FROM READERSDIGEST.COM. PHOTOS: WIKIMEDIA; GETTY IMAGES
The Unknown
Woman of the SeineIn the late 19th century, an
unknown woman’s body was
recovered from the River Seine
in France. She was displayed at
the Paris mortuary in the hope
of someone recognising and
identifying her. And although
nobody knew her, she did catch
the eye of a mortuary worker
who made a plaster mask of her
face. The mask, which some
refer to as the ‘drowned Mona
Lisa’ or ‘L’Inconnue’, became
a cultural phenomenon that
would inspire artists, poets
and novelists, as well as one
particular toy maker.
Still doesn’t sound familiar?
Here’s how you recognise her:
a Norwegian toy manufacturer
specialising in soft plastic
created the first CPR training
manikin – using the unknown
woman’s face. The toy maker
drew inspiration from the
L’Inconnue mask hanging in
his parents’ home. His creation
became the standard CPR
dolls or ‘Rescue Annies’. Many
people who know CPR don’t
realise the face of the training
manikin belongs to a woman
who drowned years before the
e x i s t e n c e o f t h o s e t e c h n i q u e s.
SOURCE: BBCBanksy
The identity of a British graffiti
artist who goes by the name
‘Banksy’ has remained a mystery
since he or she came onto the art
scene in 1993. Banksy’s art – with
displays often on bridges, tunnels
and walls – has dark humour and
often comments on political and
social issues. His or her creativity
extends to the screen, also, in the
documentary Exit Through The
Gift Shop. But even with all the
attention for the work, Banksy’s
true identity remains a mystery.
Rare interviews have always been
through email or sent via an altered
voice tape recording. In one of
the weirdest stories of 2018, one of
Banksy’s paintings partially shred
itself after being sold at auction- the artist had installed a paper
shredder inside the painting.
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