\’The world needs to rally for Afghan artists\’; Beyoncé croons to Basquiat; \’India\’s Banksy\’ gets interviewed

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!

Why cultural institutions need to support Afghan artists

Thousands of Afghans have been rendered vulnerable to Taliban retribution — already, there are reports of the Taliban going door to door in search of people who collaborated with Western governments or media organizations. Also vulnerable: artists, musicians, filmmakers, academics and other cultural workers, who now find themselves the targets of Taliban orthodoxies that typically proscribe music, the representation of the human figure and the free movement of women. There is tumult across the world to save their art — and their very lives. In a detailed and harrowing piece on one of most important humanitarian subjects in the world today, Los Angeles Times elaborates.

Never-before-seen Basquiat, Beyoncé come together for Tiffany

In the first campaign by Queen Bey and Jay Z for the jeweler Tiffany, a never-before-seen painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat will be featured. Dating from 1982, Equals Pi had been in the possession of a private collector, until Tiffany — lured in by the piece’s robin egg blue paintwork — acquired the work. The campaign imagery, shot by Mason Poole, captures this tussle for attention between Basquiat, Beyoncé, and the pendulous 128.54 carat gem hanging from her neck. Dazed paints a pretty picture.

Will this half-century-old Italian heist mystery ever be solved?

One of the most important 20th-century British artists, Leon Kossoff never got over the distress of losing 14 paintings and six drawings in an unsolved theft, in which they were taken from a lorry transporting them from London to Italy in 1972. There was also some speculation that the mafia was responsible and until his death just two years ago, Kossoff was obsessed with being reunited with them one day — but never did. Now art historians hope that the inclusion of those works in a forthcoming major publication will jog people’s memories and finally lead to their recovery. The images feature in a definitive study, Leon Kossoff: Catalogue Raisonné of the Oil Paintings, published in September. The Guardian reports.

Thieves try to steal a Monet, drop it mid-escape

This Sunday morning gone by, two armed robbers attempted to steal an 1871 landscape by French Impressionist Claude Monet from a Dutch museum. Funnily, as the men tried to escape, a quick-thinking bystander intervened and one of the thieves dropped the Monet in the ensuing scuffle. Dutch broadcaster NH Nieuws reports that both suspects fled the scene on a black motorcycle and no one was hurt. In fact, the painting was safely restored to its home at Zaans Museum in Zandaam. Smithsonian Magazine dissects the drama.

India’s Banksy thrives, creates viral graffiti

Often called ‘India’s Banksy’, his identity remains anonymous — but he goes by the pseudonym ‘Tyler’, reportedly inspired by Edward Norton’s menacing alter ego played by Brad Pitt in David Fincher’s Fight Club. One of India’s most famous anonymous graffiti artists, the mask-clad crusader uses spray-paint cans and stencils to paint revolutionary art on unconventional canvases, exploring topics like the evils of extreme capitalism, corrupt governance and the widening class divide. Speaking to him about inspirations, anonymity, patriotism and future plans, NDTV bags an exclusive phone interview.

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