My Modern Met: 100 Gigantic Skulls Spill Through the Vast Halls of a Museum

Australian artist Ron Mueck has unveiled his largest installation ever with Mass, a collection of 100 monumental hand-cast skulls. Commissioned specially for the National Gallery of Victoria's International Triennial, the imposing and ominous skulls pour through the galleries, each skull artfully placed into a tumbling mass.

Mueck, known for his hyperrealistic sculptures, forgoes his typically obsessive detail in bringing to life his hyperrealistic sculpture by focusing on what remains long after our bodies have decayed. “Mass intrudes into the 18th Century Galleries like a glacier inching across a landscape, crowding out the powdered, bewigged lords and ladies, a reminder of all our fates,” the artist shares.

Each hand-finished skull, cast in resin, is also a tribute to Mueck's artistic dedication to precision. The slight variations in form individualize each of the 100 skulls, adding his signature realistic touch to the surreal installation. Mass is just one of the pieces in the inaugural Triennial, which is hosting 100 artists from 32 countries. Twenty of the pieces, including Mueck's, were commissioned specifically for this ambitious exhibition, which runs through April 15, 2018.

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My Modern Met: 13 Most Beautiful Opera Houses Around the World

The beauty of opera is only matched by the places in which it’s performed. These grandiose settings fuse fine art with architecture into one stunning cultural center. For centuries, these places have been at the height of society, showcasing the talents of countless performers and musicians. When not filled with people, however, the opera houses stand on their own as breathtaking institutions. As photography demonstrates, the design—including ornamental gilding, balustrades, and chandeliers—is even more stunning when the seats and stage are completely empty.

Many of the opera houses seen here were built long ago. The Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth, Germany was constructed between 1746 and 1750. Boasting a hand-painted wooden roof, the well-preserved Baroque design is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other halls, like the contemporary Harbin Opera House in Harbin, China, have a modern spin. Created by the Beijing-based studio MAD, it strays from tradition and features one undulating form that wraps around two concert halls and a public plaza. Although it has a minimalist feel, Harbin’s interior still takes a cue from older opera houses with balconies that seemingly ripple in and out of the space.

As times continue to change, so does the function of these iconic spaces. Often, they host a variety of shows (aside from operas), and their historic decor provides a beautiful juxtaposition between the past and present.

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My Modern Met: Photographer Captures Stunning Symmetry of Berlin’s Interior Architecture

Self-taught photographer Thibaud Poirier points and shoots his camera at the interiors of Berlin’s most stunning buildings in his new series, Berlin Interiors. Each photograph in the series is perfectly framed to exaggerate the interior architecture’s symmetry to great effect. The result is a collection that can be interpreted as an ode to lines, cubes, and curves, as much as highlighting beautiful interiors.

Poirier is Parisian, but has called Buenos Aires, Houston, Montreal, and Tokyo home, making him a man of the world. Exposure to different city dynamics certainly informs his work. “Growing up in these vastly different landscapes and cultures, early on I developed a love and fascination for architecture and urban environments,” he shares. “As a self taught photographer my focus is to capture the beauty and energy of these places as I see them.”

His unique vision of Berlin’s interiors will have you seeing space in a different way. Every frame takes a peek into the heart of these buildings, leaving the viewer mesmerized.

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My Modern Met: Monumental 1,320-Ton Sculpture of Chinese War God Watches Over the City

An enormous, commanding 1,320-ton sculpture of the Chinese god of war, Guan Yu, was unveiled on July 11th in China’s Hubei province in Jingzhou city. Guan Yu, was a Chinese military general who had tremendous martial prowess during his time, and was deified as a god of war after his death. He is also an epitome of loyalty and righteousness.

Guan Yu lived during a restless period in Chinese history known as the Three Kingdoms, and is often depicted holding his “reclining moon blade” named the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, which he wielded against his enemies and was said to weigh an impressive 40 lbs (18.25 kg).

A sight to behold, the entire sculpture stands at just over 190 feet (58 meters) tall, seeming to watch over the city and its residents. Over 4,000 strips of bronze were glued over the sculpture, and Guan Yu is portrayed as a fearless warrior who is ready for battle, proudly posed atop his pedestal which was modeled after a warship. Curious visitors can enter the pedestal and visit the Guan Yu Museum which is housed inside.

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