Artborghi

Looking for inspiration across Lisbon, on PhilippWinter's footsteps. Restaurant terrace of Alfama Modern towers of Alges International docks along the Tagus White walls of Alfama Stairs in Paço de Arcos

Searching for parallels - artborghi.com Looking for inspiration across Lisbon, on PhilippWinter’s footsteps. Restaurant terrace of Alfama Modern towers of Alges International docks along the Tagus White walls of Alfama Stairs in Paço de Arcos

The Tagus river blends with the Ocean just a few km south of Lisbon downtown. At the end of its run, its estuary goes from 2km to 14 m width. Without the Farol du Bugio island, just at the border between river and ocean, it would be difficult to mark the spot where the two water bodies merge. Sandy river beach of Praia de Paço de Arcos…...

It’s the sea, it’s a river, it’s Lisbon water front - artborghi.com The Tagus river blends with the Ocean just a few km south of Lisbon downtown. At the end of its run, its estuary goes from 2km to 14 m […]

Walking is the best way to visit Lisbon, but with trams it is more fun! Choose your favorite tram line Inspiring live fado and bossa nova at every stop Continue your sustainable tour of Lisbon Fountains and gardens awaits you Tuk tuk as an alternative, here in front of Sé de Lisboa

Step on, step off - artborghi.com Walking is the best way to visit Lisbon, but with trams it is more fun! Choose your favorite tram line Inspiring live fado and bossa nova at every stop Continue […]

A private walk through the capital of Portugal, from Alges, at the river front to the uphill Castle Saint George. Looking for Portuguese identity Large cruising boats harboring in Lisbon city center, view from up Alfama area and its red rooftops Freedom! (libertade), also Ferdinando Pessoa shouts it. But freedom from and for what? Walking by Sao Vicente, the patron of Lisbon (exactly, Saint Anton is not Lisbon's patron...)...

Intimate Lisbon - artborghi.com A private walk through the capital of Portugal, from Alges, at the river front to the uphill Castle Saint George. Looking for Portuguese identity Large cruising boats harboring in Lisbon […]

The darkest nights in the Southern Hemisphere are above Pitcairn island, one of the international dark sanctuaries around the globe. Pitcairn is just 2000 km southeast of Huahine island. There must be some darkness to shoot also in Huahine... A good observation point facing the Milky Way seems my lodge beach, in front of Fare harbor, where Captain cook passed by exactly this day July the 16th, just 344 years ago....

One last shot in the darkness, Huahine - artborghi.com The darkest nights in the Southern Hemisphere are above Pitcairn island, one of the international dark sanctuaries around the globe. Pitcairn is just 2000 km southeast of Huahine island. There […]

Time to say goodbye to Huahine and French Polynesia. A 20 hour long flight back to Europe is waiting at Papeete Fa'a'a airport. Still some memories from Huahine. A last jump from the bridge where Huahine islands got split by Hiro, the god of thieves, after he got asleep during sailing. Another exploration through the ruins at Coral Garden bay and a last gorgeous snorkeling…...

Na Na Huahine - artborghi.com Time to say goodbye to Huahine and French Polynesia. A 20 hour long flight back to Europe is waiting at Papeete Fa’a’a airport. Still some memories from Huahine. A last […]

Snorkeling solo in the Pacific Ocean did not fit my wishes, therefore I took a tour at the barrier reef of Huahine. From the Maitai Lapita Village I started my snorkeling adventure with a group of 10 people. First stop in the crystal waters in front of Te Fiti. “Sharks in the reef!”, yelled the captain as I was jumping in the water....

Sharks ahead! - artborghi.com Snorkeling solo in the Pacific Ocean did not fit my wishes, therefore I took a tour at the barrier reef of Huahine. From the Maitai Lapita Village I started my […]

There are different islands recognized as Te Fiti, the sleeping goddess with the power to create life and all Polynesia islands. There are different traditions at support and against even the presence of Te Fiti in Polynesian mythology. The island mostly accredited as Te Fiti is Huahine: let’s fly (alone) to Huahine, 1 hour from Tahiti. Huahine is a pristine island, you can drive along its shore for 6 hours (with many photographic stops) and meet virtually no one....

Don’t wake up Te Fiti - artborghi.com There are different islands recognized as Te Fiti, the sleeping goddess with the power to create life and all Polynesia islands. There are different traditions at support and against even […]

Heiva prize night is the last night of Heiva. A fine rain brings luck, they say Prizes for best costumes, best dancing, best songs, best choreography, best music, best solo and best ensemble performance etc. etc are assigned. Heiva stadium is filled with joyful representatives from all the Pacific Sponsors from Air Tahiti and other local companies give the prizes....

Heiva the champions - artborghi.com   Heiva prize night is the last night of Heiva. A fine rain brings luck, they say Prizes for best costumes, best dancing, best songs, best choreography, best music, best […]

Traditional medicine and its conservation and application is another topic shown at Heiva. While richer people have the possibility to meet medical doctors and access modern medicine, the rest of the population is still counting on ancient recipes, based on plants and their extracts. Heiva calls for the maintenance of these ancient remedies, that recently got successfully integrated in Tahiti hospital for terminal patients....

Heiva nights: across time - artborghi.com Traditional medicine and its conservation and application is another topic shown at Heiva. While richer people have the possibility to meet medical doctors and access modern medicine, the rest of […]

While adult male teams circumnavigate Moorea, female and young teams paddle past Point Venus and back We wait for them on the black sandy beach, together with their fans Paddles go in and out of the ocean at impressive speeds When all Va’s are Past point Venus, we return to the starting point to see the arrival of the male 100km race....

Va’a: the competition - artborghi.com While adult male teams circumnavigate Moorea, female and young teams paddle past Point Venus and back We wait for them on the black sandy beach, together with their fans Paddles […]

Va’a are Polynesian pirogues. Va'a means displacement in time, space on time, movement, voyage. Va’a can be single armed, double armed, in the past carved out a single tree log. Nowadays Va’a are cast in wool glass or composite materials. Va’a are used for fishing, tours or for competitions. Some say Va’a allowed Polynesians to explore as far as Chile....

Va’a: the displacement in time - artborghi.com Va’a are Polynesian pirogues. Va’a means displacement in time, space on time, movement, voyage. Va’a can be single armed, double armed, in the past carved out a single tree log. […]

Heiva is not only about Thaiti history, but dancing groups from other Pacific islands also bring their own tales. Like the group from Rurutu. On this island a peculiar new year festival takes place, with open doors to private houses and celebrations through the island for wishing everybody a good new year. For the occasion, Rurutu citizens call for a good new year by lifting volcanic stones up to 170 Kgs....

Heiva nights: back to the origins - artborghi.com Heiva is not only about Thaiti history, but dancing groups from other Pacific islands also bring their own tales. Like the group from Rurutu. On this island a peculiar new […]

Do you know the Tahitian tale of the sleeping beauty, who got her heart stolen by Maui? Probably yes, if you watched the movie Moana (also distributed as Oceania). Here she is, painted on Papeete walls. You can also find her on Huahine island: she sleeps again, after her heart was given back. And what is the story behind this mural?...

Papeete open air - artborghi.com Do you know the Tahitian tale of the sleeping beauty, who got her heart stolen by Maui? Probably yes, if you watched the movie Moana (also distributed as Oceania). Here […]

In 2024, Olympic competitions will be opened in France. The village of Teahupo‘o in Tahiti will be the surfing location for the Paris Olympics. We visited the venue, invited by the local surf organization, on the white foam of the barrier reef border… We leave the harbor behind and get in action: red, green, and yellow teams are already surfing…...

Teahupo‘o, were French Olympics play surf - artborghi.com In 2024, Olympic competitions will be opened in France. The village of Teahupo‘o in Tahiti will be the surfing location for the Paris Olympics. We visited the venue, invited by […]

When sports at Tuaro Maohi are over, it’s time for a stroll through everyday life in Tahiti capital city. What’s on in Papeete? Fishing, those kind of delicious fishes you rarely see in Europe, like Mahi-mahi, Unicorn fish, Parrot fish … ..and selling fishes and seefood, here red tuna and lobsters. Just relaxing at Point Venus on its black sand…...

What’s on in Papeete - artborghi.com When sports at Tuaro Maohi are over, it’s time for a stroll through everyday life in Tahiti capital city. What’s on in Papeete? Fishing, those kind of delicious fishes you […]

Back to Tahiti after the trip to Moorea, back to Tuaro Maohi traditional sports Today is spear competition, or better, speared coconut competition at Tuaro Maohi. Teams have wooden spears with metal tips ready to pierce a coconut The coconut is pulled up high in the sky, fixed on a metal pole. Hundreds of spears fly by, only a dozen hit the goal…...

Return to the Spear Age - artborghi.com Back to Tahiti after the trip to Moorea, back to Tuaro Maohi traditional sports Today is spear competition, or better, speared coconut competition at Tuaro Maohi. Teams have wooden spears […]

While waiting for the ferry to Moorea on the 14th of July, words sung by hundreds of men suddenly entered the harbor Allons enfants de la Patrie / Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! / Contre nous de la tyrannie / L'étendard sanglant est levé / etc. A large, four masted vessel, white and unnamed, was mooring in Papeete…...

Allons enfants de la Patrie a Tahiti! - artborghi.com While waiting for the ferry to Moorea on the 14th of July, words sung by hundreds of men suddenly entered the harbor Allons enfants de la Patrie / […]

From Papeete, Moorea stares at you every morning and is a reference point in the endless Pacific Ocean. Moorea calls every visitor in Tahiti for a trip. Because it is less crowded, because it is greener, because it is there. On a cloudy morning we set propellers to Moorea, with a 45 minute-long ferry trip. Moorea is the expected postcard from Polynesia....

Keep Moorea always on your mind - artborghi.com From Papeete, Moorea stares at you every morning and is a reference point in the endless Pacific Ocean. Moorea calls every visitor in Tahiti for a trip. Because it is […]

Stone lifting, volcanic stone lifting, is a traditional, widespread sport across the Pacific. Volcanic stones are property of each village, their are brought each time to competitions and their weight goes from 50 kg up to 120 Kg Stones are first embraced with arms and lifted mostly by legs Then arms pull the stone on a shoulder Finally stone lifters keep the stone steady for a few seconds…...

Lift it if you can Stone lifting, volcanic stone lifting, is a traditional, widespread sport across the Pacific. Volcanic stones are property of each village, their are brought each time to competitions and their weight […]

Not only men run for fruits at Tuaro Maohi. At the ancient sound of a buccina shell, the race of women fruit carrier starts. The unbearable heat can transform the race in a walk, despite the fast start Pain is visible after the middle of the race Determination is female Wardrobe malfunction is behind the corner The end line can get engulfed within a last meter sprint…...

Another portion of fruits, quick! Not only men run for fruits at Tuaro Maohi. At the ancient sound of a buccina shell, the race of women fruit carrier starts. The unbearable heat can transform […]

Is wrestling a traditional Polynesian sport? Is it historic truth that Polynesian tribes left their leaders fighting to end a war? The tension for the upcoming sport event at Tuaro Maohi is visible among spectators, too Pride of winners and disappointment of losers is clear today. On a round sandy arena, bordered by palm leaves, wrestlers give their best at sunset....

Catch the fight Is wrestling a traditional Polynesian sport? Is it historic truth that Polynesian tribes left their leaders fighting to end a war? The tension for the upcoming sport event at Tuaro […]

Heiva dances color Tahiti winter for three consecutive nights. Narration of myths and considerations on past and present Polynesian society are on stage. Stories and lyrics are in Tahitian, introductions to some shows are in French. Both languages difficult to my understanding. Thanks so much to Manuela Macori, met at Heiva in Papeete and her collaborators at Rivista Etnie (...

Heiva nights: dancing the myth Heiva dances color Tahiti winter for three consecutive nights. Narration of myths and considerations on past and present Polynesian society are on stage. Stories and lyrics are in Tahitian, introductions […]

Traditional dances are performed between sport event, Maori war dances are among the most impressive. Out of the blue, Maori men and women shout, push their eyes out of their heads and perform scary movements. Maori from New Zealand are the Western participants at Tuaro Maohi sports. But not only war is shown during dance intervals. Feathered girls hypnotize with their movements after Polynesian drums,...

It’s war! Traditional dances are performed between sport event, Maori war dances are among the most impressive. Out of the blue, Maori men and women shout, push their eyes out of their […]

Back to Papeeete, Tuaro Maohi games entered new phases of competition Who will be the fastest palm tree climber, today? All but one palm at the climbing arena have a metal stem ring to stop not professional climbers. A coconut palm can be as much high as 12-18 meters, a 4 to 6 floor building: falling is not under consideration. Expert climbers can cover such distances in few seconds…...

A dangerous hug Back to Papeeete, Tuaro Maohi games entered new phases of competition Who will be the fastest palm tree climber, today? All but one palm at the climbing arena have a […]

A long off-road path brought us to the center of Tahiti’s caldera, to the Rock of Displacement. The path was cut 12 times by the river, no road bridges. At the Marae of the Lower Valley we joined the student group from Hawaii on the holy rocks of the temple. During the ritual they performed, we were enlightened with Polynesian cosmology and mythology....

On the road to the Rock of Displacement A long off-road path brought us to the center of Tahiti’s caldera, to the Rock of Displacement. The path was cut 12 times by the river, no road bridges. […]

We got invited to visit Tahiti sacred sites. Two dozens of students from Hawaii join our reportage group to perform the Ritual of Fire in the central caldera of Tahiti. A 4 hour-long off-road along the river Papenoo is waiting for us. Before starting the exploration up into the valley, we have to ask the river Papenoo to grant us a safe entrance....

Moana’s ritual We got invited to visit Tahiti sacred sites. Two dozens of students from Hawaii join our reportage group to perform the Ritual of Fire in the central caldera of […]

Second day at Tuaro Maohi games: it is time for coconut splits. Coconut de-husking is a long lived sport across whole Polynesia and Pacific Ocean High mana (vital energy) is necessary to split 50 coconuts under the scorching sun. Tiki statues are placed in front of the competition as good omen. Coconuts are split by axe. Coconut water spills and fills the air with its sweet smell…...

Coconut split Second day at Tuaro Maohi games: it is time for coconut splits. Coconut de-husking is a long lived sport across whole Polynesia and Pacific Ocean High mana (vital energy) is […]

I would mind, if it weighted 50 Kg and I had to run with it for 2 km. Fruit carrying is one of the sports played at the Polynesian Olympic games “Tuaro Maohi”. Fruits are bound together to large sticks and weighted before the race. Runners pick their burdens on their shoulders and start running along the water front in Papeete....

Would you mind bringing the fruit? And quick! I would mind, if it weighted 50 Kg and I had to run with it for 2 km. Fruit carrying is one of the sports played at the Polynesian Olympic […]

Big Moana and Va'a (Polynesian canoes) gave the adventure to the populations living nowadays in the Pacific Ocean. Out of Taiwan, they discovered and colonized islands comprising New Zealand, Hawaii, Polynesia and Eastern island. First Va’a were carved out of wood logs, when large enough trees were available. Later, wood planks sewed together with ropes expanded Va'a' sizes and exploration radius: several are exposed at the…...

With wet ankles in Big Moana Big Moana and Va’a (Polynesian canoes) gave the adventure to the populations living nowadays in the Pacific Ocean. Out of Taiwan, they discovered and colonized islands comprising New Zealand, Hawaii, […]

If you look for Tahiti, or Moorea, or Huahine islands on a map, you need sharp eyes to spot anything else than water. The Pacific Ocean (Moana in Tahitian) is background and foreground of every activity in Polynesia Va’a rowers early morning. The small island marks the reef border. Open ocean and big waves behind. Five paddlers, helmsman in the back…...

Dots in the ocean If you look for Tahiti, or Moorea, or Huahine islands on a map, you need sharp eyes to spot anything else than water. The Pacific Ocean (Moana in Tahitian) […]

This summer I was invited by my friends from Ile-du-Monde, a UNESCO accredited team, to visit French Polynesia and document its traditional sport events. This is the second time I follow Ile-du-Monde, first time was in 2019 for Guadeloupe. French Polynesia has a long history that started with the East migrations of Taiwanese people ca. 3,000 years ago…...

French Polynesia: my displacement in time This summer I was invited by my friends from Ile-du-Monde, a UNESCO accredited team, to visit French Polynesia and document its traditional sport events. This is the second time I […]

A bike tour with hand held Sigma 14 mm 1:1.8 (1.2 Kg) mounted on a D850 (1 Kg). Sport and photography together for a night. Landesmuseum Zurich Europaallee areal Gustav-Gull Platz Inside Main Station Zurich Starred sky aside train tracks

The night (bike)rider A bike tour with hand held Sigma 14 mm 1:1.8 (1.2 Kg) mounted on a D850 (1 Kg). Sport and photography together for a night. Landesmuseum Zurich Europaallee areal Gustav-Gull […]

Ardea cinerea Anas platyrhynchos with chicks Aix galericulata Gallinula chloropus This and more at NABU Bodensee, Germany

German feathered Ardea cinerea Anas platyrhynchos with chicks Aix galericulata Gallinula chloropus This and more at NABU Bodensee, Germany

Reichenau island is not only a hot spot for bike tours and bird watching: it is a farm island covered with colorful fields Northern side of the island Greenhouses are present on the vast part of the island for cucumber and tomato production Not only biking at Reichenau Vineyards Moser on the island sole hill

Island farmer Reichenau island is not only a hot spot for bike tours and bird watching: it is a farm island covered with colorful fields Northern side of the island Greenhouses are […]

No cable-cars for the Brienzer Rothorn in 2023. Alternative: the Steinbock trek. First leave the moor family path behind Then gain an elevated view on moor blooming and last human traces Leave the Steinbock hunting area to the right Gain even more elevation above the tree line Then climb the last ladder (bottom left, aside the snow field), to reach the Brienz Rothorn at 2350 m on the Northern side Or better leave it and gain the view from the Southern side of the ridge towards Schreckhorn (4078 m) and Finsteraarhorn (4274 m)

Show me the other side No cable-cars for the Brienzer Rothorn in 2023. Alternative: the Steinbock trek. First leave the moor family path behind Then gain an elevated view on moor blooming and last human […]

Trek indications, barbed wires and electrical fences, farmer footprints, rocky skylines and narrow paths. Follow the traces to Soerenberg and have a deep dive into Entlebuch UNESCO Biosphere (Switzerland)

Follow the traces Trek indications, barbed wires and electrical fences, farmer footprints, rocky skylines and narrow paths. Follow the traces to Soerenberg and have a deep dive into Entlebuch UNESCO Biosphere (Switzerland)

Petals and wings of birds, insects and flowers

Spread open Petals and wings of birds, insects and flowers

Flowers and butterfly of Mainau island, Bodensee, Germany.

The unexpected color Flowers and butterfly of Mainau island, Bodensee, Germany.

Field conceptual photography close to Katzensee (Zurich)

Structural field Field conceptual photography close to Katzensee (Zurich)