Author: Ms. R.

On the outskirts of the town of Moux can be found a curious mausoleum outside of which stands an unnerving sculpture of a grinning cadaver in a state of advanced decomposition, which holds a human heart aloft in one of its skeletal hands.  This curious and macabre tomb is the last resting place of the famous 19th and early 20th-century poet and playwright Félix-Henri “Henry” Bataille. His work often featured recurring themes such as the power of indomitable passion and……

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Those who have an interest in the art world will instantly recognize this Melbourne wall mural as the work of Keith Haring. Haring was born in 1958 and was known for being one of the main figures who brought street art into the mainstream sphere. His social activism and philanthropic values made Haring an iconic character and his murals are just one legacy he left behind.  This mural in Collingwood was painted in Melbourne in 1984 during a visit……

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This statue of Bavaria in Munchen is the earliest bronze statue of the modern era, commissioned by King Ludwig I in 1837 to crown the Bavarian hall of fame. It was also designed to showcase the influence and culture of the then independent kingdom. The statue took 13 years to complete, with the project outliving the architect and the reign of the king. This was due in large part to techniques not used since ancient times. The king was even……

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Spectators have long had a grotesque affinity for the fictional villain, Sweeney Todd, whose victims are ingeniously baked into human meat pies and sold by his baker accomplice, Ms. Lovett. But what happens when this Victorian “penny dreadful” serial takes a contemporary turn? Two oddities-loving artists have created their own “people pot pies” using very different media. Special effects artist Ashley Newman was the first to try her hand at making gory, decidedly inedible pies. Made of perfectly skin-toned……

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Setting off on a voyage, travelers’ minds are typically preoccupied with their immediate concerns: departure times, the relaying of luggage, and the journey ahead. But the sweeping scenes depicting New Orleans history in the local Amtrak and Greyhound station set travelers off thinking about the past. While many public historical murals are painted through rose-colored glasses, artist Conrad Albrizio chose to paint 400 years of Louisiana history using intense colors, abstract figures, and macabre moments. The four panels comprising……

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Listen and subscribe on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we visit an island filled with hundreds of hanging and decomposing dolls—a window into the sociology of why we pursue the macabre and experiences that inspire fear. Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some……

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The easiest way to identify St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Church is by its signature spire. But to truly experience what makes this 18th-century church special, visitors must venture down the stairs and elevator to the crypt. There, beneath the brick-vaulted ceiling and spread across the grave-lined floor, they’ll find a café.  Café in the Crypt certainly wasn’t what the builders had in mind when they constructed St. Martin’s in 1726. But since most of the crypt’s bodies were removed in the……

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A.W.S. Rosenbach was the best-known book collector and dealer of the late 19th and early 20th century, says Edward G. Pettit, the manager of public programs at the Rosenbach museum in Philadelphia. “He would pay the highest prices, and he would publicize it,” Pettit says. Rosenbach loved Sherlock Holmes and the works of Lewis Carroll—both of which are well represented in museum that was established in his will—but he probably wouldn’t have been into the pieces that are now……

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After a hard day’s work of thieving, Sigmundr and his son Sinfjötli happened upon a house. It looked empty, so they slipped inside to find two wealthy men fast asleep. Hanging above them were two luxurious wolfskins. The father and son helped themselves—they were thieves after all. But when they put the pelts on, they started to walk on all fours and grow long, fang-like teeth. They howled at the night sky and bared their teeth. Out in the……

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