Latest news with #Contemporary
Gizmodo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Doctor Who' Plays a Weird Waiting Game for the Beginning of Its End
'Wish World' straddles a peculiar line between killing time and presenting a very weird world for the Doctor and Belinda to be trapped in. There are a lot of parallels between 'Wish World' and last year's 'The Legend of Ruby Sunday.' They are both, of course, penultimate episodes of their respective seasons of Doctor Who. They are also both built around the return of a classic Doctor Who villain, and paying off a mystery that had played out throughout their respective seasons. Unfortunately they also both share a pretty fatal parallel: they're both aimless waiting games that have little meat on their bones as they count down to a last minute cliffhanger reveal. 'Wish World' has even more of a problem than 'The Legend of Ruby Sunday,' however. That latter episode could at least hinge some tension and atmosphere on the fact that we didn't already know that the last moments were building up to the reveal of Sutekh's return (unless you read the rumors, that is). 'Wish World,' for the most part (more on that later), is building up to a dramatic moment its audience already knows while its main character doesn't: for the Doctor to encounter the returned Rani, and understand what that may mean. And that just makes it a very weird experience, even before you get to the mechanics of how Doctor Who is ticking down to that big reveal. The titular world of 'Wish World' is a contemporary Earth before its apparently fated obliteration, except it's a sideways version of it. Thanks to the help of a convenient magic baby the Rani goes and picks up in medieval Bavaria in the opening moments—the seventh son of a seventh son of a seventh son, which doesn't feel very Evil Science Villainess of her, especially when the baby just essentially starts letting her bend reality in whatever way she wants—noted Utter Bastard Conrad from 'Lucky Day' is the apparent benevolent dictator of the world, broadcasting from a bone palace upon high in London to decide the state of the world, weather, and creepily pleasant lives of everyone in it with a little help from this magic wunderkind. Those subjects include the Doctor and Belinda, who are now Mr. John Smith and his wife Belinda, living a retro-modern nuclear family dream with their baby daughter Poppy as Belinda revels in being a stay-at-home mom and Mr. Smith goes to work at UNIT, now a unified insurance team rather than a vanguard against alien threats. The creepy vibe of this overtly heteronormative existence is in part the point, it turns out: everyone makes very pointed acknowledgements about the role of women being good daughters, good wives, and then good mothers, and when 'Mr. Smith' passingly describes a male co-worker (none other than Colonel Ibrahim, blissfully unaware of who he's meant to be) as handsome, reality almost turns in on itself around him, as if the mere thought of something not cisgender or heterosexual is an affront to this world that Conrad has wished up for everyone. It turns out we can also add 'Hates Disabled People' to the Bumper List of Conrad's Shitty Bigotries, because aside from retrograde thoughts about women and queer people, his bigotry around disabled people has led to an underground society of disabled people who, because they are 'unseen' by Conrad in so much that he doesn't ever think or care about them, are practically invisible to the world around them… except Ruby Sunday, who's likewise unaffected by what's going on around her, letting her team up with Shirley and her friends in the disabled camp to start trying to figure out what's going on. Good job Conrad really sucks in some very specific ways! This is just about where 'Wish World' checks out of trying to tell much more of a story, which is a shame, because the weird creepy vibes are quite good, even if they also mean continued exposure to Conrad (again, no disrespect to Jonah Hauer-King, he's just incredibly good at playing a man with utterly rancid vibes). After 'Mr. Smith' has his brush with the curse of fatal compulsory heterosexuality (spurred on again by a wild, random returning cameo from Jonathan Groff's Rogue, who gets a message out to the Doctor to help him doubt the nature of the Wish World by basically saying 'I am gay and in a hell dimension but please remember that you like men!'), his entire role in the episode is to sit around swirling with doubt about the nature of his existence until he remembers that he's the Doctor. After she links up with Shirley, Ruby's 'investigation' essentially slams the brakes on its own momentum so the two of them can basically look up from below the giant bone palace as it sits above London. And then there's the Rani, or rather the Ranis plural, who are sitting up in that aforementioned bone palace, who are also largely just biding their time, as the latest incarnation of the renegade Time Lady practically begs the Doctor to figure out the world that she's dominating through Conrad is a falsehood, so he can remember who he is, and more importantly, who she is. But it's a weird vibe of the less intentional sort than those given off by Conrad's Bigot Paradise. The episode is, essentially, ticking down until you get to that moment of realization between the Doctor and the Rani, even after she spends much of the third act of 'Wish World' expositing to his face in an attempt to get the artifice to crumble around him once and for all. But because we already know that she's the Rani, and that the Doctor is not an insurance salesman named John Smith, there's no tension or mystery in what's being built towards, you're just a knowing audience waiting for the shoe to drop for the show's protagonist, a shoe you've known all along is going to drop. At least 'The Legend of Ruby Sunday' had the mystery of Susan Triad to build a sense of dread around, even if there wasn't much more to the episode beyond that—all 'Wish World' has is a compelling creepy concept it largely discards halfway through and then a literal ticking clock as we wait for the episode's final moments. So it turns out 'Wish World' needs to throw in another mystery reveal right at the last moment, because the Doctor realizing who the Rani is is not that much of an actual reveal to us any more. It turns out the Rani's big ticking clock counting down to May 24 has been powered by collecting the doubts of anyone who's questioned Conrad's reality, the Doctor included, juicing up the Vindicator the Doctor and Belinda have charged throughout the season even further to rip a hole through Earth and reality itself… opening up a dimension where none other than Omega, the ancient, godlike co-founder of Time Lord society (well, Timeless Child stuff nonwithstanding!), awaits. Admittedly 'Wish World' does get the leg up on 'Legend of Ruby Sunday' by putting its 'devastating destruction of pretty much everyone but our hero that will be inevitably undone next episode' moment before the cliffhanger this time, as we watch Earth splinter apart and collapse into the underverse, seemingly blipping everyone but the Doctor, Conrad, and the Ranis out of existence, Belinda included. But the Omega reveal is more confusing than it is shocking in the moment, because it feels like it comes out of nowhere after the episode builds towards an already dramatically compromised reveal. Sure, we don't know why the Rani is doing all this weird stuff with Conrad and a magic baby, but the episode never treats that as a mystery to interrogate, it's just ticking in the background while the Rani yearns for the Doctor to recognize her. So when Omega is invoked—we don't see him, it's just his name being dropped—what could've been something 'Wish World' built to just largely comes out of left field (unless you already happened to see that Russell T Davies teased on Instagram last week that there was a mystery third party in the villainous mix between Conrad and the Ranis, but should you have to check the showrunner's social media for suitable dramatic tension?). The Rani and the Doctor's encounter is all that 'Wish World' was building toward up to that point, and because it's building up to it for all of its runtime, the moment itself doesn't really get to sit beyond the climactic final minutes, robbing it of what little tension could remain. And so again, we're left waiting to see if next week's grand finale will retroactively make this week's preparation feel worth the clock-ticking… and if we really needed the Rani's return to herald Omega, and all the implications that then has for the Time Lords and Gallifrey at large beyond that. That feels like a lot to dig into, at least. Imagine if we'd gotten a two-part finale that actually leveraged its time to do just that?
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How Exclusion Inspired Malene Barnett's 'Crafted Kinship,' A Groundbreaking Book Celebrating Caribbean Makers
Malene Barnett standing beside her new book at a book talk and signing at Peace & Riot in Brooklyn, ... More NY. When Malene Barnett was eight years old, her third-grade art teacher forbade her from mixing paints to match the rich chocolate-brown skin tone of her infant cousin. Instead, she was instructed to depict her family using only 'white people' hues—a formative moment of erasure that decades later fueled her mission to center Black and Caribbean voices in art. This ethos pulses through Barnett's debut book, Crafted Kinship: Inside The Creative Practices of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers, a visually stunning, deeply researched ode to over 60 contemporary artists and their interconnected legacies. Launched in collaboration with publisher Artisan Books, the book is both a corrective to historical silences and a rallying cry for cultural visibility. Malene Barnett signing copies of her new book, Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practices of ... More Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers At a stop on her book tour in Toronto's 'Little Jamaica,' organized by local Black art organization BAND Gallery, Barnett shared the lived experiences that would inspire the book Crafted Kinship. This mirrored the diasporic resilience she documents. Born to a St. Vincent-born mother and Jamaican father, she grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut, as 'the only Black family in the neighborhood.' Her mother, a classical pianist turned educator, instilled an unshakable creative drive, while her grandmother—a St. Vincent dressmaker and real estate entrepreneur—modeled self-determination. 'That entrepreneurial spirit is in my DNA,' Barnett explains. Malene Barnett handing a signed copy of her book to an ecstatic reader. Early artistic talent led Barnett to a specialized elementary school program, where her knack for portraiture clashed with Eurocentric limitations. 'I couldn't paint my family as they truly were,' she recalls. Yet these constraints sharpened her vision. High school teacher, Miss Coleman, became an art mentor to Barnett. Coleman, who was known to document her students' projects with slides and champion their portfolios, helped to continue guiding Barnett along the path. After studying textile design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), she began building a thriving career in 2009, designing rugs for private and corporate clientele, yet felt creatively stifled. In 2017, a bout with burnout and desire to interpret her creative thoughts into her work, versus reinterpreting the thoughts of clients' interior designers, led her to re-engaging with the more artistic side of her practice. This evolved into a passion for clay and ceramics, which Barnett dove into with the same zeal she does everything else. In 2020, she began her pursuit of an MFA at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University, and it was here where she began interrogating Caribbean pottery's ties to resistance. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Malene Barnett speaking at the Crafted Kinship Book launch at the Museum of Arts and Design in New ... More York. During her graduate studies, Barnett noticed a gap: while historians and curators dissected Caribbean art, the artists themselves rarely shaped the narrative. 'I wanted a book that centered their voices, not just their finished work,' she says. In the Fall of 2020, Shoshana Gutmajer, a senior editor at publisher Artisan Books, approached Barnett about the potential of writing a book. She seized the opportunity, envisioning a resource that could be 'for the community, by the community.' By 2022, she and photographer Alaric S. Campbell traveled the U.S. between Baltimore and New York, before traveling onward to Jamaica, to photograph the first group of makers from the Caribbean diaspora. This would only be the beginning, as a total 13 photographers across four continents would eventually lend original captures of the multiple artists included in the project. Longtime collaborator and friend, designer Karin Cho Myint, assisted with the book's dynamic, colorful, aesthetic. Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practices of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers page featuring ... More Bahamian artist Anina Major. The result is a meticulously curated assemblage of painters, sculptors, textile artists, and ceramists from across the diaspora. Each profile—based on intimate interviews—explores themes like ancestral memory, material innovation, and kinship. Bahamian artist Anina Major, winner of the 2024 Pommery Prize At The Armory Show, employs the practice of straw weaving to reclaim ancestral knowledge and highlight its significance outside of a tourist's colonial gaze. Jamaican fibre artist Katrina Coombs engages with natural fibers to explore women's relationships to their bodies, specifically their wombs, and their experiences within and beyond the role of motherhood. Barnett's own journey threads through the pages, particularly in her essay linking pre-emancipation pottery traditions to liberation. 'These women used clay to nourish their communities and possibly buy their freedom,' she says. 'That's power.' Jamaican artist Sharon Norwood is featured page in Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practices of ... More Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers True to Barnett's multidisciplinary ethos, Crafted Kinship is a visual manifesto. Drawing inspiration from her travels to Jamaica, Barnett and Myint selected a palette of cobalt blues, burnt oranges, and earthy greens that evoke the region's landscapes. Typography also carries meaning: the bold, sans-serif titles use Afronaut, a font rooted in West African design, while body text employs Obvia, created by Afro-Brazilian designer Marconi Lima. Pronounced 'Obeah' in English—a term for spiritual or magical practices in the Caribbean—the use of Lima's fonts literally inscribes ancestral knowledge into the text. Perhaps most radical is Barnett's decision to alphabetize contributors by first names. 'We wanted to de-center colonial last names,' she explains. The book's endnotes further personalize the experience, featuring dedications from each artist to mentors and ancestors. 'Grandmothers were a throughline,' Barnett notes. 'They're our first teachers.' A copy of Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practices of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers ... More displaying Marconi Lima's "Obvia" typography. At the Miami book tour stop, Barnett witnessed an unexpected triumph: artists featured in Crafted Kinship—many meeting for the first time—embraced like long-lost kin. 'They signed each other's copies, exchanged ideas—it was electric,' she recalls. For Barnett, this spontaneous community-building is the book's 'superpower,' one she hopes will ripple into institutions. 'Curators tell me they're using it to rethink their collections,' she says. 'That's how we shift narratives.' The launch also underscores Barnett's evolution from designer to cultural archivist. Now based in Philadelphia, she's developing a ceramic installation series inspired by Jamaican pottery traditions and plans further publications on Caribbean craft. 'This book isn't an endpoint,' she stresses. 'It's a spark.' Malene Barnett onstage at the Crafted Kinship book launch in New York's Museum of Arts and Design ... More with featured Caribbean artists Nadia Liz Estela, Renee Cox, architect Nina Cooke John, and artist/filmmaker Billy Gerard Frank. For Barnett, Crafted Kinship is more than a career milestone—it's a tribute to the grandmothers, teachers, and ancestors who carved space for her voice. It's also a challenge to the art world: to see the Caribbean as more than just a backdrop for paradise, but also as a wellspring of innovation. 'We've always been here,' she says. 'Now we're rewriting the story ourselves.' In a world hungry for authentic representation, Barnett's work reminds us that liberation begins with visibility—one brushstroke, one clay pot, one boldly told story at a time. Crafted Kinship: Makers and Storytellers of the Caribbean Diaspora is available now through major booksellers.
India.com
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Shop Stunning Women's Earrings at Myntra Fashion Carnival Sale
Whether you're in search of classic gold-plated studs, sparkling crystal hoops, or boho-inspired dangling designs, the Myntra Fashion Carnival Sale ensures you can add stylish pieces to your jewelry collection at fantastic prices. Don't miss the chance to score on top earring trends, all while enjoying seamless shopping, easy returns, and fast delivery. 1. Yellow Chimes Gold-Plated Contemporary Jhumkas Earrings Image Source: Order Now The Yellow Chimes Gold-Plated Contemporary Jhumkas combine traditional design with a modern twist. These earrings feature an elegant gold-plated finish with intricate detailing and a contemporary shape. The jhumka designoffers a graceful drop that adds a sense of movement and sophistication to any look, making them perfect for weddings, parties, or festive occasions. Key Features: Gold-plated finish gives it a rich, classic look. Contemporary jhumka design with modern embellishments. Gold plating may tarnish over time with frequent use. Slightly large size may not suit minimalistic preferences. 2. Priyaasi Gold-Plated Contemporary Jhumkas Image Source: Order Now The Priyaasi Gold-Plated Contemporary Jhumkas are designed to blend the charm of traditional jewelry with a modern flair. These earrings feature gold plating with a contemporary jhumka shape adorned with small intricate details that enhance their elegance. Perfect for adding a royal touch to your outfit, these earrings can effortlessly transform your look for special events or celebrations. Key Features: Gold-plated design for a sophisticated, elegant appeal. Classic jhumka shape with a modern twist. The gold plating may fade with frequent exposure to water or sweat. The design may be too bold for more subtle, minimalistic tastes. 3. AARSHVI Gold-Plated Kundan Contemporary Jhumkas Earrings Image Source: Order Now These AARSHVI Gold-Plated Kundan Contemporary Jhumkas bring together the beauty of kundan craftsmanshipand modern design. Featuring an elegant kundan-studded jhumka, these earrings are perfect for anyone looking for traditional grandeur with a contemporary edge. The gold-plated finish ensures a timeless, luxurious look, making them ideal for weddings, festive events, or traditional gatherings. Key Features: Kundan detailing adds an exquisite traditional touch. Gold-plated design for a luxurious, shiny finish. Kundan stones may require careful handling to avoid damage. Larger size may not suit those who prefer subtle earrings. 4. OOMPH Peacock Shaped Chandbalis Earrings Image Source: Order Now The OOMPH Peacock Shaped Chandbalis are a stunning combination of classic elegance and contemporary style. These earrings feature a peacock-shaped design with intricate gold-plated and stone detailing, creating a statement piece that is both regal and eye-catching. Perfect for adding drama to traditional outfits like lehengas or sarees, these chandbalis offer a luxurious touch to any special occasion. Key Features: Peacock-shaped design for a royal and unique look. Gold-plated finish adds richness and durability. Due to the large size, they may not be suitable for everyday wear. The intricate design may require extra care to avoid damage. The Myntra Fashion Carnival Sale from May 1st to 8th, 2025 is the perfect opportunity to upgrade your jewelry collection with stylish women's earrings at unbeatable prices. With up to 80% off, this sale brings an array of earrings—from intricate jhumkas and kundan designs to peacock-shaped chandbalis and contemporary styles. Whether you're looking for bold statement pieces or delicate everyday wear, Myntra offers earrings to suit every occasion, personal style, and budget. Disclaimer: At IDPL, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. It should not be construed as an endorsement to buy. IDPL may make a very small commission from its sale if one chooses to buy the product from any of the links in this article.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
HT City Delhi Junction: Catch It Live on 30 April 2025
A post shared by Kkrishnan (@kkrishnan_chakraborty) What: Sarat Smriti Festival 25. Nirtya Manjari | Geeta Mahalik (Odissi), Rama Vaidyanathan (Bharatanatyam) & Dr. Krishan Kumar Sharma and group (Contemporary) Where: The Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road When: April 30 Timing: 7pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: JLN Stadium (Violet Line) A post shared by Alexandra Maria Lara (@alexandramarialara) What: Imagine by Andrzej Jakimowski Where: CD Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre, Lodhi Road When: April 30 Timing: 6.30pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Jor Bagh (Yellow Line) What: Being Human Quartet Where: The Piano Man, Eldeco Centre, Block A, Shivalik Colony, Malviya Nagar When: April 30 Timing: 8.30pm Entry: Nearest Metro Station: Malviya Nagar (Yellow Line) What: A Force of Nature: solo works of Ritika Aurora Where: Kalamkar Gallery, Bikaner House, Pandara Road When: April 25 to 30 Timing: 11am to 7pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Khan Market (Violet Line) A post shared by Harsh Gujral (@realharshgujral) What: Jo Bolta Hai Wohi Hota Hai ft Harsh Gujral Where: The Laugh Store, DLF CyberHub, Sector 24, Gurugram When: April 30 Timing: 10pm Entry: Nearest Metro Station: Phase 2 (Rapid Metro) What: Rabael Where: Travancore Palace, Copernicus Marg, Mandi House When: April 30 Timing: 11am to 8pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Mandi House (Blue & Violet Lines)
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Influential Online Art Auctioneer Dips Its Toe Into Spirits Sales
Dobel Tequila's Francisco Toledo Edition will be up for auction on Artnet. Courtesy: Dobel Tequila Another new spirit arriving at auction doesn't usually have industry-wide implications, but Dobel Tequila's ultra-rare new expression is different. That's because Artnet Auctions—better known for high‑end paintings and Contemporary works—announced this as its first curated spirits sale, signaling more than just another collaboration. With fine‑art auction revenues down roughly 32% year‑over‑year and Sotheby's reporting a 28% decline in wine and spirits sales, the timing underscores a broader pivot among auction houses toward other assets and potential alternative revenue streams for spirits. Artnet's 'one‑off' spirits auction speaks to more than just a gimmick. With art‑market headwinds squeezing margins, tapping into tequila—a bright spot in the spirits sector—allows Artnet to reach new collectors and capture ancillary revenue streams. 'Artnet is renowned for its specialization on Postwar, Modern, Contemporary and Ultra Contemporary art. While we will maintain this focus, we also are open to exploring new opportunities as they arise,' an Artnet representative said in an online exchange. 'Dobel Tequila continues to push boundaries between fine art, craft, and spirits, which is apparent in all its initiatives and something we respect and value.' For investors, the move hints at a broader trend: when traditional luxury categories stall, platforms will seek hybrid offerings to maintain engagement and profits. Dobel's Francisco Toledo Edition is an Extra Añejo, aged a minimum of three years, with up to four months afterward in mezcal barrels for subtle smoky notes. Only 15 US bottles exist, each starting at $5,000, with Artnet auctioning off one. Packaging is integral at this level: etched Toledo artwork on the bottle, housed on a rotating wooden base with four art‑bedecked cubes. 'Tequila continues to prove its power as both a cultural force and a canvas for innovation,' said Lander Otegui, CMO of Dobel's parent company Proximo Spirits, in an emailed statement. 'With this release, we aimed to push the category even further by blending the mastery of aged tequila‑making with the visionary artistry of Francisco Toledo.' Dobel Grandes Maestros Francisco Toledo Edition is presented with a rotating case and etched glass bottle. Courtesy: Dobel Tequila Francisco Toledo has a legacy as one of Mexico's most important contemporary artists, with a more than seven-decade-long career in painting, graphic art, and sculpture. 'People familiar with Toledo's work will instantly recognize that this is a work by Francisco Toledo, which speaks to Dobel as a creative partner,' Artnet's representative said. 'As with most of Toledo's work, the Grandes Maestro Collection transcends the categories of premium spirits or collectible art and blurs the lines between functionality and fine art.' The mezcal‑barrel finish leans into hybrid aging techniques, adding narrative depth to each dram. Though Artnet calls this collaboration a "one‑off," a successful outcome and positive collector feedback could lay the groundwork for future cross‑category ventures. For the spirits sector, it will be interesting to see if Artnet reopens its auction block to spirits in the future—either to tequila, or even rare whiskies, cognacs, and fine wines.
