Alvin Ong's paintings and Sayang at Anat Ebgi share a common thread of capturing the elusive nature of human connection in social settings. The artworks evoke a sense of ambiguity, where characters' perspectives seem to bend but never break, leaving the viewer to ponder their own behavior and emotional needs in crowded spaces. This evasive quality is reminiscent of the current world's complexities, inviting viewers to reflect on their own attention-seeking tendencies and the desire for anonymity in social interactions.
https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/painting/preview-the-thick-hazy-cinema-of-alvin-ong-s-sayang/A prestigious jury composed of leaders from every continent has been assembled for the Art Basel Awards, including Hoor Al-Qasimi, Elena Filipovic, Jessica Morgan, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Adriano Pedrosa, Suhanya Raffel, Franklin Sirmans, and Philip Tinari. The jury pays tribute to late Koyo Kouoh, former Executive Director of Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, who was also the curator of the 61st International Art Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2025/05/22/jameel-arts-centre-dubai-wins-medal-at-first-art-basel-awardsA recent exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, titled "Little Beasts: Art, Wonder and the Natural World," features a collection of art from the 16th to 17th centuries that showcases the fascination with insects during this period. The show includes works by Flemish artists such as those who depicted bees, like the artist who caught a bee in his hand, despite being stung multiple times.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/05/22/national-gallery-art-washington-dc-little-beasts-flemish-naturalists-insects-animalsThe Wereldmuseum (World Museum) in Leiden has begun restoring 113 ancient sculptures, following growing demands for repatriation from countries that were colonized by Western powers. The museum's decision comes as pressure mounts on institutions such as the British Museum and the Louvre to return cultural artifacts looted during colonialism.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/dutch-museum-removes-priceless-benin-bronzes-209453Veteran singer Sumi Jo has crowned Korean tenor Lee Ki-up as the winner of her first edition of the Sumi Jo International Singing Competition. Established in 1957, the honor recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to art and literature or promoted French culture worldwide. This recognition comes after Sumi Jo's recent initiative to launch an international vocal competition at Château de la Ferte-Imbault in France's Loire Valley last year, supporting talented young vocalists globally.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-05-22/entertainment/musicPerformance/Soprano-Sumi-Jo-to-receive-prestigious-Frances-cultural-honor/2313089Kang Sin-gu, an actor with Seoul Metropolitan Theatre experience since 1997, stars in a play that blurs reality and performance. The production incorporates backstage moments into its narrative, mirroring the structure of a play-within-a-play. It portrays people on the fringe of society, existing yet invisible.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-05-22/entertainment/musicPerformance/Seoul-Metropolitan-Theatres-Ghost-an-unconventional-tale-of-existence-and-societal-indifference/2313750Museums are being urged to adopt a more radical approach in their storytelling and staffing. Director Ben Luke suggests that this challenging moment can be an opportunity for museums to diversify their narratives and staff. This sentiment is echoed by curator Stephanie Sparling Williams, who drew on Black feminist practices while reorganizing the Brooklyn Museum's American art collection.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/05/22/are-museums-guilt-tripping-their-visitors-no-they-are-not-doing-enoughNanjing University of the Arts has successfully hosted a vibrant "520" celebration, attracting art institutions from around the world, including the US, Australia, Italy, Singapore, and Thailand. The university's vision to create a campus-wide showcase and city-wide celebration has become a reality, with faculty and students presenting a boundary-breaking, multicultural artistic feast. Yu Feng, Party Secretary of Nanjing University of the Arts, attributes this success to embedding art into the fabric of the city, creating a cultural emblem that shines in Nanjing and radiates across Jiangsu.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/05/22/tmt-newswire/globenewswire/boundless-art-park-the-10th-nanjing-university-of-the-arts-520-graduation-exhibition-carnival-embraces-ai/2119249NYPD photographer Wright claims police arrested him at his gallery opening because it's a reliable location to find him, given he still has an out-of-state address. He believes the arrest was partly about making a statement but gives them the benefit of the doubt. Wright, who has been arrested multiple times for climbing buildings to take photos, credits photography with helping him cope with PTSD and depression after serving in the US army. This incident is not the first time police have cracked down on artists and exhibitions this year, as seen in January when Sally Mann's photographs were seized from an exhibition at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas.
https://petapixel.com/2025/05/22/urbex-photographer-isaac-wright-drift-claims-nypd-went-after-him-over-instagram-photo/