Lifestyle

A remarkably preserved banquet hall of frescoes was recently excavated in the Ancient Roman city of Pompeii. Dating back nearly 2,000 years, the 50 foot long by 19 foot wide room was once used as an entertainment space, where cordial gatherings and conversations were believed to have taken place. Dubbed "The Black Room", due to the black walls that were meant to prevent the smoke of the burning candle light from being seen, the room featured elaborately painted depictions of mythological figures from the Trojan War, from Spartan princess Helen to Paris, prince of Troy."The mythological couples provided ideas for conversations about the past and life, only seemingly of a merely romantic nature," said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the Director of the Archaeological park of Pompeii. "In reality, they ...

VILLAZAN is presenting Yang Hyun Jun’s solo exhibition, titled Ordinary People, showcasing a series of artworks that transcend the personal mother figure to delve into the theme of everyday life among ordinary individuals, blending elements of reality and imagination. In his "Adult Child" series, the artist explores his relationship with his mother and the emotions evoked through the symbol of a girl, emphasizing the depth of emotions and sentiments. The presence of the girl in the artwork establishes a direct connection to the artist's mother while embodying the ever-changing representations that transcend temporal and spatial boundaries.Through fragmented images and playful forms, Hyun Jun's works joyfully convey the aesthetic aspects of the differences and similarities found in ordinary...

Kevin Christy's work has been described as humorous, absurd, contemplative and effervescent. Part painter, part comedian, the Los Angeles-based artist magnifies thoughts and observations into surrealist paintings that emphasize the strangeness of daily life. His work has previously featured in a number of esteemed publications around the world, such as The Atlantic and The New York Times, as well as his latest solo exhibition at The Hole in New York.Entitled Ghost Ladder, Christy is featuring 19 new oil paintings that ruminate on the human response to loss and the overlooked experiences that, in hindsight, form some of the most fondest memories. Playing in line with The Hole's previous exhibitions, Christy had the walls of the gallery's Tribeca location in an '80s theme through pastel pink...

German artist and designer Eike König has released a series of new knitted blankets that draw on his juxtapositions between pop cultural icons and whimsical wordplay. The studio HORT founder flipped his popular spin on Homer Simpson (and his Greek counterpart) through a pastel blue background accentuated with pink stenciling. Drawing from his INTERIM SOLUTION exhibition, which went on view at HVW8 Berlin last June, FUTURE RAVER (2023) and TRUE KINDNESS (2023) reappear as soft blanket iterations that can be enjoyed while lounging around the house or equally displayed as a wall work. VATHER RESIST (2024) is another standout in the collection, featuring Star Wars' chief villain in a sun-kissed color palette with the words 'WHAT YOU RESIST PERSISTS' overlaid on the image. "Feeels like spring i...