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Yayoi Kusama obituary
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has died aged 97, leaving a distinctive body of work spanning polka-dotted paintings, sculptures, happenings, films and infinity mirror-room installations. Her art transformed recurring visual hallucinations and lifelong psychological distress into images of repetition, immersion and “self-obliteration”, making her one of contemporary art’s most recognisable figures. Born in Matsumoto, Japan, Kusama…
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A Deep Dive Into ‘Possible Love’: Lee Chang-dong on His Searingly Acted Study of Class and Filmmaking
Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love marks the acclaimed Korean director’s first film in eight years and explores class division, job insecurity and the ethics of representing suffering on screen. Developed over a decade, the drama follows two couples whose lives intersect after one is devastated by mass redundancies, using a filmmaker character to examine both contemporary…
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3 Heavy Metal Songs From the Early 1980s That Pointed Toward the Decade’s Darker Future
The article identifies three early-1980s heavy metal songs that it argues anticipated the genre’s darker late-decade direction. It highlights Black Sabbath’s “Heaven and Hell”, Judas Priest’s “The Sentinel” and Iron Maiden’s “The Number of the Beast” for their ominous, dystopian and occult themes. “Heaven and Hell”, written by Ronnie James Dio, became a staple for…
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Minsu joins after ‘surprise’ Rangers interest – who is new Ibrox winger?
Rangers have signed South Korean winger Kim Min-su from Girona for an undisclosed fee, strengthening their attacking options after unsuccessful pursuits of other wide players. The 20-year-old described Rangers’ interest as a surprise but said he joined intending to win titles and contribute goals and chances. Kim has agreed a four-year contract with an option…
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Yayoi Kusama’s art reshaped recognition of neurodivergent artists
Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese artist who has died aged 97, is remembered as a pioneering figure whose openly discussed mental health struggles and neurodivergence shaped her work. Her hallucinations and compulsive perceptions of dots, flowers and infinity became central to art that influenced the New York avant garde and pop art, while helping broaden recognition…
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Yayoi Kusama’s psychedelic art was at its best when taken in high doses
The article offers a mixed appraisal of Yayoi Kusama following her death at 97, arguing that her immersive installations can be exhilarating when experienced at scale but often feel empty in isolation. It considers her global popularity significant because her dotted pumpkins, tentacles and mirror rooms have become defining images of contemporary art’s social-media and…
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US counters China as Beijing’s ‘shock wave’ hits African economies
US officials have criticised China’s trade relationship with African countries, arguing that subsidised Chinese imports are undermining local manufacturing while African exports remain concentrated in raw materials. The Trump administration says it wants to offer American financing and investment as an alternative, framing the issue as both an economic and strategic concern. China exported $225…
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Post Malone Postpones Tour of Asia, Australia and New Zealand
Post Malone has postponed the Asian, Australian and New Zealand leg of his Big Ass World Tour, cancelling planned stadium dates and festival appearances later this year. No reason has been given, and replacement dates have not yet been announced, leaving ticket-holders awaiting further information from Live Nation and organisers. The affected itinerary included concerts…
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Emmy-Winning Baobab Studios Lands Naver Ventures Investment, Sets ‘Shine’ as Flagship Title (EXCLUSIVE)
Baobab Studios has received a seven-figure strategic investment from Naver Ventures, valuing the Emmy-winning animation company above its previous funding round. The deal matters because it aims to help Baobab create entertainment franchises that can move between Asian and North American audiences, spanning comics, animation, film, television and games. Its first project under the partnership…
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Asian technology shares ride high on AI optimism after Nvidia’s ‘stunning’ results – business live
Asian technology shares rose after Nvidia reported quarterly revenue of $96bn, nearly double the previous year, and forecast $108bn for the third quarter, above Wall Street expectations. The results revived confidence in AI-related investments after recent technology share sell-offs, reinforcing Nvidia’s importance as a barometer of demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure. Nvidia shares gained 4.7%…