Google doodles

[9A]

5 Jan 2022

Julio Garavito's 157th Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates Colombian mathematician, engineer, and astronomer Julio Garavito, who is widely considered one of the nation’s most influential scientists. As the director of Colombia’s National Astronomical Observatory for nearly three decades, Garavito made significant progress in developing the theory of lunar motion, which elevated the observatory to one of the world’s most esteemed research centers for celestial mechanics.

Julio Garavito Armero was born on this day in 1865 in the capital of Bogotá. He started high school at just 10 years old, demonstrating his prodigious talent in science and mathematics from an early age. After defending three theses on the mathematical possibilities of pressure gauges, a novel approach for calculating pi, and triangular bridge structures [which are still used today!], Garavito graduated with a degree in civil engineering in 1891.

The next year, Garavito’s mathematical prowess led to his appointment as the head of the National Astronomical Observatory, one of Colombia’s most prestigious scientific institutions. Here, he calculated the trajectory of comets and researched the effect the Moon’s orbit had on the Earth’s weather systems. Outside of his astronomical research, Garavito was a scientific communicator who helped the Colombian public understand natural phenomena such as eclipses and earthquakes.

In 1970, the International Astronomical Union celebrated Garavito’s celestial legacy by naming a crater on the far side of the moon in his honor. In 1996, the Colombian government printed his portrait on the 20,000 peso note into circulation to commemorate his priceless achievements.

Here’s to an innovator whose scientific advancements put him over the moon—Julio Garavito!

[9A]

11 August 2015

Gustavo Cerati’s 56th Birthday





When he was 9 years old, Gustavo Cerati’s parents gave him his first guitar. Thus began the long career of one of the most unique, inspiring, and cherished Ibero-American rock musicians of all time.

Gustavo Cerati started his first band only a few years later. When Soda Stereo formed in 1982, Gustavo and his bandmates broke the mold on Latin rock, captivating Spanish-speaking audiences throughout the Americas, all the way across the ocean to Spain. After 15 years as a band, they said an emotional goodbye with El Último Concierto [The Last Concert].

Gustavo wasn’t done setting the stage for Latin rock. As a solo act, he’d release 5 albums and receive dozens of awards for his influence on Latin rock. His larger-than-life musical persona was so beloved that his passing in 2014 inspired tributes from musicians like Shakira and U2.

In today’s Doodle drawn by Kevin Laughlin, Gustavo strums his guitar while we thank him with his iconic words, “Gracias totales!” Take a listen to Gustavo Cerati and the musicians he influenced on his Google Play Music radio channel.

[9A]

11 August 2017

Mountain Day 2017





Mountain climbing as a means of peacekeeping? It’s what Japanese lawmakers envisioned as they made Mountain Day the country’s 16th national holiday.

While Japan is known partly for its hardworking culture and densely packed cities, its people maintain a kinship with nature. Shinto, a religion of the country, ascribes a sacred spirit to natural elements -- including rocks, trees, rivers, and mountains, which cover as much as 70% of the country. As the highest and most well-known mountain in Japan, for example, Mount Fuji’s 8-hour hike to the top is considered an important pilgrimage for tourists and natives alike.

Mountain Day is a time for people to take a break and get in touch with the country’s national beauty.

Doodle by Lydia Nichols

[9A]

11 August 2016

Mountain Day 2016

[9A]

11 August 2019

Mountain Day 2019





Today’s Doodle celebrates Japan’s Yama no Hi [山の日], or Mountain Day. Announced in 2014 and first observed in 2016, this day encourages the people of Japan to take time out to explore and appreciate the majestic mountains that cover nearly three-quarters of the country’s landscape.

The date August 11th was reportedly chosen because the eighth-month kanji ‘八’ looks like a mountain, and the number ‘11’ resembles a pair of trees.

Some of Japan’s most breathtaking mountains are located in Nagano and Yamanashi Prefecture, which inspired today’s Doodle art. Amongst these mountains is Mount Fuji, commonly referred to as the most iconic peak in all the land—and also the tallest, rising to a height of 3,776 meters [12,389 feet].

Tokyo city-dwellers can reach Mount Takao without traveling far, and many of its popular trails can be hiked in just 90 minutes, whereas it takes a bit more time to hike the ancient Kumano Kodo trails in the Kii Mountains. Winding past waterfalls and pagodas, this network of seven pilgrimage routes is one of just two such routes in the world to be recognized by UNESCO as part of humanity’s intangible heritage.

[9A]

17 Aug 2016

Indonesia Independence Day 2016




August 17th marks the anniversary of Indonesia’s Declaration of Independence from the Netherlands in 1945. This important event is celebrated across the country with the raising of the red and white national flag, the “Sang Saka Merah Putih,” and the singing of the national anthem “Indonesia Raya.” Local communities also come together to take part in competitions, games, and parades. One popular tradition is palm tree climbing, where the aim is to reach the top of the tree first to claim a prize. Sounds easy enough except that the trunk is often greased and slippery!

Today’s Doodle shows an iconic Paskibraka ceremony, held annually on Independence Day at the Presidential Palace. Dressed in a red and white uniform and wearing a traditional peci hat, a group of specially selected high school students become “flag troops” as part of a patriotic ceremony to mark this most significant day in the Indonesian calendar.

[9A]

17 August 2017

Indonesia Independence Day 2017





Today we celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day, known locally as Hari Kemerdekaan.

In the country’s capital of Jakarta and other large cities throughout the archipelago, this historically significant day is celebrated with elaborate parades including marching bands and floats festooned with Indonesia’s red-and-white flag. Flag-raising ceremonies also dominate the day, while performers sing the national anthem of Indonesia. Friends and families bond over activities like sack racing and climbing palm trees [panjat pinang] and show their culinary chops in cooking competitions featuring dishes from a myriad of cultures.

Using whimsical figures and rich colors and patterns, today’s Doodle by guest artist Aditya Pratama encapsulates the spirit of “unity in diversity” [Bhinneka Tunggal Ika] the national motto of Indonesia [derived from a 14th-century Javanese poem] that defines the joy of this landmark day.

[9A]

17 August 2020

Indonesia Independence Day 2020





Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Jakarta-based guest artist Martcellia Liunic, celebrates Indonesia’s Independence Day, known locally as Tujuhbelasan [from the Indonesian for “seventeen”]. On this day in 1945, Indonesia’s proclamation of independence officially set the self-declared nation on a path to sovereignty.

Indonesia’s national motto is Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, which translates to “Unity in Diversity.” Today’s Doodle artwork highlights the diversity that shapes a united Indonesia with illustrations such as the Sumatran Tiger and the Rafflesia Arnoldii flower [which has the world's largest bloom], just a few examples of the abundant variety of fauna and flora indigenous to the archipelago.

Also featured in the artwork is a depiction of Panjat Pinang, one of the holiday’s most popular games that requires teams to work together to reach the top of a slippery pole and claim prizes. More than just a game, Panjat Pinang embodies the spirit of gotong royong [“mutual assistance”] and emphasizes the importance of Indonesian unity.

Here’s to lifting each other up. Happy Independence Day, Indonesia!

[9A]

6 March 2018

Gabriel García Márquez’s 91st Birthday





Deep in the Amazonian jungle, through the lush green canopy and multi-hued vibrance of the hot and humid rainforest, look carefully and you might catch a glimpse of a city of mirrors; a city separated from the world by an expanse of water and yet reflecting everything in and about it; a city that is home to the Buendia family and the site of strange otherworldly happenings. Here, little fish made of pure gold dazzle the eye; large yellow butterflies flit through the flowers; a train chugs along once in a blue moon; and the only visitors are the all-knowing, mysterious gypsies who come bearing strange tales.

Depicted in today's Doodle is this magical city of Macondo, brought to life by the Colombian author, journalist, and Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez [affectionately known as Gabo throughout Latin America] in his book, One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Born in Aracataca, Colombia, Gabo is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. In his long literary career, he penned over 25 books, transporting readers into a world of magical realism where they find themselves in the lush, humid tropics — moldering into solitude or being slowly consumed by the throes of passion.

Gabo’s keen sense of political activism and courage also allowed him to author a number of non-fictional works that eloquently document the times that he lived in, News of a Kidnapping being among the most famous of these.

For all this and more, we celebrate the 91st birthday of a cultural icon whose star continues to shine brightly over the literary and journalistic worlds of Latin America and beyond.

Feliz cumpleaños, Gabo!

[9A]

6 March 2011

Will Eisner's 94th Birthday




From time to time we invite guests to post about topics of interest and we’re pleased to haveScott McCloud join us here. Scott is a comics artist with special ties to Google—he illustrated the Chrome comic book and is a 2011 U.S. Doodle 4 Google judge. He also helped conceptualize the design of today’s doodle in honor of Will Eisner [the artwork itself is by doodler, Mike Dutton], which is running in many countries including the U.S. In this post, Scott shares his thoughts on Will Eisner’s legacy. -Ed

Will Eisner, American comics pioneer and creator of The Spirit, was born on March 6, 1917. He would have been 94 today.

Many of us who knew him still find it hard to believe he’s gone. He died in 2005, but for six decades, Eisner was a participant in, and inspiration for, much of the best in American comics, as well as a friend and mentor to multiple generations of comics artists.

Eisner influenced comics in dozens of ways. In the ‘40s, Eisner’s The Spirit—a seven-page newspaper feature—introduced an arsenal of visual storytelling techniques still used generations later, and provided an early testing ground for future comics stars including Jack Kirby and Jules Feiffer. [The Spirit also began a tradition of pictorially-integrated logos—inspiring today's snazzy rooftop doodle!]

Eisner was one of the first cartoonists to understand the power of visual education, and wrote eloquently about the process of making comics in Comics and Sequential Art [1985] andGraphic Storytelling [1996]. As early as 1941, he publicly advocated treating comics as a distinct literary and artistic form, and—nearly four decades later—was instrumental in the rise of the graphic novel in America, beginning with A Contract with God in 1978.

For most of his career, Eisner was years, even decades, ahead of the curve. I saw him debating artists and editors half his age, and there was rarely any question who the youngest man in the room was. It helped that he never stood on ceremony. Everyone was his peer, regardless of age or status. None of us called him “Mr. Eisner.” He was just “Will.”

Eisner lived well into his eighties; long enough to see an industry award named after him. Inevitably, the prospect loomed that Will Eisner himself might win an “Eisner Award” leading to some awkward choices; Hall of Fame, maybe? Lifetime Achievement?

His only suggestion was “Most Promising Young Cartoonist.”

And so he was.

[9A]

20 January 2019

Louay Kayali’s 85th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrate the work of Louay Kayali, a modern painter born in Syria and trained in Italy whose quietly powerful portraits convey the strength, resilience, and nobility of everyday folk—bakers, fisherman, and pregnant mothers.

Born in Aleppo on this day in 1934, Louay Kayali began painting at the age of 11 and held his first exhibition when he was 18 at Al-Tajhis Al-Oula School. Awarded a scholarship, Kayali moved to Italy in 1956 for advanced studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome and went on to represent Syria at the 1960 Venice Biennale—a prestigious international art exhibition.

Joining the faculty of the Higher Institute for the Fine Arts in Damascus in 1962, Kayali’s instruction made a profound impact on future generations of Syrian artists. During the mid-1960s, he began a series of charcoal works which marked a departure from his previous paintings. The emotionally challenging images in his 1967 traveling exhibition “Fi Sabil al-Qadiyyah” [For the Sake of the Cause] depicted human suffering, reflecting upheaval in the Arab world. Upset by scathing reviews of the show, the artist announced that he would no longer paint, and destroyed much of his work. Fortunately, he did return to painting, showing new work throughout the 1970s, including a joint exhibition with his old friend Fateh al-Moudarres.

On what would have been his 85th birthday, we remember Louay Kayali, a passionate artist who aimed to paint exactly what he saw—and felt.

[9A]

22 March 2021

Elena Lacková's 100th birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Czech guest artist Filip Posivac, celebrates the centennial birthday of Slovakian-Romani writer and dramatist Elena Lacková, who is widely considered the first author in post-war Czechoslovakia to tell the story of the Romani people and the persecution they faced throughout World War II.

Born on this day in 1921 in Veľký Šariš, Czechoslovakia [modern-day Slovakia], Elena Lacková was raised in a settlement of Romani people—a historically oppressed European ethnic group of Indian origin. Although she was unable to pursue higher education due to anti-Romani laws, Lacková became a talented writer of her own accord, penning poems by moonlight as the only girl out of the 600 children in her settlement with the ability to read.

In 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia and persecuted its Romani settlements as part of the regime’s Roma Holocaust. Lacková survived these atrocities and became determined to reinvigorate Roma pride through theatre. Her first published work of literature—a play entitled “Horiaci cigánsky tabor” [“The Gypsy Camp Is Burning,” 1947]—depicted the collective hardships of the Romani people during the Holocaust, while providing a new perspective into their culture.

Lacková’s work continually uplifted the Romani community through literary mediums such as short stories, fairy tales, and radio plays. In 1970, she achieved yet another milestone as the first Romani woman in Czechoslovakia to graduate from university. A pioneer who received countless accolades, Lacková became the first Romani woman to receive one of Slovakia’s highest honors, the Order of Ľudovít Štúr III, awarded in 2001.

Happy birthday, Elena Lacková!

[9A]

24 June 2017

2017 World Taekwondo Championships Muju



Integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit — all of these are on display at the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships in Muju, South Korea. Oh, and some pretty impressive knee strikes and reverse round kicks!

The World Taekwondo Championships have taken place every other year since 1973. Outside of the Olympics, they’re the most prestigious event for those who practice the sport — in fact, the seven days feature more competitors from a greater number of nations than does the four-day Olympic event. Many talented athletes will make names for themselves at the championships this year, and their careers will be carefully followed by taekwondo enthusiasts as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics approach.

Though taekwondo is an intensely physical sport, its philosophical roots center on the building of a more peaceful society. By cultivating a foundation of respect, humility, and control in the individual, practitioners of taekwondo aim to inspire this sense of responsibility and spirituality in others through their actions and teachings.

Today’s Doodle was created with community and diversity in mind. Who will emerge victorious in this year’s Worlds? We can’t wait to find out!

[9A]

6 Jul 2021

Ángela Peralta's 175th birthday





Today's Doodle celebrates the 175th birthday of Mexican pianist, harpist, composer, and internationally-renowned operatic soprano Ángela Peralta, who is widely considered one of the most significant Mexican opera singers of her era.

On this day in 1845, Ángela Peralta Castera was born in Mexico City. Her reputation as a remarkable singer began to take hold with her solo performance of a cavatina from the Italian opera “Belisario” at just 8 years old. At 15, Peralta made her operatic debut at the Gran Teatro Nacional—one of 19th-century Mexico’s premier opera houses. This performance received such acclaim that it prompted Peralta to further refine her talent in Italy, the birthplace of opera.

In Milan, Peralta’s 1862 performance of the romantic opera “Lucia di Lammermoor” so impressed the audience that standing ovations brought her back to the stage 23 times! The scope of her international tours broadened to include some of Europe’s most prestigious opera houses as well as the U.S., garnering the title of “Mexican Nightingale'' for her mastery of the lyrical operatic style known as bel canto. Peralta returned to Mexico City in 1871, a homecoming announced by yet another grand performance at the Gran Teatro Nacional.

Soon after, Peralta utilized this successful momentum to found her own opera company. On their final tour in 1883, Peralta’s troupe traveled to the coastal Mexican city of Mazatlán. Here, her legacy is preserved in an opera house named in her honor: the Ángela Peralta Theater.

Happy birthday, Ángela Peralta. Here’s to all those performances that ended on a high note!

[9A]

23 August 2021

Aimé Painé's 78th birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 78th birthday of Argentinian activist and singer Aimé Painé, a member of the Mapuche nation who devoted her life to preserving the traditional music of her community.

On this day in 1943, Aimé Painé was born in Ingeniero Luis A. Huergo, Argentina as Olga Elisa, a name she had to adopt due to a law that barred the use of Indigenous names. After being separated from her family at the age of three, Painé’s adoptive parents recognized her unique vocal talent and enrolled her in music school. She joined the National Polyphonic Choir in Buenos Aires in her late 20s. During one of the group's international recitals, she learned that Argentina was among the only nations in attendance that didn’t perform Indigenous music. This denial of native heritage prompted Painé to embark on a journey to southern Argentina to reconnect with her Indigenous roots.

Her quest led to a reunion with her biological, Mapuche father who inspired Painé to carry on their ancestral heritage through music. She reinterpreted ancient Mapuche songs in the native language of Mapudungun while playing traditional instruments, such as the cultrun and the cascahuillas. As one of the first musicians to popularize Mapuche music, Painé traveled across Argentina dressed in traditional Mapuche garb through the 1980s, singing stories of her people and denouncing their marginalization.

In 1987, Painé represented the Mapuche people at a United Nations conference, where she brought global awareness to her community’s struggle for equal rights. Today, Painé's legacy is honored each year on September 10 as the “Day of Mapuche Culture” in Argentina.

Happy birthday, Aimé Painé and thank you for safeguarding Mapuche musical traditions!

[9A]

23 August 2014

25th Anniversary of the Baltic Way




On August 23, 1989, 2 million people held hands and formed a human chain that stretched 370 miles across the three Baltic states, proving that the call for independence from the Soviet Union was a matter of peace, not violence. Today, we mark the 25th anniversary of the Baltic Way on our homepages in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

[9A]

23 August 2004

2004 Athens Olympic Games - Table Tennis

[9A]

24 Aug 2004

2004 Athens Olympic Games - Synchronised Swimming

[9A]

26 Aug 2004

2004 Athens Olympic Games - Taekwondo

[9A]

28 Aug 2004

2004 Athens Olympic Games - Volleyball

[9A]

16 July 2021

Elizeth Cardoso's 101st birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the birthday of Brazilian actor and singer Elizeth “The Divine” Cardoso. Her 1958 album “Canção do Amor Demais” [“Too Much Love Song”] is widely regarded as the first true bossa nova album, a hybrid style of breezy jazz and traditional Brazilian music that captured the stylistic evolutions of the era.

On this day in 1920, Elizete Moreira Cardoso was born into a family of musicians in Rio de Janeiro and debuted as a singer at just five years old. Her first major break occurred at her 16th birthday party when an introduction to popular Brazilian musician Jacob do Bandolim changed her life.

Eager to share her rare vocal gift, Bandolim landed Cardoso an opening gig for a stacked lineup of Brazilian musicians in 1936, including the likes of Noel Rosa and Araci de Almeida. Cardoso’s fame continued to grow into the 1940s with regular appearances alongside this superstar group and by performing everywhere from circuses to ballrooms. In 1950, Cardoso recorded her first hit, "Canção de Amor" [“Love Song”]. The explosion of popular reception for this single paved the way for a fruitful musical career that was soon followed by success as an actor in both TV and film.

Cardoso became an international sensation in the following decades; her heartfelt spin on Brazilian music garnered standing ovations [with one lasting 15 minutes!] and enchanted audiences globally on world tours well into the 1980s. In 2007, Rolling Stone Brazil listed Cardoso’s “Canção do Amor Demais” among the nation’s top 100 albums of all time.

Happy birthday, Elizeth Cardoso!

[9A]

2 March 2021

Wangdee Nima [Wang Tae]'s 96th birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of Thai musician Wangdee Nima, a performer affectionately known by his stage name Wang Tae.

Born on this day in central Thailand in 1925, Wang Tae inherited a love for music from his parents, both of whom were performers of traditional Thai folk genres. As a child, he became a specialist in Lam Tad, a style of music that originated in his home region. This popular folk genre brings groups of men and women together to alternate singing improvised humorous lyrics to elicit laughs from the audience, all set against the background of instruments like the Klong Ramana, a traditional Thai hand drum.

Wang Tae soon established his own troupe, eponymously named “Lam Tad Wang Te,” which earned him national recognition and widespread appeal. Renowned for his clever lyrics with his cunning use of double entendres, Wang Tae was a true master of the Thai language whose witty performances brought smiles to the faces of audiences across Thailand for close to forty years.

In 1988, Wang Tae was named a National Artist of Thailand, an annual prize awarded by the National Culture Commission of Thailand to the country’s most prestigious performing artists.

Happy birthday, Wangdee Nima!

[9A]

2 March 2009

Dr Seuss' 105th Birthday




Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American children's author, political cartoonist, illustrator, poet, animator, and filmmaker. He is known for his work writing and illustrating more than 60 books under the pen name Dr. Seuss . His work includes many of the most popular children's books of all time, selling over 600 million copies and being translated into more than 20 languages by the time of his death.

Geisel adopted the name "Dr. Seuss" as an undergraduate at Dartmouth College and as a graduate student at Lincoln College, Oxford. He left Oxford in 1927 to begin his career as an illustrator and cartoonist for Vanity Fair, Life, and various other publications. He also worked as an illustrator for advertising campaigns, most notably for FLIT and Standard Oil, and as a political cartoonist for the New York newspaper PM. He published his first children's book And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street in 1937.

[9A]

2 March 2016

Marija Juric Zagorka’s 143rd Birthday




Today we pay homage to Marija Juríc, the fearless Croatian writer fondly known by her pen name, Zagorka. She first used this name in 1898 when she wrote an article in support of working-class Croatians for the Obzor, an influential daily newspaper. After one of the newspaper's publishers learned Zagorka was actually a woman, he told her in no uncertain terms that journalism wasn't a career for women. "If someone wants to be a writer, this person needs to be a man," she remembered him saying.

Despite the hostility she encountered, Zagorka in time became editor-in-chief of the paper in 1903. Under her direction, the Obzor reached record readership for a Croatian newspaper. In her own writing, Zagorka shed light on the oppression of both women and the peasant class, often uniting the challenges of these groups to deploy a double-barrelled critique of ruling parties. She was also a fierce defender of Croatian culture, avoiding conversation in German among other members of the intelligentsia in order to keep discussion on level ground with the national culture.

Zagorka continues to be one of the most popular writers in Croatia, having written many popular novels in addition to her journalistic work. For today's Google Doodle, artist Kevin Laughlin considered a few ways to commemorate Zagorka's 143rd birthday, the second of which highlights her novel Daughter of Lotrscak [1922], a historical romance.

Laughlin and the Doodle team agreed on the first design, which is inspired by a statue of Zagorka that stands in a vibrant pedestrian street in Zagreb.

[9A]

2 March 2019

Desi Arnaz’s 102nd Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of Desi Arnaz, the Cuban-born American actor, musician, comedian, and producer best known for playing Ricky Ricardo in the 1950s hit sitcom I Love Lucy.

Desiderio Alberto Arnaz III was born in Santiago, Cuba on March 2, 1917, where he spent his childhood before immigrating to the United States during the Cuban Revolution. After arriving in America without a penny to his name, the young Arnaz worked hard to eventually find success as a musician. A major turning point in his career came after he landed a role in the 1939 Broadway production Too Many Girls as well as a film adaptation of the same play just one year later. It was on this set that he met his co-star, future wife, and lifelong friend Lucille Ball.

In 1950, after advancing his career as both an actor and a musician, both Arnaz and Ball pitched CBS on what would eventually become the hit American TV sitcom I Love Lucy. Network executives were initially concerned that Arnaz’s accent would affect his credibility as Ball’s husband, so the pair produced a pilot with their own money, ultimately winning support for the creation of the show.

I Love Lucy ran from 1951 to 1957 and was the most popular TV show in America for four of its six prime-time seasons. At one point, it attracted an estimated 44 million viewers for a single episode—more than watched the inauguration of President Eisenhower! As part of their production deal, Arnaz and Ball retained all rights to the content, enabling them to sell the series into syndication.

Today, Arnaz is widely considered a trailblazer in the American entertainment industry, even being credited with inventing the rerun. In 1956 he won a Golden Globe for Best Television Achievement, an award which recognized his impact on American comedy both in front AND behind the camera. He was also awarded not one, but two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to both Television and Motion Pictures.

Here’s to Desi Arnaz, whose beaming joy and laughter continues to bring delight to living rooms and viewers around the globe.

[9A]

2 March 2012

János Arany's 195th birthday




János Arany was a Hungarian poet, writer, translator and journalist. He is often said to be the "Shakespeare of ballads" – he wrote more than 102 ballads that have been translated into over 50 languages, as well as the Toldi trilogy

[9A]

2 April 2018

Francisco Balagtas’ 230th Birthday




When Francisco Balagtas was born outside of Manila in 1788, one of four children and the son of a blacksmith, few might have guessed he would grow up to be one of the most revered writers in the Philippines. But in fact, Balagtas showed promise early on, and even studied under José de la Cruz, one of the most prominent Filipino poets.

Balagtas' most famous work, depicted in today's Doodle, is Florante at Laura, an epic poem that symbolizes his own life journey. In the first panel, we see Balagtas working on Florante at Laura. The story begins with a view on the main character, Duke Florante of Albania, who has just been exiled and tied to a tree. The third panel depicts his love, Princess Laura, being held captive. Next we meet Prince Aladdin of Persia, himself exiled from his own country. In the fifth panel, Aladdin's fiancée Flerida searches for him in the forest before rescuing Laura. Finally, Laura and Florante are reunited and rule peacefully over Albania.

In addition to being a highly-skilled poet, Balagtas earned acclaim for writing in Tagalog [most writings at the time were in Spanish] and including Filipino themes, even though the characters were not from the Philippines. Students around the country still learn of the adventures of Florante and Laura today, as well as the rhythm and meter of the poem.

Today we celebrate the author’s legacy on what would be his 230th birthday.

[9A]

2 April 2010

Hans Christian Andersen's 205th Birthday



Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales sparked the imaginations of generations of children. For this series, one of the first multi-part narrative doodles we created, I had the privilege to interpret Andersen's famous work, Thumbelina.

In the first panel, Thumbelina steps into the world for the first time, emerging from a flower. She is, however, a few sizes smaller than the rest of the people in the world.

posted by Jennifer Hom

[9A]

1 July 2019

Canada Day 2019




From Victoria to St. John’s, Iqaluit to Point Pelee, today is a time of celebration for the world’s second-largest country. Today’s Doodle, depicting the Bay of Fundy’s distinctive Hopewell Rocks, honors the 152nd anniversary of “Dominion Day,” a holiday commemorating Canada’s formation through the union of three British colonies. In 1982, the bilingual nation gained full independence from the UK, and the holiday was officially renamed Fête du Canada, or Canada Day.

For many Canadians, this festive occasion begins with a traditional pancake breakfast, topped with classic maple syrup. Most towns and cities organize parades and fireworks displays. In the capital city of Ottawa, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Musical Ride performs an intricately choreographed equestrian routine during a sunset flag-lowering ceremony the night before Canada Day, which culminates with a group performance of “O Canada,” the national anthem.

In the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, July 1st is also Memorial Day, a tribute to the troops who took part in the Battle of the Somme during World War I. Flags fly at half-mast in the morning in honor of their sacrifices before the fête commences.

Joyeux Fête du Canada!

[9A]

27 June 2021

Tamio 'Tommy' Kono's 91st birthday





Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Los Angeles-based guest artist Shanti Rittgers, celebrates Japanese-American coach, Olympic gold-medalist athlete, and world-champion bodybuilder Tommy Kono, who is regarded as one of the greatest weightlifters in United States history.

Tamio “Tommy” Kono was born in Sacramento, California, on this day in 1930. During the onset of World War II, Kono and his family, all of Japanese descent, were among the over 120,000 Japanese-Americans forced by the U.S. government to be detained in prison camps [aka Japanese internment camps]. It was in one of these camps that Kono was introduced to weightlifting—which he practiced relentlessly in an effort to become healthier after experiencing severe asthma throughout his childhood.

When the fog of war lifted, Kono returned home to Sacramento, where he entered his first weightlifting competitions. By 1952, he was an invaluable member of the U.S. national weightlifting team, in part due to his rare ability to move between weight classes without losing his strength. Kono won his first Olympic gold medal in the lightweight division that same year at the Helsinki Summer Games. This began a winning streak that crescendoed at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games when he won the light-heavyweight competition—his final Olympic gold medal.

After his 1964 retirement from a career gilded by 26 world records, along with dozens of championship titles in weightlifting and several in bodybuilding, Kono shared his seasoned expertise throughout the 70s as an Olympic coach. In 1993, Kono was inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame, and to this day, Kono remains the only weightlifter in history to hold world records in four different weight classes.

Happy birthday, Tommy Kono, and thank you for using your strength to lift not just weights, but those around you.

[9A]

4 Jul 2009

Anniversary of the 'Miracle of Berne'



The 1954 FIFA World Cup Final was the final match of the 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth World Cup in FIFA history. The game was played at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, Switzerland, on 4 July 1954, and saw West Germany beat the heavily favoured Golden Team of Hungary 3–2.

The 1954 final is often listed as one of the greatest matches in World Cup history, and also one of its most unexpected upsets. Beyond football, some historians ascribe the match a lasting impact on both German and Hungarian post-World War II history, contributing in West Germany to a sense of regained international recognition after the lost Second World War and denazification, and in Hungary to discontent with the communist-authoritarian regime in the run-up to the 1956 Hungarian revolution. In Germany, the 1954 final is known as the Miracle of Bern.

[9A]

7 Jul 2009

Anniversary of the publication of Pinocchio




Pinocchio is an Italian fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel The Adventures of Pinocchio [1883] by Italian writer Carlo Collodi of Florence, Tuscany. Pinocchio was carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a Tuscan village. He was created as a wooden puppet but he dreams of becoming a real boy. He is notably characterized for his frequent tendency to lie, which causes his nose to grow.

Pinocchio is a cultural icon. He is one of the most reimagined characters in children's literature. His story has been adapted into many other media, notably the 1940 Disney film Pinocchio. Collodi often used the Italian Tuscan dialect in his book. The name Pinocchio is a combination of the Italian words pino [pine], and occhio [eye]; Pino is also an abbreviation of Giuseppino, the diminutive for Giuseppe [the Italian form of Joseph]; one of the men who greatly influenced Collodi in his youth was Giuseppe Aiazzi, a prominent Italian manuscript specialist who supervised Collodi at the Libreria Piatti bookshop in Florence. Geppetto, the name of Pinocchio's creator and “father,” is the diminutive for Geppo, the Tuscan pronunciation of ceppo, meaning a log, stump, block, stock or stub.

[9A]

12 July 2021

UEFA Euro 2020 Winner [Italy]



Congratulations to the 2020 Euro Cup champions: Italy!

Over the past month, athletes from the national teams of 24 countries competed for top rank across eleven host cities in Europe. Today’s Doodle celebrates the winners of this emotional tournament, Italy, who will return home as Euro Cup champions.

Cheers to all of Europe’s talented players. See you next time!

[9A]

24 June 2018

Saloua Raouda Choucair’s 102nd Birthday



Today we celebrate the Lebanese sculptor Saloua Choucair, a trailblazer of modern art.
Fascinated with science and mathematics, Choucair explored mathematical patterns through her abstract sculptures, known for their interlocking parts. Works like her Structure with One Thousand Pieces [1966-68] are renowned for their intricacy. A series she called “poems” was composed of numerous movable pieces that could be appreciated as separate pieces or as an assemblage, much like the verses of a Sufi poem.

After visiting the studio of the renowned French artist Fernand Léger, she was inspired to push even farther into abstraction. A small 1947 show of her work at Beirut’s Arab Cultural Gallery is widely recognized as the earliest exhibition of abstract art in the Arab world. “It’s a universal influence,” Choucair once said of her work, which ranged from sculpture and installation to design and architecture. “What I experience, everyone in the world experiences.”

Like many great artists, Choucair gained recognition and acclaim later in life, creating until she was 90 years old. A tireless worker, she filled up her sketchbooks with endless designs before prototyping ideas in stone, wood, metal, plastic or fiberglass. She was 97 years old when London’s Tate Modern put on a retrospective spanning her 70-year career, her first outside of Lebanon.

Happy birthday, Saloua Choucair!

[9A]

24 June 2016

Juan Manuel Fangio’s 105th birthday




As a child, he was El Chueco – ”the bandy-legged one” – due to his gravity-bending soccer skills. But a lifetime of racing victories made him El Maestro – The Master. Such was the transformation of legend Juan Manuel Fangio, who would be 105 today.

A native son of Balcarce, near Buenos Aires, Fangio’s command of the wheel emerged while driving for the military. Post-service, he kept at it, dedicating himself to punishing routines to make up for lost time and compete with his younger opponents. The result: winning the World Championship of Drivers not once, but a record-breaking five times in the 1950s.

Today’s vintage, poster-inspired Doodle commemorates his dedication and commitment to Balcarce, Argentina, and the timeless art of racing.

[9A]

24 June 2014

World Cup 2014 #30




Japanese tech fans come up against a Columbian vulture!

[9A]

16 September 2019

Lupicínio Rodrigues’ 105th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates Brazilian composer and singer Lupicínio Rodrigues, whose sentimental songs made his name synonymous with the musical genre samba-canção, also known as samba triste or “sad samba.” Born on this day in 1914 in the city of Porto Allegre, Rodrigues was a master of dor-de-cotovelo music—which literally translates as “elbow pain music,” or songs that express heartache.

Raised in a family of modest means, Rodrigues lived in the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, but his dramatic songs were spread far and wide by sailors visiting his hometown, a popular cruise ship port. “Carnaval,” one of his first compositions, won a contest when he was just 14 years old.

Starting in the 1940s and ’50s, his work was recorded by the most popular vocalists in Brazil, including Francisco Alves, Orlando Silva, Linda Batista, Nora Ney, Elza Soares, Gilberto Gil, and Jamelão—who eventually recorded an entire album of his compositions.

Asked about the inspiration for his tales of jealousy, betrayal, and lost love, Rodrigues answered, “my life.” A family memoir quoted him as saying, "I've been suffering a lot at the hands of women, because I'm so sentimental, but I've also made fortunes from what they do to me.”

In honor of his 80th birthday, his home state of Rio Grande do Sul announced the Lupicínio Rodrigues Cultural Year, a fitting tribute to the composer’s enduring artistry, full of pathos and passion.

[9A]

16 September 2009

Mexico Independence Day 2009




The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict and political process resulting in Mexico's independence from Spain. It was not a single, coherent event, but local and regional struggles that occurred within the same time period, and can be considered a revolutionary civil war. Independence was not an inevitable outcome, but events in Spain itself had a direct impact on the outbreak of the armed insurgency in 1810 and its course until 1821.

[9A]

17 September 2021

Michiyo Tsujimura's 133rd birthday

Have you ever wondered why green tea tastes so bitter when steeped for too long? Thanks to Japanese educator and biochemist Michiyo Tsujimura, and her groundbreaking research into the nutritional benefits of green tea, science has the answers. Today’s Doodle celebrates Michiyo Tsujimura on her 133rd birthday.

Michiyo Tsujimura was born on this day in 1888 in Okegawa, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. She spent her early career teaching science. In 1920, she chased her dream of becoming a scientific researcher at Hokkaido Imperial University where she began to analyze the nutritional properties of Japanese silkworms.

A few years later, Tsujimura transferred to Tokyo Imperial University and began researching the biochemistry of green tea alongside Dr. Umetaro Suzuki, famed for his discovery of vitamin B1. Their joint research revealed that green tea contained significant amounts of vitamin C—the first of many yet unknown molecular compounds in green tea that awaited under the microscope. In 1929, she isolated catechin—a bitter ingredient of tea. Then, the next year she isolated tannin, an even more bitter compound. These findings formed the foundation for her doctoral thesis, “On the Chemical Components of Green Tea” when she graduated as Japan’s first woman doctor of agriculture in 1932.

Outside of her research, Dr. Tsujimura also made history as an educator when she became the first Dean of the Faculty of Home Economics at Tokyo Women’s Higher Normal School in 1950. Today, a stone memorial in honor of Dr.Tsujimura’s achievements can be found in her birthplace of Okegawa City.

Happy Birthday, Michiyo Tsujimura!

[9A]

26 November 2020

Frank Bailey's 95th birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by West Yorkshire-based guest artist Nicole Miles, celebrates Guyanese-British firefighter and social worker Frank Bailey, who is widely considered the first Black firefighter of post-war London. Among his pioneering accomplishments in the name of diversity and inclusion, Bailey is also credited as one of the first Black social workers specializing in mental health in London’s Kensington and Chelsea borough.

Frank Arthur Bailey was born on this day in 1925 in British Guiana [now Guyana], South America. He attended local schools and then took a job on a German trade ship, which brought him to New York. There he found work in a hospital where he staged a walkout in protest of the institution’s separate dining rooms for different types of employees. The subsequent integration of the dining facilities proved just one of Bailey’s many successful challenges to an unequal status quo.

Bailey moved to London in 1953 and caught wind that Black people were not being hired by the city’s fire service. Not one to stand idly by in the face of injustice, Bailey applied to join the West Ham Fire Brigade and made history when he was accepted into service. A lifelong advocate for workers’ rights, Bailey became a union branch representative before the repeated denial of promotions pushed him to leave his post in 1965.

Bailey then transitioned into social work and became the first Black legal advisor for Black youths at Marylebone Magistrates Court.

Happy Birthday, Frank Bailey. Your actions continue to encourage others to never give up in the fight for equality for all.

[9A]

8 December 2018

145th Anniversary of Lacerda's Lift Opening



Today’s Doodle celebrates the iconic Lacerda Elevator of Salvador, Brazil, which has been in operation for the past 145 years. Situated on Brazil’s southeastern coast overlooking the Bay of All Saints, São Salvador, Bahia was the nation’s capital until 1763. Constructed in two sections, at the top and bottom of a steep embankment, Salvador is divided into a lower city [Cidade Baixa] and an upper city [Cidade Alta], which were initially connected by a long flight of stairs.

In the early 1600s Jesuit missionaries installed a rope-and-pulley elevator to lift people and parcels on the 72-meter journey to the top. However, In the late 1860s construction began on a mechanical elevator under the leadership of developer Antonio de Lacerda and his brother, engineer Augusto Frederico de Lacerda.

A complex system of counterweights, hydraulics, and steam engines powered the elevator, which opened in 145 years ago, in 1873. In the 1900s the elevator was revamped with electric power, and it received an Art Deco makeover in 1930. Today there are two towers with a total of four bays, each of which can accommodate up to 32 passengers for the 30-second journey—roughly a million people use the elevator each month. Exactly 12 years ago the elevator was recognized by Brazil’s National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage. Dawn is a great time to ride this legendary lift, when it’s decorated with lights and there’s a gorgeous view of Fort Santo-Antonia-da-Barra. More than a means of transportation, the Lacerda Elevator has become a tourist attraction and a symbol of Brazilian ingenuity.

[9A]

2 March 2021

Wangdee Nima [Wang Tae]'s 96th birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of Thai musician Wangdee Nima, a performer affectionately known by his stage name Wang Tae.

Born on this day in central Thailand in 1925, Wang Tae inherited a love for music from his parents, both of whom were performers of traditional Thai folk genres. As a child, he became a specialist in Lam Tad, a style of music that originated in his home region. This popular folk genre brings groups of men and women together to alternate singing improvised humorous lyrics to elicit laughs from the audience, all set against the background of instruments like the Klong Ramana, a traditional Thai hand drum.

Wang Tae soon established his own troupe, eponymously named “Lam Tad Wang Te,” which earned him national recognition and widespread appeal. Renowned for his clever lyrics with his cunning use of double entendres, Wang Tae was a true master of the Thai language whose witty performances brought smiles to the faces of audiences across Thailand for close to forty years.

In 1988, Wang Tae was named a National Artist of Thailand, an annual prize awarded by the National Culture Commission of Thailand to the country’s most prestigious performing artists.

Happy birthday, Wangdee Nima!

[9A]

14 December 2021

Celebrating som tum




Today’s Doodle celebrates signature Thai dish Som Tum, a sweet and spicy green papaya salad also popular in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. On this day in 2012, Thailand’s Department of Cultural Promotion registered Som Tum as a national intangible cultural heritage food.

Like many of the world’s most loved dishes, the origins of som tum are shrouded in mystery. Most food historians believe the savory salad originated in Laos due to its rich history in the historic Isaan region, which encompasses areas of northeastern Thailand and borders Laos. The classic Thai recipe calls for spicy Thai chilies balanced by palm sugar, garlic, shrimp, fish sauce, peanuts, limes, cherry tomatoes, green beans, and green papaya.

The term “som tum” is a combination of two Isaan words translating to “tart flavor” and “to pound,” reflecting the first step in the salad’s preparation in which a mortar and pestle is used to ground several of the ingredients into a tart salad dressing. The dressing is mixed with the remaining ingredients and topped with roasted peanuts for an added salty crunch. The final product is a salad that is simultaneously salty, sweet, spicy, sour, and bitter—a flavor combination that defines Thai cuisine.

How the meal is prepared varies depending on the region, but most pair this popular Thai staple with sticky rice. For those new to som tum, it's recommended that you pay attention to the number of chilis included in your salad as they are notoriously spicy!

[9A]

2 March 2018

Holi 2018




Red, yellow, blue, and green are a few of our favorite colors all year round, but today we’re putting them front and center for an extra special reason.

It’s time for Holi — the age-old festive ritual marking the end of winter, the coming of spring, and symbolically, the triumph of good over evil. Family and friends come together to feast, dance, and laugh together while dousing each other with colored powder and water.

Today’s Guest Doodle by Amrita Marino depicts dhol players amongst a cloud of color. These traditional drummers move from house to house, adding a peppy, musical touch to the day's festivities. The four main powder colors carry with them a piece of symbolism. Red signifies love and fertility; yellow is the color of turmeric, a natural remedy; blue represents the beloved Krishna; green symbolizes spring and new beginnings.

Whether you choose one favorite color or many, here’s wishing everyone a happy Holi!

[9A]

15 September 2018

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya’s 158th Birthday




Living by the phrase “Work is Worship,” Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya—fondly known as Sir MV—devoted his life to engineering. A master of irrigation design, the world-renowned civil engineer became so respected in his field that India celebrates Engineers Day each year on his birthday.

While some sources cite his birth year as 1861, after speaking to his family, we’ve learned that Sir MV was actually born a year earlier. He was raised in the rural village of Muddenahalli, located in a region of southwestern India now known as the state of Karnataka. His father, a scholar of the ancient Sanskrit language, lived a simple life, passing away when Sir MV was very young.

According to stories passed down over generations, Sir MV had to walk over 60 kilometers to Bengaluru to attend United Mission School, eating the food served at temples around the city and studying under street lamps. After earning a License in Civil Engineering from the University of Bombay, Visvesvaraya began working with the city’s Public Works Division and joined the Indian Irrigation Commission. His expertise earned him the opportunity to study the water supply and drainage of Aden, a port city in Yemen.

One of Sir MV’s most notable projects—which we are excited to feature in today’s Doodle—came some time after his return to India. In 1924, he oversaw the construction of his design for the Krishna Raja Sagara Lake and dam, creating the largest reservoir in India at the time, which provided drinking water for several cities. His flood protection system for the city of Hyderabad and his irrigation plans for Visakhapatnam made him something of a celebrity. Still he maintained a life of strict discipline and modesty, rising at 5am each day and working through the evenings.

Sir MV cared deeply about education and played a key role in founding the Government Engineering College at Bangalore in 1917, which would later be named after him. Today the modest house where he was born is considered a place of worship for locals.

Happy Birthday Sir MV!

[9A]

25 April 2018

Hung Kings Commemoration Day




On the 10th day of the third lunar month, Vietnam celebrates Hùng Kings Commemoration Day [also known as Hùng King Temple Festival day]. An official holiday since 2007, the celebration pays tribute to the Hùng Kings, the 18 emperors of Vietnam who, according to legend, ruled from 2879-258 BC and founded Văn Lang [the former name of Vietnam]. Immortalizing the Vietnamese proverb “when drinking water, think of its source” Hùng Kings Commemoration Day is a joyous way for young people to learn about their country’s ancestors and ancient rituals.

Today, celebrants from near and far make the pilgrimage to the Nghĩa Lĩnh Mountain near Việt Trì, where, as the story goes, the first Hùng King, Kinh Dương Vương, is said to have established his kingdom.

While some gather at the foot of the mountain with sticks of incense and food, others make the procession to the High Temple at the summit, preparing palanquins and sacred offerings, carrying wreaths from the country’s leaders, or dressing in colorful costumes, all accompanied by the sound of bronze drums. Activities like Chèo singing, games of chess, and rice cooking add to the fun.

Today's Doodle captures the spirit of this vibrant, culturally significant holiday with a depiction of the dragon dance and the colorful banners that lead the march to the temple relic site.

Happy Hùng King's Commemoration Day!

[9A]

20 July 2020

Celebrating Dilhan Eryurt



Today’s Doodle celebrates a star in the field of astronomy, Turkish astrophysicist Dr. Dilhan Eryurt. She was the first Turkish woman to work as a scientist at NASA, and her research on the evolution of stars led to an unexpected discovery about the history of the solar system. On this day in 1969, Dr. Eryurt was honored with NASA’s prestigious “Apollo Achievement Award” for her contribution to the moon landing that year.

Dilhan Eryurt was born in İzmir, Turkey, on November 29, 1926. After high school, she studied in the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy at Istanbul University, and then earned a PhD in Astrophysics from Ankara University in 1953. In 1961, Dr. Eryurt began work as the only woman at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in New York.

At the time, the leading scientific model suggested that the sun had been heating up over billions of years to reach its current temperature. Dr. Eryurt’s work helped show that in fact the sun used to be even hotter than it is today. This transformative discovery had huge implications for the chemical makeup of the Earth, as well as the conditions astronauts could expect to find on the Moon.

After Dr. Eryurt returned to Turkey, she established an astrophysics department at the Middle East Technical University, where she went on to become the dean of the faculty. In 1977, she was honored with Turkey’s TÜBİTAK Science Award.

Thank you, Dr. Dilhan Eryurt, for casting a bright light on the mysteries of the universe!

[9A]

20 July 2020

Tatyana Lioznova’s 96th birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Moscow-based guest artist Sveta Mullari, celebrates Russian director, screenwriter, and professor Tatyana Lioznova on her 96th Birthday. Lioznova was widely known for the beloved 1973 spy thriller television series “Seventeen Moments of Spring,” and through her work explored themes like alienation and perseverance, often inspired by her personal life.

Tatyana Lioznova was born in the Russian capital of Moscow on this day in 1924 and went on to graduate from the world’s oldest film school, the All-Union State University of Cinematography, or VGIK.

Lioznova broke new ground as a female director, a rare profession for women in Russia at the time. She made her directorial debut in 1958 with “The Memory of the Heart” and saw nationwide success with the 1967 romance “Three Poplars at Plyushchikha.” Lioznova reached new heights of fame with her hugely popular 12-part series “Seventeen Moments of Spring.” The series—which inspired the Doodle artwork on Lioznova’s right side—takes place during World War II and follows protagonist Maxim Isayev, a fictional Soviet spy often compared to his British counterpart James Bond. Referenced on the left side of the artwork is Lioznova’s 1982 hit film “Carnival,” a musical comedy she both wrote and directed.

Lioznova also returned to her alma mater VGIK and taught workshops on acting and directing to a new generation of Russian filmmakers. In honor of her contributions to Russian cinema, Lioznova was named a People’s Artist of the USSR in 1984.

Thank you, Tatyana Lioznova, for entertaining the world through the unique lens of Russian culture.

[9A]

20 July 2012

Colombia Independence Day 2012 by Armando Villegas





July 20th is an important day in Colombia. This year we've rediscovered the meaning of the Colombian flag and the spirit of freedom that Simon Bolivar sought out with the help of the modern artist, Armando Villegas, "El Maestro". In describing this project he shared that ¨An assignment of this nature comes with lots of responsibility. I like that it has a meaning and a projection, specially when it comes to such a lively media¨.

After first meeting with Villegas he began exploring all the past Colombian doodles and the idea emerged of Bolivar combined with the colors of the Colombian flag and native animals filling in the background. Beyond being the country's national colors, according to Villegas they have a universal value: yellow, blue, and red are the most important colors in nature and the base of any pictorial work.

It's done in the style he's most known for as well, that of subtraction. What you see is the result of his discovering of different shapes within the material. One shape leads to another which leads to yet another. This artistic process is much like how he hopes users will think about the doodle: ¨My work is intended to disturb, motivate, create a curiosity on the people to make them reflect about the images I’ve created and their significance as homeland sense through universal colors¨.

The combination of the colors with the elements of nature also have a profound meaning. Within the red section primary beings refer to an early stage. The blue is a transition period with the animals evolving and changing. The yellow is the final result where birds, specially five hummingbirds, symbolize the liberty Bolivar fought for. The significance continues further referencing human evolution where red depicts the present, blue the past, and yellow the brilliant future ahead.

¨The word Google connects the three colors. It is done in a simple and elemental way, it isn't an indecipherable writing. With this simple writing I wanted to explain the backdrop of this manifestation¨.

Happy Independence Day, Colombia!

[9A]

20 July 2011

Colombian Independence Day 2011 by Claudia Rueda




Colombia is home to the world's largest variety of butterflies, approximately 20% of all known species, according to a study by the Natural History Museum in London.