Lyrical Exploration of Znojmo, Czech Republic
It's amazing how seasons and culture nourish the human spirit! Traveling asks of us to pay attention, to enjoy more, to forget about the daily life and open up our curiosity and love of life. I love discovering new places because it gives me that sense of being more present and seeing more of what is around me. It also cultivates my capacity for creative acts and elevates my spirit. And thus, seeing for the first time Znojmo, a marvelous historic town in the Moravia, South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, incited me to start exploring the presence of history and calmness of this town.
Historically a fortress, Znojmo has a breathtaking panorama, aromatic wines and a lot of history. While here you must see the Saint Nicolas Church, the Town Hall tower, and the Dyje River valley and the medieval city walls, the Romanesque Rotunda, the Catacombs, and roam around the beautiful squares and narrow streets. Enjoy discovering all this in my film and photographs that explore the beauty of this medieval town.
Artistic Reflections on Food and a Cheesecake Recipe
Everyday food can open up questions of memory, that nostalgia that makes us crave for something we've longed for, and its discourse and practice has changed a lot in the past years. Our relationship with food has changed, for some through the exploration of old recipes, for others through new eating practices, more organic or vegan and raw. For me is somewhere in between, interchanging my grand-ma's old-fashioned recipes of flavorful family-style meals with modern versions influenced by my travels, seasonal produce and my favorite cuisines.
A few months ago I created this cheesecake, as a family-inspired dessert, that's so perfect for celebrating. Each holiday, birthday or guest visit comes with good treats, and this recipe is pretty low on sugar and butter and gets topped with a good mixture of eggs and cream cheese. So, it's sort of a compromise on the classic cheesecake, but fully loaded with good flavors. The vanilla wafer crunch makes for such a great texture and the soft cheese filling just works beautifully. Just top it with your favorite fresh fruits and you're ready to dig in!
Ingredients (for a 9-inch cake pan)
Base:
125 g (6 oz) vanilla wafers, crushed
75 g (5 tablespoons) butter
40 g (1/4 cup) granulated sugar
Topping:
250 g (1 cup) mascarpone
200 g (1 cup) sour cream
150 g (3/4 cup) granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F). In a medium bowl, mix vanilla wafers crumbs and sugar with melted butter. Press onto bottom of springform pan. Set aside in the fridge for 5-10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, mix mascarpone with sugar until smooth. Mix in the eggs one at a time, mixing just enough to incorporate. Mix in sour cream, vanilla until smooth. Pour filling into prepared crust.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Turn the oven off, and let cake cool in oven with the door closed for 5 to 6 hours; this prevents cracking. Chill in refrigerator and serve the cake topped with strawberries.
Peaceful Contemplation at Tismana Monastery
March and April were fully loaded with commercial food photography projects and May has almost passed by in a swing of trips, meetings and artistic collaborations. On top of the list was my solo photography exhibition "Outside the Museum" held in Romania this spring. The exhibition had on display twelve large scale photographs custom printed in advertising banner style, pieces that were showcased in downtown of Târgu-Jiu city, in Romania. The exhibition aimed to bring closer people and photography, and inspire contemplation and conversation. Framed around the Romanian identity, the exhibition encouraged the Romanian audience to experience photography through the accessibility, openness and attractiveness of the public space. This project has been possible by the collaboration with the Alexandru Ștefulescu Museum.
While being in Romania I let myself be inspired by the peaceful and spiritual surroundings of Tismana Monastery. It's hard not to be impressed by the breathtaking view of the mountain and the forest where this holy monastery has been built. The monastery is the oldest in Wallachia (one of the three medieval Romanian states), and was built on a rocky top of Stârmina Mountain.
The translation of its Dacian ancient name "Tismana" means fortress, and it is here at the base and then up, from where I started to capture with living stills the beauty of its medieval walls, on-site rocks and monastery' steeple. Spot the shadows, the wind and birds, and immerse yourself in this pristine atmosphere. The breeze was carrying the flowers' perfume on my way up the hill, and the quiet walk was accompanied by the echo of the nuns chanting in the monastery. Once you're reaching the top, you'll discover the monastery's clean architecture made in the Byzantine style of the 14th century.
Tismana Monstery has continued to amaze me at each turn, from its medieval walls, to the surroundings and the peaceful living of the nuns, all-in-all telling yet again its story. I love discovering and contemplating places like this one, where history and nature come together in a celebration of good principles and respect for life. This photographic documentation gave me the opportunity to capture the beauty of simple life, something we see less and less today. Let's love and be joyful more often!
