Latest news with #Picassos
NZ Herald
12-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Seven Seas Splendor luxury cruise ship: At the helm and inside the nerve centre
The bridge is generally off limits to guests, but with special permission, the NZ Herald has infiltrated. Armellino is in his element, responsible for the safe passage today of some 1259 people - 711 passengers and 548 crew - gliding across the Mediterranean's Ionian Sea, south of Italy, the captain's home country. He's responsible, too, for a ship that is more akin to a floating art gallery (with $US6 million [NZ$9.97m] of art, including two Picassos) or a six-star luxury hotel and restaurant (with 15 categories of suites, five high-end eateries and highly personalised service). Armellino, 60, has been on the ocean since he was 18, following in the wake of his father, who was a chief engineer, including time on the Achille Lauro cruise ship. Captain Ubaldo Armellino at the bridge of the Seven Seas Splendor. He loves the sea, but didn't like the sheer heat of the engine room that his father endured - 'room' being a loose term. In those days, engineers worked at a desk beside the machines they pampered. Armellino knew he'd enjoy a cooler deck role. 'I respect the sea,' says Armellino. 'I speak with the ship. The officers here all know me, but when a new officer comes on board, they see me talking with the bow, looking at the bow of the ship. They say, 'The captain is crazy'. 'But I have a very good feeling because I speak with the ship. I have to treat it well because it's my home - this is our home.' Armellino has been with Regent Seven Seas Cruises - and its predecessor company, Radisson - for 26 years, starting as a second officer and has a particular focus on the safety and security of all on board. Today, the Splendor is slicing through a flat springtime ocean. There were no issues at all in the five nights we were on board as we moved between Italy, Turkey and Greece. Armellino has a special respect for the Tasman Sea - he's brought several of the Regent ships to New Zealand in the past quarter century. Everything on board is safely bolted in place - including high security for the aforementioned art, including the Picassos, one of which sits above reception in the Prime 7 restaurant. Armellino loves the personalised service of a cruise ship. Generally, he'll try to spend two to three hours each morning walking the decks, speaking with passengers one-on-one. 'I've met thousands and thousands and thousands of people,' he says, although he becomes a little evasive when asked about any famous names. 'Our guests are very, very happy, always happy. I think about what we offer - and of course, what they pay - but what we offer.' He says meeting his guests is the most interesting part of his role. 'I'm not tired because I start from the point that life is a continuous learning process. 'I say to my officers when I have a meeting with them, 'Guys, don't think that you have reached something. I'm a captain. I'm still learning'. 'My goal is to learn [about] human beings, how they think. My wife sometimes makes a joke with me and says, 'You were supposed to be a psychologist'.' He has me thinking about the people I've met over the course of the five days, generally poolside and often with a cocktail or a drink in hand. A bird's eye view of the pool and exterior decks of the Seven Seas Splendor. Thirty-year-old Dakota, originally from Florida, now lives in Texas (Austin, to be precise). She's with her parents from Seattle – they've shouted her a luxury cruise to celebrate her milestone birthday. Another woman and her husband, also poolside, are seasoned cruise-ship travellers. We chat about New Zealand, their love of equestrian in the UK, and a shocking tragedy: their daughter was killed in the UK some years ago. Whether it's a case of celebrating, bringing families and friends together, or remembering loved ones, a cruise has a unique ability to take the stress out of travel. Unpack once and ease back – someone else is driving, someone else is pouring the drink. Get off the boat if you want at myriad stops - don't worry if you don't want to. Armellino says he's seen the world for free, and now he tries to view it through a different lens and always stays curious. He used to go ashore all the time when he was a younger officer, but for a couple of years, as he got older, he started to stay on board more. 'And then my wife suggested to me that you do it in a different way. You buy a good camera. 'So now I go around, I take a picture. That can be another way of how to visit. I love it. I go out even if I've been, let's say, to Barcelona 100 times. I try to discover places where I've never been. 'But I've reached the point that I have more than 20,000 pictures and no one wants to see my pictures.' Before I can blurt out the obvious question, Armellino takes command. 'I'm sure that you would like to know which country is the most beautiful? 'I love French Polynesia because there I feel free again. There is this freedom over there. Everything is still wild. Tahiti and Bora Bora. Bora Bora is one of my preferred places.' Bora Bora's coral maze and shark encounters redefine island adventures. Photo / Supplied He spends 10 weeks on the ship, and then 10 weeks at home. He's not permanently attached to the Seven Seas Splendor - he can be rostered onto any one of Regent's six ships (the other five are the Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Grandeur, Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Navigator, and Seven Seas Voyager). His wife encouraged him to be a cruise ship officer from the start. 'She said that when you work on the cargo ship, you become like a bear. Working on a cruise ship, you would be more human. She was right many years ago.' Home for the couple and their four children is Castel Gandolfo, located in the Castelli Romani region, about 20 minutes from Rome. 'There's a switch. At home, you focus on your family. On the ship, it's the safety and security of the crew and guests, and being as professional as possible. 'On the ship, I am a captain. At home - this is what I said to my wife - I am the second in command.' Details Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie was a guest of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, sailing on Seven Seas Splendor from Salerno, Italy, to Athens Greece. For more information on Revent Seven Seas Cruises, visit FACT BOX Name: Seven Seas Splendor Launched: February 2020 Guest capacity: 746 Crew: 548 Suites: 373, all with balconies Dinner restaurants: 5 Artwork value: $US6 million (NZ$9.97m) Length: 224m Athens to Istanbul Ship: Seven Seas Splendor Departs: May 15, 2026, from Athens (Piraeus) 7 nights Up to 42 shore excursions included Visits: Athens, Santorini, Heraklion Mykonos in Greece. Plus Istanbul, Turkey. Deluxe Veranda Suite G2 from $NZ10,610.00 per person
Irish Post
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
The Pirates, and Pollocks, of Penzance
DON'T let the name bother you. You don't need to know your Picassos from your Pollocks to stay at the Artist Residence. You're not obliged to doodle a masterpiece on the napkin. There will be no humiliating quiz at checkout. Nonetheless, those of a creative spirit will love this place. Tucked away in the historic quarter of Penzance, in a tall Georgian house with narrow stairs, this is the kind of retreat that the phrase 'boutique hotel' was coined for, and makes the ideal base for discovering the ancient Cornish town. You won't find many pirates left in Penzance, contrary to expectations raised by the Jolly Roger fluttering from the 17th-century Admiral Benbow directly opposite. This inn was the fictional home of Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, but spare the staff your best Long John Silver impression, 'Aahaar Jim lad'; they'll have heard it before. Impeccable smokehouse fare at Artists Residence Cornwall Sleeping quarters at the Residence are decorated in quirky, coastal style. Slate and bleached wood abound. Tea chests serve as tables; raw planks for shelves. Roberts radios are plugged in, and tuned to Radio 3 for your tasteful listening pleasure. Downstairs, The Cornish Barn smokehouse is usually packed with residents and locals alike, attracted by the superior BBQ-style cooking and the big lit-up signs. We snaffled a bowl of maple and chilli-roasted nuts and fennel salt pork scratchings before getting stuck into parsnip rösti with caramelised onion and goat cheese, chicken wings with apricot and soy, served by the kind of friendly, attractive staff that Cornwall does so well. Excellent breakfasts are served here too; alternatively, you can have a hamper stuffed with Danish pastries delivered to your room. This is the sort of place where you want the weather report to say, 'Deep frontal system moving in, ahead of an even deeper depression. The Met Office advises the public to make no unnecessary journeys.' The Admiral Benbow - flying the flag for pirates for over 400 years Even if your day has been planned around as little activity as possible, at some point you'll want to get out and explore. The Residence lies on Chapel Street, which runs from the centre of town down to the harbour; this is Penzance's former main street, and along this thoroughfare have marched (or crept) smugglers, soldiers, sailors, pilgrims, and – yes! – pirates. The now defunct Georgian theatre on the street is said to be where the first public announcement of Nelson's victory at Trafalgar took place. Elsewhere in town are art galleries, booksellers and the usual sprinkling of antique and charity shops – reputed to contain rich pickings for bling and bric-a-brac aficionados. Admittedly, the delights of Penzance itself are limited, but this narrow end of the peninsula is the perfect jumping-off point for all the starry beaches and historic little fishing towns so beloved by the guidebooks. Ease yourself in with a walk along nearby Mount's Bay, overlooking the fairytale pile of St Michael's Mount, then head west, taking in the adorable fishing port in Mousehole en route. Remember to call it 'Muzzle', or the locals will laugh at you. Eventually, you'll hit Land's End. It's one of those places you have to tick off your list, bucket or otherwise; a modest enough headland, with some kind of holiday complex thing which you'll probably want to body-swerve, But it's still impressive enough, topographically; paths wend their way above cliffs carved out by the waves of the mighty Atlantic Ocean, while seabirds, basking sharks, seals and dolphins regularly put in an appearance. Looking south - next landfall northern Spain You also need to stick Porthcurno on the list. A sheltered sandy cove, the waters here are among the warmest waters in these islands, thanks to the Gulf Stream, and somehow manage to look as turquoise as the Caribbean on even a grey November day. If sunbathing is off the cards, the coastal path winds round the cove, with great viewing points to watch out for passing cetaceans. It also passes by the Minack, Cornwall's extraordinary open-air amphitheatre, constructed above a gully with a rocky granite outcrop jutting into the sea. The cast will perform in any weather, so don't expect your money back if it rains. See below for a run down on what's coming up at the Minack. A day at the theatre, then back to Penzance, maybe for a drink at the Turk's Head in the heart of the town. Reputed to date from 1233, it takes its name from the 'Turks' — that is, pirates operating from North Africa who were active in the waters round Penzance about that time. The Turk's Head was later a haven for pirates and smugglers, who made use of a tunnel running from the pub to the harbour—still visible from the courtyard today. The Cornish Barn smokehouse at the Artist Residence History of Penzance Penzance, on the western tip of Cornwall, has been shaped by its maritime heritage — through trade and indeed military matters, its strategic position near Land's End has been crucial. The town's name is derived from the Cornish language a Celtic tongue that is now more or less extinct. Pen Sans in Cornish means 'holy headland,' referencing a chapel that once stood on the site of the present-day harbour. A settlement has existed here since at least the Bronze Age, but Penzance rose to prominence in the medieval period as a market town and fishing port. It was frequently targeted by pirates and foreign fleets; in 1595, it was infamously raided and burned by Spanish forces—one of the last foreign attacks on English soil. The 18th and 19th centuries brought prosperity through tin mining, pilchard fishing, and shipping. The arrival of the railway in 1852 linked Penzance to London, transforming it into a popular destination for Victorian holidaymakers. The town is closely associated with Cornish identity and heritage, including links to the arts and folklore. It's also famously referenced in Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera The Pirates of Penzance. Fact file In a nutshell the Artist Residence combines eclectic luxury with a homely, intimate ambience. The Artists Residence, 20 Chapel Street, Penzance TR18 4AW; 01736 365664; Prices from around £230 per night The Minack Theatre Northanger Abbey: Jane Austen's classic novel is brought to life from April 30 to May 15, with multiple performances. Minack Theatre HOWL Vocal Ensemble: This UK-based vocal group performs on May 9. Music from The Penguin Cafe: Experience their unique sound on May 16. Seth Lakeman: The acclaimed folk singer-songwriter takes the stage on May 19 and 20. Songkick Les Misérables: Let the People Sing: A special community production celebrating the musical's 40th anniversary, running from May 25 to 30. Minack Theatre Journey to the Stars: A family-friendly show by Squashbox Theatre, exploring the wonders of the universe, from May 26 to 28 See More: Artist Residence, Cornwall, Penzance
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Home: Five fabulous finds for our lives and living spaces
We are obsessed here at Home with the transformative powers of Kukoon rugs — seeing a sizeable abstract-patterned number from the range added to a living space is to witness a makeover at its best. Selecting from the variety online is like choosing artwork to display perpendicular to your personal Picassos. Kukoon Ruskin Aqua. Right now we're loving the company's suggestion to 'make your garden your new favourite room' — by planting an outdoor rug front and fore, naturally. See, while we may have the patio barbecue kit sorted, it's this extra touch that'll make that zone sizzle (sorry!). Flatweave materials ensure these 'superheroes' of the rug world are moisture-resistant and quick-drying; free delivery on orders in Ireland and Britain; see Kukoonrugs. Designs on Dublin Kerry man Bryan O'Sullivan will be among the world-famous names showcasing how design shapes our environment. Originally from Kenmare, London-based interior design superstar Bryan joins Shelley McNamara and Yvonne Farrell of Grafton Architects, Katie Harbison, New York, Paul McClean, LA, Suzie McAdam, Roisin Lafferty, and Maria MacVeigh, Dublin, for the inaugural Design Week Dublin (DWD), May 19 to May 25. Design Week Dublin, May 19-May 25, at Dublin's Docklands. Bryan's talk is on May 20, at 9.30am, at Anantara The Marker. Tickets for DWD are from €20; see Designweekdublin. PurePanel from Havwoods. Drama and depth See how the kitchen panelling by Havwoods pictured here adds drama and depth. The layered construction of engineered wood also boosts its durability, says John Flannery, Havwoods; Havwoods. Spirit of success The traditional Victorian-inspired glass bottle that contains Muckross Wild Irish Gin looks so appealing you'd almost be tempted to own it for its ornamental qualities alone — almost, we say. The botanical blend within wowed judges at the Berlin International Spirits Competition who named the craft tipple (€49.95 for 70cl) as their gold winner. Winner: Muckross Wild Irish Gin. Hawthorn, blackthorn, heather, rosehip, rosemary, bitter orange, grapefruit, juniper, angelica, and coriander are placed in the still at the same time. Bottled at 40% ABV, it's proved a surefire recipe for success — also recently scooping the title Ireland's Gin of the Year. Andrea Kissane established Muckross Wild Irish Spirits in her native Killarney along with Derry man Martin Wray, who has made the Kingdom his home. 'We were thrilled to hear that Muckross Irish Gin was a double winner,' says Andrea. 'We are a new spirit from an ancient Kingdom, and it is this fusion of modern ideas with the timelessness of our home that makes our mellow, elegant gin so special.' See Muckrossirishgin. Hoxton sofa. Pink power Who doesn't adore a pop of pink? The French Connection Hoxton sofa in Rose sits nicely in any spring/summer set-up; exclusive to DFS €1,659; Dfs.
New Indian Express
24-04-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Skyroot Aerospace en route to Earth orbit
As soon as the exam ended and the bell rang, what did we do with our question papers? Some of us tossed them back in our bags to foretell our marks, while others fancied themselves to be Picassos and Van Goghs, turning the sheets into their personal doodle pads. But then there were those who meticulously folded the paper to create rockets, pretending to be India's top scientists before the next period started. Because rockets — they're fascinating, aren't they? Well, Pawan Kumar Chandana's fascination skyrocketed to the point where he, along with his friend Naga Bharath Daka, founded Skyroot Aerospace, which launched India's first privately developed rocket. A former ISRO scientist and IIT Kharagpur alumnus, Pawan now leads a team of over 350 individuals building world-class launch vehicles. He speaks with CE about Skyroot's ascent, Vikram-I, and what lies ahead. Excerpts Skyroot is very clear about its mission to 'open space for all'. In an era where many are looking to 'conquer' space, where does this thought come from? Space was always meant to be a place to explore, learn from, and utilise thoughtfully to improve lives on Earth. Astronauts say that from up there, you don't see boundaries and regional differences, but just this beautiful blue marble that sustains life like no other planet we know of. Earth is a unique place in the vast galaxy, and what we achieve in space, be it through satellite communications or deep space exploration, should be for the benefit of all on Earth. Our purpose at Skyroot is to enable this by democratising access to space. Once we remove the barriers to space for nations, startups, and even universities alike, we can build incredible technological solutions that can impact how we live, communicate, irrigate, plan our cities, protect the environment, and more. This one is for our curious readers — why the name 'Skyroot'? We aim high and soar skyward — not for the sheer thrill of it, but for the very rooted belief that what's up there improves lives on Earth. Were you always interested in space? I come from a very humble family. Good values and good education were the dinner topics; space at the time felt so far off. But as I grew up, my deep passion for technology and the cosmos grew. Even as rockets fascinated me, I did not know that I would one day be building them. The turning point was at IIT-Kharagpur. I came to know that ISRO was coming to the campus for recruitment. At that time, most IIT students preferred to join consumer tech companies or global software giants, and even ISRO did not frequent IITs so often. But my single-minded focus then was to join ISRO, because I knew space was my calling. You were a scientist at ISRO for several years. How was your stint there and what fuelled you to set up Skyroot? The six years I spent at ISRO were incredibly rewarding. It was a fulfilling dream to be part of building a rocket. I had the opportunity to be part of the team that built the biggest rocket ISRO was then developing — the LVM3, or the Bahubali rocket. ISRO was also a great vantage point to observe how the rest of the world was developing their space technologies. I could see the rise of private companies in the US and other countries, which were building rockets innovatively and cost efficiently. Private space programmes were broadening the horizon of who could access and build for space. I could see how the future of space was evolving. And yet, there was no Indian private company building rockets. So, I found the second chapter of my space calling. In 2018, my friend Bharath and I started Skyroot. We wanted to build an Indian company that could go global and develop rockets for the world. In 2022, Skyroot launched India's first privately developed rocket, Vikram-S. And recently, you test-fired Kalam-100, the third stage of Vikram-I. Can you tell us more about this? As the saying goes, it is rocket science — it is incredibly challenging. Numerous systems and subsystems have to sync in perfect harmony for a rocket to launch successfully. You have to test and test again until you perfect every small aspect of a rocket. And even then, there are external challenges such as unexpected weather. The margin of error is very slim. The true test is to launch a rocket. And that is what makes Vikram-S special. It was a validation for the technologies that we had developed at Skyroot. It was our small writing in the sky to showcase where we have reached, and where we plan to go further. Now, we are preparing to validate the second part of that, i.e., where we plan to go. With Vikram-I, we aim to place satellites from across the world into Earth's orbit. No private company in India has done this before. So, we have to test every aspect of this seven-storey-tall rocket before placing it vertically on the launchpad. This includes static fire of all the three solid stages, numerous short and long duration firing of the liquid engines, and more. In the recent test, we fired the third stage of the rocket called Kalam-100, which is designed to operate completely in space. The test evaluated its ballistic performance, thermal insulation, nozzle actuation, and other key parameters — and it was a great success. For the uninitiated — what does it take to build a rocket? Audacity and perseverance. Of course, there is a lot of technological innovation and iterations involved. But building a rocket is not a linear journey. No rocket has ever been built without some failure or another. You will face setbacks on the way. You have to learn from them just as you do from your successes. At Skyroot, we have been fortunate to have built a team that is as passionate as any of us are on this mission. What are the common challenges that startups in the space sector face, and what advice do you have for them? Space-tech endeavours are time- and capital-consuming. There will be setbacks and challenges that will test you. It is important to maintain a consistent long-term perspective when crafting strategies, rather than succumbing to the allure of short-term gains. That's my advice to entrepreneurs starting out as well: stay resilient and stay true to your trajectory. A rocket doesn't take a straight line to space... building a space startup is a similar journey. How can we cultivate the interest of children and youngsters in space? Science fiction movies and books have done wonders in sparking interest in space among young minds. Beyond that, we need to make space education more accessible and engaging. Schools can incorporate space-related topics into their curriculum, organise visits to research institutes and startups, and invite professionals from the space industry. The young minds should get an opportunity to see and work with technology. Can you tell us about the upcoming goals you have? Future launch vehicles, such as Vikram-II, are being developed. Our immediate goal remains the maiden flight of Vikram-I, slated for the second half of this year, and to learn from that to make further improvements to the launch vehicle. With Vikram-I, we want to offer satellite launches into a variety of orbits at a high frequency. If all goes well, you are going to see a lot of Vikram-I launches from India in the coming years.
CairoScene
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Emirati Cartoonist Khaled Al Jabri on Turning Criticism into Art
Emirati Cartoonist Khaled Al Jabri on Turning Criticism into Art There's a peculiar kind of magic in the way toddlers wield crayons. Unburdened by proportion, perspective, or the existential dread of going viral, they scribble with the chaotic confidence of Picassos raised on sugar. Adults, meanwhile, clutch pens like live wires—terrified of misspelling 'accommodate' in an email, let alone sketching a thought. But somewhere between the reckless abandon of childhood and the soul-crushing weight of grown-up expectations, Khaled Al Jabri found a loophole: a pencil, a pixel, and a philosophy that 'art is the ultimate Ctrl+Z for life's messes.' A mechanical engineer by profession and a satirical illustrator by instinct, Al Jabri is one of the UAE's most distinctive cartoonists. His minimalist, expressive line work has graced newspapers, social feeds, and even corporate collaborations, each piece a sharp, wordless commentary on modern life. In a region where editorial cartoons have often taken a backseat to traditional journalism, Al Jabri has carved out a rare space—one that bridges nostalgia with digital virality, humor with critique. Khaled Al Jabri wields his pen like a compass—navigating the chaotic seas of satire, social media algorithms, and the occasional existential dread of an artist who moonlights as a petroleum engineer. His story isn't just one of lines and erasers; it's a masterclass in drafting, redrafting, and redrawing the boundaries of creativity in a digital age that demands both wit and resilience. From the hushed corridors of UAE University, where he first dared to scribble his frustrations into campus magazines, to the dizzying realm of Instagram reels where a single post can spark applause or cancellation, Al Jabri's journey is a testament to the quiet power of humility—and the occasional, well-timed punchline. 'When I started, I was terrified of criticism. But I chose to get hurt and learn from it. You'd get more hurt if years pass by and your work piles up in a drawer,' Al Jabri tells SceneNowUAE. His foray into cartooning began as a university student, channeling the 'negativities' of campus life into caricatures that echoed the sharp, wordless satire of Eastern European traditions. Early critiques were brutal. 'A friend even told me my work was zift [rubbish],' Al Jabri admits. 'I thought, okay, next time I'll make it less… zift.' The gamble worked. His work soon landed in Al Khaleej newspaper, catapulting his audience from campus peers to millions. Yet, as print's influence waned, Al Jabri pivoted, trading newsprint for Instagram grids. 'Social media's a wild sea,' Al Jabri says. 'You throw your art in, not knowing if you'll catch praise or piranhas.' Navigating platforms where 'the audience is a psychologist's puzzle,' Al Jabri walks a tightrope between viral trends and artistic integrity. 'It's a sea—you throw your art in, not knowing if you'll catch praise or piranhas.' His strategy? 'You can't just chase likes. If your art doesn't resonate with you, it's a disservice.' With a process that's a cocktail of spontaneity and strategy, ideas strike mid-conversation or during encounters with Dubai's infamous speed radars—'I once drew a radar sprouting from a garden.' He sketches first on paper ('the true passion'), then polishes digitally. But above all, his duality is his superpower. By day, he's a mechanical engineer in the petroleum industry; by night, a digital satirist and accidental scriptwriter. 'Life is weird. You open a door because you are trying to get somewhere, and suddenly a million new doors open—ones you didn't even expect,' Al Jabri says. His 2016 comic, blending petrol lore with punchlines, remains a career highlight. 'I took the petrol, art, engineering, and scriptwriting and mixed them in a blender. What came out was a comic book about the story of petrol in comics, and somehow, it worked.' For Al Jabri, art is therapy. 'When words fail, drawings speak,' he reflects. Yet, he's philosophical about impact. 'You never know if your work changes minds or just echoes what's already there. But being part of the conversation? That's enough.' His advice to aspiring artists? 'Continuance and consistency. Draw for 25 years—then tell me it's hard.' As for his own legacy, he grins: 'In 10 years, maybe I'll be leading engineering projects… or painting murals in cafés. Who knows? The beauty is in the not knowing.' Khaled Al Jabri's career is a cocktail shaker of contradictions—engineer and artist, traditionalist and digital nomad, humble scribe and accidental influencer. In a world obsessed with labels, Al Jabri remains gloriously unboxed. And perhaps that's his greatest caricature of all: a man who proves that creativity, like oil, can fuel unexpected journeys—so long as you're brave enough to strike the right vein.
