THE MAGAZINE
A Glimpse of Autumn
Autumn is right around the corner. Start this beautiful season with two beautiful paintings. Read on for more!
Discovering the Soul of West Asia: The Collection of the Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah
Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi has built one of the most gender-balanced and diverse collections of modern and contemporary Arab art. The Barjeel Art Foundation is making this collection as accessible as possible: most of it can be viewed online. Not sure where to start? Read the background stories to some of these astonishing paintings.
Ai Weiwei: “Know Thyself” and the Power of Lego, neugerriemschneider, Berlin, 14 September 2023 – 30 March 2024
Yes, this is the Mona Lisa. Or is it? Is it even a painting? Read on to find out about the celebrated contemporary artist Ai Weiwei, his love for Lego bricks and the strange, thought-provoking twists he adds to his images. Now on view at his solo show Know Thyself at neugerriemschneider, Berlin.
Narrow Escape from the Nazis: Max Bruch’s “Kol Nidrei”
German composer Max Bruch was Christian, but his moving Kol Nidrei for cello and orchestra convinced the Nazis that he must have been Jewish. Read on to find out more.
How Was Your Summer?
Maybe you are already back to your studies and your summer holidays feel like a distant memory. Or maybe you are still gearing up to return to school. Either way: to make the transition a bit more fun, we’ve asked four of the artists we interviewed over the past year to share some of their favourite summer 2023 moments with us, and to give us a hint of their plans for the year ahead!
Viviana Durante, Artistic Director of English National Ballet School: “Follow Your Dream and See Where It Takes You!”
Even talking on Zoom from her office at English National Ballet School, Viviana Durante exudes that special something that made her one of the most celebrated dancers of her generation. Since 2020, she has been the artistic director of English National Ballet School (ENBS). TWoA talked to Viviana about leaving home at age eleven to train in a foreign country, her vision for dance education, the importance of giving meaning to every step, and much more.
In Honour of Hawaii: Queen Lili’uokalani’s Songs
During the month of August, the world watched in horror as wildfires spread over the paradisiacal Hawaiian island Maui, devouring its capital Lahaina. Let’s hope for a better future for the island by taking comfort in the songs written by Hawaii’s last monarch, Queen Lili’uokalani, a truly remarkable woman. Read on to find out more about her story.
The Real Story Behind John Singer Sargent’s “The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit”
There are some paintings you only need to see once. And then there are other paintings that require repeat visits. Not necessarily because the painting has changed, but because you have. This is the case for almost everyone I’ve ever met who has seen “The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit,” the enormous 7’x7’ canvas at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
How to Enjoy Art History by the Pool (or From Your Sofa)
We’re officially in the dog days of summer, which means it’s time to gather up your puddle of a brain and start priming it for the coming fall. And what better way to do that then with a little bit of art history? Here are some great ways to integrate art history into the rest of your summer relaxation.
Reuniting with Nature: Yo-Yo Ma’s Birdsong
It’s finally summer! The summer holidays are the perfect time to escape into nature. Take your queue from Yo-Yo Ma, the superstar cellist whose boundless curiosity and idealism lead to many unusual projects.
The Art of Protest
Art has always been a substantial part of Sudanese culture. Discover the powerful impact of Sudanese art in telling stories, inspiring young people, and creating positive change!
Fancy a Visit to Paris Opera Ballet?
Fancy a visit to Paris? On 14 July 2023, you have a chance to do so virtually: the Paris Opera’s streaming platform will be streaming Carolyn Carlson’s cult work Signes live from the Bastille Opera. TWoA loves to look at the link between painting, music and dance. Signes is exactly about this link.
Happy Birthday, Igor Stravinsky! Celebrating an Icon of Twentieth Century Music and Ballet
There are few ground-breaking composers who are also famous for their ballet compositions. If Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Sergei Prokofiev are the only ones who come to your mind, think again: Igor Stravinsky is one of the most important composers of the twentieth century and an icon of modernism, but his most famous compositions were created not for the concert hall, but for the ballet.
Hilma af Klint & Piet Mondrian: ‘Forms of Life’ at the Tate Modern, London
The artists Hilma af Klint (b. Sweden, 1862-1944) and Piet Mondrian (b. Netherlands, 1872-1944) never met, but they were both fascinated by nature and wanted to understand the forces behind life. Both started as landscape painters and went on to produce some of the earliest abstract paintings. Both were deeply spiritual and interested in mysticism and hidden truths. Until 3 September 2023, you can see Mondrian’s and af Klint’s paintings side by side at the Tate Modern, London.
Guest Artist: Caroline Williams, City & Guilds of London Art School
Check out the work of our guest artist, Caroline Williams, of City & Guilds of London Art School.
In Conversation: Pianists and 2023 Cliburn Junior Competitors Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16) and Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15)
The Third Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival for pianists aged 13 to 17 is taking place 8 – 17 June 2023 in Dallas, Texas. TWoA talked to two of the talented young pianists chosen to compete at the competition: Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16). Both are originally from Seoul, but are now studying piano at New England Conservatory Preparatory School while attending Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Read on to find out about their lives in Korea and the USA.
Ask the Experts: Practice and Competition Advice from Pianists Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16)
The Third Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival for pianists aged 13 to 17 is taking place 8 – 17 June 2023 in Dallas, Texas. TWoA talked to two of the talented young pianists chosen to compete at the competition: Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16). Both study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School and attend the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Read on for some practical advice on the triple challenge of practicing, performing and competing.
Get Inspired: Raphael’s Sistine Madonna
Get inspired by Raphael’s beautiful Sistine Madonna.
Keep Cool!
It’s a busy time right now: the school year is coming to an end. Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or angry and fed up? Keep it cool, even if it’s difficult. Need some inspiration? Watch Riff from the West Side Story telling the Jets to keep it cool.
Maria Callas: La Divina - The Divine
When you hear the word “diva,” the first thing that comes to your mind is probably the image of a temperamental star performer making unreasonable demands. If you are an opera lover, chances are you will think of Maria Callas (2 December 1923 – 16 September 1977), one of the greatest twentieth century sopranos. This year is the centennial of her birth. Who was the artist electrifying audiences around the world? Who was the woman behind the legend?