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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Exhibition traces the story of India's first ‘fairytale palace of modernism'
In place of a turban, a safari hat crowns the Maharaja's head. As if weary of pearls and emeralds, the Maharani—seated beside him—wears a glowing smile instead. The striking black-and-white photo of Indore's royal couple in their minimalist chic—he in sunglasses and a blazer, coolly gazing out of his car; she, beautiful and jacket-shrouded, glancing shyly at the camera—was taken in 1933 by a German architect who understood their flair for understatement. By then, Berlin-based Eckart Muthesius spent over three years building the style-forward, young duo a sleek palace without a dome, a "temple of avant-garde" that was India's—perhaps Asia's—first centrally air-conditioned home. Even as external affairs minister S Jaishankar recently flew to Germany to strengthen diplomatic ties, an exhibition in Mumbai is showcasing a much older dialogue between the two nations, albeit in the realm of architecture. Sepia images on the green walls of the Kamalnayan Bajaj Gallery in Byculla's Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum trace the century-old friendship between Yeshwant Rao Holkar II of Indore, his wife Sanyogita, and Muthesius—a bond that gave India one of its earliest modernist buildings: Manik Bagh. Commissioned amid the global economic crisis of 1930 by the slim, English-educated Maharaja who met like-minded Muthesius in Oxford in the 1920s, "Manik Bagh was far ahead of its time," says Raffael Dedo Gadebusch, head of the Asian Art Museum in Berlin who curated the showcase. Built long before Le Corbusier's Chandigarh, "the palace was a so-called Gesamtkunstwerk," says Gadebusch, the curator of the current exhibition, using the German term for a 'total work of art'. "It was a synthesis of architecture, arts, and design like hardly any other building in that period," he adds, comparing the palace—with its sleek lines and pitched roof—to The Bauhaus, the groundbreaking steel-and-glass art school designed by architect Walter Gropius in 1926. Art Deco buildings were just beginning to bloom along Mumbai's Marine Drive in 1933 when the palace—designed in the International Style—was dubbed by the media a "fairy tale palace of modernism". With just nine bedrooms and twenty-four rooms in all, "...this really was a family home rather than a Maharaja's palace," wrote Shivaji Rao 'Richard' Holkar, the Maharaja's son from his third marriage, in the run-up to the 2019 Paris exhibition on his father titled Modern Maharajah. Sent to England at the behest of the British at the age of 12, Yeshwant Holkar II returned to India at age 17 to ascend the throne. By the time he turned 22, he commissioned Muthesius to create his vision of a modernist palace—an Art Deco and Bauhaus-inspired fantasy called Manik Bagh. Muthesius, the son of renowned architect Hermann Muthesius, grew up in a country home frequented by intellectual luminaries such as Albert Einstein. His love of detail came from his mother, a singer and self-taught interior designer. Alongside little-known watercolours, drawings, and design studies by Muthesius, the show features 50 rare vintage photographs by Muthesius, German photographer Emil Leitner, and American visual artist Man Ray, who famously captured the royal couple between moments of affection. Sourced from collections loaned by art patrons Taimur Hassan and Prahlad Bubbar, the images highlight curated objects from the palace, crafted by avant-garde designers who shared Muthesius's minimalist vision. The use of already produced furniture—like the tubular steel chaise longue by Le Corbusier, red armchairs by brothers Wassili and Hans Luckhardt, and pieces by London's PEL company—reflected the jazz-music-loving Maharaja's admiration for the democratic ideals embedded in modernist design. "He was consciously moving away from colonial aesthetics," points out Gadebusch, who believes the Kamalnayan Bajaj gallery, with its original Art Deco tiles, harmonises beautifully with the abstract-patterned carpets designed by Ivan da Silva Bruhns, the French-Brazilian visionary known for his innovations in Art Deco textiles. In a picture titled The Machine Room, the palace's sophisticated air-conditioning unit, manufactured by Borsig in Berlin, looks like a grungy installation—an echo of the 1920s, when machines commanded their own aesthetic category. "Technically, it was a marvel," says Gadebusch, about the palace whose water faucets, staircase banisters, light fixtures, and retractable awnings were all produced in Germany as per Muthesius's strict specifications. Instead of wallpaper, the walls were painted with pigments mixed with glass or metal particles. Doors and windows employed steel frames and thick tinted glass—unprecedented in Asian architecture. Lighting elements, such as the lamps above the Maharani's bed and the wall fixture in the Maharaja's library, were so stark and abstract that, as Gadebusch notes, "they seem to anticipate the minimalism movement of the late 1960s." This subtle aesthetic even extended to a train Muthesius designed later for the Maharaja, standing in sharp contrast to the ostentatious railcars associated with Indian royalty. When the initial plans and furnishings were unveiled in Berlin in the early 1930s, art critics celebrated it as a "fairy tale palace of modernism". Later, the palace evolved to blend beauty and utility, featuring innovations such as clear and darkly tinted glass panes set in metal frames to regulate natural light, India's first air-conditioning system, cubist para vents, pictorial carpets, and vibrantly coloured walls. The circulatory verandas facing the inner courtyard were a thoughtful nod to India's tropical climate. "My father put his foot down on only one major design element," wrote Richard Holkar. "Muthesius wanted a flat roof, in line with the modernist idiom of Le Corbusier, but my father insisted it wouldn't withstand the monsoon. Muthesius relented, designing a sloped roof covered with custom-made green ceramic tiles. International acclaim followed its completion in 1933. The palace became a showcase for modernist masterpieces, and Muthesius was appointed 'Chief Master Builder' of Indore. In 1934, he curated an exhibition at Bombay's Town Hall (now the Asiatic Society of Mumbai), bringing Manik Bagh's bold aesthetic to the heart of India's art scene. Even Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi became involved, travelling to Indore in 1937 to design a 'Temple of Love and Peace' for the royal family. That year, after the sudden death of the young Maharani in a Swiss clinic at age 23, the temple was reimagined as a memorial. Among the standout vintage prints at the exhibition, you will find Brancusi's iconic 'Bird in Space'—a sculpture that the Maharaja bought in black marble, white marble, and bronze—soaring in the Maharaja's living room. A dedicated section showcases other unrealised projects, including a sleek lakeside villa and houseboat in Kashmir. Though Manik Bagh faded from public consciousness following World War II—when Muthesius returned to Germany and Indore merged with the Indian state in 1947—the palace briefly resurfaced in 1970, when French journalist Robert Descharnes stumbled upon it, astonished by its preservation. Some years later, the Indian govt abolished the privileges of the Maharaja families and revoked the state's obligation to pay them maintenance. As a result, furniture, carpets, and lighting fixtures from their residences found their way—often via circuitous routes—back to Europe. In 1980, Sotheby's auctioned off many of these items, including rugs and a striking aluminium and chrome bed with built-in glass bookshelves. Among the bidders was designer Yves Saint Laurent, who also sought a pair of distinctive floor lamps. Stripped of his power and forced to adjust to a new socio-political landscape after independence, the Maharaja of Indore married twice more before passing away in Mumbai at age 53. His children and heirs, Usha Devi and Richard Holkar, preserved his legacy. However, after the abolition of privy purses and royal titles in 1976, they were required to hand over Manik Bagh Palace to the govt. Its eclectic European furnishings were sold at auctions and replaced with utilitarian Godrej cupboards now filled with bureaucratic files. Unironically, the former home of a couple who once enjoyed tax-free govt stipends now serves as the headquarters of the central GST and excise commissioner. When the Maharaja's Mumbai-based grandson, Yeshwant Holkar, visited Manik Bagh last year to invite the commissioner to an exhibition, he found the palace in a state "not befitting of its history or importance." "It's important that govt officials are made aware of its heritage so that any renovations are sensitive to its legacy," says Holkar, who believes the palace could thrive as a museum or a design institute. "Given its global reputation as a modernist icon, the govt could do far more with it." According to Gadebusch, Manik Bagh remains largely unknown to the Indian public outside design and architecture circles. Yet, it is a remarkable example of Indian patronage of Western design and architecture during the Great Depression. Few are aware of Muthesius's pivotal role in creating what is arguably India's most avant-garde residence. "On one hand, it's saddening to see it fall short of its potential. On the other hand, there's real hope. Much can still be restored," says Yeshwant Holkar. "The ball is in the govt's court."
Roya News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Roya News
World Boxing forces gender test on Olympic champion Imane Khelif
Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif will be excluded from upcoming international competitions unless she undergoes a genetic sex test, according to a new policy announced by World Boxing on Friday. The sport's global governing body has introduced mandatory sex testing for all athletes aged 18 and older who wish to compete in World Boxing–sanctioned events. The new regulation requires a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to determine an athlete's chromosomal sex at birth, with a focus on detecting the SRY gene, a marker for the Y chromosome. The policy was made public alongside a specific reference to Khelif, who won gold in the women's welterweight category at the Paris Olympics last year. Her performance sparked a wave of speculation and scrutiny over her eligibility, which has now culminated in formal action from World Boxing. 'Imane Khelif may not participate in the female category at … any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes genetic sex screening in accordance with World Boxing's rules and testing procedures,' the organization said in a statement. It also confirmed that the Algerian Boxing Federation had been officially notified of her ineligibility for the upcoming Eindhoven Box Cup unless the testing is completed. The 26-year-old, who is aiming for another gold medal at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, has not publicly responded to the latest decision. However, in a statement earlier this year, she defended her identity: 'For me, I see myself as a girl, just like any other girl. I was born a girl, raised as a girl, and have lived my entire life as one.' 'I have competed in many tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics and other major competitions, as well as four World Championships,' she added. 'All of these took place before I started winning and earning titles. But once I began achieving success, the campaigns against me started.' World Boxing, which has been provisionally recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is set to oversee boxing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, has tasked national federations with implementing the new testing regime. Federations must certify the sex of each athlete entering competition by providing results from the PCR-based test. The situation has reignited global debate over gender eligibility in sports, with Khelif's case drawing significant attention. Her Olympic success, alongside that of Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, became a focal point of discussion during the Paris Games. Prominent political and public figures, including US President Donald Trump and businessman Elon Musk, publicly commented on the issue.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
May exhausted after gold medal success
Maisy May cradled her medal from the Home International fly fishing championship and declared: "It's exhausting being a gold medalist." Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The owner of Burnhouse Lochan Fishery near Bonnybridge was a member of the ladies squad which triumphed in tough conditions at Lough Lene and she admitted: 'I can't stop sleeping. Well and truly burnt out.' It was a tough week for the squad and Maisy revealed: 'We arrived at beautiful Lough Lene and our homework told us that it would be a hard water and when we were in the boat we soon realised why. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The water was gin clear, the majority of it was shallow and it had a light sandy bottom, you could see everything, beautiful to look at, but not ideal for a competition. Some of the squad 'Our training days went well, in fact, they went very well. Our team picked up a good number of fish every day. We worked hard and gained an incredible amount of information on flies, lines, areas and times. 'We could also see that the other teams weren't having quite as much luck so our heads were held high and we were confident. However, even though on our last training day we were still picking up fish, it was beginning to slow and I made an early prediction that the International match would see a lot of blanks from all nations. 'There were, in fact, 25 blanks out of 36 ladies. The water bowed to the pressure and the soaring heat. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We left the water exhausted, burnt to a crisp and emotional. I had a good cry on the bus while the score cards were being tallied and when we were called back to the shore for the results I don't think I took a breath. We all broke down when England were read as silver. We increased the water level with tears.' Scotland Ladies celebrate She added: 'The homework, the hard work, it all paid off. We were bringing the gold back to Scotland. It was painfully close though, it came down to 1cm.' Manager Iain Earle shared his knowledge and the squad were 'gutted' he couldn't come to Ireland but Gary Hamilton stepped-in as our manager and Maisy said: 'We could see how much it meant to Gary when we lifted that trophy.' There was disappointment, however, for Scotland's ladies carp fishing team in the Tri-Nations in Wales. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They had hoped to move on from their silver medal 12 months ago to claim top spot despite having a new-look team, but England prevailed in the 48-hour event with Wales in the silver medal slot. The squad worked as hard as they could and a spokesman said: 'We can walk away feeling very proud of ourselves and our efforts.' Meanwhile, Ronnie Couper won the Stillwater Bank fund-raiser at Drumtassie with Wilie Carr second and Richard Gray third. Typical Scottish weather greeted the participants with sun, rain, hail and wind. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Locally, Bowden Springs near Linlithgow is back in action after a week-long break and nearby Linlithgow Loch say the most successful set-ups recently have been floating lines, midge-tip and Di7 with orange blob/FAB, buzzer, diawl bach, black and green lures, dries, including daddies, and Nemos. Millhall near Polmont confirm that the water is still producing consistent sport with successful flies including damsel, cormorant, diawl bach, buzzers, egg flies and dries. Allandale Tarn near West Calder report decent dry fly action and Glencrose boss Bill Taylor advises that the current web site for the popular fishery above Flotterstone will cease to operate fom August. Kenny Knox, the incoming owner, proposes to start a new site. In East Lothian, regular Kevin Walkinshaw (Gorebridge) had 16 on FAB and buzzers at Newlands Tweeddale and the next late closing day is on Friday, May 30 (today) with fishing from 9am to 9pm. Derek Plenderleith, fishing manager, said: 'Due to lack of interest, the fishery will only offer late closing on a Friday.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sea fishing now and Jimmy Green from Musselburgh emerged with the top prize in the fourth round of the Bass Rock Shore Angling League's summer series. He was the only angler to return a card from the three-hour event on Seacliffe Beach near North Berwick. It was fished in a north-east swell of between 6ft and 10ft with loads of weed in the water. Secretary James Ogilvie said: 'We stuck it out in a biting easterly wind.' Green's fish was 23cm and he took both pools on the night. Round five is next week at a venue to be confirmed this weekend on the club's Facebook page. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers host their fourth open match on Sunday, June 8 at Riverside Drive in Dundee with registration from 7.30am to 8am and fishing from 9am to 14.00. It is a pegged match sponsored by Tronixpro with catch and release applying with release to 18cm. Pre-book only and contact Chris Horn on 07872 944807. Coarse fishing now and the Scottish Canal Championships are on Sunday, June 29 and the match length is likely to be Wyndford Loch back towards Kelvinhead.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Saint Etienne Announce Final Album, Share Video for New Song 'Glad': Watch
All products featured on Pitchfork are independently selected by Pitchfork editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission. Saint Etienne's Sarah Cracknell, Pete Wiggs, and Bob Stanley, photo by Rob Baker Ashton Saint Etienne have announced announced a new album, and they're saying it's their final one. International, the British indie-pop trio's follow-up to The Night, is out September 5 via Heavenly. The new album is led by the single 'Glad,' which was co-written and co-produced with the Chemical Brothers' Tom Rowlands and features Doves' Jez Williams on guitar. Watch the accompanying video, directed by Scrub, below. 'We asked Tom if he had any songs in progress that might suit Saint Etienne, and he sent a backing track that he'd been working on with Jez from Doves,' Saint Etienne vocalist Sarah Cracknell said in a statement. 'We fell in love with it straight away, and the top line melody and words for 'Glad' came easy.' Pete Wiggs added, 'The song is about taking pleasure in everyday things like nature and the outdoors when life is otherwise getting you down.' Along with Tom Rowlands and Jez Williams, International has contributions from Confidence Man, Erol Alkan, Vince Clarke, Nick Heyward, Orbital's Paul Hartnoll, and Xenomania's Tim Powell. Formed in London in 1990, by childhood friends Wiggs and Bob Stanley, Saint Etienne put out two singles that same year—'Kiss and Make Up' and their cover of Neil Young's 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart'—before they added Cracknell for 'Nothing Can Stop Us.' All three songs appeared on the band's 1991 debut, Foxbase Alpha, which kicked off a decade-defining run of albums, most notable among them 1993's sophomore effort So Tough, 1994's Tiger Bay, and 1998's Good Humor. Wiggs, Stanley, and Cracknell became beloved for their blend of twee indie-pop and contemporary club sound, which balanced an alluringly cosmopolitan sheen with charm, wit, and approachability. After 2005's Tales From Turnpike House, Saint Etienne took an extended break from recording. Since their return, in 2012, with Words and Music by Saint Etienne, however, the band has consistently put out new records, among them Home Counties (2017) and I've Been Trying to Tell You (2021). According to a press release, 'The group aren't splitting up as such—they still remain the best of friends after 35 years recording together—but they don't feel like they want to go on forever and wanted to go out with a bang.' Read about Saint Etienne's Foxbase Alpha in 'The 25 Best Indie-Pop Albums of the 1990s.' $33.00, Rough Trade International: 01 Glad 02 Dancing Heart 03 The Go Betweens [ft. Nick Heyward] 04 Sweet Melodies 05 Save It for a Rainy Day 06 Fade 07 Brand New Me [ft. Confidence Man] 08 Take Me to the Pilot 09 Two Lovers 10 Why Are You Calling 11 He's Gone 12 The Last Time Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
Biz Bahrain
2 days ago
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Bahrain and China review partnership outcomes across key sectors
Muneera Nofal Al Doseri, Chief of the Asia and Pacific Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated in a discussion session organised by the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International, and Energy Studies (Derasat) to mark the first anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the People's Republic of China. Dr. Mohammed Ghassan Shaikho, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the People's Republic of China, and Ni Ruchi, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, were present. Al Doseri addressed the notable progress in ties between the two countries, highlighted by the historic visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the People's Republic of China in May 2024. The visit culminated in a joint statement announcing the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. She commended the cooperation between Bahrain and China, as reflected in the projects launched under agreements signed during the royal visit. These agreements span various domains, including space, health, e-commerce, industrial development, tourism, and the digital economy. She also emphasised the Kingdom's commitment to further strengthening the longstanding friendship with the People's Republic of China. BNA(R)
