21.07.2021 06:30 Date: July 21, 2021 On this day in 1831, King Leopold I took an oath as the first Belgian king, signaling Belgium as a sovereign state distinct from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Today’s Doodle proudly celebrates Belgium’s National Day, an annual commemoration of their independence. As the COVID-19 pandemic and flooding disasters currently impact the nation, Belgians are coming together to help one another now more than ever. Today’s Doodle recognizes and gives a special thanks to Belgium’s many everyday heroes. Whether it be a delivery person, medical worker, firefighter, or a kind citizen lending a helping hand—here’s to the Belgians who work every day to help the country thrive. Location: Tags: , , , ,
20.07.2021 13:45 Date: July 20, 2021 Today’s Doodle honors Colombia’s Independence Day. On this day in 1810, the South American nation’s independence movement was sparked by a rather unassuming culprit: a broken flower vase—and culminated with Colombians marching on the Bogota town square to demand liberty. From urban centers in the valleys of Antioquia to the villages harbored along the Amazon River, Colombians come together today to celebrate freedom and their cultural heritage. It’s common to prepare the national dish of bandeja paisa, which typically consists of minced meat, white rice, red beans, fried egg, plantains, pork, and avocado and is served in such generous portions it has to be brought out on a tray! Other traditions include gathering to play tejo, a game believed to have originated with central Colombian Indigenous cultures, in which opponents throw metal disks at explosive targets. Today’s Doodle artwork features the critically-endangered Andean Condor, the national animal of Colombia and long-standing cultural symbol in the region dating to around 2500 BCE. Happy Independence Day, Colombia! Location: Tags: , , , , ,
18.07.2021 03:30 Date: July 18, 2021 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Bengaluru, India-based guest artist , celebrates the 160th birthday of Indian doctor Kadambini Ganguly—the first woman to be trained as a physician in India. On this day in 1861, Kadambini Ganguly was born in Bhagalpur British India, now Bangladesh. Her father, a co-founder of India’s first women’s rights organization, enrolled Ganguly in school during an era when education was uncommon for Indian women. She took the reins on the opportunity, and in 1883, Kadambini Ganguly and her peer Chandramukhi BasuIn became the first women to graduate college in Indian history. Soon after graduating, Ganguly married professor and activist Dwarkanath Ganguly, who encouraged her to pursue a degree in medicine. She persisted—despite numerous initial rejections—until she was eventually admitted to the Calcutta Medical College. She graduated in 1886, making history once again as the first woman to become an Indian-educated doctor. Ganguly had no intention of slowing her groundbreaking momentum. After working and studying in the United Kingdom, she earned three additional doctoral certifications with a specialization in gynecology and returned to India in the 1890s to open her own private practice. Ganguly sought to uplift other women in India through both medical service and activism in India’s women’s rights movement. Among many other campaigns, Ganguly joined six others to form the first all-women delegation of the 1889 Indian National Congress. The 2020 “Prothoma Kadambini” biographical television series based on Ganguly’s life reinvigorated her legacy by telling her inspirational story to a new generation. Happy birthday, Kadambini Ganguly! Guest Artist Q&A with Oddrija Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Bengaluru, India-based guest artist . Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? A. In the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen how medical infrastructure and doctors have been hailed as sheroes and heroes for becoming the saviors the world needs. Looking back in time, Kadambini Ganguly was a frontrunner in her contribution to medical infrastructure in India with her indomitable spirit and inquisitiveness that landed her a triple diploma in her studies in Western Medicine. In the same spirit, working on this Doodle was a super proud moment for me—getting to represent a young, spirited woman from pre-independence Bangladesh because my own familial roots are also in Bangladesh. Alongside the same, I got to represent some aspect of my own home town which is Calcutta . Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle? A. Simply put, I get to do a Google Doodle about a personality who is from my own home town, spoke my mother tongue and created big change back in her day. It was a proud moment for a Bengali! Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A. Since there is only one photograph of Ganguly available in online archives, I did some reading about her life and times. Fortunately, there is an impressive online archive of architecture from her times which helped in creating the tone for the Doodle. For the portrait, the only black and white picture was the savior! Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A. My message would be to treat healthcare workers and frontier workers with a bit more respect on a daily basis, since 2020 has shown us how fragile human life can be. Location: Tags: , , , , , ,
17.07.2021 19:00 Date: July 18, 2021 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Yuwi, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander guest artist , celebrates revolutionary Aboriginal Australian activist Pearl Gibbs “Gambanyi”, who is widely regarded among the 20th-century’s leading advocates for Aboriginal rights. Pearl Mary Gibbs “Gambanyi” was born on this day in 1901 to an Aboriginal mother and a non-Aboriginal father in La Perouse, New South Wales. At 16, Gibbs moved with her family to Sydney, where she worked as a servant. It was here that she met Aboriginal girls stolen from their homes and forced into domestic work—injustices that sparked her lifetime devotion to the fight for Aboriginal rights. In 1937, Gibbs helped form the Aborigines Progressive Association , an all-Aboriginal activist alliance that campaigned for Aboriginal citizenship, suffrage, and an end to unjust governmental bodies. As APA secretary beginning in 1938, she exposed the inhumane conditions and exploitation of women and children at government-run Aboriginal reserves. A public speaker as charismatic as she was influential, Gibbs helped organize the Day of Mourning protest that same year. Widely credited as the catalyst of the contemporary Aboriginal political movement, this demonstration was the first to bring the plight of Indigenous Australians to national attention. Gibbs never faltered in her efforts for Indigenous justice over the decades that followed, a struggle that culminated in 1954 when the New South Wales Aborigines Welfare Board appointed her as its first—and only—female member. She also helped organize the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship in 1956. With Gibbs at the helm, the AAF petitioned for a change in the Australian constitution, which paved the way for the 1967 referendum that granted Indigenous Australians suffrage and citizenship. Today’s Doodle artwork depicts Gibbs’ life, legacy, and dedication to improving the lives of Aboriginal Australians—symbolized, for instance, by the Flannel Flowers on her dress, an icon she adopted to represent resilience. Happy Birthday, Pearl Gibbs “Gambanyi,” and thank you for your lifetime devotion to building a more equitable world. Thank you to Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi artist, Lynette Riley, for contributing to this Doodle artwork. The concentric circles along the bottom of the artwork is a design by Lynette Riley representing Pearl Gibbs' family tree and the history of her family. Special thanks to the family of Pearl Gibbs “Gambanyi” for their partnership on this project. Below her granddaughter, , shares her thoughts on her grandmother’s legacy: Pearl Gibbs was stridently outspoken, never shy at stepping up and certainly no shrinking violet when it came to shouting from the rooftops about the social injustices experienced by her beloved black brothers and sisters. Historian Heather Goodall once described her as “charming, persuasive and abrasive”. It seems there was no shortage of information about Gibbs for people to write about; however she kept her personal life secret. Even though she was a passionate speaker there was one thing people in her professional and personal circles had never heard from her lips—as a single parent, around the age of 30, her three young children under ten were removed by her estranged husband. No reason, no explanation, no redress. It’s not hard to imagine her grief, her sense of loss and the daily impact of a lifetime of being isolated from her family. Not once did she share the heartbreak of losing her children or her ten grandchildren while she was still alive. Not once did she put herself out as being more important than her messages about the mistreatment of young Aboriginal women, their families and their communities. We family members have long suspected her personal losses fuelled her passionate life long fight for Aboriginal people’s rights for past, present and future generations. We are thankful Google has chosen to showcase our nana so she can be more widely recognised, acknowledged and honoured. As a First Nation social rights and justice activist, Pearl Gibbs was the first at many things for a woman of her time. We reckon our nana would probably have not wanted the focus on her as a person, but rather on her achievements. There is a first time for everything. Pictured: Helen Druett , Simone Cambey and Anny Druett Photo Credit: Courtesy of the family of Pearl Gibbs "Gambanyi" Guest Artist Q&A with Dylan Mooney Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Yuwi, Torres Strait and South Sea Islander guest artist . Below, he shares his thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? A. This topic was important to me not only because of the work Aunty Pearl Gibbs has done for Aboriginal people, but also her work with women and children. She created change for our people to keep thriving. Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle? A. I couldn’t believe it, being approached by a big company such as Google you know it was a bit overwhelming. But I’m so proud to have worked with Google and Aunty Pearl Gibbs' family to bring this work to life. Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A. My hope is that people reflect on our history within Australia and know our past and what Aunty Pearl Gibbs has done for this nation. I also hope that Indigenous women are celebrated for what they do for our community, in whatever that may be. Indigenous women are our heroes. Location: Tags: , , , , , ,
17.07.2021 10:15 Date: July 17, 2021 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 81st birthday of Mexican artist and activist Francisco “El Maestro” Toledo, who is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in modern Mexican history. His prolific creative output is only rivaled in scope by his philanthropic advocacy and dedication to preserving his Oaxacan heritage. On this day in 1940, Francisco Benjamín López Toledo was born in Juchitán, Oaxaca, the heartland of the Indigenous Zapotec civilization. His remarkable talent for drawing was noticed at just 9 years old, and by 19, he hosted his first solo exhibition. Self-described as a grillo , which he believed captured the restless Oaxacan spirit, Toledo set off to Paris to pursue sculpting, painting, and printmaking in the 1960s. But he soon yearned for the simpler life of his home. He returned to Oaxaca in 1965, where his craft and activism played an instrumental role in the transformation of the southern Mexican state into a nucleus of the international art community. Toledo first garnered widespread acclaim during this era with a watercolor series of animal-human hybrids, which established his trademark style rooted in Indigenous art traditions, Zapotec mythology, and inspiration from the work of masters such as Francisco Goya. For nearly seven decades, Toledo explored every visual medium imaginable to produce around 9,000 works—from a scorpion sculpture crafted using turtle shells to cloth puppets. Today, his legacy endures in libraries, art institutions, and museums he founded in Oaxaca, many of which are free to enter. Happy birthday, Francisco Toledo, and thank you for safeguarding Zapotec Oaxacan heritage for generations to come! Location: Tags: , , , , , ,
16.07.2021 08:45 Date: July 16, 2021 Today’s Doodle celebrates the birthday of Brazilian actor and singer Elizeth “The Divine” Cardoso. Her 1958 album “Canção do Amor Demais” 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 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" . 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 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! Early drafts of the Doodle below Location: Tags: , , , , , ,
14.07.2021 05:16 Date: July 14, 2021 Today’s Doodle celebrates Bastille Day, also known in France as July 14th or National Day. On this day in 1789, the Parisian populace toppled a medieval fortress known as the Bastille, transforming this stone tower from a symbol of historical injustice into a beacon of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Widely regarded as a major catalyst of the French Revolution, the storming of the Bastille represents the birth of a modern nation. This momentous event incited nation-wide solidarity, and to celebrate its first birthday, national officials organized a 10,000 person ceremony coined the “Festival of the Federation.” Another milestone anniversary which is now commemorated each Bastille Day, this patriotic soirée culminated in a revelatory feast, complete with song and dance. The 230-year tradition of celebrating these definitive moments in history lives on throughout the international French community. Celebrations around the world host music and dance performances highlighting regional Francophone culture, alongside fireworks, parades, and spreads of staple French dishes! Vive le 14 Juillet! Long live July 14th! Check out some Behind-the-Scenes photos for today’s embroidery artwork by Doodler, Hélène Leroux Location: Tags: , , , , , , ,
12.07.2021 03:00 Date: July 12, 2021 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! Location: Tags:
11.07.2021 10:30 Date: July 11, 2021 Location: Tags: , , , , , , ,
11.07.2021 01:45 Date: July 11, 2021 Today’s Doodle celebrates the UEFA Euro Cup final between Italy & England, which kicks off today inside London’s Wembley Stadium. The high-stakes pinnacle of a month of world-class soccer, today’s matchup determines which nation will return home the 2020 Euro Cup champions. Who will it be? Best of luck to both teams! Location: , Tags: , , , , ,
09.07.2021 08:15 Date: July 9, 2021 Today’s Doodle celebrates Argentina’s Independence Day. On this day in 1816, a group of regional leaders assembled in the city of Tucumán to proclaim the South American nation’s freedom. If you plan on celebrating Independence Day in true Argentinian fashion, get ready for a day full of huge portions of traditional food and drink. Authentic feasting for today’s festivities isn’t complete without “locro,” a robust stew consisting of beans, corn, squash, potato, and varieties of meat. Traditionally served piping hot, locro is a perfect meal for keeping celebrants warm, as Independence Day falls in the midst of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter. The go-to Argentinian beverage is “mate,” a caffeine-rich tea depicted brewing in the Doodle artwork. Approximately 98% of the nation’s citizens keep this caffeine-rich tea stocked at home, and it's estimated that most Argentines consume close to 14 pounds annually! Happy Independence Day, Argentina! Location: Tags: , , , , ,
06.07.2021 13:30 Date: July 6, 2021 Location: Tags: , , , , , ,
06.07.2021 05:30 Date: July 6, 2021 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! Early drafts of the Doodle below Location: , , , , Tags:
05.07.2021 22:15 Date: July 6, 2021 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 85th birthday of Japanese-American author, conceptual artist, and trans-humanist architect Shusaku Arakawa. Together with his wife, Arakawa chased a philosophical quest for immortality through experimental paintings, literature, and, at the grandest scale, architectural oddities—a concept coined Reversible Destiny. Shusaku Arakawa was born on this day in 1936 in Nagoya, Japan. His early life was defined by mathematics and medicine studies before he pursued surrealist painting at Tokyo’s Musashino Art University. As an early adopter of the international conceptual art movement, he joined similarly minded artists after his 1961 move to New York City. Soon after, Shusako met a poet who became his lifelong artistic collaborator and spouse: Madeline Gins. In 1963, the couple began the ambitious “The Mechanism of Meaning” series—an assemblage of 83 large panel paintings crafted with the aim of investigating the mysteries of human consciousness that required over a decade to bring to fruition. Global exhibitions of the masterwork funded the couple’s next lofty endeavor: extending life expectancy by fostering a novel relationship with the built world called “procedural architecture.” They hypothesized that engaging residents with challenging interior designs, such as steep and uneven floor plans, would boost immunity and fight aging by promoting an active and thoughtful relationship with one’s surroundings. Their first residential works of procedural architecture can be found at Reversible Destiny Lofts, a complex in Tokyo and the inspiration for today’s Doodle artwork. Arakawa and Gins devoted their lives to designing an architectural fountain of youth and founded multiple institutions to advance this project, including the Reversible Destiny Foundation. Today, several installations of their eccentric architecture remain open to the public, such as the Reversible Destiny Lofts. This renown project comprises a brightly colored residential complex in Tokyo that served as the couple’s first work of procedural architecture, which they dedicated to Helen Keller. Happy birthday, Shusaku Arakawa! Location: Tags: , , , , , , , ,
05.07.2021 14:00 Date: July 5, 2021 On this day in 1811, elected provincial Venezuelan leaders proclaimed the nation’s sovereignty. Today’s Doodle celebrates Venezuela’s Independence Day, or Cinco de julio, 210 years after this momentous turning point in the nation’s history. Today, the original Venezuelan Declaration of Independence document is safely tucked away at the Museo de la Casa de las Primeras Letras Simón Rodríguez in the capital of Caracas. Much more than just a home to Venezuela’s founding document, this history museum was once the 18th-century headquarters of the very first school in Caracas and home base for the teachings of iconic Venezuelan educator Simón Rodríguez. The building commemorates the work of Rodríguez, who taught ideals such as education for all to a student body that included key figures in the Venezuelan independence movement. To enjoy this national holiday, many families and friends gather with traditional music, dancing, and foods like arepas ! ¡Feliz Cinco de Julio, Venezuela! Location: Tags: , , , ,
