Art in the news for mangrove conservation, online bullying and… bananas

A SUMMARY OF THE MOST EXCITING ART NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

While we focus on Indian art, we can’t obviously function in a vacuum. It’s a small world and everything is connected, especially on the web. So, let’s train our spotlight across the world map to see what’s going on — from art trends to socio-political issues to everything that affects the great aesthetic global consciousness. Or, let’s just travel the world and have some fun!

World Earth Day 2021: Artist push for Mumbai’s mangroves

Mumbai’s mangroves are among 12 unique mangrove forests in India selected for better conservation by the Mangrove Society of India, and clearly not enough is being done to preserve this biodiversity-rich heritage. On the occasion of World Earth Day, six artists (Nayan Shrimali and Vaishali Chudasama, Svabhu Kohli, Anjali Mehta, Mira Malhotra, Afrah Shafiq, and Michelle Poonawalla) led the pack to broadcast the campaign #MakeArtforMumbaisMangroves on social media, both to raise awareness and encourage people to come forward and support the conservation of these vital resources. The Indian Express encapsulates.

Young Pak artist Misha Japanwala in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List

After Forbes released its 30 Under 30 Asia list recently, it featured young Pakistani sculpture artist and designer Misha Japanwala — who is, however, facing huge flak from conservative quarters in the neighbouring nation. Following the announcement, besides those congratulating the 25-year-old for the impressive milestone, a number of naysayers took to social media to decry her art, which focuses on creating social commentary around women’s crises, such as domestic violence and honour killings, creating moulds of bodies. Images (Dawn) has the report.

Bananas for art!

A suspected case of Covid-19 got Anna Chojnicka (35) quarantined in her London apartment last year and out of boredom, she accidentally picked up a banana on her kitchen table and dre3w lines through it. As form began to emerge from the doodle when the fruit ripened and darkened, she was fascinated — soon, her experiments transformed into a full-fledged pursuit. Today, she has an international fan following for her unique banana art, and even uses her popularity to contribute to charity on a regular basis. The Washington Post writes about her.

Not all Picassos are created equal

A three-year-long project by international researchers seems to have uncovered why one of four closely related paintings by Pablo Picasso has deteriorated more quickly than the others. All four art works were inspired by the Ballets Russes, the Russian impresario Sergei Diaghilev’s dance troupe. They were produced by Picasso within a few months in 1917, while working at a friend’s studio in Barcelona. Over the years, they were been exposed to identical environmental conditions — but only Hombre Sentado (Seated Man) deteriorated more severely than the other three. The Art Newspaper investigates.