How would you react if you were walking down a crowded city street and 20 people suddenly ran past you and crammed their bodies into the tiny space between two buildings? What if you happened to look up and see someone hanging from a street light, wedged into a window frame, or squeezed into the space between a tree and a building? It’s those reactions that spur Willi Dorner to create his intriguing, though temporary, living sculptures.

The Vienna-based Compagnie Willie Dorner was formed in 1999. Dorner strives to do more than simply entertain: he wants to create an experience for the audience. He wants to inspire viewers to change their perspective and see things in a slightly different way. Seeing a group of people in a place where people usually do not go and in a configuration that’s never been seen forces the mind to open to new possibilities. It inspires the viewer to see these overlooked spaces as a living part of the cityscape, and to reconsider which behaviors they deem appropriate for public places.

Cie. Willi Dorner has toured all over the world, though the “bodies” are different in each location. Dorner uses local performers in every city. He chooses dancers who are strong, flexible and light; they need to hold difficult and uncomfortable positions, squeeze into tight spaces, and pile on top of other performers without crushing them.

The group’s guerilla art performances consist of the dancers trotting from location to location, then leaping into formation for a short time. The spaces and their positions vary widely; from squeezing a few people under a park bench to piling a dozen bodies into a doorway to creating a mound of people that cascades over a fence. After holding the position for a bit, they silently stand up and job to the next location. Viewers are urged to follow the group around, seeing how their bodies interact with the settings in each new location.

You might even call these performances urban exploration. After all, the performers are putting themselves into spaces where bodies normally do not go, using urban spaces in a completely new way, and exploring the cities’ environments in a way that no one has before. And, even better, the performers are involving the public in their exploration. The interaction between the artists and the viewer makes for a completely unique experience, one that differs entirely based on whether the viewer saw the group before they assembled in the gathering point or noticed them as a static part of the scenery.

The public – and police – have a variety of reactions to the group’s performances. Some watch in amazement, some laugh, and some – particularly the police – disapprove of the displays. However, Dorner is careful to clear the performances with local authorities beforehand. According to him, some cities are much more difficult to get permission from than others. In particular, Dorner says, American and British cities pose a problem where the authorities are concerned. His performers are often stopped by police who think they are vandals or thieves.

The Art of Guerrilla Gardening in Public Spaces

Have you ever wondered why so much public space seems to go to waste? Even apparently 'natural' green areas are carefully cultivated, requiring time, energy and water. Click Here to See More

In today’s sex-saturated society, creative advertisements promoting safe sex, condoms and HIV and AIDS awareness have become mainstream.  Some of the ads are shocking, some are cute, but they all creatively get the message across.  Sexually transmitted diseases are no longer simply an inconvenience.  In some situations, an unplanned pregnancy, while devastating, could possibly be the best-case scenario.  Safe sex is a matter of life or death.

Memorable Safe Sex Ads

(images via: shibbay, amysrobot, euroross)

Most safe sex ads are creatively designed, just as other ads are, to get your attention quickly.  The most successful advertisements are also memorable and leave a lasting impression.  This is a particularly important component of safe sex ads.  The message must be clear and it must stick in order to work.  Trojan’s ads featuring men as pigs were particularly effective.

A Beastly Burden

(images via: pinoyhivplus, coloribus)

These ads use animal and giant insect images to convey the dangers of unprotected sex.  Scorpions, spiders and snakes can all be frightening and harmful if not handled safely.  Through creative advertising for AIDS awareness and condom use, the analogy to safe sex is made.

HIV and AIDS Awareness

(images via: spiegel, sajaforum)

Safe sex activism is a vital part of many communities.  Those not content to run ads and hope that the message gets across take it a step further and go out into their communities and spread the word.  Local events help reinforce HIV and AIDS awareness advertisements and promote safe sex through the use of condoms.

Safe Sex Prevents So Many Problems

(images via: coloribus, yourpinup1, blogspot)

What’s the worst that could happen?  Many people don’t take the time to think it though carefully before making a decision in the heat of the moment that could change their lives forever, or cut their time on earth short.  An unplanned pregnancy can be a major problem, but given the other devastation that can come from unprotected sex, a surprise pregnancy pales in comparison.

Lighthearted, Yet Deadly Serious

(images via: cityfood, coloribus, schemamag)

These clever ads take a more lighthearted approach to promoting safe sex, while still pushing the message about the deadly consequences of unprotected sex.  Crash test dummies are always popular, no matter what they’re doing, and are icons for safety.  Sexing skeletons may make us laugh, but the underlying message still comes through.

The Infidelity Issue

(images via: coloribus)

These ads speak to the segment of the population who are unfaithful and engage in sex outside of their marriages or serious relationships.  For these people, safe sex is not only about protecting their own health, it also involves their significant other.  Although the spouse or partner may be blissfully unaware of the affair, bringing home an STD will change all of that very quickly.  Unprotected sex can not only ruin your life, but the lives of those who care about you the most too.

18 Creative & Bizarre Safe Sex Ads

Sex saturation in the media introduced the need for public service announcements about safe sex and created a market for condom ads. It's sexy to be safe. Click Here to See More

(Article information and images provided by Bart of Urban Travel)

It is one thing to think about visiting that haunting abandoned building on the edge of town – but it is quite another thing to actually brave not one but hundreds of deserted places like Bart of Urban Travel. Here are 20 factories, mines, castles, churches, homes, estates, prisons, military and state buildings from all over East and West Europe visited, photographed and documented by Bart on his travels.

Abandoned Factories and Industry Buildings

Rope and Hemp Factory in Italy: This was once the largest such factory in Europe, dating back to 1840. A state-of-the-art water system facilitated steam- and water-powered machines through a labyrinth of tunnels that carried water throughout the complex. It was closed just over a decade ago and, as such, is in remarkably pristine condition for an abandonment.

Atelier Decor Plaster Workshop in Belgium: This small plaster workshop is nearly a century old and was once used to make all kinds of plaster artifacts including statues, fountains and even elements for fake caves and miniature golf courses. What was once rather kitsch itself now seems somehow solemn and serious with age and disrepair.

Old Factory Engine Room in The Netherlands: This well-preserved engine room was once part of gigantic factory. Though the outside looks anything but spectacular the interior is clean, spacious and relatively untouched.

Diamond Workshop in Belgium: Built by a diamond cutting and polishing specialist for his sons in Antwerp, this workshop is exactly a century old. It once had two floors with a slanted roof but the roof was rendered level during post-world-war-II bomb-damage repairs. With the introduction of widespread and accessible electricity the workshop upgraded to an electrical engine in the 1920s and was finally closed for good in the 1980s.

Abandoned Mines and Facilities

Mining Facility in Belgium: Once relatively easy to access, copper thieves and photographer accidents have since rendered this location much more secure. It is the biggest such site still in good condition, opened in the early 1900s and closed in the late 1900s due to protests. A small (2%) part of the mine is still open as a museum of historical industry.

Offleben Tagebau in Germany: This brown-coal mine was built over a few decades starting in the 1950s and was attached to a coal-fueled power plant on the same site. As the wall was constructed to divide East and West Germanies, it gained greater importance as one of the few such plants to land on the East side of the border.

Cokerie Anderlues in Belgium: This plant was built in 1903 but as stocks plummeted in the early 2000s it fell victim to increasing competition from the Chinese and the value of the company dropped by 98 percent and went under, leaving 113 employees without a job, the building abandoned and the surrounding area dangerously polluted.

Hazard Cheratte in Belgium: The buildings associated with this coal mine look deceptively like a castle, as it was built (along with many other German factories) in a particularly impressive style popular at the time. This particular one was abandoned over thirty years ago – and it shows through the overgrowth and myriad broken windows throughout.

Abandoned Military, State  & Prison Buildings

Krampnitz Russian Barracks in Germany: A former tank training school and army barracks, jumping the fence into this compound amounts to traveling through time back to the Soviet era. Newspapers, propaganda posters and other artifacts permeate the place – things few Westerners have seen.

Charteuse Fortifications in Belgium: These fortifications were built for defense by the Dutch nearly 200 years ago alongside the river Meuse. During the Belgian Revolution shortly thereafter the fort was taken over and used as a barracks by the newly independent Belgium. In the first world war, it was used as a prison for the Belgian resistance by the Germans – and fell again during the second world war until liberated and turned into a hospital by allied forces. It has since been abandoned.

Carabanchel Prison in Spain: This massive structure once housed 2000 male and 500 female prisoners, active for over 50 years and until only a decade ago. It has since been taken over by thieves, gypsies, graffiti artists and junk addicts – one of whom threw a brick at Bart while he was exploring the place!

Russian Camps in Germany: Just another of many Russian camps located in the former East Germany – essentially its own Russian village with shops, houses and a cinema and still filled with remnants of those who lived there.

Abandoned Churches and Castles

Chateau Noisy in Belgium: The so-called Castle of Miranda has been abandoned for nearly twenty years. During the French revolution its inhabitants abandoned it for a nearby farm, which then was given the name of the castle and built into an incredible house. It became a vacation camp in World War II for the children of railway workers but fell victim to a fire in the 1990s and has since been entirely deserted.

Castle of Mesen in Belgium: The Bette family owned this gigantic castle, designed by famous Italian architect Giovanni Niccolo Servandoni,  from the 16th through the 18th centuries. It became an industrial center in the 19th century before turning into a school and chapel for nuns. Next it was used after the first world war to educate the children of dead or disabled soldiers but has been abandoned for nearly fifty years. Today it is barely safe to enter and the plan is to destroy it and erect apartment units in its place.

Castle ter Meeren in Belgium: This castle in Brussels has parts that date back to the 12th century and other pieces that were built in the 15th century as well as some constructed in the 19th century. It has only been abandoned for a few years but it is quickly going to ruin since being deserted.

St. Josephs’s Seminary in England: Close to Manchester in the hills of Lancashire sits a sizable seminary built in the late 1800s, once used to train priests of the Catholic Church. It is one of the biggest buildings of its kind in Europe but as the number of priests-in-training throughout Europe has dropped off the school was moved, leaving a boarding school in its place until that, too, was deserted with the building. The plan in play is to convert it to apartments and it is gaurded by security cameras to prevent vandals in the meantime.

Abandoned Homes and Estates

Villa Viron in Belgium: On a hill outside of a small town stands a sizable villa once owned by a count and countess. When her husband died 20 or so years ago, the wife moved out to a smaller house and left the big one behind. The big one, however, seems more than 20 years old on the inside – it has decor and ambiance dating back to the 1930s. The old countess rarely enters the mansion but still tours the surrounding gardens on a daily basis.

Villa Castor in Belgium: Close to Antwerp sits a small town and an abandoned villa. Sneaking in, particularly during the daytime as these explorers did, was anything but easy with the passing foot and car traffic. The remnants suggest it was abandoned on the seventies. Eerily, two suitcases still sit on the floor – as if the owners might return to pick them up for a last trip anytime.

Villa St. Marie in Belgium: The family that once lived in this villa were quite religiously Catholic. The man who lived there died at a young age, leaving it to his wife. She, in turn, had an affair with a local pastor, bore his child but drown it to avoid the shame. When she was discovered and arrested the villa was abandoned and has remained so for nearly 50 years.

HVR Chemie in Germany: This is one of many buildings abandoned in the former DDR. However, most such structures – from factories and military sites to houses and estates – are thoroughly trashed and devoid of interesting objects of their times. This one, however, was an exception: once a house it became an office of a chemical factory filled with typewriters, furniture and typical DDR decor from the 70s and 80s.

Amazing Abandoned Cities, Places and Property of the World

7 Abandoned Wonders of the World
7 (More!) Abandoned Wonders of the World
7 Abandoned Wonders of America
7 (More!) Abandoned Wonders of America
7 (Even More!) Abandoned Wonders of America
7 Abandoned Wonders of the Former Soviet Union
7 (More!) Abandoned Wonders of the Former Soviet Union
7 Abandoned Wonders of the European Union

7 More Abandoned Cities and Towns of the World

Check out these urban abandonments of the modern world. Click Here to See More

(WUltimate guides – Collecting the Very Best of WebUrbanist Past and Present)

WebUrbanist has covered everything from abandoned wonders of the world to the illicit art of exploring deserted places. These thirty-three core articles cover hundreds of abandoned buildings, vehicles, towns and cities from around the world – highly organized, summarized and collected for the very first time. Consider this our must-bookmark essential guide to the world of haunting abandoned places and daring urban exploration.

7 Abandoned Wonders of America (Part Two – Part Three): Most Americans don’t realize just how close their nearest abandonment might be. Some of these remarkable abandoned buildings and places – from prisons and asylums to entire islands – may be closer than you think.

7 Abandoned Wonders of the European Union: While American abandonments are impressive, European ones can be even more so. Some of them have long pasts and beautiful spaces filled with intrigue and many played critical roles during pivotal points of world history.

7 Abandoned Wonders of the Former Soviet Union (Part Two): The collapse of the Soviet Union left a dazzling array of abandoned buildings as well as entire cities. From modest towns to entire missile silos here are some of the most fascinating Soviet abandonments.

7 Abandoned Wonders of Asia: Asian design has long held fascination for those of us in the West. From a futuristic pod city to ornately decorated architecture to the failed opus of one of the world’s weirdest dictators here are some of the most amazing Asian abandonments.

24 Abandoned Cities and Ghost Towns: One of the most popular WebUrbanist articles of all time, this collection documents the most amazing abandoned villages, towns and cities from around the globe – from peacefully deserted to worn-torn abandonments.

24 Abandoned Buildings and Places: From shopping malls the school halls here is an overview, a visual sampling if you will, of some of the most common types of abandoned buildings that are spread throughout the world near and far, in urban and rural areas alike.

24 Abandoned Vehicles and Transit: Planes, trains and automobiles all wear down over time. Some of these are abandoned quite quickly while others are restored for decades before being deserted to the elements. From school buses to private jets, here are twenty-four examples.

24 Abandoned Places Shot in HDR: When applied to abandoned places in particular, HDR photography has a way of bringing out hauntingly vivid visual qualities that can otherwise be missed in photographic reproductions. These images bring abandonments back to life.

Abandoned Houses, Homes, Ghost Towns and Neighborhoods: When most people think of abandoned buildings the deserted places that come to mind most often are haunted houses and ghost towns. There are, however, even more haunting and ghostly examples.

Abandoned Institutions, Asylums, Hospitals, Hotels and Churches: Homes are one things but these homes-away-from-home can sometimes seem even more tragic and surreal. These are places with large spaces where people stayed for a time – resting, recovering or congregating.

Abandoned Theme Parks, Theaters, Schools and Pools: If institutions, hotels and churches are sober and somber places of gathering then theme parks and theaters are at the festive end of the spectrum – making their desertion a particularly poignant change of status.

Abandoned Factories, Mills and Mines: Workers once toiled in these spaces and the dirt and sweat of their labors can still be seen in the factory halls and on mine walls years later. Many are also cluttered with industrial remains from parts to whole machinery.

Abandoned Cars, Trucks, Buses, Tanks and Roads: Road vehicles are the first that come to mind for most people – and their abandonment is anything but uncommon as they rust and fall into disrepair. The roads that carry them are sometimes deserted as well.

Abandoned Railroads, Subways, Stations, Trains and Tunnels: Off the beaten path and often beneath the surface of the Earth, abandoned railroad and subway lines, stations and vehicles are frequently all the more eerie for their degree of preservation and remoteness of location.

Abandoned Ships, Shipyards, Boats and Docks: It is difficult to comprehend how something as big as a boat – let alone as massive as a ship or shipyard – can ever be worth abandoning. From small yachts to large steamers, however, there are many such examples.

Abandoned Airfields, Airplanes and Other Aircrafts: If deserted ships are difficult to believe then entire airstrips and air vehicles are even more amazing to behold. Go ahead, climb on board, fiddle with the controls, just don’t push buttons on jets with missiles still attached.

Beginner’s Guide to Building Infiltration and Urban Exploration: Just getting your feet wet when it comes to finding and exploring abandoned places? Here are some handy links to get you started on the right foot in terms of gear, approach, existing explorers and past explorations.

7 Tips for Legally Exploring Historical Abandonments: Not sure you want to take the plunge and break the law? That may be for the best and we certainly won’t endorse illegal activity. You could skip the thrill of sneaking in and be more straightforward about it.

30 Essential Websites, Forums and Galleries for Urban Explorers: Before you explore in the real world it might be worth looking at what others have already done. These resources are engaging even if you plan to remain on the sidelines but are also informative if you want to jump in.

42 Top Flickr Groups for Finding Urban Exploration Images: If you want to stay out of the game altogether there are still plenty of places to explore online. Flickr has dozens of photo groups dedicated to images of abandonments and organized into all kinds of niche categories.

Urban Exploration through Parkour and Free Running: One extreme way to explore an urban environment (though not recommended without training) is via parkour and free running – techniques for scaling the sides of and leaping between buildings in amazing ways.

10 Examples of Compelling Parkour and Free Running in Film: Parkour and free running have slowly made their way into popular culture video online videos and mainstream movies. Here are some incredible scripted examples of parkour and free running in feature films.

Urban Camouflage for the Cautious Urban Explorer: Urban exploration requires a fair degree of stealth. You may want to disguise your camera bag, have a handy portable place to hide or even modify your vehicle so that it fits in when you park at an abandoned place.

10 Examples of Creative Urban Camouflage in Context: Of course, urban camouflage can be fun as well as practical. These urban camo designs are in some cases useful, in others artistic but in many instances are simply interesting and offbeat artistic statements.

Abandoned Movies Theaters of the United States: Abandoned drive-in theaters are an increasingly common sight on the sides of long rural stretches of highway. However, there are many magnificent urban theaters that have also been tragically left to the mercy of the elements.

Infamous Abandoned Places Used in Famous Films: Abandoned places have been featured in some of the most famous films of modern times from Twelve Monkeys to The Abyss. Some are what you might expect while others look very different in the light of regular photography.

Supposedly Haunted Houses and Hotels of the World: Do ghosts exist or can supposedly paranormal phenomena be explained in other ways? Regardless of what you believe personally here are some of the most infamous locations purported to be haunted in the world.

Historical and Mysterious Shipwrecks of the World: Shipwrecks are the sources of legend, from high-seas piracy and sunken treasure to great and tragic crashes like that of the infamous Titanic. Here are some stories and images of shipwrecks from around the seas.

Haunting Ruins of War from Around the World: War is devastating to populations in so many ways. Often the details are forgotten or changed and rewritten over time but there is a certain tragic truth revealed through the ruined structures left behind after the devastation.

Deserted and Converted Abandoned Missile Silos: Missile silos around the world become disused and then deserted- but in some cases explorers still manage to find their way in. In other cases, wealthy buyers purchase and convert these into amazing homes.

24 Beautiful HDR Photos of Abandoned Places

Something about the vibrant colors, stark contrasts and vivid depths lends abandonments to pictures using HDR photography techniques like few other subjects. Click Here to See More

(source: fornal)

When most people think about monochrome photography (or monotone photography for that matter), they immediately jump to black & white or grayscale. That’s not to say that they’re wrong, since monochrome photography most often does refer to capturing three-dimensional spaces in two-dimensional black-and-white, but by doing so they are limiting their options. Monochrome simply means ‘of one color’, and what that color ends up being, is entirely up to you. Here are some eyeopening monochromatic shots in red, blue, green, purple, orange, and yellow.

Monochrome Photography in Red

(sources: jenriks, manganite, sahrizvi)

In many cases, opting to shoot in one color rather than utilizing the entire spectrum can provide you with much more powerful results. The color red, for example, is associated with lust, lust, sex, blood, and sin on the one hand, and courage, sacrifice, passion, love, and beauty on the other. Shooting in red can make the most innocent scenes appear sinister and foreboding.

Monochrome Photography in Blue

(sources: expressmonorail, nabenori, manganite, emilyquinton, evaekeblad, mavis_hk)

The color blue has come to be synonymous with feelings of sadness. This is because Greek mythology associated blue with rain and storms, which were believed to be direct results of Zeus being sad or angry. Adding some blue to your photos can immediately make even the most jovial of settings appear a little melancholy.

Monochrome Photography in Green

(sources: emadivine, ringydingydo, manganite)

The color green is complex and interesting in its connotations. Derived from the old english verb growan (meaning to grow), it is often used to refer to plants and vegetation (even when not denoting their color), and environmentalism (the green movement). The color also refers to lack of experience (he’s green), jealousy (green with envy), and money (greenbacks). While in some cultures the color denotes growth and prosperity, in others it can mean sickness and death. Even though three out of the four images above are manufactured, their coloring gives them a distinctly organic feeling.

Monochrome Photography in Purple

(sources: flumpster, damgaard, fern_carver, kristianbirchall)

Purple is a very exclusive color, or…elitist if you will. When the use of the color first became fashionably, the dye was so expensive to acquire that only the wealthy could afford it, and therefore it came to denote royalty (in fact Tyrian purple is also called imperial purple). Throw in a dash of purple and your shots, too, can look undeniably regal.

Monochrome Photography in Orange

(sources: harraz, wards, babylon9, vanbrad, gkayacan)

Just as purple is regal, orange is equally common. So common, in fact, that the name of the color is derived from the fruit (and not the other way around as many believe). Orange also much softer and more sedated than red, and symbolizes energy and warmth rather than anger and sin. The color is cheerful and friendly without being overbearing and at the same time demands attention (traffic cones) without screaming (red stop signs). The first two images represent the transitional nature of orange (autumn/fall – the changing seasons) while the latter two represent the energy and attention.

Monochrome Photography in Yellow

(source: leticiamr, dum, chun, ketzal)

Yellow is sunshine, sunflowers, and smiley faces, but yellow isn’t always happy. Much like the duality of red, yellow also has two faces, two sets of possible responses, two completely different uses. On the one hand yellow is everthing joyous and hopeful, and on the other, it denotes cowardice, deciet, and aging. Be careful when using colors with dual interpretations as they can have a distorting effect on your statement.

Faux Photography: 43 Stunning Super-Realistic Works of Art

Would you believe that none of these pictures are photographs? It's true - the ten artists featured here specialize in amazingly realistic works of art. Click Here to See More