This week’s editorial musings from magpie’s nest<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The quote<\/mark><\/strong> Labels are for jam jars\u00a0Richard Flanagan<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Today\u2019s the day<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Happening today (thursday): the first day \u2013 of three \u2013 for the\u00a0Sharjah Biennial opening programme<\/strong><\/a>. Pritzker prizewinner\u00a0Riken Yamamoto<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0talks about the transformative power of architecture in shaping communities. And Gregory Nava\u2019s\u00a0El Norte<\/strong><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cGrapes of Wrath<\/em>\u00a0for our time\u201d \u2013 a heartbreaking story of hope and survival among Guatemalan immigrants to the USA) has a very timely screening.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n More Abu Dhabi Art<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Abu Dhabi Art has extended its\u00a0Artist Commissions in Cultural Sites programme<\/strong><\/a>, with works by\u00a0Dina Mattar<\/strong>,\u00a0Manal Mahamid<\/strong>, and Ahmad Saeed Al Areef<\/strong>\u00a0now remaining on view until 30 April at Al Ain Oasis and Al Jahili Fort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Door price<\/mark>\u00a0<\/strong>Louvre president Laurence des Cars has been talking to\u00a0Le Monde<\/em>\u00a0about\u00a0the Paris museum\u2019s major plans for renovation<\/strong><\/a>, which include building a new entrance for around \u20ac400 million \u2013 which will be funded in part from the \u20ac200m coming from the Louvre Abu Dhabi contract\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Welcome home<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Abu Dhabi real estate<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0had a record year in 2024, with total sales\u00a0reaching AED 96.2 billion \u2013 though that\u2019s still way behind Dubai\u2019s AED 761bn. And Dubai tops the world in sales of $10m+ homes, says Knight Frank:\u00a0435<\/strong>\u00a0of them were sold last year …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Top pic<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a02025 Sony World Photography Awards<\/strong><\/a>have just been announced, and as always they are a gorgeous collection of highly skilled snaps selected from over 419,000 entries. National and Regional Award winners were chosen from the Open competition, and the UAE\u00a0winner is\u00a0Donell Gumiran<\/strong><\/a> for his moody photograph\u00a0of an Emirati woman\u00a0in traditional dress standing by the Corniche in Abu Dhabi …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bigger than yours<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Construction of the\u00a0Jeddah Tower<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0has officially restarted after a five-year hiatus. It will be “at least” 173m higher than Burj Khalifa (which is 828m) …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Short shorts<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Registrations are open for\u00a0Short+Sweet Dubai 2025<\/strong>, \u201cthe biggest little theatre festival in the world\u201d (or at least in this part of it). Actors, writers, directors, and theatre groups are invited to submit\u00a0a 10-minute play or sign up to get involved in someone else\u2019s. The festival runs 12 April to 1 June at The Junction; sign up\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0before 15 February …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Send songs<\/mark><\/strong> If you need to share music \u00a0with people who don\u2019t use or have strong preferences against certain platforms, check out\u00a0I Don’t Have Spotify<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a simple tool that converts song links from Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, Deezer, or SoundCloud to another preferred streaming service …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Art in Riyadh<\/mark><\/strong> Saudi Arabia\u2019s Visual Arts Commission has launched\u00a0Art Week Riyadh<\/strong><\/a>, which takes place 6-13 April (so just before most of the Dubai art season biggies). Art Week Riyadh is non-commercial, though exhibitions will be presented by “leading Saudi and international galleries”; there will also be “curated displays of private collections, granting unprecedented access to rarely seen works” along with public programming and events like talks, workshops, and performances. More details\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fountain revamp<\/mark><\/strong> Dubai Fountain<\/strong>\u00a0is to shut down sometime in May for a five-month revamp to include “advanced technology, improved choreography, and an enhanced sound and lighting system, all designed to create an even more spectacular and immersive show”. Just so long as they don’t lose ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Something for the weekend<\/mark><\/strong> When did the celebrity die? Get it wrong\u00a0here<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things we didn\u2019t know no.94<\/mark><\/strong> Hot drinks taste different according to the\u00a0colour of the cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earworm of the week<\/mark><\/strong> <\/a>Black Country, New Road : Besties<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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