The 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 five-episode series "Soaring Guangdong" showcases the cultural heritage of China's dynamic region through a celebration of its living traditions. Host Anzelika Smirnova explores the centuries-old art form of Han Opera, learning intricate makeup and body movements from veteran performers at the Baietan Greater Bay Area Art Center in Guangzhou. The series also highlights interactive installations that breathe new life into classical carvings and sculptures, making cultural artifacts more accessible to a rapidly evolving world. "Soaring Guangdong" aims to promote cross-cultural understanding by preserving the region's rich traditions while embracing innovation, as stated by Qunshan Fu, editor-in-chief of Guangdong Radio and Television Converged Media Center.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241229284804/en/CICC-Soaring-Guangdong-Celebrates-Stories-of-Preserved-Living-HeritageThe 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-synergyThe city of Armidale in regional NSW is described as a multicultural university town with a blend of urban sophistication and natural beauty. It is home to the New England Regional Art Museum, which is considered the best gallery in the region. The town also features various cultural attractions such as a twin cinema, music conservatorium, and symphony orchestra that hosts an annual Bach Festival. Additionally, it offers outdoor activities like bushwalking in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park and trout fishing in nearby rivers.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/property/au/article-14208125/best-regional-town-retire.htmlSakhi, a craftsman in his fifties from Herat, Afghanistan, continues to make rubabs despite a Taliban crackdown on music. He believes the cultural value of the instrument is too important to lose and UNESCO has recognized its significance as intangible cultural heritage in Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The Taliban's ban on music has forced many musicians into exile or unemployment, but amateur player Gull Agha continues to play for tourists and hopes to pass on his skills to the next generation. Artists like Mohsen remain optimistic about the future of traditional Afghan music, citing its ability to bring joy to others as a reason it will survive despite adversity.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40340026/unesco-listed-musical-instrument-stifled-in-afghanistanNtombela, a curator at the Nelson Mandela Museum, said it took about two years to secure the works of artist Esther Mahlangu for an exhibition in South Africa. The exhibition features numerous artworks owned by international collectors that were brought back to the country with significant funding. Mahlangu, a recipient of the Order of Ikhamanga in silver, is known for her colorful home in Mpumalanga province, which attracts tourists. The exhibition will run until April 17 before embarking on an international tour starting in the US in 2026.
https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-art-exhibition-esther-mahlangu-be15dbfafa39ea6b58743845b436e0b2Missoula has been ranked as the seventh most art-vibrant medium-sized community in the country by the National Arts Research Center's SMU DataArts. The city stands out for its strong support of arts and culture, ranking in the top 1% for state grants and the top 2% for federal grants that fund art projects. Heather Adams, Executive Director of Arts Missoula, attributes this success to a robust support system, including the Montana Arts Council and local family foundations that invest heavily in the city's artistic endeavors. The consistent recognition has led to an increase in murals and artwork created by local artists throughout the city, with Adams emphasizing the importance of art in making the community more attractive to visitors and boosting the local economy.
https://www.montanarightnow.com/missoula/missoula-ranked-among-top-arts-vibrant-communities-in-the-u-s/article_e739f372-c4a4-11ef-a187-cfdc55f8a18b.htmlThe Villa Harris Museum in Tangiers is hosting an art exhibition that showcases the city's rich history through 30 paintings of its iconic landmarks. Curated by Majda Amellal, the exhibition features works from artists such as George Owen Apperley and Simonet Lombardo, alongside a painting by Moroccan artist Rachid Hanbali from 1970. The collection aims to connect Moroccans with their city's past through its depiction of historic sites in Tangiers.
https://africanews.com/2024/12/28/exhibition-celebrates-tangiers-artistic-legacy/