Latest news with #Aftermath
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jeena Raghavan: A life in color and form
Jeena Raghavan: A life in colour and form 'There's movement in your work.' That observation, made by an avid London art collector decades older than the 13-year-old Jeena Raghavan, planted an artistic seed that would later bloom into canvas. Today, Jeena Raghavan 's paintings can be found in galleries in New York's Lower East Side to penthouses in the Upper West Side to Bangalore. But her path to recognition was marked by twists, pivots, and persistence. Raghavan's story begins with her name itself, a departure from tradition that mirrors her artistic journey. She was named after her paternal grandmother, whose given name was Lakshmi but who was affectionately called 'Jigina' for her bold sequin choices at the time. Over the years, 'Jigina' evolved into 'Jeena,' and after falling in love with Italian culture, she decided to keep it. Raghavan now carries a name that means 'to live.' 'Growing up, I actually didn't like my name because it sounded off-beat,' she admits. 'But as I started traveling and realized how easily people could pronounce it, I began to see it differently. It became something unique and beautiful.' For Raghavan, living means 'Expressing myself. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo When I express myself with my art or my emotions to people I care about, that's when I feel like I'm really living.' The irony of Raghavan's journey is that formal art education nearly derailed her artistic aspirations. Despite having her first exhibition at 13 (a series of Ganesha paintings she created in London's Holland Park, and shortly after exhibited them onWimpole Street). She received a 'D' in art during her A-levels. 'I didn't show enough prep work behind my final painting. I just got in the flow and created this piece of a cow on Holi and the piece was titled 'Aftermath. ' While her school dismissed the work for lack of process documentation, a gallery contact who was also a mentor saw her work and declared it 'gallery-level work.' At the Parsons School of Design in New York, Raghavan initially pursued illustration, thinking it was 'a more lucrative career.' But a professor noticed that her illustrations looked more like paintings and encouraged her to pursue fine art. 'He said he felt bad putting typography next to these paintings,' she recalls. The artist in her studio, Bangalore What distinguishes Raghavan's work isn't just movement, but her extraordinary relationship with color. She describes herself as a 'color explorer,' creating sometimes what she estimates to be 75 different shades of red in a single piece. 'I am not easily satisfied with just a few colors,' she explains. 'I love to go into the depth of exploring a color and almost exhausting it, seeing how much I can get out of each color. ' This approach comes partly from intuition and partly from technique. 'Some paintings have a more structured plan, but others I follow my intuition and test myself. I tune out from everything and go into some sort of meditative state, channeling almost a hypnotic force.' 'When people see my work without any context, they often say things like, 'It feels like it's moving,' or 'It seems to be slowly coming towards me.'' For years, Raghavan resisted thinking of art as a career. Even after graduating from Parsons, she tried adjacent fields, working at Kate Spade, a gallery, and at Christie's, the auction house. At Christie's, her manager saw her drawing at her desk and remarked, 'I love those!.' That's when Jeena realized she's more of a painter than designer. The turning point came during COVID when she moved back to India and sold a few pieces to acquaintances. But even then, 'I didn't think of my art as a career. My mindset probably changed only about two years ago, after a series of exhibitions in New York started leading to some consistent sales and studio visits.' So when Raghavan was walking through SoHo and she casually mentioned to a gallery worker that she was an artist, that interaction led to her inclusion in a group show with 100 other emerging artists in Chelsea, her first real break. 'For me it was such a big deal that I was asked to show two large 4 by 5 feet paintings,' she says of the show, which featured a line to get in and attracted notable attendees including Famke Jennsen, the Hollywood actress best known for her role in the movie 'Taken'. That show led to others, and eventually to her first solo exhibition in January 2024 at the Revelation Gallery in the West Village. The opening night was nearly derailed by a storm, but 150 people still showed up. 'Two paintings sold on the opening night, and then five more later the next month,' she recalls. Shortly after, Raghavan created one of her most meaningful pieces yet: a portrait of Ramanujan. The painting, rich in symbolism and color, was recently installed at Stanford. Ramanujan | 36 x 36 in | Acrylic & pastel on canvas O ne of the most memorable moments in Raghavan's journey also came when tennis legends Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf became collectors of her work. Andre Agassi & Steffi Graf in Vegas with their painting 'I wanted to capture the warmth between them,' she says. 'Their lives found purpose at such a young age, and their tennis careers were filled with movement.' Raghavan's work embodies her global upbringing. Born in London, educated in India and New York, and now living between Bangalore and New York City,. herHer color palette draws from Indian textiles and spices, while her brush strokes and movement reflectmovement and pace reflect the energy of New York City. Her largest work 'Waiting for Ayyappa' is a 6-foot by 9-foot painting of a tigress from the story of the warrior deity Ayyappa, which exemplifies this fusion. The piece combines abstract background textures with figurative elements, religious narrative with contemporary technique. T this transition from struggling artist to selling professional hasn't diminished her connection to the work itself. 'I fluctuate between abstract and figurative language,' she explains. 'My figurative work is abstract enough that it's identifiable but not realistic. It's contemporary, modern. A sort of fusion of all the places I've lived.' For an artist whose name means 'to live,' Jeena Raghavan has found her way of living through colors that seem to breathe, movement that transcends stillness, and a vision that refuses to be contained by any single tradition or place.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Xbox producer suggests laid-off staff should use AI to deal with emotions
An Xbox producer has faced a backlash after suggesting laid-off employees should use artificial intelligence to deal with emotions in a now deleted LinkedIn Turnbull, an executive producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, wrote the post after Microsoft confirmed it would lay off up to 9,000 workers, in a wave of job cuts this post, which was captured in a screenshot by tech news site Aftermath, shows Mr Turnbull suggesting tools like ChatGPT or Copilot to "help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss."One X user called it "plain disgusting" while another said it left them "speechless". The BBC has contacted Microsoft, which owns Xbox, for comment. Microsoft previously said several of its divisions would be affected without specifying which ones but reports suggest that its Xbox video gaming unit will be has set out plans to invest heavily in artificial intelligence (AI), and is spending $80bn (£68.6bn) in huge data centres to train AI Turnbull acknowledged the difficulty of job cuts in his post and said "if you're navigating a layoff or even quietly preparing for one, you're not alone and you don't have to go it alone".He wrote that he was aware AI tools can cause "strong feelings in people" but wanted to try and offer the "best advice" under the Xbox producer said he'd been "experimenting with ways to use LLM Al tools" and suggested some prompts to enter into AI included career planning prompts, resume and LinkedIn help, and questions to ask for advice on emotional clarity and confidence."If this helps, feel free to share with others in your network," he Microsoft cuts would equate to 4% of Microsoft's 228,000-strong global video game projects have reportedly been affected by the cuts.
Engadget
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Blizzard is giving up on its Warcraft mobile game amid layoffs
It's nearly the end of the road for Warcraft Rumble . Blizzard has announced that it will no longer be developing new content for the free-to-play mobile strategy game, and instead focus on "regular, systemic in-game events and bug fixes." The change comes as the rest of Microsoft's business is in upheaval: The company is laying off as many as 9,000 employees across its global workforce. Blizzard's statement doesn't get into the details of what motivated the decision, but is clear that Warcraft Rumble hasn't been living up to expectations. The game "struggled to find its footing" relative to Blizzard's ambitions, prompting the studio to explore different options to improve it over the last few years. "Some of that work showed signs of progress, but ultimately wasn't enough to put the game on a path to sustainability," Blizzard writes. Warcraft Rumble was announced in 2019 as Warcraft Arclight Rumble. Much like Hearthstone , the game was a high-profile attempt to translate a popular Blizzard franchise into something that works on smartphones and tablets. Warcraft Rumble plays like a more flexible version of Clash Royale , where miniaturized armies face off in PVP or singe-player challenges, and the biggest strategic choices are when and where characters are placed. Aftermath reports that winding down Warcraft Rumble is a direct result of the wider Microsoft layoffs effecting Blizzard. While some of the team who created new content for Rumble will be given new roles at the studio, others will be let go, according to a staff email sent by Blizzard president Johanna Fairies that Aftermath viewed. Blizzard's public statement doesn't acknowledge these layoffs beyond a mention that the studio is "focused on supporting [its] teammates," which is telling in context. While Warcraft Rumble will live on for now in a diminished state, some future Xbox games have been outright cancelled as a result of Microsoft's restructuring, including Everwild and Perfect Dark . The bigger damage is the loss of talent. Greg Mayles, the lead designer on Donkey Kong Country and creative director of Sea of Thieves, is leaving Rare, according to Video Game Chronicle . ZeniMax Online Studios shared on X that director Matt Firor is also making an exit following the cancellation of the studio's next MMO.
Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Rolling Stones have 'recorded huge new album' after scrapping upcoming tour
The Rolling Stones, which consists of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, are said to have been working on a new album after deciding to scrap plans for a European tour The Rolling Stones are said to be working on a new album after reportedly deciding to scrap plans for a comeback tour in Europe. It's claimed that the group have more than a dozen songs ready to go after spending time in the studio. Bandmates Mick Jagger, 81, Keith Richards, 81, and Ronnie Wood, 78, are said to have been working in Metropolis Studios in London since April. It's reported that they are now in discussions over the release of their 25th studio album. It's been suggested that the trio have collaborated again with producer Andrew Watt. He worked with the Rolling Stones on their last album Hackney Diamonds, which topped the UK Albums Chart following its release back in 2023. According to the Sun, Mick, Keith, and Ronnie are working on the new album after scrapping plans for a summer tour in the UK and other countries. The band's potential European tour had been rumoured earlier this year. A source told the outlet: "Mick, Keith and Ronnie have been secretly recording their new record with their drummer Steve Jordan." It's claimed that the band are "happy" with 13 songs and are discussing when to release it. The source went on to discuss the rumoured tour, saying that it didn't work out. They said: "Originally, the plan was for them to bring their huge US tour to the UK and Europe this summer, but promoters couldn't get the dates to work." They continued: "Instead the Stones decided to get back into the studio and put down their next album." The source suggested that it's "massive" news for fans who didn't get a chance to see the acclaimed band perform live this year. There was speculation over a possible tour in January. It was suggested at the time that the band could return to the UK with their Hackney Diamonds tour to play four dates at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the capital city. A source told the Daily Mail that Mick, Keith and Ronnie couldn't wait to bring the tour to the UK. They said: "They've been planning it for months and are itching to get back out on the road and do what they do best, which is perform." Prior to subsequent reports that the tour plans had been shelved, it was initially suggested that they would also visit other locations in Europe. There was speculation that the other shows would be in Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Paris. The speculation came following the Rolling Stones' Hackney Diamonds in the US and Canada last year. The trio performed at a host of venues, including SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and BC Place in Vancouver, whilst on the tour. The tour was in support of their album Hackney Diamonds, which was released the previous year. It was their eighth studio album to top the charts in the UK, following in the footsteps of albums like Aftermath and Emotional Rescue. The Mirror has approached the Stones spokesperson for comment.
The Verge
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Discord might use AI to help you catch up on conversations
Discord has become the place for gaming communities on the internet. The company just celebrated its 10th anniversary, and its impact is now big enough that it's available directly on PlayStation and Xbox and was ripped off by Nintendo for the Switch 2's GameChat. But as it tries to grow, one of the big challenges Discord faces is that, for big or longer-running communities, it can be hard to know where to start, hard to catch up to the speed of real-time conversations, and hard to sift through the potentially huge amounts of conversations and channels. A lot of communities used to form around forums, but Discord just isn't a good replacement for that kind of structured messaging, as covered by Aftermath 's Luke Plunkett. 'This is something we want to solve,' Peter Sellis, Discord's SVP of product, tells The Verge. 'It is not our intention to lock a bunch of this knowledge into Discord.' One way Discord wants to tackle the problem is add features that are 'more amicable to structured knowledge sharing, like forums, that we could probably do a better job of investing in and is something we want to do for game developers,' Sellis says. Another involves LLMs. 'There's an incredible opportunity now with large language models and their ability to summarize conversations,' he says. That could help Discord take a long conversation between multiple people — 'what is essentially a really poorly structured shareable object,' he says — and boil it down to 'something that could be more shareable and then potentially syndicated to the web.' Sellis couldn't share many other details, and couldn't give a timeline for when any of this might be ready: 'I haven't seen a solution that we feel great about yet.' Discord wants to do it right, he says — especially because a solution that makes information more easily accessible outside of Discord could involve a lot of work for server moderators and admins. 'We have a very sensitive radar for stuff that causes them a bunch of work that doesn't give them the return they need,' he says. (It's wise not to piss off your moderators.) None of this was imminent, if it even happens at all. That said, 'I assure you that this is something that people within Discord feel the pain of themselves,' Sellis says. 'And when our engineers and product designers and product managers feel it personally, they generally want to solve it.' Another big challenge Discord faces is how to build the product to serve both the needs of giant community servers and the tiny servers where groups hang out — especially when, according to Discord, 90 percent of 'all activity on Discord' happens in 'small, intimate servers.' Sellis calls it 'one of the biggest challenges for the team' — but also says that it's 'honestly the biggest opportunity.' He says that Discord thinks about how it can make people 'feel comfortable in both these spaces, understand that there are different types of spaces, and the technology is familiar, but still different in both of these places.' Sellis says that the biggest Discord server is Midjourney, a key company in text-to-AI image generation that lets you generate visuals right inside Discord. Midjourney became popular because it turned the 'single-player game' of generating AI images into a multiplayer community. 'You can just watch people try things, experiment, fail, succeed, embarrass themselves, etc. And that made it kind of like a collective action.' He says Discord is seeing something similar with the recently launched Wordle app on the platform, too, which lets you compete with your friends. That all speaks to some of Discord's larger vision. Sellis is seeing a trend that 'everything is starting to kind of look like a game' and 'Discord can be used as a social layer on any game to essentially improve its engagement, its socialness, and its multiplayer capacity. That's something we like and are going to lean into.' And as for Nintendo's GameChat? 'I would say imitation is a very sincere form of flattery,' Sellis says. 'Hard to imagine being more flattered than being copied by Nintendo.'
