‘In the Black Fantastic’ dubbed best exhibition of summer
London’s Hayward Gallery opens a new show featuring 11 artists from the African diaspora and, according to critics, it’s must-see. Kara Walker and Nick Cave are just two of the artists showing in the Hayward Gallery’s ‘In The Black Fantastic’, which opened this June. Curated by Ekow Eshun, chair of the...
Current in Culture
Production workers for The Simpsons and Family Guy unionise
The Animation Guild is now unionising with production workers from The Simpsons, American Dad!, and Family Guy, having previously been left out compared to animators, writers, and actors. Production workers at The Simpsons, American Dad!, and Family Guy have gained voluntary recognition from 20th Television Animation, their parent company,...
Why are we watching the new Minions film in suits?
A new TikTok trend has Gen Zers flocking to their local cinemas in fully fitted suits to watch Minions: The Rise of Gru. Is it a genuine social media trend or a carefully calculated marketing scheme? The new Minions: Rise of Gru film is a bizarre entanglement of pop culture...
3D printers are being used to create living dirt structures
A team of designers in Jerusalem intends to swap emission heavy materials like concrete and reinforced steel for 3D printed living structures made entirely of natural resources. 3D printing has come a long way in the last 20 years and is slated to become $56bn market by 2027. In...
Concept animation for ‘nuclear powered sky hotel’ goes viral
Fancy a trip to the skies for three years? Want to dip into a luxury pool above the clouds? Well, you can’t just yet, but this new viral animation concept imagines the possibilities. Have you ever found yourself cruising on a luxury ferry or yacht, yearning to be high...
Amateur urban planners use DALL-E to re-imagine cities without cars
You probably know the DALL-E application best for the strange meme material it generates, but it has genuinely useful applications too. Recently, amateur urban planners have been using it to re-imagine cities designed for pedestrians, and the results are captivating. DALL-E is where many of us go to waste time, right? A...
Opinion – Kate Bush’s surprise revival exemplifies a shifting industry
The 1985 ‘Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)’ single by Kate Bush is currently top of the UK charts, nearly four decades on from its release. It demonstrates how the current social media age allows old songs to become recontextualised for a new audience. I’m sure you’ve either seen or heard about the latest series of Netflix’s hit 1980s sci-fi series, Stranger Things, by now. The insanely popular...
Why new documentary ‘Slay’ will make you re-assess fashion
Slay is an eye-opening documentary that will have you looking at your wardrobe in a whole new, probably red tinted, light. Slay is a new documentary premiering on WaterBear, the new environmentally conscious streaming service. Presented and directed by animal rights activist Rebecca Cappelli, the film aims to shine a spotlight on the dark corners of the fashion industry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq5uhqz0IBE In recent years, the disastrous consequences of climate change have become more...
Five sustainable housing initiatives supporting the refugee crisis
Last year, 89.3 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes due to conflict, violence, and climate change. Let’s look at the architects creating sustainable housing projects to meet their needs. When war erupts in one part of the world, it’s not an isolated issue. The consequences are felt by all – albeit at varying degrees – and practical solutions for developing new housing is one that requires collective effort. The...
Disused Berlin airport to be transformed into sustainable neighbourhood
A once bustling hub for German airliners is set to become a liveable, sustainable haven within the next decade. Plans are underway for a self-sufficient and car free neighbourhood including 5,000 apartments, schools, parks, and green businesses. After nearly 50 years of facilitating commercial flights, a bustling region that was once named Berlin Tegel Airport will soon become a benchmark for sustainable living. That’s what you call flipping the script. The...
