Stories about Arts & Culture from January, 2021
Famed Serbian film director arrested after former students accuse him of rape
The scandal has captured the Balkans' social media conversation in recent weeks.
Pandemic soca: How COVID-19 is shaping the sound of Trinidad & Tobago's cancelled Carnival
There may be no physical Carnival celebrations this year, but Trinbagonian soca artists are still churning out songs, many of them around the theme of COVID-19.
Hypocrisy vs history debate follows death of former Yugoslav actress Mira Furlan
The legendary Babylon 5 actress was hounded from her home in Zagreb in 1991 because she opposed chauvinistic nationalism; she rebuilt her life and career from scratch in the USA.
Why can't women be marriage registrars in Bangladesh?
A recent court rule in Bangladesh denying women to be marriage registrars has sparked heated debates as women and human rights activists question the basis of the judgement.
A hip-hop band plays exclusively on traditional instruments to forge a new Kazakhstani identity
An experimental musical project is trying to reverse the widespread disregard for rural traditions by taking contemporary music and performing it on traditional instruments.
Chinese-Australian cartoonist Badiucao walks a fine line to avoid being politically hijacked
For Badiucao, the best way to spread the message of universal human rights is through his art, but even within Australia's Chinese communities, the narratives are both complex and nuanced.
Hong Kong protesters’ ‘Brick Arches’ wins Beazley Designs’ People’s Choice Award
Made from ordinary bricks, these small structures were used by Hong Kong protestors as roadblocks to slow down police vehicles.
First Nations artist explores ‘indigenous futurisms’ in his Woodland-style work
"I was given a key that had unlocked the door to exploring futuristic indigenous concepts within my own mind, and more imaginative concepts as a whole."
Guyanese-American author celebrates Caribbean identity in new alphabet book
'I noticed how scarce and inaccessible Black children's literature was, compared to other fictional children's books.'
Reviving L’bokator, Cambodia's ancient martial arts
The sport is now recognized by the World Martial Arts Association and will be included in the 2023 Southeast Asia Games,
Remembering the Mexican parody songs of the former Yugoslavia
A selection of the greatest hits of the 1960s-1980s YuMex wave.
Bangladesh moves to revive production of muslin, fabric of legend
Muslin is an important part of the heritage of present-day Bangladesh, and especially its capital Dhaka, which was once the centre of production of the exquisite fabric.
A digital artist depicts the lives of Thais and the struggle for democracy
"It’s time for us to rise up for a better future not just for ourselves, but also for the generations to come.”
The pandemic killed Trinidad & Tobago's 2021 Carnival, but soca music keeps the spirit alive
"Soca Music is an experience, nothing can beat the feeling you get when [...] you hear that one song that hits you with a wave of emotion."
