“&” (ampersand): Bastille’s beautiful symphony of storytelling

Bastille have unveiled their fifth album, &, a beautiful and ambitious synchrony of sound and storytelling. This 14-track record weaves together narratives of both real and imagined figures, such as the biblical Eve, the mythological Narcissus, the painter Edvard Munch and the lesser-known Chinese pirate Zheng Yi Sao. & is a treasure trove of lyricism… Continue reading “&” (ampersand): Bastille’s beautiful symphony of storytelling

Pluto Press: a legacy of radical publishing and activism

Founded in 1969 by Richard Kuper, Pluto Press emerged in London as a publishing house committed to challenging dominant political ideologies and fostering activism. Pluto Press quickly gained traction by advocating for Trotskyist and Marxist viewpoints and supporting the broader revolutionary left. Over the years, it has evolved into one of the world’s most influential… Continue reading Pluto Press: a legacy of radical publishing and activism

Steve Coogan shines in Dr. Strangelove: a hilarious, faithful spin on Kubrick’s classic from Armando Ianucci

The Dr. Strangelove stage adaptation at London’s Noel Coward Theatre delivers a hilarious, engaging, and thought-provoking experience. Armando Iannucci’s adaptation, directed by Sean Foley, stays faithful to Stanley Kubrick’s Cold War satire while providing a fresh theatrical spin. Steve Coogan, taking on the roles of Captain Mandrake, Dr. Strangelove, President Muffley, and Major TJ Kong,… Continue reading Steve Coogan shines in Dr. Strangelove: a hilarious, faithful spin on Kubrick’s classic from Armando Ianucci

Premiata: melding Italian craftsmanship with cutting-edge sneaker innovation

With over a century of Italian craftsmanship to its name, Premiata has firmly established itself as a leader in luxury footwear and sneakers. Known for balancing heritage techniques with avant-garde design, the brand has recently turned heads with the release of its Sharky sneaker—a bold, trendsetting piece that showcases Premiata’s ability to blend traditional skills… Continue reading Premiata: melding Italian craftsmanship with cutting-edge sneaker innovation

Tarot – Origins & Afterlives

The Warburg Institute – 31 January-30 April 2025 The Warburg Institute will devote the inaugural international exhibition in its new Kythera Gallery to TAROT—ORIGINS & AFTERLIVES. Tarot cards are everywhere in contemporary culture; but where do they come from, and what is at stake in the different forms they have taken? Few sets of symbols… Continue reading Tarot – Origins & Afterlives

Overcoats and snow, the mystery of Mark Edward’s exhibitions

One day, not long after Mark Edwards had completed his first collection of ‘white wood’ paintings, he got chatting to a tourist who was visiting Mark’s native Scotland. The visitor was a psychologist and he was very interested in the work. “The trees in your paintings…” said the psychologist. “They’re all dead aren’t they?” The… Continue reading Overcoats and snow, the mystery of Mark Edward’s exhibitions

Ridley Scott claims ‘The Duellists’ was supposed to win the Palme d’Or, but the jury was “bribed”

Ridley Scott’s 1977 debut, The Duellists, is often hailed as one of his most visually stunning films, and any list of the best Scott films would be incomplete without it. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, The Duellists received critical acclaim and won the prestigious Best First Film prize. However, according to Scott, it was… Continue reading Ridley Scott claims ‘The Duellists’ was supposed to win the Palme d’Or, but the jury was “bribed”

Modern Gothic at the Catto gallery

Featuring Pam Hawkes and George Underwood, each belonging to a particular strain of European art – one that focuses on the senses and the mind over pure logic and realism, a tradition stretching back to the dark ages via Fuseli, Bruegel and Bosch. Pam Hawkes This new collection of work by Pam Hawkes is an… Continue reading Modern Gothic at the Catto gallery

Mickey 17: Robert Pattinson delivers a double dose of dysfunction in Bong Joon-ho’s darkly humorous Sci-Fi satire

In Mickey 17, director Bong Joon-ho returns to the big screen with a sci-fi satire that combines biting social commentary with a hefty dose of dark humor. This film, a follow-up to his Academy Award-winning Parasite, is far from the subtle, intricately layered critique of class dynamics that won hearts and Oscars in 2020. Instead,… Continue reading Mickey 17: Robert Pattinson delivers a double dose of dysfunction in Bong Joon-ho’s darkly humorous Sci-Fi satire

The controversial history of colourising black-and-white photos

The ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence (AI) image colourization were recently brought to public attention when several historical images were altered using digital algorithms. Irish artist Matt Loughrey digitally colourized and added smiles to photos of tortured prisoners from Security Prison 21 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which was used by the Khmer Rouge from 1975-79.… Continue reading The controversial history of colourising black-and-white photos