The governor of Savannakhet Province has designated three cultural treasures in the province as national heritage sites: The Library of Buddhist Manuscripts, a repository of ancient texts; Taleo Temple, a historic temple complex; and Khonesavanh Singing, a traditional form of music.
https://laotiantimes.com/2025/04/02/three-cultural-treasures-of-savannakhet-earn-national-heritage-status/Seph Rodney is a prominent arts journalist and critic with a distinguished career, having contributed to top publications such as the New York Times, CNN, NBC, Artforum, and the Guardian. He has received notable awards for his work, including the Rabkin Arts Journalism Prize in 2020 and the Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant in 2022. Additionally, Rodney is a curator of contemporary art exhibitions, most recently co-curating "Get in the Game" at SFMOMA in 2024.
https://hyperallergic.com/author/seph-rodney-for-ford-foundation/Solbi is set to participate in a cyberbullying prevention exhibition at the National Assembly, which she describes as a tribute to her late father and an exploration of how art can evoke emotions like love and yearning. The exhibition, titled "Flowers from Heaven," features Solbi's humming and paintings alongside installation artist Shin Ye-jin's tree objects, with the goal of sparking conversations about relationships.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-02/culture/artsDesign/Singer-and-artist-Solbi-to-hold-first-exhibition-in-2-years-Flowers-from-Heaven/2275896US Representative Rep. Lowe's proposed legislation in Texas could lead to censorship of artistic works, including those featuring children, as seen in the case of photographer Sally Mann. Chloe Kempf, staff attorney at the ACLU of Texas, warns that such laws threaten the constitutionally protected right to artistic expression in the state. If passed and signed by Governor Greg Abbott, House Bill 3958 would take effect on September 1, potentially intimidating artists and curators through baseless investigations and penalties.
https://petapixel.com/2025/04/02/texas-lawmaker-seeks-ban-on-harmful-art-in-wake-of-sally-mann-controversy/A new English translation of Emile Bernard's writings on Van Gogh has been published by David Zwirner Books in both the UK and US. The book provides insight into their friendship, with Vincent van Gogh describing his friend Joseph Roulin as having a "big, bearded face, very Socratic". A series of exhibitions featuring Van Gogh's work is set to take place in 2025, including shows in Boston, Amsterdam, Tokyo, and London. One of the star pieces for these exhibitions is Van Gogh's portrait of Joseph Roulin, which was once owned by the Tate Gallery in London but has since been loaned to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/04/02/where-to-see-van-goghs-work-in-2025-boston-london-and-beyondThe Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands, displayed an exhibition featuring over 60 interpretations of Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" created by artists from around the world, including Rob de Heer who combined the painting with a Wayang puppet face. Other submissions included works by Nanan Kang using an ear of corn for the girl's face and Simon Chong, a Welsh animator, who recreated the girl in the style of "Bob's Burgers". The exhibition was held while the original painting was on loan to another museum 64 kilometers away, and a second round of submissions is now on display at the Fabrique des Lumières in Amsterdam.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/thousands-of-artists-recreate-girl-with-a-pearl-earring-207580A recent auction at Christie's in New York saw a painting by Indian artist Amrita Sher-Gil, considered India's most famous female painter, fail to sell for $2.8m despite its expected value. In contrast, another Indian artist, Gaitonde, broke an Indian art auction record, but his sale was part of an uneven South Asian sales season. The market's focus on assigning singular attribution to Old Masters may be lucrative, but it can also be misleading as Renaissance works were often created by multiple hands.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/04/01/long-undervalued-bangladeshi-artists-begin-to-rise-at-auctionAnalog photography has played a significant role in preserving cultural heritage worldwide since its invention in the 19th century. The Apollo 11 lunar landing, documented using analog cameras, is one notable example. Claudia Determann and Christian Klant have led efforts to submit arts and traditions for consideration through analog photography, with Thomas Gerwers' involvement. Their efforts have been successful, as analog photography has been officially recognized in the State Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of North Rhine-Westphalia.
https://petapixel.com/2025/03/31/germany-officially-recognizes-film-photography-as-a-cultural-heritage/The conference is doubling down on culture by highlighting artists and creatives through programming like showcases, film screenings, and performances. Anthony, the organizer, stated that nearly 80% of sponsors are expected to retain their support this year, but some prospective sponsors have expressed concerns about the name "Blackweek" due to its alignment with the current climate.
https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/blackweek-april-fools-stunt-puts-a-spotlight-on-dei-rollbacks/