Latest news with #Eartha
Euronews
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Fabulous Femmes: Pharrell Williams celebrates Black femininity in new Paris art show
ADVERTISEMENT In FEMMES, a group exhibition, Williams explores the enduring impact of Black women – 'the artists who transform the world through the power of their hands' – through an exploration of femininity. Artists include pioneers octogenarian Esther Mahlangu and Carrie Mae Weems to emerging talent such as Tschabalala Self, Emma Prempeh and Naomi Lulendo. 'Women have been such a force in my life from my grandmothers to my mother, to my wife, my daughter, my nieces, my cousins, people on my team, and people on our extended bench. Women are an amazing force for good in the world,' says Pharrell who is married to model and designer Helen Lasichanh, with a family of four children. Home Alone - Chocolate Girl on Yellow Sofa, 2023 Courtesy of the artist, Galerie Eva Presenhuber and Pilar Corrias Gallery © Tschabalala Self Studio Inc. The subject of identity is tenderly captured in Kenturah Davis' work on delicate woven paper while Tschabalala Self celebrates the black female body in her joyous screen prints featuring lounging figures. The show is eclectic, of course Happy, and expansive featuring 40 cross generation artists who explore the many facets of black womanhood spanning body, fashion, motherhood, activism, queerness and spirituality, through multiple media including photography, painting and, the traditionally under regarded realm of textile art. As Louis Vuitton's Men's Creative Director, it is a genre that fascinates Pharrell. Mixed-media emotions The impact and power of art: what it can be and what it can open eyes to is a driving force for both Pharrell and Perrotin who nimbly tap the convergences between fashion, art, and music. But at this show, the dedication and brilliance of black female artists reign supreme. Eartha, 2009-2025 Archival pigment print Photo: David Regen © Carrie Mae Weems Courtesy of the artist and Gladstone Gallery, New York, Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco, and Galerie Barbara Thumm, Berlin There are mesmerising pigment print portraits of Nina Simone and Eartha Kitt by American artist Carrie Mae Weems, alongside bold graphic abstract paintings by South African Esther Mahlangu who was born in 1935. Finally I'm Home, 2025 Oil, Acrylic and Schlag Metal on canvas 200 x 130 cm Courtesy of Emma Prempeh and Tiwani Contemporary Meanwhile young London talent Emma Prempeh explores ancestral threads in her vivid cinematic paintings, while Lauren Kelley skews stereotypes with her stop motion animations featuring black Barbie dolls. Pool party partners The FEMMES exhibition is a follow up to the 2014 group show G I R L at Perrotin Paris , inspired by Pharrell's eponymous hit album. Pharrell Williams and Emmanuel Perrotin first met in 2007 at a pool party in Miami. They bonded over their mutual admiration for the Japanese art scene led by Takashi Murakami. 'I've always felt grateful to be one of the people that gets to work with him. Every time we're able to collaborate, he makes me see my worth that I don't see in myself, even as a musician. He has the ability to recognise things that will be cultural, make cultural impact and light fires in places that were once something else,' says Pharrell. The respect is mutual. 'Pharrell is so nice and open to everyone, always in a good mood, and always easy going. It's unbelievable, considering his many years of success and his central role in the cultural landscape,' says Perrotin of his friend who also opened his eyes to many under the radar artists in the show. Friends forever: Pharrell Williams and Emmanuel Perrotin Photo: Tanguy Beurdeley/Courtesy Perrotin Perrotin, founded in Paris in 1990 by Emmanuel Perrotin at the young age of 21 is a blue-chip gallery that works at the nexus of pop culture and art. The Claridge's ArtSpace venue in London is the newest in the Perrotin's roster that spans Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai and Los Angeles. 'Emmanuel represents this amazing platform, curated with a very refined spectrum of taste and a really specific point of view on not just what art is, but what art can be. He is one of the people that I really look up to in terms of high-level taste, who sees me. That's the greatest honor,' says Pharrell.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spacecraft built and tested in Belfast to be sent to the Moon
A spacecraft which is due to be built, tested and assembled in Belfast is destined for the Moon, thanks to a new contract signed by Thales Alenia Space. The company, who have a facility in Belfast, has signed an €862 million contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop the Argonaut Lunar Lander, which will deliver cargo, infrastructure and scientific instruments to the moon's surface The Argonaut is set to launch from the 2030s and the maiden mission is expected to handle the delivery of dedicated navigation and telecommunication payloads as well as energy generation and storage systems, marking a significant step for European enterprises exploring the Lunar southern area. Robert Hill, NI SPACE cluster manager said; 'This news is testament to the quality and credibility of Northern Ireland's space sector, which has steadily expanded through collaboration between industry, academia, and the public sector. The most exciting part is—we're going to the moon! READ MORE: Watch: Belfast astronomer on mission to stop asteroid strike on Eartha READ MORE: Northern Ireland born Rosemary Coogan qualifies as an astronaut "In the next five to ten years, we will see propulsion modules from Northern Ireland landing on the moon's surface, and we will also see the region's first ESA astronaut taking flight into space after Rosemary Coogan completed her training last year. That's a major achievement and something that would have seemed impossible just five years ago.' The Argonaut spacecraft comprises three main elements: the lunar descent element (LDE) for flying to the Moon and landing on the target, the cargo platform one, which is the interface between the lander and its payload, and finally, the element that the mission designers want to send to the Moon. A key feature of Argonaut's design is its adaptability, which is why the cargo platform is designed to accept any mission profile: cargo for astronauts near the landing site, a rover, technology demonstration packages, production facilities using lunar resources, a lunar telescope or even a power station. This project will bolster Thales Alenia Space's expertise in several technological areas crucial to space exploration beyond the Moon. "Argonaut lunar lander means a lot to our company" said Hervé Derrey, Thales Alenia Space CEO. "Thanks to this astonishing space vehicle, tons of cargo will be delivered to the Moon's surface, including rovers, scientific missions and many more. This new element of the Artemis program will serve at facilitating long- duration manned lunar exploration missions and will be crucial to increase European autonomy in lunar exploration. "The Moon will also serve as a stepping stone for crewed missions into deep space, with Mars being the next stage of the journey. I wanted to express my gratitude to ESA for awarding this new contract to our company. Today's major achievement strengthens more than ever Thales Alenia Space's leading positions in the fields of space transportation systems, orbital infrastructures and space exploration". "We are truly honored that ESA has renewed its trust in our company by awarding Thales Alenia Space this major contract to develop the European lunar lander that will enable Europe to access autonomously to the Moon's surface", Giampiero Di Paolo, Deputy CEO and Senior Vice President, Observation, Exploration and Navigation at Thales Alenia Space, expressed with pride. "Today, with its longstanding expertise in space exploration infrastructure and vehicles, our company, in line with ESA's and ASI's visions, has decided to enhance its competitiveness by investing in the development of technological solutions to help Europe achieve its goals. Supplying a significant proportion of the International Space Station's pressurized volume, playing a major role on board Artemis, manufacturing the backbone of Orion's European service module and leading flagship transportation programs such as IXV or Space Rider, Thales Alenia Space is more than ever at the forefront of exploration and space transportation systems". For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
