The 32nd International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival opened on September 14 with the opera "Turandot" by Ankara and Antalya State Opera and Ballet directorates. The festival, organized by the General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet, will feature a rich program of three operas and three ballets until October 1. The performances will take place at the Aspendos Ancient Theater in Antalya's Serik district, with foreign guest artists and ensembles alongside Turkish performers. The festival will continue on September 17 with the ballet "Zorba", staged by the Ankara State Opera and Ballet.
Vipula Monga, an art consultant, emphasizes the importance of buying art that resonates with one's personal taste and values. She advocates for championing emerging artists, balancing beauty and investment potential. Monga's philosophy is reflected in her recent exhibition, featuring a diverse range of artworks, including canvases, stitched portraits, and bold freehand drawings. By supporting emerging talent, Monga aims to make art more accessible and desirable for a wider audience.
Yuksak Xijaat, a national first-class performer from the Xinjiang Art Theater, is celebrating unity and heritage through art. He is more than a voice on stage, serving as a bridge between tradition and modernity.
Nearly 100,000 artifacts from the Antalya Archaeology Museum have been relocated to secure storage facilities ahead of demolition. The transfer operation, described as one of the most comprehensive in Türkiye, involved ancient sculptures, coins, sarcophagi, ceramics, mosaics and delicate pieces rarely displayed to the public. Specialized teams oversaw the process to protect fragile artifacts, some dating back thousands of years, from vibration and temperature changes during transport. The decision to move the collection came after an earthquake safety analysis deemed the museum's buildings structurally unsafe due to weak foundations and insufficient load-bearing capacity.
Azma Bokhari, a key figure in the government's efforts to eliminate obscenity from theatres, has announced plans to regulate unauthorized theatres and restrict their operating timings. Following strict action against those spreading obscenity, the quality of theatre performances has improved, but complaints about certain theatres continue to be received. Bokhari emphasized the government's commitment to creating a safe environment where families can attend performances without hesitation, stating that cheap jokes targeting women will not be tolerated on stage. She also urged theatres to focus on socially relevant and positive subjects, encouraging the participation of educated youth to help reshape theatre culture into a source of healthy entertainment for the public.
Boubker Benjelloun, founder of Benjelloun & Partners, is behind Dubai's record-breaking skylines. His designs blend sculptural form with everyday function, as seen in the COMO Residences on Palm Jumeirah and the Solara Tower in Downtown, which recently earned an Innovation in Architecture Award. Benjelloun's style is described as "sculptural" and "artistic", reflecting his bold yet purposeful approach to luxury living.
Busan plans to open a Centre Pompidou branch in 2032, sparking mixed reactions. The project, costing over 400 billion won, has raised concerns about the potential destruction of Igidae's ecosystem. Professor Nam Song-woo, cohead of the Committee Against Igidae Overdevelopment and the Pompidou Project, warns that the art park could harm the ecosystem. Additionally, if the Busan branch overlaps with the Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul opening next year, its deficit is expected to grow even larger.
The $70m Alexander Calder Gardens in Philadelphia is set to open, featuring indoor and outdoor spaces with rotating exhibitions of the artist's work. The 70m centre will be housed in a Herzog & de Meuron-designed building on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The institution has also appointed a senior director of programmes, further solidifying its commitment to showcasing Calder's work.
Carre Otis, a model, actress, and photographer, revisits the 1990s through her lens in a new fashion book. Otis, who shot for major fashion magazines during the decade, said she always saw models as "co-conspirators" and captured a lifelong parade of glamour and fun. Her book features iconic images, including Charlotte Rampling smoking a cigarette in a Paris boutique and Otis's college roommate, who was already living in Paris. The photographer, Jaime Frankfurt, is married to Otis and shares a home with her in East Hampton, New York.