In recent studies recording life satisfaction, of citizens from around the world, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development determined that some countries are just simply happier than others. If you’re looking for more smiles in your life, consider heading to one of these delightful countries for your next holiday. We’ve all heard the saying ‘laughter is contagious’, so why not head to one of these happy destinations for the holiday of a lifetime.

Denmark

While the official reports from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development outline a great deal of information, relating to the statistics of most countries, at first glance it is difficult to see why Denmark reached the number one position, of being the happiest country in the world. Overall the country ranked satisfactory, however, further investigation proved that Danes truly are the happiest bunch of people around. Many experts believe this is greatly influenced by working conditions in Denmark. The data collected showed that just 1.92% of people work long hours in Denmark, making for overall satisfaction in life.

Norway

Carrying-on with happiness in European countries, Norway came in at position two on the prestigious list of life satisfaction. In recent times, financial problems have played havoc with the happiness of families all around the world. The country of Norway, however, is one of the most financially secure nations around the globe, creating a happier living environment for many citizens.

Netherlands

With great party destinations like Amsterdam, it’s no wonder that the people of the Netherlands are so happy! This Dutch nation produced good results across the survey, providing people with a number of great reasons to be happy. Just 0.68% of people worked more than 50 hours each week, while the Netherlands still reported good results for disposable income.

Finland

If you’re planning a holiday of relaxation, be sure to head to Finland. Home to more than 2 million saunas and an average of just less than 15 hours per day dedicated to leisure time, it is easy to understand why the Finnish are just so satisfied with their lives. Only a small number of citizens work greater than 50 hours per week, allowing them to dedicate a great deal of time to doing the things they love.

Australia

While it has always been a favourite holiday destination, seeing Australia on the list of the happiest countries in the world was still a surprise to many experts. When comparing results to other countries, Australia showed that citizens have very little leisure time, contributed to greatly by increased hours of work. While Aussies do work longer, they also showed outstanding results for quality of health, showing that sometimes hard work really does pay off! If you want a happier lifestyle, be sure to check Australian holiday packages and start smiling today!

Oh, and I had some other thoughts – like, there is a thin line between a good and very bad ad. For example, using cement mixer truck (ad #12) to look like a kebab, might be really creative and eye catchy, but the question is what kind of message does it deliver? In this particular case, the only thing that pops up in my mind is –  those kebabs taste like cement, and that’s a bad, bad advert.

I had even more thoughts, but I think you are getting bored so start scrolling down the ads, and don’t forget to comment!

1&2. The Best Things Start in Garages (Indianapolis 500, ft. Van Halen & Steve Jobs)

Messages on advertisement:

“Van Halen, 1974 | Rock Legends”

“The best things start in garages”

Messages on advertisement:

“Steve Jobs,1972. Co-founder, Apple Computers”

“The best things start in garages”

Advertising Agency: Ory-Alan

Creative Director / Art Director: Gregory Ballard

3. Cigarettes. Just looking at them makes you sick (Hospital A.C. Camargo)

I can add: just trying to resize this picture for our website, makes me sick.

Advertising Agency: JWT, Brazil

Creative Directors: Mario D’andrea, Roberto Fernandez

Copywriter: Christian Fontana

Art Director / Illustrator: Pedro Izique

4. Routine sucks (Terra Travel)

Advertising Agency: DDB, Brazil

Copywriter: Otavio Schiavon

Art Director/Ilustrator: Gustavo Victorino

5. Join the Forces of Darkness and save the Planet (WWF Earth Hour)

Join the dark side! This funny advert was asking people to save the planet by simply switching off the lights at certain time (28th of march, from 20.30 to 21.30).

Advertising Agency: Germaine Brussels, Belgium

Creative Director: Dirk Domen

Creatives: Jef Boes, Pieter Claeys

Photographer: Evert Thiry

6. Get Them Off Your Dog (Frontline, Flea & Tick Spray)

This is a huge (225 square meter) sticker in a mall with people looking like cooties from the upper floors. There were actually 3 malls in a city with such a creative advert.

Advertising Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi Jakarta, Indonesia

Art Directors: Aryanto Salim, Joel Clement

Copywriters: Pancaputera, Juhi Kalia

Photographer: Heret Frasthio

7. Your Contribution Can End Child Labour (Social Ad)

Advertising Agency: JWT, Mumbai, India

Creative Directors: Tista Sen, Shammsunder Gooud

Art Director / Copywriter: Shammsunder Gooud

Photographer: Avadhut Hembade

8. For frequent use (3M Earplugs 1271, Calendar)

The goal of this cool calendar was to be a long-time reminder for the product as well as raising interest of major customers. There are 2 earplugs: one that has to be put in an ear for a particular month, and another one for a particular day.

9. We Protect Your Cattle From Almost Everything. The Strongest Barbed Wire There Is (Ideal Alambrec, Bekaert)

P.S.: the cow in the ad somehow has only 3 legs.

Advertising Agency: terán E morillo ­ Ecuador

10. Nothing Gets to You Like a Letter (Deutsche Post)

A cool way to remind about the good old letter.

Advertising Agency: Jung von Matt Spree GmbH,

Berlin, Germany

Creative Directors: Mathias Stiller, Wolfgang Copywriter: Torben Otten

11. Joints: Does It Matter How You Achieve Your Spiritual High? (The United Church of Canada)

Minimalistic yet quite shocking ad. Join the discussion. wondercafe.ca

Advertising Agency: Smith Roberts Creative Communications

Creative Directors: Malcolm Roberts, Brian Smith

Copywriters: Brian Smith, Matt Hubbard

12. Germany’s Biggest Kebab (doydoy)

It’s actually an example of a bad ambient ad, because you might think that doydoy kebabs taste like cement after seeing this cement mixer truck. Not tasty at all.

Advertising Agency: SAATCHI & SAATCHI X , Frankfurt, Germany

Creative Director: Mark Karatas

Art Directors: Patrick Ackmann, Alexander Fechner,

13. Don’t Miss Your Target (13th Channel: the Crime Channel)

Again a very creative ad for 13th Channel.

Advertising Agency: BETC EURO RSCG, France

Creative Director: Stéphane Xiberras

Photography: Philippe Miran

14. Victoria Bug Zoo

This cool ad is made from a plastic sheet with hundreds of small magnifying lenses which allow passersby to see through a bug’s eyes.

Advertising Agency: Rethink, Vancouver, Canada

Creative Directors: Ian Grais, Chris Staples

Art Director: Jeff Harrison

15. Polo Match: An endless List of Equipment

Advertising Agency: Agence V, Paris, France

Creative Director: Christian Vince

Art Director: Guillaume Meriaux

Copywriter: Adrien Plouard

16. Stranger Radio Station

Advertising Agency: Sakideamsheni, Tbilisi, Georgia

Art Director: Giorgi Popiashvili

Photographer: Mamuka Kikalishvili

17. How Long Can You Stay On? (The Economist)

Advertising Agency: BBDO New York, USA

18. Bad Food, Bad Dog (Nutri Balance)

Advertising Agency: Prolam Y&R Santiago, Santiago, Chile

19.Thumbs Up (Disneyland Resort Paris)

Because Mickey had only 4 fingers. Had to look twice at this strange ad to figure out what was wrong.

Advertising Agency: BETC Euro RSCG, Paris, France

20. Find More Easily (Google)

A lot of people complain about the message bellow this advert: “Find more easily”. Nevertheless, I like the minimalistic style with a clear message.

Art Director: Victor Holanda

Copywriter: Zeca de Oliveira

21. Extreme Hot n spicy (Mama Itos Wasabi Boules)

Advertising Agency: Grey Worldwide, Frankfurt, Germany

Creative Director: Tim Jacobs

Art Director / Copywriter: Tommie Pinnow

Post production: Das Studio Torsten Hegner

22. I Send You Something Very Personal – My Finger (www.xoseteiga.com)

The message in the box: “I send you something very personal. My finger. The one that thinks, the one that creates, the one that attracts, the one chooses, the one that differentiates, the one that begins, the one that causes. If you want to know the rest: http://www.xoseteiga.com”

Advertising Agency: Xose Teiga Studio

23. Eye Boner (the Orange Apple)

The idea behind this interesting ad was, that The Orange Apple retouching is exciting to the eye.

Advertising Agency: DDB Canada, Vancouver, Canada

24. Unlimited Incoming Calls (Archdiocese of Montreal)

Some reply to this: yes, but there are no answers.

Advertising Agency: Bos, Montreal, Canada

Illustrator: Pifko

25. You Can’t Afford to be Slow in an Emergency – Act Now for the Planet (WWF)

It is funny how social ads are always more shocking than any other form of advertising (ok, maybe not this particular one, but still)

Agency: Ogilvy&Mather, Paris, France

26. Frisbee (Iams Dog Foods)

This ambient idea is to drive brand awareness and bring to life the benefit of lams dog foods.

Advertising Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney, Australia

Creative Director: Steve Back

Art Director: Vince Lagana

27. Don’t Let Wood Get Old (Xyladecor)

Advertising Agency: CBGrey Paris, France

28. Super Absorbent Kitchen Towels (Dinu)

Advertising Agency: Euro RSCG South Africa

29. Become the King of Bluff. Live Poker Magazine

Advertising Agency: DDB, Paris, France

30. When You Use a Mobile While you Drive, Your Head is Somewhere Else (Fundación Seguros Caracas)

Advertising Agency: La Cocina Publicidad, Caracas, Venezuela

31. You can lose more than your patience(www.goodparent.pl)

Advertising Agency: DDB, Poland

32. New Deep Breathtaking Fragrance Detergent (Attack)

Advertising Agency: Dentsu, Thailand

33th ad is at HookedOnAds.com

While he makes a lot of different artworks from paper (you can find them here), my attention was caught by his weird toilet paper roll sculptures.

Who could have thought that those toilet paper rolls that we use to throw away into a garbage bin, could be turned into fascinating face sculptures?

Oh, and the best thing is that you can make them while sitting comfortably on your toilet!

Enjoy!

(Image credits: http://www.juniorleplieur.com/ via villageofjoy.com)

According to Wikipedia: “A motivational poster (or inspirational poster) is a type of poster commonly designed for use in schools and offices.

The intent of motivational posters is to make people achieve more, or to think differently about the things that they may be learning or doing.”

Yep, lets hang these motivational posters that you are about to see in schools!

Well, enjoy scrolling down the list.

You might want to check Part I here: 25 Motivational Posters (Part I).

Wikipedia: “David Černý (born December 15, 1967 in Prague) is a Czech sculptor whose works can be seen in many locations in Prague. His works tend to be controversial. He gained notoriety in 1991 by painting a Soviet tank pink that served as a war memorial in central Prague. As the Monument to Soviet tank crews was still a national cultural monument at that time, his act of civil disobedience was considered “hooliganism” and he was briefly arrested.”

He also has a very bizarre website http://www.davidcerny.cz/). Well, happy viewing, and of course don’t forget to comment.

P.S.: if you decide to use our content on your blog or website, don’t forget that you are allowed to use only a very small portion of a post and don’t forget to link to the source: http://villageofjoy.com/controversial-art-by-david-cerny/

Permanent Installation at FUTURA Gallery Prague

(Image credits: http://www.davidcerny.cz via boredpanda)

(Image credits: http://www.davidcerny.cz via boredpanda)

info: you climb a ladder and stick your head in the sculpture’s arse to see a video of two Czech politicians feeding each other slop to a soundtrack of ‘We are the Champions

year: 2003

material : mixed media

height 5.2 m (17.06 ft)

address: Holečkova 49, Prague 5, Czech Republic

“Nation for Itself Forever” (Narod sobe navzdy)

(Image credits: http://www.davidcerny.cz via boredpanda)

(Image credits: http://www.davidcerny.cz via boredpanda)

year: 2002

height: 10 meters high (32.81 ft) (somehow hard to believe, maybe the statue itself hangs in such height, correct me if I’m wrong)

more: to keep the statue it has been changed more or less due to fear of protests that the project is aimed at National Theater itself.

Two Proposals to Outdoor Metro Tunnel

First proposal

(Image credits: http://www.davidcerny.cz via boredpanda)

Second proposal

(Image credits: http://www.davidcerny.cz via boredpanda)

station: Butovická

info: in this moment the development of the project is very uncertain

Two Peeing Guys (Sculpture)

(Image credits: Chaymation via boredpanda)

(image credits: Irwin)

info: ”The idea is disarmingly simple. Two bronze sculptures pee into their oddly-shaped enclosure.

While they are peeing, the two figures move realistically. An electric mechanism driven by a couple of microprocessors swivels the upper part of the body, while the penis goes up and down. The stream of water writes quotes from famous Prague residents.

Visitor can interrupt them by sending SMS message from mobile phone to a number, displayed next to the sculptures. The living statue then ‘writes’ the text of the message, before carrying on as before.” – Chaymation

year: 2004

height: 210cm (6.89ft)

address: Prague, Czech Republic

Embryo (Installation)

(Image credits: pavel-helge.dk, his website: pavel-helge.dk via boredpanda)

year: 1996

materiál : metal, foam, LED

height: 120 cm (3.94ft)

address: Czech Republic, Prague 1, Namesti U Sv. Anny, close to the Charles bridge in Stare Mesto

Car with Legs (Sculpture)

(image credits: leonbarnard via boredpanda)

Svaty Vaclav (Sculpture)

(Image credits: jp1958 via boredpanda)

Lucerna Palace’s central atrium is dominated by Czech sculptor David Černý’s dead horse ridden by St. Wenceslas. It is supposed to be an ironic twist on the St. Wenceslas statute in the square outside.

address: Wenceslas Square, Prague, Czech Republic

“Hanging out”

(Image credits: Curious Expeditions via boredpanda)

(Image credits ahisgett via boredpanda)

info: this sculpture, more often referred to as the Hanging man was first exhibited at the exhibition “Respekt 97” at the Villa Richter in the Prague’s Lesser Town. Later installed at the Czech Cultural Center in Berlin; Moderna Muset in Stockholm; National Theatre in London; and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in London.

year: 1996.

dimensions: 233 x 60 x 45 cm (7.64 x 1.96 x 1.48 ft)

Zhizhkov TV Tower with Crawling Babies

(Image credits: laura padgett via boredpanda)

(Image credits: CREAMASTER via boredpanda)

Žižkov television tower is the highest tower in the Czech Republic, it was completed in 1992 and hosts an observation point, a restaurant and a TV transmitter.