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Mohammed Ghani Hikmat’s 87th birthday



Today's Doodle celebrates famed Iraqi sculptor Mohammed Ghani Hikmat. Hikmat created well-regarded works such as Scheherazade and Shahrayar, and the Fountain of Kahramana. Many of his sculptures were inspired by the stories in 1,001 Nights — widely know as the 'Tales of Arabian Nights'. An activist as well as an artist, Hikmat was responsible for reclaiming art taken from the National Museum of Iraq during the political turbulence in the early 2000s. His work is displayed in city centers and busy squares as an ode to his deep connection to Iraqi culture.


Mohammed Ghani Hikmat's final work, "Iraq Rises Again," was finished nearly four years ago. It celebrates the ancestry of Iraq and the collaboration of its multiple ethnic groups in building the country's future. Hikmat is remembered today for his devotion to his people and his beautiful depictions of Iraqi life.

R.A. Kartini's 137th Birthday



Born to a family of Javanese aristocrats in 1879, R.A. Kartini came into the world straddling two cultures. She had a deep affinity for her family and traditional Javanese customs, but was profoundly influenced by her brushes with progressive Dutch ideas and Western literature. Like all girls of noble birth in Java at the time, Kartini was removed from school at the age of twelve, but continued to devour books and cultivate her views on the position of women in society and the Javanese people under Dutch rule.

Kartini dreamed of opening a school for Javanese girls, and had nearly seen her plans come to life when she died giving birth at the age of twenty five. Despite her untimely passing, Kartini’s legacy would persist. She loved to write letters, and had made several important acquaintances through the mail. One of them, a Dutch politician named J.H. Abendanon, took an interest in Kartini and used her story to shine a light on Dutch policies in Java. He published a collection of her letters posthumously in Holland, where they circulated widely and helped direct society’s attention to the injustices of the colonial system in Southeast Asia. To this day, several schools bear her name.

Today’s homepage by Helene Leroux marks what would have been Kartini’s 137th birthday.

Earth Day 2016


Tundra and Polar Bear

Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22, may be the one day that transcends culture, language, and tradition. Doodler Sophie Diao shares some of her thoughts on the day and the paintings she created:

The vastness of Earth’s diversity makes it an intimidating topic, but in the end I chose to highlight Earth’s five major biomes: the tundra, forest, grasslands, desert, and coral reefs. In each illustration, you’ll find one animal who’s been singled out for their 15 minutes of fame. Each time you visit Google.com, you’ll randomly receive one of the five doodles. Keep refreshing to admire a different side of Earth’s immense beauty.


Forest and Red Fox

Scientists estimate the Earth’s age at over 4.5 billion years, but its Day has only existed for 46. Earth Day inspires all of us to appreciate our big blue and green orb with events big and small, ranging from family hiking trips to citywide recycling initiatives.

Originally conceived by peace activist John McConnell in 1969, Earth Day as we know it was established by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson a year later. Concerned about humanity’s impact on the natural world, Nelson sought to raise public awareness of environmental issues by devoting a day to environmental events and education. Since its inception, Earth Day has spread to nearly 200 countries, with millions of celebrants all around the world.


Grasslands and Elephant


Desert and Tortoise

It’s a day to reflect. I am personally in awe of nature’s persistence and creativity. Our planet – with its alternate scorching heat and bitter cold, its jagged peaks and deep trenches – may not always be kind to its inhabitants. Yet somehow the flora and fauna of Earth manage to thrive. On a day like this, we remember and celebrate our home in this great and stunning ecosystem.

We live on a beautiful planet, and it’s the only one we’ve got. Happy Earth Day!


Aquatic/Ocean, Coral Reef and Octopus

Celebrating William Shakespeare



Genius. There are many examples throughout human history, but today we celebrate one particularly brilliant one: William Shakespeare — writer, playwright, and one of the most eloquent voices of all time. Today, we celebrate his life and work.

A creative tour de force, Shakespeare officially wrote 38 plays in his 52 years, performing most of them at The Globe Theatre in London. Over the past four centuries, Shakespeare's poems, plays and other works have taken on a life of their own on stage, screen, and page. You can explore some of his works and those he has has inspired in the Shakespeare gallery of the Google Cultural Institute.

Here's to many more lifetimes of the Bard's great verse.

Celebrating William Shakespeare



Genius. There are many examples throughout human history, but today we celebrate one particularly brilliant one: William Shakespeare — writer, playwright, and one of the most eloquent voices of all time. Today, we celebrate his life and work.

A creative tour de force, Shakespeare officially wrote 38 plays in his 52 years, performing most of them at The Globe Theatre in London. Over the past four centuries, Shakespeare's poems, plays and other works have taken on a life of their own on stage, screen, and page. You can explore some of his works and those he has has inspired in the Shakespeare gallery of the Google Cultural Institute.

Here's to many more lifetimes of the Bard's great verse.

Celebrating William Shakespeare and St. George's Day 2016



Today's Doodle celebrates St. George, the patron saint of England and famous for slaying a dragon. This year he shares the stage with one of the most prolific voices of our time: William Shakespeare.

A creative tour de force, Shakespeare officially wrote 38 plays in his 52 years, some of which you can spot in today's Doodle.

Over the past four centuries, Shakespeare's poems, plays and other works have taken on a life of their own on the page, stage and screen. You can explore some of his works and those he has has inspired in the Shakespeare gallery of Google’s Cultural Institute.

Very informative, but where's the Google? I think I need new glasses if I missed it.

Doodle 4 Google 2016 — Russia Winner



Doodle 4 Google is a worldwide contest, and every year thousands of children create wonderful and unique works of art.

This year's theme for Russia, "The future of cross-country transportation" inspired contestants, ages 6–17, to imagine new ways of travel and to tell the story of their journey in their own Google Doodle. The talented young artists used paint, clay, and 3D models to bring their ideas to life.

This year's winner, 7-year-old Anna Fagina, sculpted a vehicle design in colorful clay that can fly through the air, drive on the ground and navigate any river or lake. You can read her description on the Russian Doodle 4 Google site. Congratulations, Anna!

Pencho Slaveykov’s 150th birthday