Covid-19: Nigerian Artist Convenes Virtual Conference on Art Responders

Artists across the globe are concerned about their role in managing global health crisis. This formed the backbone of the Virtual International Conference for Arts in Health 2020 (VICAH) convened recently by Kunle Adewale, a Nigerian artist and founder, Arts in Medicine Projects who is currently working as a fellow of the Global Brain Health Institute, University of California. With the theme, “Art Responders in Global Health Crisis”, the conference provided a platform for the art professionals to engage in conversations about the function of Arts in this period of global Covid-19 pandemic.

In his welcome address, Kunle Adewale showed a short documentary video which is a compilation of the efforts of contemporary artists in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic in different parts of the world through diverse art forms.

“The artist does not only create the time. He is in history, he also curates the human experience in history. The artist’s sole duty is to unravel the wounds of humanity in terms of crisis. He becomes the light and the wellbeing that humanity needs,” he said during his presentation which was followed by a string performance by a Chinese duo, Jing and Bin. The duo delivered a moving version of the classic, “Halleluyah.” |||READ MORE ….

Arts, Culture and Masks

In the spirit of the mandatory wearing of masks in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, Yinka Olatunbosun reviews the roles that masks had played in aspects of history of Arts and culture.

Long before the Covid-19 pandemic, masks had been a part of the human existence and experience. Over the years, its usage served different functions in different spaces. For the Greek theatre, masks were used in the theatre to exaggerate facial expressions, projecting them to the vast audience. Masks also enabled an actor to play different roles since women were initially excluded from performing. Later on, during the Roman gladiatorial contests, masks were worn as protective gadgets and to make the wearer appear more intimidating to the opponent.

In medieval Europe and in Japan, soldiers and samurai wore similarly ferocious-looking protective armour, extending to face-masks. In the 16th century, the Visard was worn by women to protect from sunburn. Masks were part of rituals and ceremonies, mostly won for protection, hunting, feasts, wars and sometimes just for fashion |||READ MORE …

 

 

MUST READ: ANDRÉ LEON TALLEY'S MEMOIR GETS EARLIER RELEASE DATE, PREVIEW THE DELAYED 'ABOUT TIME' MET EXHIBITION

André Leon Talley's memoir gets earlier release date

After a particularly controversial excerpt from former Vogue editor André Leon Talley's memoir was leaked, his publisher Ballantine is moving the release date. "The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir" was originally set to debut this week, but was pushed back to September in the wake of Covid-19 shutdowns. Surely hoping to capitalize on his now-viral thoughts about Anna Wintour, "The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir" will hit shelves on May 19. Have you secured your copy yet? {WWD}

Preview the delayed 'About Time' exhibition
The Met has pushed off this year's Costume Institute exhibition, "About Time," due to coronavirus shutdowns, but Vogue is giving a sneak preview of what will be on display. In an Annie Leibovitz-lensed feature which originally appeared in the May issue, Hamish Bowles writes about what we can expect from the exhibition, which celebrates the museum's 150th anniversary. {Vogue}

hf Twitter is throwing its own Met Gala
Coronavirus may have delayed this year's Met Gala, but that's not stopping hf Twitter from throwing their very own. On May 4, the group will host #HFMetGala2020, with an estimated 900 participants. With the real deal on hold, this might just be the hottest fashion event of the year — Vogue and "Access Hollywood" have apparently already been in touch. And with an optional $5 entry fee, earmarked for International Medical Corps, it might also be the most affordable gala ever. {The New York Times}|||READ MORE …

Mexico returns ancient Nigerian sculpture

The Mexican government, on Tuesday, delivered to Nigeria an ancient bronze sculpture seized by customs agents at Mexico City airport. The Nigerian sculpture is of Yoruba origin.

The sculpture, from the 6th century southwestern Yoruba city of Ile-Ife, shows a man wearing woven pants and a hat, sitting with his legs crossed and holding an instrument.

“Specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History determined that it was a piece of Yoruba origin,” Diego Prieto, head of the agency, told newsmen |||READ MORE …