US President Trump has issued an executive order targeting cultural institutions, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Park Service. The order claims that sculpture promotes scientific racism and suggests race is a biological reality, contradicting widely accepted views on social constructivism. It also prohibits recognizing men as women and directs Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to reinstall monuments and memorials. This move comes after Trump's previous directive to terminate DEI programs, leading institutions like the National Gallery of Art and Smithsonian Institution to shut down their diversity offices.
https://hyperallergic.com/999509/trump-whitewashes-history-in-new-smithsonian-executive-order/Virginia Trioli is conducting an interview series called "Creative Types" on ABC, delving into the minds of influential Australians such as director George Miller and singer Kate Ceberano. Through her conversations, she aims to understand the creative processes behind their work, showcasing her skill in her art form.
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/they-re-sick-of-doing-the-interview-how-virginia-trioli-gets-famous-faces-to-open-up-20250326-p5lmnl.htmlAli Fazal is backing more women-led stories in films after the success of "Girls Will Be Girls". Pankaj Tripathi's daughter Aashi Tripathi made her acting debut with a music video, while Ali Fazal joins Raj & DK's fantasy series 'Rakht Brahmand' and trains for 7 hours daily. Richa Chadha is launching the second edition of Undercurrent Lab 2025 to train 50 women in film production. Abhishek Banerjee, Shahana Goswami, and Neeraj Kabi star in Bharat Bala's Mahasangam, a film exploring family, legacy, and music set at Mahakumbh. Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal's "Girls Will Be Girls" won the John Cassavetes Award at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/photos/entertainment/world-theatre-day-7-bollywood-stars-and-their-stage-debuts-the-first-plays-that-shaped-their-theatre-careers-a475/Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 is expected to be a significant event in the art market. Due to ongoing travel restrictions, only 75 galleries opted for satellite booths instead of physical booths, but remote sales helped mitigate losses. The fair's focus on Asian art has been heightened, with local collectors coming out in force despite Mainland Chinese exhibitors being sparse due to visa restrictions and political tensions.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/03/27/from-bourgeois-to-borremans-energy-returns-to-a-changed-art-basel-hong-kongArt Basel Hong Kong 2025 has highlighted the area's growth into an art hub with the opening of non-profit institutions and independent art spaces like Current Plans. This is further evidence of the district's increasing popularity, as seen in the recent relocation of art galleries from pricey Central to more affordable locations such as Kowloon and South Island, where they are now considering setting up shop.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/03/27/the-latest-hong-kong-art-hot-spot-wong-chuk-hang-on-the-southsideThe documentary highlights the experiences of women in the Chicano art collective ASCO, particularly Gamboa and Valdez, who were part of a group that emerged during the height of the Chicano civil rights movement in 1960s and 1970s Los Angeles. The group's work aimed to process systemic injustice and challenge societal constraints, with artists like Gamboa Jr. seeking to alter mainstream perceptions of Chicanos. Valdez, as one of the few women in the founding group, found a platform for her art to address racism and sexism through performance pieces, including "Instant Mural," which symbolized feeling captive. ASCO's most notable work, "Spray Paint LACMA," saw the artists defying expectations by spray-painting their names on the side of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art after being told they didn't belong in the art world due to stereotypes about Chicanos and Latinx art not existing.
https://apnews.com/article/asco-documentary-chicano-history-3805178541678ef167aeb77c57af81aeThe mural depicts key events of the Liberation War in Bangladesh, including the Language Movement and Bangabandhu's March 7 speech, which led to the formation of the Mukti Bahini and the "Charampatra" declaration. It also highlights battles fought by the Mukti Bahini and the contributions of Bir Sreshtho, a prominent figure in the war. The mural serves as a sequential record of Bangladesh's history, according to Captain (retd) Azizul Islam, president of Sachetan Nagorik Committee.
https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/mural-liberation-war-covered-sheets-lalmonirhat-citizens-group-protests-1103416The Design Museum in London is hosting an exhibition called "Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style" which showcases a variety of colourful swimwear from different decades, including a 1950s bikini, 1980s Speedo briefs, and a red suit worn by David Hasselhoff's character CJ Parker in Baywatch. The exhibition features items belonging to Olympians such as British diver Tom Daley and the first Olympic solo swimming gold medal won by a British woman.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2025/03/27/bikinis-baywatch-and-british-gold-swimmings-stylish-history-on-show/171058ChatGPT's new image feature has sparked a viral renaissance of iconic Japanese animation style, with fans and artists worldwide embracing the unique aesthetic. The feature, which allows users to create and share images in a distinctive anime-inspired format, has been particularly popular among younger generations. Japanese animation enthusiasts have taken to social media platforms to showcase their creations, using hashtags such as #JapaneseAnimationStyle and #AnimeArt. As a result, ChatGPT's image feature has become a cultural phenomenon, with many users expressing their admiration for the platform's innovative design elements, including its use of vibrant colors and stylized characters.
https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/what-is-studio-ghibli-chatgpt-s-new-image-sparks-a-viral-renaissance-of-iconic-japanese-animation-style-sam-altman-11743039782823.html