When it comes to art and culture let's check out what's hot, where, now..
Prague
Famed Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is never shy of drawing attention to world affairs and shining a light on the most harrowing of social issues through his strong activist take on art. As a result of spending time in refugee camps over the past year - 40 in total, he calls attention to the situation in Syria with a 230-feet long boat depicting the transportation of refugees - faceless figures in search of safety. Of the crisis, Weiwei noted, "there is no refugee crisis, but only human crisis… In dealing with refugees we’ve lost our very basic values. In this time of uncertainty, we need more tolerance, compassion and trust for each other, since we all are one.” Adding to the intensity of meaning embodied by the installation is the fact that it sits in Prague's National Gallery despite the Czech Republic’s stance on the matter whereby they have a rejection in place until January 7th 2018.
'Ai Weiwei: The Law of the Journey' is at the National Gallery of Prague until July 1st 2018
Dublin
"A celebration of the dynamic relationship between two of the century's greatest artistic innovators", Duffy/Bowie focuses on the collaborative relationship between David Bowie and photographer Brian Duffy. With an extensive collection of shots from the pair's numerous sessions during the years 1972 and 1980, it's a rare glimpse into the world of previously unpublished images alongside some of the most iconic Bowie images in the world.
'Duffy/Bowie' is at Ebow, The Art Gallery in Dublin until May 6th 2017
London, New York and Los Angeles
Comfy deckchairs, iconic movies, wireless headphones, spectacular views with Prosecco in hand while catching up on all the greats. The most stylish cinema club is back and it's got the hottest list of movies to get you through the summer and beyond. With a variety of locations in New York, L.A and London, the Rooftop Cinema Club offers movie lovers another-level experience under the stars.
Listings for each location can be found at 'Rooftop Cinema Club'
The Five City Tour of Polka Dots
Wrapped in the beauty of Yayoi Kusama's creations is her deeper meaning of understanding the expanse of our minds and what the eye can see when the simple components of light, repetition and colour come together. At 88, the legendary artists fascinatingly intricate character and battle with mental illness has never hindered her ability and drive to create. “My art originates from hallucinations only I can see,” says Kusama, “I translate the hallucinations and obsessional images that plague me into sculptures and paintings. All my works in pastels are the products of obsessional neurosis and are therefore inextricably connected to my disease. I create pieces even when I don’t see hallucinations, though.” Her latest offering, The Infinity Rooms exhibition is making it's way through five cities over the course of 2017 and 2018 and in joining the dots along the way, it's breaking records already at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C.
Kusama who is a full time resident of Seiwa Hospital, an institution for those with mental illnesses where she voluntarily checked herself in back in 1977 and has since never left, is a fine example of the artist who writes the confines of her own mind and transforms her struggles from darkness to light, making peace with her demons through the creation of art.
“Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Rooms” is at the following locations
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C until May 14 // Seattle Art Museum from June 3rd to September 10th, 2017 // The Broad in Los Angeles until January 10th 2018 // Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto from March 3rd to May 27th, 2018 // Cleveland Museum of Art from July 9th to September 30th, 2018
