Latest news with #Dida
Boston Globe
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Artist Stephen Hamilton weaves generations of African tradition
Earlier this month, Hamilton's painting — titled 'Under the Spider's Web' — unfurled from the wall and over most of the floor of his Allston studio. It depicts African weavers: a man from Burkina Faso bends over his narrow strip of weaving; a Dida woman from the region of Ivory Coast or Liberia weaves a raffia textile without a loom. They're all from West Africa and West Central Africa. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'They are regions people were taken from during the transatlantic slave trade,' Hamilton said. The traditions he portrays have dispersed all over the Globe. Advertisement Stephen Hamilton at one of two looms that will be used in periodic weaving performances alongside his Triennial painting and textile installation. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff 'Under the Spider's Web' is dense with texture, patterns, imagery, and handwork echoing generations of African traditions. Hamilton dyed yarns for the piece in natural pigments made from indigo, red sorghum, henna, and more. Ropes that hold everything together are hand-braided and dyed. Hamilton, who is textiles for a PhD in African and African American Studies at Harvard , steeps every fiber of his art in research. He pointed to a woven passage on the right of the painted textile 'That's based off of the description from a Dutch trader in the Kingdom of Benin,' he said. Advertisement Triennial curator Tess Lukey first saw Hamilton's work four years ago at the Museum of Fine Arts – the artist had work in the ' His combination of painting and textile art grabbed her, and he was one of the first area artists she thought of for the Triennial. 'He's pushing the limits of what both of those mediums are,' Lukey said. Hamilton, 37, grew up in Roxbury surrounded by murals painted by Stephen Hamilton sorts through yarn he dyed with natural pigments in his Allston studio. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff He learned to weave during a nine-month trip to Nigeria in 2015 thanks to a grant from It's easy to think of 'material culture' as just the things a society generates, but those things can carry mythic weight . The weavers in Hamilton's painting wear deeply researched jewelry and clothing. Advertisement 'There's so much of that imagery that's so rich and complex that people don't have a visual reference to,' the artist said. 'If you're thinking about a Roman legionnaire, there's these immediate visual references that you have. When it comes to Africa, a lot of people don't have that visual reference.' Stephen Hamilton carves wood for the looms in his Triennial installation. Lane Turner/Globe Staff 'I'm very interested in exposing people to that,' he added. 'He's celebrating cloth in this incredible way that brings the past and the present together,' Lukey said. If time collapses in Hamilton's art, space expands. First, in the sheer proportion of his project — this is the largest piece he's ever made . Then, in its warm embrace of the African diaspora. 'I'm thinking about the Black community as a global Black community,' Hamilton said. 'What are these things that connect us?' One answer, he said, is a shared heritage of jewelry, wood carving – and cloth. 'This idea of what cloth represents and clothing represents for Black people is something that is much deeper than simply a physical object, or simply representative of physical appearance,' he said. 'The roots of that go back long before our time in this country, long before the transatlantic slave trade,' Hamilton said. 'There's a deeper history there.' Cate McQuaid can be reached at
Skift
08-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
Thailand Hotel Investment to Grow This Year, Says JLL
STR reported China hotel data for the week ended May 3rd. Hotel RevPAR in China was down 2.7%, up against a tough 8% increase comp in the year-ago week. Occupancy was positive, up 3.2% year over year, as this includes the start of the May Day Labour Holiday Golden Week. The decline in RevPAR was all due to the 5.7% drop in average daily rates. JLL's latest Thailand Hospitality Financing Guide said Thailand's hotel investment market is projected to maintain its growth trajectory in 2025. This follows a record-breaking year in 2024. JLL said the sector's resilience and strong investor interest are expected to continue driving activity across various segments. Hotel transaction volumes reached THB 22.3 billion in 2024, with investors showing interest in both freehold and leasehold properties. JLL is forecasting that hotel transaction volumes in 2025 will reach approximately THB 13 billion, maintaining levels above the historical average. The momentum is supported by anticipated growth in international tourist arrivals, projected between 38 and 40 million for the year, bolstered by improved air connectivity and strategic visa policies. Dida said international hotel bookings by Chinese travelers for the May Day holiday more than doubled year-on-year, with a 103% increase in booking volume compared to 2024. The average daily rate for Chinese international hotel bookings is also up 5% year-on-year, approaching pre-pandemic levels, as Dida said, travelers are increasingly opting for premium stays. The top 10 most booked international destinations for Chinese travelers during the May Day holiday were Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, Italy, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the UAE, in that order. Domestic travel within China increased by 33% year-on-year, while inbound tourism by international visitors more than tripled, up by 306%. Minor Hotels announced an evolution of Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites, announcing a shift from serviced apartments to a full-service hotel, resort, and suites brand. Minor said a reinvigorated service focus, introduction of unique operating hallmarks, and refreshed brand identity will create global resonance and distinction in a competitive market. Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites has an expanding portfolio of more than 55 properties in Australia, China, New Zealand, Qatar, and the UAE. The series of brand hallmarks will include a refreshed food and beverage offering with a focus on 'family-style' communal dining and a signature, gourmet lamington bespoke to each location. They will improve in-room touches while wellness will remain central with yoga and meditation classes accessible via in-room TVs. The new Oaks brand and service applications will be gradually rolled out across existing properties and new acquisitions. Asset World Corp Public Company Limited signed a hotel management agreement with Marriott International to launch JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok Ratchadapisek, the city's first and largest recreation-led leisure and MICE destination. The hotel will be located within the Jubilee Prestige Tower, with the resort expected to anchor Bangkok's largest pool and elevate Thailand's global appeal as a premier hub for leisure, wellness, and business travel. The tower will include the 386-room JW Marriott, a premium lifestyle office with a co-living model, and over 10,000 square meters of event space. AWC's acquisition of Le Concorde Tower, which will be rebranded as Jubilee Prestige Tower, is part of its strategic expansion. The Tower will complement the JW Marriott with a Beauty Hub for wellness stays, an Urban Wellness Sanctuary in partnership with health and mindfulness experts, and premium F&B experiences such as a rooftop restaurant, an all-day dining restaurant, an authentic Japanese restaurant, an elegant Chinese restaurant, and a cigar & whiskey bar. Wanda Hotels & Resorts officially opened Wanda Vista Resort Khum Wang Nuea Chiang Mai, the brand's third international project under the Wanda Vista label. The resort is located in San Kamphaeng district, Chiang Mai, and reflects architectural and cultural influences from Thailand's Lanna Dynasty. The resort comprises 29 guest accommodations, including rooms, suites, and villas, with the overall design drawing from the concept of a secluded retreat. The property includes a Thai-fusion restaurant, a poolside bar, fitness facilities, and a spa. The location is adjacent to a golf course, close to local attractions such as hot springs and artisanal villages. Wanda said they are preparing several other international projects in regions including Southeast Asia, Japan, and Southern Europe. Moxy Kuala Lumpur Chinatown has opened in the restored Oriental Bank building on Jalan Hang Lekiu, marking the brand's debut in the Malaysian city. The 21-story hotel offers 320 guestrooms, a social area for check-in and networking, a breakfast spot, and Bar Moxy, a rooftop space for cocktails. Accor's Pullman brand will land in the complex of Eastfall, a complex in Guui Station, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. It is the first entry in eastern Seoul, South Korea, when it opens in July. Pullman Ambassador Seoul Eastfall will be a five-star hotel with a total of 150 rooms, including guestrooms and serviced residences. Amenities will include dining space, a wedding banquet hall, a meeting room, a wellness space, and a swimming pool with a view of the Han River. New Zealand's largest hotel portfolio spanning the tourism capitals of the South Island and Auckland has hit the market with price expectations of more than US$555 million. The NZ Hotel Holdings portfolio has seven large hotels, including the Sofitel Queenstown and Spa, Auckland hotels Four Points by Sheraton, QT Auckland, and Adina Apartment Hotel, Britomart. In Rotorua, the portfolio includes the Rydges Hotel, a BreakFree on Cashel Hotel in Christchurch, and another Rydges property in Wellington. The NZ Hotel Holdings portfolio was assembled in 2019 and is controlled by the NZ Super Fund, Russell Property Group, and the Lockwood Property Group. It was formed to develop New Zealand hotel assets to support domestic and international tourism in the land of the long white cloud. This is considered opportunistic as it follows the record-setting sale of the InterContinental Auckland Hotel for NZ$180 million to Singaporeans in March. CBRE is managing the portfolio sale via an expressions of interest campaign closing June 26.
Khaleej Times
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Hirpa prevails in Ethiopian one-two at Paris Marathon
Ethiopia's Bedatu Hirpa edged compatriot Dera Dida by four seconds to win the women's race in the Paris Marathon, while Kenya's Benard Biwott cruised to victory in the men's race, finishing 48 seconds before his closest competitor on Sunday. Hirpa, who beat Dida in a close finish at January's Dubai Marathon as well, finished Sunday's race in two hours, 20 minutes and 45 seconds as the 25-year-old pulled ahead of others in the last five kilometres with only Dida giving a good chase. Biwott also left others behind in the last 10 kilometres, finishing in two hours, five minutes and 25 seconds, far ahead of Djibouti's Ibrahim Hassan, who was next to reach the finishing line. Kenya's Sila Kiptoo, who was eight seconds behind Hassan, finished third in the men's race while Angela Tanui, also from Kenya, placed third in the women's race, finishing 18 seconds after Dida.
Reuters
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Hirpa prevails in Ethiopian one-two at Paris Marathon
April 13 (Reuters) - Ethiopia's Bedatu Hirpa edged compatriot Dera Dida by four seconds to win the women's race in the Paris Marathon, while Kenya's Benard Biwott cruised to victory in the men's race, finishing 48 seconds before his closest competitor on Sunday. Hirpa, who beat Dida in a close finish at January's Dubai Marathon as well, finished Sunday's race in two hours, 20 minutes and 45 seconds as the 25-year-old pulled ahead of others in the last five kilometres with only Dida giving a good chase. Biwott also left others behind in the last 10 kilometres, finishing in two hours, five minutes and 25 seconds, far ahead of Djibouti's Ibrahim Hassan, who was next to reach the finishing line. Kenya's Sila Kiptoo, who was eight seconds behind Hassan, finished third in the men's race while Angela Tanui, also from Kenya, placed third in the women's race, finishing 18 seconds after Dida.
