Culture News
Advances in technology have brought with it many perks, not least of which is the fact that we can now enjoy our art virtually—a godsend for art buffs looking for a little sustenance while stranded at home. With the Google Arts & Culture app (available for free download on Android and iOS), you can wander around in over 2,000 museums worldwide, exploring their exhibits in high resolution via its Zoom Views; feed your mind with intriguing stories behind the items on show; and even interact with art in new ways (fancy discovering your artistic twin?). Check out, too, local online art gallery The Artling’s ( theartling.com) campaign, #ArtInMyCity, which shines the light on the art scene in a different city every week. On the home front, contemporary art gallery Ode To Art recently held its first online charity auction, raising $60,600 for low-income families affected by Covid-19. It is heartening to note that several pieces—such as French artist Patrick Rubinstein’s People&Brand (AudreyHepburn), and Chinese artist and sculptor Wu Qiong’s Rhinoceros inLove— went for well above the gallery price. Perhaps Gaspard Mermillod put it best when he said, “A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.” Show your appreciation for the special woman in your life this Mother’s Day with gestures big and small. Turn the tables and take over the household chores or whip up a meal for her. Better yet, extend the pampering beyond a day by creating an intimate space in which Mum can wind down. Shell out for a chic lounger for her afternoon naps or go the way of a stylish piece such as Gaetano Pesce’s iconic UP50 Lounge Chair, whose bulbous curves simulate a hug from you. Complete the experience with soothing scented candles in timelessly elegant holders, such as a brass and hand-blown glass one that will add to the ambience. And for a gift that costs nothing but means everything, tell her you love her—something that needs no special day or reason.