Russian Artist Defies 'Foreign Agents' Law with Art
7.24.25
Apakhonchich, a Russian artist, is challenging Russia's "foreign agents" law by submitting creative reports to the Justice Ministry instead of traditional bureaucratic documents. Her artwork, which includes anti-war drawings and personal reflections, will be showcased at an upcoming exhibition in Amsterdam co-organized with The Moscow Times.
Swati Chaturvedi's Fragrance Revolution in Interior Design
7.24.25
Styling with scent is becoming an increasingly popular approach to interior design, allowing individuals to create unique and personalized spaces. Designers are now considering fragrance devices such as candles, diffusers, and plug-ins as a key element in their designs. This trend is seen as a way to add depth and character to a room, much like lighting or color palettes. For example, designer Swati Chaturvedi suggests using fragrance to style spaces, providing an alternative approach to traditional interior design elements.
Hong Kong's most popular musical, 'The Impossible Trial', will return to Hong Kong for 30 shows starting in August, following its successful run on the mainland. The show's organiser made the announcement as part of the West Kowloon Cultural District's new performing arts season, which includes over 700 performances across various art forms.
The exhibition was officiated by a distinguished group of guests from Macao's government and cultural institutions, including Ms. Bai Bing, Mr. Cheang Kai Meng, Mr. Cheng Wai Tong, Mr. Tang Wai Keong, Bruno Moinard, and Philip Cheng, who attended to show their support for the event.
Madame Tussauds Recreates Taylor Swift's Iconic Outfits
7.24.25
Madame Tussauds has surpassed its own record of creating eight different figurines of Lady Gaga in 2011 by recreating Taylor Swift's iconic outfits with meticulous detail. The team collaborated with renowned designers such as Roberto Cavalli, Vivienne Westwood, and Versace to accurately imitate the dresses. As a cultural powerhouse, Taylor Swift's influence extends beyond music to fashion, film, activism, and even the economy, according to Laura Sheard, Global Brand Director at Madame Tussauds.
Madame Tussauds has released 13 wax figures of Taylor Swift, each celebrating a different era of her music career. The figures are on display in various locations including Hollywood, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, Nashville, Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Hong Kong, London, Sydney, and Blackpool, as well as Shanghai for the 13th figure. The wax figures feature replicas of Swift's iconic outfits from her Eras Tour, including a purple dress worn by Taylor in her Speak Now era and a black sequined catsuit from her Reputation era. Madame Tussauds Global Brand Director Laura Sheard says the tour's success made it the perfect opportunity to immortalize it with 13 figures across four continents.
Indonesia Showcases Rich Cultural Heritage to Tourists
7.24.25
Indonesia's Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana emphasized the importance of showcasing the country's rich cultural heritage to attract tourists who can form emotional connections with Indonesia, highlighting the need for strong collaboration between stakeholders to package its traditions and diversity authentically. The government aims to leverage culture as a major tourism attraction through events like "Events by Indonesia" and foster economic growth by harnessing the nation's unique cultural identity.
The Korea Heritage Service has repatriated a centuries-old wooden structure, Gwanwoldang, from Japan to Korea. The wooden structure was originally located behind the Great Buddha of Kamakura at Kotoku-in in Japan and was gifted by Korean entrepreneur Kisei Sugino to the temple between 1934 and 1936. Recently, fragments of the structure were unveiled, including piles of individually wrapped roof tiles, carved wooden columns, and intricate ridge decorations. The Korea Heritage Service is planning to restore and reconstruct Gwanwoldang with the help of 19 foreign honorary reporters and promoters.
Longlist Announced for Directory of Illustration Competition
7.24.25
The Directory of Illustration has announced its Longlist for this year's competition, featuring almost 30 artists across various categories. The Site Specific and Science & Technology categories have been highlighted, with Sally Wern Comport, Yann Legendre, and Kürsat Ünsal making the cut in Site Specific, while Sam Falconer and Daria Lada were selected in Science & Technology.