Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan inaugurated an exhibition at PNCA Islamabad featuring calligraphic masterpieces and artworks by prominent artists from eight ECO member countries. The exhibition highlighted the region's cultural diversity as a strength, serving as a bridge between civilizations and promoting peace, prosperity, and mutual respect among nations including Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1269776-cultural-heritage-exhibition-of-eco-states-opensA retrospective exhibition featuring the work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is currently on display at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, showcasing approximately 200 pieces, including her 2019 installation "The Hope of the Polka Dots Buried in Infinity Will Eternally Cover the Universe".
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/immerse-yourself-in-the-polka-dotted-world-of-yayoi-kusama-at-a-massive-new-retrospective-180985765/Artist Adel Yazdi has transformed his neighbourhood of Narenjestan in Shiraz, southern Iran, into a vibrant cultural hub through his paintings and carved relief faces. The once dilapidated walls now feature intricate designs and bright colours, showcasing a different side of Iran's artistic heritage. Yazdi's artwork, which includes a mural of Scheherazade, has become a social media sensation and tourist attraction in the city known for its historic architecture and lush gardens. His workshop, located in a century-old building with traditional Persian architectural style, is filled with artefacts and sculptures, drawing visitors such as engineer Maedah who liken it to other historical places in the city. Yazdi's inspiration comes from the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and he hopes his efforts can turn Shiraz's alleyways into a more vibrant cultural centre.
The Museum of Prague is hosting two exhibitions from January 10-February 10 and January 15-February 9, respectively. The first exhibition features works by master swordsman Matsuba Ichiro, a "Living National Treasure," and Japanese artist Mari Kučera's calligraphy demonstrations at the Calab Hall in Clam-Gallas Palace. The second exhibition, "Mark Florian: Sagrada Familia – Architecture of Light", showcases photographs by Mark Florian that explore the concept of light in Antoni Gaudí's architecture, specifically the Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona.
https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/10-art-exhibitions-you-won-t-want-to-miss-in-prague-this-yearThe Frist Art Museum in Nashville will host an exhibition called "Farm to Table" featuring 50 Impressionist artworks that explore themes of food, class, conflict and conquest. The exhibit includes paintings by artists such as Charles-Émile Jacque, Victor Gabriel Gilbert, Camille Pissarro, and Eugène Alexis Girardet, which depict scenes of markets, gardens, farmers and gastronomes. According to Mark Scala, the chief curator at the Frist Art Museum, food is a universal human obsession that connects people from all walks of life and serves as a "portal" for exploring deeper social issues.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/feast-your-eyes-paintings-food-impressionist-era-180985635/Ksenia Knapova, a Ukrainian artist, shared her experiences in Ukraine with an Ukrinform correspondent in Austria. She discussed her journey to the front-line city of Kharkiv and expressed admiration for its residents' resilience. Knapova also spoke about European fatigue towards the war, emphasizing the need for continued support for Ukraine. She highlighted the significance of art in the nation's survival and advocated for showcasing Ukraine's cultural identity globally.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/3943584-adela-knapova-czech-journalist-and-writer.htmlThe M+ museum of visual culture in Hong Kong is set to unveil an exhibition featuring over 60 works by Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. The exhibition, titled "Picasso for Asia: A Conversation", will be on display from March to July 2025 and will include a piece called "The Acrobat" (1930) in its collection.
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3292475/11-hong-kong-art-exhibitions-coming-2025-including-picasso-renoir-and-cezanne-shows?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionThe exhibition "The Art of Dining: Food Culture in the Islamic World" at the Detroit Institute of Arts highlights the shared food cultures among different ethnoreligious communities in the SWANA region. The exhibit acknowledges the influence of Islamic practices on non-Islamic peoples, such as Greeks, Chaldeans, and Armenians, who lived in cities like Istanbul with its diverse Byzantine, Cilician Armenian, Jewish, and Parthian presence. The exhibition could have been strengthened by recognizing these communities' contributions to the development of sociopolitical and economic systems in the region. The exhibit features examples such as a 17th-century Turkish coffee pot from the British Museum and an Indian jade bowl with handles from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, showcasing Islamicate civilization's influence on food culture.
https://hyperallergic.com/978405/making-food-into-an-art-in-muslim-majority-cultures/Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, highlighted the significance of an exhibition celebrating Islamic art and its development throughout history as a means to promote cultural dialogue between nations. The event, which marks 20 years of the Al Burda Award, was attended by Rahim Aga Khan, who emphasized the importance of pluralism and the potential of art and culture to bring people together for peace and understanding. The exhibition was curated by Emirati curators Fatima Al Mahmoud, Sarah Bin Safwan, and Sheikha Al Zaabi, along with Dr. Ulrike Al Khamis, CEO of the Aga Khan Museum in the UAE.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2024/12/30/al-burda-award-2024-highlights-uae-and-akdn-cultural-synergy