look ash grey and the thin smoke will appear of a most beautiful blue; and it may be seen again in the dark shadows of distant mountains when the air between the eye and those shadows will look very blue, though the brightest parts of those mountains will not differ much from their true colour. But if any one wishes for a final proof let him paint a board with various colours, among them an intense black; and over all let him lay a very thin and transparent white. He will then see that this transparent white will nowhere show a more beautiful blue than over the black, but it must be very thin and finely ground. Leonardo Da Vinci's notebooks (1452-1519)

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Pertaining to the study of meteorology and atmospheric phenomena, it can be deduced that Leonardo Da Vinci used this method as a colour chart to accurately match the time of day he wished his paintings to be set. In Western Art, no other than the painter William Turner, 1775-1851, expressed the beauty of the elements of nature with his landscapes of water, fire and air. Above, from thebookmann series of classic Gods; Zeus and Venus superimposed over the Caribbean skies.

Until further notice - thebookmann

A gem among ruins

This painting is in a place which you would least expect. Located on the upper floor of a decrepit building which is at its last stage of standing. Within the filth, the painting exhibits an American bald eagle cruising in flight over a panoramic backdrop of a sky, terrain and sea. It measures over 5x3 feet in size and is one of two pitted and marked painted murals soon to be destroyed by the elements of decay. Yet, the work stands for a freedom from the reins of man, to a place far and beyond his shores. Free in his fulfillment and deed. To a better future and life his can call his own.

This mural has been destroyed.
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Dear readers please note:

thebookmann project began in 2004, and focused on documenting wall paintings, architecture, posters, typography, street graffiti and other kitsch based works in the environment that generally went unnoticed, but thrived in plain sight. Since then, thebookmann has become the source of Art pertaining to Trinidad and Tobago and has been approached by artists, curators, museums, universities and newspapers. This means a comprehensive overhaul is required to insure the consistency. Until further notice, thebookmann is temporarily closed.

For a comprehensive list of categories, please visit archives of thebookmann at wordpress.

Comments under A gem among ruins :

It figures, I guess. That those who have done yeoman service for Trinidad and Tobago ultimately find themselves in the depressing condition of having to beg for sponsorship and support when there is just no other way to carry on otherwise.

In another place, there would be ten thousand comments here, with corporate, and other sponsors falling over themselves to get involved. But this is Trinidad: every man for himself. We've got apathy in our genes, and we, deliberately or otherwise, strangle the bright lights among us until they fade away, leaving us the poorer.

"A gem among ruins", indeed. I hope things work out for you, and I hope also that some lights do not fade. - Rory