A Paul Klee artwork

Cityscape

10 Mar 2015 | From Gordon of South Africa

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Paul Klee (18 December 1879~29 June 1940) was a Swiss born painter, with a unique style that was influenced by expressionism, cubism, surrealism, and orientalism. Although the artist was born in Switzerland, he was not born a Swiss citizen. His father was a German national, and citizenship being decided on paternity, Klee was born a German citizen. His request for Swiss citizenship was not granted until six days after his untimely death from undiagnosed scleroderma.

As a child, Klee was mainly oriented as a musician, having played the violin since he was eight, but in his teen years, he found that art allowed him freedom to explore his style and express his radical ideas. Klee was a natural draftsman who experimented with and eventually deeply explored color theory, writing about it extensively; his lectures Writings on Form and Design Theory (Schriften zur Form und Gestaltungslehre), published in English as the Paul Klee Notebooks, are held to be as important for modern art as Leonardo da Vinci's A Treatise on Painting for the Renaissance. His works reflect his dry humor and his sometimes childlike perspective, his personal moods and beliefs, and his musicality.

The Wildside

A pride of sleeping lions

24 Nov 2014 | From Andreas of Germany

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM SOUTH AFFRICA

Here's another lovely postcard from Andreas' South African trip. I wonder if he came across a pride of lions during his trip - more interestingly, a herd of sleeping ones. He was in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, and Tulbogh - three of South Africa's oldest towns.

When I was just a kid, I would always picture Africa as a huge savanna with several wild animals. Sort of The Lion King setting. But of course that is not the case now. But back then, I imagine Africa with a hot and humid temperature, a vast horizon of orange and brown, and friendly indigenous African people wearing their colorful clothes leading a happy, simple life.

And of course, the animals - a diverse fauna and wildlife that I thought I'd never see in my lifetime. Philippines and Africa are oceans apart. Probably the closest thing I can get to seeing them is through zoos or safari theme parks. I've been to some, but I have never seen a lion before.

Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates.

Lions live for 10–14 years in the wild, while in captivity they can live longer than 20 years. In the wild, males seldom live longer than 10 years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity. They typically inhabit savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest.

There are no lions in the Philippines wilds. Perhaps in some zoos. But for now, I this postcard will have to do. Thanks, Andreas :)

SOURCE: Wikipedia

Postcard from Tulbagh

De Oude Drostdy, Tulbagh

24 Sept 2014 | From Andreas of Germany

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Andreas took a trip to South Africa to visit a friend in Tulbagh, one of the oldest towns in South Africa. He sent me this lovely postcard as souvenir of his South African holiday. This is the lone postcard that arrived today.

The postcard shows Oude Drostdy. Built in 1804 by Louis Thibault, it served originally as the seat of the magistrate of Tulbagh, and today is a national monument and cultural-historical museum housing a collection of early Cape furniture, household articles and a captivating collection of gramophones. 

South Africa's biggest hero

Nelson Mandela

17 Jan, 2014 | From Ruhan of South Africa

FACEBOOK SWAP

Ruhan sent me this postcard in commemoration of the death of Nelson Mandela. Ruhan shared that he actually cried upon hearing the news about Mandela's death. He referred to him as South Africa's biggest hero and only good president.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was South Africa's first black chief executive, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation.

This quote from Mandela is written at the back of the postcard: "There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires."

Source: Wikipedia

Skyline of Johannesburg

Johannesburg, South Africa

18 Apr, 2013 | From Ruhan Robinson of South Africa

POSTCROSSING SWAP

This is my first postcard from South Africa. It shows a city view of Johannesburg - Africa's financial and economic hub.

Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Joburg, Joni, eGoli or Joeys,is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The city is one of the 50 largest urban agglomerations in the world, and is also the world's largest city not situated on a river, lake, or coastline. It claims to be the lightning capital of the world, though this title is also claimed by others.