Latest news with #rhythms
New Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Nature through the eyes of four artists
NATURE has always been an artist's muse — from the fluid lines of landscapes to the fleeting beauty of flowers in bloom. At AweGallery, Petaling Jaya, that timeless inspiration takes on new life through Rhythm of Nature, a curated art exhibition that brings together four distinct voices, united by friendship, creativity, and a deep love for the natural world. The exhibition features the works of Jane Tan, Min Yin Thant, Wong Siew Lee and Felicia Yee — four artists connected through the Malaysia Art Society. While each of them has followed a unique artistic journey shaped by different backgrounds and personal experiences, Rhythm of Nature highlights the ways they each respond to nature's forms, rhythms and movements in their own way. The title of the exhibition itself is a reflection of that shared yet personal connection. Inspired by the gentle, constant movement found in nature — the sway of leaves, the flight of birds, the shifting of light — Rhythm of Nature captures how much like life and art, nature is never static. It changes, breathes and transforms over time. This curated showcase is a celebration of diversity, harmony and creativity, offering visitors an experience where different artistic voices respond to the same timeless muse. Among the featured artists is Jane Tan, an Indonesian-born Malaysian painter whose work reflects a sensitivity towards both eastern and western aesthetics. Tan's artistic journey has taken her to exhibitions across Asia, including the 9th Asian International Art Exhibition in Qingdao, China (2018), the Art Expo Bagan in Myanmar (2020), and a first-prize win in an international art competition organised by the China National Tourist Office. For Rhythm of Nature, Tan presents a series of five paintings dedicated to her two favourite subjects: ducks and swans. Through these elegant birds, she expresses a profound love for nature, using her brushwork to capture both the grace and symbolism of these creatures within their natural surroundings. Also exhibiting is Min Yin Thant, originally from Yangon, Myanmar, now residing in Malaysia. Thant was first introduced to the world of art at a young age by his father, a charcoal portrait artist. Many of his previous works are steeped in memories of traditional Myanmar, reflecting a nostalgic connection to his homeland. This time, Thant takes his work in a new direction, offering what he describes as an imaginative expression of nature viewed through a contemporary lens. His artworks for Rhythm of Nature remain infused with nostalgia, yet they reach for a fresh interpretation of the serene, meaningful past as seen through nature's forms and textures. Meanwhile, Malaysian visual artist Wong Siew Lee contributes a different perspective to the exhibition. Known for her abstract works inspired by Buddhist reflections on impermanence and transformation, Wong's journey into visual art came after an earlier career in quantity surveying. She later pursued a Master of Arts in Visual Arts from the University of Malaya in 2018. For this exhibition, she presents Beyond the Veil of Horizon — a panoramic painting that unfolds from left to right in a lyrical flow of colour, light, and movement. The work invites viewers to experience nature's transitions, from misty dawns to radiant sunsets, capturing the in-between moments that blur the lines between the seen and unseen, the transient and the eternal. Completing the quartet is Felicia Yee, an artist and educator who's been actively involved in art education since founding Ascend Art Studio in 2013. Yee's practice spans a wide range of mediums, from ink to mixed media, and she has exhibited her works in countries including Thailand, South Korea, and Singapore. Recently, her focus has shifted towards appreciating the understated beauty of everyday life — still life compositions featuring tea, flowers, and birds. This contemplative approach forms the foundation of the works she's showcasing, offering a gentle reminder of nature's presence in the ordinary and familiar. CELEBRATION OF NATURE What makes Rhythm of Nature especially meaningful is the way the artists, though distinct in their styles and mediums, come together in shared celebration of the natural world. It's a conversation across canvases — some abstract, some representational, some nostalgic — all echoing the subtle movements and enduring spirit of nature. Visitors to Rhythm of Nature can expect a thoughtfully curated collection of works that reflect not only the artists' technical skill, but also their individual ways of seeing and feeling the world around them.
CBC
23-05-2025
- Science
- CBC
May 24: How to live forever, and more...
Apart from their rich vocal palette, chimpanzees drum on trees to communicate over long distances. A new interdisciplinary study, led in part by PhD student Vesta Eleuteri and primatologist Cat Hobaiter from the University of St. Andrews, investigated the rhythms they used and found that different populations drum with rhythms similar to the beats in human music. The research was published in the journal Current Biology. The Archaeopteryx, a 150-million-year-old bird-like dinosaur, is known from about a dozen fossils found in Germany. A new one recently studied at Chicago's Field Museum may be the best preserved yet. It's giving researchers, like paleontologist Jingmai O'Connor, new insights into how the ancient animal moved around the Jurassic landscape. The research was published in the journal Nature. Inspired by the structure of bone, researchers have created limestone-like biomineralized construction materials using a fungal-scaffold that they seeded with bacteria. Montana State University's Chelsea Heveran said they demonstrated they could mould it into specific shapes with internal properties similar to bone, and that it remained alive for a month. It's early days yet, but she envisions a day when they can grow living structural material on site that may even be able to heal themselves. The study is in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science. Scientists have created a clever combination of physical sensors and computer technology to produce a flexible Band-Aid-like device that can accurately read emotions when it is stuck to the face. It's not quite mind reading, but it could give physicians better insight into the emotional state of their patients. Huanyu Cheng of Penn State led the work, which was published in the journal Nano Letters. Do you want to live forever? As he noticed himself showing signs of aging, immunologist John Tregoning decided to find out what he could do to make that possible. So he explored the investigations that scientists are doing into why we age and die — and tried a few experiments on himself. Bob speaks with him about his new book, Live Forever? A Curious Scientists' Guide to Wellness, Ageing and Death. Tregoning dutifully documents everything he discovers as he undergoes testing for his heart, gets his genes sequenced, has a bronchoscopy, and follows an extreme diet, among other experiments. But he comes to the conclusion that "when it comes to improving life outcomes, exercise considerably trumps nearly everything I am planning to do whilst writing this book."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nigerian Star Seyi Vibez Partners With EMPIRE, Drops New Single ‘Pressure'
Nigerian street star Seyi Vibez has partnered with EMPIRE on new music, and released a new single called 'Pressure' as part of the new deal. The song, more low-key than the gritty street vibe on which the artist has built his career thus far, 'is a complete shift from my usual sound,' Seyi Vibez said in a statement announcing the release. 'It leans into melody, intimacy and raw emotion. It's smoother, softer and more intentional. I wanted to show my range, to prove that I can give you fire and tenderness in the same breath. This track is about the quiet power of love and attention. Sometimes the loudest statement is how you move when no one's watching. That's real pressure.' More from Billboard From the Bay Area to Africa, How EMPIRE Became A Global Force Aaron Paul Opens Up About Tracking Down Tour Managers to Get Bands to Perform in His Living Room Ye Claims He's 'Done With Antisemitism': 'Forgive Me for the Pain I've Caused' Still just 24, Seyi Vibez burst onto the Nigerian music scene in 2022 with debut album Billion Dollar Baby, mixing a variety of genres and styles into his own sound that captured the rhythms of his neighborhood in Lagos. Since then, he has proved prolific, dropping a series of singles, albums and EPs, most recently February's Children of Africa, which saw all four of its songs reach the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, and his catalog has racked up north of 400 million on-demand streams in the U.S. alone, according to Luminate. Along the way, he's collaborated with the likes of Burna Boy, Olamide, Young Jonn, Kizz Daniel, BNXN, Russ and NLE Choppa, among others. 'We are happy to partner with Seyi Vibez, an artist whose vocal dexterity and versatility truly stand out,' said Mobolaji Kareem, EMPIRE's regional head of West Africa, in a statement. 'He is a great fit and we look forward to helping his continued growth as a global artist.' 'I'm stepping into this new chapter with the spirit of my ancestors,' added Seyi. 'I carry the energy of Orisa: the guardian, the protector, the voice of the city.' Check out the new song below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
NIT-R develops new atrial lead system for arrhythmia detection
Bhubaneswar/Rourkela: Researchers from NIT-Rourkela designed a novel lead placement system called the (ALS) using the electrocardiogram (ECG) machine and its electrodes to detect irregular heart rhythms, or arrhythmias, responsible for a large number of cardiac-related deaths around the world. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Usually, doctors or healthcare workers use an connected with 12 electrodes to measure the electrical activity of the heart by placing the electrodes on different parts of the body. Lead wires are connected with the electrodes and the ECG machine. In an ECG, doctors check the 'P-wave', which reflects the electrical activity in the upper chambers of the heart. However, P-waves are often small and easily lost in background noise or obscured by stronger signals from other parts of the heart. As a result, detecting atrial arrhythmias can sometimes be difficult, particularly in busy clinical settings or with low-cost monitoring equipment, said the researchers. J Sivaraman, research lead and assistant professor, department of biotechnology and medical engineering, NIT-Rourkela, said lead placement involves positioning these electrodes to capture clear signals from the heart. Placing three leads and positioning the electrodes at the right place on the chest brought wonderful results in improving the accuracy of , he added. "The ALS uses a modified arrangement to improve how electrical activity from the atria is recorded. By strengthening these signals, especially the P-wave, the system helps improve the accuracy of arrhythmia detection, both by doctors and by computer-based diagnostic tools," he added. Other researchers were N Bala Chakravarthy and Kunal Pal, along with research scholars Prasanna Venkatesh and Arya Bhardwaj from NIT-Rourkela, with clinical collaborations and validation provided by Dr R Pradeep Kumar, Institute of Cardiac Care, MIOT International, Chennai. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Findings of this research were published in international journals, including Biomedical Signal Processing & Control, Medical Hypotheses, and Physical & Engineering Sciences in Medicine. The research team also filed a patent application for the atrial lead system. This new system helps in easily detecting subtle electrical signals from the upper chambers of the heart, which are often too indistinct to be seen clearly in regular ECGs. These signals play a key role in identifying abnormal heart rhythms that can lead to serious conditions such as , which can further lead to stroke, said Dr R Pradeep Kumar. Irregular heart rhythm in the heart's upper chambers, known as atrial arrhythmias, are among the most common, especially in patients who were hospitalised. Identifying these arrhythmias in an early state can help doctors begin timely treatment and prevent complications, said Sivaraman. The ALS mechanism requires no change to the ECG machine itself. The innovation lies entirely in the way the leads are placed, which means the upgrade can be easily adopted in both public and private healthcare settings without additional cost, said the researchers.
Miami Herald
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Powerhouse singer-songwriters Pascuala Ilabaca, La Muchacha, pair traditions with modern sensibilities
Singer-songwriters Pascuala Ilabaca, from Chile, and La Muchacha (aka Isabel Ramírez Ocampo), from Colombia, bring to the stage traditional styles and rhythms updated with elements drawn from a broad range of sources, from rap and rhythm and blues to music from India. Their lyrics, at times poetic, at times blunt like hammers, celebrate love, community, and women's history but also touch on issues such as police brutality, immigration, and sexual harassment. Both join a long tradition of women storytellers in Latin America that includes forebears such as Violeta Parra, Mercedes Sosa, Susana Baca and the great cantadoras of Colombia, voices such as Totó La Momposina, Petrona Martínez, ad Etelvina Maldonado, all keepers of the people's memory. Ilabaca and La Muchacha headline a double bill as part of FUNDarte Out (Loud) in the Tropics annual event at the Miami Beach Bandshell Saturday. The show is a co-presentation of FUNDarte, the Rhythm Foundation, and Live Arts with the Miami Dade County Auditorium Away from home series. 'I like the music I make to enter through the body,' says Ilabaca, in a recent conversation from her home in Valparaiso, Chile. 'This music comes with a journey, it's the sound of the carnivals of the Andes, so it cannot be without sweat. That's also why the EP that I bring on this tour is called 'Poética Bailable (Danceable Poetics).' The idea is to find the irresistible rhythms we have in Latin America, such as bullerengue, cumbia, or timba, and then put philosophy and poetry into it. Sweaty poetry enters better,' she says, breaking into a laugh. Ilabaca was born in Girona, Spain, where her family had taken refuge from Pinochet's dictatorship. On their return to Chile, her father, a visual artist, won a scholarship, and his art project involved touring all the traditional festivals in Chile in a car. 'That was my entrance to Chile,' recalls Ilabaca. 'It was dazzling because . . .I discovered Chile.' From then on, she says, she has always contrasted that country 'with the story of Chile … pretending to be the England of Latin America.' That said, Ilabaca's passion for Chilean culture and her roots is accompanied by a curiosity and openness to other cultures borne of her personal experience. 'Having this nomadic upbringing, having a craftswoman mother and an artist father, I lived in India when I was a child, and then also in Guatemala, in Mexico. The experience of growing up in a constantly changing reality and context, spending the night in the house of an Indian family or a Roma family in the desert of Rajasthan, transformed my worldview. There was no turning back. I want to contribute something so we can open up our perspectives. That's what excites me, communicating with the world.' She returned several times to India to study. She has incorporated Hindi singing and concepts from Indian traditional music into her work. In keeping with her many interests, she has also written for a string quartet (for her album 'Amatoria'), collaborated with (among others) the Fela Kuti-inspired Chilean group Newen Afrobeat, and is currently working on a Big Band project. At the Miami Beach Bandshell, Ilabaca will be performing on vocals, piano, and accordion, accompanied by a sextet version of her band, Fauna, featuring congas, brass, guitar, bass, and drums. Meanwhile, Ramírez, La Muchacha, has seen several of her songs become anthems in Colombia, including titles such as 'No me toques mal (Don't Touch Me Wrong)', a feminist anthem that since has been embraced by children's advocates, or 'No Azara' (which translates roughly as 'No Fear'), and 'El Blues De Los Tombos, (Cops' Blues)' denouncing police brutality. Her earlier work, unvarnished, passionate, and direct, delivers blunt messages. She titled two of her albums 'Raw Songs': 'Canciones Crudas '(2020) and 'Más Canciones Crudas' ( 2021). 'It has been crazy to see how these songs accompany people, make visible, and amplify things. But it is painful, to be honest,' she says in an interview from Colombia. But then, sometimes, the audience and the context reframe the hard messages and give songs a new life, she says. ''No Me Toques Mal' has become a song people dance to, and I enjoy singing it because it now has a different fire, which comes not only from the wound but from us saying, 'I am here, and I'm saying 'No Más.' (No More).' ' Many of her songs touch a nerve, and while necessary, sometimes it can get too painful. 'I've had people telling me, 'Right now I can't listen to your music because I'm in so much pain. I can't stand it,' ' she says. 'We have to be very careful not to fall into a vicious circle of pain as we stick our finger into the wound. I feel it is also important to talk about hope about things that are weighing us down.' 'La Muchacha' is a term often used in Latin America when referring to domestic help. She says she was not making a statement when she chose the name of her alter ego. In fact, originally, it was going to be Muchacha Pájaro (Bird girl). 'It was later, when I checked the etymology, that I realized how strong (the choice) was. Then I saw the reflection between the girl who washes the dishes and the one who breaks them. I was not the girl who followed orders, but the girl who spoke up, who says what needs to be said — even if she liked doing the dishes too.' Accompanied by El Propio Junte, a trio featuring Miguel Velásquez Matijasevic on bass and Camilo Bartelsman on drums, and percussion, Ramírez will be playing some of her best-known material but also presenting music from her most recent release 'Los Ombligos, (The Navels)', in which she brings together a social long view and personal stories. 'I have songs that mobilize spaces of anger, of pain. I've had people telling me, 'Right now I can't listen to your music because I'm in so much pain. I can't stand it.' ' She earnestly says that she 'needs to make 'ointment songs,´ 'mattress songs,' and 'little cloud songs.' They don't have to be all in pink and romantic, but we need to realize that we can talk about other things.' Ilabaca and Ramírez are marquee names in a generation of women singers and songwriters in Latin America leading the way with their new folk fusion and their messages. But if we are surprised, we probably haven't been paying attention, suggests Ramírez. 'We have always been here. What has happened is that we have had so many centuries of being invisible, of repression, . . . biases that, obviously, there is a historical gap in which many of these things never came to light,' she says. 'But women have always been doing things. Always.' If you go: WHAT: Out (Loud) in the Tropics 2025 WHERE: Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday TICKETS: $40.69 includes fee, Miami Beach Residents $35.36. $236.90 club level reserved, which includes up to 6 tickets. At Dice INFORMATION: 786-453-2897 or is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music and more. Don't miss a story at
