Lifestyle

Keiichi Tanaami, the acclaimed Japanese pop artist whose maximalist compositions conflated high and low, East and West, died on August 9 due to a subarachnoid hemorrhage. He was 88. Working across painting, animation, sculpture and installation, Tanaami is regarded as one of the most influential Japanese artists following the postwar period. His erotic, surreal and sometimes disorienting artworks conflated Western pop cultural references, such as American warplanes, Coca-Cola bottles and the mass produced pastiche of pop art, with traditional Japanese art forms and motifs, from kimonos and supernatural creatures to ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Andy Warhol and Tanaami had great respect for one another. After a visit to New York in 1967, the Japanese artist recalled: "Like Warhol, I decided not...

British rapper Little Simz has been tapped as the next guest curator of the Tate Modern Lates series of after-hour events. Launched in 2016, Tate Lates features a mix of panel discussions, music, workshops and performances — previously enlisting collective BBZ London and Canadian artist Megan Rooney for curatorial duties, as well as showcasing DJ sets by Floating Points and Nabihah Iqbal, amongst others. “Since launching in 2016, Tate Modern Lates have become a cornerstone of London’s artistic nightlife,” Jessye Bloomfield, the series's creative producer, told Artnet. “Little Simz is bringing an incredible line-up that celebrates London’s creative talent and the artists and collectives who inspire her.”It'll be a night to remember as Simz will take over the institution from 6pm to 10pm, st...

The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum has launched “Studio Hirshhorn,” a video series offering a behind-the-scenes look at how exhibitions are made. The first series features Brazilian artists OSGEMEOS as they prepare for ‘Endless Story,’ their largest U.S. exhibition, opening September 29.Nine short videos show OSGEMEOS in their São Paulo studio, revealing key aspects of their work, including music, graffiti, and cosmic themes. These videos will be part of the exhibition and shared across the museum’s social media. Hirshhorn Director Melissa Chiu notes that the series aims to reveal the often-hidden process of exhibition planning and creation. The project builds on the museum’s tradition of public engagement, following initiatives like the “Artists in Quarantine” series.‘Endless Story’ is cu...

'Tavares Strachan: There Is Light Somewhere' at Hayward Gallery is a multifaceted exploration of overlooked histories, particularly those of unsung Black pioneers. Strachan’s work spans immersive installations, sculptures, collages, and neon pieces, blending playfulness with profound themes.The exhibition features the 14-meter-long 'Black Star Liner' on the flooded gallery roof, the 'Intergalactic Palace' sound-and-light show, and 'The Encyclopedia of Invisibility'—a 2,550-page book highlighting those erased from history. Sculptures of human figures submerged in mineral oil further the theme of invisibility.Strachan highlights historical bias, as seen in works like 'Henson' (2012), depicting Black explorer Matthew Henson, and neon works referencing Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., the first Blac...

Anish Kapoor returns to Liverpool after 40 years with ‘Monadic Singularity,’ a free exhibition celebrating Liverpool Cathedral’s centenary. Spanning 25 years of Kapoor’s work, the show includes the U.K. debut of his monumental sculpture ‘Sectional Body Preparing for Monadic Singularity’ (2015).While not the oldest, Liverpool Cathedral is the U.K.'s largest and eighth-largest worldwide. The cathedral has recently embraced art exhibitions, but "Monadic Singularity," supported by Culture Liverpool and Lisson Gallery, is its most ambitious. Paul Smith, Director of Enterprise, sees this as a way to elevate the cathedral’s cultural offerings and thank its visitors. Kapoor’s works explore the intersection of the physical and the immaterial, reflecting the cathedral's Gothic architecture and spiri...