Over the centuries, we have witnessed timepiece dials morph from solid pieces of metal with hands to beautifully embellished works of art that boast hand enamelling, gem setting, engraving hand painting and more. But now, the house of Bovet 1822 takes up the concept of the dial as canvas by sever…
Art
Bringing Up Race: Uju Asika’s Guide for Parents to Build a Prejudice-Free World
As I sit down to write on Uju Asika’s Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World, the media is rife with the story of the killing of 20-year old Daunte Wright who was shot by a cop during a routine traffic stop in the US. At first glance, Daunte’s […]
…These Photographers Turn African-American Children’s Dreams to Reality
A fairytale lion. A futuristic princess. A Black Barbie. A successful video gamer. These are some of the dreams Atlanta photographers, Regis and Kahran Bethencourt, hear from their little African-American clients. And they are not afraid to turn themselves into “dream makers” and make these dream…
ASPIRE Pick of the Week: Jeremy Snell Captures the Lives and Emotions of the Boys of Volta
“Lake Volta is the largest man-made lake in the world. Spanning across half of Ghana, its surface is scattered with eerie tree trunks emerging from glassy waters. The trafficking of children and child labour in this region has a lot to do with the complex economic and social history of the Ghanai…
Adjaye Associates Unveils First Design for Edo Museum of West African Art
For years, there have been fervent calls to former colonial countries to return artefacts pillaged from the countries – mostly African – that they colonised. But, even as countries like Britain and France appeared willing to return some of these items, there have been concerns regardi…
Aimas Lifestyle Designs: Art Meets Functionality
Tayo Shonekan is a ray of sunshine on a grey afternoon that is threatening to get even darker. As soon as her face comes up on the screen, the first thing I notice is a huge grin that immediately puts me at ease and one that she clearly shares with all her customers and tries […]
…ASPIRE Pick of the Week: Sir David Adjaye is the First African to Win a RIBA Award
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced that the Tanzanian-born British architect of Ghanaian descent, Sir David Adjaye, will receive the 2021 royal gold medal, one of the world’s highest accolades for architecture. It marks the first time in the 173-year history of the med…
Australia’s Museum of Underwater Arts is Now Open to Tourists
Thinking of a reason to visit Australia beyond its beaches and the Great Barrier Reef? Well, here is one to consider: the Museum of Underwater Arts, which has been in planning for two years, is now open to tourists. Created by British sculptor and environmentalist Jason deCaires Taylor, the Museu…
Hennessy’s “A World Odyssey” : A Daytime Fireworks Event By Artist Cai Guo-Qiang
Cai Guo-Qiang is one of the most admired artists in the contemporary art scene. In addition to his large-scale, site-specific installations, Cai is particularly renowned for his unique use of gunpowder and fireworks as an artistic medium to stage spectacular public events of intense emotional res…
Virgil Abloh Designs Race-Car Version of Mercedes‑Benz G‑Class
Initially teased back in July, Project Geländewagen – a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Mercedes Benz and Virgil Abloh, the Off-White founder and Louis Vuitton creative director – has finally been unveiled. Working with Mercedes-Benz Chief Design Officer, Gorden Wagener, Abloh…