Medieval European Artistic Objects An Italian Book of Hours (1498) used during the Office for the Dead via Wikipedia.   While swiftly going through Western art history in college, I found that different periods—ancient, medieval, Renaissance, modern and contemporary—made certain immediate and general impressions on me. Ancient was very much about sculpture (white, marble), Renaissance a mix of grand architecture and painting, modern and contemporary scenes went from figurative to abstract. As for medieval—it was highly geometric and intricate (with its Gothic cathedrals) and colourful and ..read more

This Way or That Way? (Credit: Pixabay) Last year, I wrote about the importance of decluttering—how it gives you a sense of control over your environment. This January, I found myself taking the practice to another level. I consciously muted/unfollowed/unsubscribed from several individuals and organisations across my Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. This exercise was not undertaken to isolate myself from the world in an irrational fit of annoyance—for professional purposes, it is imperative that I keep myself aware of the major trends in culture, business, politics, media—rather it was the res ..read more

A few years ago, I came across a Haitian art exhibition titled “Kafou: Haiti, Art and Vodou” (from 2012-2013) at Nottingham Contemporary, UK, and was instantly drawn to the strangeness of the imagery displayed. This month, we explore the unique and vibrant world of Haitian art. “Vodou” (distinct from the practice of Voodoo dolls) is the syncretistic religion of Haiti that blends the beliefs of multiple West and Central African religions with Catholicism. It is also said to contain elements of Islam, European folklore, freemasonry as well as faith of the Taíno people indigenous to the Caribbean ..read more

Many of us are aware of the Soviet Union’s space programme, and have probably heard the names of Yuri Gagarin, Valentina Tereshkova and Laika. A richly illustrated book of Soviet Sci-Fi Art, published by Phaidon titled Soviet Space Graphics: Cosmic Visions from the USSR (2020) presents 250 illustrations taken from popular science magazines of the space race period, depicting “daring discoveries, scientific innovations, futuristic visions, and extraterrestrial encounters”. At one point, there were 200 titles of these magazines in circulation. Out of these, a very prominent monthly that began in ..read more

Stepping out in the Gallery with Tarkay by Marcus Glenn (born 1968). I stumbled upon the work of Detroit based artist Marcus Glenn last month and was instantly drawn to his paintings of people viewing paintings in art galleries. I liked how the artworks here are the focal point where people gather; they become the subject of human connections. Glenn’s gallery paintings took me back to my own experience of hosting art events in Sydney, promoted via Meetup. My co-organiser and I would select an area (Paddington, Darlinghurst, The Rocks) with a concentration of galleries, at least about eight of ..read more

Too Many Ideas Syndrome” (TMIS) is supposedly a real phenomenon and the subject of many discussions online. (Credit: Pixabay) When I was 13, my mum bought me an amazing thesaurus that made me very excited about playing with words. I had attempted creative writing (very tiny tales about animals) at the ages of 7 and 10 but this time it was different. I knew that whatever was happening to me was going to last. I found myself racing to pen poems. I wrote a few—with multiple paragraphs and narratives—that I felt proud of. But with the new obsession came a new problem. Following my completed poems ..read more

 Chaekgeori, the Scholar’s Accoutrements. Late 18th to early 19th-century Korea, The Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul, South Korea.   Some time ago, while searching for Korean art history I discovered a tradition of still-life painting named “chaekgeori” (pronounced Check-oh-ree; literally “books and things”) that instantly caught my attention. Having emerged during the Joseon period (1392-1897)—and flourishing mainly between 1750 and 1950—chaekgeori is quite different from Western practices in the same genre. Its subject matter is more organised than the natural bounty and domest ..read more

Birds being released from a cage. (Credit: Pixabay)   For more than a year now, I have been regularly watching an unusually prolific Indian YouTuber named Ranveer Allahbadia (@BeerBiceps) and enjoying his conversations with guests who may be specialists in a variety of areas—neuroscience, geopolitics, mythology, spirituality, fitness, law and order, media, archaeology, and so on. A Forbes 30 Under 30 achiever, Mumbai-based Allahbadia runs multiple startups and produces podcasts in both English and Hindi. His approachable, unassuming character, genuine sense of curiosity, and commitment to ..read more

An Alchemist in his Laboratory by a follower of David Teniers (1610-1690)   “Alchemy” is a term I first discovered as a teenager via the bestselling novel The Alchemist (1988) by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. The book itself, a mystical fable about following one’s dreams, doesn’t quite explain the phenomenon, just alludes to it. References to the practice—which is an attempt to turn base metals such as lead or copper into nobler ones like silver or gold, and creating panaceas and elixirs—could be found across cultures and periods: Hellenistic Egypt, ancient India and China, the Islamic w ..read more

  Candles at a place of devotion. (Credit: Pexels)   As my entrepreneurial journey progresses and life gets busier by the day—with more connections, conversations, proposals and plans—I find myself in greater need of energy. Yes, definitely greater energy for physical stamina—obtained via proper diet and suitable exercise. But more than that I require nourishment for the immaterial part of me. Procuring and assimilating this, I have realised, is more challenging than ensuring the fitness of the body. The need for the right psychological/emotional/spiritual (whatever one might call it ..read more