French artist Ememem, known for his mosaic art that transforms potholes into vibrant ceramic creations, has been invited to Ankara by the French Institute. His "flackings" - made from recycled materials and incorporating geometric motifs - reflect his impressions of the city's spirit, including traditional motifs and Turkish expressions. Inspired by memories of his grandfather sweeping the street outside their home, Ememem aims to show that streets belong to everyone, making art a way to build relationships and challenge societal norms. His works have appeared in various cities worldwide, including Lyon, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Leipzig, Chicago, New York, and Mostar, Bosnia, where he created a piece commemorating the wars of the 1990s.
Franck Sorbier's Paris couture show was a regal, Inca-inspired spectacle that combined theater and artistry with traditional French codes. The collection featured loose, voluminous skirts and strict bodices, as well as gilded chainmail and coin-like embellishments. A model wore a gold poncho with Andean spirit and a coat embroidered with organic motifs. The show's backdrop was a vibrant, volcanic landscape that underscored Sorbier's ability to merge cultural narratives with technical virtuosity.
James Graham delivered the MacTaggart lecture last year, focusing on the entertainment industry's long-standing issue with class. This year, he is part of an Edinburgh TV Festival lineup that includes Shonda Rhimes and Lenny Henry, which takes place from August 19 to 22.
Green Revival Sparks Debate Among Home Decor Experts
7.9.25
The color green is experiencing a resurgence in popularity for home decor, evoking nostalgic feelings reminiscent of grandparents' homes. However, experts caution that bold colors can be polarizing and may not appeal to everyone's taste. Staging Studio CEO Andress Eichstadt notes that small touches of the color can work well, while Sukkha Interior Design's Sarah Bronstein suggests it should be done properly to avoid overwhelming spaces. Realtors like Lisa K. Lippman and Chris Fajkos warn that non-neutral colors can decrease a home's value due to the time and expense required for repainting or replacing fixtures.
The Heartland Learning Festival is set to take place in July, bringing over 100 free and family-friendly activities to the region. The event will feature a range of interactive exhibits, workshops, and performances designed for all ages. Local organizations such as the Children's Museum of the Heartlands and the Regional Arts Centre are expected to participate, offering hands-on experiences like pottery-making and art classes. The festival aims to promote lifelong learning and community engagement among families in the area.
Infected Mushroom Cancels Over Festival's Anti-Apartheid Policy
7.9.25
The Earth Frequency Festival (EFF) has faced controversy over its "ethical artist policy", written by Subhi Awad, head of the Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine Group. The policy, aimed at rejecting racism, apartheid, or genocide, was met with opposition from Israeli duo Infected Mushroom, who cancelled their planned performance after being asked to sign it. The festival's decision has sparked debate, with Awad calling for a boycott of Infected Mushroom on social media, citing their support for the Israeli government's actions in Gaza.
The Ivan Vazov House-Museum in Sofia is celebrating the 175th anniversary of the poet's birth with a renewed permanent exhibition, made possible by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The Imperial War Museums (IWM) has partnered with Capgemini and Google Cloud to create a groundbreaking project that makes 20th-century oral histories more accessible through advanced generative AI technology. The system, which uses Google's Gemini models for transcription and analysis, can transcribe, translate, and enable interactive exploration of the archives in a matter of weeks, rather than years. The technology boasts high accuracy rates, including 99% word accuracy and 94% speaker diarisation, and allows users to search across interviews using free text, listen to recordings with synchronised transcripts, and access AI-generated written summaries. The project aims to make the IWM's vast oral history collection more accessible to researchers, academics, and the public, while also supporting museum curators in interpreting powerful stories of conflict.
Kanye West, an American musician, has been accused of adhering to antisemitic symbols and ideology, with some calling him one of the world's most famous antisemites. His recent song "Heil Hitler" sparked outrage, featuring a sample from Adolf Hitler's 1935 speech, which was banned in Germany due to hate speech laws. The song was removed from mainstream streaming platforms except for Elon Musk's X. Australian home affairs minister Tony Burke has announced that West's visa will be revoked due to his offensive views, following a performance scheduled for Bratislava, where over 70,000 Slovak Jews were killed during the Second World War.