Love and joy in paintings by Yuri Matsika

Undated UK Ministry of Defence handout photo of an RAF Tornado GR4 which has been painted in Gulf War “desert pink” paint scheme to honour the aircraft type's almost continuous operational service since the Royal Air Force helped liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein's forces, taken by SAC Rose Buchanan, which has been shortlisted for the general public to pick their favourite RAF Image of the Year. (Photo by SAC Rose Buchanan/MoD Crown Copyright/PA Wire)

Born in Tokyo, Dusseldorf-based artist Ramon Todo creates beautiful textural juxtapositions using layers of glass in unexpected places. Starting with various stones, volcanic rock, fragments of the Berlin wall, and even books, the artist inserts perfectly cut glass fragments that seem to slice through the object resulting in segments of translucence where you would least expect it.

A leather worker with his frightening types of clothes prepares after painted themselves using chimney soot as they participate in a programme within the September 6 celebrations, in Balikesir, Turkey on September 06, 2019. According to the story, “Tulutabaklar” were painting themselves with ash and wearing goatskin or sheep skin to frighten the Greek soldiers occupying Balikesir during the National Struggle period. Every year on September 6, Tulutabaklar perform this ritual as part of the celebration of liberation of the city for 96 years. (Photo by Ali Atmaca/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Italian police remove “Bruciamo Tutto” (Let's burn everything) activists after they poured red paint on the Spanish steps (Piazza di Spagna), on June 26, 2024 in Rome, Italy. Today activists from “Bruciamo Tutto” (Let's burn everything) poured red paint on the Spanish steps (Piazza di Spagna) to protest against feminicides. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

Photographer Jonathan Icher has developed a very literal and very bizarre expression of national pride, one that involves body paint, fine cuisine and modelesque facial expressions. May we present "Fat Flag," an inexplicable series that pairs a photographic subject with his/her respective painted flag and national fare.

Men stroll past roadside vendors as a painted truck makes its way through the busy street in Kabul, Afghanistan, November, 1961. (Photo by Henry S. Bradsher/AP Photo via The Atlantic)