Madonna urges Pope Leo to visit Gaza: 'There's no more time'
"You are the only one of us that cannot be denied entry," the US singer wrote on social media platform X late on Monday.
"We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children. There is no more time," she added.
Marking the 25th birthday of her son Rocco Ritchie on Monday, Madonna also announced plans to donate to humanitarian organisations working in Gaza.
"I feel the best gift I can give to him as a Mother - is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza," she wrote.
A United Nations agency said late last week that "acute malnutrition among children in Gaza has reached the highest levels to date."
In July alone, nearly 12,000 children under 5 were identified as acutely malnourished, with another 2,500 found to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, the most life-threatening form, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Israel controls access roads to Gaza and has sealed off the coastal area.
Very little aid got into Gaza from March through May, when Israel began allowing in deliveries using a controversial private system that bypasses traditional UN agencies.
Under pressure from allies, Israel recently began permitting larger convoys into the territory, as aid airdrops take place overhead.
On Sunday, Irish rock band U2 issued a stinging critique of the Israeli government's actions.
– Bernama-dpa
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The Star
18 hours ago
- The Star
A heartfelt tribute to the German artist who called Malaysia home
Many artists from abroad have found a home in Malaysia, but the late Askandar Unglehrt (1943–2022) made it his own by embracing its culture with heart and curiosity. He once summed up his creative vision with disarming clarity: 'I observe the East with one eye and the West with the other. A 'Third Eye', which is my creative eye, combines the fragments of my observations into experiences of their own.' His philosophy shaped his art – bridging cultures, reframing traditions and weaving them into something entirely his own, laced with mischievous wit. The late Unglehrt's tribute show at Harta Space offers a survey of his collage works and archival material. Photo: The Star/Filepic The German-born artist and academic, who made Penang his home for more than 50 years, brought a distinctive voice to Malaysia's art scene. Before arriving on these shores, he studied at the Sorbonne in Paris in the late 1960s, majoring in French and German, and wrote his PhD dissertation on the poetry of Jean Arp, the German-French sculptor, painter and poet. Unglehrt began teaching both French and German at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang in 1972. Adela, co-curator of the exhibition, shares insights into her father's art practice and his unique East-West perspective. Photo: The Star/M. Irsyad Alongside his academic work, he developed a highly recognisable collage practice, fusing Western art styles with locally sourced materials such as magazines, newspaper clippings and advertisements. In the spirit of Merdeka month, the public can now revisit his legacy through A Third Eye: A Tribute To Askandar Unglehrt, on view at Harta Space in Ampang, Selangor, until Aug 31. His work was last officially showcased in the Klang Valley in 2017, in the solo exhibition Walau Bagaimanapun at Suma Orientalist. Lovingly assembled This tribute at Harta Space – featuring works Unglehrt created between 1973 and 2003 – is co-curated by his daughter Adela, who has overseen the care and preservation of his artworks. The show's other curator is Ricardo Chavez Tovar, a Penang-based artist and academic from Mexico. Unglehrt's 'Malaysia / World The Great Rehearsal' (1990) captures the artist's local culture fascination in a collage work. Photo: Harta Space Unglehrt's works have been showcased at the National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur and are held in the collections of the Penang State Art Gallery, Singapore Art Museum, Galeri Petronas and other notable institutions. A Third Eye features 62 works, ranging from acrylic on canvas and prints to magazine pieces and collages on anonymous paintings. 'While many would know him as an artist in Penang, he was more known as an art collector in the Klang Valley. The exhibition will take visitors through a timeline of his artistic journey and what influences he had over the years. Some were taken from private collections, and some of them, I've rediscovered this year, buried in storage,' says Adela in a recent interview. She recalls unearthing unexpected treasures while preparing the show. Tovar (right) and curator Unglehrt examine one of Tovar's works in Penang, 2006. At Harta Space, Tovar co-curated the German-born artist's tribute show. Photo: The Star/Filepic 'I knew they existed, as his main technique was manual collage, and he would re- photograph the finished pieces. We found film strips and other records that give an insight into his process, showing what he was referencing at the time,' she explains. Over the years, Malaysian influences and pop culture references began to weave into his compositions in the 1980s. 'This was in an era where Star Wars was a craze, and he used popular symbols like Superman, Charlie Chaplin, Yoda and others. He would also buy old windows from flea markets, using them as a canvas. 'Sometimes he painted over anonymous works he found there, giving them a completely new context,' she says. Sambal on the side Visitors will see these ideas most clearly in his 'Malaysiana' series. One standout, Mona Malaysia (1989), reimagines the iconic Mona Lisa with a distinctly Malaysian twist – her serene face framed by a Muslim headdress. Unglehrt's work titled 'Consulting Yoda' (1983-1984). Photo: Harta Space 'This also reflects the rise of Muslim women in (local) universities at the time. He often responded to social shifts he observed around him. Nowadays there are digital methods of collaging, but his work was painstakingly done by hand,' says Adela. Unglehrt's personal life also shaped his art. Starting a family in the early 1970s in Penang with his wife, Tengku Idaura Tengku Ibrahim, who has Kelantanese roots, meant Unglehrt spent extended periods on the East Coast, immersing himself in its landscapes and traditions. 'He explored the scenery, the everyday commentaries on Malaysian life, and even popular TV shows that began to run at the time,' says Adela. Unglehrt's 'The Short Cut' (1995) is a collage on a painting featuring Fantastic Four's The Thing riding a motorcycle through a kampung. Photo: Harta Space Works such as The Great Malaysian Sunset (1989) playfully place Darth Vader in a film strip sequence of a tranquil beach in Bachok, Kelantan, while The Short Cut (1995) sends the Fantastic Four's The Thing roaring down a kampung road on a motorcycle. Together, these pieces capture Unglehrt's knack for blending pop culture with the Malaysian landscape, creating images that are at once humorous and thought-provoking. 'This exhibition serves as a precursor to a more comprehensive retrospective planned for 2026–2027, which will examine his legacy and continued relevance in Malaysian contemporary art. "We also wish to bring a larger collection to Penang where he spent most of his time in Malaysia,' concludes Adela. A Third Eye: A Tribute To Askandar Unglehrt is showing at Harta Space in Ampang, Selangor until Aug 31. Free admission. Closed on Mondays.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Madonna urges Pope Leo to visit Gaza, pleads for aid to starving children
NEW YORK CITY: Madonna has urged Pope Leo to make a humanitarian visit to Gaza to help save starving Palestinian children, warning that "there is no more time" to act. The American pop icon, who was raised Roman Catholic, made her appeal in an Instagram post on Aug 11, addressing the pontiff directly. "Most Holy Father, please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it's too late. As a mother, I cannot bear to watch their suffering. The children of the world belong to everyone. You are the only one of us who cannot be denied entry," she wrote. Madonna explained she turned to the pope because she believes political solutions alone cannot end the crisis. "Politics cannot affect change. Only consciousness can," she said. Her plea coincided with her son Rocco's birthday, which she used as an opportunity to highlight the plight of children in Gaza. "I feel the best gift I can give him as a mother is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire," she added. The 65-year-old stressed she was not taking sides in the conflict. "I am not pointing fingers, placing blame, or taking sides. Everyone is suffering, including the mothers of the hostages. I pray they are released as well," she said. Pope Leo, who assumed the papacy in May, has been openly critical of Israel's military actions in Gaza and has repeatedly expressed concern for Palestinian civilians. The Vatican has not yet issued a response to Madonna's request, and it remains unclear whether Israel would grant the pope entry into Gaza. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has restricted access to the enclave, even to humanitarian aid groups and journalists. Other artistes who have spoken out about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza — where thousands face severe food shortages amid ongoing fighting — include U2 and Massive Attack.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Malay Mail
Madonna's birthday wish for son Rocco? Save Gaza's children
WASHINGTON, Aug 13 — Madonna has called on Pope Leo to make a humanitarian visit to Gaza to help save starving Palestinian children, saying 'there is no more time' to act. The American superstar, who was raised Roman Catholic, appealed directly to the pontiff in an August 11 Instagram post. 'Most Holy Father. Please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it's too late. As a mother, I cannot bear to watch their suffering. The children of the world belong to everyone. You are the only one of us who cannot be denied entry.' Madonna said she was reaching out to the pope because she believes political solutions alone are insufficient. 'Politics cannot affect change. Only consciousness can,' she wrote. Her plea was timed with a personal milestone — her son Rocco's birthday. 'I feel the best gift I can give to him as a mother is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza,' she said. The 65-year-old singer stressed she was not taking sides in the conflict. 'I am not pointing fingers, placing blame or taking sides. Everyone is suffering. Including the mothers of the hostages. I pray that they are released as well,' she added. Pope Leo, who took over the papacy in May, has been outspoken in his criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and has repeatedly voiced concern for Palestinian civilians under bombardment. The Vatican has not yet responded to Madonna's appeal. It is also unclear if Israel would allow the pope to enter Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has sealed off access to the enclave, including to media workers and even humanitarian aid groups. Other artistes who have spoken out about the crisis in Gaza, where thousands face acute food shortages amid ongoing fighting, include U2 and Massive Attack.
