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When doors opened on Ireland's newest local venue back in 2017, nothing could prepare them for what would happen. The immediate success of the idea saw music, comedy, film, and club nights taking hold and establishing a well-loved community. Then the Covid pandemic came along and the doors were closed. This isn't the middle-ages, though, and with modern technology the Sound House was able to maintain its steady flow of culture. By hiring a team of digital experts, including Colm Slattery from Fluttertone, they have been able to shift their focus onto live streaming.
So far, so good! The live streaming events have been just as popular as the in house events that came before them. This was definitely a green light to go ahead and grow the concept. With the help of their new team, a brand new agenda has been drawn up. Now The Sound House are able to produce high quality live streams up to five times per week. The idea has shown itself to be scalable and once underway, it is hoped that the Sound House can join the big names that people naturally choose for live streams. We don't know how much longer these lockdowns will go on for, but as society adapts to new forms of culture and entertainment, the live stream is being taken up as a popular form of media. A half-way between watching the video and actually being there, watching at the time of performance is always something extra special. In the future, when people are given back their freedoms, it can be certain that live streams will remain an integral part of how people enjoy their music. We can't all get to the show, and by unleashing the power of digital on the live music scene, we are able to invite the globe to each event. Music fans around the world are feeling the emptiness of the live-scene. By having quality live acts available online in this way, it surely is something to gather around and see. Finding that live magic of expertly performed music is within our reach once more. The Sound House is set to begin their new wave of supreme live streams on April 3rd. The headline is Dublin's fast-rising InBetween Honey. Why not book your place today?
A blend of traditional and contemporary authentic Inuit art is set to be exhibited at a new display. INUA is the first exhibit at the Inuit Art Centre in Winnipeg. Most people have ideas about what Inuit art looks like, with the traditional carvings and sculptures lasting into modern day for us to admire. The truth is that Inuit art covers many more forms, especially now in that modern society has opened up many more avenues for exploration. Because it's made by Inuit people and from the foundation of their rich and traditional culture, the objects and images remain true to the definition.
The INUA display is planned to open on the 27th of March and will exhibit thousands of works belonging to the Inuit culture. Inuit Nunangat Ungammuaktut Atautikkut, or "Inuit Moving Forward Together", is the flagship art outreach project for this part of the world. The ancestral native residents of Canada, Greenland, and Alaska deserve to have their culture put on a platform just like the artists of western society. This isn't about personality or celebrity but culture, richness, and diversity. It's important to make the contrasts of folk art accessible for all so that their meanings and symbols can be drawn upon and put to work in explaining modern day situations that matter to everybody. On display are a range of items that stretch from antique wood carvings to 21st century projects such as a seal-skin spacesuit. A traditional food-source for Inuit people, every part of the animal is utilised for community use. By adapting this traditional textile for a futuristic design, the stamp of modernity and survival can be made by this garment. A group of Inuit tailors were taken to the Canadian Space Agency to take a look at the real thing and this impression was the basis for what they ultimately created. The whole exhibition takes a range of concepts and puts them to work within works of art. The culture of the Inuit people is explored and retold in a plethora of design media. With so many pieces available to witness and read about, there's no excuse to be blasé about this rich collection of stories. So many treasures and layers to society can be seen and applied to our view on the world by visiting places such as these. By widening our perspective on our society and making room for stories that explain life in new ways it can only help to build more stable and higher reaching communities. Read more and watch videos on the CBC website
An extremely clever and inventive robot has been designed to draw what it sees. Set with a high quality camera and a mechanical arm, Ai-Da is capable of replicating what the camera sees on paper by using the arm. A series of self-portraits are set to be displayed between May and June at the London Design Museum. Named after Ada Lovelace, a famous 19th century female mathematician, Ai-Da is given a feminine look and identity. This suitable name credits the engineering and programming that took place in order to produce such a device.
But is it art? Although the images created look artistic and do not exactly mimic the viewport, which is what one would expect if you asked a scanner to print a photo, the device itself has no emotional connection to the work it produces. By following a set of pre-written instructions, Ai-Da can produce a variety of image styles. The emotional connection between the observer of the work and the work itself is present, as a viewer I can feel and emote with the images but I know that there was no artistic agenda behind the production. At least, not from Ai-Da. What about her designers, though? Did they have an artistic agenda? When admiring the work of robots we naturally congratulate their creators. It is surely the programming and engineering that has given rise to this collection of portraits. The device has no desire to produce, it simply follows an electronic signal. Some scientists believe that we humans are also simply following electronic signals, and our complicated brains create an experience which gives the illusion of self-governance. Anyone who has taken the high-road because of their personal feelings can put this theory to rest. It doesn't stand up in court, however if a robot does something of its own volition, we can realistically argue that it is the creator who is ultimately responsible. Is there ever going to be a day when we can philosophically argue for the self-governance of artificial minds? Possibly, and if anything, asking robots to create art is one step in this direction. What do you think? Let us know in the comments. An impressionism feel drifts through the pigments of Zandile Tshabalala's self-portraits, as she depicts herself in still-life poses among a variety of everyday scenarios. Her definitive and primary ideas and style have gathered quite a following on Facebook and Instagram.
Now, her very first solo exhibition in the physical world is about to take place. Titled “Enter Paradise” the debut showcase of painting work is to be exhibited in Ghana at the ADA/contemporary Art Gallery, Dacca, from February 25th until 26th March. Using her portraiture as an iconic representation of a young black woman from South Africa, the acrylic works entice similar faces and new ones alike to position themselves in the pictures. From her early days where she would colour in paper dolls at school, Zandile has always has a flare for art and design. Her young aspirations of working in fashion has materialised slightly differently this time around, however a visual clarity in art can be focussed into all kinds of positive directions. When Zandile Tshabalala decided to take her art studies into a specialism later in life, her family were unsure. They felt that the artistic streak was a form of rebellion. Needless to say, creativity is about doing the new and different and in this way a rebellious outlook for the right reasons can be a valuable asset. It's been a long journey, however in the past couple of years, Zandile Tshabalala's works have been encouraged by international interest online and in the studio. Thanks to the platform of social media and Zandile's own fighting spirit, her skills are being noticed in all the right places. Via Okay Africa Follow the artist on Facebook and Instagram. Want to use social media to promote your art? Take this course.
The world-famous and fabled castle in the city of Nottingham has just been rejuvenated. The multi-million pound project was long overdue and has enabled the site to once again stand out as an integral piece of British history. Three years of hard work meant that the 1000 year old building has been enhanced with new technology that helps visitors learn about the structure. Robin Hood himself would be proud to see public money being spent in this way.
Visitors can learn about the legend of Robin Hood as well as the more tangible elements of written history. Interactive displays allow us to dig in and find out all about the things we are interested in. Art displays featuring the castle and its folklore are positioned generously, giving yet another dimension to the castle experience. The grand opening is hoped to take place in March of this year, and hopefully the national lockdown will be over by then. Fingers crossed for that one. Visitors or no visitors, we can still walk around the landmark in this new promotional video. This is the first time that members of the public can see the new layout and admire the restored interior. We can also get a peek at the new exhibits that wait for us to explore. Via Nottingham Post When the teenage Algerian orphan Fatma Haddad was saved from a life of estrangement in the suburbs of Algiers by the French scholar Marguerite Camina Benhoura, the young and talented local showed great artistic potential. Fatma decided to change her working name to Baya Mahieddine and with her new guardian she moved to France. It was from here that Baya's talents were allowed to truly flourish. A celebration of the artist's work is now on display at the New York University Grey Gallery. Baya Mahieddine (1931-1988) is responsible for bringing a brand new iconography to the world of surreal and abstract art. Her untutored hand brought to life a multiplicity of form and style. Perhaps most noted for only depicting women, the menless universe of colour and emotion give us insight into the psyche that governs a sense of self in the world. During her stay in France, under the care of Marguerite, Baya's artworks attracted the attention of a famous art dealer. In 1947, Aimé Maeght decided to exhibit the paintings at the renowned Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme at the Galerie Maeght in the French capital. From here the work was identified by the likes of Matisse and Picasso. The playful and buoyant images took a childlike quality within adult and complex dramatics. Pablo Picasso's famous The Women of Algiers series of paintings was directly influenced by the work of Baya Mahieddine. This collection of inspirational and foundation-building work is now on display once again for yet another round of influence and inspiration. Named “Baya: Woman of Algiers”, the full display can be visited until March 31st. See The 16th Century Divine Comedy Illustrations Exhibited For The First Time | Alternative Fruit27/1/2021
It's a huge milestone for Dante Alighieri as this year marks 700 years since his death. The master poet who wrote the famous Divine Comedy has inspired writers and artists ever since. The infamous Inferno has seared its imagery in all our minds. Although Dante's work didn't receive illustrations until the 265 years later, these remarkable and enchanting images showcase a truly spell-binding commentary to the epic. Possibly the prime example of an antiquarian inspiration from the continually provocative work, the entire collection is now on display for the first time.
Federico Zuccari was a celebrated Italian Renaissance artist. His sketches and paintings are renowned for their ethereal quality. As a master of words as well as the brush, Zuccari understood how Dante Alighieri helped to fashion the national language and a consensus towards their faith. By using his expert talent to enliven the story with true to description life-like imagery, Federico Zuccari is responsible for the modern telling of the illustrated tale. His style and imaginings have been the go-to source for today's more recognised illustrators of the tale, Gustave Dore and William Blake. The 88 immaculately produced illustrations depict each of the three worlds described in the book. We are now able to witness the original documents that visually describe Inferno, Pugatorio, and Paradiso. The Uffizi Gallery is generously putting the whole collection online for everyone. The Gallery has been the home of this collection since the eighteenth century, when they were donated by the noble Medici family. Although displayed in part at rare occasions, never before has the Uffizi showcased the whole collection. These fragile works of Renaissance art are seldom moved because they become increasingly prone to damage with age. Usually kept in light-free and temperature controlled storage, it's only twice before that a portion of the whole has been given a field-trip. Never before has the whole collection been shown and never before in one place. This is a really exciting opportunity to take a look at these stunning examples of Dante's legacy. You can visit the Uffizi Gallery online now and browse the exhibition for free. It's called To Rebehold The Stars. Up Close And Irving Penn With Photographism At The New York Pace Gallery | Alternative Fruit19/1/2021
Photography by Irving Penn has enlightened and enchanted us all for many years. His diverse spectrum of work dips into the ocean of humanity at every beach he visited. Over fifty years as a headline image creator for Vogue helped Irving Penn to become a source of simulacra and casual spin-off all over the world. Being able to engage audiences with fascinating and unusual images that often are within anyone's reach, shows how the mind of a creative can find opportunities for novel design in almost any situation.
As of the 8th of January, the Pace Gallery in New York is exhibiting a range of curated images from The Penn Collection to be displayed alongside various archive material and preliminary sketches. Opening the world of Irving Penn out for intrigue and spectatorship can help others to truly feel the level of masterful quality that being a world-leading artist entails. Known for being completely applied to his work, his subjects were studied and philosophised as the ideas came into being. Whether the photograph was to be a place, a man, a woman, a child, or an object, the motivation and message was formulated with expert care. Irving Penn's technical and involved method of working is how he defined the term photographism. In a way he was suggesting that the art of taking photographs extends into many other areas of study which all collaborate and compliment each other when designing the shot. What we communicate with our art depends on how other people see the world, they will witness our ideas through the lens of their own. By being so enveloped in the art-form, it's possible to make use of the maps of meaning laid out by consensus and culture. Photographism runs from January 8th to February 13th at Pace Gallery, New York. Via Forbes Irving Penn Foundation Making huge waves on Instagram and beyond, Pssyppl produces moving and evocative images. Utilising the hand-gesture made famous by the Scouts and more recently the Hunger Games, being prepared and hungry for change work hand in hand. A true artistic remark about the modern day situation in Thailand, the younger generation have a voice that echoes what they see overseas. Who are we to tell the Thais how to run their country? The same can't be said for their own citizens though. They have every right to define their nation's future.
Something the art demonstrates is a feeling of anger. This emotion has a reputation for blurring the lines of right and wrong. Often, it is a result of the lines being blurred in our own world by someone else. It's important to remember that once we cross a line we no-longer have the power to make changes. We have to be in the right for people to see that we are right. These lines are sometimes artificially too close and in these cases the change required is to move them back to where they need to be. In Thailand there is a law named Section 112. This ruling criminalises those who criticise the monarchy. It's not a new rule, in fact most nations have used similar laws in the past. It's becoming much rarer to see in the 21st Century however and the younger Thai generation know this and want to modernise. You can follow Pssyppl on Instagram Read an interview with Pssyppl on Global Voices.
Nature Can Become Art. This is the catchphrase that lends inspiration to Japan's latest magical garden. Where many have used the progressions, colours, textures, formations, and flow of nature to create ingenious and spectacular landscapes, it's not so often we see digital technology merge with the natural world in this way.
Digital tech wizardry is what teamLab are best known for. This time, their skills seem to once again surpass themselves. Now a fantasy scene can be made more real than ever before thanks to projectors and courageous design principles. A combination of simple object installations and a multitude of projectors have created a mysterious and enchanting experience. The world-famous Kairakuen Garden, which is known for its gorgeous and figurehead specimens of plum blossom trees has been turned into a medium for fantastical art. With a unique splash of colour and definitive lighting effects, all three thousand plum blossom trees are bathed in ethereal glory. Static shapes and simple forms are placed in neat locations which also radiate with specially chosen colours. Visitors are welcome to stroll the perfectly designed promenades which now glow with artistic brightness. Splendid mixtures of colour and brightness bring out an adventurous aspect in which exploration uncovers ever deeper grains to the chromatic cloak which seems to spring to life as the early darkness hits. |
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