Whether you love it or hate it, the divisive architectural style taking over the Bolivian city of El Alto is certainly a departure from the norm, injecting bold shapes and colors into an otherwise average cityscape. Local architect Freddy Mamani, who has spent the last 18 years developing the signature style he calls “Nuevo Andino” (“New Andean”), felt that El Alto was too “monochrome.” Each of his buildings is like a unique sculptural work of art aiming to enliven the city and pay homage to ancient indigenous motifs of the area.

To understand and appreciate Mamani’s daring design decisions, it helps to know a little about the area’s history. El Alto is a the second-largest city in Bolivia outside the capital city of La Paz, and one of its fastest-growing urban centers. As millions of people have moved in from rural areas, El Alto has rapidly developed architecture and infrastructure to accommodate them. Most of the city’s residents are Amerindian, identifying as Aymara, an indigenous nation in the Andes and Altiplano regions whose ancestors lived in the area long before becoming subjects of the Inca in the 15th century and later the Spanish in the 16th century.

Centuries of colonization can wreak havoc on indigenous cultures, suppressing them (often violently) in the name of assimilation. The colors and forms of the Aymara spring back to life in a way that simply can’t be ignored through Mamani’s work. Locally, the buildings he has erected – as well as those inspired by his work – are referred to as “cholets,” reclaiming a derisive word combining “chalet” and “cholo” often used to dismiss the indigenous population in Latin American countries.

Each of these “cholets” has commercial space on the ground floor for shops, restaurants and services, while the second floor hosts a gathering space, the third offers apartments and the fourth contains the residence of the building’s owner. They all feature exaggerated geometries, asymmetrical proportions and the lines and motifs found in the ruins of the ancient Aymara city of Tiwanaku, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about 37 miles away. Mamani has completed about 70 of these buildings in El Alto and 100 more across Bolivia.

While observers from around the world have sometimes derided the buildings with words like “ugly,” “rotten” and “gruel,” Mamani’s cholets simply weren’t made for them and don’t require their approval. Brash design choices may not be for everyone, but as many cities continue to homogenize and lose their cultural identities, some fight back against bland one-size-fits-all trends. And in El Alto, that has meant drawing in travelers who come just to take in the uniqueness of the city.

Dezeen has more information on this fascinating architectural style, including an interview with Freddy Mamani.

Photography by Yuri Segalerba

How different would the world be today if the Bible contained a book that advocates free love? If we had access to the other two-thirds of the writings of Aristotle, one of the most influential human beings of all time? What could we have learned from the thousands of texts that were contained within the Library of Alexandria? Unfortunately, we’ll never know, because we don’t even know exactly what these works said. Missing, destroyed or in one case, never even written, these 7 lost wonders of the written word will likely always remain a mystery.

William Shakespeare’s Cardenio

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Shakespeare might just be the most celebrated author and playwright of all time, with his plays performed by amateur and professional theaters alike all over the world nearly four centuries after his death. But lost to history are not one but two of Shakespeare’s works, and we’ll never know quite how well they stack up to the rest of his oeuvre. The first, ‘Love’s Labours Won’, is possibly a sequel to his famous work ‘Love’s Labours Lost’; it seems to have been published in 1603, but no copies survive.

More interesting, however, is another lost work that brings together two of that era’s greatest talents. ‘Cardenio‘ is thought to be one of the most valuable lost literary works. Though we know very little about it, aside from the fact that it  was performed before King James I in May and June of 1613, it is apparent that it was based on the work of another great writer: Miguel de Cervantes. ‘Cardenio’ was the name of a major character from Cervantes’ ‘Don Quixote.’

No written record of ‘Cardenio’ remains, but so beloved is Shakespeare’s talent that there have been numerous attempts to creatively imagine what they play might have been about. In 2008, scholar Stephen Greenblatt and playwright Charles Mee collaborated to produce a re-imagined ‘Cardenio’ at Harvard’s American Repertory Theater.

Plato’s Hermocrates

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Technically, this one’s just hypothetical. But rumor has it that Greek philosopher Plato planned to write a third dialogue in his unified field trilogy. Hermocrates would have been a follow-up to Timaeus and Critias, both of which detail the discussions between some of history’s greatest thinkers.  Given that Critias stopped in mid-sentence, we can only assume that he never even started writing Hermocrates.

Hermocrates was a historical figure, almost certainly the Syracusan politician and general who is mentioned in Critias. Says historian F.M. Conford, “Since the dialogue that was to bear his name was never written, we can only guess why Plato chose him. It is curious to reflect that, while Critias is to recount how the prehistoric Athens of nine thousand years ago had repelled the invasion from Atlantis and saved the Mediterranean peoples from slavery, Hermocrates would be remembered by the Athenians as the man who had repulsed their own greatest effort at imperialist expansion.”

Two-Thirds of Aristotle’s Writing

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The writings of Greek philosopher Aristotle helped form the basis of Western philosophy as well as scholarship on a wide range of topics including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, politics, government, ethics, biology and zoology. His works include the earliest-known formal study of logic. So it’s probably not an understatement to say that human thinking could have been profoundly affected by the large volume of Aristotle’s writings that are now lost.

What we do have of Aristotle’s writings is enough to demonstrate a highly prolific lifetime of critical study, so it’s hard to imagine that we have only read about one-third of it. He remains one of the most influential people to have ever lived.

Ab Urbe Condita Libri by Livy

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A monumental history of Rome written sometime between 27 and 25 BC, Ab Urbe Condita Libri covers the time between the period before the city’s founding in 753 BC all the way to the reign of the emperor Augustus in 9 BC. Historian Titus Livius (Livy) gathered this information into 142 books in a mixture of chronology and narrative. Only about 25% of the history survives; the manuscript was damaged in the 5th century CE and some of it was never preserved in the first place. With the volume of writing that Livy did on so many centuries of history, there’s no telling how much detail we could have learned about this once-great civilization.

The Entire Collection of the Library of Alexandria

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The largest and most significant library of the ancient world, the Library of Alexandria in Egypt was a major center of scholarship from the time it was built in the 3rd century BC until the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BC. The library is thought to have been initially organized by Demetrius of Phaleron, a student of Aristotle, and it included gardens and a dining room in addition to reading rooms, meeting rooms and lecture halls. It was the first known library to gather a collection of books from beyond its country’s borders, aiming to collect all of the world’s knowledge.

Nobody knows quite how large the collection was. We do know that it functioned as a research institute for the great thinkers of the time including Euclid and Archimedes, with rooms dedicated to the study of astronomy, anatomy and other academic subjects.

Plutarch wrote that Julius Caesar ‘accidentally’ burned the library down during a visit to Alexandria in 48 BC when he set fire to his own ships. The salvaged materials, which were transferred to a new library, could have been destroyed at various points throughout history including the Muslim conquest in 642 CE.

The Book of the Wars of the Lord

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Most modern Christians tend to think of the Bible as a handbook to life – but what about all of the parts that were taken out over time? The Book of the Wars of the Lord is among the non-canonical books referenced by the Bible which are now completely lost. Academics believe that it might be a collection of victory songs or poems, while some suggest that it may be a military history. It’s cited in the medieval Book of Jasher Chapter 90:48 as being written by Moses, Joshua and the children of Israel.

That single mention – the mere listing of its name and authors – is all that we know of it. It may or may not have been suppressed by early Christian leaders and church fathers, who seem to have removed some writings from original biblical texts.

The Gospel of Eve

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Among the New Testament apocrypha – Biblical books that are not considered ‘canonical’ – is the Gospel of Eve. All that we know of it comes from a few quotations by Epiphanius, a 4th century CE church father who complained that the Borborites, a Gnostic sect, used it as a license to practice ‘free love’. Apparently, in translation of the Gospel of Eve, the Borborites practiced coitus interruptus and eating semen as a religious act.

Epiphanius quoted the following line from the Gospel of Eve, interpreting it to be about semen:

“I stood on a lofty mountain and saw a gigantic man, and another, a dwarf; and I heard as it were a voice of thunder, and drew nigh for to hear; and He spake unto me and said: I am thou, and thou art I; and wheresoever thou mayest be I am there. In all am I scattered [that is, the Logos as seed or “members”], and whencesoever thou willest, thou gatherest Me; and gathering Me, thou gatherest Thyself.”

He also noted that another line seemed to be about the menstrual cycle:

“I saw a tree bearing twelve manner of fruits every year, and he said unto me, This is the tree of life …”

This is dirty stuff for the bible, and Epiphanius wanted no part of it. He said of the Gospel of Perfection – which is believed by some to be the same as the Gospel of Eve – “”Some of them (i.e. of the Gnostics) there are who vaunt the possession of a certain fictitious, far-fetched poem which they call the Gospel of Perfection, whereas it is not a Gospel, but the perfection of misery. For the bitterness of death is consummated in that production of the devil. Others without shame boast their Gospel of Eve.”

Namaste! The LOST TV series has inspired people from around the globe to create some of the best fan made art ever! For six years, Lost fans have included amazingly talented artists with Lost-themed vision, incredible creativity, and an insatiable appetite for the island’s mysteries. Lost fans are now somewhere in-between a frenzy to having fun. Here is a huge collection of Lost fan art. Like LOST itself, some of the fan art is fantastic, while some is simply freaky and WTF?!?

The ‘Lost’ Supper

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You may not be a fan of the TV series Lost, but the fans are diehards! Lost is almost over, with too many questions left unanswered. Whether or not that will leave an opening for a series of Lost movies on the big screen is yet to be known. However, the cult-like following will live on and continue to grow as new people watch reruns. Here are some of the best or most freaky fan art in a goodbye tribute to Lost.

Things Are Not As They Seem

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Lost is one epic WTF after another. The only “given” is to expect that things are not what they seem. If you know nothing of Lost, you will not understand the hieroglyphics or the countdown timer. Explaining it is for the experts, but once upon a time Oceanic Flight 815 crashed on the the island. The survivors found the Hatch and the Numbers had to be entered into the station’s computer. Execute needed pushed every 108 minutes to prevent system failure and the dreaded hieroglyphics (or end of the world). From Desmond Hume, to John Locke, to Mr. Eko, in fact everything about the island, was never what it seemed. Each episode included a minimum of one WTF moment, leaving fans to speculate until the next episode.

Bentos

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As a Lost fan, you see clues everywhere. The Numbers, also Hugo Hurley Reyes‘ “winning” lottery numbers, might be found in something as simple as minestrone soup. Everywhere you look, Lost is there. Crystal Watanabe creates the most fabulous Lost tributes as Bentos. Her site, Adventures in Bento Making, is a perfect example of how creative and diehard LOSTies can be.

The Lost Art by Fans: Screenprints, Shirts, Bumper Stickers

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To celebrate the final season of the series Lost, a group of designers and artists who are also fans of the program were challenged to create screenprints of the most memorable moments in the unforgettable series. They are not the only ones with fan art. Glenn Jones creates t-shirts designs, including the  Dharma milk carton. People all over the world have created t-shirt tributes to their favorite Lost character.

Mysterious Artwork

Hot Meteor creates some awesome Dharma vintage posters as if from Circa 1974. These Lost tributes to the Dharma Initiative are “Smoke ’em if you got ’em” and “Reach out and touch someone.”

This was part of the Lost Underground Art show at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles. Created by artist Carlos Ramos and titled, “DHARMA Science Manual Volume: 4,” this 20 X 24 inch masterpiece sold for $975.00!

Eric Tan designed “The Crash.” It was one of 300 hand-signed and numbered screenprints. Jason Casey created “Mr. Eko stares down the smoke monster.” Arinen drew Charlie Pace and “Not Penny’s Boat.” Buuya drew a different character like this “Benjamin Linus” every day of June.

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Scott Campbell created these framed 5 X 5 watercolor showdowns on archival paper. “LOST Showdowns” sold at the Underground Art Show for $350 each.

Lost T-shirt Logos

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If you are a Lost fan, then it goes without saying that you have an insatiable appetite for rehashed theories of flight Oceanic 815, of the black smoke monster, of the intriguing Dharma Initiative, of the parallel universes, of the island and all of its mysteries. Don’t get us started on Adam and Eve. Here are a few of the important logos, sayings, and clues, printed on shirts by diehard fans.

T-shirts

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Here are a few more favorite Lost characters and a tiny drop in the bucket of t-shirt designs available in tribute to each. These are Hurley, Desmond, Dr. Daniel Faraday, James “Sawyer” Ford, and Sayid Hassan Jarrah. Depending upon how many questions are left unanswered, how many characters are offed, and how this epic TV series ends, Lost fans may break into worldwide riots in the streets.

Polar Bear

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Do you like plush toys? When the polar bear charged across the tropical island, it was a giant WTF!?! This polar bear was created by Danielle Buerli and titled “The Dharma Bear.” This eight inch plush bear makes a roaring noise when squeezed and has small Dharma biscuits in a pouch. At the Underground Lost Art Show, it sold for $350!

Hurley & Locke Statues

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Wade Schin created these one-of-a-kind, five inch sculptures of Hurley and Locke. They have magnetic feet and bases for extra stability. At the Underground Art Show, each sold for $815!

All Shapes, Sizes, Products

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Almost any product you can think of has been turned into a Lost piece of art. From skateboards, clocks, hats, water bottles, it’s out there if you but look due to the awe factor of this highly addictive, intensely mysterious and controversial series. Some people hate Lost and will be happy to see it go. Even Lost fans like to bash Lost plots sometimes, but one thing rings true for all diehard fans. We will be lost without Lost.

Lost Simpsons

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Lost and Simpsons, a combo that is hard to beat. Adam Reynolds created Lost wallpaper that executive producer Carlton Cuse tweeted: “Love this.”

Lost Kubricks

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With six seasons, Lost has been turned into fan art and into toys for fans. One example of Lostie toys are the Lost Kubricks from Medicom. This series included Locke, Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Sayid, Charlie and Hurley.

Lostpedia

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Tragedy seems to rule side by side with WTF!?! Hurley and Libby, Charlie and Claire, Richard, Locke and the hatch, Juliet and Ben, none escaped unscathed from tragedy. Lostpedia is a great source among thousands, perhaps millions, of sites which discuss or debate Lost theories.

Lost Love, Lovers & Love Lost

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Ahh, love, what we would do without it? The love quadrangle between Jack, Kate, Sawyer and Juliet was just one of the dramatic conflicts that helped drive the plot. Jate is the fan-given name to the relationship between Jack and Kate while Skate is the fan-given name to the romantic relationship between Sawyer and Kate. These amazing works of art have had six seasons to grow. “LOST Season Four” is by grantgoboom. “LOST II” is by juarezricci. “Sawyer and Jack“ was drawn by RobD4E.

Heartbreak

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Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse must have truly wanted to break our hearts and bring on the waterworks over the Kwons. Jin and Sun were blessed by Jacob on their wedding day. After Sun’s rescue, she gave birth to their daughter Ji Yeon. Once reunited on the island, that blessing by Jacob seemed like a curse. When Jin and Sun drowned together in the submarine, millions of voices around the globe shouted WTF?!?

Lost Cake

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Charm City Cakes made a special cake for the series’ 100th episode. “It has been more than four years since that fateful airliner, Oceanic Flight 815, crashed onto an Island on September 22nd, 2004. After 99 episodes full of ominous mythology, startling discoveries, shocking cliffhangers, buried secrets, and stunning character development – we have reached the 100 episode milestone.”

LOST (2004-2010)

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We, the fans, love Lost. You’ve seen but a tiny sampling of awesome Lost fan art collected here. Six years later, we are still addicted and without answers to millions of questions. If you are not a Lostie, but know one, don’t call for we will have our phones off. We will be having parties. We will be ready and waiting for the Lost final showdown. To try to come between us and our beloved TV series may be hazardous to your health!