Latest news with #TheStarryNight
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
6 creative minds share their secrets on how to keep the ideas flowing
Defining creativity is tough. A seed of an idea can emerge as a painting as ethereal as Van Gogh's The Starry Night, a utilitarian safety pin or an ingenious self-driven car. But whether it is creating art or engineering a device, is being creative a talent ingrained in a few lucky ones? The good news is, creativity is a skill that can be developed. Another point to be made here is that having a creative bent of mind is not essential just to enrich your job or pursue a side hustle. Research, in fact, links creativity to happiness and well-being making it an invaluable asset to possess for the sake of it. Dr Elizabeth Gaufberg, an associate professor of medicine and psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, suggests that practicing or even just interacting with creativity can make us more empathetic, open-minded and sharpen our problem-solving skills. She suggests something as simple as engaging with art to help us tolerate ambiguity and listen to other perspectives. Lounge spoke to six creative minds who know a thing or two about what it takes to keep your brain stimulated and dream up ideas or solutions almost every day. 'BE ABSORBED IN WHAT YOU DO' Who: Peter James is a British bestselling crime author and the creator of the fictional detective superintendent Roy Grace. The book series (of which Queen Camilla is a fan) was eventually made into the British television crime drama series, Grace. With over 30 fast-paced books and a handful of films to his credit, James views creativity differently. How I stay creative: From the day I write the first line of a novel to the day I write that last line, I rigidly write a minimum of 1,000 words per day, six days a week, taking Sundays off. It doesn't matter where in the world I am, I get those words done. The moment I open my screen, find where I am at in the novel I'm writing, and begin typing, I become totally absorbed, to the exclusion of all else. What always helps me in so many different ways is research. In my new novel, The Hawk Is Dead, Queen Camilla is aboard the Royal Train when it derails near Brighton. A key scene is seen through the eyes of the train driver. To write it, I spent a day with Network Rail, learning to drive a train and riding from Brighton to London and back. That experience allowed me to write with authenticity, emotion and vivid detail. Takeaway: Creativity needs discipline, focus, research and commitment. 'DO NEW THINGS THAT SEEM SCARY' Who: Anuja Chauhan, bestselling author of Zoya Factor (2008), writes across genres from romance to mystery. Some of her books –Those Pricey Thakur Girls and Club You to Death – have been adapted for television and movies. How I stay creative: I try to do new things, especially things that scare me a little or are a bit ambitious. One scary thing I did was to swim in the open sea. You get to swim there without waves, sand or grit – just really deep, bobbing water all around. It was exhilarating. I try to learn a new thing, perhaps a musical instrument or a new skill like knitting, painting, baking, salsa dance or Photoshop. Also, being fit is important too. When your body is working hard, your mind goes blank in a wonderful way, which helps you recharge it. By the way, I recently got my Zumba instructor license! Takeaway: New experiences fuel creativity in you, more so when you are mentally and physically fit. 'KEEP YOUR SENSE OF WONDER ALIVE' Who: BS Shivaraju, better known as Cop Shiva. A former Karnataka policeman, Shiva is a fine art photographer known for iconic photo series like Being Gandhi that features photographs of a rural school teacher impersonating Gandhi and No Longer a Memory – a Hong Kong Asian Art Public Vote Prize 2023- winning personal narrative featuring staged self-portraits of his mother Gowramma and himself against Andy Warhol-esque wallpaper backgrounds. How I stay creative: Travelling and meeting all kinds of people has been a huge influence. I am always drawn to the extraordinary stories of ordinary people. Their stories teach me so much. Also, the places I have lived in and the cultures I have grown up with constantly shape my perspective. I observe everything with an open mind and a sense of wonder which keeps my creative energy alive. Takeaway: Creativity can spark when you meet people from different backgrounds. It comes alive when you nurture a sense of wonder in you. 'APPLY YOUR MIND WITHOUT FEAR' Who: Raghava KK is a multi-disciplinary artist – cartoonist, painter, sculptor, performance artist; has pioneered digital and interactive media – his children's iPad book Pop-it (2011) changes storylines on shaking it, his EEG-driven art Mona Lisa 2.0 alters according to the EEG headset wearer's brainwaves; is a co-collaborator of technology-art hybrids along with his brother Karthik Kalyanaraman; an early pioneer of NFT art in India; and TED speaker. How I stay creative: When facing a dilemma, conflict or hurdle in life, the answer often lies in applying your mind to get to a unique solution. For that, I suggest turning any 'WTF' moment into a 'How interesting' situation. Only if you are curious and not fearful, can you solve the issue. Look at the problem you face without any kind of judgment and respond to it. Reframe problems into questions and ask yourself 'What if I do this?" By shutting down all voices we can be as creative as we want. Takeaway: Respond with curiosity rather than fear or judgment. Quiet your inner critic. 'MAKE SPACE FOR CREATIVITY' Who: US-based chef Meherwan Irani's flagship restaurant Chai Pani (2009) revolutionized Indian cuisine in America by introducing authentic spice-forward street food. The restaurant was named the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Restaurant in 2022 and Irani himself is a five-time James Beard-nominated chef. He has since opened other restaurants across the south (USA) and a spice brand (Spicewalla) as well. How I stay creative: Creativity is not an individual exercise. I try to surround myself with creative people. Nothing amps me up more than seeing an old problem in a new light and brainstorming with a group of creative people on how to solve it. You have to make space for creativity. It has to be a structured part of your work day or week. I don't wait for ideas — I schedule creative sessions with others. Our mantra – 'Ideas first, practicality later – is my way of not letting anything get in the way of the creative process. I don't let the 'how' get in the way of the idea. Takeaway: Make space for creativity by consistently making time for brainstorming sessions with other creative people. Get the idea first, think of the 'how' later. 'IDEAS FLOW WITH YOGA & NATURE' Who: Ira Trivedi is an author and trained yoga practitioner-teacher. Her books explore topics of sexuality, gender, women issues and yoga. How I stay creative: A steady practice of yoga has helped me throughout my writing career. It does not just work on the body but also on the mind. After doing yoga, your mind gets clear. This is important especially when we are constantly on our phones and social media where so much stuff is always happening. Also, engaging with nature by going on long walks or observing the gentle flow of the river, for instance, helps nurture the creative spark in us. Takeaway: A holistic practice like yoga or communing with nature can sharpen your ability to see things with a different perspective. These activities also calm you down and enhance your physical and mental wellbeing. Jayanthi Madhukar is a Bengaluru-based freelance journalist.
The National
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
I went to the Tutankhamun exhibition in Glasgow and learned one thing
This all started when I went to the Van Gogh immersive experience, shelling out nearly £20 to see distorted projections of classic artworks alongside specifically appointed selfie areas. This was certainly not how Vincent envisaged his works being received by the public. In fact, for basically the same price you can visit the actual Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam and see the art as it was meant to be seen, and actually learn about the artist as you do it, over four impressive floors. It says a lot about the dissipation of attention spans and the dumbing-down of society that event organisers imagine the public need The Starry Night to be dancing around and about 10 times larger than its original size in order for it to be properly enjoyed. So when I heard that Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition was headed to Glasgow, I feared the worst. I really was quite concerned that the Boy King would repeat these same sins. Ancient Egypt is fascinating. Just reading about it is "immersive" enough. The real artefacts, photographs and first-person accounts from those who discovered its hidden wonders should satisfy you, if you can be bothered to engage your imagination. I have to say, though, that Tutankhamun – apparently the largest immersive exhibition currently touring the world, according to the creatives behind it – was somewhat better than I expected. What it involves Based in the SEC, Glasgow, this 90-minute experience actually does feel like an experience. The beginning has plenty of interesting boards to read explaining the history of the famous king and the time he lived in, and areas showing real and imitation artefacts from the time period, complete with genuinely informative descriptions. I particularly enjoyed learning about the history of archaeologist Howard Carter and how he discovered the famous tomb – the best preserved ever found in the Valley of the Kings. These sections, which were text-based and accompanied by key objects linked to Carter (old diary entries, diagrams of the tomb lay-out), were very well curated and a highlight of the experience. The more "immersive" elements of the exhibition were, for me, disappointing. The 30-minute projected film was confusing and lacked context. With a lack of narration it was not clear what we in the audience were actually looking at, and the low-res bugs all over the floor were distracting. Unfortunately it wasn't amazing to look at either. My boyfriend leaned over at one point and simply whispered "PlayStation 2". The bugs and lizards on the floor prompted more questions than answers ... Mainly: Why is this so low-res? (Image: NQ) The next room was the first VR area and sadly this is when I made a very important discovery about myself. It seems that VR actually makes me feel extremely uneasy. I had heard that motion sickness can occur but I'm not even sure if that was the problem. I felt trapped. I did not like being unaware of my actual physical surroundings. The headset showed me stuck in Tutankhamun's tomb before his journey to the afterlife accompanied by Anubis, which should have been cool, but my heart was racing and my anxiety was telling me I'd soon be heading to the afterlife too if I didn't take the goggles off. I composed myself and went to try again but discovered that every time you remove the set it begins the film again. I put it down to bad luck and moved on. I thoroughly enjoyed the hologram view of Tutankhamun's mummification, which isn't too gory but does give plenty of scientific detail to the fascinating process. I was ready to move on to the final experience, the Metaverse walk-around through the Valley of the Kings. One of the best parts of the exhibition is the mummification process (Image: NQ) After waiting in a line for around 15 minutes for a turn in the room, I tried to push my VR fears to one side. When I eventually reached the front of the queue and the very helpful assistant put the wireless headset on, my ambitions waned. Instructed to look to my right to see my boyfriend's avatar in the virtual world, I witnessed a bizarre cartoon version of him. I didn't like it at all. I wimped out and decided to watch him fumble around cluelessly in the room, which was admittedly very entertaining. My verdict There is a concept known as uncanny valley. It's basically when something, maybe a robot or an animation, looks real ... but it isn't quite. In some people it provokes a feeling of queasiness and unease. I fear I can be partial to this effect. Thinking back on my life I remember being freaked out by claymation figures that are a little too human looking, video-game characters that blur the line between real and fake, and even animatronic people in theme parks. If this is something you experience, I would suggest the Tutankhamun exhibit is not for you. However if you are good with VR, it could be a good time. It has a decent blend of entertainment and informative exhibition space, but more history wouldn't go amiss. I heard other attendees saying they were going to Google lots about Ancient Egypt after leaving. A good exhibition should answer all your questions there and then. It is probably not a bad shout for a summer holiday activity with the kids. Adult tickets cost £28 while kids prices are £20.45, so it's not cheap, but it's also not significantly more expensive than other summer break treats like going to the zoo. With the amount packed into the exhibition, it feels like decent value for money. For those of us who can't take the uncanny, we can stick to the straight-forward, classic museum spaces with no virtual spinning around or cartoon versions of our loved ones. Let's make sure to support our amazing traditional museums here in Scotland, and support their work, so they can continue to put on incredible, educational exhibitions for years to come.
Korea Herald
09-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
LUMA Arles redefines city with renewed energy
LUMA Arles in southern France broadens the horizon of contemporary art appreciation beyond Paris ARLES, France — Along the drive to Arles, extensive sunflower fields extend into the horizon under golden dazzling sunlight. One may realize right away why Vincent Van Gogh was drawn to paint sunflowers during his time in this southern region of France. Upon arriving at LUMA Arles, its iconic tower, designed by architect Frank Gehry, comes into sight. Made of steel, concrete and glass, the building shimmers, reflecting light and the blue sky. It is instantly reminiscent of Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night.' Van Gogh stayed in Arles for less than two years in 1888 and 1889, but he created more than 400 paintings and drawings here, shaping the artist's iconic painting style that is now widely known, according to Mustapha Bouhayati, CEO of LUMA Arles. 'It is light — the light in Arles — that inspires you along with the elements. 'The Starry Night,' for example. You see the swirls in his painting, and it gives me the impression that he painted the wind itself. While many see Van Gogh as a modern artist, to me, he is a very contemporary artist because he was conceptual in what he wanted to represent. 'There was an urge in him to paint, to draw, to do something here. It is really, really interesting,' Bouhayati told The Korea Herald on Saturday. LUMA Arles is located at the Parc des Ateliers, an industrial site built in the 19th century for the construction and repair of locomotives, which was active just before the Second World War and completely closed in the 1980s as the business wound down. Revitalizing the abandoned space, the cultural complex opened to the public in 2021 with several industrial buildings renovated. The initiative was led by Maja Hoffmann, the founder of the LUMA Foundation and heir to a Swiss pharmaceutical fortune. On the ninth floor of the tower is a terrace where one can enjoy a panoramic view of Arles overlooking the surrounding landscape and a Roman amphitheater and theater. The city, once a Roman colony under Julius Caesar, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. When the cultural complex was built in the city, not all responses were welcoming among residents who expressed criticism at the beginning, saying it did not fit with the identity of the city. Such reaction, however, has completely evolved over the years, the director said. 'France is very centralized around Paris, and people here felt quite remote and somewhat overlooked,' he said. "So creating something of this level of excellence on an international scale makes a strong statement." LUMA Arles emphasizes supporting artists in creating experimental works, including site-specific installations, and showcases a variety of exhibitions annually, having commissioned and presented the work of more than 100 artists, according to the institute. Among its permanent installations is 'Isometric Slides' by Carsten Holler, comprising two intertwined stainless-steel slides for visitors to experience. Exhibitions with experimental approaches The museum unveiled seven exhibitions simultaneously on Saturday, bringing together diverse artistic themes from Singapore's Ho Tzu Nyen, Egypt's Wael Shawky, Switzerland's Peter Fischli, Belgian landscape architect Bas Smets, American photographer David Armstrong, interdisciplinary studio EBB in collaboration with American artist Tony Oursler and South Korea's own Koo Jeong-a. At Shawky's exhibition 'I Am Hymns of the New Temples,' a film at the center of the installation shows the story of a wandering Gaia from Greek mythology interpreted by the artist. The film expands into the space with glass and bronze sculptures, recreating the feel of the ancient city of Pompeii. 'Most of my work is involved with the history of the Middle East, and that was my first time ever I decided to work with the Greek mythology and study it to make this film,' the artist told the press Friday. The works on view were created within a month while the artist stayed in Arles in a residency, including seven paintings — a new area of exploration for the artist — according to LUMA Arles. As a visual artist and filmmaker, Ho showed the newly commissioned installation 'Phantoms of Endless Day,' drawing materials from 'Endless Day,' a film project that began in 2011 and had remained dormant since. He used a series of artificial intelligence processes to edit and re-create the images and sounds from the original film. Vassilis Oikonomopoulos, artistic director of LUMA Arles, referred to the work as 'the future of creating images and producing stories and many narratives.' 'I don't think that I have necessarily completed the film I started 15 years ago, but it has developed into something new along with these new processes,' Ho said Friday. Koo's exhibition 'Land of Ouss (Kangse)' brings together a major body of new and recent work spanning from 2007 to the present, featuring sculptures, an olfactory installation and a series of paintings as part of her everyday practices. 'It is very strong fluorescent colors which give a completely different experience here. It is really characteristic of the way Koo approaches architecture, but also the reality of seeing,' Oikonomopoulos said, entering the space glowing with pink fluorescence with the drawings on display. An internationally recognized landscape architect, Smets presents a selection of three key projects that demonstrate how landscape architecture can respond to different challenges of the climate crisis, including the ongoing project to redevelop the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, with a focus on designing environments adapted to climate change. 'What we did here is we looked at all the elements to lower the temperature. We store rainwater, and on hot days, we could have a thin layer of water that will run on the plaza, cooling the air through evaporative cooling. The former parking garage will become a visitor center and will make a park 400 meters long, along the Seine,' he said. The museum runs programs such as artist residencies that invite artists, curators and researchers as well as Atelier LUMA, the design research program dedicated to exploring new ways of using natural and renweable resources in design and architecture on a bioregional scale, according to LUMA Arles.
News18
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- News18
A Van Gogh On Wheels? Bengaluru's Starry Car Leaves Internet Starstruck
Last Updated: Van Gogh painted The Starry Night in 1889, and it remains one of the most cherished artworks in the world. Bengaluru has once again surprised its residents with a quirky and colourful sight — a car wrapped in Vincent van Gogh's legendary painting, The Starry Night. Spotted in the city's trendy Indiranagar area, the art-covered car quickly went viral after an X (formerly Twitter) user posted a photo with the caption, 'Spotted this beauty in Indiranagar last evening! Bengaluru never fails to surprise." Spotted this beauty in Indiranagar last evening! Bengaluru never fails to surprise — Ishita Kedia (@Ishita_Kedia_) July 7, 2025 The photo shows the entire car covered in a detailed custom wrap inspired by Van Gogh's swirling masterpiece — giving it the look of a moving canvas on wheels. The Starry Night, painted in 1889, is one of the world's most famous artworks. Its deep blues and vibrant yellows have been seen on everything from mugs to mobile covers — and now, a car in Bengaluru. As per Hindustan Times, the viral post has already clocked over 67,000 views and received more than 3,000 likes, proving once again that Bengalureans love a touch of the unexpected. How Social Media Reacted Reactions to the vehicle have been as varied as Van Gogh's brushstrokes. While many praised the creativity, calling it 'beautiful" and 'unique," others weren't so impressed. Van Gogh's India Tour? Interestingly, this isn't the first time van Gogh's iconic artwork has made an appearance on Indian roads. Recently, an autorickshaw in Mumbai was also spotted with The Starry Night painted on its back. That image, too, went viral on Instagram, showcasing how the beloved 1889 masterpiece continues to inspire creativity far beyond gallery walls. view comments First Published: July 09, 2025, 09:12 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Van Gogh on wheels: 'Starry Night' car spotted in Bengaluru's Indiranagar goes viral
A car wrapped in Vincent van Gogh's iconic painting The Starry Night turned heads on the streets of Bengaluru, sparking both admiration and amusement on social media. The vehicle, seen in the city's Indiranagar neighbourhood, has become a viral sensation.(X/@Ishita_Kedia_) The vehicle, seen in the city's Indiranagar neighbourhood, has become a viral sensation after an X user posted a photo of it with the caption, 'Spotted this beauty in Indiranagar last evening! Bengaluru never fails to surprise.' The image shows the entire car covered in a detailed, custom wrap inspired by the Dutch artist's swirling blue and yellow masterpiece, making it look like a moving canvas of post-impressionist art. This post was shared just a day ago on X. Since being posted, it has gained more than 67,000 views and over 3,000 likes. (Also Read: Built in April, ruined in July: Bengaluru resident shares timeline of footpath mess in viral post) Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night, painted in 1889, remains one of the most beloved and recognizable artworks in the world. Its swirling skies and vivid blues have found their way onto everything from T-shirts to tote bags. How did X users react? The visual, equal parts bold and unexpected, quickly drew a flood of reactions from Bengalureans and art lovers alike. While some users were impressed by the creativity, others weren't so kind. One comment read, 'Starry Night is so overrated,' while another joked, 'Soon a cop will stop him and say car's color doesn't match RC.' A more practical user even tagged the city's traffic police asking, '@blrcitytraffic is it valid to have such a painting?' Not everyone was impressed, with one user bluntly stating, 'This is not beauty. It's cringe .' Recently, in a surprising twist, the iconic masterpiece was recently seen in an unexpected place, not in a gallery or on a poster, but on the back of an auto rickshaw in Mumbai too. An image of this was shared on Instagram. (Also Read: Mumbaikar in Bengaluru says city defied all warnings: 'Expected hostility, got patience')
